Chapter Summaries

Lu Changfeng and the guards prepared to execute Liu Xuance and Liu Ciyuan, but an Automaton Armor disguised as Xu Xiao attacked the execution ground to save them. Lu Changfeng stopped it and let it escape in disguise so it could lead him to its lair.

• Lu Changfeng ordered the execution of Liu Xuance and Liu Ciyuan as Chen Xuanli and Zhao Lanjun guarded the platform.
• A flying sword and a giant mechanical snake interrupted the execution, and an Automaton Armor resembling Xu Xiao emerged to fight Chen Xuanli.
• Lu Changfeng recognized the figure as an Automaton Armor, crushed the mechanical snake, and joined Chen Xuanli and Zhao Lanjun in attacking it.
• The Automaton Armor used the Heavenly Punishment Sword Art and Earthwalking Immortal to escape underground, but Lu Changfeng hardened the soil with the Great Qin Black Dragon Banner and forced it back to the surface.
• The Automaton Armor changed into an old vegetable seller and fled into the crowd, and Lu Changfeng stopped Chen Xuanli from pursuing it so they could follow it to its lair.

Lu Changfeng tracked Siming to the Crane-Coming Inn and attacked Xu Xiao, Xu Chi, and their automatons with the Black Dragon Banner, Earth Spears, and fire talismans. Xu Xiao unleashed the powerful Shangsheng armor to break the earthen prison, and Lu Changfeng sent three divine swords at the brothers as the chapter ended.

• Lu Changfeng used Scenting Beauty to follow Siming through her disguises to the Crane-Coming Inn, with Zhao Lanjun and Chen Xuanli behind him.
• Xu Xiao realized Lu Changfeng had let Siming escape so he could trace her to their hiding place, and he ordered Xu Chi to pack before they were discovered.
• Lu Changfeng released poison into the inn, then used the Black Dragon Banner to trap Xu Xiao, Xu Chi, and Siming inside a sphere of earth and attack them with Earth Spears.
• Xu Xiao used the Duh'e Armor to shield them from the Earth Spears, but Lu Changfeng sent Golden Crow Splits the Firmament talismans into the earthen sphere and set it ablaze.
• Xu Xiao summoned Shangsheng, whose Reincarnation Shock shattered the earthen prison and wounded Lu Changfeng, Zhao Lanjun, Chen Xuanli, Xu Xiao, and Xu Chi.
• Lu Changfeng recovered from the sonic attack and launched the Wind-Raising Sword, Gan Jiang, and Mo Xie at Xu Xiao and Xu Chi.

Lu Changfeng fought Xu Xiao, Xu Chi, and their mechanical warrior Duh'e, overwhelming them with the Five-Thunder Dissolution Hand. Duh'e self-destructed to cover the Xu brothers’ escape, devastating the surrounding street and injuring civilians, and Lu Changfeng ordered a rescue while continuing the pursuit.

• Xu Chi controlled the three flying swords and attacked Lu Changfeng with twelve Dragon-Carving Awls as Xu Xiao, Siming, and Duh'e joined the assault.
• Lu Changfeng melted several Dragon-Carving Awls and burned a hole through Duh'e’s shield with the Five-Thunder Dissolution Hand, while Xu Xiao’s attacks failed to seriously harm him.
• Chen Xuanli and Zhao Lanjun joined the battle, forcing Xu Xiao to order Duh'e to hold off their pursuers while he, Xu Chi, and Siming fled underground.
• Duh'e compressed its true qi and self-detonated, blasting apart the Crane-Coming Inn and nearby buildings and injuring civilians, Golden Scale Guards, Lu Changfeng, Zhao Lanjun, and Chen Xuanli.
• Lu Changfeng used the Black Dragon Banner to hinder the Xu brothers’ escape, but Xu Xiao forced his way through the heavy earth and got away.
• Lu Changfeng ordered the Golden Scale Guards and Plum Blossom Guards to rescue the wounded, then pursued the Xu brothers with Zhao Lanjun and Chen Xuanli.

Lu Changfeng lost the Xu brothers at the Chan River and suspected they were using the escape to implicate Crown Prince officials, turning the incident into an opportunity against them. The brothers remained trapped beneath the frozen river, and Xu Xiao decided they needed to seek someone out.

