Chapter Summaries

Xiao Hua negotiated an alliance between Black Wind Ridge and the Luoyi Merchant Alliance by offering medicine, grain seeds, and other goods. Ying Bo accepted the partnership, and Xiao Hua agreed to teach the demons his medicine-refining technique.

• Xiao Hua showed Ying Bo medicine and grain seeds, explaining how the goods could help the Luoyi Merchant Alliance expand across human territories and the Sacred Realm of a Thousand Demons.
• Xiao Hua proposed that Black Wind Ridge supply the alliance with goods in exchange for proceeds and information, and Ying Bo consulted the nine elders.
• Ying Bo returned and agreed to the alliance, offering Black Wind Ridge seventy percent of its goods' proceeds, information, and Xiao Hua ten percent of the alliance's annual proceeds in exchange for his help when needed.
• Xiao Hua asked that his goods be credited to him and that the alliance accept alternatives to sea crystals or primordial stones, then formally sealed the alliance with Ying Bo.
• Ying Bo asked Xiao Hua to teach his clansmen medicine refining, and Xiao Hua agreed.

Xiao Hua traded goods with Ying Bo’s Luoyi Merchant Alliance and taught Ying Bo’s clansmen the Water Merging Technique, though only four could retain even part of it. He left for Star Picking Tower’s upcoming auction, learning that the North Sea Dragon Palace had not found the missing Confucian cultivator or fleeing demon, while a tsunami wind began to blow.

• Ying Bo brought more than thirty demons to meet Xiao Hua, who imparted the Water Merging Technique and offered to keep only those who remembered half of it.
• Xiao Hua filled Ying Bo’s Qiankun Rings with goods for auction and asked the Luoyi Merchant Alliance to seek information about magnetic forces and Extreme Magnetic Yuan Light.
• Only four demons remembered thirty percent of the technique, and Xiao Hua patiently instructed them in practicing it and refining medicinal agents.
• After three days, Xiao Hua gave medicinal agents to Ying Bo for delivery to Liu, then left with Ying Bo for Star Picking Tower’s auction.
• Ying Bo told Xiao Hua that the North Sea Dragon Palace had found no trace of the missing Confucian cultivator, and a strong tsunami wind began as they traveled.

Xiao Hua reached Star Picking Tower in Feather Spirit Bay during a violent sea storm and learned more about its power and the Luoyi Merchant Alliance’s hopes for him. Chief steward Zhong Qiao recognized him and hinted that Star Moon Palace had news, then led him to the auction hall’s upper platform.

• Ying Bo explained that Star Picking Tower stood apart from the North Sea Dragon Palace’s influence, while the storm’s winds forced Xiao Hua to leave Ying Bo behind and fly to the tower alone.
• Xiao Hua entered Star Picking Tower and stopped at its mysterious screen, prompting a staff member to summon chief steward Zhong Qiao.
• Zhong Qiao recognized Xiao Hua and said Zhu Qing was absent, so he asked her about Star Moon Palace.
• Zhong Qiao hinted that Star Moon Palace had news for Xiao Hua and led him up to the auction hall’s upper platform.

Xiao Hua learned that his grain-seed charity had spread across the Nine Provinces and could lead the Immortal Palace to reward him as a counterweight to Buddhist influence. He also learned that Star Moon Palace might not appear for at least two hundred years, then asked Xingyue to help locate rare materials.

• Zhong Qiao explained that Xiao Hua’s grain seeds had spread throughout the Nine Provinces, earning him popular support and a reputation as a savior.
• Zhong Qiao predicted that the Immortal Palace might grant Xiao Hua an amnesty and rewards to help counter Buddhist faith during the Immortal-Buddha War.
• Xiao Hua realized the Immortal Palace could use his reputation to strengthen the Confucian cultivators against Buddhism, unaware that he and Namo Guanyin Bodhisattva were the same person.
• Zhong Qiao said Star Moon Palace might take at least two hundred years to appear, with no certain upper limit.
• Xiao Hua gave Zhong Qiao a list of rare primordial magnetisms and innate materials and told her to ask Xingyue to help find them.

Xiao Hua tried to learn which Confucian cultivator Star Picking Tower was protecting and discovered that Du Shanjun was there. Du Shanjun visited him privately, warned that cultivation alone could not keep him safe, and offered to examine his cultivation, leaving Xiao Hua wary of exposing his body’s secrets.

