Chapter Summaries

Chen Baiqing and Li Yingling learned from Zhao Xuan’s letter that Li Junzi faced a dangerous disputation at Junzi Mountain, and Lin Luoyu decided to go help her teacher. Li Yingling chose Cui Hao to accompany Lin Luoyu, leaving him bewildered.

• Chen Baiqing read Li Junzi’s letter saying she had advanced to the Great Confucian Realm and was safe, then found Zhao Xuan’s letter describing a challenge to the Second Sage’s teachings at Junzi Mountain.
• Lin Luoyu read the letters and decided to travel to Junzi Mountain to help Li Junzi.
• Li Xingtian offered to accompany Lin Luoyu, but Li Yingling refused because she feared his rigid honesty would undermine the disputation.
• Chen Baiqing volunteered to go with Lin Luoyu, and Li Yingling considered the option before Cui Hao arrived.
• Li Yingling chose Cui Hao to accompany the others, leaving him confused about why he had been selected.

Chen Baiqing, Cui Hao, and Lin Luoyu arrived at Junzi Mountain in a Heavenly Derivation Sect carriage to find Li Junzi and intervene in an urgent matter. They were admitted on foot, while Chen Baiqing’s dismissive remark about the Second Sage left Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu uneasy.

• Chen Baiqing traveled toward Junzi Mountain with Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu in a conspicuous Heavenly Derivation Sect carriage, intending to make their status clear from the outset.
• Cui Hao pointed out the Second Sage Hall, and Chen Baiqing said that the dead did not count, unsettling Cui Hao and worrying Lin Luoyu.
• Junzi Mountain’s head rode an ink road to greet the carriage and asked what the Heavenly Derivation Sect visitors wanted.
• Chen Baiqing asked whether Li Junzi was on Junzi Mountain, and the old man confirmed she was preparing for the third Scholarly Debate.
• The old man asked the visitors to disembark because carriages and aerial travel were forbidden on Junzi Mountain, and Chen Baiqing agreed to proceed on foot.

Chen Baiqing and her companions visited Junzi Mountain to see Li Junzi before her third scholarly debate. Chen Wenqian let them enter the courtyard, while reflecting that Junzi Academy might lose a rare Great Confucian.

• Chen Wenqian introduced Junzi Academy and guided Chen Baiqing, Cui Hao, and Lin Luoyu through its grounds.
• Chen Baiqing asked whether Junzi Mountain would accept change as well as teach it, and Chen Wenqian replied that a gentleman examined himself three times a day.
• Chen Wenqian led the group to Li Junzi's secluded courtyard and warned them not to disturb her scholarly debate without a connection to her.
• Chen Baiqing explained that Li Junzi was Lin Luoyu's teacher, and Chen Wenqian allowed Lin Luoyu to attend, offering to postpone the debate if necessary.
• Chen Baiqing, Lin Luoyu, and Cui Hao entered the courtyard, while Chen Wenqian considered the stakes of Li Junzi's academic challenge.

Lin Luoyu, Chen Baiqing, and Cui Hao visited Li Junzi and learned that she had lost the first two Scholarly Debates but still intended to challenge the Second Sage’s principles. As night fell, they joined her in studying, determined to help her continue the debates.

• Lin Luoyu found Li Junzi writing and asked why she had not been told about the Scholarly Debate with Junzi Mountain.
• Li Junzi explained that she wanted to investigate principles she could not accept rather than study them uncritically, and Lin Luoyu offered to help.
• Chen Baiqing asked about the first two debates, and Li Junzi admitted that she had lost both outright.
• Cui Hao declared that he would help Li Junzi, while Chen Baiqing and Lin Luoyu agreed to support her.
• That night, Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao studied with Li Junzi, whose challenge was to reject treating the Second Sage’s principles as the truth of the age or as eternal truth.

At the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect, Yan Yun continued training under Bai Xuanling while Chu Xingchen received an urgent letter from his eldest disciple. He invited Yuyang Daozi to join him in handling the matter, then left when Yuyang hesitated, prompting Yuyang to call after him.

• At Junzi Mountain, Chen Baiqing decided to wait for her senior sister and master’s advice and see how the third Scholarly Debate went before intervening.
• Bai Xuanling repeatedly overpowered Yan Yun in practice, while Chu Xingchen’s teasing distracted and angered Yan Yun.
• Chu Xingchen asked Yuyang Daozi whether he had been feeling better, and Yuyang said he had no urgent matters after his matches ended.
• Lü Xuan delivered an urgent letter from Chu Xingchen’s eldest disciple to Chu Xingchen.
• After reading the letter, Chu Xingchen invited Yuyang Daozi to come with him to handle something, then started to leave when Yuyang hesitated.
• Yuyang Daozi called out to Chu Xingchen, who stopped and turned back with a satisfied smile.

