Chapter Summaries

Jiang Beiran investigated Fang Qiuyue’s absence while reviewing his failed pill refinements and planning ways to improve the Golden Crow Tripod. Liu Zijin and the Yu Family Three Sisters found Fang Qiuyue at home, where she revealed her family’s trouble had been discovered.

• Jiang Beiran returned to the Returning Heart Sect, learned that Fang Qiuyue had gone home, and asked Liu Zijin and the others to investigate her family.
• Jiang Beiran learned that the Heaven-Shocking Flame had been bought by a powerful figure from Tang Kingdom.
• Jiang Beiran reviewed his alchemy failures and considered strengthening the Golden Crow Tripod with arrays and a Spiritual Qi interface.
• Liu Zijin and the Yu Family Three Sisters visited Fang Qiuyue at her mansion and asked why she had stayed away from the sect.
• Fang Qiuyue froze when Liu Zijin said they knew about her family’s matter and asked how they had found out.

Fang Qiuyue told Liu Zijin and the Yu Family Three Sisters that Xun Ying planned to force her into marriage and take the Mahayana Secret Water as her dowry. After learning Senior Brother had sent them to ask about her, she accepted their promise to seek his help, while Jiang Beiran realized the secret water he had been searching for was connected to her family.

• Liu Zijin told Fang Qiuyue that Senior Brother had asked them to question her, and Fang Qiuyue revealed that Xun Ying had demanded to marry her and claim the Mahayana Secret Water as her dowry.
• Fang Qiuyue recounted how the Xun Family had approached the Fang Family for a business partnership before Xun Ying became fixated on her and threatened to take her as his bride on the first day of the next month.
• Liu Zijin and the Yu Family Three Sisters promised to stand by Fang Qiuyue and said Senior Brother would help, giving Fang Qiuyue hope and allowing her to fall asleep holding the Heart Cleansing Pill he had given her.
• Liu Zijin and the Yu Family Three Sisters returned to the Returning Heart Sect and sent Jiang Beiran a letter on a paper kite.
• Jiang Beiran met the four women by the lotus pond, heard their account, and realized the Mahayana Secret Water he sought was with Fang Qiuyue's family.

Jiang Beiran agreed to help Fang Qiuyue deal with Xun Ying in exchange for the Mahayana Secret Water, then prepared Wu Qingce for advancement and traveled to Liang Province. He arrived at Yin Jianghong’s Sect Prefecture to discuss the province’s development.

• Jiang Beiran questioned Fang Qiuyue about the Xun Family’s marriage pressure and offered to resolve it if her father gave him the Mahayana Secret Water.
• Fang Qiuyue thanked Jiang Beiran, and she and Liu Zijin and the Yu Family Three Sisters celebrated their renewed hope and friendship.
• Jiang Beiran returned to Self-Boundary, told Gu Qinghuan to stop investigating the Fang Family, and went to sleep.
• Jiang Beiran ordered Wu Qingce to recover from his training before his advancement, warning that the process would be dangerous.
• Jiang Beiran flew with Xia Lingdang to Liang Province, where guards admitted him to the Sect Prefecture after recognizing him.
• Yin Jianghong called for Jiang Beiran to enter Yilan Palace.

Jiang Beiran returned to Sheng Kingdom and joined a meeting about governing the newly conquered Liang Province. The leaders debated how to handle unruly sects and win the people’s cooperation, and Ji Qinglin urged Jiang Beiran to resume his role as emperor and oversee reform.

• Yin Jianghong complained about Jiang Beiran’s absence, then brought him and Xia Lingdang to a meeting about Liang Province.
• Jiang Beiran discovered that Huo Hongfei had reached the Mystic Sect Realm and noticed Meng Sipei seemed to recognize him as the expert who had once saved her.
• Ji Qinglin arrived with a Universe Ring for Yin Jianghong, and the group moved to Changle Hall to discuss Liang Province.
• Tai Yingzong and Meng Sipei advocated winning people over, while Ji Qinglin dismissed the idea and Yan Siyuan said Liang Province would never fully unite.
• Huo Hongfei proposed establishing rules, beginning with feeding the common people, and eliminating sects that could not be retained.
• Ji Qinglin told Jiang Beiran to resume governing as emperor and reform Liang Province, prompting the system to present him with three options.

