Recaps

The Seven Azure Dragon Mansions assessed the Martial Arts Alliance’s strength and summoned allies, while Xu Erlang tried to secure Cloud Deer Academy’s return to court. The chapter ended as the Dongfang Sisters arrived in Yuzhou to meet Ji Xuan, the Buddhist Vajras, and the Shaman God Cult.

• Liu Hongmian explained the Martial Arts Alliance’s powerful subordinate sects, its forces at Mount Quanrong, and the threat posed by Cao Qingyang and the old alliance leader, so Ji Xuan summoned the Dongfang Sisters and the two Vajras.
• Xu Xinnian agreed to submit a memorial for Zhao Shou and arrange a meeting with Wang Zhenwen, while Xu Qi'an taught Miao Youfang about Fifth Rank Transforming Force at their camp.
• Wang Simu told Xu Erlang that Wang Zhenwen was ill, and Wang Zhenwen refused to support Cloud Deer Academy’s return to court unless Zhao Shou could provide five million taels of silver.
• Xu Erlang reported that the court had ignored Zhao Shou’s memorial, and Zhao Shou said he had fulfilled his duty and kindness to Yongxing.
• The Dongfang Sisters arrived in Yuzhou, where Ji Xuan welcomed them to his meeting with the Buddhist Vajras and the Shaman God Cult.

Ji Xuan and his allies planned a swift assault on the Martial Arts Alliance to seize its Dragon Qi, while Cao Qingyang learned that foreign powers were also targeting the alliance. Sun Xuanji warned him to prepare for battle and set off to find Xu Qi'an.

• Dongfang Wanrong and Dongfang Wanqing joined Ji Xuan's gathering, where Xu Yuanshuang explained how Dragon Qi chose its hosts and the group discussed the forces defending the Martial Arts Alliance.
• Ji Xuan outlined a plan to attack Mount Quanrong quickly, while Nalan Tianlu agreed to handle the Heaven Sect's Yang Spirits if they intervened.
• Cao Qingyang sent word to the Directorate of Astronomy about the Dragon Qi and asked Xu Qi'an to mediate, while Sun Xuanji returned to the Directorate and received the sealed Nation-Guarding Sword.
• Sun Xuanji visited Cao Qingyang, explained in writing that only Xu Qi'an could extract Dragon Qi, and warned that the Shaman God Cult, Tianji Palace, and the Buddhist Order were targeting the Martial Arts Alliance.
• Cao Qingyang worried that the alliance could not withstand its enemies while its ancestor remained asleep, and Sun Xuanji left to find Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an learned that the Martial Arts Alliance held two strands of Dragon Qi and that the Superintendent had sent him the Nation-Guarding Sword as a warning and a bargaining chip. As he prepared to face Xu Pingfeng’s plans, the sects gathered at Mount Quanrong under a Red Flag Order, unaware of what enemy was coming.

• Xu Qi'an lent Miao Youfang ten taels of silver, then hid beneath Miao Youfang’s bed to satisfy the Seven Absolutes Gu’s demands.
• Sun Xuanji told Xu Qi'an that the Martial Arts Alliance held two strands of Dragon Qi, including one residing in Cao Qingyang’s children, and delivered the Nation-Guarding Sword from the Superintendent.
• Xu Qi'an considered his available allies, reasoned that Xu Pingfeng might target the Martial Arts Alliance, and decided to make his own moves against him.
• Ecstasy Hand Rongrong and the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion party arrived at Mount Quanrong after receiving the Martial Arts Alliance’s Red Flag Order.
• Xiao Yuenu told her fellow pavilion members that increased guards and scouts suggested external enemies were near, and ordered the young female disciples prepared for possible evacuation.

Ji Xuan and his allies arrived at Mount Quanrong aboard the Wind-Riding Boat as Cao Qingyang gathered the Martial Arts Alliance to prepare for the coming fight over Dragon Qi. The enemy tested the alliance by sending Vajra Jingyuan down toward the rear mountain, where the old alliance leader remained in seclusion.