• Lu Changfeng froze the Chan River after finding no trace of the Xu brothers, then sent Zhao Lanjun to monitor physicians and apothecaries while Chen Xuanli searched the area.
• Lu Changfeng returned to the execution ground, treated wounded Plum Blossom Guards, and explained to Zhao Lanjun that he suspected the Xu brothers might exploit the nearby estates of Crown Prince officials to provoke a conflict.
• Lu Changfeng told Zhao Lanjun to use the incident against the Crown Prince's faction, arguing that they could make the accusation true by acting on it, and said the Xu brothers would not escape.
• Xu Xiao and Xu Chi remained inside a barrier created by the Myriad-Year Rahu Clam beneath the frozen Chan River, unable to break through the ice.
• Xu Xiao deduced that Lu Changfeng had tracked Siming by scent and gave Xu Chi Ink Flood Dragon Saliva to mask their odors.
• Xu Xiao told Xu Chi they needed to move quickly and said they would go see someone.

Lu Changfeng and Li Lingyue agreed to pressure Guo Yuanzhen and his allies while Li Lingyue prepared to use a coordinated impeachment campaign against the Crown Prince. At court, Crown Prince-affiliated censors accused Princess Taiping of rebellion and collusion with Dragon-Slaying City, ending with a demand for her execution.

• Lu Changfeng told Li Lingyue that Guo Yuanzhen and his allies might turn to Dragon-Slaying City if the Princess's Residence pressured them hard enough.
• Li Lingyue showed Lu Changfeng draft memorials accusing Princess Taiping of grave crimes and planned to use the attacks to portray the Crown Prince as ungrateful.
• Lu Changfeng agreed to Li Lingyue's request to try for a child, and they spent the night together.
• At the court assembly, Li Yuan and Wang Rong accused Princess Taiping of factionalism and secretly maintaining troops and weapons.
• Zhang Xingji accused Princess Taiping of colluding with Dragon-Slaying City and sending assassins to frame the Crown Prince.
• Li You demanded that Li Dan execute Princess Taiping, leaving the court in stunned silence.

Li You impeached Princess Taiping, but her apparent willingness to leave Chang'an turned the court against Li Longji and led Li Dan to demote Yao Chong and Song Jing. After the court dismissed, Li Longji met with the departing ministers and Guo Yuanzhen, who feared Princess Taiping’s growing power could bring back the calamity of Wu Zhou.

• Li You accused Princess Taiping of debauchery, abusing power, forming a faction, undermining the Crown Prince, and interfering in government, and demanded that she be confined while Lu Changfeng was investigated.
• Princess Taiping admitted to several charges and offered to move to Luoyang, prompting courtiers to defend her and blame Li Longji for driving away a loyal servant.
• Li Dan rebuked Yao Chong and Song Jing, demoted them to prefects outside the capital, and ordered rewards and protection for Princess Taiping.
• Li Longji met with Yao Chong and Song Jing in the Eastern Palace and apologized before they left the capital.
• Guo Yuanzhen warned that Princess Taiping’s power would grow after the ministers’ departure, and Song Jing wondered whether the calamity of Wu Zhou would happen again.

Guo Yuanzhen agreed to help Xu Xiao lure Lu Changfeng into a trap by using Luo Qingge as bait, hoping to weaken Princess Taiping at court. Meanwhile, Lu Changfeng left Li Lingyue to answer Ink Jade’s summons, leaving her grieving over how little she could do to keep him by her side.

• Guo Yuanzhen urged Li Longji, Yao Chong, and Song Jing to consider killing Lu Changfeng, arguing that the Crown Prince could exploit Princess Taiping’s retaliation, but Li Longji questioned the unknown ally Guo Yuanzhen had contacted.
• Guo Yuanzhen met Xu Xiao underwater, and Xu Xiao proposed capturing Luo Qingge to lure Lu Changfeng into a prepared trap; Guo Yuanzhen accepted the plan.
• At the Princess's Residence, Li Lingyue admired the nearly finished Gathered Elegance Garden that Lu Changfeng had designed.
• Ink Jade arrived and summoned Lu Changfeng, who left the garden despite Li Lingyue’s quiet permission.
• Li Lingyue told Zhao Lanjun that she regretted not meeting Lu Changfeng sooner and admitted that knowing why he had left did not lessen her pain.

Lu Changfeng followed Ink Jade to one of Luo Qingge’s retreats, where the two acted like lovers as a hidden formation was triggered. At Guo Yuanzhen’s river hideout, he ordered the operation to begin, unaware that the apparent formation supplies were an illusion concealing Liu Ciyuan.

