Chapter Summaries

Chen Shi'an visited the Green Mountain Branch library to read its Confucian texts and discovered that Northern Liang’s famed poet Tao Yi'an was Tao Yaoyao, his former companion. He left the chapter recognizing that she had circulated poems he once gave her.

• Chen Shi'an met Dean Shen Junru and asked to study the Green Mountain Branch’s collection of books.
• Shen Junru led Chen Shi'an to the library, where he spent four hours browsing before reaching the third floor.
• Chen Shi'an found a copy of Li Taibai’s poem and wondered whether another transmigrator had appeared in this world.
• Shen Junru told Chen Shi'an that Tao Yi'an had become famous in Northern Liang for her poetry and shared another of her poems.
• Chen Shi'an recognized Tao Yi'an as Tao Yaoyao when he saw a farewell poem he had written for her, though its first line had been altered.

Chen Shi'an searched Green Mountain Academy’s library for information about Guan Wentian and discovered that the Confucian School had erased records of him. Shen Junru revealed Guan Wentian’s troubled history, leaving Chen Shi'an with unanswered questions as he departed.

• Chen Shi'an read the academy’s cultivation texts and biographies but found no mention of Guan Wentian.
• Chen Shi'an asked Shen Junru about Guan Wentian, and she reacted with surprise before explaining that the General Academy had ordered all records of him destroyed.
• Chen Shi'an wrote out the Kao Pan Scripture, and Shen Junru confirmed it was Guan Wentian’s cultivation method.
• Shen Junru told Chen Shi'an that Guan Wentian had lost the contest to become dean, left Green Mountain Academy in anger, and was later hunted by General Academy experts.
• Chen Shi'an refrained from pressing Shen Junru for more details, exchanged farewells, and left the library.

Chen Shi'an learned how Green Mountain Academy had erased and condemned Guan Wentian, whose anger revealed that he still cared about the academy. As Desolate Suppression City regained its freedom to act, Chen planned new ways to keep it occupied and protect Windrise Stronghold while continuing his cultivation.

• Shen Junru sent people to buy and destroy every book about Guan Wentian in Desolate Suppression City and reported the books' appearance to the General Academy.
• Chen Shi'an asked Guan Wentian about his past at Green Mountain Academy, and Guan denounced the academy for slandering him and becoming corrupt.
• Guan Wentian refused to reveal who had harmed him, but his concern for Green Mountain Academy became clear when Chen Shi'an described its promising scholars.
• Chen Shi'an considered how Green Mountain Academy might help Windrise Stronghold in its future conflict with Desolate Suppression City and the Sacred Martial Dynasty.
• Chen Shi'an planned further disruptions to keep Desolate Suppression City from focusing on Windrise Stronghold, then cultivated the Great Evolution Saintly Art and practiced Waterfall-Falling Heavenly Sound.

Chen Shi'an mastered Waterfall-Falling Heavenly Sound and visited the Dong Family to advise Dong Xiaochai in Alchemy. Dong Fengwu considered allowing their relationship to develop, but worried that Gao Tianfang and Wu Dongchuang would oppose their marriage.

• Chen Shi'an practiced Waterfall-Falling Heavenly Sound in seclusion until he mastered the Mind Power technique.
• Chen Shi'an traveled to the Dong Family estate, where Dong Fengwu asked about his hometown, Dingzhou, and urged him to visit his uncle.
• Dong Xiaochai happily brought Chen Shi'an into the Alchemy Room for guidance, while Dong Fengwu watched with concern.
• Dong Fengwu told Aunt Ma that Xiao Chai was falling for Jing Yuan and said he might accept their marriage, but Gao Tianfang and Wu Dongchuang would likely oppose it.

Dong Fengwu questioned Chen Shi'an about his feelings for Dong Xiaochai and explained that political tensions made a marriage alliance dangerous for now. Chen Shi'an agreed to postpone matters, and Dong Fengwu warned him to guard against Wu Dongchuang's revenge.

• Dong Fengwu told Aunt Ma that Gao Tianfang and Wu Dongchuang might unite against the Dong Family if it allied with the Earth Pill Sect, so he planned to speak with Chen Shi'an.
• Dong Xiaochai prolonged her Alchemy Dao questions to spend time with Chen Shi'an until Dong Fengwu took him to the Reception Room.
• Dong Fengwu asked whether Chen Shi'an was interested in Dong Xiaochai, and Chen Shi'an said he was moved by her qualities.
• Dong Fengwu said he welcomed a relationship but wanted it postponed until the Earth Pill Sect was strong enough to withstand Gao Tianfang and Wu Dongchuang.
• Chen Shi'an accepted Dong Fengwu's arrangements, and Dong Fengwu warned him that Wu Dongchuang would seek revenge over the Chu Family affair.

Chen Shi'an learned how the Dong Family, Gao Tianfang, and the Wu Family balanced power in Desolate Suppression City, then began shaping a plan for Windrise Stronghold. He arranged to exploit the growing rift between Wu Dongchuang and Zhuo Qingyuan and visited White Camel Temple to examine Jueming, whose lingering unconsciousness suited his secret task.