• Xiao Hua asked Zhong Qiao about the Heroes Register and the materials for Teleportation Arrays and thunder boats, but she refused to reveal private information about Confucian cultivators.
• Xiao Hua realized the person he had come to trouble was Du Shanjun, and Zhong Qiao urged him not to threaten a guest protected by Star Picking Tower.
• A powerful divine sense swept over Xiao Hua, and he concealed his alarm by claiming he and Du Shanjun were old acquaintances who shared an affinity for Confucian cultivation.
• Du Shanjun arrived at Xiao Hua’s pavilion, set up restrictions, and spoke with him about the forces shaping their lives and Xiao Hua’s growing reputation.
• Du Shanjun warned Xiao Hua that cultivation alone might not protect him and asked him to withdraw his Invisibility Technique so he could examine his cultivation, making Xiao Hua fear he would discover his bodily secrets.

Du Shanjun discovered that Xiao Hua had cultivated the Crimson Infant Technique, which had confused his cultivation realms, and warned him to abandon it. He gave Xiao Hua the complete technique and pills for future breakthroughs, but Xiao Hua’s promise to help him only in matters that did not violate heaven and reason left their arrangement in conflict.

• Du Shanjun examined Xiao Hua and recognized that he had been cultivating the Crimson Infant Technique from an Ink Cloud Pupil.
• Du Shanjun explained that the technique had split Xiao Hua’s physical and Nascent Soul cultivation, leaving him at late Nascent Soul despite appearing to have reached Spirit Severing, and urged him to stop cultivating it.
• Xiao Hua asked Du Shanjun for the complete technique and breakthrough pills, and Du Shanjun gave him the technique, pills, and formulas.
• Xiao Hua thanked Du Shanjun as though he were a half-master, but Du Shanjun said he was helping because he considered Xiao Hua promising and hoped to benefit from him later.
• Xiao Hua promised to help Du Shanjun only if the task did not harm heaven and violate reason, and Du Shanjun grew angry as Xiao Hua offered to return the gifts.

Du Shanjun gave Xiao Hua the Lightning Ruler and Thunderous Force cultivation method, tying them to a future request and urging him to prepare for the Star Moon Palace. Xiao Hua began studying the technique in his space, then returned to the auction as artifact-refining materials were being sold.

• Du Shanjun returned Xiao Hua the Ink Cloud Pupil and Cosmic Bag, then gave him the Lightning Ruler containing Thunderous Force and said it suited his character and was linked to a future matter.
• Du Shanjun told Xiao Hua that the Star Moon Palace would reveal itself in three hundred years and advised him to cultivate diligently before departing.
• Xiao Hua sent the Lightning Ruler into his space, where green-robed Xiao Hua began cultivating Thunderous Force and Jade Slip Xiao Hua studied the technique and the Ink Cloud Pupil.
• Xiao Hua awoke when Xiao E told him the artifact-refining auction was underway, then let her take the untouched spirit fruits.
• Xiao Hua opened the pavilion window and watched a Confucian cultivator sell an Inkstone Tiger magical artifact to someone in an opposite pavilion.

Xiao Hua won the Two-Winged Light-Splitting Instrument for ten million top-grade Qi Stones, then turned his attention to the auction of beast slaves and refining materials. As the auction continued, he suspected the Dongtian River sea clan had come to buy Jiang Sheng and began bidding on materials useful for thunder boats and Teleportation Arrays.

• The scholar surnamed Feng auctioned ancient Daoist sect treasures, including the Fire-Severing Pestle and several others, for millions of top-grade Qi Stones.
• Feng revealed that the paired Two-Winged Light-Splitting Instrument could control Extreme Magnetic Yuan Light, and Xiao Hua bid ten million top-grade Qi Stones to secure it.
• Xiao Hua paid for the instrument, stored it, and returned to his pavilion after Feng announced it was the auction’s highest bid so far.
• Feng began auctioning chained demon-beast slaves, and Xiao Hua suspected the Dongtian River sea clan wanted to buy Jiang Sheng or a fighting beast to investigate the Yazi Auction Venue.
• When Feng began auctioning refining materials, Xiao Hua started bidding on items useful for constructing thunder boats and Teleportation Arrays.

