Recaps

At the Martial Arts Alliance banquet, Xu Qi'an and his companions discover Li Lingsu’s secret affair with Rongrong’s master and tease him about it. Meanwhile, Yang Gong prepares Qingzhou for the refugee crisis, and Ji Xuan returns to Hidden Dragon City, where his father announces that Yunzhou will declare itself an empire in three days.

• At the banquet, Mu Nanzhi pretends to be Xu Qi'an’s mother to deflect a matchmaking proposal, and Li Lingsu later slips away from the group.
• Xu Qi'an uses the Heaven-Encompassing Divine Mirror to spy on Li Lingsu and discovers him meeting Rongrong’s master, Ji Jinmei, with whom he shares a secret romance.
• When Li Lingsu returns, Xu Qi'an, Li Miaozhen, and the others mock him by reenacting his romantic declarations, leaving him mortified.
• In Qingzhou, Yang Gong orders officials to block roads into Yunzhou and suppress reports that Yunzhou is taking in refugees, aiming to limit the southward flow without provoking revolt.
• Ji Xuan returns to Hidden Dragon City and discusses strategies for taking Qingzhou with his father, who tells him Yunzhou will declare itself an empire in three days.
• Xu Yuanshuang and Xu Yuanhuai reunite with their mother, who asks whether they met Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an’s group encountered a large band of river bandits on the Wei River Canal, and Xu Qi'an subdued their leader before setting Miao Youfang a trial. The chapter ended with Grand Secretary Wang testing Xu Xinnian about how to deal with worsening banditry and hinting that he might inherit the Wang Faction.

• Steward Zhu warned Miao Youfang that river bandits were blocking the ship at Golden Water Shoal, but more than a hundred bandits approached and demanded silver and women.
• Sun Tai, who had killed the former bandit leader, boarded the merchant ship and ordered his men to loot it; Xu Qi'an seized him and forced the bandits to withdraw.
• Xu Qi'an learned that Sun Tai had gathered refugees and martial wanderers amid the worsening winter disasters, then ordered Miao Youfang to kill him as a trial.
• Xu Qi'an kicked Sun Tai and Miao Youfang ashore and watched with Mu Nanzhi while the merchant ship waited at anchor.
• Grand Secretary Wang showed Xu Xinnian memorials about rising banditry and asked how he would handle the crisis, then gave him three days to answer as he considered who would inherit the Wang Faction.

Xu Xinnian and Xu Qi'an devised strategies to curb the spreading banditry and refugee crisis, including secretly supporting refugee forces that would target wealthy local gentry. Xu Xinnian submitted his proposals to Emperor Yongxing, leaving the court’s response unknown.

• Grand Secretary Wang warned Xu Xinnian that Xu Qi'an’s prominence could hinder his own political ambitions and urged the brothers to coordinate.
• Xu Xinnian studied the bandit crisis and, inspired by Xu Lingyin’s suggestion to make friends, drafted a plan combining amnesty, military suppression, and organizing displaced people.
• Xu Qi'an discussed Xu Xinnian’s strategies with the Heaven and Earth Society, then proposed secretly directing refugee bandits to seize resources from wealthy landlords and gentry rather than ordinary people.
• Li Miaozhen, Li Lingsu, and Chu Yuanzhen agreed to help with the dangerous plan, while Huaiqing accepted Xu Qi'an’s proposal.
• Emperor Yongxing received Xu Xinnian’s secret memorial and silently examined it.

Emperor Yongxing rejected Xu Erlang’s plan to seize resources from the gentry to support refugees, while Xu Qi'an considered other ways the Heaven and Earth Society could help. Huaiqing began pursuing Xu Qi'an’s insight about martial cultivation, and the chapter ended with Yang Chuannan visiting imprisoned official Xie Lu in Yunzhou.

• Emperor Yongxing burned Xu Erlang’s secret memorial and refused to use its strategy because the risk of exposure threatened his throne.
• Xu Qi'an learned from Huaiqing that Emperor Yongxing had rejected the plan, then proposed that the Heaven and Earth Society gather refugees and occupy a mountain, with Miao Youfang joining the effort.
• Xu Qi'an explained that tempering the Primordial Spirit could improve bodily control and speed advancement to Transforming Force, prompting Huaiqing to summon people from a list that began with Chen Ying.
• Huaiqing returned to her residence and ordered her guards to bring the listed people to meet her.
• Xie Lu recalled how Yang Chuannan had invited him to join Hidden Dragon City, then imprisoned him after discovering he had tried to report the offer to the court.
• Yang Chuannan arrived at Xie Lu’s prison cell.

