Chapter Summaries

Wang Liyao humiliated Wang Annan in the trial battle, prompting the Realm-Stabilizing Ducal Estate to recognize her as a senior kinswoman and Prince Heng to profit from the spectacle. Meanwhile, Wang Anye accidentally triggered a passage through an ancient formation while the Wang Clan elders explored the wilderness beyond Shouzhe Pass.

• Wang Liyao beat Wang Annan for a full incense stick, and he admitted she was his grandaunt before leaving the arena in disgrace.
• Wang Yuchang ordered Wang Annan's legs broken and sent him to apologize to Wang Liyao after declaring her a blood relative of the Realm-Stabilizing Ducal Estate.
• Prince Heng learned that the crowd had enjoyed Wang Liyao's fight and booked seats for her next match, then named himself her uncle.
• Wang Shouzhe and the Wang Clan elders investigated an ancient formation discovered beyond Shouzhe Pass and brought Wang Anye to test it.
• Wang Anye jumped from the cliff more than thirty times without triggering anything, then tripped on a vine and opened a passage through the formation.

Wang Anye helped the Wang Clan investigate an ancient isolation formation and unexpectedly won the interest of its remnant-soul guardian, Ji Wuchen. Ji Wuchen offered to make Anye his disciple and give him a sentient storage ring, while Anye offered his Infinite Abyss to Wang Shouzhe.

• Lu Xiaoxiao opened a passage through the isolation formation and entered with the others, while Wang Shouzhe stayed outside with Wang Anye.
• When Lu Xiaoxiao could not crack the formation core, Wang Anye threw stones at it until a remnant soul spoke from within.
• Wang Shouzhe summoned Jiang Yuchen, who identified the formation's occupant as a likely late-stage Divine Ability Realm remnant soul and proposed suppressing him.
• Wang Anye urged the remnant soul to relocate and offered money, then impressed him by demonstrating his swordsmanship and Boundless Sea sword intent.
• The remnant soul revealed his name as Ji Wuchen and asked Wang Anye to become his disciple, offering a sentient storage ring and his sword.
• Wang Anye accepted the offer's appeal and told Wang Shouzhe he could take the Infinite Abyss, prompting the others to tease Wang Shouzhe for coveting it.

Wang Shouzhe approved Wang Anye’s apprenticeship to Ji Wuchen only after Passing Years acknowledged Anye as its master, giving the boy a powerful inherited sword and Ji’s guidance. Meanwhile, the Realm-Stabilizing Ducal Estate brought Wang Annan to apologize to Wang Liyao, but she rejected their attempt to call her their aunt.

• Wang Shouzhe questioned Ji Wuchen about his past, motives, and intentions, then rejected the apprenticeship unless the treasured sword’s control could safeguard Wang Anye.
• Lu Xiaoxiao proposed having Passing Years acknowledge Wang Anye as its master, and Ji Wuchen agreed to serve as its Artifact Spirit and pass on his lineage.
• Under the supervision of Wang Shouzhe, Elder Jiang, and the gathered ancestors, Passing Years acknowledged Wang Anye, and Ji Wuchen also gave him the Infinite Treasure Ring.
• Wang Shouzhe divided part of the discovered spirit vein between the Changning Lu Clan and the Changning Gongsun Clan, while the Wang Clan continued its cleansing and development operation beyond the borders.
• At White Cloud Pavilion, Prince Heng learned that Wang Yuchang had arrived with Wang Annan to apologize to Wang Liyao; the estate’s guards carried Annan into the arena on a stretcher while the crowd watched.
• Wang Yuchang announced that Wang Annan had been punished and ordered Wang Shida to kneel and apologize, but Wang Liyao stopped him and said she did not accept being called their aunt.

Wang Liyao secured a welcome into the Realm-Stabilizing Ducal Estate, while Emperor Longchang lent Wu Xuening the Spirit Treasure Thousand Autumns, which she passed to Wu Zhixing. The long-awaited duel between Wang Liyao and Wu Zhixing began at White Cloud Pavilion, where Thousand Autumns immediately embarrassed its new wielder.

