Chapter Summaries

Lin Ruoshui, Qi Shiyun, and Lianshan Xin decided to seize Kuang Mountain and its Kuang Furnace so they could keep cultivating there, while trying not to provoke Maitreya further. As their families worried outside the mountain, an enormous Cinnabar Furnace appeared and a childish voice asked how they had managed to give birth to an Immortal Artifact.

• Lin Ruoshui, Qi Shiyun, and Lianshan Xin discussed the gains and dangers of their three days cultivating with Maitreya’s Six Divine Powers, then resolved to find the Kuang Furnace and claim Kuang Mountain.
• Qi Shiyun realized Lianshan Xin’s new Grandmaster realm would prevent him from leaving Kuang Mountain, so Lin Ruoshui suggested he deposit his magical power in the two women until they could return it.
• Lianshan Xin, Qi Shiyun, and Lin Ruoshui speculated that their bond might let them share Divine Abilities and combine their strength through intimacy.
• He Miaoyin told He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng that the Heavenly Diviner’s omen for Kuang Mountain foretold a true dragon spilling blood and the demonic rising, then delivered Jiang Ping'an’s notes from the Crown Prince.
• A bolt of Tribulation Lightning struck Kuang Mountain, and an enormous Cinnabar Furnace appeared above it, containing the lightning as a childish voice questioned the three Demon Wombs.

The Kuang Furnace absorbed Maitreya’s descending power and refined his split spirit, while the Prince of Jiujiang and Thousand Faces reacted to the upheaval and the prince was poisoned. The artifact spirit then opened Kuang Su’s final trial, and Lin Ruoshui, Lianshan Xin, and Qi Shiyun chose to compete for the immortal opportunity.

• The Kuang Furnace confronted Maitreya, refined his split spirit, and suppressed the disturbance before Spirit Mountain’s leaders could discover what had happened.
• The Prince of Jiujiang and Thousand Faces discussed Maitreya’s descent and the Demon Wombs, then the Prince of Jiujiang suddenly spat black blood and realized he had been poisoned.
• Thousand Faces offered to let the Prince of Jiujiang harvest his cultivation, hoping they would both survive long enough to pursue their plans.
• The Kuang Furnace announced that the Dragon Clan would soon awaken and revealed Kuang Su’s dangerous final trial, which would decide the master of Kuang Mountain.
• Lin Ruoshui, Lianshan Xin, and Qi Shiyun agreed to enter the trial after deciding that winning the immortal opportunity would help them continue advancing through claypot rice.

The Kuang Furnace’s artifact spirit revealed that a successful candidate had to convince Kuang Su to approve a new master, and Lianshan Xin prepared to win him over. After Jiang Buping and Xia Xunyang both failed to persuade Kuang Su, Lianshan Xin proposed a world without emperors, leaving Kuang Su shaken by his words.

• The Kuang Furnace’s artifact spirit explained that Kuang Su had left behind a remnant soul to judge candidates and that a new master could unlock Kuang Mountain’s grotto-heaven and blessed land.
• Lianshan Xin, Qi Shiyun, and Lin Ruoshui resolved to compete for the Kuang Furnace, and Lianshan Xin used kisses with Qi Shiyun and Lin Ruoshui to strengthen his Bewitching Art before the trial.
• Jiang Buping told Kuang Su that he wanted to rebel against the Daoist Order, place an empress on the throne, and let the Dragon Clan rule, so Kuang Su rejected him and expelled him.
• Xia Xunyang asked Kuang Su to help restore righteousness in Great Yu, but left when Kuang Su said his plea was not enough to persuade him.
• Lianshan Xin proposed to Kuang Su that they build a world without oppression, exploitation, or an emperor, and Kuang Su’s Dao heart trembled at the idea.

Lianshan Xin won Kuang Su’s confidence with his vision of a world without emperors and became the Kuang Furnace’s new master. As he seized Kuang Mountain’s Immortal Opportunity and revealed himself to the gathered prodigies, Xie Tianxia followed the connection to meet his gaze.

