Chapter Summaries

Li Rui received He Qiannian’s guidance about pursuing the Dao Embryo Realm through perfected External Skills, then kept watch aboard the ship as it entered the Red River. The escort encountered Chen Ming, who arrived to deliver a gift to the Third Princess and lifted the enormous ship with his shoulder pole.

• He Qiannian explained the Dao Embryo Realm and advised Li Rui that perfected External Skills might lead to it, while regretting his own hasty breakthrough.
• Li Rui thanked He Qiannian, then returned to his room and continued training before taking the night watch.
• Ning Zhongtian reported that the ship’s patrols had found nothing amiss, and Li Rui stood watch through the night as they sailed along the Red River.
• At dawn, Li Rui saw a powerful young man approach the ship in a small boat carrying a shoulder pole.
• Chen Ming of Shu announced that he had come to deliver a gift to the Wu Country Third Princess, then lifted the great ship above the river with his pole.

Chen Ming disrupted the ship carrying Xia Yun, but Ghost Underworld Sect agents continued their plan to kill her and sabotage the marriage alliance. After Xia Yun failed to recruit Li Rui, the Blood Spirit Grand Array activated and monsters attacked the ship.

• Chen Ming lifted the great ship with his carrying pole, then left after He Qiannian forced it back onto the river; Xia Yun explained that Chen Ming had come to avenge a friend.
• Ghost Underworld Sect agents decided to proceed with their attack that night and sent someone to watch Chen Ming.
• Xia Yun invited Li Rui to join her in the capital, but he refused and she accepted his decision.
• Rotting corpses rose from the Red River and climbed onto the ship despite the Anning Guard’s crossbow fire.
• Nie Siming recognized the attack as the Blood Spirit Grand Array.

Li Rui and the Anning Guard fought off the Blood Spirit Demons as Blood Shadow Old Ancestor’s avatars kept He Qiannian and Nie Siming occupied. Just as the Ghost Underworld Sect was about to attack Nie Siming, an unknown voice declared that only they could take Xia Yun’s life.

• Blood Spirit Demons attacked the ship, and Xia Yun revealed their ranks before cutting down a bronze corpse with her sword.
• Nie Siming escorted Xia Yun to the ship’s Secret Chamber while Li Rui led the Anning Guard in forming an array and holding back the demons.
• Li Rui realized He Qiannian had been intercepted and saw that the fighting on deck was only part of a larger assault.
• He Qiannian faced Blood Shadow Old Ancestor’s avatar on the ship’s second level, while Nie Siming confronted another avatar and several Ghost Underworld Sect martial artists near the Secret Chamber.
• As Blood Shadow Old Ancestor’s attackers prepared to strike Nie Siming, an unknown voice declared that only they could take Xia Yun’s life.

Li Rui pursued and killed the hook-nosed Innate Martial Artist who had fled the attack on the Third Princess, then returned to the ship after Chen Ming defeated the Blood Spirit avatars. The crisis ended, and Li Rui received confirmation that he had completed the Challenge Beyond Your Rank 2 achievement storyline.

• The Blood Spirit Demons collapsed after Earth Immortal experts fought below deck, and a hook-nosed man fled toward the Red River.
• Li Rui chased the hook-nosed man into the forest and killed him with Flood Dragon Slayer after activating Demon Subduing Victory.
• Li Rui searched the corpse, took a jade bottle, concealed the body, and returned to the ship.
• Ning Zhongtian told Li Rui that Chen Ming had destroyed the Blood Shadow Old Ancestor’s two Earth Immortal-strength Blood Spirit avatars.
• Nie Siming praised Li Rui for killing the escaped enemy, and Li Rui asked Ning Zhongtian to keep the feat secret.
• Li Rui’s panel announced that he had completed the Challenge Beyond Your Rank 2 achievement storyline.

After receiving a Dao Seed and accepting He Qiannian’s token, Li Rui left the ship briefly to consume a Mystic Spirit Pill that improved his spiritual root. He learned that he and his companions would escort Third Princess Xia Yun to the capital, where he hoped to find rare materials to raise his spiritual root further.

• Li Rui received a Dao Seed, realized it might help him reach the Dao Embryo Realm, and accepted He Qiannian’s invitation token.
• Li Rui saw Chen Ming guarding Xia Yun’s room and reaffirmed his resolve to stay away from Xia Yun’s plans.
• The ship stopped at Huainan Prefecture, where Xue Gui arrived and Li Rui slipped away from the docks unnoticed.
• Li Rui swallowed the Mystic Spirit Pill taken from the hawk-nosed man, raising his spiritual root, and wondered why the Ghost Underworld Sect had refined it.
• After Li Rui met with Xia Yun alongside Nie Siming and He Qiannian, he told his companions that Xue Gui had ordered them to escort the princess to the capital.
• Li Rui and his companions prepared to enter the capital, where Li Rui hoped to find materials for advancing his spiritual root.