• Ji Xuan asked Xu Yuanshuang whether Fate and an individual's allotted fortune were essentially the same, and she said they were alike in essence but vastly different in scale.
• Xiao Yuenu and the leaders of the Martial Arts Alliance gathered at Cao Qingyang's residence, where he explained that Dragon Qi had scattered across the Central Plains and attracted the Buddhist Order, the Shaman God Cult, and Tianji Palace.
• The alliance leaders worried about facing Vajras without their old alliance leader, but Cao Qingyang confirmed that Silver Gong Xu would help them.
• Li Lingsu predicted that Ji Xuan would target the old alliance leader on the rear mountain, and Xu Qi'an announced that the enemy had arrived.
• Ji Xuan sent the warrior monk Jingyuan from the Wind-Riding Boat to test Mount Quanrong, and the alliance leaders saw his golden figure plunge toward the rear mountain.

The Martial Arts Alliance faced an assault on Mount Quanrong by Ji Xuan’s forces, including several Fourth Rank fighters and the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions. Cao Qingyang realized the Mansions used a formation to share their power and ordered the Alliance leaders to attack them together.

• Cao Qingyang led nine sect leaders to the rear mountain, where Jingyuan fought Quanrong and then defeated You Shi in a brief exchange.
• Ji Xuan’s group descended from the Wind-Riding Boat, and Liu Hongmian confronted Xiao Yuenu while promising White Tiger she would capture her.
• Ji Xuan sent Azure Dragon and the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions to provoke the Alliance and force Xu Qi'an to appear.
• The Mansions joined their Qi into an illusory dragon, overwhelmed the Alliance leaders’ attacks, and landed near the stone door.
• Azure Dragon wounded Quanrong and tried to reach the door, while Cao Qingyang discovered the Mansions could channel their combined strength through one member.
• Cao Qingyang identified their formation as the source of their temporary Transcendent power and ordered everyone to attack all eight together.

The Martial Arts Alliance fought the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions and their allies as Cao Qingyang took a devastating saber strike to protect the stone gate. He emerged unharmed with golden skin and the pressure of a Third Rank expert, leaving the alliance members shocked to see him wielding the Vajra Divine Art.

• Cao Qingyang coordinated the Martial Arts Alliance’s defense as Jingxin, Qihuan Danxiang, White Tiger, and Liu Hongmian disrupted and attacked its fighters.
• Azure Dragon combined the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions’ strength into a saber strike, and Cao Qingyang took it head-on to shield the stone gate.
• Li Lingsu visited Dongfang Wanrong aboard the Wind-Riding Boat, warned her about Xu Qi'an, and left after she rejected him.
• Li Lingsu reported to Xu Qi'an that Nalan Tianlu’s primordial spirit was inside Dongfang Wanrong and that two Vajras were aboard the boat.
• Xu Qi'an prepared the Peace Saber and Nation-Guarding Sword while Cao Qingyang revealed golden skin and the presence of a Third Rank expert.
• Jingyuan recognized Cao Qingyang’s Vajra Divine Art, leaving the Martial Arts Alliance members wondering how he had learned it.

Cao Qingyang absorbed Xu Qi'an's blood essence and used its temporary Third Rank power to defeat the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions. A Buddhist Vajra then descended and crushed Cao Qingyang, leaving the Martial Arts Alliance facing a new Transcendent opponent.

• Cao Qingyang revealed that Xu Qi'an's blood essence had temporarily raised him to the Third Rank, and both sides withdrew to watch his fight against the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions.
• Cao Qingyang identified the cloaked figures' armor as their weakness, destroyed Azure Dragon's artifact, and killed all eight members of the formation.
• Xu Qi'an watched through the Heaven-Encompassing Divine Mirror and warned Miao Youfang that the real battle had only begun.
• Ji Xuan sent Vajra Dufan down from the Wind-Riding Boat to fight Cao Qingyang.
• Dufan struck Cao Qingyang into the ground, leaving the alliance leader badly wounded as the Martial Arts Alliance stared in stunned silence.

The Martial Arts Alliance learned that the Shaman God Cult and Buddhist Order had attacked Mount Quanrong, and Wen Chengbi struggled to contain the panicked crowd. Asura Vajra crushed Cao Qingyang and approached the old alliance leader’s stone door, where Sun Xuanji appeared to stop him.