• Wang Yuchang welcomed Wang Liyao into the Realm-Stabilizing Ducal Estate while Wang Shida beat Wang Annan for his insult; Wang Liyao eventually stopped the beating and agreed to move into the ancestral residence.
• Emperor Longchang lost a chess game to Wu Xuening’s clever trick and granted her the Spirit Treasure Thousand Autumns; Wu Xuening then gave it to Wu Zhixing to aid him against Wang Liyao.
• Lady Bilian urged Shangguan Yunque to keep the option of fighting Wang Liyao, but Shangguan Yunque argued that an older opponent would make Shangjing lose face.
• Wang Liyao arrived at White Cloud Pavilion with followers Mo Wanchiu and Wang Annan for her duel with Wu Zhixing.
• Wu Zhixing summoned Wang Liyao to the arena, but Thousand Autumns called her attractive and urged him to subdue her, prompting him to stomp the sword onto the arena in embarrassment.

Wu Zhixing and Wang Liyao began their duel in White Cloud Pavilion, where their Divine Ability Spirit Treasures caused embarrassment with a torrent of lewd insults. After Wu Zhixing revealed his Yinglong bloodline Dharma Image and Minor Divine Ability, Wang Liyao announced that she would answer with her own Suspended Water Divine Ability.

• Thousand Autumns embarrassed Wu Zhixing by shouting lewd advice in front of the crowd, and Wu Zhixing apologized to Wang Liyao before the duel.
• True Person Tianhe and Prince Dexin argued over the battle and wagered twenty top-grade Spirit Stones on their respective disciples.
• Wu Zhixing and Wang Liyao began fighting with their Divine Ability Spirit Treasure swords while Thousand Autumns and Xiange traded insults until their masters ordered them to stop.
• After the sword fight remained even, Wu Zhixing revealed his Yinglong bloodline Dharma Image and used his Minor Divine Ability, Heavenly Gang, to unleash a massive tornado.
• Wang Liyao withstood the tempest and announced her Minor Divine Ability, Suspended Water Divine Ability, First Form—Yin Turns to Drizzle.

Wang Liyao revealed her formidable cultivation and defeated Wu Zhixing with her Suspended Water Divine Ability, winning True Person Tianhe’s wager. After the battle, Eunuch Yao delivered an imperial decree summoning her to meet Emperor Longchang the next day.

• Wang Liyao revealed her Azure Phoenix manifestation and greater cultivation, then used Yin Turns to Drizzle to overwhelm Wu Zhixing’s defenses.
• Wang Liyao struck Wu Zhixing down with Heavenly One True Water and began a second technique, leaving him unable to surrender before he fainted.
• True Person Tianhe claimed victory over Prince Dexin, while Prince Yong'an promised to deliver twenty Supreme Spirit Stones within three days.
• Shangguan Yunque considered challenging Wang Liyao privately after Lady Bilian offered to arrange a sparring match.
• Eunuch Yao delivered Emperor Longchang’s decree summoning Wang Liyao to the palace the following day.

Wang Liyao met Emperor Longchang, openly declared the Changning Wang Clan’s support for Prince An, and left with imperial rewards after an unexpectedly candid conversation. As her fame spread ahead of her planned challenge to the Holy Land’s nine lineages, the chapter ended with Wang Yingxuan’s victory over the boys’ group interrupted by news that her grandfather was about to punish her father for her poor grades.

• Old Yao escorted Wang Liyao to the Humble Governance Pavilion, where Emperor Longchang praised her and questioned her plans to challenge the Holy Land’s prodigies.
• Wang Liyao told Emperor Longchang that the Changning Wang Clan would support Prince An’s bid to become Imperial Son, and she defended speaking openly about the lawful succession contest.
• Wang Liyao presented her father’s inventions, and Emperor Longchang became fascinated with the telescopes before recounting an embarrassing tale from his youth.
• Wang Liyao safely left the palace with gifts, while news of her victory and rumored future challenge to the Holy Land spread throughout Great Qian.
• Wang Yingxuan rode Huahua and led the Invincible Beautiful Girls Mutual Aid Alliance to defeat the Youthful Sunshine Boys’ Group.
• Madam Fang found Wang Yingxuan after learning she had failed five of seven core subjects and told her that Wang Shouzhe was preparing to punish her father.

