Chapter Summaries

After six days of preparation, Lu Changfeng consumed a three-hundred-year-old red ginseng and broke through to the Xiantian Realm. He set out for the Ten Directions Secret Prison to treat Su Bonian, who awaited him with renewed hope.

• Princess Taiping received reports about Empress Wei's alleged auspicious omens and learned that Lu Changfeng had finally begun consuming the red ginseng.
• Lu Changfeng used the Shennong Glazed Glass Art to guide the ginseng's medicinal power through his body and open the Heaven and Earth Bridges.
• Lu Changfeng reached the initial stage of the Xiantian Realm, gaining heightened perception and Xiantian True Essence.
• Lu Changfeng asked Qing Dai to take him to the Ten Directions Secret Prison to see Su Bonian.
• Su Bonian, tormented by the [Avici Seal] and desperate for freedom, saw Lu Changfeng arrive at his cell as promised.

Lu Changfeng purged the Immeasurable Seal from Su Bonian, who revealed that Zhang Yizhi hid the Blood Tai Sui in a poisoned cave on Zhongnan Mountain. Princess Taiping learned the treasure’s location, while Wu Sansi planned to use the Poison-Warding Pearl and spy on her efforts to claim it.

• Lu Changfeng used his Shennong Qi to destroy the Immeasurable Seal in Su Bonian, exhausting himself as Su Bonian expelled poisonous blood and regained control of his qi.
• Princess Taiping promised to spare Su Bonian if he told the truth, and he revealed that Zhang Yizhi had hidden the Blood Tai Sui in a secret cave beneath Jade Pillar Peak on Zhongnan Mountain.
• Su Bonian explained that the cave was filled with gu poison and miasma, and that the Poison-Warding Pearl needed to enter it had fallen into Wu Sansi’s hands.
• At the Prince of Liang’s Residence, Wu Sansi discussed the Poison-Warding Pearl with Cui Shi and Wu Lingyun, intending to follow the Princess’s search and claim the Blood Tai Sui.
• Wu Sansi ordered his spies to monitor the Princess’s Residence and planned to expose Lu Changfeng’s mastery of the Shennong Glazed Glass Art after the seven-day deadline.
• Wu Sansi sent Cui Shi to attend Princess Taiping’s literary gathering and encouraged him to get closer to her.

Princess Taiping rewarded Lu Changfeng for his service, explained the Shennong Glazed Glass Art and the dangers of the Blood Tai Sui, and tasked him with finding a way to address gu poison. She then invited him to a gathering at the Nine-Shao Music Bureau, leaving him wondering what a physician was expected to prepare.

• Princess Taiping asked Lu Changfeng to present the Shennong Glazed Glass Art, and he agreed while explaining that its true power required medical expertise.
• Princess Taiping promised to obtain the Shennong Tastes the Hundred Herbs painting and granted Lu Changfeng a five-hundred-year-old fleeceflower root, while directing him to study gu texts for a solution to her poison.
• Lu Changfeng described the art’s four realms, including its ultimate human-body great medicine, and Princess Taiping warned that others might seek to enslave him as a medicine slave.
• Princess Taiping explained that the Kunlun Ruins inspired sixth-realm arts and that the Blood Tai Sui was a dangerous spiritual being born amid changes in heaven and earth.
• Princess Taiping gave Lu Changfeng a Phoenix Feather Invitation and summoned him to a refined gathering at the Nine-Shao Music Bureau the next day.

After receiving the Huayang Needle Technique, Lu Changfeng learned about Princess Taiping’s Phoenix Feather gathering and studied dossiers on its powerful guests. He realized the gathering was full of tangled alliances and scandals, then sensed that the person entering his room was not Qing Dai.

