Chapter Summaries

Gu Chenfeng ambushed the Four Directions Gate warriors attacking a Crimson Flame Savage Bear, killing many before confronting their third chief. After freeing the bear from its vine nets, he set it loose against its attackers.

• Gu Chenfeng overheard the Four Directions Gate warriors discussing Icecondense Grass and decided to kill them and take the herbs.
• Gu Chenfeng infiltrated the battlefield and killed seventeen warriors before a four-star Meridian-Opening Realm warrior spotted him.
• Gu Chenfeng skewered the four-star warrior and another man with one spear thrust, then fought the third chief, a one-star Source Qi Realm warrior.
• Gu Chenfeng broke away from the third chief, killed two warriors carrying bows, and charged toward the surrounded Crimson Flame Savage Bear.
• Gu Chenfeng cut through the vines trapping the Crimson Flame Savage Bear and freed it to fight the Four Directions Gate.

Gu Chenfeng freed the Crimson Flame Savage Bear and fought the Third Boss, revealing his formidable body-cultivation strength. After the Third Boss fled, a gigantic mutated bear killed him and cornered Gu Chenfeng, but another roar interrupted its attack.

• Gu Chenfeng tore apart the net restraining the Crimson Flame Savage Bear, which broke free and slaughtered Four Directions Gate warriors.
• Gu Chenfeng fought the Third Boss with the Iron Elephant Art, overpowering him with a series of spear thrusts.
• The Third Boss threw lime and poisonous powder while fleeing, then offered Gu Chenfeng spiritual materials and banknotes to spare his life.
• Gu Chenfeng stopped pursuing the Third Boss after sensing a terrifying presence, and a silver mutated bear burned the Third Boss to ash.
• The Mutated Giant Bear blocked Gu Chenfeng's escape and prepared to attack him, but a distant roar interrupted it.

Gu Chenfeng survived his encounter with the two giant bears and returned to the Imperial Capital with valuable beast materials and herbs. At the Prime Minister's Residence, he used Su Wanyue's Lifebound Gu to learn about her plans while wondering what important mission she was hiding.

• The Crimson Flame Savage Bear stopped its elder brother, the Mutated Giant Bear, from attacking Gu Chenfeng and thanked him for rescuing it.
• Big Bear gave Gu Chenfeng a Tiger Demon heart and a signal twig that would summon the two bears if he faced trouble in Great Wilderness Ridge.
• Gu Chenfeng brought Su Wanyue the tiger heart, asked her to arrange a room and pill-refining supplies, and reminded her to report any clues about the true culprit.
• After Gu Chenfeng left, Su Wanyue suspected he was hiding his abilities and decided to investigate him and try to control his feelings.
• Gu Chenfeng fed Su Wanyue's Lifebound Gu at the Prime Minister's Residence and learned from its complaints that she planned to use it to spy on him.

At the Thousand Beauties Pavilion, Gu Chenfeng manipulated Su Wanyue into believing she had become his trusted family, then used the Enlightenment Platform to learn pill refining. He progressed from repeated failures to producing a supreme-grade Essence Pill, while Su Wanyue collapsed in shock after witnessing his talent.

• Su Wanyue brought Gu Chenfeng a pill furnace and fire crystal, then offered to be his family and confidante.
• Gu Chenfeng feigned sorrow and embraced Su Wanyue, leading her to believe his trust in her was growing.
• Gu Chenfeng entered the Threshold State, studied the Essence Pill recipe on the Enlightenment Platform, and began refining pills while Su Wanyue spied through a gu insect.
• Gu Chenfeng struggled through many failed attempts before successfully forming a low-grade Essence Pill.
• Gu Chenfeng rapidly improved his refining and produced a supreme-grade Essence Pill, causing Su Wanyue to faint.

Liu Fuyan struggled to replace the Myriad Treasures House’s departed chief Alchemist before her branch assessment, then interviewed the self-taught Ge Hong. Ge Hong produced a medium-quality Essence Pill as a furnace test and began refining another, leaving Liu Fuyan and the steward stunned by his potential.