Wang Shouzhe staged a harsh punishment of Wang Zongrui to spur the Wang Clan to discipline its children, then privately clashed with Liu Ruolan over his public rebuke of her. The chapter ended with Liu Ruoling taking over Liu Ruolan’s voice after Wang Shouzhe mentioned secretly meeting at Moon-Water Pavilion, leaving him alarmed.

• Wang Shouzhe ordered Wang Zongrui to receive fifty strokes for failing to discipline Wang Yingxuan, and he rebuked Liu Ruolan when she tried to stop the punishment.
• Wang Zongrui took Wang Yingxuan back to his courtyard and beat her, while Fang Xunfeng joined in and threatened to return to her parents’ home.
• The commotion prompted Wang Clan parents to punish their own misbehaving children, turning the night into a lasting ordeal for the younger generation.
• Wang Shouzhe revealed to Liu Ruolan that the public quarrel had been part of a plan to make the clan take children’s education seriously, but she confronted him for yelling at her.
• Wang Shouzhe challenged Liu Ruolan to settle their dispute at Moon-Water Pavilion, and Liu Ruoling’s voice suddenly came through, alarming him.

Wang Shouzhe investigated the late Prince Hao while Wang Luojing received a half-volume True Method from her dying master and promised to deliver it to the Southern Frontier Barbarian Gu Tribe. In North Guard, Wang Zongan arrived to help Prince An develop the Great Desert and revealed a Longevity Tree, shocking Senior Brother Jinshan with the discovery that Zongan had obtained the missing spirit seed.

• Wang Mei reported Prince Hao's military record to Wang Shouzhe, who suspected Prince Dexin's line might have been involved in Prince Hao's death and ordered her to investigate carefully.
• Wang Zongrui saw Wang Mei dressed like Wang Liyao and recognized her voice, which reminded him of a childhood nightmare involving Xiao Xue.
• Wang Luojing visited her dying master Zhou Changfeng in Insect Valley, accepted his half-volume Holy Gu True Method, and promised to deliver it with his letter to the Southern Frontier Barbarian Gu Tribe.
• Zhou Changfeng died, and Wang Luojing honored his final wishes by letting his venomous insects devour him and his stilted house.
• Wang Zongan arrived in North Guard with Wang Clan and Evergreen Valley personnel and supplies, then met Prince An to begin helping develop the Great Desert.
• Wang Zongan released a Longevity Tree from his Breath Soil Bracelet, and Senior Brother Jinshan realized that Zongan had obtained Evergreen Valley's missing Longevity Tree Spirit Seed.

Wang Zongan brought the Longevity Tree and agricultural supplies to support Prince An’s North Guard development, while Long Wuji learned the Wang Clan had sided with Prince An and struggled to honor his agreement with Wang Shouzhe. At Deep Tai Lake, Wang Shouzhe matured Pearl Grass and helped the Primordial Water Azure Flood Dragon become a dragon, only to discover she was an underage girl.

• Wang Zongan introduced Wang Yingliu, supplied Spirit Stones, alfalfa seeds, and improved drought-resistant rice to Prince An, and reassured him that the Wang Clan would support his development plan.
• Long Wuji received Prince Yong'an’s letter reporting the Wang Clan’s support for Prince An, then wrestled with whether to confront Wang Shouzhe before their fifty-year agreement expired.
• Wang Shouzhe moved the spirit clam and its Pearl Grass to Deep Tai Lake, where his catalysis helped the Pearl Grass mature and produce three Spirit Seeds.
• Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Fire Fox gave the Primordial Water Azure Flood Dragon mature Pearl Grass and a Spirit Contract to help her break through.
• The Primordial Water Azure Flood Dragon survived the Dragon Transformation Tribulation and became a Primordial Water Azure Dragon, then spoke in a young girl’s voice and revealed she was female and underage.

After transforming into a Primordial Water Azure Dragon, the newly powerful dragon was subdued by Wang Shouzhe, adopted as his daughter Wang Lilong, and enrolled in the Wang Clan’s Clan School. The chapter ended as Wang Lilong mistook the Primordial Water Spirit Turtle for breakfast on her first morning heading to school with Wang Anye.