• Lianshan Xin persuaded Kuang Su that the people did not need an emperor, and Kuang Su chose him to inherit the Kuang Furnace and Kuang Mountain.
• Kuang Su explained the coming age of great contention, the returning Immortals and Buddhas, the scarcity of Spiritual Energy, and the dangers of extending life at ordinary people’s expense.
• Kuang Su faded away after telling Lianshan Xin that the Dragon Maiden might claim Kuang Mountain, and Lianshan Xin declared that she owed him one and a half million Spirit Stones.
• Kuang Su’s departing soul helped Lianshan Xin cultivate bewitching astral energy, and Lianshan Xin then displayed both it and his dragon-slaying astral energy.
• Lianshan Xin revealed himself as Kuang Mountain’s new master, transformed the mountain with his words, and announced his name to the gathered prodigies.
• Qi Shiyun realized that Lianshan Xin’s breakthrough had advanced her cultivation, while Xie Tianxia sensed the Immortal Opportunity, followed their connection to Kuang Mountain, and met Lianshan Xin’s eyes.

Lianshan Xin met his lineage master Xie Tianxia and Jiang Buping, learned that Great Yu might fall as Immortals gathered, and negotiated support for Jiang Buping’s Unjust Way. After Xie Tianxia left, Lianshan Xin’s talent revealed a Dragon Palace grandfather and grandson plotting to take Kuang Mountain, while the Prince of Jiujiang sought a cure and Cao Fuhu’s dealings with the Dragon Clan led to a disastrous encounter with Bone-Scraping Blade.

• Xie Tianxia appeared before Lianshan Xin and spoke with Jiang Buping, who warned that Great Yu needed Immortals and might fall as they multiplied.
• Jiang Buping offered to help Lianshan Xin once, and Lianshan Xin proposed backing the Unjust Way in exchange for a share in its success; Xie Tianxia accepted before breaking Jiang Buping’s stone vessel.
• Xie Tianxia asked Lianshan Xin to prepare her an escape route in case she faced a Human Tribulation, then left and told him to inform Qi Shiyun that she was no longer her precious darling.
• Lianshan Xin’s restored Heavenly Eye Search showed a Dragon Palace grandfather and grandson asking Cao Fuhu to grant Kuang Mountain to the boy, and he recognized them as debtors who owed the Kuang Furnace fifteen million spirit stones.
• The ailing Prince of Jiujiang visited Lianshan Jingcheng, who advised him to seek protection from Cao Fuhu and other powerful figures, so the prince went to the Governor’s Residence as the Bone-Scraping Blade.
• Cao Fuhu gave Mister Ao dragon blood and offered Bone-Scraping Blade as a gift, but after she shed her clothes, everyone in the room was left dumbfounded.

Bone-Scraping Blade’s poisoning of Mister Ao and Cao Fuhu exposed a plot involving incense poison, while Lianshan Xin secured Kuang Mountain’s immortal opportunity and began building an alliance with Xia Xunyang. As Bone-Scraping Blade and other forces descended on Jiangzhou, the province became the front line of a new age of contention.

• Mister Ao recognized the poison as incense poison, and both he and Cao Fuhu collapsed after Bone-Scraping Blade escaped.
• Bone-Scraping Blade decided to hunt Jiangzhou’s officials and martial artists for children of fortune to ease his own poisoning.
• Lianshan Xin told Xia Xunyang about his biological father, warned him of the Imperial Court’s likely response, and proposed that they join forces.
• Lianshan Xin and Xia Xunyang agreed to cooperate, with Lianshan Xin promising to help Xia Xunyang take control of the Prince of Jiujiang’s Residence.
• Lianshan Xin invited Xia Xunyang to join him in eating dragon meat, and the two learned that dragons had emerged into the world.
• The Torchlight for a Thousand Autumns Pavilion sensed that hidden dragons were weakening in Jiangzhou, while observers across the realm reacted to the gathering conflict and Bone-Scraping Blade began his killing rampage.

He Miaojun urged He Miaoyin to leave Jiangzhou as Spring Revival Hall filled with patients suffering from a sexually transmitted poison, while Lianshan Jingcheng agreed to visit Governor Cao after learning a divine dragon had been afflicted too. Lianshan Xin planned how to protect Kuang Mountain’s Immortal Opportunity and his family, then used the Divine Feet Ability to prepare new identities as Xia Xunyang left for the Prince of Jiujiang’s Residence.