Xiao Hua bought many materials at the Bidding Convention, then met with Dongtian River’s Jiang Hai and explained how Jiang Sheng had ended up in Bo Bao’s hands. Jiang Hai’s group learned that Jiang Sheng might be in danger, but they questioned Xiao Hua’s decision to leave him with Bo Bao.

• Xiao Hua spent heavily at the Bidding Convention and told Liu Yi that Xiao Yun was safe while Jiang Sheng was in trouble.
• Liu Yi declined to get involved in Dongtian River’s affairs and returned to cultivate in Xiao Hua’s space.
• Xiao Hua went to Room Number Seven and told the cloaked dragons that Jiang Sheng was in Bo Bao’s hands in Ping Tiao.
• Two dragon clansmen left to investigate while Xiao Hua explained the events to Jiang Hai, Dongtian River’s Third Elder.
• A dragon clansman challenged Xiao Hua for leaving Jiang Sheng with Bo Bao after rescuing him.

Xiao Hua learned that Jiang Hong had been captured by the North Sea Dragon Palace and was asked to help Dongtian River rescue her. As the auction continued, a mysterious Demon Race Body Doubling Technique went up for bid.

• Jiang Hai received word that Jiang Sheng had been safely rescued from Ping Tiao, and thanked Xiao Hua for saving him.
• Xiao Hua learned that Jiang Che had not told his clan about their past meeting, while Jiang Hai said Jiang Sheng had apologized for misunderstanding Xiao Hua.
• Jiang Hai revealed that Ao Xuan had captured Jiang Hong and taken her to the Feather Spirit Hall, and asked Xiao Hua to help rescue her.
• Xiao Hua regretted not seizing Ao Xuan's Dragon Pouch when he had seen him, but warned Jiang Hai that the planned rescue could be an ambush.
• The Confucian scholar surnamed Feng put an incomplete Demon Race Body Doubling Technique up for auction, describing it as a clone technique that could create a demon identical to its cultivator.

Xiao Hua agreed to help Dongtian River rescue Jiang Hong after Jiang Hai offered him a dragon incarnation technique, though Jiang Hai and his elders remained divided over whether Xiao Hua could be trusted. Xiao Hua left Star Picking Tower wary of the danger ahead, and asked whether he could depart the auction.

• Jiang Hai offered Xiao Hua Dongtian River’s complete dragon incarnation technique in return for helping rescue Jiang Hong, and Xiao Hua accepted while asking Jiang Hai to notify him at the Luoyi Merchant Alliance when a plan was ready.
• After Xiao Hua left, Jiang Hai questioned whether he was trustworthy, and Jiang Ming and Jiang Che argued over his character and past actions.
• Jiang Che told Jiang Hai what had happened to him in the Yi Ze Realm, including Xiao Hua’s friendship with Ao Zhan, deepening Jiang Hai’s uncertainty about Xiao Hua’s ties.
• When a visitor arrived, Jiang Hai had Jiang Ming and Jiang Che conceal their Dragon race identities before a black-clad figure entered the pavilion.
• Back in his pavilion, Xiao Hua worried that the North Sea Dragon Palace or Dragon Island might pose the danger he had foreseen, but welcomed the prospect of gaining an incarnation technique.
• After finding nothing else suitable at the auction, Xiao Hua left his pavilion and asked Xiao E whether he could depart Star Picking Tower.

Xiao Hua left Star Picking Tower amid the Feather Spirit Bay storm and evaded a Confucian cultivator questioning him about the Yazi Auction Venue. Three days later, Jiang Che visited him with Dongtian River’s clone technique, which Xiao Hua could study for only three days.

• Xiao Hua left Star Picking Tower, tipped Xiao E and the attendants, and flew through the storm toward the Luoyi Merchant Alliance.
• A Confucian cultivator stopped Xiao Hua and questioned him about the Yazi Auction Venue, so Xiao Hua claimed he had bought a flawed magic tool and showed him another tool instead.
• The man tried to bargain for the magic tool, then hurried back toward Star Picking Tower when another Clear Sight Technique swept the area; Xiao Hua recovered the tool and entered the Luoyi Merchant Alliance.
• Three days later, Xiao Hua was teaching Demon Race members the Water Merging Technique when Jiang Che arrived disguised as a Demon Race member.
• Jiang Che offered to let Xiao Hua study Dongtian River’s clone technique for three days before taking it back.