Li Rui and the Anning Guard arrived in the capital escorting Third Princess Xia Yun, who entered the Imperial City while they were lodged nearby. That evening, Gu Changsheng came to meet Li Rui, leaving his purpose unclear.

• Jiang Linxian and Gu Changsheng discussed Li Rui's arrival and the Third Princess before parting at the capital gates.
• Li Rui, He Qiannian, and the Anning Guard sailed into the capital, where Xia Yun was received by the Court of State Ceremonial.
• Xia Yun entered the Imperial City by boat, while the Anning Guard was taken to the Bureau of Receptions.
• Li Rui ordered Ning Zhongtian to keep the soldiers in groups of five and warned them not to cause trouble during their seven-day stay.
• Gu Changsheng visited Li Rui at the Bureau of Receptions and introduced himself.

Li Rui accepted Gu Changsheng’s invitation to become a guest elder of Inquiry Immortal Pavilion and received a Muscle Tendon Changing Great Pill as a welcome gift. After spending the night at the Bureau of Receptions, he explored the capital and returned to cultivate.

• Gu Changsheng visited Li Rui, praised his help to Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, and invited him to become a guest elder.
• Li Rui accepted the position, received an Inquiry Immortal Pavilion jade token, and completed the Join a Great Sect achievement for 20 Achievement Points.
• Gu Changsheng gave Li Rui a Muscle Tendon Changing Great Pill and invited him to visit the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
• The next morning, Li Rui explored the capital, bought fried dough rings, and asked a peddler for directions to Pill Cauldron Pavilion.
• Li Rui returned to the Bureau of Receptions at noon and continued cultivating.

Li Rui swallowed the Muscle Tendon Changing Great Pill and reached the brink of the Innate Realm. After exploring the capital’s Eastern Market with his companions, he learned that he and Nie Siming would serve as examiners for the Martial Examination.

• Li Rui swallowed the Muscle Tendon Changing Great Pill, purified and strengthened his body, and advanced to half a step into the Innate Realm.
• Ning Zhongtian, Ge Hong, Wei Ming, and the others returned from the capital’s Education Office, then joined Li Rui on a shopping trip through the Eastern Market.
• Li Rui and his companions browsed the Eastern Market until the shops closed, spending nearly all their money on its wares.
• Nie Siming summoned Li Rui and told him that Vice Minister Wang had asked them to serve as examiners for the Martial Examination.
• Nie Siming noticed that Li Rui’s aura had changed, and Li Rui agreed to remain in the capital for the Grand Examination.

Li Rui went to the Ministry of War training grounds to learn about his duties as an examiner for the martial examination, which included a new Suppression Examination involving demon beasts. He used his Cloud Province connections to join a gathering of capital officials, who warmed to him after learning he served as an instructor at Marquis Yuan’s manor.

• Li Rui took Tan Hu and Ge Hong to the Ministry of War training grounds, where he met Nie Siming and Vice Minister Wang among the examiners.
• Vice Minister Wang welcomed the examiners, and a Ministry of War Director explained that they would maintain order during the martial examination, including its new demon-beast Suppression Examination.
• After the briefing, Li Rui approached Lin Hai, identified himself as a fellow native of Cloud Province, and accepted an invitation to White Crane Pavilion.
• Lin Hai introduced Li Rui to three capital officials, who became eager to befriend him when they learned he served as an instructor at Marquis Yuan’s manor.

Li Rui attended the Martial Examination in the capital, built connections with officials and promising examinees, and watched the strength trials begin. The examination’s decisive Suppression Examination still lay ahead, with a fearsome Nine Yin Flood Dragon awaiting the candidates.

• Li Rui discussed Marquis Yuan with Ma Xuan and joined capital officials for a friendly evening of drinking.
• After seven days, Li Rui arrived at the Martial Examination with Tan Hu and Ge Hong, greeted officials, and spoke with Nie Siming.
• Li Rui learned that the examination’s trial beast was a powerful Nine Yin Flood Dragon that few Ocean Gazing Realm martial artists could subdue.
• The Martial Examination began with strength bouts, and Li Rui oversaw matches at the Si-stage while building rapport with candidates, especially those from Cloud Province.
• That evening, Li Rui and other officials discussed standout candidates, including Xu Yan of Hai Province, and wondered who could earn Grade A Top by subduing the flood dragon.