• Lu Changfeng reached Luo Qingge’s retreat, embraced and kissed her, and sealed the house with an Eight-Direction Barrier Talisman.
• Xu Xiao detected that the southeast Six-Direction Dark Yin Formation had been triggered and told Guo Yuanzhen that Lu Changfeng was trapped.
• Guo Yuanzhen checked with Guo An and learned that Lu Changfeng had left Chang'an City through Tonghua Gate, but he remained wary of Xu Xiao’s plan.
• Guo Yuanzhen noticed a second Rahu Clam and questioned Xu Xiao, who revealed what appeared to be formation supplies inside it.
• Xu Xiao pretended to leave, prompting Guo Yuanzhen to order the capture of Luo Qingge and begin the operation.
• After Guo Yuanzhen departed, Xu Xiao dispelled the illusion hiding the supplies and revealed Liu Ciyuan beneath it.

Guo Yuanzhen and Xu Xiao’s forces attacked Lu Changfeng inside a formation, but the assault was part of a scheme that exposed Guo Yuanzhen before Li Dan. After the Crown Prince and Guo Yuanzhen faced punishment, Lu Changfeng left with Li Lingyue and revealed he planned to hand someone over and set another trap.

• Guo Yuanzhen’s forces attacked the empty retreat, and Xu Xiao broke a barrier to reveal Lu Changfeng and Luo Qingge trapped inside the Six-Direction Dark Yin Formation.
• Xu Xiao, Guo Yuanzhen, and their allies bombarded Lu Changfeng, who appeared badly injured while Luo Qingge healed him.
• Li Dan and Princess Taiping arrived with the Golden Crow Guards, and Xu Xiao turned on Guo Yuanzhen before escaping underground with Xu Chi, Siming, and Shangsheng.
• Li Dan stripped Guo Yuanzhen of his post, ordered his arrest, and confined Li Longji to the Eastern Palace while taking temporary command of the Golden Scale Guards.
• Li Lingyue freed Lu Changfeng from the formation and left with him as Luo Qingge rode away; Lu Changfeng told Li Lingyue he would hand someone over and dig a pit.

Lu Changfeng returned Liu Xuance to Xu Xiao and Xu Chi, but a hidden qi poison forced them to hurry back to Dragon-Slaying City. As Lu Changfeng prepared to travel to the Eastern Sea and confront the city, Li Lingyue privately stopped him from working and demanded his attention before he left.

• Lu Changfeng handed Liu Xuance over to Xu Xiao and Xu Chi at the Wei River, and Xu Xiao confirmed Liu Xuance was genuine.
• Xu Xiao and Xu Chi boarded the Whirlwind Turtle and discovered that Liu Xuance's Yin-Yang Arts qi poison would activate when he awakened and circulate his true qi.
• Xu Xiao used a pill and true qi to delay the poison, then realized Lu Changfeng had trapped them into rushing back to Dragon-Slaying City.
• Lu Changfeng studied dossiers on Dragon-Slaying City and planned a journey to the Eastern Sea, while Li Lingyue told him the court had been stabilized.
• Li Lingyue dismissed the guards, sealed the Pivot of Heaven Pavilion with the Purple Tenuity Scroll, and pushed Lu Changfeng into his chair, insisting he make up for his absence before leaving.

Luo Qingge bid farewell to Lu Changfeng as he left Chang'an for the Eastern Sea, while Li Lingyue ordered a cautious retreat of her forces and privately wondered whether she might be pregnant. After drifting at sea under the assumed identity of Yan Zhaoming, Lu Changfeng neared Dragon-Slaying City.

• Luo Qingge gave Lu Changfeng an Azure Luan feather and watched him depart northeast for the Eastern Sea, promising to wait for his return.
• Li Lingyue learned that Lu Changfeng had left and ordered Zhao Lanjun to monitor Li Longji and gradually withdraw the Inner Guard from its other duties.
• Li Lingyue reflected on her growing affection for Lu Changfeng and told Zhao Lanjun that she might be pregnant, though it was too early to know for sure.
• Lu Changfeng traveled alone across the Eastern Sea in a small boat, disguised as Yan Zhaoming, disciple of Xuanyangzi.
• After nine days at sea, Lu Changfeng noticed signs that Dragon-Slaying City was near.

Lu Changfeng entered Dragon-Slaying City in disguise and learned that the Liu Family was focused on the coming Guixu pearl harvest. After finding an appeal for help from the Lu Residence, he went there to treat Lu Huanzhang’s void ruins poison and began the preliminary test.

