Chapter Summaries

Xiao Qingxiu discovered that the Eight Great Trading Houses had already embraced Jiang Xiaobai’s perfume and that he had lost his position as President. Jiang Xiaobai revealed that he had taken over permanently, leaving Xiao Qingxiu stunned.

• Guo Youquan and the other stewards praised Xiao Qingxiu for supposedly giving up his scented balm business, while Xiao Qingxiu realized they had misunderstood his warning.
• Xiao Qingxiu opened the perfume bottle, smelled its rich osmanthus fragrance, and understood that the Eight Great Trading Houses had sincerely chosen Jiang Xiaobai’s product.
• Xiao Qingxiu smashed the perfume bottle and threatened the trading houses, claiming the Capital Merchants’ Guild was still under his command.
• The stewards’ reactions made Xiao Qingxiu realize he had lost the presidency, and they silently indicated Jiang Xiaobai was the new President.
• Jiang Xiaobai explained that he had temporarily filled in for Xiao Qingxiu but had somehow become President permanently, then reminded him that business worked that way.

Jiang Xiaobai drove Xiao Qingxiu out of the First-Rank Tower after exposing his collusion with Northern Yu, then set terms for the Eight Great Trading Houses to compete for perfume allocations. Outside, Xiao Qingxiu lamented losing his presidency and regretted provoking Jiang Xiaobai.

• Xiao Qingxiu charged at Jiang Xiaobai, but the Elder Princess kicked him away before Tang Ningshuang could draw her sword.
• Jiang Xiaobai challenged Xiao Qingxiu to complain to the emperor and threatened to report his collusion with Northern Yu; Helian Zhaoyue confirmed that she had colluded with him.
• Jiang Xiaobai cited the delegations as witnesses, and Xiao Qingxiu left the Inner Hall with Boss Pan, Boss Song, and Boss Feng.
• Jiang Xiaobai offered each of the Eight Great Trading Houses a perfume sample and asked them to submit proposals detailing their distribution and business terms.
• Outside the First-Rank Tower, Xiao Qingxiu complained about losing his presidency and regretted provoking Jiang Xiaobai over the liquor and scented balm businesses.

Jiang Xiaobai confirmed the Fang Family would handle the first perfume release, then went to the Heavenly Mechanism Workshop to investigate how Xiao Qingxiu had obtained the brewing equipment plans. He arrived at Mo Li’s residence and saw a mysterious woman dart into the inner room.

• Xiao Qingxiu left the First-Rank Tower with the others, vowing that his dispute with Jiang Xiaobai was not over.
• Jiang Xiaobai finalized arrangements with the Eight Great Trading Houses and reaffirmed that the Fang Family would receive the first perfume batch.
• Jiang Xiaobai offered Helian Zhaoyue special discounts on alcoholic drinks, while she remained frustrated by his leverage over Northern Yu.
• Fang Rongshan thanked Jiang Xiaobai for supporting the Fang Family, and Fang Tong said he would return to Su City with the Wantong Money House and explained that Ning Xinlan had taken Jiang Xiaobai’s calligraphy.
• Jiang Xiaobai went to the Heavenly Mechanism Workshop to find out how Xiao Qingxiu had obtained the brewing equipment plans.
• After a crash sounded inside Mo Li’s residence, Jiang Xiaobai opened the door and saw a beautiful woman slip into the inner room and shut the door.

Jiang Xiaobai mistook the woman hidden in Mo Li’s room for a secret lover and then joined Mo Li’s investigation of the equipment leak. At the secret chamber, he threatened Elder Zou with a series of gruesome tortures, leaving the captive panicked and about to speak up.

• Jiang Xiaobai assumed Mo Li had hidden a beauty in his room, while Tang Ningshuang realized he had not guessed Mo Li’s secret.
• Chang Ying led Jiang Xiaobai, Tang Ningshuang, and the Elder Princess back to Mo Li’s room, where Mo Li claimed he had just returned.
• Mo Li told Jiang Xiaobai that Elder Zou still denied involvement in the equipment leak, so Jiang Xiaobai asked to question him.
• Jiang Xiaobai visited Elder Zou in the secret chamber, rejected his offer to finish the Mystic Scale Armor, and described numerous torture methods.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Mo Li to prepare the tortures, and Elder Zou protested that Jiang Xiaobai had not even questioned him yet.