• Lu Changfeng received the Huayang Needle Technique and a set of Huayang Needles as his reward for treating Su Bonian.
• While sharing dinner with Qing Dai, Lu Changfeng asked about Phoenix Feather Invitations and learned that they marked Princess Taiping’s special favor.
• Qing Dai listed the gathering’s prominent guests, and Lu Changfeng asked her for dossiers so he could prepare and avoid making more enemies.
• Lu Changfeng read the dossiers, discovered the guests’ sordid relationships and political dealings, and decided he should keep his head down at the gathering.
• A woman entered carrying a porcelain bowl and said the seamstresses would deliver Lu Changfeng’s robes in the morning; he recognized from her scent that she was not Qing Dai.

A false Qing Dai attempted to capture Lu Changfeng with a Ba Serpent, but Zhao Lanjun froze the beast before it could escape. Princess Taiping exposed the intruder as a holy maiden of the Great Vehicle Sect and confronted her over targeting Lu.

• Lu Changfeng paralyzed the false Qing Dai with a Huayang Needle, but a black serpent emerged from her sleeve and swallowed her.
• Zhao Lanjun appeared and froze the fleeing Ba Serpent with a palm strike, while the real Qing Dai rushed to Lu Changfeng's side.
• Princess Taiping arrived and ordered the guards to disperse, then pierced the frozen serpent with Sword Qi, forcing it to spit out the false Qing Dai.
• Princess Taiping identified the serpent as a Ba Serpent associated with the Great Vehicle Sect and accused its holy maiden of pursuing Lu Changfeng.

Princess Taiping exposed the Great Vehicle Sect’s plot, and Lu Changfeng captured its holy maiden and forced her to reveal the Thousand-Face Disguise Art. After she collapsed from rage, the Noble Physician’s Canon identified her as Wei Linlang and offered Lu Changfeng the Ice Skin, Jade Bones Art for treating her.

• Princess Taiping deduced that the Great Vehicle Sect had targeted Lu Changfeng because Su Bonian’s Immeasurable Seal had been broken.
• Princess Taiping ordered Jinghong to imprison the wounded Ba Serpent and take the holy maiden into custody.
• Lu Changfeng crippled the holy maiden’s cultivation with Huayang Needles and used his Soul-Shifting Great Method to make her reveal the Thousand-Face Disguise Art.
• Princess Taiping left Lu Changfeng with the prisoner and ordered Jinghong to bring him a classified dossier.
• Lu Changfeng taunted the holy maiden until she fainted, and the Noble Physician’s Canon identified her as Wei Linlang and offered a treatment reward.

Lu Changfeng exposed Wei Linlang’s secrets, killed her, and reviewed a manuscript describing strange beasts that might threaten the world. He then accepted the Ice Skin, Jade Bones Art, gaining stronger, smoother-flowing qi but discovering that it had made him unnaturally beautiful and alluring.

• Lu Changfeng interrogated Wei Linlang, and Qing Dai sent her confession about the Great Vehicle Sect’s agents and cultivation arts to Inner Guard headquarters.
• After Wei Linlang said she would kill him if given another chance, Lu Changfeng killed her and ordered Qing Dai to dispose of the body.
• Lu Changfeng explained how he had recognized Wei Linlang’s disguise, then examined the Record of Strange Tales from Mountains and Seas and worried about the powerful creatures it described.
• Lu Changfeng accepted the Ice Skin, Jade Bones Art, which strengthened and widened his meridians while transforming his appearance.
• Lu Changfeng looked in the mirror and realized the art had made him strikingly beautiful, with an unsettling allure even he found hard to resist.

Lu Changfeng disguised himself and explored Chang'an with Qing Dai, then entered Pingkang Ward’s Moon-Gathering Tower to attempt its Three Elegance Trials and hear the famed zither player Qingge. The chapter leaves him facing the first trial, a character riddle that has stumped the scholars gathered in the side hall.

• Lu Changfeng subdued the effects of his cultivation art and disguised himself while Qing Dai posed as a young guard.
• Lu Changfeng and Qing Dai left Princess Taiping’s Residence and walked through Chang’an, observing the Western Market’s crowds and increased patrols.
• Lu Changfeng persuaded a reluctant Qing Dai to enter Pingkang Ward and visit the Moon-Gathering Tower to hear Qingge play.
• The host explained Qingge’s Three Elegance Trials, and Lu Changfeng chose to attempt them.
• Lu Changfeng entered the side hall, where scholars were struggling with a riddle asking them to guess a character and compose a quatrain about it.

