Chapter Summaries

Xu Qi'an avoided Vajra Dunan, learned that the Buddhist monks were openly searching for him, and continued watching for Dragon Qi hosts. Li Lingsu discovered that Heaven Sect elders had come to arrest him and fled, while Luo Yuheng waited anxiously for Xu Qi'an, who finally appeared at the hot spring.

• Xu Qi'an and Li Lingsu passed Vajra Dunan without drawing attention, and Xu Qi'an returned to Green Apricot Garden while Li Lingsu went to his inn.
• Li Lingsu overheard Primordial Lady Bingyi and Daoist Master Xuancheng planning to retrieve him and punish him, so he fled in panic and called for Xu Qi'an's help.
• Xu Qi'an learned from Gongsun Xiangyang that Buddhist monks were searching the city for him with portraits, and he suspected they intended to lure him with a Dragon Qi host.
• Luo Yuheng worried that Xu Qi'an would not return before her karmic fire torment, then went to bathe in the hot spring.
• Xu Qi'an arrived at the hot spring as Luo Yuheng was bathing and complained that she was seducing him despite knowing he was exhausted.

Xu Qi'an discussed the Buddhist Order and Tianji Palace’s plan with Luo Yuheng, then learned from Li Lingsu that Daoist Master Xuancheng intended to take him back to the Heaven Sect. The chapter ended with Azure Dragon and six other cloaked figures arriving at Ji Xuan’s courtyard.

• Xu Qi'an soaked with Luo Yuheng in the hot spring, told her about the enemy forces in Yongzhou, and proposed capturing the Arhat, but she advised waiting because of her Karmic Fire.
• Xu Qi'an pulled Luo Yuheng back into the pool after she tried to leave, and they practiced dual cultivation before she told him that a Heaven Sect disciple had arrived.
• Li Lingsu told Xu Qi'an that his master, Daoist Master Xuancheng, had come to take him back to the Heaven Sect.
• Li Lingsu explained that Heaven Sect disciples could have multiple Dao companions, and Xu Qi'an asked him to stay at Green Apricot Garden while he handled matters involving Li Miaozhen and the Heaven Sect.
• Seven cloaked figures arrived at Ji Xuan’s courtyard, where White Tiger greeted their leader as Azure Dragon.

Azure Dragon and the others planned to use a Dragon Qi host to lure Xu Qian into a hunt, while Hengyuan and Chu Yuanzhen encountered refugees who had frozen to death outside Yongzhou. At Green Apricot Garden, Xu Qi'an drew out Luo Yuheng’s feelings during her melancholy phase, then learned that the Gongsun Clan had found the boy he was seeking.

• Azure Dragon agreed to suspend the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions’ missions and track Xu Qian, while Xu Yuanhuai demanded that Xu Qian be killed.
• Hengyuan buried a grandfather and child who had frozen outside Yongzhou, and Chu Yuanzhen worried that the winter’s deaths were only a prelude to worse suffering.
• Luo Yuheng woke beside Xu Qi'an and, while they watched the snow, told him about her long-standing feelings and agreed to become his Dao companion after his journey through the martial world.
• Xu Qi'an realized that Luo Yuheng’s confession might lead her to attack him once she recovered her usual composure.
• Li Lingsu arrived at Green Apricot Garden and reported that the Gongsun Clan had found the boy Xu Qi'an was looking for.

Xu Qi'an and his allies found Miao Youfang, the Dragon Qi host, but Ji Xuan's group and the Buddhist monks captured him first. Xu Qi'an abandoned the rescue and instead exposed Li Lingsu to draw the Arhat's attack, escaping with Luo Yuheng while Li Lingsu was left behind.

• Li Lingsu told Xu Qi'an that the Dragon Qi host was at Spring's Richness, and Xu Qi'an brought Luo Yuheng to investigate.
• Ji Xuan's group learned the host's location and set out for Spring's Richness, with the Buddhist monks following in support.
• Xu Qi'an used a sparrow to confirm Miao Youfang was inside, then asked Luo Yuheng to retrieve him.
• Ji Xuan's group and the monks stormed the study, subdued Miao Youfang, and injured Miss Ziyuan in the ensuing fight.
• Xu Qi'an realized Miao Youfang had already been taken and kicked Li Lingsu out of hiding while announcing his identity to lure the Arhat.
• Xu Qi'an crushed a jade pendant and vanished with Luo Yuheng as the Arhat's golden palm descended toward Li Lingsu.