Jiang Xiaobai questioned Elder Zou about betraying the Heavenly Mechanism Workshop, then asked Mo Li to have the workshop build equipment for making perfume. The chapter ended with Jiang Xiaobai asking to meet Mo Li’s wife, who was still in the inner room.

• Jiang Xiaobai questioned Elder Zou, who admitted leaking the liquor-making equipment to Xiao Qingxiu and named six other workshop members involved.
• Elder Zou revealed that Xiao Qingxiu had promised him the chief steward position at a planned Ingenious Craftwork Grounds in exchange for the equipment.
• Jiang Xiaobai ordered Mo Li to send Elder Zou to the Court of Judicial Review, and Mo Li told Chang Ying to arrest the six people Elder Zou had named.
• Jiang Xiaobai drew designs for perfume-making equipment and asked Mo Li to have trusted workers make it as soon as possible.
• Jiang Xiaobai noticed Mo Li’s closed inner room and asked him to bring out his wife so they could meet.

After Jiang Xiaobai returned to the Duke of the State's Estate, the Elder Princess and the White-Dressed Woman helped stabilize his energy as he broke through toward the first rank. The chapter ended with the Elder Princess teasing her senior sister about touching a man for the first time.

• Jiang Xiaobai left the Heavenly Mechanism Workshop after asking Mo Li to deal with those who leaked information, and Mo Li returned to his room to hold the dress left behind.
• The Elder Princess entered Jiang Xiaobai's room after he fell asleep, knocked him unconscious, and prepared to help him cultivate.
• The White-Dressed Woman arrived and told the Elder Princess that the Hidden Edge Sect had attracted many visitors, including people from the Western Desert and the First Rank Hall.
• Jiang Xiaobai's energy turned chaotic as he began breaking through to the first rank, and the Elder Princess asked the White-Dressed Woman to help because he was cultivating the Yin-Yang Limitless Art.
• The Elder Princess and the White-Dressed Woman combined their Internal Energy to settle Jiang Xiaobai's power, while Tang Ningshuang entered the room and saw them helping him.
• The Elder Princess explained Jiang Xiaobai's cultivation foundation and teased the White-Dressed Woman about touching a man for the first time.

After discovering his body had improved, Jiang Xiaobai challenged Tang Ningshuang and was quickly defeated, then planned to ask Chen Jian to develop unusual martial techniques. He oversaw the start of perfume production at the Duke of the State's Estate, where Jiang Jingcheng received an unexpected letter.

• Jiang Xiaobai woke with a sore neck, found his muscles more defined, and noticed his strength and reactions had improved.
• Tang Ningshuang defeated Jiang Xiaobai in a spar and told him to learn basic fighting techniques before challenging her again.
• Jiang Xiaobai decided to ask Chen Jian to research martial techniques based on ideas and principles he supplied.
• Jiang Xiaobai had perfume-making equipment assembled, bought flower petals, and began producing perfume at the Duke of the State's Estate.
• After the perfume's fragrance spread through the estate, Jiang Jingcheng praised Jiang Xiaobai's success, and a military officer brought him a letter.

Jiang Xiaobai learned that Xiao Qingxiu had arrived at the First-Rank Tower with two allies and went there to confront him. He entered the silent Inner Hall and faced Xiao Qingxiu, an elderly man, and a formidable middle-aged man.

• Jiang Jingcheng received an invitation from the Dragon-Tiger Sect to visit the Hidden Edge Sect and said he would consider going.
• Zhang Xinnian reported that Helian Zhaoyue's Northern Yu Delegation had left the capital and was heading toward the Hidden Edge Sect.
• A First-Rank Tower servant told Jiang Xiaobai that Xiao Qingxiu had come with two people and seemed to be targeting him.
• Jiang Xiaobai set out for the First-Rank Tower with Tang Ningshuang and the Elder Princess, intending to settle the dispute with Xiao Qingxiu.
• Jiang Xiaobai entered the Inner Hall and found Xiao Qingxiu standing beside an elderly man and a burly middle-aged man.