• Wen Chengbi arranged for the women, elderly, and children to be escorted to safety while trying to keep the alliance members away from the rear mountain.
• Wen Chengbi revealed that the attackers were from the Shaman God Cult and Buddhist Order and invoked Silver Gong Xu’s involvement to calm the crowd.
• Young Master Liu and other martial artists climbed to a southern cliff to watch the battle as Asura Vajra stamped Cao Qingyang into the ground and offered to convert him.
• Asura Vajra rejected Cao Qingyang’s refusal and walked toward the stone door, while the onlookers feared the alliance leader would be forcibly converted.
• Sun Xuanji appeared between Asura Vajra and the stone door, and Cao Qingyang told him that he understood without needing an explanation.

Sun Xuanji used a formation tied to Mount Quanrong’s earth veins to repel the Asura Vajra Dufan, but a second-rank Rain Master struck him down with lightning. As Dufan approached the dying Sun Xuanji to take him as a hostage, Great Feng’s Nation-Guarding Sword flew in and blocked his path.

• Sun Xuanji repelled Dufan with a palm strike, revealing that his formation let him wield Mount Quanrong’s power and keep the Vajra from entering.
• Cao Qingyang returned to the Martial Arts Alliance fighters and explained that Xu Qi'an’s blood essence had saved his life, while Xiao Yuenu reported that many alliance members had gathered on the southern peak.
• Dufan battered Mount Quanrong’s barrier, but Sun Xuanji reinforced it with a black iron ruler and stabilized the formation.
• A lightning bolt from the sky shattered the barrier and left Sun Xuanji severely burned, revealing the presence of a second-rank Rain Master from the Shaman God Cult.
• Dufan approached the dying Sun Xuanji to take him in exchange for Arhat Duqing, but Great Feng’s Nation-Guarding Sword flew over and embedded itself before him.

Xu Qi'an arrived at Mount Quanrong with the Nation-Guarding Sword and the Peace Saber, but the enemy force proved greater than expected. After the Rain Master and two Vajras attacked together, they overwhelmed him and buried him in the mountain.

• The Nation-Guarding Sword appeared and forced Asura Vajra to retreat; Yang Cuixue identified it, and the spectators realized Xu Qi'an had arrived.
• Xu Qi'an rescued the badly injured Sun Xuanji, gave him healing pills, and entrusted him to the Martial Arts Alliance.
• Xu Qi'an returned with the Nation-Guarding Sword and the Peace Saber, challenged Asura Vajra, and discovered that Vajra Dunan had joined the enemy.
• The Rain Master appeared, and Xu Qi'an ordered Cao Qingyang and the others to retreat from the rear mountain.
• The Rain Master struck Xu Qi'an with lightning while Dunan charged through his Pagoda Treasure Tower's barrier and punched him away.
• Asura Vajra attacked Xu Qi'an as the Rain Master used a curse; Xu Qi'an was hammered into Mount Quanrong, shaking its main peak.

Xu Qi'an held off Vajras Dunan and Dufan and Rain Master Nalan Tianlu while waiting for the old alliance leader to emerge from seclusion, surviving their attacks with help from Li Lingsu and Zhao Shou’s Confucian spells. When Nalan Tianlu drew on the power of heaven and earth and seemed to overwhelm him, Xu Qi'an recalled the crisis at Yuyang Pass and challenged the Rain Master to wager their lives.

• Cao Qingyang and the spectators gathered on the southern peak, where Xiao Yuenu reassured them that Xu Qi'an had never lost.
• Li Lingsu used the Armillary Mirror to disrupt the Vajras’ heavenly souls, giving Xu Qi'an time to wound both of them with the Nation-Guarding Sword and Peace Saber.
• Nalan Tianlu healed the Vajras, summoned a demon phantom, and helped them attack Xu Qi'an, but Zhao Shou’s paper ward blocked a blood-based Curse Killing Technique.
• Xu Qi'an fought the three Transcendents through another close-quarters battle, using the Confucian spells to withstand Nalan Tianlu’s attacks until the protection faded.
• Nalan Tianlu called up wind and rain and drew power from the surrounding land, forcing the spectators to their knees and filling Xu Qi'an with despair.
• Xu Qi'an summoned Vast Righteous Qi, recalled his resolve at Yuyang Pass, and challenged Nalan Tianlu to wager their lives.