Lu Changfeng solved the wind riddle with a poem and advanced to the second challenge, a verse inspired by Luo Qingge’s Taixu Moon Realm Painting. As Luo Qingge and Yan Mingxiao discussed his work and the investigation into Zhang Shouzhuo’s death, Lu Changfeng began composing his next poem.

• Lu Changfeng quickly solved the character riddle as “wind,” wrote a quatrain without using the word, and passed the first challenge.
• Lu Changfeng went upstairs with Qing Dai and encountered Song Tan, who tried to challenge him over the moon-palace painting.
• Lu Changfeng learned that the second challenge required a poem capturing the Taixu Moon Realm Painting’s atmosphere and studied its vast view of the moon, clouds, and mortal world.
• Luo Qingge praised Lu Changfeng’s poem while Yan Mingxiao reported that investigators had found no leads in Zhang Shouzhuo’s poisoning.
• Luo Qingge said she might play a tune for Lu Changfeng if his next poem captured the painting’s spirit, and Lu Changfeng began writing.

Lu Changfeng impressed Luo Qingge at the Moon-Gathering Tower with a remarkable poem, then recognized the illness affecting her and offered a diagnosis. Luo Qingge was amused by his sudden shift from literary companion to physician, while the Noble Physician's Canon offered him the Six Methods of the Guzheng as a reward for treating her.

• Lu Changfeng wrote Li He's poem "Dreaming of Heaven," astonishing Song Tan and the guests with its vision.
• Luo Qingge invited Lu Changfeng to the Cloud-Deep Pavilion and personally played her composition, "Lonely Heart in Cloud Ravines."
• Lu Changfeng praised Luo Qingge's music, then explained that her loneliness and cultivation were connected to her symptoms.
• Lu Changfeng identified Luo Qingge's signs of yin deficiency and deficiency fire, and the Noble Physician's Canon offered him the Six Methods of the Guzheng as a success reward.
• Luo Qingge laughed at Lu Changfeng's abrupt change from discussing poetry and music to practicing medicine, calling him an interesting kindred soul.

Lu Changfeng helped Luo Qingge see her music and cultivation as worthwhile regardless of whether anyone understood them, then revealed his name. Yan Mingxiao confronted him about Zhang Shouzhuo’s poisoning, but he challenged her authority and left her more convinced of his guilt.

• Lu Changfeng prescribed Luo Qingge a medicine for her melancholy and advised her not to base her joy in music on finding a kindred spirit.
• Luo Qingge asked whether Lu Changfeng cared if others understood his work, and he said he acted according to his own wishes and accepted that circumstances sometimes forced him to yield.
• Luo Qingge thanked Lu Changfeng and asked his name, but Yan Mingxiao interrupted and asked whether he was the newly appointed Director of Medicine who had treated Young Master Xue.
• Yan Mingxiao identified herself as a Chang'an Constable and questioned Lu Changfeng about his whereabouts when Zhang Shouzhuo died.
• Lu Changfeng demanded her credentials and warrant, then challenged her for singling him out despite Zhang Shouzhuo having many enemies.
• Yan Mingxiao failed to rebut Lu Changfeng and grew more certain that he was involved in Zhang Shouzhuo's death.

Lu Changfeng left the Moon-Gathering Tower after Yan Mingxiao failed to produce evidence against him, then claimed the Six Methods of the Guzheng and went to eat with Qing Dai. At the Nine-Shao Music Bureau, Princess Taiping read his poems and, angered by his attention to Luo Qingge, ordered him placed at the fourth seat of her literary gathering to test his character.

