Chapter Summaries

Wang Chong weighed how to deal with Qizhou and then wandered Huangzhou Prefecture, where he encountered Wen Chan'er and answered her poetry challenge with remarkable ease. He left her stunned by his verses, though she remained determined not to concede.

• Wang Chong discussed Qizhou with Gao Gun and Qiguan Sui, and they agreed to delay matters while seeking greater concessions from Wen Xi.
• Wang Chong walked through Huangzhou Prefecture and watched a Tailwind Army squad leader punish a refugee for selling contaminated flatbreads while selling the batch at a discount.
• Wang Chong offered to guide a junior officer from Wen Xi's delegation, then realized that the officer was his fiancée, Wen Chan'er.
• Wen Chan'er challenged Wang Chong to prove his boast about poetry, and he composed a poem using flour scattered over her hair.
• Wen Chan'er insisted that the first poem did not truly praise flour, so Wang Chong recited a longer poem about farmers' labor and poverty, leaving her speechless.

Wen Chan'er reflected that Wang Chong had passed all three trials and, suspecting he knew her identity, gave him a short sword and asked him to meet her in Qizhou. Wang Chong recruited Sun Ji and received An Dushan's captured officers and soldiers while recognizing that his allies wanted him to avoid the Empress's war.

• Wang Chong argued to Wen Chan'er that his tax-free administration and production policies had brought prosperity and strengthened the army in the Seven Provinces.
• Wen Chan'er concluded Wang Chong had passed her literary and martial, governing, and battlefield trials, then asked when he would go to Qizhou.
• Wang Chong guessed he would go within the month, and Wen Chan'er gave him an old short sword and told him to find her then.
• Wang Chong invited Sun Ji to serve him, gave him a residence and troops, and welcomed Sun Ji's family to Huangzhou Prefecture.
• An Dushan sent envoys and captured government officers and soldiers to Wang Chong as his battles with the court continued.
• Wang Chong realized Wen Xi, Gao Gun, and Qiguan Sui wanted him to stay out of the war so the Empress and An Dushan would weaken each other.

Wang Chong sent six forces to Qizhou while remaining in Huangzhou, and Wen Chan'er accompanied Xuangang's army in disguise. After Tai Sui Fu defeated Xuangang near Qingye Prefecture, Wen Chan'er revealed her identity and took command of a counterattack.

• Wang Chong put An Dushan's prisoners into the Tailwind Army and, after Tai Sui Fu invaded Qizhou, sent six forces there while publicly pretending to mobilize his entire army.
• Wen Chan'er left Huangzhou with Xuangang's force, still disguised, and told San Yisheng she could not assess Wang Chong because he defied common sense.
• Li Kerang, Dong Qing, Yang Tiehu, Sun Ji, and Gan Ci captured more than half of Qizhou, while Xuangang advanced slowly to maintain the appearance that Wang Chong was present.
• Tai Sui Fu charged Xuangang's army near Qingye Prefecture, wounded him, and pursued his retreating troops for seventy li, inflicting Wang Chong's first major defeat.
• When Xuangang prepared to defend a waterless hill, Wen Chan'er removed her disguise, declared her identity, and ordered the troops to counterattack.

Wen Chan'er helped hold off Tai Sui Fu while Wang Chong’s forces captured Qizhou, but news of an eight-tribe grassland invasion forced Wang Chong to prepare for a new threat. After spreading rumors that Huangzhou was undefended, he learned that An Dushan had sent Xun Ba to attack it.

• Wen Chan'er led eight hundred troops around Tai Sui Fu's forces, burned their supplies, and killed Ma Hong while Xuangang and San Yisheng held the mountain.
• Gan Ci's arrival enabled Tai Sui Fu to withdraw, and Wang Chong learned that Tai Sui Fu had escaped the six-army encirclement while Wang Chong's forces took Qizhou.
• Wang Chong learned that eight grassland tribes led by Zhao Feishan had entered the Central Plains through An Dushan's territory, and he rejected an immediate alliance with An Dushan.
• Wang Chong, Gao Gun, and Qiguan Sui devised a plan to lure the enemy into Huangzhou, and Wang Chong sent the Tailwind Army to spread rumors that the area was undefended.
• An Dushan sent Xun Ba to attack Huangzhou, prompting Wang Chong to consider whether his strongest fighters could capture or kill the famed warrior.