Xu Qi'an unleashed Jade Shatters against Nalan Tianlu’s lightning spear, appearing to die after the attack destroyed his vitality. Jade Shatters then struck Dongfang Wanrong from within, and the Pagoda Treasure Tower summoned the Pharmacist Dharma Idol to revive Xu Qi'an as he fell.

• Xu Qi'an realized that his Martial Dao had been shaped by Heaven and Earth One-Saber Slash and that he had cultivated the seed of Jade Shatters since the Eighth Rank.
• The people watching Mount Quanrong understood that Xu Qi'an was risking his life to repay the Martial Arts Alliance's old ancestor for help in the capital.
• Nalan Tianlu hurled a lightning spear infused with the power of heaven and earth, and Xu Qi'an used Heaven and Earth One-Saber Slash to weaken it before letting it strike him.
• The lightning spear destroyed Xu Qi'an's vitality, and his charred body fell as Li Lingsu and Miao Youfang rushed to catch him.
• In Yunzhou, Xu Pingfeng discussed his schemes with Bodhisattva Jialuoshu, while the Vajras resolved to kill Xu Qi'an rather than convert him.
• Jade Shatters erupted inside Dongfang Wanrong, and the Pagoda Treasure Tower summoned the Pharmacist Dharma Idol, which sent healing light into Xu Qi'an's body.

Xu Qi'an survived Nalan Tianlu's lightning spear through the Pharmacist Dharma Idol, leaving Nalan Tianlu gravely weakened and the Martial Arts Alliance's fate uncertain. As Asura Vajra moved to attack, the Alliance's ancestor emerged from seclusion, having used the Nine-Colored Lotus Root to break through to Second Rank.

• Xu Qi'an revived after Jade Shatters returned much of Nalan Tianlu's lightning spear damage, while Dongfang Wanrong was left badly injured.
• Li Lingsu sent healing pills to Dongfang Wanqing, who used them to stabilize Dongfang Wanrong as Nalan Tianlu admitted he could no longer fight.
• The Martial Arts Alliance celebrated Xu Qi'an's victory, but Asura Vajra advanced on him while the other Vajras held back their Bodhisattva-given blood essence.
• Xu Qi'an told Asura Vajra that a quarter of an hour had passed, and the Alliance's ancestor burst from the cavern and wounded Asura Vajra with his saber intent.
• Cao Qingyang's ancestor revealed that the Nine-Colored Lotus Root had helped him break through to Second Rank.

The Martial Arts Alliance ancestor emerged as a second-rank martial artist and overwhelmed the two Buddhist Vajras, but a Vajra Dharma Idol appeared to shield the Asura Vajra from his killing strike. Xu Yuanshuang then recognized her father standing behind her, leaving the battle’s next move unresolved.

• The Martial Arts Alliance members realized their ancestor had advanced to the second rank, while Ji Xuan and Xu Yuanshuang suspected that he had been stalling for the breakthrough.
• The ancestor attacked the Vajras, brutally beating Dunan and Dufan and leaving them bloodied and unable to fight back.
• The ancestor gathered his Saber Intent for a finishing strike as Xu Qi'an moved closer, hoping to devour a Vajra’s blood essence.
• A twelve-armed golden Dharma Idol manifested and protected the Asura Vajra with a golden bell, stopping the ancestor’s saber from killing him.
• Xu Yuanshuang heard a familiar voice, turned around, and saw her father standing behind her.

Xu Pingfeng’s avatar appeared before Xu Qi'an during the battle at Mount Quanrong, where the Vajra Dharma Idol overwhelmed the old bastard. Xu Pingfeng offered Xu Qi'an a place in Hidden Dragon City, but Xu Qi'an refused, and Xu Pingfeng mocked him for fearing him.

• Xu Pingfeng arrived aboard the Wind-Riding Boat as a puppet avatar, laid a formation to gather Fate, and asked Ji Xuan if he was ready.
• The Vajra Dharma Idol battered the old bastard, shattered the summit of Mount Quanrong, and left him badly injured as the Martial Arts Alliance watched in fear.
• Xu Pingfeng appeared near Xu Qi'an and explained the Vajra Dharma Idol’s power while Xu Qi'an remained wary of the avatar.
• Xu Pingfeng offered to remove Xu Qi'an’s Demon-Sealing Nails and urged him to join Hidden Dragon City, promising reconciliation with his mother and siblings and a future inheritance in Yunzhou.
• Xu Qi'an asked why Xu Pingfeng had tried to kill him before and rejected the offer; Xu Pingfeng responded that Xu Qi'an was so afraid of him he could not sleep.

