Chapter Summaries

At Imperial Waves Noble Academy, Shen Liyan tried to escape Lin Xinhe’s bizarre attempts to flirt with and pursue him. After Lin Xinhe shouted that he would propose to him, Shen Liyan knocked him unconscious by hurling a trash bag, leaving the school stunned and making Shen Liyan a campus legend.

• Shen Liyan ran from Lin Xinhe after Lin theatrically declared that he had taken a fancy to him.
• Shen Liyan sought refuge behind Yu Jiaxin and told his classmates that Lin Xinhe was chasing him with embarrassing chuunibyou nonsense.
• Lin Xinhe announced that he intended to pursue Shen Liyan and come to his house to propose.
• Enraged, Shen Liyan threw a trash bag at Lin Xinhe, striking him in the face and knocking him unconscious.
• Shen Liyan ran to the classroom to call Shang Shujue while classmates carried Lin Xinhe to the infirmary.
• Shen Liyan became known for the incident, and Yu Jiaxin admired his remarkable throwing accuracy.

Shen Liyan’s family dealt with the fallout after he knocked out Lin Xinhe, while Lin Xinhe returned to school and quietly watched Shen Liyan. The chapter ended with the revelation that Lin Xinhe had been reborn.

• Shang Shujue laughed at Shen Liyan for decisively knocking out Lin Xinhe and promised that the family would protect him.
• Shen Liyan stopped seeing Lin Xinhe for a week, while Luo Mi settled the grievance with the Lin Family and refused a marriage alliance.
• Lin Xinhe returned to school more composed but repeatedly watched Shen Liyan from nearby, while Shen Liyan ignored him and focused on studying.
• Yu Jiaxin worried about Lin Xinhe’s unsettling attention, and Su Yu questioned why Lin Xinhe was late and studying material the class had not covered.
• Lin Xinhe remembered that he was now a student rather than a business president, revealing that he had been reborn.

After awakening with memories of a life in which he tortured Shen Liyan and harmed Ruo Xilin, Lin Xinhe tried to atone by staying away from them. Shang Shujue learned that Lin Xinhe had begun to repent and decided to let events unfold, while recovering from a fever with Song Yanqing’s care.

• Lin Xinhe woke from visions of his past life, realized he had been reborn into a different world, and spent weeks watching Shen Liyan as he tried to understand his guilt.
• Lin Xinhe concluded that Shen Liyan would never love him again, decided to avoid him, and resolved not to accept an arranged engagement with Ruo Xilin.
• Shen Liyan remained unaware of Lin Xinhe’s change, while Nuomi tracked the growing guilt and remorse points and told Shang Shujue that Lin Xinhe had been reborn and was reflecting on his actions.
• Shang Shujue decided to leave Lin Xinhe alone, expecting his protagonist halo to pass to Lu Xingzhi and the Lin Family to fall naturally.
• Song Yanqing stopped Shang Shujue from drinking more lemonade because his fever had only recently broken, and urged him to take medicine as Shang Shujue leaned against him affectionately.

Lin Xinhe left S City after the Lin Family collapsed, while Shen Liyan and Lu Xingzhi became engaged. At the engagement banquet, Shen Lanting leaned on Lu Liuru for comfort and asked him to visit his deceased lover’s grave with him, leaving their relationship unresolved.

• After Lin Xinhe’s protagonist halo shifted to Lu Xingzhi, the Lin Family’s officials were imprisoned, its company went bankrupt, and Lin Xinhe’s father died by suicide.
• Lin Xinhe moved south for university, using his own home and savings to support himself.
• Shen Liyan and Lu Xingzhi became engaged at Shen Liyan’s coming-of-age celebration, and Shen Lanting cried with relief at their engagement banquet.
• Lu Liuru comforted Shen Lanting as the others watched, and Shen Lanting explained that he still felt bound by his deceased lover.
• Shen Lanting embraced Lu Liuru and asked him to accompany him to the cemetery, and Lu Liuru agreed.

After years of quietly loving Shen Lanting, Lu Liuru learned that Shen Lanting wanted to remove his late husband’s mark and chose him as his partner. The couple went to S City for the procedure, where Shen Lanting learned Wei Renmin had known he would not live long and had left him free to love someone else.

• Lu Liuru accompanied Shen Lanting to Wei Renmin’s cenotaph and waited as Shen Lanting mourned.
• On the grassland road, Shen Lanting asked Lu Liuru to go to S City so he could have his mark removed, and they embraced as they became a couple.
• Shang Shujue arranged Shen Lanting’s hospital visit, and the doctor said the shallow mark could be removed with a straightforward procedure.
• After the examination, Shen Lanting learned Wei Renmin had known he would not live long and apologized to Lu Liuru for making him wait.
• Shen Liyan spoke with Lu Xingzhi about his late father, while Shang Shujue, Song Yanqing, and Nuomi watched the couples happily.