Xiao Hua used three days to comprehend part of Dongtian River’s dragon clone technique and learned that he would travel to the North Sea Dragon Palace with Ao Jing and Ao Xuan in ten days to rescue Xiao Yun. After Jiang Che left him with a Thousand Illusions Pearl and another secret art to study, Ying Bo proposed using statues of Xiao Hua to help the Luoyi Merchant Alliance expand.

• Xiao Hua secluded himself inside the Duotian Star Array and comprehended the dragon-shaped totem in his space while Jiang Che kept watch.
• After three days, Xiao Hua returned the totem to Jiang Che and said he had comprehended about twenty percent of the clone technique.
• Jiang Che told Xiao Hua that Ao Jing and Ao Xuan would head to the North Sea Dragon Palace after the storm subsided, and that they would accompany them in ten days to rescue Xiao Yun.
• Jiang Che gave Xiao Hua a Thousand Illusions Pearl and a dragon scale containing a secret art to improve the pearl’s disguises, then departed to deliver the clone technique to the Great Elder.
• Ying Bo praised Xiao Hua’s value to the Luoyi Merchant Alliance, and Xiao Hua joked about making statues of himself for auction.
• Ying Bo proposed using statues of Xiao Hua to help the Luoyi Merchant Alliance avoid rejection as it expanded into Cangxian Continent and the Pure Land.

Xiao Hua passed a Demon Race cultivation technique to Ying Bo, helping him recover his clan’s lost inheritance and strengthen the Luoyi Merchant Alliance. After guiding Ying Bo for several days, Xiao Hua disguised himself as a Demon and met Jiang Che at a trading shop, where he asked about buying a Thousand Illusions Pearl.

• Ying Bo told Xiao Hua that the Luoyi Merchant Alliance would hold an auction before the Yazi Auction Venue and that Sea Clan members were seeking the alliance’s healing potions.
• Xiao Hua learned that Ying Bo’s clan had lost much of its cultivation inheritance and decided to pass on a technique suited to Ying Bo’s bloodline.
• Ying Bo endured a day and night of receiving the technique, then thanked Xiao Hua and asked permission to teach it to his clansmen; Xiao Hua agreed.
• Xiao Hua spent several days guiding Ying Bo’s cultivation, while Ying Bo increasingly revered him and resolved to honor him among the Demon Race members of the alliance.
• After receiving a message from Jiang Che, Xiao Hua disguised himself as a Demon Race member and went to a secluded trading shop in Feather Spirit Bay.
• Xiao Hua met Jiang Che at the shop and remarked that it had too few goods for him to buy a Thousand Illusions Pearl.

Xiao Hua disguised himself as a Tai demon to board Ao Jing’s dragon ship and help Dongtian River rescue Xiao Yun, while learning that the North Sea Dragon Palace planned to marry her to its Seventh Prince. After arranging to meet at Feather Spirit Hall by dusk, Xiao Hua explored Feather Spirit Bay and saw sea clans buying Immortal Xiao Pills at Yi Mansion.

• Xiao Hua returned Jiang Che’s dragon scale, read the Tai Clan’s details, and accepted tribute items and Qiankun Rings for his disguise.
• Jiang Che told Xiao Hua that Ao Jing planned to escort Xiao Yun to the North Sea Dragon Palace, which intended to marry her to its Seventh Prince, and said the rescue had to happen before she arrived.
• Jiang Che realized Xiao Hua needed elemental sense to pass as a Tai, then left to obtain instructions for him.
• Xiao Hua cultivated elemental sense through his phoenix body and toured Feather Spirit Bay in his Tai disguise before heading to Yi Mansion.
• A large sea clan member asked for Immortal Xiao Pills to heal old injuries, and an old sea clan member said one pill would restore him completely.

Xiao Hua visited Feather Spirit Hall to meet Ao Jing, but lost his way and encountered Ao Xuan, who escorted him to Spring Bud Hall. The chapter ended with Xiao Hua staring at Ao Jing’s beautiful pink python concubine and being rebuked for his insolence.

• A sea clan member tried the so-called Immortal Xiao Pill, and Xiao Hua hurried away while thinking about General Liu and the Luoyi Merchant Alliance.
• Xiao Hua entered Feather Spirit Hall with a North Sea Dragon Palace token and wandered through its confusing halls.
• Ao Xuan confronted Xiao Hua at Cloudy Rain Hall, then agreed to take him to Spring Bud Hall.
• Ao Xuan introduced Xiao Hua to Ao Jing and left to prepare for a trip out to sea.
• Xiao Hua entered Spring Bud Hall, saw Ao Jing with a pink python, and was rebuked for staring at the prince’s beloved concubine.