• He Miaojun warned He Miaoyin to return to the Divine Capital and stay away from Emperor Yongchang, while patients told Lianshan Jingcheng that Bone-Scraping Blade had spread their poison.
• Zhang A-Niu invited Lianshan Jingcheng to treat Governor Cao and revealed that a divine dragon suffered from the same illness; Lianshan Jingcheng agreed to go with him.
• Qin Boyan burned Bone-Scraping Blade with soul-fire, discovered that he was the Prince of Jiujiang, and killed him before taking back the Incense Poison.
• Lianshan Xin discussed Maitreya’s threat, the Crown Prince’s Consort’s child, and the Dragon Clan with Qi Shiyun and Lin Ruoshui, then decided to offer Kuang Mountain’s Immortal Opportunity to the Imperial Court while quietly preparing to defend it.
• Lianshan Xin gave Xia Xunyang a sword and attached his divine sense to it using the Divine Feet Ability, planning to act through other identities while his main body kept a low profile.
• At the Prince of Jiujiang’s Residence, Jiang Buping found Thousand Faces with the poison still inside him and began retrieving it, just as Xia Xunyang arrived carrying the sword Lianshan Xin had given him.

Thousand Faces impersonated the Princess Consort of the King of Jiujiang while Jiang Buping revealed that he was posing as Xia Xunyang’s father, and Lianshan Xin exposed the tangled family secrets. Jiang Buping then recruited Lianshan Xin to help him seize control of Jiangzhou and build a New Great Yu, leaving Lianshan Xin willing to support the plan from behind the scenes.

• Jiang Buping urged the disguised Thousand Faces to master the Mysterious Capital Purple Palace Form-Shifting Scripture and proposed using the princess consort’s identity to approach Emperor Yongchang again.
• Xia Xunyang returned from Kuang Mountain, and Lianshan Xin used Heavenly Eye Search to discover that Thousand Faces had become the Princess Consort of the King of Jiujiang.
• Jiang Buping revealed to Xia Xunyang that he was his biological father, that the real Prince of Jiujiang had died, and that the prince had secretly been Bone-Scraping Blade.
• Jiang Buping announced that he planned to use the Prince of Jiujiang’s identity to establish a New Great Yu in Jiangzhou, and Lianshan Xin agreed to aid him as a behind-the-scenes strategist.
• Jiang Buping proposed taking control of the Governor’s Residence, White Deer Grotto Academy, and Kuang Mountain, using the prince’s poisoned body to expose and eliminate corrupt power holders.
• Lianshan Xin accepted Jiang Buping’s plan and agreed to help him and Xia Xunyang pursue their ambitions while keeping the Dragon Aiders Lineage’s involvement covert.

Lianshan Xin and his companions discussed Jiang Buping’s violent plan for Jiangzhou, while Xia Xunyang learned more about his father’s death and Thousand Faces comforted him. After leaving Kuang Mountain, Mingwang found Zhuo Biyu and followed her to Spring Revival Hall, where he mistook He Miaojun for his long-lost child, Jiang Ping'an.

• Lianshan Xin, Qi Shiyun, and Lin Ruoshui agreed that Jiang Buping’s plan could cause bloodshed but might shake up Jiangzhou’s monopolized upper ranks, and Lianshan Xin demanded a list of people Jiang Buping must spare.
• Lianshan Xin warned Jiang Buping that the Imperial Court would notice his coming upheaval, then arranged for Xia Xunyang to send word to his parents at Spring Revival Hall.
• Mingwang left Kuang Mountain and recognized Zhuo Biyu as Blood Guanyin’s successor after she demonstrated the Emotion-Severing Saber.
• Mingwang ordered Zhuo Biyu to take him to Spring Revival Hall, where he met He Miaojun and concluded that she was Jiang Ping'an, his child.
• Mingwang told He Miaojun that she was also Jiang Ping'an, Yama, Lianshan Jingcheng, and the person who had given birth to Lianshan Xin.

He Miaojun rejected Mingwang’s bizarre claims that she was his son and had given birth to Lianshan Xin, then learned that Xin had become the father of a child with Qi Shiyun and Lin Ruoshui. As Emperor Yongchang approached Jiangzhou, Xin’s Heavenly Eye Search upgraded into Box Weapon and worked on Lin Ruoshui, making him realize he was not a demon womb.

• Mingwang claimed He Miaojun was his son, that she had given birth to Lianshan Xin, and that she and Xin might create another demon womb, so He Miaojun ordered him out.
• Lianshan Xin spoke to He Miaojun from inside an iron sword and told her that he had fathered a child with Qi Shiyun and Lin Ruoshui, whom he believed was Maitreya.
• He Miaojun told Xin that Mingwang was the Demon Cult Leader and revealed that the Prince of Jiujiang was likely Bone-Scraping Blade; she also mentioned that Lianshan Jingcheng had the prince’s blood stored in a box.
• Lin Ruoshui used her Heavenly Eye Divine Ability to see Emperor Yongchang’s imperial aura approaching Jiangzhou and suffered a backlash.
• Lianshan Xin’s Heavenly Eye Search upgraded into Box Weapon, which could bypass stronger opponents’ defenses and probe their secrets, and its effect on Lin Ruoshui convinced him he was not a demon womb.