• Lu Changfeng told Yan Mingxiao she had no grounds to detain him, thanked Luo Qingge, and left the Moon-Gathering Tower with Qing Dai.
• Luo Qingge told Yan Mingxiao that she would regard Lu Changfeng as her physician unless conclusive evidence linked him to Zhang Shouzhuo's death.
• Lu Changfeng claimed the Six Methods of the Guzheng and went with Qing Dai to eat Lamb Soup Basin and drink wine.
• An Inner Guard reported Lu Changfeng's visit and poems to Princess Taiping at the Nine-Shao Music Bureau.
• Princess Taiping ordered Lu Changfeng assigned the fourth seat at the hour-of-the-Rooster literary gathering so she could test his supposed integrity.

Lu Changfeng attended Princess Taiping’s gathering and was publicly announced as a guest adviser, drawing attention from the assembled guests. Zhang Shu recognized his voice and, after glimpsing through his disguise, mistook his extraordinary appearance for the reason behind his favor; he then escorted Lu Changfeng toward the festivities.

• Cui Huan announced Lu Changfeng as a guest adviser to Princess Taiping’s residence, shocking the guests at the entrance.
• Zhang Shu recognized Lu Changfeng from the Moon-Gathering Tower and praised his poems.
• Zhang Shu used Discerning the Subtlest Detail to see through Lu Changfeng’s disguise and became overwhelmed by his beauty.
• Zhang Shu wrongly concluded that Lu Changfeng’s appearance explained Princess Taiping’s favor and Master Luo’s attention.
• Zhang Shu led Lu Changfeng toward the busiest part of the Nine-Shao Music Bureau to show him the festivities.

Lu Changfeng attended Princess Taiping’s banquet and met Wang Xiao, who viewed him as a rival because of his ties to Taiping. Princess Anle and Shangguan Wan’er arrived, and the imperial gathering began amid factional tension, leaving Lu focused on the feast while Cui Shi took a keen interest in him.

• Zhang Shu warned Lu Changfeng that Wang Xiao, a favored musician of Princess Anle and Empress Wei, might target Taiping’s new guest adviser.
• A palace attendant assigned Lu Changfeng a seat at the fourth table in the main hall, where he joined Cui Shi, Song Zhiwen, Shen Qingshu, Wang Xiao, and others.
• Princess Taiping entered the hall, followed by Princess Anle and Shangguan Wan’er, whose arrivals stirred the assembled guests.
• Princess Anle and Princess Taiping exchanged pointed remarks about their male companions before Shangguan Wan’er redirected the conversation.
• Princess Taiping opened the banquet, and Lu Changfeng concentrated on the food while Song Tan and Wang Xiao scorned him and Cui Shi studied his composed manner.

At a banquet, Princess Anle and Princess Taiping vied for attention through a lavish gown and an unusual fragrance, until the gathering turned toward poetry. Princess Taiping put Lu Changfeng on the spot by asking him to open the contest with a poem about beauties.

• Princess Anle showed off her iridescent Hundred-Bird Skirt, but Princess Taiping watched Lu Changfeng instead of reacting to it.
• Officials praised Princess Anle’s gown, and Xu Jian redirected attention to the subtle fragrance surrounding Princess Taiping.
• The banquet split into factions praising either the gown’s brilliance or the fragrance’s refinement.
• Song Zhiwen shifted the debate to the princesses’ beauty, and Shangguan Wan’er proposed an impromptu poetry contest to avoid ranking them.
• Princess Taiping accepted the proposal and called on Lu Changfeng to begin the contest with a poem about beauties.

Princess Taiping forced Lu Changfeng to open the poetry contest, and he stunned the assembly with a masterpiece that outshone every rival. Princess Anle then challenged his musicianship, while Princess Taiping offered him rewards if he accepted.

• Princess Taiping ordered Lu Changfeng to compose the opening poem, and he reluctantly agreed while concealing his anger.
• Lu Changfeng wrote the four lines of "Qingping Tune," leaving Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er deeply impressed.
• Jinghong displayed the poem, and Zhang Shu praised it as a masterpiece as the assembly applauded and the other poets conceded.
• Princess Anle challenged Lu Changfeng to accompany the poem with music, hoping to expose his lack of musical skill.
• Princess Taiping secretly urged Lu Changfeng to accept the challenge and offered him a Seven-Colored Purple Vine and a fourth-tier famous artifact as rewards.