Yang Chuannan killed Xie Lu after he refused to serve Hidden Dragon City, while Ji Xuan’s father claimed the throne in Yunzhou and named the new state Revival. With Xu Pingfeng’s aid, Ji Xuan survived refining the Blood Pill and reached the Transcendent Realm, as the chapter left Xu Qi'an at the Southern Frontier border, unaware of Yunzhou’s secession.

• Yang Chuannan urged Xie Lu to submit to Hidden Dragon City, then killed him when he refused.
• Ji Xuan stayed away from his father’s enthronement ceremony as the ruler declared the state Revival and appointed Ji Xuan crown prince.
• Xu Pingfeng gathered Dragon Qi and the Fate of Dunan and Dufan to help Ji Xuan attempt to refine the Blood Pill.
• Ji Xuan endured the Blood Pill’s destructive effects and successfully entered the Transcendent Realm.
• Heaven Gu Granny sensed that the struggle for legitimacy had begun, while Salun Agu ordered Yierbu to deliver the Mystic Ringing Gold Stone to Xu Qi'an and gather displaced people for the northern provinces.
• Yunzhou formally broke away from Great Feng, and Xu Qi'an remained unaware as he reached the Southern Frontier border.

Xu Qi'an anticipated that Yunzhou’s rebellion would bring upheaval this winter and planned to unseal Shenshu, while Emperor Yongxing’s court prepared to defend Qingzhou and publicized Xu Qi'an’s victories over the Buddhist Order. The chapter ended in the Southern Frontier, where Hongying found Elder Yeji still unconscious and asked who had injured her.

• Xu Qi'an studied a map and concluded that the coming conflict between the court and Yunzhou rebels would converge on Qingzhou.
• Emperor Yongxing told his ministers that Xu Qi'an had slain two Buddhist Vajras in Jianzhou, easing their fears about the Buddhist Order’s support for the rebels.
• The court chose to reinforce Qingzhou rather than launch a southern campaign, and Emperor Yongxing ordered Xu Xinnian included among the reinforcements.
• Prince Yan reflected on the struggle among the princes and resolved to be more patient.
• Hongying arrived at a grotto in the Hundred Thousand Mountains and learned that Elder Yeji had not awakened; he asked who had injured her.

Protector Qingmu discovered that Slayer of Thieves Fruition was killing the wounded Elder Yeji, who revealed that Asuro had attacked her at the Southern Dharma Temple. The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox said a helper would arrive soon, while Xu Qi'an reached the Hundred Thousand Mountains and asked Baiji where Yeji was.

• Protector Qingmu examined Yeji, was blasted back by the power inside her, and said she had only two days to live unless the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox intervened.
• Yeji told the protectors that Asuro had wounded her, and Protector Qingmu explained that Asuro was the Asura King's son, a powerful Arhat believed to have died centuries earlier.
• Hongying reported that the Bear King refused to leave his mountain, while Yeji contacted the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, who said she could not save Yeji but had found a helper for their plan to unseal Shenshu.
• The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox said the weakened Buddhist Kingdom in the Southern Frontier offered an opportunity to break the seal, and Yeji told the protectors to wait for the promised helper.
• Xu Qi'an arrived at the outer region of the Hundred Thousand Mountains in the Pagoda Treasure Tower and asked Baiji where her big sister Yeji was.

Xu Erlang’s family argued over Lina taking Xu Lingyin to the Southern Frontier, and Auntie discovered the Earth Book group had mocked her. Meanwhile, Xu Qi'an entered the Hundred Thousand Mountains with Baiji and Mu Nanzhi, learned how the Buddhist Order controlled the region, and neared Yeji’s location.