• Dong Fengwu explained why he had not moved against Wu Dongchuang and described the political balance among Gao Tianfang, the Dong Family, and the Wu Family.
• Chen Shi'an reconsidered his plan for Windrise Stronghold and decided Desolate Suppression City might be able to coexist with it.
• Chen Shi'an told Tong Xiao to gather evidence of Wu Dongchuang's affair with Xu Qiuniang and wait for the right moment to intervene if Zhuo Qingyuan and Wu Dongchuang fell out.
• Chen Shi'an ordered Tong Xiao to intercept anyone arriving from Dingzhou and keep them out of sight, then learned that Jueming remained only partly conscious as his injuries improved.
• Chen Shi'an arrived at White Camel Temple and went with Jingchen to examine Jueming.

Chen Shi'an staged an encounter between Jueming and four women from the Fragrant Joy House, then used the Mind Seizing Art to attack Jueming's mind. Jueming's fate remained uncertain as two forces of Mind Power clashed within him.

• Chen Shi'an told Jingchen that Jueming's poison was dissipating and stayed in the bedroom to wait for him to wake.
• After Jingchen left, Chen Shi'an revealed that his four Blood-Clad Guards were the Flower Queens from the Fragrant Joy House and promised to buy their freedom if they completed the task.
• The four women approached the unconscious Jueming, and he woke half an hour later to find them beside him.
• Chen Shi'an claimed Jueming had asked for the women, then struck him and used a shout to disorient him.
• Chen Shi'an unleashed the Mind Seizing Art, and his Mind Power clashed with another force inside Jueming's mind.

Chen Shi'an used the Mind Seizing Art to control Jueming, and discovered that the Saintly Dao Stele could suppress soul imprints. He left Jueming in place as White Camel Temple's abbot and arranged for the four courtesans to leave Desolate Suppression City under new identities.

• Chen Shi'an used four courtesans to unsettle Jueming's mind, then seized his soul imprint with the Mind Seizing Art.
• The Saintly Dao Stele trapped Jueming's soul imprint and suppressed it, allowing Chen Shi'an to control it without constant effort.
• Jueming asked why Chen Shi'an had taken control of him, and Chen Shi'an blamed his refusal to teach him Mind Power cultivation and his incomplete sutra.
• Chen Shi'an told Jueming to remain abbot of White Camel Temple and recover before handling an important task for him.
• Chen Shi'an left the temple and told Tong Xiao to give the four courtesans their redemption contracts and arrange their departure from the city.

Shen Junru visited Chen Shi'an to request fifty high-quality Spirit-Strengthening Pills so she could strengthen her soul and enter the Dao through books. Chen Shi'an agreed to refine them himself within a year, and Shen Junru promised to repay his kindness if she succeeded.

• Chen Shi'an received Shen Junru at the Earth Pill Sect after she arrived to discuss a pill arrangement previously made with Hong Qingliu.
• Shen Junru explained that low- and medium-quality Spirit-Strengthening Pills no longer strengthened her soul, and she needed thirty to fifty high-quality pills to become a mind master.
• Chen Shi'an said the sect lacked alchemists because Hong Qingliu and many senior members had left, and its remaining alchemists had other supply duties.
• Shen Junru asked Chen Shi'an to help her seize her chance to break through within six months to a year, with a year and three months as the absolute limit.
• Chen Shi'an agreed to refine fifty high-quality Spirit-Strengthening Pills himself within a year, and Shen Junru accepted his offer of friendship and vowed to repay him.

Chen Shi'an studied and refined Spirit-Strengthening Pills, then copied Confucian writings to calm his mind after struggling to achieve the results he wanted. As he wrote, he experienced a sudden insight and continued writing with his eyes closed.

• Chen Shi'an saw Shen Junru off and began studying the Spirit-Strengthening Pill recipe.
• Chen Shi'an spent three days refining four batches of Spirit-Strengthening Pills, succeeding twice but producing only low- and middle-grade pills.
• Chen Shi'an used Origin Force to refine two more batches, both of which yielded middle-grade pills and consumed most of his reserves.
• Chen Shi'an copied the Kao Pan Scripture and Confucian sages' writings to settle his restless mind.
• Chen Shi'an experienced a flash of insight as he wrote, and his brush continued moving across the paper after he closed his eyes.

Chen Shi'an entered the Confucian Dao through calligraphy, then spent months cultivating and refining pills. He amassed dozens of Upper-Grade Spirit-Strengthening Pills and several batches of Top-Grade pills, while Tong Xiao brought Zhuo Qingyuan's anger toward Wu Dongchuang to a breaking point.

• Chen Shi'an entered the Confucian Dao after an hour of copying the sages' works, and realized the Saintly Dao Stele had likely helped him cross the threshold.
• Chen Shi'an spent the following half-month cultivating, practicing calligraphy, and refining pills until he produced fourteen Upper-Grade Spirit-Strengthening Pills.
• Chen Shi'an refined over thirty Upper-Grade Spirit-Strengthening Pills by the start of the second month, while Tong Xiao revealed Xu Qiuniang's affair with Wu Dongchuang to Zhuo Qingyuan.
• Tong Xiao repeatedly arranged for Zhuo Qingyuan to learn of the affair, bringing his fury close to eruption as Chen Shi'an refined over fifty Upper-Grade Spirit-Strengthening Pills.
• Chen Shi'an refined eight Top-Grade Spirit-Strengthening Pills and gathered them with his Top-Grade Origin-Strength and Spring Returning Pills.