After Shen Lanting recovered, he and Lu Liuru returned to the grasslands, registered their marriage, and held a lively wedding. Their wedding night began nervously but ended with the newlyweds growing closer, though Lu Liuru later had to wait outside in the cold after going too far.

• Shen Lanting recovered from surgery, and Lu Liuru brought him to stay at his house in S City while he healed.
• Shen Lanting and Lu Liuru returned to the grasslands, registered their marriage, and held a bonfire wedding three days later.
• Shang Shujue, Song Yanqing, and Nuomi played wedding-chamber pranks before the guests left the newlyweds alone.
• Shen Lanting teased Lu Liuru for his nervousness, then urged him to stop merely talking on their wedding night.
• Lu Liuru and Shen Lanting became intimate, but Lu Liuru's caution hurt Shen Lanting, who told him to stop hesitating.
• After Lu Liuru went too far, Shen Lanting shut him outside for half an hour, and Lu Liuru learned not to be so unrestrained.

Ten years later, Shen Liyan discovered he was pregnant while preparing to take an exam for the imperial government's senior council, and he struggled to choose between the baby and his ambitions. After his family helped him see that he could pursue his career later, he told Lu Xingzhi, and the family celebrated their new arrival.

• Ten years later, Shen Lanting and Lu Liuru remained happy on the grasslands, while Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing had publicly confirmed their marriage and Shen Liyan and Lu Xingzhi enjoyed married life.
• On New Year's Eve, Shen Liyan told Shen Lanting and Shang Shujue that he was pregnant and had applied to take the senior council exam, which he feared he would be disqualified from if his pregnancy became known.
• Shang Shujue told Shen Liyan that Mu Xin was already the favored candidate and that Shen Liyan lacked the seniority to succeed, helping him let go of his immediate ambitions without rejecting the baby.
• Shen Lanting comforted Shen Liyan, and the family joked about the baby becoming a miniature Lu Xingzhi until Shen Liyan felt joyful about the pregnancy again.
• Shen Liyan ran out to tell Lu Xingzhi, who lifted him and spun him around in excitement before Dad Lu scolded him for being reckless.

Shen Liyan learned he was carrying twins, and he and Lu Xingzhi welcomed two sons, Lu Yunze and Shen Yunlin. Later, Lin Xinhe grew close to Ruo Xilin, while Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing eventually passed away and Shen Liyan and Lu Xingzhi inherited their estate; the mission ended, and they departed for other worlds.

• Shen Liyan went for an ultrasound with his family and learned that he was carrying twins.
• Lu Xingzhi and the family celebrated the news, and Song Yanqing and Shang Shujue offered Shen Liyan blessings for a safe pregnancy.
• Shen Liyan gave birth to twins; Lu Xingzhi's father named the Alpha baby Lu Yunze, while the Omega baby was named Shen Yunlin.
• Lin Xinhe, now working with Ruo Xilin, accepted his invitation to a birthday dinner and began to feel something for him.
• Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing passed away, leaving their estate to Shen Liyan and Lu Xingzhi, who completed their mission and set off for other worlds.

Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing learned that their next mission was a dangerous urban world of spiritual energy revival and universal cultivation, where they would need to establish a new order. After Nuomi promised life-saving support and they bound paired artifacts, they entered the mission with their memories sealed.

• Nuomi explained that future missions required immersive experiences and that he could not appear in the mission world.
• Nuomi described a chaotic cultivation world where the strong persecuted ordinary people and said Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing had to establish a new order.
• Shang Shujue initially refused the dangerous mission, but changed his mind after Nuomi offered life-saving measures and a reward of one hundred thousand Merit Points.
• Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing bound the Key of the Sworn Heart and the Lock of the Sworn Heart, which could protect them and draw them together.
• After resting, Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing entered the mission world hand in hand, and Shang Shujue lost his memories as he arrived.

Shang Shujue awakened in an urban cultivation world on the eve of spiritual energy’s revival and resolved to establish laws that could protect people from the chaos to come. After Temple Master Qingfeng broke through to Qi Refining, Shang Shujue gained his master’s support for his ambitions and set out to cultivate.

• Shang Shujue remembered his identity as an orphan and disciple of Temple Master Qingfeng, and realized spiritual energy’s revival would soon threaten the world with chaos.
• Shang Shujue’s seventh senior brother hurried him back to Clear Cloud Daoist Temple, where white motes of spiritual energy had surrounded Temple Master Qingfeng during cultivation.
• Shang Shujue identified the motes as spiritual energy, which surged into Temple Master Qingfeng and brought him to the First Level of Qi Refining.
• Temple Master Qingfeng warned his disciples that ordinary people would struggle in a world where everyone could cultivate, and Clear Cloud Temple’s Daoists began training to prepare for the upheaval.
• Temple Master Qingfeng asked Shang Shujue what he would do if the world fell into chaos, and Shang Shujue vowed to establish rules and laws before the troubled times arrived.
• Temple Master Qingfeng supported Shang Shujue’s plans, and Shang Shujue left to cultivate after asking his master to make fried chicken.