• Xu Erlang reassured Auntie that his Seventh-Rank Benevolent status would keep him safe, while Lina explained that Xu Ningyan had asked her to guide him through the Southern Frontier.
• Lina asked to take Xu Lingyin back to the Strength Gu Tribe, and Xu Erlang and Second Uncle Xu worried about the journey until she revealed she was fourth rank and could contact Xu Ningyan.
• Lina posted the family’s objections in the Earth Book group, where Xu Qi'an and others discussed Xu Lingyin and Auntie; Xu Erlang translated their messages, and Auntie angrily confronted her family.
• Xu Qi'an entered the Hundred Thousand Mountains with Baiji and Mu Nanzhi, avoided using the Pagoda Treasure Tower, and learned about the Buddhist Order’s cities and the demon settlements along the region’s fringes.
• Xu Qi'an considered whether the Buddhist Order had destroyed the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons to seize its Fate, then followed Baiji’s directions toward a distant valley.

Xu Qi'an reached the Southern Frontier, used the Pagoda Treasure Tower to cure Yeji, and reunited with her before learning about Shenshu's seal and the powerful Asuro. Protector Qingmu then revealed that the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox had not been a Half-Step Martial God, leaving Xu Qi'an stunned.

• Hongying and Protector Yuan met Baiji and Xu Qi'an, and learned that Xu Qi'an had come to help Yeji.
• Xu Qi'an entered the cave and used the Pagoda Treasure Tower's Pharmacist Dharma Idol to remove the Slayer of Thieves power from Yeji.
• Yeji awoke, reunited joyfully with Xu Qi'an, and told him that Shenshu's limbs were sealed in a tower at the Southern Dharma Temple guarded by sixty-eight Chan masters.
• Yeji explained that Asuro was both an Arhat who had attained the Slayer of Thieves Fruition and a Third Rank martial artist with a Vajra physique, while the Bear King was asleep and difficult to summon.
• Xu Qi'an used the Heaven-Encompassing Divine Mirror to view Asuro atop the tower, and the mirror collapsed after Asuro looked toward it.
• Protector Qingmu recalled the Buddhist-Demon War and told Xu Qi'an that the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox had not been a Half-Step Martial God.

Xu Qi'an learned that the ruler of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons had been First Rank and that Shenshu was the Half-Step Martial God the demons intended to rescue. He and Yeji considered the mysteries surrounding the ancient war, while Xu Lingyin, Lina, and Xu Erlang departed by warship for Qingzhou, where an Imperial Guard centurion recognized Xu Lingyin as Xu Qi'an's sister.

• Xu Qi'an traced the mistaken claim that the demon ruler was a Half-Step Martial God to Lina and learned from Protector Qingmu that Shenshu had held that rank.
• Protector Yuan revealed Protector Qingmu's suspicion that the ruler and Shenshu had been lovers, prompting Qingmu to chase Yuan out of the grotto.
• Xu Qi'an told Yeji that the Confucian Sage had sealed Buddha, and they discussed who might have acted during the Sixty-Year Demon-Sweeping Campaign.
• Xu Qi'an asked Baiji to contact the Nine-Tailed Fox while Miao Youfang received lavish hospitality from Hongying and two demon women.
• Xu Lingyin, Lina, and Xu Erlang boarded a warship bound for Qingzhou, and Xu Erlang warned them to stay out of trouble.
• On the ship's deck, Chen Xiao introduced himself to Lina and asked whether Xu Lingyin was Xu Qi'an's younger sister.

Xu Qi'an learned from the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox that the Buddha’s history and Shenshu’s memories concealed a deal, then negotiated for help against Asuro and the right to keep the Heaven-Encompassing Divine Mirror. The mirror chose to remain with Xu Qi'an, while a Yunzhou rebel army assembled to march north toward Qingzhou.

• Chen Xiao greeted Little Bean and Lina, but Lina rebuffed his questions and offer of help.
• Miao Youfang boasted to Hongying and two demonesses about helping Xu Qi'an defeat two Vajras with the Heaven-Encompassing Divine Mirror.
• Xu Qi'an told the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox that Zhao Shou said the Confucian Sage had sealed the Buddha over a thousand years earlier, contradicting her memory of the Buddha acting five hundred years ago.
• The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox explained that Buddhahood required uniting nine Dharma Idols, and she and Xu Qi'an considered whether Shenshu had made a secret deal with the Buddha.
• Xu Qi'an asked the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox to remove two Demon-Sealing Nails so he could face Asuro, and demanded that she let Yeji remain with him and let him keep the mirror for up to three months.
• The Heaven-Encompassing Divine Mirror chose to stay with Xu Qi'an, and an assembled force of sixty thousand Yunzhou rebels prepared to march north and attack Qingzhou.