Li Cunshou and Shi Langying reached Huangzhou with their former soldiers and pledged allegiance to Wang Chong, who welcomed them and prepared to face Xun Ba’s approaching army. As Xun Ba challenged him outside Huangzhou Prefecture, Wang Chong went out with his allies to meet him.

• Li Cunshou and Shi Langying left Luoyang with more than a hundred former soldiers and arrived in Huangzhou before Xun Ba’s army.
• Wang Chong warmly welcomed Shi Langying and Li Cunshou, then hosted them alongside Gao Gun and Qiguan Sui.
• Li Cunshou offered to capture Xun Ba, but Wang Chong said he planned to lure him into a trap by feigning defeat twice with his consort.
• Wang Chong incorporated Li Cunshou’s veterans into the Wind-Treading Cavalry and used his forces to clear the countryside and eliminate enemy scouts.
• Xun Ba brought tens of thousands of troops to Huangzhou Prefecture, rested, and challenged Wang Chong to fight outside the city.
• Wang Chong invited his two teachers, three ladies, Yuwen Chief Eunuch, Li Cunshou, and Shi Langying to accompany him out to face Xun Ba.

Wang Chong led a small force out to face Xun Ba, then fought him alongside his powerful followers until Xun Ba fled back to his army. Wang Chong and the others pursued, routed Xun Ba’s thousand elite soldiers, and left him facing a volley of arrows from his camp.

• Wang Chong rode out with a thousand Wind-Treading Cavalry and told his followers to join the fight once he had engaged Xun Ba.
• Wang Chong and Xun Ba exchanged blows, with Wang Chong struggling against the force of Xun Ba’s meteor hammers before using his hair as hidden weapons to keep pace.
• Yueliduo joined Wang Chong, and then Jiang Wenjun, Wuzhumuqin, Yuwen Xuandu, Li Cunshou, Gao Gun, and Qiguan Sui joined the battle against Xun Ba.
• Xun Ba drove his attackers back and tried to flee, but Gao Gun redirected one of his hammers while Wang Chong shot arrows at him.
• Wang Chong and his followers pursued Xun Ba into his formation and quickly routed his thousand elite soldiers, but Xun Ba charged into his camp as ten thousand arrows flew at them.

Wang Chong confronted his allies for holding back against Xun Ba, then challenged the general to a duel. The two began fighting on foot after more than a hundred exchanges, with neither yet defeated.

• Wang Chong stripped off his armor and charged toward the enemy camp, forcing Gao Gun, Qiguan Sui, Li Cunshou, and Shi Langying to follow him.
• Li Cunshou knelt and admitted his fault, while Wang Chong realized that his allies had held back because of their pride and personal principles.
• Wang Chong stopped resisting Gao Gun and Qiguan Sui, then ordered his allies to withdraw and challenged Xun Ba to fight him alone.
• Gao Gun, Qiguan Sui, Li Cunshou, and Shi Langying returned to Huangzhou Prefecture, while Yueliduo, Jiang Wenjun, Wuzhumuqin, and Yuwen Xuandu remained near the city gate.
• Xun Ba rode out alone to fight Wang Chong, and after more than a hundred exchanges Wang Chong pierced Xun Ba's horse's eye; both men dismounted and continued their fierce duel.

Wang Chong fought Xun Ba through hundreds of exchanges, breaking his World-Shaking Demon Aura but gradually falling behind until their duel ended at night. Back in Huangzhou Prefecture, Wang Chong confronted Li Cunshou over letting Xun Ba escape and dismissed him, then withdrew, disheartened by his first setback since transmigrating.

• Xun Ba used his World-Shaking Demon Aura to pressure Wang Chong, who broke it by forming the Great Sun Sea-Suppressing Tide Sword Intent.
• Xun Ba unleashed Wudang's Thunderfire Demon-Subduing Aura, and he and Wang Chong fought for hundreds of exchanges as Wang Chong relied on evasive movement and stamina.
• After gongs sounded from Xun Ba's camp, the two stopped fighting until the next day, and Wang Chong returned to Huangzhou Prefecture.
• Wang Chong secretly sent letters to the Taisui Army, then rebuked Gao Gun and Li Cunshou for allowing Xun Ba to escape.
• Wang Chong told Li Cunshou that they were even and ordered him to go his own way, then sent everyone away and felt disheartened by his setback.