After Lianshan Xin claimed Kuang Mountain, Emperor Yongchang weighed using him to reshape Great Yu and decided to travel to Jiangzhou himself. Meanwhile, Thousand Faces eagerly arranged to visit Kuang Mountain with Xia Xunyang, and the Prince of Jiujiang arrived at the Governor’s Residence, where he recognized Lianshan Jingcheng as his junior brother.

• Lianshan Xin and Lin Ruoshui practiced Great Joy Bodhisattva’s cultivation art while Qi Shiyun helped Lin Ruoshui recover, and the Kuang Furnace swallowed Maitreya as Master White Lotus learned that the family had cooked him.
• Eunuch Wang reported that Lianshan Xin had won Kuang Mountain’s Immortal Opportunity, and Emperor Yongchang considered entrusting him with Jiangzhou and testing his imperial bloodline through the Celestial Pole Sacred Dragon Bloodline Scripture.
• After learning that the Dragon Clan was active near Kuang Mountain and High Immortal Guanhai had concealed dealings with it, Emperor Yongchang decided to visit Jiangzhou and speak with Lianshan Xin and Jiang Ping'an.
• Thousand Faces persuaded Xia Xunyang to take her to Kuang Mountain, eager to meet Lianshan Xin and Qi Shiyun.
• At the Governor’s Residence, Zhang A-Niu threatened the noisy Little Dragon while Cao Fuhu lay near death, and the Prince of Jiujiang arrived and recognized Lianshan Jingcheng as his junior brother.

Jiang Buping possessed the old dragon and provoked a fight at the Governor’s Residence, where Zhang A-Niu used Lianshan Xin’s sword to slay it. The dissolute monk revealed his role in stirring events in Jiangzhou and said the Prince of Jiujiang was about to force his way into the imperial house.

• Jiang Buping recognized Lianshan Jingcheng’s Intent of the Extraordinary Way, questioned the baby dragon, and learned it had come seeking land on Kuang Mountain.
• After Qi Wenbin delivered Lianshan Xin’s family letter, Jiang Buping possessed the unconscious old dragon and learned that the Dragon Clan was cooperating with Spirit Mountain and had approached the Right Chancellor.
• Jiang Buping used the old dragon’s body to attack Zhang A-Niu and summon wind and rain, prompting Zhang A-Niu to draw the iron sword Lianshan Xin had sent.
• Zhang A-Niu wielded the Dragon-Slaying Sword and struck down the old dragon, while Lianshan Jingcheng collected its blood and Lianshan Xin celebrated his part in the victory.
• The dissolute monk told Ping'an that he had spread the Intent of the Extraordinary Way across the Nineteen Provinces and revealed that the Prince of Jiujiang was about to force his way into the imperial house.

Daoist Bufan secretly strengthened Xia Xunyang, Thousand Faces, and He Miaojun with the Extraordinary Way while Jiang Buping prepared Xia Xunyang for Emperor Yongchang’s arrival. Lianshan Xin found a possible route to impersonate an Imperial Prince, and Jiang Buping considered disguising himself as the Bone-Scraping Blade to approach Emperor Yongchang.

• Daoist Bufan left Jiang Ping'an and secretly entered the Prince of Jiujiang's Residence, where he recognized Xia Xunyang's potential and found Thousand Faces difficult to read.
• Daoist Bufan gave Xia Xunyang and Thousand Faces the intent of the Extraordinary Way, then visited Spring Revival Hall and gave He Miaojun a strand as well.
• He Miaojun and Lianshan Xin discussed whether dragon blood combined with the Prince of Jiujiang's blood could let Lianshan Xin cultivate the Celestial Pole Sacred Dragon Bloodline Scripture and impersonate an Imperial Prince.
• Jiang Buping told Xia Xunyang that Emperor Yongchang was coming and had him drink dragon blood mixed with the Prince of Jiujiang's blood to prepare for an identity test.
• Jiang Buping transformed into the Bone-Scraping Blade and asked Thousand Faces whether Emperor Yongchang would find him beautiful.