• Lu Changfeng used a Dragon-Slaying Token to enter Dragon-Slaying City and questioned its guards with his Consciousness-Only Sword Intent.
• Lu Changfeng learned that the city kept its barrier open for trade and the coming Guixu expedition, while the Liu Family had sealed its residence after two young members were crippled.
• Lu Changfeng entered the city as Yan Zhaoming, surveyed its outer ring, and found the Lu Residence and its appeal for someone to cure Lu Huanzhang.
• Lu Changfeng went to the Lu Residence, where its steward tested applicants with a sample of Lu Huanzhang’s void ruins poison.
• Lu Changfeng claimed to be an honorary disciple of Xuanyangzi and accepted the steward’s vial so he could attempt to remove the poison.

Lu Changfeng neutralized a sample of Lu Huanzhang’s Void Ruins Poison and entered the Lu Residence to examine him. Lu Chengen brought him to his dying father, who remained doubtful that Guixu Heavy Water could be cured.

• Lu Changfeng crushed a crimson-gold pill into the poison sample and used the Six Void Circulation Art to neutralize it.
• The steward invited Lu Changfeng into the Lu Residence, where Lu Chengen sealed the residence and asked him to save his father.
• Lu Changfeng asked to see the patient without discussing payment, and Lu Chengen led him to Lu Huanzhang’s room.
• Lu Huanzhang warned Lu Chengen that Guixu Heavy Water had no cure, but Lu Chengen urged him to let Master Yan examine him.

Lu Changfeng, posing as Yan Zhaoming, diagnosed Lu Huanzhang’s condition as an injury caused by Guixu heavy water and promised to treat him. After sending everyone else from the room, he revealed the Shennong Ruler, leaving Lu Chengen visibly shaken by its identity.

• Lu Changfeng introduced himself as Yan Zhaoming, a physician from Qingzhou whose master was Xuanyangzi, then examined Lu Huanzhang’s pulse.
• Lu Changfeng discovered a drop of Guixu heavy water lodged in Lu Huanzhang’s dantian and explained that it had compressed his meridians for decades.
• Lu Changfeng told the Lu family that Lu Huanzhang could be saved, and Lu Huanzhang vowed never to refuse him if he succeeded.
• Lu Changfeng asked everyone except Lu Chengen to leave so he could use a treasure from his lineage during treatment.
• Lu Changfeng produced the Shennong Ruler, which Lu Huanzhang recognized as a sacred artifact of the Way of Medicine, while Lu Chengen reacted with shock and fear.

Lu Chengen chose to let Lu Changfeng treat his father, Lu Huanzhang, despite the danger of aiding Dragon-Slaying City's enemy. As Lu Changfeng began treatment, rumors about a supposed disciple of the Pill Sage spread through the city, stirring the Liu Family's suspicions.

• Lu Chengen told Lu Huanzhang that Lu Changfeng matched the description of the man who had defeated Liu Xuance and Liu Ciyuan.
• Lu Chengen weighed the risk of helping Dragon-Slaying City's enemy against his father's chance of recovery, then asked Lu Changfeng to treat him.
• Lu Changfeng gave Lu Huanzhang a protective pill and began healing his meridians with the Shennong Ruler and his shennong qi.
• Martial artists in a teahouse spread the false story that Yan Zhaoming, a disciple of Xuanyangzi, had neutralized void ruins poison at the Lu residence.
• Two Liu Family disciples debated whether to report the treatment, while rumors of the healer's arrival spread through Dragon-Slaying City.

Lu Changfeng cured Lu Huanzhang of the Guixu Heavy Water, restoring his Sixth Realm cultivation, then advanced as Dragon-Slaying City’s factions confronted the Lu Family. As Liu Xuanji prepared to attack the Lu Family, Lu Changfeng revealed another Sixth Realm Dharma Form above the residence.

• Lu Changfeng dissolved the last of Lu Huanzhang’s Guixu Heavy Water, restoring his Sixth Realm cultivation and summoning his Whale Shark Dharma Form over Dragon-Slaying City.
• Lu Changfeng received the Sacred Heart Art and began breaking through to the Sixth Realm while Lu Huanzhang announced his return.
• Liu Xuanji attacked the Lu Residence’s protective formation, but Lu Huanzhang’s Whale Shark Dharma Form met his Golden Dragon Dharma Form in the sky.
• Lu Huanzhang warned Liu Xuanji that he would visit the Liu Family and return to the entrance to Guixu, prompting Liu Xuanji to leave and plan an attack on the Lu Family.
• Liu Xuanji learned that Lu Changfeng had entered the city disguised as Yan Zhaoming and ordered troops to wipe out the Lu Family.
• A mysterious crane Dharma Form appeared above the Lu Residence, and Liu Xuanji and the assembled officials realized Lu Changfeng had become another Sixth Realm cultivator.