Wang Chong advanced his sword cultivation and challenged Xun Ba, but neither could defeat the other. He decided to leave Huangzhou Prefecture for Qizhou while considering how to maneuver between the Taisui Army and Wen Xi.

• Wang Chong refined the Innate True Flame Sword Threads and reached the pinnacle of the Grandmaster Realm.
• Gao Gun and Qiguan Sui asked Wang Chong to watch Li Cunshou's battle with Xun Ba, but Wang Chong rebuked them for holding back and insisted they were not invincible.
• Wang Chong stopped Li Cunshou's fight with Xun Ba, then challenged Xun Ba to fight him barehanded.
• Wang Chong and Xun Ba fought for several hundred moves, each recognizing the other's increased strength, before Wang Chong ended the bout until the next day.
• Wang Chong decided to leave Huangzhou Prefecture for Qizhou with most of his forces, leaving Li Cunshou and Shi Langying to defend the city.
• Wang Chong considered possible alliances with Tai Sui Yu and ways to maneuver between the Taisui Army and Grand Preceptor Wen Xi.

Tai Sui Yu and Wen Xi agreed to withdraw their forces from conflict with each other while Wang Chong traveled to Qizhou and arranged a meeting with Tai Sui Fu. During a sparring match, Wang Chong accidentally unleashed his full strength and unhorsed Tai Sui Fu in one exchange, leaving him stunned.

• Tai Sui Yu considered Wen Zhengchun's proposed alliance against Wen Xi, and Tai Sui Fu volunteered to meet the Prince of Yan in Huangzhou Prefecture.
• Wen Xi instructed his generals to return to reinforce the Empress and invited Wang Chong to move into Huazhou; Wang Chong agreed to let Wen Xi's army garrison Huangzhou Prefecture.
• Wang Chong reached Qizhou, praised Tai Sui Fu's reputation, and entertained him for two days before challenging him to a martial bout.
• Wen Chan'er watched as Tai Sui Fu charged Wang Chong, who became distracted by her and accidentally struck with the Candle-Bearing Sword Technique, unhorsing Tai Sui Fu in a single exchange.

Wang Chong defeated Tai Sui Fu in a brief mounted exchange, then watched Tai Sui Fu defeat Monk Xuangang and fight Li Kerang to a standstill. Tai Sui Fu’s contests revealed his strength and his past victory over Qian Luoyi, while Wang Chong wondered whether he could have recruited him.

• Wang Chong defeated Tai Sui Fu, who blamed his horse before admitting he had lost.
• Monk Xuangang challenged Tai Sui Fu and fought him fiercely, but Tai Sui Fu ultimately knocked him back and struck his chest.
• Tai Sui Fu praised Xuangang’s skill and recalled defeating Qian Luoyi, whom Wang Chong recognized as the Grasslands’ leading young warrior.
• Wen Chan'er confirmed that Tai Sui Fu was one of the Four Heavenly Prodigies, and Wang Chong wondered who the remaining prodigy was.
• Li Kerang challenged Tai Sui Fu, and the two mounted generals fought an evenly matched contest with heavy lances.

Wang Chong kept Tai Sui Fu entertained in Qizhou while arranging a military handover and winning his trust. After the two became sworn brothers and signed an alliance, Tai Sui Fu learned that Wang Chong had already taken control of Huazhou.

• Dong Qing fought Tai Sui Fu for more than eighty exchanges before withdrawing, and Wang Chong invited Tai Sui Fu to a feast.
• Wen Xi withdrew toward Huangzhou, while Wang Chong sent his six armies to take over the defensive lines at Huazhou before Tai Sui Yu could attack.
• Tai Sui Fu enjoyed sparring and feasting in Qizhou, and Wang Chong learned that Tai Sui Yu had sent him a letter urging him to hurry.
• After Tai Sui Fu unhorsed Yang Tiehu, Wang Chong proposed that they become sworn brothers and gave him a level of the Vajra Prajna Palm.
• Wang Chong and Tai Sui Fu signed an alliance, and Tai Sui Fu then discovered Wang Chong had already taken control of Huazhou.

Wang Chong persuaded Tai Sui Fu to accept Huazhou’s Green Snake Prefecture and join forces with him to seize grassland territories while the other powers fought in the Central Plains. After Tai Sui Fu left to convince his elder brother, Gao Gun revealed his own expansion on the Great Grassland and offered to lead another campaign.

