Chapter Summaries

Huanghou and Baidou manipulated the Winged People into opening Saintess Xinghuan’s coffin so they could take the Earth Spirit Pearl, but someone underground stole it first. The furious cultivators pursued the thief, while the Winged People charged into the ancestral temple and killed the envoys, chief, and elders in the chaos.

• Huanghou persuaded the Winged People to honor Saintess Xinghuan and agree to open her coffin.
• Baidou opened the coffin, revealing Xinghuan’s preserved body, while Huanghou froze the image being broadcast outside.
• Baidou struck the gathered mortals with a mild soul attack as Huanghou reached for the Earth Spirit Pearl.
• The pearl vanished underground, and Xinghuan’s body and belongings turned to dust.
• Huanghou and Baidou plunged underground to chase the thief, causing the aerial mirror to disappear.
• Xingkong cried out that his sister and the tribe’s pearl had been stolen, and the Winged People surged into the temple, killing the envoys, chief, and elders.

Huanghou and Baidou chased the unclaimed Earth Spirit Pearl underground, but the pearl vanished with a minor cultivator before they could reach it. Accused of stealing it, the two Northern Heaven Gate cultivators were overwhelmed and killed by the other cultivators.

• Huanghou and Baidou accelerated toward the Earth Spirit Pearl after a Divine Sense message revealed that Northern Heaven Gate cultivators had entered the underground.
• The Earth Spirit Pearl collided with a minor cultivator and vanished along with him before Huanghou and Baidou could catch up.
• Baidou wounded an attacker, but the minor cultivator accused Huanghou and Baidou of taking the pearl, drawing the other cultivators against them.
• Huanghou and Baidou fought their way through the encirclement and tried to burrow upward as more Golden Core cultivators arrived.
• The cultivators killed Huanghou and Baidou, then divided up their storage pouches and corpses.

Hou Niao used his bond with the Earth Spirit Pearl to help it escape the Northern Heaven Gate cultivators, then spent several more months learning from it. He released the pearl into the Brocade Continent’s earth element law and left Yaoguang as Xinghuan returned home.

• Hou Niao guided the Earth Spirit Pearl away from Huanghou and concealed it while cultivators fought underground, and Xinghuan’s remains turned to dust.
• Most cultivators left after the fighting, and Northern Heaven Gate searched for months before accepting that two Golden Core cultivators and the pearl had vanished.
• Hou Niao awakened from his stillness, told the Earth Spirit Pearl to return to the continent, and released it into the land.
• Hou Niao emerged from the ground and flew away, ending his three-year journey through Yaoguang.
• A kingfisher came to the courtyard where the old woman and Xingkong were, and they wept as Xinghuan came home.

Hou Niao returned to Jade Capital for Shanmen’s gathering and learned he would represent the Minister of Justice Prefecture in a speech. Judge Cheng revealed that pressure from other True Persons had prompted the change to let ordinary disciples speak, in part because Hou Niao’s challenge to Tang Yan had exposed the True Disciples’ failure to step forward.

• Hou Niao returned to Jade Capital on the third day of the third month and reported to the Minister of Justice Prefecture, where Li Biejia was absent.
• Judge Cheng told Hou Niao he would give remarks as the Minister of Justice Prefecture’s representative among cultivators of the Three Heavens Realms, citing his merits.
• Hou Niao learned that each of the Three Prefectures had chosen an ordinary disciple to speak instead of reserving the opportunity for True Disciples.
• Judge Cheng said pressure from multiple True Persons had driven the change and warned that Hou Niao’s troublemaking could destabilize the Minister of Justice Prefecture.
• Hou Niao argued that flaws in Shanmen’s rules could become dangerous when threats came from beyond the Daoist Sect.
• Judge Cheng explained that Hou Niao’s confrontation with Tang Yan had highlighted the True Disciples’ failure to take responsibility, helping bring about the change.

Judge Cheng warned Hou Niao that his actions had drawn hostility from two princely prefectures and that he would face the challenges of his position at the upcoming Annual Assembly. As Hou Niao prepared to address the assembly, his friends celebrated his return and discussed the speech and the coming changes to the True Disciple positions.

• Judge Cheng told Hou Niao to prepare for the Annual Assembly and explained that powerful cultivators were using him to test the path toward reform, though they expected him to pay a heavy price.
• Fang Yazi, Wang Mian, Zong Qian, Rao Zongzhi, and Hai Xixi welcomed Hou Niao back at a restaurant and celebrated his survival of the encounter with a Constellation True Disciple.
• Wang Mian named Yu Shangjiang and Lan Kecheng as speakers representing the Three Heavens Realms cultivators at the Annual Assembly.
• Hou Niao insisted he wanted to change unfair practices rather than take benefits from his fellow disciples, while Rao Zongzhi argued that reform required seizing power.
• Hou Niao asked his friends to help draft his speech, and Fang Yazi cautioned that he might speak too recklessly at the assembly.