Qi Guangbo led the Yunzhou rebels into Qingzhou as Xu Pingfeng and Bodhisattva Jialuoshu confronted the Superintendent. Elsewhere, Xu Lingyin overwhelmed soldiers, Li Miaozhen recruited bandits, and Xu Qi'an reunited with Yeji before contacting the State Preceptor.

• At the Qingzhou border, Qi Guangbo told Ji Xuan that Xu Qi'an was stronger than him but that he still had a chance, then ordered the ninety-thousand-strong rebel army to advance.
• The Superintendent used the Heavenly Secrets Disc to withstand Xu Pingfeng and Bodhisattva Jialuoshu’s attack, and he said he would play with them.
• On the ship, Xu Lingyin knocked soldiers down with her strength, and Xu Erlang rushed to the deck after learning she had started a fight.
• Li Miaozhen defeated a bandit leader, offered food to the remaining bandits, and made them promise to rob only corrupt officials and wealthy merchants who preyed on ordinary people.
• Xu Qi'an spent time with Yeji in the Southern Frontier grotto, then sent a message to the State Preceptor through his protective talisman.

Xu Qi'an failed to reach Luo Yuheng and enlisted Sun Xuanji to help confront Asuro and break the Buddhist formation sealing Shenshu's severed limb. The seal was opened, unleashing a terrifying presence that left Protector Yuan trembling.

• Xu Qi'an tried to contact Luo Yuheng for help but received no response, so he sent Sun Xuanji a message asking him to come to the Southern Frontier.
• Yeji left to retrieve Shenshu's severed limb while Xu Qi'an waited; Sun Xuanji arrived and Protector Yuan used his ability to reveal people's thoughts.
• Xu Qi'an and Sun Xuanji agreed that Xu Qi'an would keep Asuro occupied while Sun Xuanji broke the Chan Masters' formation.
• Protector Yuan explained that Sun Xuanji had been heading to Qingzhou to support the Superintendent against the Yunzhou rebels and Bodhisattva Jialuoshu.
• Yeji returned with the chest sealing Shenshu's severed limb and warned that opening it could make resealing it difficult.
• Yeji unlocked the chest, releasing a terrifying presence that made Protector Yuan collapse and tremble.

Xu Qi'an had Shenshu's torso remove two more Demon-Sealing Nails, grew stronger, and learned that Shenshu and the ruler of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons had a daughter who now led the southern demons. Meanwhile, Xu Xinnian learned that Qingzhou was in danger, and Xu Qi'an reached the Southern Kingdom as Asuro watched a cloaked figure approach.

• Shenshu's torso removed two Demon-Sealing Nails from Xu Qi'an, releasing his Qi and greatly increasing his strength.
• Shenshu told Xu Qi'an that the Nine-Tailed Fox, current leader of the southern demons, was his daughter with the ruler of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons.
• Xu Erlang received Zhang Shen and Li Mubai, who warned him that Qingzhou's first defensive line had fallen and the Buddhist Order might open another front.
• Xu Qi'an, Yeji, Sun Xuanji, and Miao Youfang traveled through the Southern Kingdom and saw how its demons were enslaved and exploited.
• Asuro spotted a cloaked figure emerging from the shadows beneath Southern Dharma Temple.

Xu Qi'an posed as the Buddhist outcast Wutian and fought Asuro while Sun Xuanji tried to dismantle the tower sealing Shenshu. Asuro revealed himself as the real opponent by beheading Sun Xuanji, leaving the fate of the sealing tower uncertain.