Li Junzi’s side lost the third scholarly debate at Junzi Academy, and Li Junzi fell from the Great Confucian Realm to the Confucian Scholar Realm. The group returned to Bamboo Grove Cottage, where Chen Baiqing found her master waiting.

• Chen Wenqian recited the Second Sage’s teachings as the third debate reached its close, while Cui Hao struggled to find a response.
• Li Junzi ended the debate by thanking her opponents, then her cultivation fell back to the Confucian Scholar Realm.
• Chen Wenqian suggested canceling the remaining two debates, but Li Junzi insisted that a gentleman must pursue truth without fear.
• Li Junzi and her companions left for Bamboo Grove Cottage, subdued by their decisive defeat.
• Chen Baiqing hurried into the cottage and exclaimed, “Master, you're here.”

Chu Xingchen arrived after the Scholarly Debate and challenged Confucian scholars with the question, “Is a white horse not a horse?” His riddle left Yuyang Daozi, Cui Hao, and Li Junzi pondering, while Li Junzi sensed she was close to a new principle.

• Chu Xingchen joined Lin Luoyu, Chen Baiqing, Cui Hao, and Li Junzi after Cui Hao had lost the Scholarly Debate.
• Cui Hao asked who Yuyang Daozi was, and Yuyang introduced himself after Chu Xingchen drew him away from the paper.
• Chu Xingchen criticized the Confucian School for relying on ritual and asked whether a white horse was not a horse.
• Cui Hao praised Chu Xingchen’s argument as sophistry, and Chu Xingchen corrected him that it was philosophical thought.
• Li Junzi felt the question could lead her beyond her old perspective, while Chu Xingchen urged the group to see how the Great Confucians would answer it.

Chu Xingchen visited Bamboo Grove Cottage, where Chen Baiqing’s tea impressed Yuyang Daozi, while Junzi Academy prepared to counter Cui Hao’s sophistry. Days later, Cui Hao opened a Scholarly Debate by claiming that a white horse was not a horse.

• Chen Baiqing brewed tea for Chu Xingchen and Yuyang Daozi, whose first sip left him amazed by its clarity and flavor.
• Chu Xingchen told Chen Baiqing that his affairs at the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect were nearly finished and said his disciples mattered most.
• Chen Wenqian and the Great Confucians studied Cui Hao’s strange arguments and prepared notes to guard against future sophistry.
• Cui Hao skipped the preparation period, asked Chen Wenqian whether a white horse was a horse, and declared that it was not.

Cui Hao used the white-horse argument to challenge the foundations of Confucian ritual, leaving Chen Wenqian unable to refute him before time ran out. As Li Junzi prepared to take over the debate, she recalled Chu Xingchen urging her to cast aside the Second Sage’s books and focus on correcting wrongs through action.

• Cui Hao argued that a white horse was not simply a horse, forcing Chen Wenqian and the other Great Confucians into silence as they considered the challenge to Confucian ritual.
• The students outside passed notes to discuss the debate, while Chu Xingchen observed them and wondered whether Junzi Mountain sought more than fame.
• With the Destitute Brush signaling that time was short, Chen Wenqian said that winning arguments did not mean winning people’s hearts, and Cui Hao accepted the partial concession.
• Cui Hao yielded the floor to Li Junzi, who looked to Chu Xingchen before beginning her response.
• Three days earlier, Li Junzi had asked Chu Xingchen how to correct the errors she saw in the Second Sage’s principles, and he told her to cast aside the books and act.

Li Junzi argued that principles had to be tested through practice, not accepted solely because they appeared in books, then conceded the fourth scholarly debate to seek answers in the world. As she prepared to leave calligraphy at Junzi Mountain, the Broken Pen appeared before her, resonating with Righteousness Qi and Literary Qi.

• Li Junzi told the students that books were references, and that people could understand many principles only by putting them into practice.
• Li Junzi conceded the fourth scholarly debate, explaining that she still had much to learn and wanted to test her principles in the world.
• Li Junzi asked Chen Wenqian to postpone their fifth debate for five, ten, or twenty years, and Chen Wenqian agreed that Junzi Mountain would await her return.
• Chen Wenqian asked Li Junzi to leave calligraphy in the debate hall, and he and the students affirmed that she was a Great Confucian.
• As Li Junzi reached for her brush, the Broken Pen flew before her, glowing as Righteousness Qi and Literary Qi resonated.