Hou Niao and his companions discussed how to build support for changing Quanzhen’s True Disciple selection process ahead of the Shanmen annual gathering. They decided to approach other influential cultivators, while recognizing that the gathering might be their last meaningful chance to affect the coming upheaval.

• Hou Niao dismissed the idea of devising a grand plan and urged his companions to stop worrying about overturning centuries of rules.
• Zong Qian, Rao Zongzhi, and Wang Mian proposed spreading their ideas carefully through fellow disciples and private contacts, while Fang Yazi warned against attending too many gatherings.
• Hai Xixi said the annual gathering would bring back more ancestors than any in Quanzhen’s history and might be the last chance to change the selection process before Heaven-Sent Lingqing.
• The group agreed that Hou Niao needed Yu Shangjiang and Lan Kecheng to speak alongside him, so Rao Zongzhi and Wang Mian offered to approach them.

Hou Niao met with his companions in Jade Capital and agreed to stay inside the Minister of Justice Prefecture before the Annual Assembly. He then met Yu Zhengxing, who had returned with four True Persons to press the True Disciple issue, and learned that their plan would require replacing all nine current slots.

• Zong Qian warned Hou Niao to avoid causing trouble before the Annual Assembly, and Hou Niao said he would remain inside the Minister of Justice Prefecture.
• Hou Niao wandered through Jade Capital and reflected on the city's crowded spiritual energy and his own uncertain path.
• Hou Niao encountered Yu Zhengxing in a tavern, where Yu Zhengxing explained that he had returned to put True Disciples on the Annual Assembly's agenda.
• Yu Zhengxing said the four True Persons—Hai, Wei, Quan, and Yuan—could not secure a place by persuading one current True Disciple to yield.
• Yu Zhengxing concluded that they would have to replace all nine True Disciple slots to overcome the entrenched factions.

Hou Niao and Yu Zhengxing discussed how to use the Annual Assembly to push for reform in Shanmen, including the nine True Persons relinquishing their places. Yu Zhengxing warned Hou Niao that publicly leading the effort could cost him a chance to become a True Disciple, but Hou Niao remained willing to put Shanmen’s future first.

• Hou Niao considered why the nine True Persons might be persuaded to surrender their places together, and recognized that they and he were using each other to advance reform.
• Yu Zhengxing explained that Hou Niao’s address at the Annual Assembly would be the best chance to rally disciples and make the case for changing the rules.
• Yu Zhengxing warned that the reform campaign might prevent Hou Niao from securing a True Disciple’s position and that rival Sword Cultivators could exploit his public role.
• Yu Zhengxing challenged Hou Niao to reconsider speaking at the assembly, arguing that Shanmen’s factions would not sincerely support him.
• Hou Niao told Yu Zhengxing he was prepared to sacrifice his personal interests for Shanmen’s future, and Yu Zhengxing angrily left after tossing silver onto the table.

Hou Niao accepted Yu Zhengxing’s warning and agreed to challenge the established order at the Annual Assembly. Yu Zhengxing then reported to True Persons Yuan and Wei, who explained that their plan served the Quanzhen Sect as a whole, leaving him troubled but committed to carrying it out.

• Hou Niao entered the Minister of Justice Prefecture after reflecting on his seniors’ advice and his own willingness to stand up for himself.
• Yu Zhengxing met True Persons Yuan and Wei and told them Hou Niao had agreed to raise the challenge publicly at the Annual Assembly.
• Wei True Person questioned why Hou Niao had accepted so readily, and Yu Zhengxing suggested the opportunity had clouded his judgment.
• Yu Zhengxing asked the True Persons to spare Hou Niao’s future, but Wei True Person insisted their reforms served the whole Quanzhen Sect, not one disciple.
• Yu Zhengxing accepted the True Persons’ decision and guaranteed that Hou Niao would not disrupt their arrangements.

Zong Qian’s overwhelming performance secured the Yingtai Trade Route leadership for the Silver Sword Firm and stirred speculation about his origins. Bai Qingqian and Xiangfei Bamboo recognized him as Senior Brother Hou and agreed to wait for him while he pursued his plans.

• After no one else answered Xiang Anshi’s calls, he announced that the Silver Sword Firm would lead the Yingtai Trade Route, with five other firms following.
• Cultivators crowded around the Silver Sword Firm to learn about Zong Qian, while two sisters mocked Guan Ruyu after he ignored them.
• Bai Qingqian challenged the sisters’ praise of Zong Qian, and Guan Ruyu signaled her to stop arguing.
• Bai Qingqian told Xiangfei Bamboo that Zong Qian was Senior Brother Hou and that he had helped the Silver Sword Firm to prevent the Bai Firm from leading the route.
• Bai Qingqian and Xiangfei Bamboo decided not to acknowledge Senior Brother Hou yet and to wait for him to approach them.