Xu Qi'an faced Xu Pingfeng and the empowered Vajra Dharma Idol while Kou Yangzhou fought to protect him. After Kou Yangzhou was captured and Xu Pingfeng prepared to claim victory, Xu Qi'an absorbed Dragon Qi and summoned the founding-emperor.

• Xu Pingfeng strengthened the Vajra Dharma Idol with formations and a Heaven Gu artifact, then sent it after Xu Qi'an.
• The Pagoda Treasure Tower shielded Xu Qi'an while Kou Yangzhou fought the Vajra Dharma Idol, and Xu Qi'an used Shift Stars and Swap Constellations to conceal Kou Yangzhou's presence.
• Ji Xuan killed the Dragon Qi hosts aboard the Wind-Riding Boat and revealed Xu Pingfeng's plan to help him advance to the Transcendent Realm.
• The Asura Vajra concealed his presence and restrained Kou Yangzhou, allowing the Vajra Dharma Idol to decapitate him and seal his head and body.
• Xu Qi'an left the Pagoda Treasure Tower's protection, confronted Xu Pingfeng, absorbed the Dragon Qi, and summoned the founding-emperor.

Xu Qi'an summoned Emperor Gaozu’s heroic soul, which took control of him and destroyed Vajra Dunan and the Vajra Dharma Idol at Mount Quanrong. After the soul departed, Xu Qi'an surveyed the battlefield and moved to claim Asura Vajra’s corpse so he could advance his Vajra Divine Art.

• Xu Qi'an summoned Emperor Gaozu’s heroic soul, alarming Xu Pingfeng and causing disturbances at the imperial ancestral temple, the Directorate of Astronomy, and the imperial court.
• Emperor Gaozu’s soul took control of Xu Qi'an and struck down the Vajra Dharma Idol, killing Vajra Dunan in the clash.
• The Emperor Dharma Idol pinned and killed the fleeing Asura Vajra Dufan, while Xu Pingfeng escaped aboard the Wind-Riding Boat and Nalan Tianlu withdrew.
• Kou Yangzhou remembered his first meeting with Emperor Gaozu during the rebellion and recalled their friendship across six centuries.
• Xu Qi'an dismissed Emperor Gaozu’s heroic soul by raising and draining an invisible cup of wine.
• Xu Qi'an searched the battlefield for Li Lingsu and Miao Youfang, then steered the Pagoda Treasure Tower toward Asura Vajra’s corpse to improve his Vajra Divine Art.

Xu Qi'an advanced his Vajra Divine Art by absorbing Asura Vajra’s blood, while the surviving factions regrouped after the battle. Li Lingsu caught up with White Tiger’s group alongside Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and a monk, as Huaiqing arrived at the palace amid alarm over the imperial ancestors’ broken tablets.

• Xu Qi'an absorbed Asura Vajra’s divine blood, reached the strength of a Third-Rank Vajra, and took the Heaven Gu bracelet and the Vajra’s corpse.
• Cao Qingyang confirmed the battle was over and began handling the aftermath, while the Martial Arts Alliance members asked about Xu Qi'an.
• Nalan Tianlu told Dongfang Wanrong that he fled because Ji Xuan carried the presence of a Blood Pill and Xu Pingfeng might use Dragon Qi to help him advance.
• Xu Pingfeng told Ji Xuan that the group had seven days to return to Yunzhou and that he had other methods to secure their plans.
• Li Lingsu intercepted White Tiger and his companions, then was joined by Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and a monk.
• Huaiqing reached the palace and learned that the imperial ancestral tablets had fallen and broken; Lin'an said the imperial uncles wanted the matter investigated.

Huaiqing and the imperial clan investigated the fall of the ancestral tablets and the disappearance of the Nation-Guarding Sword, while Emperor Yongxing was pressured to issue an edict of self-reproach. In the forest, Li Lingsu and his companions fought White Tiger and Liu Hongmian, ending with White Tiger captured in the Heaven-Encompassing Divine Mirror.