Jiang Beiran declared that he would take charge of the Sheng Kingdom and proposed choosing its leader by vote. He revealed a connection to the Shi Family of Tong Kingdom and offered its protection as a way to secure Sheng Kingdom’s survival.

• Jiang Beiran refused Ji Qinglin’s demand and argued that Sheng Kingdom needed a single leader before it met the same fate as Liang Kingdom.
• Jiang Beiran explained his voting system and declared that he would be the one calling the shots in Sheng Kingdom.
• Huo Hongfei and Yan Siyuan each voted for Jiang Beiran, surprising Ji Qinglin and the other leaders.
• Jiang Beiran warned that Tang Kingdom and Shang Kingdom threatened Sheng Kingdom and proposed seeking protection from a powerful family in the Central Plains.
• Jiang Beiran showed the Sage Token Command of the Shi Family of Tong Kingdom and asked the leaders to vote for him.

Jiang Beiran secured support to become the person with final authority over Sheng Kingdom, while explaining how that power would work to the remaining holdout. Five of the six leaders voted for him, and Tai Yingzong was still deciding after asking for clarification.

• Jiang Beiran revealed his Shi Family guest elder token, and Yin Jianghong voted to support him after deciding he was more likely than Ji Qinglin to fulfill their shared ideals.
• Ji Qinglin challenged Yin Jianghong's choice, then voted for Jiang Beiran to see whether he could surpass him.
• Jiang Beiran rebuked Meng Sipei for refusing to decide on the spot, and she drew on his earlier advice before casting her own vote for him.
• Tai Yingzong asked what it meant for Jiang Beiran to lead Sheng Kingdom, and Jiang Beiran explained that he would set policy, hold the deciding vote, and have veto power.

Jiang Beiran clarified that as Sheng Kingdom’s spokesman he would coordinate the provinces while leaving their leaders in place, and the leaders accepted his authority. They toasted their commitment to work together, called him the Venerable, and learned that the Sage Token Command could protect Sheng Kingdom.

• Jiang Beiran told the leaders they would remain equals and retain authority over their own provinces, while he coordinated resources and mediated disputes from behind the scenes.
• Jiang Beiran said he would persuade them before enforcing decisions that harmed a province’s interests, and Yin Jianghong pledged to follow his lead.
• Tai Yingzong and Ji Qinglin toasted Jiang Beiran, and the leaders joined him in pledging to build Sheng Kingdom together.
• Ji Qinglin asked what title Jiang Beiran should hold, and Jiang Beiran chose “Venerable” instead of alliance leader or emperor.
• Jiang Beiran told the leaders that the Sage Token Command was enough to protect Sheng Kingdom from worry.

After taking charge of Sheng Kingdom, Jiang Beiran ordered the leaders to end internal strife and focus on strengthening the nation before pursuing greater ambitions. He sent Huo Hongfei to investigate clues about the Imperial Gu in Zeng Kingdom, then accepted Huo Hongfei’s invitation to visit his family, where they encountered a tearful Meng Sipei.

• Jiang Beiran answered Ji Qinglin’s questions and proposed that Sheng Kingdom rest and recuperate, suppress internal instability, and prepare to seize future opportunities.
• The leaders accepted Jiang Beiran’s authority, and Yin Jianghong, Yan Siyuan, Ji Qinglin, and Tai Yingzong departed after exchanging words with him.
• Meng Sipei thanked Jiang Beiran for saving her, then met Xia Lingdang outside the hall and asked how she had met her master.
• Jiang Beiran learned that Liang Province had largely been incorporated into Sheng Kingdom and ordered Huo Hongfei to search Zeng Kingdom for clues about the Imperial Gu.
• Jiang Beiran accepted Huo Hongfei’s invitation to a family meal, and the two left the hall to find Meng Sipei wiping away tears.

Jiang Beiran visited the Huo Family, whose members thanked him for helping Huo Hongfei bring down the Tan Family and reunite with Huo Wenkang. He discovered that Huo Wenkang had reached the rare Heaven-Man Resonance realm in talisman arts through sheer talent, and ended by testing the young man’s knowledge.