Li Junzi accepted a brush associated with the Second Sage and wrote advice for students before deciding to travel the world. As she prepared to leave, Lin Luoyu and Yuyang Daozi gave her protective gifts, while Chu Xingchen hinted that he wanted another favor from Yuyang Daozi.

• Li Junzi took the battered brush, sensed the Second Sage’s scholarly energy, and wrote “read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles” on a sheet of paper.
• Chen Wenqian admired Li Junzi as she left the Scholarly Debate without claiming Junzi Mountain’s treasured brush.
• Li Junzi told Lin Luoyu that she intended to travel wherever the road took her, and Lin Luoyu fastened a protective jade bracelet around her wrist.
• Yuyang Daozi reflected on his pleasant stay, while Chu Xingchen persuaded him to provide Li Junzi with another protective treasure.
• Yuyang Daozi passed Chu Xingchen a wooden box, and Chu Xingchen asked whether he had heard of a Face Token.

Chu Xingchen borrowed Yuyang Daozi’s personal token as a convincing calling card, then returned to Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge with his disciples and gifts for Li Yingling. Li Yingling welcomed him back and quickly softened her complaints about managing the sect.

• Chu Xingchen explained that he wanted a token to help establish his identity, and Yuyang Daozi gave him a jade token bearing his name.
• Li Yingling asked Zhang Miaoyu for news from her master and received a letter from Junzi Mountain.
• Chu Xingchen arrived at Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge with his disciples and praised Li Yingling for managing the sect.
• Chu Xingchen gave Li Yingling expensive jewelry, and she stopped complaining about his absence.
• Chen Baiqing watched the exchange and thought that Master really had the touch, while Cui Hao rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Chu Xingchen toured the developing sect with his disciples and discovered that Cui Hao had designed a house with a retractable mechanical roof for Sandong. The demonstration left everyone bewildered, and Chu Xingchen praised Cui Hao’s talent as the tour ended.

• Chu Xingchen enjoyed seeing Li Yingling pleased with the gifts he had given her and decided to inspect the sect she had been managing.
• Li Yingling led Chu Xingchen and the others around the construction site, showing them the developing buildings and the flower garden.
• Li Yingling credited Cui Hao with designing distinctive buildings and pointed out Sandong’s unusual house.
• Sandong demonstrated how its jade token made the house’s mechanical roof open and close, leaving Chu Xingchen and the others stunned.
• Chu Xingchen patted Cui Hao on the shoulder and told him he had real talent.

Cui Hao’s design for Sandong’s house won the group’s applause, and Chu Xingchen later reunited with Li Xingtian while visiting the unfinished sect at Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge. At the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect, Chu Xingchen arrived as Bai Xuanling teased Xie Lingyu about having a sweetheart, leaving Xie Lingyu and Chu Xingchen greeting each other warmly.

• Chu Xingchen, Li Yingling, Chen Baiqing, and Sandong applauded Cui Hao’s design, while Lin Luoyu and Yuyang Daozi stayed quiet.
• Sandong remained behind to decorate its new house, and Yuyang Daozi questioned Chu Xingchen about the sparse Spiritual Power at Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge.
• Chu Xingchen met Li Xingtian near the Main Hall, and Li Xingtian assured him that everything in the sect was going smoothly.
• At the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect, Xie Lingyu visited Bai Xuanling, who teased her about having a sweetheart while Yan Yun listened.
• Chu Xingchen entered and greeted Xie Lingyu, who stood and replied warmly as Bai Xuanling and Yan Yun watched.

Chu Xingchen reunited with Xie Lingyu at the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect, where they spoke about ordinary matters and the house he had arranged for her at Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge. Lü Xuan still believed Yan Yun needed to prepare seriously for the upcoming match, while Xie Lingyu agreed to inspect her new house when she had time.

• Xie Lingyu told Chu Xingchen she had gone into seclusion after a flash of inspiration, while Bai Xuanling mocked her and left the courtyard.
• Yan Yun joined Bai Xuanling outside, and Lü Xuan arrived asking whether Chu Xingchen had returned.
• Lü Xuan went inside to see Chu Xingchen but soon came back out, claiming he had left because Chu Xingchen had flattered him too much.
• Lü Xuan urged Yan Yun to show her strength in the approaching match, without telling her that the arrangements had changed after Chu Xingchen's victory.
• Chu Xingchen told Xie Lingyu he had arranged a house for her at Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge, and she said she would go take a look when she had time.