Jiang Buping planned to use the Incense Poison to make Emperor Yongchang a puppet, while Xia Xunyang rejected his offer to help him contend for the throne and chose cultivation instead. At Kuang Mountain, Daoist Bufan secretly observed Lianshan Xin, Qi Shiyun, and Lin Ruoshui before confronting them and asking whether Lianshan Xin wanted to become a Dao Embryo.

• Jiang Buping discussed poisoning Emperor Yongchang with Thousand Faces, who secretly decided the Unjust Way was a poor choice of allegiance.
• Xia Xunyang confronted Jiang Buping over his plan, then declined to compete for the throne despite Jiang Buping offering to transfer the Prince of Jiujiang's blood to him.
• A steward reported that the eldest young master had contracted a venereal disease, and Jiang Buping blamed Bone-Scraping Blade's influence at the Water Sleeve Pavilion.
• Daoist Bufan sneaked into Kuang Mountain and watched Lianshan Xin, Qi Shiyun, and Lin Ruoshui experiment with whether they could have a child together.
• The Kuang Furnace detected Daoist Bufan, who introduced himself and asked Lianshan Xin whether he was a Demon Womb before offering to help him become a Dao Embryo.

Daoist Bufan traded the Land-Pacifying Divine Incantation for Shaohao and proposed cooperation between the Dao Court’s Celestial Master Dao and the Nine Heavens. After Bufan left, Lianshan Xin opened Lin Ruoshui’s black box and discovered her connection to a secret sect and the Venerable Mother.

• Daoist Bufan explained the Dao Embryo and the Dao Court’s Eight Great Divine Incantations, then offered to teach one in exchange for a child.
• Lianshan Xin agreed to give Daoist Bufan Shaohao, and the family chose the Land-Pacifying Divine Incantation.
• Daoist Bufan recited the incantation, guiding Lianshan Xin, Lin Ruoshui, and Qi Shiyun into its practice.
• Daoist Bufan asked Lianshan Xin to watch for the Bone-Scraping Blade, and Lianshan Xin agreed.
• Lianshan Xin found that he could open Lin Ruoshui’s black box and saw Master Baiquan bring her to a secret chamber, where she received instructions from her sect master before a statue of the Venerable Mother.

Lianshan Xin uncovered hints that Lin Ruoshui belonged to the ancient Way-and-Society Sect, while his family received dragon remains and learned more about his mother's new deity. Elsewhere, Tian Ji sought help over a poison that afflicted Xia Xunchuan, and Heavenly Diviner's latest divination left Emperor Yongchang with the words, “As long as the child remained, the realm remained!”

• Lianshan Xin recognized the slogan Lin Ruoshui and Master White Lotus chanted and learned from Qi Shiyun that the Imperial Court had once called the ancient Way-and-Society Sect the Demon Cult.
• Lianshan Xin concealed his suspicions from Lin Ruoshui and practiced Joyful Meditation with her while Qi Shiyun discussed the threat of the former sect.
• Tian Ji told Zhuo Biyu that Xia Xunchuan had caught a venereal disease after visiting Water Sleeve Pavilion, and he worried the Prince of Jiujiang might blame him or rebel.
• Lianshan Jingcheng brought Dragon Blood, Dragon Tendon, and Dragon Bone to Spring Revival Hall, where Lianshan Xin revealed he was speaking from a bowl of blood after using Kuang Su's power.
• He Miaojun said she had begun worshipping the Mother of Nurturing Transformation, and Lin Ruoshui reacted sharply when Lianshan Xin mentioned that deity's name.
• Emperor Yongchang persuaded Heavenly Diviner to perform another divination by promising support for his cultivation, and Heavenly Diviner's result read, “As long as the child remained, the realm remained!”

Emperor Yongchang interpreted the Heavenly Diviner’s omen as hope for Great Yu through one of his sons, while revealing his plans to rely on Lianshan Xin and his Dragon-Slaying True Intent. As Emperor Yongchang and Mingwang headed toward Jiangzhou amid reports of a deadly upheaval, Lianshan Xin and Qi Shiyun welcomed the morning after the Bone-Scraping Blade’s death.