• Primordial Water Azure Dragon celebrated her transformation, then argued with Ancestor Fire Fox over their status in the Wang Clan.
• Wang Shouzhe frightened the little dragon by revealing that the Nine Nether Blood-Devouring Demon Seed spirit core in her stomach could be made to sprout, and she tearfully agreed to behave.
• The little dragon accepted Wang Shouzhe as her father and was named Wang Lilong, while Ancestor Fire Fox chose the name Yuwen Chiwei.
• Liu Ruolan adopted Wang Lilong as her daughter and sent her to the Wang Clan’s Clan School after discovering she was illiterate.
• Wang Shouzhe arranged for Wang Anye to accompany Wang Lilong to school and warned her not to fight or reveal her true form.
• At the dock, Wang Lilong mistook the Primordial Water Spirit Turtle for a lavish breakfast, terrifying the turtle.

Wang Lilong began attending the Clan School and caused chaos while Wang Anye tried to keep her in line. Beyond the school, the Wang Clan expanded its Outer Domain holdings and Prince An’s North Guard project prospered; Wang Zongan received word from the Hall of Immortals that the second step could begin, and prepared to make his move.

• Wang Anye stopped Wang Lilong from eating the Primordial Water Spirit Turtle and used Passing Years and the threat of the Belly-Bursting Curse to make her behave.
• Wang Lilong wreaked havoc at the Clan School by disrupting lessons, stealing students’ meals and money, and robbing the school shop, while Wang Anye followed behind to manage the trouble.
• The Wang Clan planned to develop a vast territory around Xin'an Town with its Marriage Alliance, while Wang Luoqiu and Wang Luojing led an expedition to open the Outer Domain Divine Martial Route.
• Prince An’s North Guard prospered with the Wang Clan’s support, but Gongye Qingrui grew furious that Prince An and her son Jun’er spent their time working with Wang Zongan instead of returning home.
• A Hall of Immortals maid told Wang Zongan that his father had authorized the second step, and Wang Zongan resolved to prove himself to his parents.

Wang Zongan visited the Shangguan Clan alongside Prince An and revealed that the Changning Wang Clan was supporting Prince An’s bid for the imperial succession. Rather than asking the Shangguan Clan to choose sides, Zongan argued that financial support could help them cultivate Shangguan Yunque and their clan’s future, then revealed that he was a Great Heavenly Prodigy himself.

• Shangguan Yunque left his martial training after a retainer reported the arrival of Prince An and Wang Zongan.
• Shangguan Zhenhai, Shangguan Yunque, and Shangguan Bilian received Prince An and Wang Zongan at the Immortal Guest Waterside Pavilion.
• Wang Zongan confirmed that the Changning Wang Clan supported Prince An and that Wang Liyao’s reputation-building had also promoted their cause.
• Shangguan Yunque declared the Shangguan Clan neutral, but Prince An clarified that he had not come to solicit their allegiance.
• Wang Zongan described the enormous cost of cultivating a Great Heavenly Prodigy, then revealed his own Celestial Realm Third Layer cultivation at age sixty-five.

Wang Zongan persuaded Shangguan Zhenhai and the Shangguan Clan to consider investing in Prince An’s North Guard development and the reclamation of the Dara Great Desert, while Long Wuji grew furious over Wang Shouzhe’s support for Prince An. The chapter ended with Long Wuji ordering the Flood Dragon Gang to gather near Changning Guard and attack Ping'an Town when the fifty-year pact expired.

• Shangguan Zhenhai and the Shangguan Clan were stunned to learn that Wang Zongan was a Great Heavenly Prodigy and that the Wang Clan had gained the Longevity Tree Spirit Seed.
• Wang Zongan presented plans for North Guard’s farms, livestock, and wineries, then offered the Shangguan Clan three percent of the Dara Reclamation Joint Office’s shares in exchange for long-term funding and manpower.
• Wang Zongan and Prince An visited other princely estates to seek investment, but Prince Dexin’s and Prince Yong'an’s estates politely turned them away.
• A month later, Long Wuji received letters about Wang Shouzhe’s support for Prince An and accused him of betraying their friendship.
• Long Wuji ordered the Flood Dragon Gang to move near Changning Guard and attack Ping'an Town once the fifty-year pact expired.