Xiao Hua visited Ao Jing in Spring Bud Hall to ask for help securing protection for the Tai Clan, but Yong accused him of being suspicious and tried to block his trip to the North Sea Dragon Palace. Ao Jing settled the dispute, and Xiao Hua left with his plan to act against the hall thwarted by the danger surrounding him.

• Xiao Hua entered Spring Bud Hall and realized the murals and demon beasts showed Ao Jing’s revelry, then apologized for looking at the concubines.
• Xiao Hua met Chong and Yong, thanked Chong for warning him, and waited while Ao Jing mated with the giant python in the pool.
• Xiao Hua explained that he needed Ao Jing to speak on behalf of the Tai Clan and offered tribute rings for the Dragon King; Ao Jing returned two rings and kept the rest.
• Yong accused Xiao Hua of being no demon and questioned his reasons for seeking an audience, while Xiao Hua angrily called Yong an Immortal Palace spy.
• Chong offered to give Yong his place on the trip, but Ao Jing declared that he alone would decide who went to the North Sea Dragon Palace.
• The giant python persuaded Ao Jing to let Yong travel in her stead, and Xiao Hua sensed danger throughout Spring Bud Hall and abandoned his original plan.

Xiao Hua and the other demons waited for Ao Jing, then joined his entourage aboard the North Sea Dragon Palace’s enormous dragon ship. As the ship began its voyage, Xiao Hua received a cabin assignment and Chong invited him to look over the rail.

• Xiao Hua thanked Chong for explaining the palace’s customs, then wondered briefly whether Chong might be the Great Elder in disguise.
• Ao Jing came out of Spring Bud Hall, and Ao Xuan opened a waterway with a Dragon Pearl so the assembled demons could board the dragon ship.
• Xiao Hua admired the ship’s size and splendor as it carried Ao Jing and his entourage away from Feather Spirit Hall.
• Fish Maidens distributed cabin scales, assigning Xiao Hua cabin Jia Forty-Five and Chong Jia Sixty-Seven; Yong traded scales with Chong to take the cabin beside Xiao Hua.
• Chong asked Xiao Hua to accompany him to the ship’s rail, and Xiao Hua agreed to go with him.

Xiao Hua attended Ao Jing’s banquet aboard the dragon ship, where Yong tried to provoke him over the bloody food and untouched wine. As Ao Jing displayed the ship’s Sea Mirror and accepted the demons’ toasts, Yong accused Xiao Hua of slighting the Second Prince.

• Chong and Xiao Hua discussed their hopes that the North Sea Dragon Palace would grant their requests while looking out over the stormy sea.
• Xiao Hua found his assigned chamber opposite Yong’s, then contemplated the Crimson Infant Technique while waiting for the banquet.
• At Ao Jing’s banquet, Yong challenged Xiao Hua for not eating the bloody food, so Phoenix Body Xiao Hua took control and devoured it enthusiastically.
• Ao Xuan activated the Sea Mirror, making the hall disappear and revealing the night sky around the demons.
• As Ao Jing drank toasts from the guests, Yong pointed out that Xiao Hua had not touched his wine and accused him of disrespecting the Second Prince.

At Ao Jing’s banquet, he ordered the dragon ship into the sea and staged Ao Xuan’s apparent injury to test the guests for suspicious behavior. After the ship repeatedly struck reefs, Ao Jing reviewed the dragon generals’ reports and considered how to draw the suspected spies into his trap.

• Yong tried to make Xiao Hua drink, but Chong intervened and shared wine with him.
• Ao Jing ordered the dragon ship into the sea, struck Ao Xuan, and had him taken away after Ao Jiu persuaded him to avoid putting Ao Xuan in a cage.
• Xiao Hua suspected Ao Jing and Ao Xuan had staged the injury to deceive Dongtian River’s sea clans.
• The dragon ship descended beneath the waves, struck reefs repeatedly, and Ao Jing continued the banquet as if nothing were wrong.
• After the guests left, Ao Jing questioned the dragon generals about suspicious demons and concluded that the staged injury had not drawn the suspected spies into the trap.
• Ao Jiu warned Ao Jing that the reefs could damage the ship’s formations and advised flying again after the banquet.