Li Lingsu was captured by Arhat Duqing, and Xu Qi'an recruited Luo Yuheng and the Heaven Sect to help rescue him. As Ji Xuan’s group left Yongzhou, a green-robed saber wielder appeared ahead and blocked the road.

• Arhat Duqing questioned Li Lingsu in a Buddha Realm, and Li Lingsu revealed Xu Qi'an’s location and companions before his jealousy was calmed by the Arhat’s words.
• Xu Qi'an contacted Daoist Master Xuancheng and Primordial Lady Bingyi, then admitted that Li Lingsu had been captured because of him and asked the Heaven Sect to help.
• Luo Yuheng joined Xu Qi'an’s plan, agreeing to capture the Arhat while the Heaven Sect held off the two Vajras, with Sun Xuanji also expected to assist.
• Ji Xuan’s group and the Buddhist monks led Miao Youfang out of Yongzhou, and Old Daoist Jiaoye explained that Miao’s rapid progress came from repeated fortuitous encounters.
• The group stopped on the official road when a green-robed man carrying a narrow-bladed saber appeared ahead.

Xu Qi'an faced the Buddhist Order and Hidden Dragon City’s forces while Luo Yuheng fought Arhat Duqing. After Luo Yuheng was trapped in a golden bowl, Sun Xuanji appeared behind the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions to challenge them.

• Jingxin urged Xu Qi'an to join the Buddhist Order, but Xu Qi'an refused and stood firm against Arhat Duqing’s call to convert.
• Luo Yuheng arrived and broke Arhat Duqing’s golden palm, then used the Human Sect’s Lotus Blossom sword technique to badly wound him and kill three Chan Masters.
• Arhat Duqing regenerated, acknowledged that Luo Yuheng had quelled her Karmic Fire, and trapped her inside a golden bowl before sending Vajras Dunan and Dufan to deal with Xu Qi'an.
• The two Vajras and the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions surrounded Xu Qi'an and discussed taking him and his possessions, while Azure Dragon asked where Sun Xuanji was.
• Xu Qi'an revealed that Sun Xuanji had appeared behind the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions, holding a sign that named them as his opponent.

Xu Qi'an’s allies revealed their strength and drew the Buddhist Vajras away, leaving him facing Hidden Dragon City and the monks alone. Jingxin identified him as Xu Qi'an, shocking Xu Yuanshuang, Xu Yuanhuai, and the others as the confrontation began.

• Sun Xuanji used an array to teleport the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions away from the battlefield.
• Xu Qi'an brought out the Pagoda Treasure Tower, and Daoists Xuancheng and Primordial Lady Bingyi emerged from it to attack Vajras Dunan and Dufan.
• The two Heaven Sect Yang Spirits fought the Vajras and drew them away from Xu Qi'an and the gathered fighters.
• Xu Qi'an challenged the remaining group to attack him together or one by one.
• Jingxin warned that Xu Qi'an was harder to deal with than any Fourth Rank and revealed, “Xu Qian is Xu Qi'an,” shocking the crowd.

Xu Qian’s identity as Xu Qi’an was revealed to the group, and the gathered experts decided to test their strength against him while his cultivation was sealed. Xu Yuanhuai launched the first attack with a powerful magic spear, and the chapter ended as he charged Xu Qi’an in his dragon-enhanced form.

• Jingxin and Ji Xuan confirmed that Xu Qian was Xu Qi’an, stunning Xu Yuanshuang and Xu Yuanhuai.
• Jiaoye warned the group about Xu Qi’an’s reputation, but Jingyuan argued that his sealed cultivation made him vulnerable.
• Ji Xuan and the others welcomed the chance to fight Xu Qi’an, while Xu Yuanshuang wondered how much strength her brother retained.
• Xu Yuanhuai charged Xu Qi’an, who flicked the spear away with one finger and split Xu Yuanhuai’s hand.
• Xu Yuanhuai summoned the Fourth Rank Flood Dragon spirit sealed in his spear and dove at Xu Qi’an with enhanced strength.

Xu Qi'an’s Peace Saber destroyed Xu Yuanhuai’s weapon and Flood Dragon spirit, then Xu Qi'an defeated him and forced him and Xu Yuanshuang to withdraw. Ji Xuan led the remaining fighters in a coordinated assault, but Xu Qi'an endured their attacks and wounded White Tiger before declaring the warm-up over.