• Huaiqing learned from Lin'an that Emperor Gaozu's statue had cracked and the Nation-Guarding Sword was missing, then tried to ask the Earth Book group for details.
• Prince Yu linked the temple disaster to the Yunzhou branch, and the Prince of Li demanded that Emperor Yongxing conceal the incident, issue an edict of self-reproach, and reflect in the ancestral temple.
• Emperor Yongxing agreed to comply after the imperial princes warned that the ancestors' displeasure could affect the nation's fortune.
• Jingxin and White Tiger attacked Li Lingsu, but Li Miaozhen disrupted White Tiger's assault while Li Lingsu used his Nascent Soul to expose White Tiger's Primordial Spirit.
• Hengyuan stopped Liu Hongmian from killing Li Lingsu, and the Heaven-Encompassing Divine Mirror captured White Tiger's Primordial Spirit.
• Dongfang Wanqing held Jingyuan back from joining the fight, and White Tiger collapsed unconscious.

Chu Yuanzhen and his allies captured Liu Hongmian, Jingyuan, and the unconscious experts, then learned from Huaiqing that Xu Qi'an held the Nation-Guarding Sword and had defended Mount Quanrong. Lin'an learned Xu Qi'an was safe and entered the imperial study, where she challenged the princes for blaming Emperor Yongxing for the disturbance.

• Liu Hongmian, Jingxin, and Jingyuan fled after the Heaven-Encompassing Treasure Mirror incapacitated White Tiger and Qihuan Danxiang; Chu Yuanzhen split up his allies to pursue them.
• Chu Yuanzhen and Hengyuan captured Liu Hongmian, while Li Lingsu and Dongfang Wanqing captured Jingyuan; Li Miaozhen failed to catch Jingxin.
• Chu Yuanzhen informed the Earth Book Fragment group that Xu Qi'an held the Nation-Guarding Sword and had driven off the Shaman God Cult, the Buddhist Order, and Hidden Dragon City at Mount Quanrong.
• Huaiqing told Lin'an that Xu Qi'an had fought the enemy forces, and Lin'an felt reassured before deciding to tell Emperor Yongxing.
• Lin'an entered the imperial study despite the princes' objections and demanded to know why they blamed Emperor Yongxing for the disturbance.

Lin'an revealed that Xu Qi'an had protected the Dragon Qi at Mount Quanrong, ending the imperial court’s debate over the ancestral temple disturbance. Xu Qi'an returned to the Martial Arts Alliance, where the old fellow discussed his agreement with the Superintendent and the possibility of Great Feng’s collapse.

• Lin'an told Emperor Yongxing and the imperial princes that Xu Qi'an held the Nation-Guarding Sword and had protected the Dragon Qi at Mount Quanrong, prompting them to investigate the battle before deciding how to address the temple disturbance.
• Prince Yu advised Emperor Yongxing to establish the facts and use Xu Qi'an’s achievement to strengthen his reputation, while Huaiqing warned the fourth prince against trying to seize the throne.
• Xu Qi'an brought Mu Nanzhi, Baiji, and Chai Xing'er back to Mount Quanrong and told Baiji that Dunan and Dufan had died, leaving the Buddhist Order without Dharma-Protecting Vajras.
• Cao Qingyang and the Martial Arts Alliance leaders assessed the deaths and destruction caused by the battle, then discussed how to recover their buried silver and rebuild their headquarters.
• The old fellow told Xu Qi'an that he had once agreed with Emperor Gaozu to end Great Feng himself if it followed Great Zhou’s path, and revealed that he also had an agreement with the Superintendent.

Xu Qi'an learned how the old bastard had joined Emperor Wuzong’s rebellion and gained Dao Integration, then helped the Martial Arts Alliance resolve a funding and disaster-relief problem. After hearing more about the Nine-Colored Lotus Root and the path to Second Rank, Xu Qi'an returned to town, where Baiji slipped into the mountains alone.