• Liu Fuyan worried that the loss of the branch’s chief Alchemist had cut revenue and threatened her chance to become head manager.
• Liu Fuyan agreed to interview Ge Hong, a young first-rank Alchemist who had taught himself.
• When Liu Fuyan doubted he could make high-quality pills, Ge Hong offered to demonstrate by refining an Essence Pill.
• Ge Hong used quick, rough techniques to purify and combine the ingredients, then formed a medium-quality Essence Pill.
• After Liu Fuyan and the steward praised the pill, Ge Hong explained that he had only been testing the furnace and started refining again.

Gu Chenfeng, posing as the Alchemist Ge Hong, impressed Liu Fuyan and secured an exclusive position with the Myriad Treasures House. He left with a Source-Melting Pill, while Liu Fuyan planned to use his talents to help the branch counter the Exquisite Pavilion and a treacherous former ally.

• Liu Fuyan confirmed that Ge Hong could refine superior-quality Essence Pills and Spirit-Nourishing Pills, then offered him an exclusive Alchemist position.
• Gu Chenfeng asked Liu Fuyan to make the first offer, and she proposed a thirty-seventy profit split in his favor plus a monthly stipend of twenty thousand taels.
• Gu Chenfeng asked for a Great Pill to break through to the Source Qi Realm, and Liu Fuyan presented him with a first-grade Source-Melting Pill.
• Gu Chenfeng signed a three-year exclusive cooperation agreement and left the Myriad Treasures House as its exclusive Alchemist.
• Liu Fuyan refused the old steward's suggestion to investigate Ge Hong and said his talents could help the branch challenge the Exquisite Pavilion and an ungrateful former ally.

Gu Chenfeng returned to the Gu residence, where Gu Yanshuang explained the Left Chancellor's campaign against the Gu Lineage and urged him to protect himself and help continue the family line. After learning that rumors were attacking their reputation while Gu Beiwu remained missing in seclusion, Gu Chenfeng resolved to help his family and hurried back to cultivate with the Great Pill.

• Gu Yanshuang questioned Gu Chenfeng about visiting Lady Su and told him to treat her responsibly, redeem her as a concubine, and exercise restraint.
• Gu Yanshuang revealed that the Left Chancellor's faction was suppressing the Gu Lineage's allies and that she was seeking promotion to Chief Commander of the Tiger Guard.
• Gu Yanshuang told Gu Chenfeng that rumors accused his father of killing civilians for military merit and exploiting the people at the border, threatening the Gu Lineage's reputation.
• Gu Chenfeng learned that Gu Beiwu's whereabouts and recovery remained unknown, and he resolved to help Gu Yanshuang and the Gu Lineage.
• Gu Chenfeng returned to his room with the Great Pill, intent on breaking through to the Source Qi Realm.

Gu Chenfeng broke through to the Source Qi Realm, gaining heightened perception and the ability to communicate with beasts while transforming his body. In the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins, he tested his mysterious gray source qi and found that it greatly amplified his combat power.

• Gu Chenfeng used a Spirit-Melting Pill to sustain his cultivation and broke through to the Source Qi Realm, where source qi merged with and strengthened his body.
• A surge of energy from his breakthrough drew his hidden protector, but Gu Chenfeng concealed his aura and avoided revealing his cultivation.
• Gu Chenfeng discovered that he could perceive everything within about three zhang and communicate with the hungry gu insect through his thoughts.
• Gu Chenfeng gathered his source qi and found it had a hazy gray attribute, then tested its power by smashing conjured rocks in the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins.
• Gu Chenfeng activated the Iron Elephant Art and demonstrated his enhanced physical strength before practicing the Tiger-Subduing Spear Technique.

Rumors targeting the Gu Lineage spread through the Imperial Capital as a white-robed young man from the Huangfu Lineage planned to use Gu Chenfeng and the Golden Kylin Gathering to disgrace the family and obtain an item from them. Gu Chenfeng received an invitation to the gathering, which was scheduled for three days later, and considered attending.