• Emperor Yongchang told the Heavenly Diviner and Eunuch Wang that he would test his sons without favoritism, hoped Lianshan Xin could unite Great Yu, and was willing to let him destroy Imperial Clan rivals.
• Nie Hongxiu confronted Emperor Yongchang with Blood-Colored Long Arrows, warned him that his movements had leaked, and agreed to travel with him to Jiangzhou after explaining that many ranked experts there had died.
• Mingwang learned that Bone-Scraping Blade and Thousand Faces were unreachable, discovered that his recruitment candidates had all been involved with Bone-Scraping Blade, and resolved to bring Yama back to the Holy Cult.
• Daoist Bufan asked Mingwang to pass a message to Bone-Scraping Blade, while Mingwang mistook the monk for another of her lovers and grew more concerned about her influence.
• Emperor Yongchang arrived near Jiangzhou anticipating a reunion with Lianshan Xin, while Lianshan Xin and Qi Shiyun joked after Lin Ruoshui recovered and pushed him away.

Xia Xunyang and Thousand Faces traveled to Kuang Mountain, where Lianshan Xin passed the Dragon-Supporting Immortal Art to Thousand Faces and received ancient treasures and a medical text from his father. Emperor Yongchang learned more about Lianshan Xin and arrived at Kuang Mountain just as Thousand Faces emerged from her initiation.

• Jiang Buping revealed that Xia Xunchuan had reported a dragon robe to the Imperial Clan Court, and Xia Xunyang chose to spare his unconscious elder brother.
• Lianshan Jingcheng gave Lianshan Xin the Prince of Jiujiang's blood and a Dragon Clan treasure, and Lianshan Xin stored them in the Kuang Furnace.
• Lianshan Xin gave Lianshan Jingcheng an ancient medical book, which delighted him with its lost prescriptions and treatments.
• Thousand Faces privately asked Lianshan Xin to teach her the Dragon-Supporting Immortal Art, and he led her into the Way.
• Emperor Yongchang questioned Zhang A-Niu about Kuang Mountain and Lianshan Xin, then traveled to Kuang Mountain and met Thousand Faces as she opened the door.

Emperor Yongchang met Lianshan Xin and Xia Xunyang on Kuang Mountain, revealed that Lianshan Jingcheng was likely Jiang Ping'an, and urged the two men to support one another. He then disclosed the origins and dangers of Dragon-Slaying True Intent, and encouraged Lianshan Xin to seize the throne by force, leaving Xia Xunyang alarmed by the bloodshed ahead.

• Emperor Yongchang met Thousand Faces disguised as the Princess Consort of the King of Jiujiang, while Nie Hongxiu took the disguised Thousand Faces aside to discuss the Hidden Dragon Ranking.
• Emperor Yongchang privately told Lianshan Xin and Xia Xunyang that Lianshan Xin was Xia Xunyang’s younger brother and that Lianshan Jingcheng was likely Jiang Ping'an.
• Emperor Yongchang promised to withdraw the arrest warrant against Jiang Ping'an and compensate him, but Lianshan Xin recognized that he also needed Jiang Ping'an to treat his injuries.
• Emperor Yongchang urged Xia Xunyang to abandon the succession struggle, and Xia Xunyang said he intended to pursue immortality instead.
• Emperor Yongchang explained that Dragon-Slaying True Intent came from the founding emperor and that the Dragon Clan would hunt Lianshan Xin for mastering it.
• Emperor Yongchang told Lianshan Xin to kill those who opposed his claim to the throne, allowing him to target Xia family members beyond three generations without prior approval.

Lianshan Xin negotiated imperial support for a campaign against corrupt members of the Imperial Family, while Emperor Yongchang made him and Xia Xunyang genuine Imperial Princes by teaching them the Celestial Pole Sacred Dragon Bloodline Scripture. The chapter ended with Lianshan Jingcheng examining Emperor Yongchang and suggesting he could replace the emperor’s broken “little brother,” prompting Emperor Yongchang to suspect he was Jiang Ping'an after all.

• Lianshan Xin challenged Emperor Yongchang’s plan to make him root out imperial clansmen and negotiated covert support, Nine Heavens assistance, and freedom to recruit his own helpers.
• Emperor Yongchang passed the Celestial Pole Sacred Dragon Bloodline Scripture to Lianshan Xin and Xia Xunyang, exhausting himself as both gained initial mastery and were recognized as Imperial Princes.
• Emperor Yongchang privately asked Lianshan Xin to help him meet Jiang Ping'an for treatment, and Lianshan Xin went to fetch his adoptive father, Lianshan Jingcheng.
• Lianshan Xin reassured Lianshan Jingcheng before sending him to examine Emperor Yongchang, who apologized for the past and described his medical problem.
• Lianshan Jingcheng said he could replace Emperor Yongchang’s broken “little brother” using limb-regeneration techniques, and Emperor Yongchang joyfully insisted that he must be Jiang Ping'an.