• Xu Qi'an sent the Peace Saber against Xu Yuanhuai’s spear, breaking the weapon and scattering his Flood Dragon spirit.
• After Xu Yuanhuai charged him, Xu Qi'an subdued him, broke his limbs, and sent him back to Xu Yuanshuang, who withdrew with her brother.
• Ji Xuan organized the remaining fighters into an assault, with Jingyuan leading and Jingxin and the Chan Masters supporting him.
• Xu Qi'an revealed that he could use the Vajra Divine Art and withstood attacks from Ji Xuan and Liu Hongmian.
• White Tiger attacked Xu Qi'an, but Xu Qi'an restored his golden defenses, severed White Tiger’s forepaw, and forced the group to rescue him.
• Xu Qi'an recalled the Peace Saber and announced that the warm-up was over, leaving Ji Xuan and the others alarmed.

Xu Qi'an fought Ji Xuan and the allied experts, overcoming their attempts to disarm and poison him before devastating the Chan Masters with Jade Shatters. As the defeated group faced their last hope, the alms bowl signaled that Arhat Duqing and Luo Yuheng’s battle was nearing its outcome.

• Jingxin’s Precepts let Jingyuan take the Peace Saber, but Qihuan Danxiang failed to control it with his Heart Gu.
• Xu Qi'an broke free, wounded Ji Xuan, and absorbed Qihuan Danxiang’s Bone-Eroding Insects instead of being harmed by them.
• Xu Qi'an poisoned and blinded Jingyuan, then reclaimed the Peace Saber after White Tiger protected Qihuan Danxiang.
• Xu Qi'an used Jade Shatters to kill the Chan Masters in Jingxin’s array, while Jingxin survived long enough to apply sacred incense ash to his wound.
• Ji Xuan, Qihuan Danxiang, White Tiger, Xu Yuanshuang, and the others were left shaken by their defeat as the alms bowl signaled the approaching outcome of Arhat Duqing and Luo Yuheng’s battle.

Luo Yuheng defeated Arhat Duqing, allowing Xu Qi'an and their allies to escape while Ji Xuan’s group suffered heavy losses. After the survivors regrouped and Daoist Jiaoye died, Luo Yuheng took Xu Qi'an to a small city to recover and hide from the pursuing Vajras.

• The golden bowl shattered, revealing that Luo Yuheng had defeated Arhat Duqing, and Xu Qi'an drove Ji Xuan’s group to flee after Jiaoye took a saber strike for Ji Xuan.
• Luo Yuheng took Xu Qi'an and the captured Arhat Duqing away, while the Vajras arrived too late and split up to search for them.
• Jiaoye died after advising Ji Xuan to avoid Xu Qi'an, gather Dragon Qi, and keep the Seven Azure Dragon Mansions at his side.
• Secret Agent Chen arrived at the survivors’ refuge and learned that Xu Qi'an had defeated them alone while still at fourth rank.
• Luo Yuheng brought Xu Qi'an and Arhat Duqing to a small city, where she asked Xu Qi'an to find them an inn so she could heal.

Xu Qi'an and Luo Yuheng recovered from their injuries through meditation and dual cultivation, while she taught him to nurture the Peace Saber with Dragon Qi. As Li Miaozhen and her companions arrived, Luo Yuheng's personality shifted to Love, leaving Xu Qi'an alarmed when she called him “darling Xu.”

• Luo Yuheng sealed Arhat Duqing and explained that Xu Qi'an needed the Superintendent's help to make him remove the Demon-Sealing Nails.
• Luo Yuheng told Xu Qi'an that Dragon Qi could nurture the Peace Saber, and he began soaking it in the golden dragon phantom.
• Luo Yuheng proposed dual cultivation to heal her internal injuries, and Xu Qi'an recovered while the two spent the night together.
• Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Hengyuan rode toward Xu Qi'an's inn after secretly taking Li Miaozhen away from her Heaven Sect elders.
• Xu Qi'an received Li Miaozhen's message and tried to leave the bed, but Luo Yuheng embraced him and called him “darling Xu.”

Xu Qi'an reunited with Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Hengyuan, then brought them into the Pagoda Treasure Tower to see Li Lingsu and the others. Luo Yuheng demanded that Xu Qi'an end his relationships with other women, while Li Lingsu continued to mistake Xu Qi'an for a powerful hidden senior.