• Rumors accusing Gu Lingxiao of abusing his power at the frontier damaged the Gu Lineage's reputation in the Imperial Capital.
• The white-robed young man told Zhang You that Gu Chenfeng was the Gu Lineage's greatest weakness and planned to use the Golden Kylin Gathering against him.
• Ouyang Cai brought Gu Chenfeng an invitation from Shangguan Bingxin and explained that the Golden Kylin Gathering was an annual event for the Imperial Capital's literary elite.
• Gu Chenfeng said he was tired from cultivating and refining pills, while Ouyang Cai assumed his aching back came from secret trysts with Lady Su.
• After Ouyang Cai left, Gu Chenfeng examined the invitation and noted that the Golden Kylin Gathering would take place in three days.

Gu Chenfeng delivered a large batch of high-quality Essence Pills to the Myriad Treasures House, earned Source Crystals, and prepared to strengthen himself through cultivation. Meanwhile, a white-robed young man revealed that an operation targeting Gu Chenfeng was ready to begin in three days.

• Gu Chenfeng delivered the month's Essence Pills, and Liu Fuyan praised their quantity and quality before paying him forty low-grade Source Crystals and a bonus.
• Gu Chenfeng asked to buy materials for Spirit-Nourishing Pills and body-tempering pills, and Liu Fuyan offered them at the Myriad Treasures House's internal price.
• Gu Chenfeng used Golden Marrow and Ice Saliva Dew to temper his body while taking a Spirit-Nourishing Pill, then resolved to break through to the Iron Elephant Art's silver armor realm.
• Gu Chenfeng sent his other self to the Enlightenment Platform to cultivate the Iron Elephant Art.
• A white-robed young man learned that his operation was ready for three days later and planned to use Gu Chenfeng to gain leverage over the Gu Lineage.

Gu Chenfeng attended the Golden Kylin Gathering to approach Shangguan Bingxin and show the Gu Lineage was unafraid of the rumors against it. After provoking Zhang You and drawing hostility from Imperial Uncle Xiao, he sensed that the gathering could turn dangerous as the accusations against his family spread.

• Gu Chenfeng and Ouyang Cai arrived at the Golden Kylin Gathering, where Gu Chenfeng openly insulted Zhang You and suspected he was plotting something.
• Gu Chenfeng listened to the guests discussing claims that Gu Lingxiao had committed crimes at the border and realized the rumors were gaining influence among scholars.
• Princess Yaoyin and the third prince arrived with Imperial Uncle Xiao, who glared at Gu Chenfeng.
• Ouyang Cai explained that Imperial Uncle Xiao resented Gu Chenfeng for winning Lady Su's affection, and Gu Chenfeng dismissed him as a simp.
• The imperial representatives took their seats, and the Golden Kylin Gathering began.

At the Golden Kylin Gathering, Gu Chenfeng noticed the Qilin Jade Pendant worn by Shangguan Bingxin and sought a way to learn more about it. He won Shangguan Bingxin’s trust by correctly explaining how to care for Crescent, then casually asked where she had obtained the pendant.

• Shangguan Bingxin opened the Golden Kylin Gathering, and the artistic performances began.
• Gu Chenfeng sensed that the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins craved the Qilin Jade Pendant at Shangguan Bingxin’s waist.
• Crescent leaped from Shangguan Bingxin’s sleeve into Gu Chenfeng’s arms, eagerly ate his milk pills, and revealed that it disliked the food Shangguan had been giving it.
• Gu Chenfeng explained Crescent’s needs, and Shangguan Bingxin realized her careful efforts had been harming the cub.
• Gu Chenfeng asked Shangguan Bingxin where she had bought her jade pendant.

At the Golden Kylin Gathering, Princess Yaoyin grew jealous and worried as she watched Shangguan Bingxin speak with Gu Chenfeng, mistaking his lesson in petting Crescent for scandalous behavior. The gathering’s final headline guest appeared onstage, startling Gu Chenfeng.