Yan Yun attacked Xu Jin with full force in their sparring match, forcing him to respond in kind. Meanwhile, Li Moze rejected Luo Yue’s request to honor the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect’s ancient promise, leaving the frail fairy with no apparent recourse.

• Xu Jin expected a perfunctory match, but Yan Yun rushed him with a star-powered killing strike as soon as the bell rang.
• Xu Jin was driven backward by Yan Yun’s opening attack and raised his Spirit Treasure longsword to meet her continued assault.
• Lü Xuan and the others continued negotiations in the council hall while Luo Yue reflected on how others had acted on its behalf.
• Li Moze told Luo Yue that the sect’s records contained no proof of its promised fallback arrangement and said the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect could not grant its request.
• Luo Yue accepted the rejection with dejection, aware that its weakness left it unable to fight for its people’s homeland.

Chu Xingchen proposed a system for the Fairies’ Homeland that balanced Fairy self-government with human access and support from the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect and the Heavenly Derivation Sect. The leaders considered his plan, but the chapter ended before they responded.

• Li Moze offered the Fairies a homeland under their autonomous jurisdiction, protected by the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect, the Heavenly Derivation Sect, and other Immortal Sects, while reserving human passage and oversight of legal enforcement.
• Luo Yue challenged the proposal, demanding safeguards against humans capturing or deceiving Fairies and objecting that the two sects would retain too much control.
• As Li Moze pressed Luo Yue to accept or end negotiations, Chu Xingchen rose and asked to present a proposal.
• Chu Xingchen proposed restricted entry through tokens, Fairy-issued passage permits, compensation by the sects that issued tokens, early trade support, and recognition of the Fairies’ right to govern themselves.
• Li Moze lowered his eyes and considered Chu Xingchen’s proposal as silence fell over the hall.

Chu Xingchen’s negotiations with Li Moze and Luo Yue ended in an agreement to cooperate on trade and the release of spirit veins at Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge. The group reached Wuxu Arena, where Yan Yun and Xu Jin were locked in a fierce sparring match, and Xu Jin suddenly unleashed a stronger azure power.

• Li Moze considered Chu Xingchen’s proposal, and Luo Yue agreed to the plan after they discussed its terms.
• Luo Yue left the ship with Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu as the sect leaders headed to Wuxu Arena to watch their disciples spar.
• The group saw Yan Yun emerge from a crater with multiple wounds, while Xu Jin was also bleeding after their clash.
• Lü Xuan and Li Moze returned to their seats after confirming that Xu Jin had suffered the worse injuries so far.
• Xu Jin’s power surged with an azure aura, and he transformed his spirit treasure into vapor before slashing at the charging Yan Yun.

After the tournament, the sect leaders celebrated aboard the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle while Yan Yun came to terms with her loss and Chu Xingchen apologized for his harsh words. At Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge, Li Yingling finished her duties and planned to resume cultivation and take her junior brother traveling.

• Lü Xuan celebrated the Heavenly Derivation Sect’s gains and planned to use its success to rein in troublesome elders.
• Yan Yun felt guilty over losing to Xu Jin, but Lü Xuan reassured her and Chu Xingchen later apologized after Xie Lingyu quietly encouraged them to reconcile.
• Bai Xuanling urged Chu Xingchen to pursue what he wanted while he was young, then reflected on her own youth.
• Li Yingling handled sect business while Zhang Miaoyu and others taught Zhou Ping, whose painfully slow progress tested their patience.
• Li Yingling finished her work early and decided to cultivate more and take her junior brother traveling with her.

Green Snake reflected on its construction work and received tea from Chen Baiqing while she, Cui Hao, Lin Luoyu, and Sandong gathered by the pool. Chu Xingchen returned with Xie Lingyu, leaving Chen Baiqing happily reunited with her master.

• Green Snake headed for the cultivation rooms after finishing its work on the Sect, but stopped when it saw Chen Baiqing brewing tea by the pool.
• Chen Baiqing poured Green Snake a cup and thanked it for its hard work on the Sect's construction.
• Cui Hao asked whether Chu Xingchen would soon return, and Chen Baiqing said no one knew how busy he was.
• Chu Xingchen arrived with Xie Lingyu and told her that Chen Baiqing could show her around.
• Xie Lingyu greeted the group, and Chu Xingchen patted Chen Baiqing as she welcomed him back.