• Xu Qi'an claimed he was Wutian and provoked Asuro by accusing the Buddha of using Shenshu to destroy the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons.
• Asuro immobilized Xu Qi'an with Buddhist Precepts, but the Pagoda Treasure Tower broke the restraint and helped Xu Qi'an launch a sustained attack.
• Monks rushed to confront Xu Qi'an, while Miao Youfang, Yeji, and the demons set off explosives across Southern Kingdom City to disrupt them.
• Sun Xuanji arrived atop the sealing tower and used twelve formations to grind away its defenses as Xu Qi'an kept Asuro occupied.
• A second Asuro appeared behind Sun Xuanji and beheaded him, causing the twelve formations to collapse.

Sun Xuanji and Xu Qi'an combined their attacks to grievously injure Asuro, but Asuro regenerated by releasing the Asura Tribe’s bloodline power. Xu Qi'an recognized Asuro’s pitch-black form as resembling Shenshu’s Dharma Idol, leaving him shocked by what that implied about Shenshu.

• Sun Xuanji revealed that his artifact puppet had been bait while Asuro explained that he had used the Worthy of Offerings Sarira to summon a temporary duplicate.
• Asuro used Do Not Kill and Slayer of Thieves Fruition to overpower Xu Qi'an, while the monks prepared to seal the western courtyard and contain the fires.
• Sun Xuanji forged an enormous artifact cannon, and Xu Qi'an used Jade Shatters to return much of the damage Asuro had inflicted on him.
• Sun Xuanji’s cannon blast and Xu Qi'an’s returned damage shattered Asuro’s golden body and left him severely burned.
• Xu Qi'an tried to behead Asuro, but Asuro blocked the Peace Saber, regenerated, and transformed into a pitch-black form.
• Xu Qi'an recognized Asuro’s new appearance as resembling Shenshu’s pitch-black Dharma Idol.

Xu Qi'an and Sun Xuanji fought Asuro while trying to break the seal on the tower, and Xu Qi'an realized that Shenshu might be the Asura King. Their plan succeeded in striking Asuro with a Demon-Sealing Nail, leaving Xu Qi'an to urge Sun Xuanji to break the seal.

• Xu Qi'an suspected Shenshu was the Asura King and asked Asuro whether he knew who was sealed in the tower, but Asuro said the demon monk's identity no longer mattered to him.
• Asuro entered a berserk state and attacked Xu Qi'an, who used shadow jumps and Jade Shatters to evade and counter him.
• Sun Xuanji bombarded the sealing tower twice, weakening its defenses, then fired a third blast at it as Xu Qi'an continued to distract Asuro.
• Asuro charged along the pillar of light to the cannon platform and attacked Sun Xuanji, but Xu Qi'an teleported in front of him and took the blow.
• Sun Xuanji fired a Demon-Sealing Nail into Asuro's chest as Xu Qi'an used Jade Shatters to wound him and weaken his defenses.
• Xu Qi'an grabbed the weakened Asuro and leaped from the cannon platform, shouting for Sun Xuanji to break the seal.

Xu Qi'an and Sun Xuanji defeated Asuro’s defenses, broke the sealing tower, and retrieved Shenshu’s legs before escaping. Back in the grotto, the group examined the limbs and Yeji summoned the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox to inspect them.

• Xu Qi'an used a Demon-Sealing Nail to weaken Asuro, then counterattacked while Sun Xuanji dismantled the pagoda’s sealing formation.
• Xu Qi'an sent the Peace Saber against the Chan Masters as Sun Xuanji broke the tower and stored Shenshu’s legs in his sachet.
• Xu Qi'an and Sun Xuanji escaped, leaving Asuro to remove the nail and tell Abbot Pannian that the Southern Demons were preparing to return.
• Miao Youfang celebrated the mission with the Demon Race, while Protector Hongying stopped the White Ape Protector from exposing Miao’s thoughts.
• Xu Qi'an recovered in the grotto, and Yeji explained that Shenshu’s legs could help remove two more Demon-Sealing Nails.
• Sun Xuanji released the legs, and Yeji summoned the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox to examine them.

Xu Qi'an learned the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox’s plans to restore the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons and awakened Shenshu’s legs, whose combative personality agreed to help remove his Demon-Sealing Nails. Sun Xuanji took Protector Yuan toward Qingzhou, while the Yunzhou Army captured a major border city and Qi Guangbo called his commanders to a meeting.