Jiang Xiaobai forced Xiao Qingxiu and the White-Haired Elder to yield the seat of honor, then clashed with their companions after the burly man attacked him. He took the seat and ordered the attendants to clear the room so he could speak privately with the four chairmen.

• Jiang Xiaobai challenged the White-Haired Elder for sitting above Xiao Qingxiu, using the imperial family's status to pressure him into yielding the seat.
• Jiang Xiaobai then accused Xiao Qingxiu of disrespecting the imperial family and stealing a commoner's seat, forcing Xiao Qingxiu to give it up.
• The burly man attacked Jiang Xiaobai with a pebble, but Tang Ningshuang deflected it and the Elder Princess struck the attacker before clashing with the White-Haired Elder.
• Jiang Xiaobai fired his Desert Eagle at the burly man, but the White-Haired Elder used internal energy to deflect the bullets.
• Jiang Xiaobai sat in the seat of honor and ordered the attendants to remove Xiao Qingxiu and the others before his confidential meeting with the four chairmen.

Jiang Xiaobai rejected First Rank Hall’s demand that he surrender First-Rank Tower and half the perfume profits to Xiao Qingxiu. He promised to give the White-Haired Elder his answer that night and prepared to confront him at Tianfeng Restaurant.

• The White-Haired Elder demanded that Jiang Xiaobai give up the presidency of First-Rank Tower and hand over his perfume trade, then offered to let him remain Vice President and keep half the profits.
• Jiang Xiaobai refused to be intimidated by the elder’s threats and claims about First Rank Hall, and agreed to meet him the next morning—before saying he would visit Tianfeng Restaurant that night with his answer.
• After the elder and Xiao Qingxiu left, Jiang Xiaobai assured the four chairmen that he would settle the matter that night.
• Outside First-Rank Tower, Jiang Xiaobai ordered Zhang Xinnian to clear Tianfeng Restaurant’s guests, buy the restaurant, and bring ten cannons from the military camp.

Jiang Xiaobai brought a hundred soldiers and ten cannons to surround Tianfeng Restaurant after the White-Haired Elder threatened him over the perfume business. As the force arrived, the Elder and his companions waited inside, expecting to use the Shadowguard Bureau to trap Jiang Xiaobai.

• Jiang Xiaobai ordered ten cannons prepared and set out to confront the White-Haired Elder at Tianfeng Restaurant.
• Zhang Xinnian cleared the restaurant of guests and gathered a hundred soldiers and ten covered cannons at the Duke of the State's Estate.
• Jiang Xiaobai mounted a horse with Tang Ningshuang and the Elder Princess, then led the troops toward Tianfeng Restaurant.
• The White-Haired Elder told his companions he expected Jiang Xiaobai to bring troops and revealed that Chief Commander Jin Sheng of the Shadowguard Bureau had been notified.
• A rumbling outside announced the arrival of Jiang Xiaobai's force, and the White-Haired Elder smiled as he heard it.

Jiang Xiaobai surrounded Tianfeng Restaurant with cannons and confronted the First Rank Hall leaders, laying out demands they refused. As he left, Jin Sheng arrived with a group who looked like Shadowguard Bureau men.

• Jiang Xiaobai ordered Zhang Xinnian to position ten cannons around Tianfeng Restaurant and entered with Tang Ningshuang and the Elder Princess.
• A swordsman sent a sword past Jiang Xiaobai, then retrieved it with internal energy, while the White-Haired Elder questioned the soldiers outside.
• Jiang Xiaobai demanded that First Rank Hall submit to First-Rank Tower, that the burly man die, and that the swordsman kneel and call him Grandpa before revising the last demand to the swordsman's death.
• The White-Haired Elder rejected Jiang Xiaobai's terms, and the group left without the three First Rank Hall men attacking them.
• Zhang Xinnian reported that the cannons were ready, but Jin Sheng arrived with a group that looked like Shadowguard Bureau men.