• Xu Qi'an booked a second room, welcomed Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Hengyuan, and told them about his travels and his hidden identity as Xu Qian to Li Lingsu.
• Xu Qi'an and his companions agreed to keep his real identity from Li Lingsu, despite Xu Qi'an's misgivings.
• Luo Yuheng joined the group, explained that she had come to investigate the underground palace, and privately told Xu Qi'an to end his relationships with other women.
• Xu Qi'an brought Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Hengyuan into the Pagoda Treasure Tower, where they reunited with Li Lingsu and the others.
• Li Lingsu praised Xu Qi'an as a respected senior and speculated about his identity, while Li Miaozhen struggled to keep from laughing.
• Xu Qi'an approached Miao Youfang and began examining him.

Xu Qi'an confirmed that Miao Youfang was a decent person whose sudden fortune came from Dragon Qi, then reclaimed it and took him on as a follower. Xu Qi'an and Luo Yuheng entered the underground palace to investigate its ancient patriarch and reinforce Shenshu’s seal, where they found the ancient corpse apparently dead.

• Xu Qi'an questioned Miao Youfang about his conduct, and the old monk confirmed that Miao Youfang had not committed serious wrongdoing.
• Xu Qi'an explained Dragon Qi’s effects and the danger of leaving it scattered, and Miao Youfang agreed to surrender his Dragon Qi.
• Xu Qi'an extracted the Dragon Qi with the Earth Book Fragment and offered Miao Youfang a place as his unpaid follower; Miao Youfang accepted.
• Xu Qi'an and Luo Yuheng went into the underground palace while the others waited outside, and Xu Qi'an told her that Shenshu’s seal could break within a year.
• Xu Qi'an and Luo Yuheng found the burial chamber’s stone door closed, entered, and discovered the ancient corpse lying mangled on the ground.

Xu Qi'an and Luo Yuheng found the ancient corpse dead in the tomb and suspected its owner had returned, then prepared to go back to the capital. Outside, Li Lingsu recovered his Earth Book Fragment only to discover Li Miaozhen had sold everything inside it.

• Xu Qi'an examined the ancient corpse and concluded that a powerful person had killed it swiftly, possibly the tomb's owner.
• Luo Yuheng reassured Xu Qi'an that his allies and entanglements could help protect him, and said they would return to the capital that day.
• Xu Qi'an built a simple stone tomb for the ancient corpse before leaving the burial chamber.
• Miao Youfang teased Li Lingsu about his weak kidney Qi, and Li Lingsu later asked Li Miaozhen to return his Earth Book Fragment.
• Li Miaozhen returned Li Lingsu's fragment, but he found its storage space empty and learned she had sold his possessions to fund her bandit-suppression army in Yunzhou.
• Li Miaozhen and Li Lingsu argued over their conduct as Heaven Sect disciples, while Chu Yuanzhen and Hengyuan reflected on the pair's troublemaking.

Xu Qi'an returned from the cavern with the others and reported that the ancient corpse's soul had scattered, possibly because the tomb's owner had returned. In the capital, Noble Consort Chen pressed Lin'an to marry Duke Dingguo's second son, while Emperor Yongxing asked his ministers how to respond to widespread snow disasters and unrest.

• Xu Qi'an told Li Miaozhen, Li Lingsu, Chu Yuanzhen, and the others that the ancient corpse's soul had scattered and suspected the tomb's owner had returned.
• Xu Qi'an asked whether the group would accompany him and Luo Yuheng to the capital, and Chu Yuanzhen agreed so the Superintendent could refine his Earth Book Fragment.
• Noble Consort Chen urged Lin'an to marry Duke Dingguo's second son, but Lin'an rejected the match and revealed she still cared for Xu Qi'an.
• Noble Consort Chen warned Lin'an that Xu Qi'an was unsuitable and would not come to a good end, then changed the subject as food arrived.
• Emperor Yongxing told his ministers that severe snow disasters and unrest were affecting the Northern Territory and several other regions, and asked how they should respond.

Emperor Yongxing struggled to find funds for snow-disaster relief as ministers resisted donating, while Grand Secretary Wang and Liu Hong discussed the political risks and Huaiqing’s plan. Lin'an realized Xu Qi'an was the person powerful enough to make officials contribute, but he was away from the capital.