Half a year after Clear Cloud Temple became a national combat readiness site, Shang Shujue had reached half-step Nascent Soul and become a key figure among the temple and military cultivators. He joined his master, senior brothers, and Major General Lu to investigate a large rock near the temple’s growing spirit vein.

• The authorities designated Clear Cloud Temple a national first-class combat readiness site and sent five hundred soldiers there to cultivate.
• Shang Shujue helped Daoist Qingfeng, his senior brothers, and the soldiers survive tribulations, while his golden rune lock protected and aided those nearby.
• Sixth Senior Brother begged Shang Shujue to let Little Tangyuan spar with him and Seventh Senior Brother, but Shang Shujue declined and agreed to visit the spirit vein.
• Shang Shujue and Sixth Senior Brother passed the guarded entrance to the spirit vein, where Major General Lu, Daoist Qingfeng, and the other senior brothers were examining a large rock.
• Seventh Senior Brother pulled Shang Shujue toward the group as if he had arrived to save them.

Shang Shujue discovered that the black stone contained Qing Shu, a fallen Spirit Transformation cultivator whose remaining divine sense could potentially be awakened and recruited as Huaxia’s guardian. He called for a decision from the highest levels, and the spirit vein was placed under heavy guard while they waited.

• Shang Shujue examined the black stone and used his spiritual sense to find Qing Shu sealed inside it.
• Little Tangyuan explained Qing Shu’s history and proposed that Shang Shujue awaken him and make a deal for him to guard their side.
• Shang Shujue warned that the stone was dangerous and told Lu Ze and the others that only a high-level meeting could decide what to do.
• Lu Ze agreed to report the discovery, while Shang Shujue and Daoist Qingfeng set up barriers around the stone and arranged a Spirit Gathering Array.
• Lu Ze designated Clear Cloud Temple’s spirit vein a restricted area and assigned additional guards, including three Early Golden Core corps commanders.

Shang Shujue entered Qing Shu’s divine sense space to persuade him to join Huaxia, where Qing Shu recognized him as the reincarnation of Immortal Lord Fujue, the Holy Son. Qing Shu pledged his life to Shang Shujue, leaving Shang Shujue unsure how to respond.

• At a secret meeting, Shang Shujue proposed communicating with Qing Shu and estimated he had a seventy percent chance of persuading him; the leaders approved the plan.
• After three days of preparation, Shang Shujue entered Qing Shu’s divine sense space with Little Tangyuan while cultivators stood ready to rescue him.
• Shang Shujue discovered that Qing Shu’s divine sense was blind and watched as Qing Shu knelt and addressed him as the Holy Son.
• Qing Shu sent memories to Shang Shujue, revealing that he was a reincarnation of Immortal Lord Fujue, the Azure Emperor’s son who had sacrificed himself in a great war.
• Qing Shu explained that he had sealed himself away to await Shang Shujue, then pledged to lay down his life for him.

Ten years after spiritual energy revived, Shang Shujue’s cultivation reached the peak of Tribulation Transcendence, and a mysterious presence guided him to travel north to resolve a possible karmic debt. Elsewhere, Song Yanqing escaped a formation ambush by Yan Chen and his men, who wanted the key to his life-bound magical treasure.

• With Qing Shu’s help, Shang Shujue’s faction established cultivation rules, and Hua Nation became the strongest and most orderly country amid global unrest.
• Qing Shu told Shang Shujue that he needed to experience mortal life to reach Spirit Transformation, while Shang Shujue described a mysterious call, a heating golden lock, and Little Tangyuan’s sadness.
• Little Tangyuan warned Qing Shu not to channel spiritual energy into Shang Shujue because a possessive presence harassed him whenever it sensed unfamiliar energy.
• Qing Shu advised Shang Shujue that he had to face the likely karmic debt himself, and Shang Shujue prepared to travel north with Little Tangyuan.
• Yan Chen and his men trapped Song Yanqing in a formation and demanded the key to his life-bound magical treasure.
• Song Yanqing destroyed five formation nodes with silver needles and escaped as the formation exploded, leaving Yan Chen injured and furious.

After escaping Yan Chen, Song Yanqing collapsed at Shang Shujue’s house, where their life-bound artifacts revealed a binding oath between him and Shang Shujue’s artifact spirit. Once Song Yanqing woke, Xingyun told him that Tangyuan was his lock, and Song Yanqing recognized Shang Shujue as the person he had been searching for.