Hou Niao spent his merit on portable goods while preparing to challenge the Quanzhen Sect’s traditions and pursue reform of the Sword Lineage. On the eve of the Annual Assembly, he told his brothers that he would act alone against the Truth-Seeking Hall’s influence.

• Hou Niao used his time in the Minister of Justice Prefecture to redeem his merit, anticipating punishment for the challenge he planned to make.
• Hou Niao embraced the Seeking Defeat Alone stance and reaffirmed his resolve to reform the Sword Lineage despite Yu Zhengxing’s warnings.
• The Quanzhen Sect announced the Truth-Seeking Hall, which would select future True Disciples by ability and drew Profound Connection and Spirit Sense cultivators away from the Natural Realm faction.
• On the day before the Annual Assembly, Hou Niao met his brothers at a restaurant and judged that their opponents had the advantage in both rank and numbers.
• Hou Niao told his brothers not to protest or organize on his behalf, declaring that the Annual Assembly’s outcome would be his responsibility alone.

Shanmen Quanzhen opened its Annual Assembly as cultivators across the continent watched for how the sect would handle the fierce struggle over True Disciple positions. The gathering began with Golden Core cultivators presenting their arts to calm the crowd before the proceedings turned to the Natural Realm disciples.

• The Shanmen Annual Assembly opened on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, with the coming descent of Extraterrestrial Spirit Green making the True Disciple selection especially consequential.
• Thousands of Quanzhen disciples and visiting cultivators assembled before the Measure-Heaven Sword Pavilion in Jade Capital City.
• The Golden Core mistress of ceremonies rearranged the program so Golden Core and Infant Transformation displays would precede the Heaven-Connecting Realm disciples' proceedings.
• Golden Core Upper Cultivators ascended the pavilion to present their arts, beginning with a cultivator who spoke on alchemy.

At the Shanmen Annual Assembly, the Minister of War Prefecture and its allies used speeches and demonstrations to dampen support for reform, while Hou Niao urged his friends to stay focused and pursue their chance at becoming True Disciples. After days of performances, the Infant Transformation True Persons began their discourses, opening with True Person Shi’s praise of Daoist learning.

• Golden Core Upper Cultivators demonstrated their arts and expounded on the Dao, gradually calming the disciples’ reformist fervor.
• Zong Qian, Wang Mian, Rao Zongzhi, Hai Xixi, and Fang Yazi discussed the allies opposing reform and their growing influence over other provinces and sects.
• Hou Niao reassured his friends that he had a way out and urged them not to miss their chance at True Disciple positions.
• After several days of demonstrations and sword trials, the Infant Transformation True Persons began their discourses at the Measure-Heaven Sword Pavilion.
• True Person Shi of the Minister of War Prefecture opened the discourses by praising Daoist learning.

True Persons from rival factions traded sermons and poems at Shanmen's Annual Assembly, turning the gathering into a show of competing philosophies and factional strength. They stopped short of a real fight after several leaders intervened, leaving the factions to resume the assembly under the pretense of having avoided a crisis.

• True Person Shi preached moderation, then True Person Quan urged the young disciples to fight for achievement before old age.
• True Person Wu promoted a life of leisure, while Wei True Person mocked idleness and roused the disciples from their calm.
• True Person Luo, True Person Yuan, True Person Jiang, and Sea True Person each presented their views as the opposing factions escalated their public challenge.
• The spectators grew uneasy as they recognized that a clash between True Persons could destroy Jade Capital City and deepen the sects' internal divisions.
• True Persons Xu and Zong called for a halt, joined by True Persons Yan and Yang and True Person Duan, and threatened to end the Annual Assembly.
• The True Persons of the Minister of War Prefecture and the Martial Prince's Residence fell silent, while the Leisurely Clouds and Cranes of the Four Wilds returned to their places, satisfied that their staged confrontation had disrupted their opponents' preparations.

Qi Sect cultivators discussed the factions maneuvering at the Shanmen Annual Assembly and predicted that the gathering would force the Quanzhen Sect to choose a side. The Heaven-Connecting Realm presentations began, and Yu Shangjiang’s speech revealed his support for the conservative Minister of War Prefecture.

• A Qi Sect master told his True Disciple that the Quanzhen Sect’s public dispute was a calculated show and that the Annual Assembly would produce a decision about the coming changes to Heaven and Earth.
• The master warned his disciple not to read too much into True Person Duan joining the calls to halt the spectacle, since the Duan Prince’s Residence might be maneuvering behind the scenes.
• The female Golden Core master of ceremonies began the Heaven-Connecting Realm stage, introducing Yu Shangjiang, Lan Kecheng, and Hou Niao as representatives of the Three Prefectures and three realms.
• Yu Shangjiang ascended the pavilion and delivered a speech that showed his alignment with the conservative Minister of War Prefecture.
• The conservatives won the first round of the Heaven-Connecting Realm contest.