• Meng Sipei followed Jiang Beiran and asked to write him letters so she could seek his guidance, then went to find Sect Leader Yin to learn more about him.
• Jiang Beiran arrived at the Huo Residence with Huo Hongfei and Xia Lingdang, where the Huo Family gathered to thank him for his kindness.
• Huo Wenkang recognized Jiang Beiran as the doctor who had once visited his village, and Jiang Beiran congratulated him and Huo Hongfei on their reunion.
• Huo Wenkang revealed that he had reached Heaven-Man Resonance, then drew a powerful Nine Phoenix Cleansing Talisman before Jiang Beiran.
• Jiang Beiran tested Huo Wenkang’s understanding of talisman principles, and Huo Wenkang answered correctly.

Jiang Beiran recognized Huo Wenkang’s exceptional talent but refused to take him as a disciple, urging Huo Hongfei to let his son gain experience instead of sheltering him. He then visited Li Fucheng and arranged to meet the Gantian Sect’s Sect Master Yan, ending by asking about Li Fucheng’s formation training.

• Jiang Beiran tested Huo Wenkang’s talisman knowledge, gave him the Shangqing Talisman Manual, and was impressed when Huo Wenkang connected spellcraft with the Five Elements.
• Huo Hongfei asked Jiang Beiran to accept Huo Wenkang as his disciple, but Jiang Beiran refused and advised Huo Hongfei to let his son temper himself through experience.
• Jiang Beiran suspected the Profound Dragon Continent was a game in which protagonist fates competed, then left the Huo family and reminded Huo Hongfei to handle the Imperial Gu matter.
• Jiang Beiran visited Li Fucheng, asked him to write to his Master, and planned to accompany him to meet Sect Master Yan of the Gantian Sect.
• After Li Fucheng returned, Jiang Beiran checked his cultivation and asked how his Formation Technique training had been going.

Jiang Beiran taught Li Fucheng how artifact refining could enhance formations and received permission to meet Li Fucheng’s master. Back at the Self-Boundary, Jiang Beiran found Qu Yangze’s enormous cocoon reacting to Old Wang, and by night it had begun to split open.

• Li Fucheng explained that he had learned all nine formation categories, with his strongest skill being terrain-based defensive formations.
• Jiang Beiran taught Li Fucheng how materials and artifact refining could improve formations, then gave him Heavenly Craftsmanship to study.
• Li Fucheng received a letter from his master, who welcomed Jiang Beiran to visit, and Jiang Beiran arranged to meet Li Fucheng the next day.
• Jiang Beiran returned to the Self-Boundary and went with Gu Qinghuan to see Qu Yangze inside a huge suspended cocoon.
• Old Wang flew into Qu Yangze’s cocoon, causing it to pulse and shed its threads until a slit opened in the remaining layers.

Qu Yangze emerged from a month-long cocoon after fourteen King Gu settled inside his transformed body, and Jiang Beiran tested his new abilities. The tests revealed extraordinary toughness and speed, though Jiang Beiran believed Qu Yangze had not yet reached his full strength.

• Gu Qinghuan removed the silk strands and woke Qu Yangze, while Jiang Beiran calmed him and examined his body.
• Jiang Beiran discovered that Old Wang occupied Qu Yangze’s heart, the Nine-Yin Corpse Beetle had moved to his lungs, and all fourteen Gu insects had become King Gu.
• Qu Yangze said his body felt unfamiliar and recalled that his organs had twisted as though people were dueling inside him; Gu Qinghuan said the cocoon had lasted exactly one month.
• Jiang Beiran concluded that Old Wang had subdued the other King Gu and asked Gu Qinghuan to test Qu Yangze’s strength.
• Qu Yangze blocked Gu Qinghuan’s full-power hammer strike with newly grown body hair, then unleashed thirty-two rapid punches that Jiang Beiran caught.
• Jiang Beiran told Qu Yangze to adapt to his body, adding that its strength was likely greater than he had shown.

Jiang Beiran entrusted Gu Qinghuan with investigating Sun-Slaying Glaze in Tan Kingdom, giving him a dangerous mission that renewed his confidence. At the imperial palace, Jiang Beiran questioned Mu Yao about the epidemic’s aftermath while Meng Sipei recognized him as the expert and fled before they could speak.