• Gu Chenfeng learned that Shangguan Bingxin’s jade pendant was a family heirloom and changed the subject rather than ask for it.
• Princess Yaoyin watched Gu Chenfeng and Shangguan Bingxin together, grew jealous, and convinced herself she needed to protect her friend from him.
• Gu Chenfeng taught Shangguan Bingxin how to pet Crescent, while Yaoyin misread their positions and rushed over to interrupt them.
• Yaoyin tried to take Shangguan Bingxin away, but the final headline guest’s arrival drew the crowd’s attention and surprised Gu Chenfeng.

At the Golden Kylin Gathering, Su Wanyue captivated the crowd with her zither performance and then approached Gu Chenfeng, acting as though they were intimate to stake her claim before Shangguan Bingxin and Princess Yaoyin. Princess Yaoyin chose to remain in the pavilion, leaving Gu Chenfeng seated between the three women.

• Su Wanyue performed a zither piece that silenced the Golden Kylin Gathering and drew enthusiastic applause.
• Su Wanyue went to Gu Chenfeng's pavilion, called him her dear third young master, and sat beside him.
• Su Wanyue eyed Shangguan Bingxin and Princess Yaoyin warily because she planned to win Gu Chenfeng's heart and reclaim her Lifebound Gu.
• Shangguan Bingxin tried to take Princess Yaoyin away, but the princess decided to stay in the pavilion.
• Princess Yaoyin seated Shangguan Bingxin beside Gu Chenfeng and sat beside her, leaving Gu Chenfeng surrounded by the three women.

At the Golden Kylin Gathering, Su Wanyue and Princess Yaoyin competed for Gu Chenfeng’s attention while Shangguan Bingxin tried to escape the quarrel. The gathering moved into its mingling phase, and Gu Chenfeng eagerly welcomed Imperial Uncle Xiao and Zhang You, despite suspecting they had come with ill intent.

• Su Wanyue traded veiled insults with Princess Yaoyin and claimed that Gu Chenfeng cherished and would rescue her.
• Princess Yaoyin suggested Gu Chenfeng was using Su Wanyue to vent his feelings after being rejected, but Su Wanyue took his hand and declared her devotion.
• Princess Yaoyin nudged Shangguan Bingxin to intervene, but Shangguan Bingxin suggested leaving with Gu Chenfeng, prompting both women to object.
• The Golden Kylin Gathering entered its second phase, with guests mingling and playing literary games.
• A guard announced that Imperial Uncle Xiao and Zhang You had brought Imperial Academy students to visit Gu Chenfeng, who eagerly ordered them admitted.

At the Golden Qilin Gathering, Imperial Uncle Xiao and Zhang You incited Imperial Academy students to challenge Gu Chenfeng’s poetry and spread accusations about him and his father. Gu Chenfeng exposed two hidden hecklers and ordered them punished, while the instigators remained among the crowd.

• Imperial Uncle Xiao praised Gu Chenfeng as the Imperial Capital’s poetry champion, and Zou Tai challenged him to compose a poem before the Imperial Academy students.
• Gu Chenfeng declined, but the crowd pressed him to prove his talent as concealed hecklers accused him of stealing “Drunken West Chamber” and called his father a fake war god.
• Su Wanyue testified that Gu Chenfeng composed the poem before her, and Ouyang Cai threatened the rumor-spreaders, while Imperial Uncle Xiao continued to fan the crowd’s anger.
• Gu Chenfeng directed his guards to seize two students he had identified as the hecklers and demanded that they produce evidence for their accusations.
• The students admitted nothing but had no evidence, so Gu Chenfeng cited the law against slandering his family and ordered their mouths slapped while waiving the other punishments.