• Tai Sui Fu confronted Wang Chong over taking Huazhou, but Wang Chong offered him Green Snake Prefecture and soothed his anger with talk of their brotherhood.
• Wang Chong proposed that their armies seize the territories and horses of grassland tribes while the other factions fought in the Central Plains.
• Wang Chong gave Tai Sui Fu five hundred horses, twenty camels, three thousand cattle, and three thousand sheep to take to his elder brother.
• Tai Sui Fu accepted the gifts and returned to muster his troops and persuade his elder brother to join Wang Chong’s plan.
• Gao Gun and Qiguan Sui praised Wang Chong’s strategy, and Gao Gun disclosed that he had taken the Nine-Bend Alliance and Post-Deer Tribe and offered to annex more tribes.
• Gao Gun asked Wang Chong not to hold Xun Ba against him, and Wang Chong said he had only been angry.

Wang Chong established his authority over Gao Gun and Qiguan Sui, then learned the Way of the Yellow Heaven could provide him with a powerful network. Meanwhile, Li Cunshou and Shi Langying decided to go to Qizhou, while Tai Sui Yu planned to expand his army on the Great Grassland.

• Wang Chong accepted Gao Gun's indirect admission of fault and listened as Qiguan Sui offered him leadership of the Way of the Yellow Heaven.
• Qiguan Sui explained that the Way of the Yellow Heaven had tens of thousands of disciples and six successors competing for its vacant leadership.
• Li Cunshou learned that his son Ji Zhou was with Wang Chong and agreed with Shi Langying to leave Huangzhou and go to Qizhou.
• Tai Sui Yu admired the supplies Wang Chong had given Tai Sui Fu and agreed that their uncle could go to Green Snake Prefecture while Tai Sui Fu went to the Great Grassland.
• Tai Sui Yu resolved to raid the Great Grassland for horses and livestock, recruit soldiers, and strengthen the Taisui Army.

Wang Chong sent Li Cunshou and Shi Langying to campaign with Tai Sui Yu while the Taisui Army entered the Great Grassland and helped Gao Gun expand the White Camel Tribe. He then attacked the Sima Family's territories in Lei and Xin, where his forces seized cities and disrupted the family’s control, but the campaign became a grinding stalemate.

• Wang Chong took in Li Cunshou and Shi Langying, then sent both with two thousand troops each to join Tai Sui Yu’s army.
• Tai Sui Fu welcomed Shi Langying as a sworn younger brother, and the Taisui Army marched into the Great Grassland with help from Gao Gun’s White Camel tribesmen.
• Wang Chong launched a surprise attack on Lei and Xin, and the Wind-Treading Cavalry captured more than ten cities.
• Wang Chong’s forces relocated people and grain from the two prefectures while small units cut links between their cities.
• Wang Chong divided his forces to harass surrounding territories and besieged Leizhou Prefecture; seven or eight days later, Wen Chan’er captured two more prefectural cities.

Wang Chong captured Leizhou and Xinzhou while the Empress’s forces struggled against An Dushan. Concerned by the growing Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance, Wang Chong proposed transforming it into the Way of the Yellow Heaven and elevating Yuzao and Qiguan Sui to leading roles.

• Sima Feng, Sima Li, and Sima Gao led a night raid on Wang Chong’s camp, but Wang Chong had prepared for it and captured Sima Li and Sima Feng while Sima Gao escaped.
• Qiguan Sui tricked Leizhou’s defenders with surrendered Sima Family soldiers and seized the city while the raiders were away.
• Wang Chong left Yuwen Xuandu to defend Leizhou and learned that Wen Chan’er had captured Xinzhou.
• Sima Gao gathered the remaining Sima Family troops and fled to seek refuge with the Empress after hearing Xinzhou had fallen.
• Wang Chong reflected on the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance’s growing strength and proposed to Qiguan Sui that it become the Way of the Yellow Heaven, with Yuzao as its Saintess and Qiguan Sui as its Guardian Saint King.

Wang Chong and Qiguan Sui turned the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance into the Way of the Yellow Heaven and summoned its six successors to Leizhou to compete for leadership. When the Heaven-Sweeping Army arrived and massacred villagers, Wang Chong confronted its leader, who demanded support as a Yellow Heaven disciple.