• Song Yanqing fled through a desolate forest, used Xingyun’s power to reach a small house, and collapsed from his injuries.
• Shang Shujue found Song Yanqing and carried him inside, where the Lock of the Sworn Heart and Key of the Sworn Heart briefly joined and displayed an oath binding their bearers.
• Song Yanqing woke healed but weak, and Tangyuan returned Xingyun to him after a fight between the artifact spirits.
• Song Yanqing asked Xingyun about the aura he had been seeking, and Xingyun revealed that Tangyuan was his lock.
• Shang Shujue entered with food, and Song Yanqing felt that he and Shang Shujue were meant to be together.

Song Yanqing met Shang Shujue after Shang saved him, and the two agreed to undergo the Tribulation of Mortal Bonds together because their bonded artifacts were a pair. They planned to head north, while Shang learned that Song had been attacked by people who wanted his artifact.

• Xingyun called Tangyuan his wife and clung to him until Tangyuan dragged him away to settle the matter.
• Shang Shujue introduced himself to Song Yanqing and explained that their bonded artifacts, the Lock and Key of the Sworn Heart, were linked.
• Shang asked Song to partner with him in the Tribulation of Mortal Bonds, and Song agreed despite the danger their artifacts might face if they separated.
• Shang and Song shared a meal and agreed to head north after beginning life as ordinary people.
• Shang asked about the people who had pursued Song, and Song explained that they had attacked him to steal his bonded artifact.

Song Yanqing went to bid farewell to Zhang Congyu before leaving north with Shang Shujue, while Little Tangyuan told Shang Shujue that Song Yanqing had fallen for him and that Shang Shujue seemed fond of him too. The chapter left Song Yanqing entering Zhang Congyu’s home, still convinced that his invitation to Shang Shujue had been presumptuous.

• Song Yanqing’s cultivation recovered beyond its former level, and he and Shang Shujue planned to head north.
• Shang Shujue waited outside Zhang Congyu’s apartment and told Song Yanqing to meet him at a nearby drinks shop after the visit.
• Song Yanqing asked Shang Shujue to come with him, but Shang Shujue declined because he had not prepared a gift for their first meeting; Song Yanqing left upset.
• Little Tangyuan told Shang Shujue that Song Yanqing had fallen for him and pointed out Shang Shujue’s indulgent treatment of Song Yanqing.
• Song Yanqing blamed himself for inviting Shang Shujue and went to Zhang Congyu’s home, where Wang Shuyao welcomed him and gave him new slippers.

Song Yanqing visited his teacher, Zhang Congyu, to say goodbye and thank her for her kindness before leaving with Shang Shujue. He told her he had found the person who gave his life meaning and promised to bring him to meet her someday, then left for the person waiting downstairs.

• Wang Shuyao admired Song Yanqing's cultivation, and he brought Zhang Congyu farewell gifts, including a Bright Moon Rabbit.
• Song Yanqing reunited with Zhang Congyu, who had spent months searching for him and feared he had died in the secret realm.
• Song Yanqing told Zhang Congyu what had happened and explained that he was leaving, then gave her the gifts he had chosen for her.
• Zhang Congyu asked whether Song Yanqing had found the aura that had guided him, and he admitted that he had found it.
• Song Yanqing promised to bring Shang Shujue to meet Zhang Congyu and left, knowing Shang Shujue was waiting for him downstairs.

Song Yanqing went to meet Shang Shujue at a dessert shop and quietly waited with him, feeling shy whenever their eyes met. The two sampled new desserts together, and Shang Shujue noticed Song Yanqing’s embarrassment.

• Song Yanqing reflected that he had found where he belonged and went to the drinks shop to join Shang Shujue.
• Song Yanqing sat across from Shang Shujue, and they exchanged only a few words while Xingyun and Little Tangyuan cultivated in their respective seas of consciousness.
• A shop employee brought Song Yanqing the drinks and snacks Shang Shujue had ordered, then offered them a chance to sample two new desserts.
• Shang Shujue agreed to try the desserts, and the employee introduced Heart of the Rose and Everlasting and gave them a feedback form.

Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing shared a quiet meal, and Shang Shujue suggested they travel southwest and live as ordinary people for a while. When Song Yanqing invited him to visit his birthplace, Shang Shujue agreed, leaving the two to set off together as the shop’s onlookers celebrated their apparent romance.

• Shang Shujue accepted the Forever and Ever Song Yanqing had pushed toward him, and the two ate together in comfortable silence.
• Shang Shujue paid for their meal and left the shop with Song Yanqing after they submitted a note praising the desserts.
• Shang Shujue proposed flying southwest and trying life as ordinary people in a scenic place.
• Song Yanqing invited Shang Shujue to stay at his home near the place where he was born.
• Shang Shujue agreed to visit Song Yanqing’s birthplace, and the two walked away together.
• The shop’s customers and staff celebrated the pair, while the owner and his lover treated everyone to free desserts.