Lu Changfeng defeated Wang Xiao in a musical duel at Princess Taiping's gathering, using the Lovesick Zither and Ambush from Ten Sides. After the fight, he realized his intense performance had caused his disguise to fail.

• Princess Taiping had Jinghong bring the Lovesick Zither for Lu Changfeng to use against Wang Xiao.
• Wang Xiao attacked Lu Changfeng through the flute with the Blue Sea Raging Tide Melody, but Lu Changfeng held his ground with his musical mastery.
• Wang Xiao unleashed his full sonic attack, while Lu Changfeng countered with the battlefield music of Ambush from Ten Sides.
• Lu Changfeng shattered Wang Xiao's attack, injured him, and broke the Jade Flute, winning the duel.
• The guests stared at Lu Changfeng in shock, and Zhang Shu pointed out that his disguise was disappearing.

After Lu Changfeng’s disguise fell, his beauty and talent stunned the gathering, and Princess Taiping rewarded him with the [Lovesick Zither] and access to a fourth-tier weapon. He left the hall while Princess Anle became intent on learning his background and winning him over.

• Lu Changfeng’s revealed appearance astonished the guests, while Princess Anle, Shangguan Wan'er, and Princess Taiping reacted strongly to him.
• Lu Changfeng calmly accepted that his face had been exposed and asked Princess Taiping to let him leave; she ordered Jinghong to take him to the Pivot of Heaven Pavilion to choose a fourth-tier weapon.
• Princess Taiping praised Lu Changfeng’s performance on the [Lovesick Zither] and gave it to him, and he departed without concern for the hostility he had stirred.
• Princess Anle questioned Princess Taiping about Lu Changfeng, but Taiping avoided revealing his background and introduced a performance by Luo Qingge and Gongsun Lan.
• Distracted by Lu Changfeng, Princess Anle resolved to investigate him and lure him away from Princess Taiping.

Lu Changfeng visited the Princess’s Residence’s weapon treasury and encountered Wind-Raising, Zhuge Liang’s renowned sword. The sword awakened, chose him as its master, and left Jinghong stunned.

• Jinghong told Lu Changfeng that Princess Anle had allowed him to choose any weapon in the treasury.
• Lu Changfeng sensed a spiritual presence in Wind-Raising and learned from Jinghong that it had once been Zhuge Liang’s sword.
• Wind-Raising leapt into Lu Changfeng’s hand and awakened, its energy harmonizing with his internal energy.
• Lu Changfeng accepted the sword’s choice, while Jinghong watched in astonishment.

After the [Wind-Raising Sword] chose Lu Changfeng, he accepted the attention it would bring and turned to studying gu arts for Taiping’s assignment and the Blood Tai Sui. Jinghong reported the sword’s awakening to Taiping while the elegant gathering continued with Lu Changfeng at the center of conversation.

• Jinghong congratulated Lu Changfeng and reflected on the significance of Marquis Wu’s sword choosing him as its master.
• Lu Changfeng accepted that the sword would bring him more enemies and asked Jinghong about the other seven Shu Lords’ swords; she described their suspected locations and reported that Yang Kaitian might possess the [Dragon-Soaring Sword].
• Lu Changfeng resolved to strengthen his cultivation, study gu arts, and pursue the Blood Tai Sui, then asked Jinghong how Taiping planned to deal with Chi Ming’s Gu Formation.
• Jinghong said Taiping planned to fight poison with poison and had sought help from experts in the Nanzhao Kingdom, then led Lu Changfeng to the Gu Department’s texts.
• Jinghong arranged for Qing Dai to attend Lu Changfeng and reported the [Wind-Raising Sword]’s awakening to Taiping at the Nine-Shao Music Bureau.
• The guests at Taiping’s gathering began informal discussions about court and martial-world affairs, but their conversations repeatedly returned to Lu Changfeng.