• The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox explained her plans to gather the demons, attack the Western Regions, capture Asuro, and assault Aranda, and revealed how she had become a pure-blooded Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox.
• Xu Qi'an and Sun Xuanji awakened Shenshu’s legs with Yeji’s essence blood, and the unruly legs attacked the group before Xu Qi'an subdued them.
• Shenshu’s legs recognized Xu Qi'an’s strength and agreed to help remove his Demon-Sealing Nails in exchange for a future fight, so Xu Qi'an and Sun Xuanji sealed them again.
• Sun Xuanji took Protector Yuan to the Central Plains as his disciple, and Protector Yuan explained that the demons had secretly been glad to see him leave.
• Qi Guangbo saw that the Yunzhou Army had captured Qingzhou’s largest border city and ordered the division commanders to meet.

Qi Guangbo’s army captured Qingzhou’s border counties but found their supplies destroyed and the population evacuated, while Yang Gong and his advisers assessed how to resist the rebels and the expected Western Regions invasion. Xu Xinnian argued that Qingzhou must target the rebels’ limited elite troops, and the meeting ended with Sun Xuanji and Protector Yuan appearing unexpectedly.

• Qi Guangbo learned that Qingzhou’s defenders had burned provisions and left the border towns largely to refugees, and Ji Xuan recognized the tactic as an effort to drain the rebels’ supplies.
• Qi Guangbo decided the rebels could use their reserves to feed refugees and recruit soldiers, and he sent for the State Preceptor’s instructions about deploying the Western Regions’ warrior monks.
• Yang Gong briefed his advisers on Qingzhou’s defeat, and Zhang Shen praised his decision to evacuate wealthy families while Xu Xinnian began analyzing the conflict.
• Xu Xinnian argued that Yunzhou’s population and history of banditry limited its supply of elite soldiers, so Qingzhou should trade losses to destroy those troops; he also warned that Western Regions forces would likely invade while the court was distracted.
• Xu Xinnian, Yang Gong, and the other officials realized the Western Regions invasion could not be deterred, and then Xu Xinnian discovered Sun Xuanji and Protector Yuan in the hall.
• Protector Yuan revealed that he had heard the officials’ thoughts and blamed Xu Xinnian for the insult about the Superintendent’s disciples.

Sun Xuanji and Protector Yuan brought Qingzhou officials news that Xu Qi'an had helped the southern demons prepare to challenge the Buddhist Order, easing fears of a Western Regions invasion. After the Buddhist Order learned that Xu Qi'an and Sun Xuanji had freed Shenshu’s severed limbs, it canceled its eastern campaign, while Xu Xinnian arrived too late to get any lunch.

• Xu Xinnian introduced Sun Xuanji as the Superintendent’s third-rank arcanist disciple, and Protector Yuan said the Superintendent would hold Bodhisattva Jialuoshu and Xu Pingfeng in check.
• Protector Yuan explained that Xu Qi'an had joined forces with Sun Xuanji in the Southern Frontier, giving the southern demons an opening to reclaim the Hundred Thousand Mountains and keep the Buddhist Order occupied.
• Qingzhou’s officials decided to spread the news of Xu Qi'an’s actions to strengthen the army’s morale.
• Xu Pingfeng and Bodhisattva Jialuoshu learned that Xu Qi'an and Sun Xuanji had defeated Asuro, opened the sealing tower, and taken Shenshu’s severed limbs.
• The Buddhist Order canceled its eastern campaign and sent only a force to harass Leizhou, while commanders in White Sand Commandery reacted with shock and Ji Xuan grew angry at Xu Qi'an.
• Xu Xinnian returned from the military meeting hungry, found that every dish had been eaten, and left in frustration.

Xu Xinnian learned that Protector Yuan mistook Xu Lingyin’s empty mind for an enlightened, unblemished heart, while Xu Qi'an restrained Shenshu’s legs and prepared to visit the Gu Race. The next day, Xu Qi'an traveled southeast with Mu Nanzhi, Miao Youfang, and Hongying, only to discover that Baiji had been tossed off their flying mount.