In North Guard, Wu Shengjun and Wang Clan officials oversaw the settlers’ improving lives while Wu Mingyuan and Wang Zongan raised major investments in Guilong City for reclaiming the Dara Great Desert. As Long Wuji’s Flood Dragon Gang fleet approached Dingpu Ferry for its long-promised meeting with Wang Shouzhe, the two sides stood on the brink of battle.

• Old Li and his son worked fields in Little Deer Village, where Wang Clan seeds and alfalfa had helped settlers and livestock thrive.
• Wu Shengjun visited Little Deer Village with Wang Shicheng and Wang Yingdie to check on the people and inspect alfalfa growth.
• Wu Mingyuan and Wang Zongan presented the Dara reclamation investment plan, selling the available shares to aristocratic clans and securing Emperor Longchang’s agreement to take ten percent dry shares.
• Emperor Longchang welcomed Wu Mingyuan and Wang Zongan, praised their work, and bestowed gifts before realizing the ten percent shares might require him to invest.
• Long Wuji refused Wang Shizhao’s invitation to visit the Wang Clan before their fifty-year appointment, while Wang Shouzhe resolved to persuade him to become an ally.
• On the appointed day, Long Wuji led the Flood Dragon Gang fleet through Dragon-Severing Gorge toward Dingpu Ferry as the Wang Clan prepared its Divine Might Cannons for battle.

Wang Shouzhe faced Long Wuji at Dingpu Ferry after deciding to side with Wu Mingyuan, while Long Wuji tried to persuade him to join Wu Chengsi. Wang Shouzhe lured Long Wuji upstream and revealed a closed sluice at Dragon-Severing Gorge that threatened the Flood Dragon Gang’s fleet, leaving Long Wuji to switch tactics and offer a marriage alliance.

• Long Wuji arrived at Dingpu Ferry with the Flood Dragon Gang’s fleet, and Wang Shouzhe met him with several Wang Clan Celestial Realm experts.
• Long Wuji and Wang Shouzhe argued over whether to meet aboard the flagship or on shore before Long Wuji crossed to the ferry with Jiang Yusong.
• Over wine, Wang Shouzhe refused Long Wuji’s offer to join Wu Chengsi, and Long Wuji threatened to force him onto the Flood Dragon Gang’s side.
• Wang Shouzhe pointed out changes in the An River’s current, then led Long Wuji, Jiang Yusong, and Wang Shizhao upstream to investigate.
• Liu Ruolan stood above the closed Dragon-Severing Sluice, where rising water threatened the Flood Dragon Gang’s ships and troops.
• Long Wuji angrily confronted Wang Shouzhe, then offered to cancel his great-grandson’s betrothal and arrange a marriage with Wu Xuening.

Wang Shouzhe persuaded Long Wuji to abandon his support for Prince Kang and join him in developing overseas lands, sealing their alliance with a drunken oath of brotherhood. When Emperor Longchang heard what Wang Shouzhe had said about Prince Kang and the imperial court, he flew into a rage and ordered Wu Chengsi brought before him.

• Wang Shouzhe welcomed Long Wuji to dinner and used the Dragon-Severing Sluice to keep the Flood Dragon fleet from interfering while they talked.
• Wang Shouzhe criticized Prince Kang’s ambition, upbringing, and Daybreak organization, leading Long Wuji to reconsider his support for him.
• Wang Shouzhe proposed overseas development, and Long Wuji eagerly agreed after hearing about Wang Shouzhe’s ironclad ship; they drank for days and swore brotherhood.
• News of Long Wuji’s alliance with Wang Shouzhe spread through Guilong City and alarmed the upper aristocratic clans.
• Old Yao recounted Wang Shouzhe’s words to Emperor Longchang, who smashed his desk, condemned Prince Kang, and ordered Wu Chengsi brought before him.