Lu Changfeng recovered Lu Huanzhang, broke through to the Sixth Realm, and created the Primordial Beginning Martial Canon. At a feast in the Lu Residence, he learned Liu Song had likely entered Guixu and proposed using poison to bring down the Liu Family, with Lu Huanzhang agreeing to help.

• Lu Changfeng broke through to the Sixth Realm at the Lu Residence and created Primordial Beginning True Qi and the Primordial Beginning Martial Canon.
• Lu Huanzhang and Lu Chengen welcomed Lu Changfeng’s recovery and breakthrough, and Lu Changfeng accepted the Lu Family’s treatment fee.
• At the celebratory feast, Lu Changfeng asked about Guixu and learned Liu Song had likely entered its waters while the tides were weak.
• Lu Huanzhang explained how the Liu Family controlled Guixu and had crippled his attempt to enter it, while the other families struggled to challenge their power.
• Lu Changfeng proposed poisoning the Liu Family, arguing that no body was immune if the poison was strong enough, and Lu Huanzhang pledged his support.
• Lu Changfeng handed Lu Chengen a prepared prescription and asked the Lu Family to obtain as many of its ingredients as possible.

Lu Changfeng prepared a colorless poison to weaken the Liu Family, while Liu Xuanji allied with Xu Cangming and Jiang Yunhe and agreed to strike the Lu Family at midnight. The chapter ended with Lu Changfeng naming his newly concocted poison Immortal-Extinguishing Powder.

• Lu Changfeng gathered rare ingredients and used the Shennong Ruler to brew an imitation of Dragon-Falling Dust without Dragon Whisker Vine.
• Liu Xuanji weighed his options after Lu Changfeng joined forces with the recovered Lu Huanzhang, then received Xu Cangming and Jiang Yunhe.
• Xu Cangming and Jiang Yunhe demanded access to Guixu after the conflict and presented a plan to kill Lu Changfeng using the Soul-Suppressing Bell.
• Liu Xuanji revealed the Dragon-Binding Rope, and the three men agreed to use it alongside their forces and the Soul-Suppressing Bell against the Lu Family.
• Liu Xuanji set the attack for midnight the following day, while Lu Changfeng finished seven bottles of colorless poison and named it Immortal-Extinguishing Powder.

Lu Changfeng prepared the Lu Family for an imminent attack by the allied Liu, Xu, and Jiang families, explaining how his poison could turn the battle in their favor. The Lu Family prepared to fight, while Lu Huanzhang and Lu Chengen considered how to preserve their bloodline if they lost.

• Lu Chengen told Lu Changfeng that Xu Cangming and Jiang Yunhe had met with the Liu Family, and Lu Changfeng predicted the three families would strike first.
• Lu Changfeng presented seven bottles of poison and explained that it spread through the air and entered through the skin, even if enemies held their breath.
• Lu Changfeng advised the Lu Family to close its gates, distribute the bottles, and wait rather than seek support from other lineages.
• Lu Chengen brought his granddaughter Lu Yuening to accompany Lu Changfeng, but he declined her offer to play the zither.
• Lu Huanzhang and Lu Chengen discussed preserving the Lu Family's bloodline if they lost, then ordered preparations for battle.

Lu Changfeng recognized that Lu Yuening’s xun expressed her longing to leave the Dragon-Slaying City and encouraged her to follow her heart. After sharing her music with him, she approached him but found him asleep, then covered him with a robe and stayed beside him.

• Lu Yuening played the zither for Lu Changfeng, who praised her skill and sensed that the bamboo flute or xun suited her better.
• Lu Yuening played the xun, and Lu Changfeng recognized its melancholy and realized she wanted to leave the Dragon-Slaying City and see the outside world.
• Lu Changfeng recited a poem about fish and birds finding freedom, and Lu Yuening responded by playing music that grew hopeful and light.
• As night deepened, Lu Yuening played several pieces for Lu Changfeng, feeling that he understood her without requiring her to hide her feelings.
• Lu Yuening approached the couch but found Lu Changfeng asleep, so she draped an outer robe over him and returned to sit beside him with her xun.