• Wang Chong proposed using the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance and a Yellow Heaven Assembly to draw the six successors to his territory, and Qiguan Sui agreed to issue an acting Dao Master's decree.
• Qiguan Sui took the identity of Taehuang Daoist, won control of the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance, and helped Wang Chong transform it into the Way of the Yellow Heaven with Yuzao as its Holy Maiden.
• Wang Chong and Qiguan Sui invited Yellow Heaven disciples to Leizhou, and all six successors agreed to attend the assembly.
• Wang Chong absorbed gangs across Qizhou, Huazhou, Leizhou, and Xinzhou, offering them a choice to join the Way of the Yellow Heaven, relocate, or disband; many instead joined the Tailwind Army.
• The Heaven-Sweeping Army entered Leizhou and killed more than seven hundred villagers in two villages before Wang Chong arrived with Wind-Treading Cavalry to surround them.
• The Heaven-Sweeping Army's leader claimed Yellow Heaven affiliation and demanded supplies and a city, while Qiguan Sui explained his history; Wang Chong rejected any leniency for the massacre.

Wang Chong avenged two massacred villages by wiping out the Heaven-Sweeping Army, then withdrew to cultivate after the killings deeply shook him. As he began the third volume of his technique, Yan Chongxiao and Lei Dongtian arrived in Leizhou and waited under Qiguan Sui’s guidance.

• Wang Chong rejected Qiguan Sui’s appeal for restraint, captured the Heaven-Sweeping Army’s leader, and ordered his cavalry to kill the entire force.
• Wang Chong’s Wind-Treading Cavalry slaughtered the Heaven-Sweeping Army, and Wang Chong erected steles documenting the massacre and the villages’ destruction.
• Wang Chong entrusted the Yellow Heaven Assembly’s affairs to Qiguan Sui and entered seclusion to recover from the shock and cultivate the Heavenly Stars and Earthly Fiends Chapter.
• Yan Chongxiao and Lei Dongtian arrived in Leizhou, where Qiguan Sui reassured them after they learned Wang Chong had entered seclusion.
• Yan Chongxiao investigated the massacred villages and accepted the Tailwind Army’s account, while Lei Dongtian sought martial guidance from Qiguan Sui.

Wang Chong emerged from seclusion having gained insight into psychic power and the Earthly Fiend Art, though he had not reached the Great Grandmaster Realm. He welcomed Dao Master candidates Yan Chongxiao and Lei Dongtian, recruited their help for the Tailwind Army, and discussed entrusting the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance to the new Dao Master.

• Wang Chong studied the Earthly Fiend Art and psychic power but failed to break through to the Great Grandmaster Realm.
• Wang Chong learned that Yan Chongxiao and Lei Dongtian had arrived as Dao Master candidates and hosted a banquet for them and his generals.
• Yan Chongxiao and Lei Dongtian were astonished by the number of powerful martial artists serving Wang Chong.
• Wang Chong offered to help Lei Dongtian take control of the Qing River’s full length in exchange for opening trade routes, and Lei Dongtian agreed.
• Wang Chong urged Yan Chongxiao to stay in Leizhou and explained that the new Dao Master would be entrusted with the growing Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance.
• Lei Dongtian asked Wang Chong whether he truly planned to give the alliance to the new Dao Master.

Wang Chong discussed the Beggar's Gang's denunciation of the Yellow Heaven Assembly and sought a response from Yuan Guansui, Yan Chongxiao, and Lei Dongtian. Meanwhile, An Dushan's failing campaign left Xun Hai wondering whether he should have served Wang Chong instead.

• A Tailwind Army scout reported that the Beggar's Gang had denounced the Yellow Heaven Assembly as rebels and called for an attack.
• Wang Chong asked Yuan Guansui, Yan Chongxiao, and Lei Dongtian how to respond, and proposed that Yan Chongxiao and Lei Dongtian serve as Dharma Kings Protector of the Faith while they assessed the other Dao Master candidates.
• Lei Dongtian declined the position, and Qiguan Sui said he would write to the Beggar's Gang to demand an explanation.
• An Dushan regretted sending Xun Ba to Huangzhou and refused Xun Hai's suggestion that they retreat to their homeland.
• Xun Hai reflected on An Dushan's refusal to take advice and began wondering whether he should have served Wang Chong.