• Jiang Beiran watched Qu Yangze demonstrate his newly strengthened body and noticed Gu Qinghuan’s disappointment at his own lack of progress.
• Jiang Beiran gave Gu Qinghuan a map and tasked him with investigating Sun-Slaying Glaze in Tan Kingdom, and Gu Qinghuan eagerly accepted.
• Jiang Beiran took Xia Lingdang to the imperial palace, reprimanded Kong Qianqian for eating in the Imperial Study, and reminded Mu Yao to manage the epidemic’s aftermath carefully.
• Meng Sipei entered the Imperial Study, recognized Jiang Beiran, and hastily withdrew after Mu Yao introduced them.
• Meng Sipei recalled learning from Yin Jianghong that Jiang Beiran had once been emperor and reflected on how his reforms had protected Lulin County during the epidemic.

Jiang Beiran left Mu Yao and Meng Sipei to help govern the Sheng Kingdom before taking Li Fucheng and Xia Lingdang to the Gantian Sect in Tang Kingdom. After avoiding several dangers flagged by his options, he resolved to find a better flying vehicle and arrived at the sect’s imposing mountain gate.

• Jiang Beiran reviewed Mu Yao’s memorials, praised her work, and told her to expand relief efforts and put Cultivators to work on public projects.
• Jiang Beiran ordered Meng Sipei to help Mu Yao govern the Sheng Kingdom, and Mu Yao and Meng Sipei agreed to exchange stories about him after he left.
• Jiang Beiran met Li Fucheng and took him toward Tang Kingdom to visit his master, asking him to guide the way.
• Jiang Beiran repeatedly changed course to complete system options and avoid dangers, then decided he needed a stronger means of transportation.
• Jiang Beiran, Li Fucheng, and Xia Lingdang reached Wuhua Mountain and approached the Gantian Sect’s fortified gate.

Jiang Beiran met with Yan Guangqing, the Mystic Venerable of Tang Kingdom, and stood firm when Yan tested Sheng Kingdom’s intentions after its expansion into Liang Kingdom. Yan agreed to help Jiang Beiran search for the Heaven-Shocking Flame, and the chapter ended as he opened Jiang Beiran’s gift.

• Li Fucheng brought Jiang Beiran to meet his master, Yan Guangqing, at Panleng Peak.
• Yan Guangqing questioned Jiang Beiran about Sheng Kingdom’s expansion and whether it might one day view Tang Kingdom as a threat.
• Jiang Beiran warned that Sheng Kingdom would defend itself if Tang Kingdom showed ambitions to annex it, and Yan Guangqing laughed off the exchange.
• Jiang Beiran asked Yan Guangqing to help find the Heaven-Shocking Flame, and Yan agreed to assign capable assistants.
• Jiang Beiran presented Yan Guangqing with a brocade box, whose contents released a soothing spirit-medicine fragrance when opened.

Jiang Beiran revealed his ties to the Shi Family and offered Yan Guangqing a way to help Tang Kingdom obtain goods from the Six Kingdoms. Yan Guangqing agreed to support him if he could arrange one cooperation with the Shi Family or Tong Kingdom.

• Jiang Beiran presented Yan Guangqing with a Spirit-Calming Pill, which Yan recognized as a rare medicine capable of suppressing heart demons during breakthroughs.
• Jiang Beiran explained that he had earned a position in the Shi Family and showed Yan his Sage Token Command.
• Jiang Beiran said he wanted cooperation with Tang Kingdom, then proposed opening trade with Gantian Sect; Yan saw the proposal as a potential alliance and offered to act as a lobbyist.
• Jiang Beiran offered to use his Shi Family connections to help Tang Kingdom acquire treasured goods from the Six Kingdoms.
• Yan Guangqing promised to support Jiang Beiran and honor him as a Gantian Sect guest if he arranged one cooperation with the Shi Family or Tong Kingdom, and Jiang accepted.

Jiang Beiran secured Yan Guangqing’s cooperation in seeking the Heaven-Shocking Flame and asked him to rein in the Xun Family’s pursuit of Fang Qiu Yao. Yan Guanyue offered to obtain the treasure for him, while Jiang Beiran prepared to leave the Gantian Sect with Xia Lingdang.