• Xu Xinnian questioned Protector Yuan about Xu Qi'an and asked him to read Lina and Xu Lingyin’s thoughts; Protector Yuan concluded that Xu Lingyin had an unblemished heart because she was thinking about nothing.
• Xu Qi'an removed another Demon-Sealing Nail from Shenshu’s legs, then subdued and sealed them in a jade bottle rather than fight and risk attracting Asuro.
• Xu Qi'an gave the bottle to Yeji and said he would visit the Gu Race to investigate the Seven Absolutes Gu and its connection to the Gu God.
• The next day, Xu Qi'an flew southeast with Mu Nanzhi, Miao Youfang, and Hongying; Mu Nanzhi noticed Baiji was missing, and Xu Qi'an said she had tossed her out.

Xu Qi'an traveled toward the Gu Race with Mu Nanzhi and used the Earth Book Fragment to discuss refugee relief and the war with the Heaven and Earth Society. After he revealed that the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons would attack the Buddhist Order, Luo Yuheng went looking for him at the Directorate of Astronomy but learned he was away.

• Xu Qi'an and Mu Nanzhi discussed unusual Southern Frontier customs while traveling, and Xu Qi'an contacted Lina, who was making her way south with Lingyin.
• Li Lingsu asked how to manage the refugees he had gathered, and Li Miaozhen offered to advise him while Huaiqing ordered the others to organize forces and prepare to move west.
• Huaiqing explained that the Buddhist Order might attack Leizhou and force the court to fight on two fronts, but Xu Qi'an said the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons would attack the Buddhist Order and reclaim its former lands.
• The Heaven and Earth Society reacted with surprise to Xu Qi'an's report, and Chu Yuanzhen and Hengyuan praised the alliance's potential to save lives.
• Luo Yuheng searched for Xu Qi'an at the Directorate of Astronomy, where Song Qing told her that Xu Qi'an was away and that Sun might be able to locate him.

Grand Secretary Wang’s declining health prompted him to consider stepping down, but news of Xu Qi'an’s alliance with the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons eased his worries. Xu Qi'an released Miao Youfang to pursue his own path, then reunited with Lina and Xu Lingyin at Three-Tiered Waterfall, where he tossed the little girl into the pool.

• Song Qing said Grand Secretary Wang’s overwork had left him gravely ill, while Wang Simu explained that he worried about Qingzhou, the refugees, and the Buddhist Order.
• An imperial eunuch told Wang Simu and Lin'an that the Buddhist Order was being held in check and that Grand Secretary Wang had requested a court nomination; Xu Qi'an’s alliance with the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons was credited with the news.
• Miao Youfang reached the Fifth Rank, and Xu Qi'an told him their journey together was over and sent him off to make his own name as a hero.
• Three days later, Xu Qi'an met Lina and Xu Lingyin at Three-Tiered Waterfall and found them disguised as filthy beggars.
• Xu Lingyin greeted Xu Qi'an, who caught her and flung her into the pool.

Xu Qi'an reunited with Lina and Xu Lingyin, heard how the famine had made travel through Yuzhou dangerous, and continued with them toward the Strength Gu Tribe. Meanwhile, Qi Guangbo assigned Zhuo Haoran to capture Songshan County and revealed that Ge Wenxuan was carrying out Xu Pingfeng’s contingency plan; the chapter ended with two Strength Gu tribesmen mistaking Lina for a Central Plains woman and shooting at her.

• Xu Qi'an met Mu Nanzhi, Lina, Xu Lingyin, and Baiji at Threefold Waterfall, where Lina described the dangers they had faced while traveling through famine-stricken Yuzhou.
• After eating, Xu Qi'an’s party headed south into the Southern Frontier while Lina explained how they had avoided trouble by disguising themselves as refugees.
• Qi Guangbo ordered Zhuo Haoran to capture Songshan County within five days and assigned Ji Xuan to attack Dongling and draw out Sun Xuanji.
• Qi Guangbo told the Yunzhou generals that Xu Pingfeng had sent Ge Wenxuan to carry out a contingency plan and that reinforcements were expected from the Gu Race.
• Two days later, Lina guided Xu Qi'an’s party to the edge of the Strength Gu Tribe’s territory and said Mount Bo lay eighty li ahead.
• Tu Long and Mutou challenged the party, failed to recognize Lina, and Mutou shot an arrow at her.