The Martial Examination’s Suppression Examination tested Ocean Gazing candidates against five powerful demonic beasts, and Xu Yan advanced to face the Nine Yin Flood Dragon. When the dragon nearly killed him, Li Rui subdued it with one hand, catching the Holy Emperor’s attention.

• Candidates withdrew or fought the demonic beasts as Vice Minister Wang, Nie Siming, and the examiners oversaw the Suppression Examination.
• Xu Yan defeated the Two-Headed Tiger Lion Beast and three more beasts before facing the Nine Yin Flood Dragon.
• The Nine Yin Flood Dragon revealed its concealed strength, injured Xu Yan, and nearly devoured him.
• Li Rui appeared and pressed the Nine Yin Flood Dragon into the drill ground with one hand.
• The Holy Emperor praised Li Rui’s feat and asked who he was, and the old eunuch identified him as Li Rui of Cloud Province.

Li Rui suppressed the Nine Yin Flood Dragon during the Martial Examination and earned the admiration of officials and candidates. After attending a banquet hosted by Lin Hai, he learned that the Holy Emperor wished to meet him, though he was told to finish his wine first.

• Li Rui struck down the Nine Yin Flood Dragon, and the examiners bound it and returned it to its cage.
• Vice Minister Wang praised Li Rui, while Xu Yan thanked him for saving his life and returned to the candidates.
• After the Suppression Examination ended, Li Rui accepted Lin Hai's invitation and declined other officials' invitations by promising to host them for tea another day.
• Lin Hai introduced Li Rui to a small circle of court officials at Eastern Treasure Pavilion, where they welcomed him and offered him a private courtyard residence.
• Eunuch Zheng arrived with the Holy Emperor's verbal decree, saying that the Holy Emperor wished to meet Li Rui after he finished his wine.

After the Holy Emperor summoned Li Rui, he waited at the Bureau of Receptions before following Eunuch Zheng into the Imperial City. Eunuch Zheng led him through the palace to the Imperial Garden, where the Holy Emperor was waiting.

• Eunuch Zheng told Li Rui that the Holy Emperor wanted to see him after court, and the officials at the banquet toasted him in anticipation of his advancement.
• Li Rui explained the summons to Tan Hu and Ge Hong, then returned to the Bureau of Receptions and found that he and his companions had been given upgraded quarters.
• Li Rui practiced overnight and waited at the Bureau of Receptions until Eunuch Zheng arrived around noon.
• Li Rui followed Eunuch Zheng into the Imperial City, where Eunuch Zheng explained palace rules as they walked.
• Eunuch Zheng brought Li Rui to the Imperial Garden and pointed out the pavilion where the Holy Emperor was waiting.

Li Rui shared hotpot with the Holy Emperor, who confirmed his place in the Royal Dark Guard and earned him an S-grade achievement reward. After the banquet, Eunuch Zheng offered to introduce him to Commander Yang and revealed that Director Gu was also a Dark Guard Commandant.

• The Holy Emperor invited Li Rui to eat flood-dragon hotpot and discussed his memories of Shu Region.
• The Holy Emperor learned Li Rui had served as a Dark Guard and revealed that he had already approved Li Rui's membership in the Royal Dark Guard.
• Li Rui thanked the Holy Emperor for making his Dark Guard identity official, and the banquet ended on friendly terms.
• Li Rui received an S-grade evaluation and 50 Achievement Points for completing the Audience with the Emperor mission.
• Li Rui gave Eunuch Zheng tokens to collect demon beasts and agreed to meet Commander Yang, while Eunuch Zheng mentioned Commandant Gu, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau's Director.

Li Rui learned that the Dark Guard secretly sought out Fallen Immortals and restrained those who broke the rules, then returned to the Bureau of Receptions with a Jade Talisman for emergencies. He kept his new duties secret from Tan Hu and Ge Hong, just as a woman arrived asking for Elder Li.

• Eunuch Zheng brought Li Rui to meet Yang Bing, who welcomed him as a new member of the Dark Guard.
• Yang Bing explained that Li Rui was one of twenty Mountain-Seeking Envoys and that the Dark Guard operated outside ordinary Ministry of Personnel registration.
• Yang Bing revealed that the Dark Guard had been established by the Holy Emperor to find and restrain Fallen Immortals who had returned to the mortal world.
• Yang Bing gave Li Rui a Jade Talisman to summon a guest advisor if a Fallen Immortal broke the rules, and told him to return to Cloud Province in a few days.
• Li Rui returned to the Bureau of Receptions and kept the Dark Guard's secrets from Tan Hu and Ge Hong.
• A woman arrived at the Bureau of Receptions and asked whether Elder Li was there.