Jiang Xiaobai used cannons to destroy Tianfeng Restaurant and defeat Elder He’s group after they rejected his conditions. He executed the wounded swordsman and threatened Elder He with an even larger attack on First Rank Hall’s headquarters.

• Jin Sheng arrived with the Shadowguard Bureau and demanded that Jiang Xiaobai withdraw his troops, but Jiang insisted Elder He accept his three conditions.
• Jiang ordered Zhang Xinnian’s soldiers to fire their cannons, killing the burly man and reducing Tianfeng Restaurant to rubble.
• Jin Sheng changed his stance and praised Jiang, claiming that Elder He was a rebel he had long intended to arrest.
• Jiang’s soldiers dragged the wounded Elder He and swordsman from the rubble, and Jiang shot the swordsman dead.
• Jiang threatened to bring ten thousand troops and a thousand cannons to First Rank Hall’s headquarters and asked Elder He what he thought.

Jiang Xiaobai spared He Chang Geng after forcing him to pledge the First Rank Hall’s loyalty and obey his orders. As Jiang Xiaobai departed, He Chang Geng asked Jin Sheng whether he had offended him.

• He Chang Geng begged Jiang Xiaobai to spare the First Rank Hall, offering to die in its place.
• Jiang Xiaobai agreed to leave the First Rank Hall alone if He Chang Geng followed him and accepted responsibility if anything happened to him.
• Jiang Xiaobai ordered He Chang Geng to let Xiao Qingxiu reclaim the First-Rank Tower presidency the next day.
• Jiang Xiaobai left with Tang Ningshuang, Zhang Xinnian, and the soldiers, while Jin Sheng helped the wounded He Chang Geng to his feet.
• He Chang Geng warned Jin Sheng that Jiang Xiaobai was ruthless and asked whether Jin Sheng had offended him.

Xiao Jinxuan sent Qin Zhaoye to seek the Former Emperor’s legacy at the Hidden Edge Sect, giving him three Hidden Edge Tokens. At the First-Rank Tower, Xiao Qingxiu expected to reclaim the presidency, but Jiang Xiaobai refused to concede and said he still wanted to fight for the seat.

• Xiao Jinxuan told Qin Zhaoye to compete at the Hidden Edge Sect and retrieve what the Former Emperor had left there.
• Xiao Jinxuan gave Qin Zhaoye three Hidden Edge Tokens, and Qin Zhaoye promised to spare no effort.
• Xiao Qingxiu waited outside the First-Rank Tower with three supporters, confident that the presidency would soon be his again.
• Xiao Qingxiu mocked Jiang Xiaobai when he arrived with Tang Ningshuang and the Elder Princess, and Jiang Xiaobai pretended to be enraged.
• Xiao Qingxiu headed for the President's seat, but Jiang Xiaobai challenged his right to sit there and said he still wanted to fight for it.

Jiang Xiaobai laid out demands to keep his presidency and take over Xiao Qingxiu’s businesses, while warning He Chang Geng’s First Rank Hall to stay out of the First-Rank Tower’s affairs. The chapter ended with He Chang Geng confronting Xiao Qingxiu and asking how Jiang Xiaobai had been arrogant.

• Xiao Qingxiu waited for He Chang Geng while Jiang Xiaobai sat in the principal seat, and the managers of the Eight Great Trading Houses arrived.
• He Chang Geng arrived looking exhausted, then sat down after Jiang Xiaobai invited him to talk.
• Jiang Xiaobai declared that he would remain president, bar the Young Prince from the perfume trade, take over his scented balm and alcohol businesses, and warn the First Rank Hall away from the First-Rank Tower.
• Xiao Qingxiu called Jiang Xiaobai arrogant and pointed out that He Chang Geng was a Seat Elder of the First Rank Hall.
• He Chang Geng slammed the table, stood up, and asked Xiao Qingxiu how Heir Jiang had been arrogant.