• The old bastard told Xu Qi'an that the Superintendent had promised to help him reach Second Rank in exchange for supporting Emperor Wuzong’s rebellion five hundred years earlier.
• Xu Qi'an considered several explanations for how the Superintendent could have fulfilled that promise and wondered whether the Superintendent or the First Chief Astrologer had foreseen the future.
• Wen Chengbi asked the old bastard how the Martial Arts Alliance should fund its headquarters and disaster relief, and Xu Qi'an suggested feeding disaster victims in exchange for their labor.
• The old bastard explained that Dao Integration meant perfecting one’s Martial Dao, and that the Nine-Colored Lotus Root had unified the many versions of himself during his breakthrough.
• Xu Qi'an returned to the garrison town with Mu Nanzhi and Chai Xing'er, while Baiji ran off into the mountains on her own.

Baiji reported the defeat of the Buddhist Order’s Vajras to the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, who explained the cost of summoning higher powers and said the chance to reclaim the Hundred Thousand Mountains was approaching. The Martial Arts Alliance adopted Xu Qi'an’s work-relief idea to rebuild its headquarters, while Li Lingsu’s reunion with Xu Qi'an ended with Xu calling Chai Xing'er out and freezing Li Lingsu.

• Baiji told the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox that Xu Qi'an had defeated the Buddhist Order and that Dufan and Dunan had fallen; the fox discussed the battle’s consequences and the Superintendent’s sacrifice.
• The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox said she had found a descendant of Gods and Devils overseas and took Baiji to see Xu Qi'an.
• Wen Chengbi told the Martial Arts Alliance leaders to recruit refugees to rebuild headquarters in exchange for relief, crediting the idea to Xu Qi'an.
• Rongrong noticed that her master was troubled and suggested she might admire Xu Qi'an, prompting her master to deny it before sword-flying visitors arrived.
• Chu Yuanzhen, Li Miaozhen, and Li Lingsu met Xu Qi'an and Dongfang Wanqing; Xu Qi'an said he would not make things difficult for her, then called Chai Xing'er out and left Li Lingsu stunned.

Xu Qi'an questioned captured members of Hidden Dragon City, learned about its forces and Xu Pingfeng’s wife, and turned Qihuan Danxiang and White Tiger into puppets after killing them. Xiao Yuenu arrived and asked him to hand Liu Hongmian over to the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, leaving Xu Qi'an to ask how they would deal with her.

• Chai Xing'er and Dongfang Wanqing confronted each other over Li Lingsu, while Xu Qi'an and the others watched; Xu Qi'an later sealed both women in the Pagoda Treasure Tower.
• Li Miaozhen brought back Liu Hongmian, Qihuan Danxiang, White Tiger, and Jingyuan, and Xu Qi'an questioned them about Hidden Dragon City.
• White Tiger and Qihuan Danxiang described Hidden Dragon City's population, troops, and allies in Yunzhou, including regional commander Yang Chuannan.
• Miss Rongrong visited Xu Qi'an with medicinal herbs, recognized Liu Hongmian, and recalled meeting Li Lingsu at the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.
• White Tiger revealed that Xu Pingfeng's wife was the younger sister of Hidden Dragon City's lord and had been kept under house arrest for twenty years.
• Xu Qi'an killed Qihuan Danxiang and White Tiger and used Corpse Gu to turn them into puppets; Xiao Yuenu then asked him to hand Liu Hongmian over to the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.

Xiao Yuenu admitted how she had framed Liu Hongmian and explained why their master had judged Liu unfit to lead the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, then took her into custody. The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox recruited Xu Qi'an to help recover Shenshu's sealed limbs in the Southern Frontier, while in Yunzhou Bodhisattva Jialuoshu declared that the time to act had come.

• Xiao Yuenu confessed to framing Liu Hongmian, who was stunned by her explanation, and Xu Qi'an agreed to let Xiao imprison her at the Martial Arts Alliance.
• The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox told Xu Qi'an that Yeji had prepared a plan in the former lands of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons to unseal Shenshu's severed limbs.
• The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox asked Xu Qi'an to help recover the limbs and test whether the Buddhist Order had hidden experts, offering the Demon-Sealing Nail method and a chance to see Yeji.
• Xu Qi'an agreed to help and asked whether the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox had found her kin overseas; she said she had not and planned to return to the continent.
• In Yunzhou, Xu Pingfeng told Bodhisattva Jialuoshu that Dunan and Dufan had fallen, and Jialuoshu said the time to rise had come.