At the Quanzhen Sect’s Annual Assembly, Hou Niao’s allies withdrew from their planned challenge while Lan Kecheng spoke in support of the Truth-Seeking Hall. The Minister of War Prefecture then offered Hou Niao a True Disciple position to keep him from speaking out and threatened him with Duan Wu Qian if he refused.

• Rao Zongzhi complained that Yu Shangjiang had compromised, while Hou Niao defended Yu’s choice.
• Lan Kecheng recited a song expressing his pursuit of truth through the sword, winning approval from the Minister of War Prefecture’s True Persons.
• Hou Niao’s friends lamented that he might have to challenge the assembly alone, and Hou Niao joked about switching sides.
• A hidden voice offered Hou Niao a True Disciple position if he followed the prevailing trend and refrained from challenging the assembly.
• The voice pointed out Duan Wu Qian and warned that he would challenge Hou Niao at the Sword Pavilion if Hou Niao refused.

Hou Niao considered accepting a favorable deal that would secure him a True Disciple position, but as he climbed the Measure-Heaven Sword Pavilion, he reaffirmed his resolve not to compromise. He awakened new heights in his sword stances and declared that he would face whatever came without bowing his head.

• Hou Niao weighed the offer to become a True Disciple and reasoned that accepting it could benefit him, the sect, and his friends.
• Hai Xixi, Zong Qian, and Wang Mian discussed the likely deal, while Fang Yazi warned that Hou Niao always left complications behind.
• As Hou Niao climbed the pavilion stairs, the crowd learned that Lin Kaoxian would relinquish his True Disciple position, clearing a place for him.
• Hou Niao reached the first platform and mastered the Sole Supremacy Stance while crossing the threshold of the Seeking Defeat Alone Stance.
• Hou Niao rejected the idea of bowing his head and declared that he would wield his sword fearlessly despite the hardships ahead.

Hou Niao refused the True Disciple position and challenged Duan Wu Qian to a duel to the death, forcing the gathered True Persons to let the fight proceed. Their clash ended with Hou Niao standing and Duan Wu Qian falling headfirst.

• Hou Niao declared that he sought the Constellation True Disciple position and formally challenged Duan Wu Qian.
• Duan Wu Qian accepted the challenge, and the True Persons allowed the two Sword Cultivators to settle the matter themselves.
• Hou Niao and Duan Wu Qian unleashed their sword techniques and collided in a battle that would decide life and death.
• Hou Niao remained standing after the clash, while Duan Wu Qian plunged headfirst.

After Hou Niao killed Duan Wu Qian in their duel, the Quanzhen Sect’s True Persons debated how to punish him while facing pressure to account for the death. Hou Niao awaited their decision, and Hai Xixi feared the sect leaders would trade his life to reform the True Disciple system.

• Duan Wu Qian’s death shocked the gathered disciples, while True Person Duan restrained his anger and True Person Wu urged him to wait for an outcome.
• Exhausted atop the High Pavilion, Hou Niao reflected on the duel and told True Person Shi that Duan Wu Qian’s death proved he was not destined to break the Heaven and Earth Shackles.
• True Person Luo questioned Hou Niao for holding an unauthorized life-and-death duel, and True Person Xu ordered him to wait for punishment as thirteen True Persons conferred by divine sense.
• Yu Zhengxing and Li Chuping blamed each other for failing to control Hou Niao, while Zong Qian explained that the sect’s rules could cost Hou Niao his life or cripple his cultivation.
• Hai Xixi warned that the Four True Persons Hai Wei Quan Yuan might use Hou Niao’s punishment to reform the True Disciple system, leaving him in grave danger.

After Hou Niao challenged a True Disciple, the Quanzhen True Persons abolished the existing True Disciple titles and opened the competition to all eligible disciples. They then stripped Hou Niao of his purple mansion sword seed and expelled him from the sect, and he accepted the punishment.

• True Person Xu announced that all True Disciple titles were abolished and that all Quanzhen disciples at Heavenly Connection could compete for the next ten years’ titles.
• The thirteen True Persons punished themselves for failing to intervene, with Xu and Zong forfeiting twice the usual hundred years of stipends and provisions.
• True Person Xu assigned Hou Niao seven parts of the blame and Duan Wu three, then ordered Hou Niao’s purple mansion sword seed taken and expelled him from the sect.
• Fang Yazi stopped Wang Mian from calling for resistance, warning him not to waste Hou Niao’s efforts.
• Hou Niao accepted the punishment, quieting those who had considered protesting.