Li Rui reunited with Jiang Yan and Yao Xue in the capital, then followed clues to Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion’s hidden underground meeting with Jiang Linxian and Gu Changsheng. Jiang Linxian asked him to use his new authority as a Mountain-Seeking Envoy to find and kill a Fallen Immortal, and Li Rui readily agreed.

• Li Rui met Jiang Yan and Yao Xue, and the three went shopping together in East Market.
• Li Rui entered Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion’s rear courtyard using his Dark Guard jade token and found a concealed underground passage.
• Li Rui met Jiang Linxian and Gu Changsheng underground, accepted a spiritual pill, and learned that they had tested him on his way to becoming a Mountain-Seeking Envoy.
• Jiang Linxian asked Li Rui to help locate and kill a Fallen Immortal, and Li Rui agreed without hesitation.

Li Rui returned from the capital to Clear River, where he learned of a possible immortal sighting in the Ten Thousand Mountains and resumed his cultivation. After taking the Nine Yang Pill, he reached the threshold of the Innate Realm.

• Gu Changsheng gave Li Rui a Nine Yang Pill after Li Rui agreed to help Jiang Linxian pursue the Fallen Immortal who had killed his wife.
• Li Rui declined Xia Xiaotang's invitation to stay for the Third Princess's wedding, gave her a wedding gift, and accepted a Witch Kingdom Imperial Family token.
• Li Rui, Ge Hong, and Tan Hu returned to Clear River, where Ning Zhongtian eagerly questioned them about their adventures in the capital.
• Ning Zhongtian told Li Rui that reports of an immortal in the Ten Thousand Mountains had spread, and that he had sent people to investigate.
• Li Rui swallowed the Nine Yang Pill, and its medicinal power pushed him to the threshold of the Innate Realm.

Li Rui reached the Innate Realm and shared the news with Iron Madman, who explained the next stages of cultivation. Meanwhile, Qu Chengfeng inspected the newly built sect in the Ten Thousand Mountains and named it Purple Gold Palace.

• Li Rui broke through to the Innate Realm, transforming his body so every part could draw on true qi.
• Li Rui told Iron Madman about his breakthrough, and Iron Madman gave him guidance on tempering his body, heart, and spirit.
• Qu Chengfeng praised the new sect built in the Ten Thousand Mountains, while Blood Shadow Old Ancestor stood respectfully beside him.
• The Immortal Spirit Phoenix, Celestial Ox Vermilion Toad, and Three-Eyed Ghost Elephant appeared as the sect’s three remaining pillars.
• Qu Chengfeng named the sect Purple Gold Palace.

Li Rui investigated the Purple Gold Palace and met with Lin Wan of the Heaven Origin Commerce Association, agreeing to pursue business with her. He then visited He Qiannian at the Thousand Crane Martial Hall and found the elder lifting massive blocks of Nine Nether Cold Iron.

• Li Rui told Ning Zhongtian to keep investigating the Purple Gold Palace and determine what kind of sect it was.
• Li Rui met Lin Wan, accepted her gift of Purification Talismans, and approved doing business with the Heaven Origin Commerce Association.
• Li Rui advised Liang He and Liu Tong to be cautious around Lin Wan and to handle business matters as they saw fit.
• Li Rui visited the Thousand Crane Martial Hall and followed Xiao Yu to He Qiannian's courtyard.
• Li Rui recognized the Nine Nether Cold Iron He Qiannian was lifting, and He Qiannian chided him for taking so long to visit.

He Qiannian taught Li Rui about the Upper Three Ranks and the Innate Dao Embryo, then gave him a notebook of martial insights. After Li Rui learned that the Purple Gold Palace had recruited deserters from the Anning Guard, he was ordered to investigate it and returned to cultivating.

• Li Rui praised He Qiannian to win his approval, and He Qiannian scolded Xiao Yu for failing to learn from Li Rui.
• He Qiannian explained the three ranks of Earth Immortals and said that reaching the Innate Dao Embryo might let Li Rui become a true Earth Immortal.
• He Qiannian gave Li Rui his notebook of martial insights and shared advice about the Innate Realm, hoping Li Rui would grow strong enough to defeat Jiang Linxian.
• Li Rui studied He Qiannian's notes and considered whether he could achieve the Innate Dao Embryo.
• Ning Zhongtian told Li Rui that deserters from the Anning Guard had joined the Purple Gold Palace, and Li Rui revealed that Yuan Dingting had ordered an investigation.
• Li Rui told Ning Zhongtian not to act rashly, then resumed his cultivation.