Great Emperor Longchang privately rewarded Prince Kang and Zhao Yijing while using the War of the Imperial Sons to pressure both Prince Kang and Prince An. In Ping'an Town, Wang Shouzhe revealed that Jiang Yusong was Longchang’s agent and had deliberately fed him information to pass to the emperor.

• After hearing Old Yao’s advice, Great Emperor Longchang ordered Jiang Yusong to remain beside Prince Yingji and issued an imperial decree granting Prince Kang a purple-gold crown and Zhao Yijing a second-rank title.
• Zhao Yijing visited the Zhao Clan, where Zhao Chengwen explained that Longchang’s rewards signaled his stance in the succession struggle and warned her not to retaliate against Prince Yingji.
• Prince An and Wang Zongan counted 690 million Qian Gold raised for the Dara Great Desert plan, while Prince An urged his officials to keep working regardless of the succession contest.
• Longchang told Old Yao that he intended to make the princes struggle rather than hand any of them an easy victory.
• Wang Shouzhe confronted Jiang Yusong in Ping'an Town, explained how he had identified him as Longchang’s agent, and revealed that he had deliberately arranged for Jiang to relay information to the emperor.

Jiang Yusong pledged himself to Wang Shouzhe, while the Wang Clan continued preparing its maritime expansion and Wang Shouzhe disciplined Wang Shihao for trying to join it before fulfilling his family assignment. In the Cold Moon Immortal Dynasty, Wang Lici and Lan Wan'er ate their way through a barbecue restaurant and struggled to afford shipping five wolf cubs home, until a powerful Immortal Court woman from Great Qian offered to help.

• Wang Shouzhe persuaded Jiang Yusong to serve him and recorded Jiang's criticisms of the Emperor and Prince Kang as a letter of allegiance.
• Wang Lilong frightened Jiang Yusong, while Liu Ruolan caught her trying to avoid a meal and made Wang Anye eat with her.
• Wang Shihao admitted that he had signed up for the overseas expansion group before completing his assignment to have five children, and Liu Ruolan beat him into submission.
• Wang Lici and Lan Wan'er ate dozens of plates of Spirit-Rhino White Bull meat, emptying the restaurant's supply.
• Wang Lici and Lan Wan'er learned that shipping their five Silver Moon Gray Wolf cubs to East Qian Kingdom would cost fifty thousand Immortal Crystals, which they could not afford.
• An Immortal Court woman from Great Qian offered to pay the shipping bill and invited Wang Lici and Lan Wan'er to a meal.

Wang Lici and Lan Wan'er met Zhao Xiqing, who paid to ship Wang Lici’s five wolf cubs and treated the girls to an extravagant meal, where Lici revealed her ambition to become the master of Lingyun Sacred Land. Meanwhile, the Wang Clan’s education system produced promising young workers, and the Longchang Emperor grew furious after learning that Wang Shouzhe had criticized him in private, then plotted to challenge him from afar.

• Zhao Xiqing recognized Lan Wan'er and Wang Lici’s cultivation arts and Devouring bloodlines, paid the negotiated freight for Wang Lici’s five wolf cubs, and treated the girls to food.
• Wang Lici tearfully parted with the wolf cubs after warning them about Wang Shouzhe and Wang Shouzhe’s wife, while the fat shopkeeper celebrated the shipment’s profit.
• Zhao Xiqing took Wang Lici and Lan Wan'er to Food Street and then a restaurant, where Wang Lici ate hundreds of jin of Seventh Rank dragon meat and recorded Zhao Xiqing’s name so she could repay her kindness after becoming master of Lingyun Sacred Land.
• Old Sun’s grandson Sun Xiaole graduated from Wang Clan Pearl Rose Academy’s Artifact Refining Elite Class and joined the Wang Clan Artifact Refining Directorate, where Wang Shichuan assigned him an important, slightly dangerous task recommended by Wang Yinglei.
• The Longchang Emperor read reports of Wang Shouzhe’s private criticisms, became enraged, summoned Prince An to teach him imperial statecraft, and ordered Taishi Ankang to raise Longzuo Prefecture’s tax revenue by fifty percent within ten years.