He Chang Geng sided with Jiang Xiaobai and promised that the First Rank Hall would stop interfering in the First-Rank Tower’s affairs. He ordered Xiao Qingxiu to shut down his businesses and left, while Jiang Xiaobai mocked Xiao Qingxiu’s ruined mood.

• He Chang Geng dismissed Jiang Xiaobai’s demands as insignificant and pledged that the First Rank Hall would no longer interfere in the First-Rank Tower’s affairs.
• He Chang Geng told Xiao Qingxiu to shut down all his business operations, explaining that he had learned Jiang Xiaobai possessed cannons.
• Xiao Qingxiu protested that He Chang Geng had promised to help him reclaim the presidency and gain a share of the perfume trade.
• He Chang Geng warned Xiao Qingxiu that he would speak to his father if he continued interfering, then took his leave.
• Jiang Xiaobai asked Xiao Qingxiu whether his mood was even more beautiful now.

Jiang Xiaobai finalized the Eight Great Trading Houses’ perfume allocations and left the First-Rank Tower after arranging the first shipment. Back at the Duke of the State’s Estate, he learned that his father was meeting three visitors from the Martial World and went to see them.

• Jiang Xiaobai revealed that he had won He Chang Geng’s support by treating him to tea, and Xiao Qingxiu fainted before his companions carried him away.
• Jiang Xiaobai gave the Fang Family responsibility for the first batch of perfume and granted each of the Eight Great Trading Houses a base allocation with additional shares tied to performance.
• Jiang Xiaobai arranged for the trading houses to collect the first batch from the Duke of the State’s Estate in three days, then left the First-Rank Tower with Tang Ningshuang and the Elder Princess.
• Jiang Xiaobai learned that his father was receiving three people from the Martial World in person and hurried to the main hall to see them.

Jiang Jingcheng hesitated to help the Dragon-Tiger Sect maintain order at Hidden Edge Mountain, worried his status as Duke of the State would entangle the sect with the authorities. Jiang Xiaobai offered to go in his place, then stunned his father by revealing he had twenty-four Hidden Edge Tokens.

• Zhongli Chen asked Jiang Jingcheng to visit Hidden Edge Mountain and help prevent trouble when it opened.
• Jiang Jingcheng worried his involvement as Duke of the State would make the Dragon-Tiger Sect seem to rely on the authorities.
• Jiang Xiaobai arrived with Tang Ningshuang and the Elder Princess and offered to keep order at Hidden Edge Mountain in his father's place.
• Jiang Xiaobai said he planned to go to Hidden Edge Mountain because he had Hidden Edge Tokens and wanted to watch the Northern Yu Delegation and Helian Zhaoyue.
• Jiang Xiaobai revealed he had obtained twenty-four Hidden Edge Tokens, leaving Jiang Jingcheng astonished.

Jiang Xiaobai proved he had twenty-four Hidden Edge Tokens and persuaded Zhongli Chen to let him go to Dragon-Tiger Mountain in Jiang Jingcheng's place. After arranging to leave in two days, Jiang Xiaobai headed out to pick up his brother Chen Jian.

• Jiang Xiaobai showed Jiang Jingcheng and Zhongli Chen all twenty-four Hidden Edge Tokens, then argued that he could go in his father's place.
• Shen Yun worried about Jiang Xiaobai's safety, but he reassured her that Tang Ningshuang, the Elder Princess, soldiers, and cannons would protect him.
• Jiang Jingcheng urged Zhongli Chen to trust Jiang Xiaobai, praising his role in the estate's rise, and Zhongli Chen agreed to take him along.
• Jiang Xiaobai and Zhongli Chen agreed to set off for Dragon-Tiger Mountain in two days, while Zhongli Chen and his two companions stayed in Capital City.
• Jiang Xiaobai left the main hall with Tang Ningshuang and the Elder Princess and headed for the estate gates to pick up his brother Chen Jian.