• The ministers clashed over disaster relief, and Emperor Yongxing rejected proposals to empty official granaries or demand the demons’ and barbarians’ tribute early.
• Grand Secretary Wang proposed that ministers lead a donation drive, but officials resisted with claims of poverty, warnings of political backlash, and threats to resign.
• After the assembly, Grand Secretary Wang told Liu Hong that Huaiqing’s plan needed a powerful figure to compel the court, but Xu Qi'an was traveling and had not contacted Xu Xinnian.
• Emperor Yongxing told Noble Consort Chen and Lin'an about the empty treasury, the worsening disaster, and his failure to secure donations.
• Lin'an met Xu Xinnian outside Huaiqing’s residence and complained that Xu Qi'an had not written to her.
• Huaiqing explained that only someone close to the ministers and powerful enough to coerce them could make the donation plan work, leading Lin'an to identify Xu Qi'an, then lament that he was absent.

Xu Qi'an returned to the capital with Luo Yuheng and Arhat Duqing, while Lin'an worried that she mattered little to him because he had not contacted her. The Superintendent agreed to have Duqing remove three Demon-Sealing Nails in exchange for Xu Qi'an freeing Jingxin and Jingyuan, and Duqing began the removal.

• Lin'an confided to her maid that Xu Qi'an had not replied to her letter and that she feared she was no use to him.
• Xu Qi'an and his party arrived at the Directorate of Astronomy, where Luo Yuheng stayed with him and the others toured the tower.
• Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Hengyuan showed Li Lingsu and Miao Youfang the Directorate, then went underground to visit Yang Qianhuan, who said the Superintendent had imprisoned him for trying to give away the treasury's wealth to disaster victims.
• The Superintendent returned from fighting Jialuoshu at the Leizhou border and agreed to trade Arhat Duqing's help removing three Demon-Sealing Nails for the release of Jingxin and Jingyuan.
• Arhat Duqing identified the three nails in Xu Qi'an's Governing Vessel and at Baihui, and Xu Qi'an sat before him as he began removing them.

Arhat Duqing removed two of Xu Qi'an’s Demon-Sealing Nails, allowing Xu Qi'an to unleash his Qi and recover cultivation beyond the early stage of the Third Rank. The disturbance drew attention across the capital, while Li Lingsu learned that Xu Qian was Xu Qi'an; the chapter ended with Emperor Yongxing asking Lin'an for a favor.

• Arhat Duqing pulled two Demon-Sealing Nails from Xu Qi'an, and Xu Qi'an released a Lion's Roar that shook the Star Observation Tower and scattered the clouds.
• Emperor Yongxing learned from the imperial guard commander that the disturbance came from Qi beyond a Fourth-Rank martial artist, then summoned Lin'an to the imperial study.
• Huaiqing heard that Xu Qi'an had returned and ordered the captain of Dexin Garden's guards to notify the Directorate of Ceremonial that she wanted to leave the palace.
• At the Directorate of Astronomy, Yang Qianhuan announced that Xu Qi'an had recovered his cultivation, prompting Li Lingsu to realize that Xu Qian was Xu Qi'an.
• Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Hengyuan told Li Lingsu that Xu Qi'an knew he was an Earth Book Fragment holder, leaving him mortified.
• Xu Qi'an found that he could mobilize eighty percent of his Qi and had surpassed the early stage of the Third Rank; Emperor Yongxing then asked Lin'an for a favor.

Emperor Yongxing sought Lin'an’s help persuading Xu Qi'an to support the disaster-relief donation drive, while the Superintendent warned Xu Qi'an that Xu Pingfeng was preparing a Yunzhou rebellion with Buddhist backing. Xu Qi'an learned how Xu Pingfeng could be powerful within Yunzhou, then discovered that Lin'an and Huaiqing had come to see him.

• Emperor Yongxing asked Lin'an to persuade Xu Qi'an to help raise donations, and she learned that Xu Qi'an had likely returned to the capital.
• The Superintendent sent Arhat Duqing away and told Xu Qi'an that the coming winter would determine Great Feng’s fate and that Xu Pingfeng was preparing to rebel in Yunzhou with the Buddhist Order’s support.
• The Superintendent explained that Xu Pingfeng had refined Yunzhou’s fate and could become vulnerable if his territory were retaken, as Emperor Wuzong had once rebelled with Buddhist help.
• Xu Qi'an asked about unsealing Shenshu, the ancient corpse, and the Peace Saber before Chu Caiwei told him that Lin'an and Huaiqing had come to see him.
• Li Lingsu and Yang Qianhuan traded complaints about Xu Qi'an, while Li Miaozhen’s group brought Zhong Li out of the underground chamber and Li Lingsu repeatedly fell on the stairs because of her misfortune.