• Jiang Beiran agreed to help arrange cooperation between the Shi Family and the Gantian Sect, then asked Yan Guangqing to stop the Xun Family’s Second Young Master from pursuing Fang Qiu Yao.
• Yan Guangqing sent Jiang Beiran to Luo'an Hall and questioned Li Fucheng about him after he left; Li Fucheng explained that Jiang Beiran had taught him how to set formations.
• Jiang Beiran asked Xia Lingdang to cultivate while he waited, but she showed no sign of a fortuitous encounter.
• Yan Guanyue introduced herself as Yan Guangqing’s daughter and offered either to find the Heaven-Shocking Flame’s location or obtain it herself.
• Jiang Beiran chose to have Yan Guanyue obtain the Heaven-Shocking Flame within six months and gave her Talisman Paper for sending updates.
• After Yan Guanyue left to begin the search, Jiang Beiran called Xia Lingdang and prepared to leave.

Fang Qiuyue’s family feared she would be forced to marry into the Xun Family, but the Xun clan arrived to apologize after its leader received a warning from the sect master about the harassment. The Fang Family remained bewildered as Xun Ying knelt and begged forgiveness, while Fang Qiuyue was certain Senior Brother had intervened.

• Fang Nianbai panicked over Fang Qiuyue’s situation, while she reassured her family that Senior Brother had resolved the Xun Family matter.
• The Fang Family comforted Qiuyue as the Xun Family party arrived, and Xun Wugu greeted Fang Nianbai with unexpected courtesy.
• Xun Liangjun ordered Xun Ying to kneel and apologize to Fang Nianbai for trying to force a marriage and insulting him.
• Xun Wugu recalled receiving a letter from the sect master warning him to deal with the harassment of Fang Qiuyue by a Xun Family junior.
• Fang Nianbai accepted Xun Ying’s apology, and Xun Wugu took his response as a sign that the sect master’s friend would spare the Xun Family.

Xun Wugu brought the Xun Family to apologize to the Fang Family for Xun Ying harassing Fang Qiuyue, offering valuable gifts and promising to prevent further trouble. After the families reconciled, Fang Qiuyue told Fang Nianbai that the eminent one had helped because he needed the Mahayana Secret Water, and her father agreed to give it to her as she wept with relief.

• Xun Wugu summoned the Xun Family, struck Xun Ying, and led him to apologize to Fang Nianbai and Fang Qiuyue.
• Xun Wugu presented the Fang Family with valuable medicinal seeds, seedlings, flowers, and a True Martial Flower, while Fang Qiuyue asked that the matter end there.
• Xun Wugu warned the Xun Family not to cause the Fang Family further trouble, then departed with his clansmen.
• Fang Qiuyue told her family that the eminent one would not let her reveal his name, and she resolved to cultivate harder to repay him.
• Fang Qiuyue explained privately to Fang Nianbai that the eminent one had helped because he needed the Mahayana Secret Water, and Fang Nianbai agreed to fetch it for her.
• Fang Nianbai embraced Fang Qiuyue and comforted her as she broke down in tears of relief.

Fang Qiuyue and the others planned a musical performance to thank Senior Brother, while Jiang Beiran entered seclusion to study a pill for Wu Qingce’s advancement. As Wu Qingce tried to welcome Qu Yangze as a junior brother, he learned that Qu Yangze had easily blocked Gu Qinghuan’s attack and asked how easily he had done it.

• Fang Qiuyue, Liu Zijin, and the Yu Family Three Sisters decided that Fang Qiuyue would compose a song and the sisters would build a stage while Senior Brother was in seclusion.
• Jiang Beiran returned to Feng Province, checked Qu Yangze’s condition, and temporarily entrusted him with managing the Self-Boundary.
• Jiang Beiran chose to enter seclusion and try cultivating a Thunder Spirit Flower with Wood Spirit Qi as a substitute ingredient for the Mystic Thunder Nine Heavens Pill.
• Jiang Beiran told Wu Qingce to choose death or mediocrity and decided to increase the dose for his next advancement.
• Wu Qingce gave Qu Yangze five mystic talismans and heard how Master had awakened him from his cocoon.
• Qu Yangze admitted he had easily blocked Gu Qinghuan’s attack, prompting Wu Qingce to ask exactly how easily he had done it.