At the Golden Kylin Gathering, Gu Chenfeng defended himself against Zhong Yanqi’s accusation that he had unlawfully punished two Imperial Academy students. Zhong Yanqi then publicly condemned the Gu Lineage, and Gu Chenfeng demanded evidence as the confrontation escalated.

• Gu Chenfeng had two Imperial Academy students beaten after catching them slandering the Gu Lineage, leaving the gathering stunned.
• Zhong Yanqi arrived and accused Gu Chenfeng of unlawfully punishing the students, while Imperial Uncle Xiao and Zhang You welcomed his intervention.
• Gu Chenfeng argued that the public slapping was not judicial punishment and challenged Zhong Yanqi for declaring him guilty without a hearing.
• Gu Chenfeng pointed out that Zhong Yanqi had not intervened when the students slandered the Gu Lineage, and Zhong Yanqi conceded that his eloquence surpassed his own.
• Zhong Yanqi condemned the Gu Lineage’s alleged abuses before the gathered scholars, and Gu Chenfeng demanded evidence for his accusations.

At the Golden Kylin Gathering, Zhong Yanqi accused Gu Lingxiao and Gu Chenfeng of deceiving the realm, while Gu Chenfeng answered with a furious stream of insults that left the scholar unconscious. After Zhong Yanqi recovered, he challenged Gu Chenfeng to prove his poetic talent, and Gu Chenfeng declared that none of the gathered scholars were worthy of making him write.

• Zhong Yanqi accused Gu Lingxiao of fabricating his military reputation and Gu Chenfeng of passing off someone else’s poem as his own.
• Gu Chenfeng applauded Zhong Yanqi’s speech sarcastically, then cursed and berated him for making accusations without evidence.
• Zhong Yanqi fainted from anger as Gu Chenfeng continued insulting him, then regained consciousness with the scholars’ help.
• Zhong Yanqi challenged Gu Chenfeng to compose a poem, and the gathered scholars accused him of avoiding the test out of fear.
• Gu Chenfeng said that none of the scholars present were worthy of making him lift his brush.

At the Golden Kylin Gathering, Gu Chenfeng answered Zhong Yanqi’s challenge with a poem that condemned scholars for debating while soldiers bled at the border. After Zhong Yanqi apologized, Gu Chenfeng rebuked him and recited a poem he attributed to his father, Gu Lingxiao, leaving the gathering to hear a new account of the general’s character and resolve.

• Gu Chenfeng silenced the angry scholars by reciting lines contrasting wounded soldiers with scholars debating the past and present.
• Gu Chenfeng shattered his wine flask and delivered a poem challenging why brave men had to shed blood if poetry could defeat enemies.
• Zhong Yanqi recognized Gu Chenfeng’s talent, admitted Drunken West Chamber was his work, and publicly apologized for accusing him.
• Gu Chenfeng criticized Zhong Yanqi and the scholars for attacking the Gu Lineage instead of serving the sovereign and country.
• Gu Chenfeng defended Gu Lingxiao’s character and recited the poem his father had written before joining the Northern Territory army.

At the Golden Kylin Gathering, Gu Chenfeng recited “Man Jiang Hong: Northern Expedition,” overturning public opinion about Gu Lingxiao and clearing the Gu Lineage’s name. Zhong Yanqi left with renewed resolve to confront those who had used him, while the gathered scholars pledged their support to the Gu family.

• Gu Chenfeng’s lyric moved the gathering to reconsider the rumors about Gu Lingxiao and regard the Gu Lineage as loyal and unjustly maligned.
• The crowd turned suspicious eyes toward Zhong Yanqi for his repeated attacks on the Gu family, and he admitted defeat and announced his retirement.
• Gu Chenfeng urged Zhong Yanqi not to abandon his scholarship or let villains use his talent, prompting the old scholar to recognize the people who had manipulated him.
• Gu Chenfeng reflected that he had used the gathering to restore the Gu Lineage’s reputation and hoped Zhong Yanqi would act on his warning.
• Gu Chenfeng apologized to the scholars, who forgave him and vowed to defend the Gu Lineage from further slander.