Chapter Summaries

The court agreed to peace talks with the Yunzhou rebels as Qian Qingshu and Wang Zhenwen recognized the crisis facing Great Feng, while Xu Qi'an began preparing to summon Wei Yuan's soul. The Yunzhou delegation reached the capital, where Ji Yuan refused to meet the Minister of State Ceremonial, saying his rank was too low.

• At court, the war and peace factions argued over negotiations until Emperor Yongxing approved peace talks.
• Qian Qingshu visited the gravely ill Wang Zhenwen, who said the rebels had sent a delegation because they expected Great Feng to accept peace and asked for Xu Qi'an to visit him.
• At the Directorate of Astronomy, Xu Qi'an gave Song Qing the materials for the Soul-Summoning Banner and learned that the spring sacrifice was the earliest time to summon Wei Yuan's soul.
• Ji Yuan arrived near the capital with Xu Yuanhuai, Xu Yuanshuang, guards, and a negotiating team, intending to secure benefits, earn merit, and assess Great Feng's strength.
• The Minister of State Ceremonial went to receive the delegation, but Ji Yuan's guard told him that his standing was too low and sent him away.

Ji Yuan forced the Great Feng court to make a grand show of welcoming the Yunzhou delegation, while Emperor Yongxing rejected Xu Qi'an’s plea to fight on. Huaiqing revealed her plan to force Yongxing to abdicate, and Xu Qi'an left to meet the newly arrived Number Eight.

• Ji Yuan refused to let the Yunzhou delegation enter the capital until Prince Yan, Grand Secretary Qian, and the full ceremonial music welcomed them, using the delay to probe Emperor Yongxing’s resolve.
• Xu Qi'an urged Emperor Yongxing to reject peace negotiations, but Yongxing insisted that negotiation was Great Feng’s only hope, and Lin'an angrily confronted him.
• Huaiqing told Xu Qi'an that she had built a powerful faction and held three strands of Dragon Qi, then proposed forcing Yongxing to abdicate in favor of Prince Yan.
• Xu Qi'an returned to Mu Nanzhi, who confessed she would willingly give him her spiritual essence, but their moment was interrupted by a private message from Number Eight.
• After Daoist Jinlian advised him to meet Number Eight, Xu Qi'an traveled beyond the western gate and found a towering man in a kasaya waiting with a jade mirror.

Xu Qi'an learned that Asuro was Earth Book holder Number Eight and had secretly opposed the Buddhist Order, then Asuro removed Xu Qi'an's final Demon-Sealing Nail. Xu Qi'an's suppressed power returned, bringing him to Third Rank Great Perfection.

• At the post station, Xu Yuanshuang and Ji Yuan spoke with Ge Wenxuan through a Sound-Transmission Conch, and Ge instructed them to exploit the rift between Xu Qi'an and the young emperor while probing Xu Qi'an's strength.
• Fifteen li outside the western city gate, Asuro revealed to Xu Qi'an that he was Number Eight and had held back during their earlier encounter.
• Asuro explained that he had returned to the Buddhist Order using an incarnation created through One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, and that he had come to remove Xu Qi'an's last Demon-Sealing Nail.
• Asuro told Xu Qi'an that the Buddha had appeared in Aranda on the day the Superintendent was sealed and shared clues about the Buddha, Shenshu, and the missing Bodhisattva Faji.
• Inside the Pagoda Treasure Tower, Asuro extracted the Demon-Sealing Nail from Xu Qi'an's Juque acupoint, restoring the power suppressed within him.
• Xu Qi'an's power surged through his Conception and Governing Vessels, shaking the tower as he reached Third Rank Great Perfection.

Xu Qi'an and Asuro assessed Great Feng’s chances against Yunzhou and agreed to reveal Asuro’s identity to the Heaven and Earth Society at a meeting. Huaiqing prepared to enlist Xu Qi'an in her dangerous plan, while Xu Qi'an returned to the capital and hurried to advance to Second Rank.

• Xu Qi'an removed Asuro’s Demon-Sealing Nails, gave him pills, and outlined Great Feng’s allies and his plan to advance to Second Rank.
• Asuro suggested recruiting Arhat Du'e, but Xu Qi'an judged the time was not right and said the Superintendent had left another, still-unclear trump card.
• Xu Qi'an and Asuro agreed to reveal Asuro’s identity at a Heaven and Earth Society meeting, then parted after discussing how Huaiqing had collected Dragon Qi.
• Huaiqing learned that Yang Yan had secretly returned to the capital with elite troops and told her guard captain she expected Xu Qi'an to support her.
• Number Eight contacted the Heaven and Earth Society, whose members eagerly chatted with him without realizing he was Asuro.
• Xu Qi'an returned to the Directorate of Astronomy, bathed, sedated Baiji, and slipped into bed beside Mu Nanzhi as he prepared to advance to Second Rank.

Xu Qi'an told Mu Nanzhi the truth about his original motives and confessed his feelings before they began dual cultivation. As her Flower God essence flowed into him, his body and strength surged, but he still needed to understand how to sublimate his martial intent to reach the Second Rank.

• Xu Qi'an told Mu Nanzhi that the Demon-Sealing Nails were gone, but she resisted his advances and reminded him that she was his elder.
• Xu Qi'an admitted that he had once sought Mu Nanzhi for her spiritual essence, then explained that he had come to love her and did not want her to regret giving it to him.
• Mu Nanzhi accepted Xu Qi'an's apology and willingly allowed him to take her spiritual essence as they began dual cultivation.
• Xu Qi'an used the ancient Daoist Order's secret technique, awakening Mu Nanzhi's dormant Flower God power and drawing it into his body.
• Xu Qi'an's physique and strength rapidly improved, but he realized that reaching the Second Rank also required the sublimation of his martial intent.

Xu Qi'an comprehended the true meaning of Jade Shatters and advanced to the Second Rank, causing an extraordinary phenomenon at the Directorate of Astronomy. As Huaiqing and the Heaven and Earth Society discussed the event, Ji Yuan prepared for the court assembly and provoked Song Tingfeng.

• Xu Qi'an realized that Jade Shatters required both the courage to break and the will to survive, and his vision of an Undying Tree led him into the Dao Integration realm.
• Starlight descended on the Star Observation Tower, while Luo Yuheng and Huaiqing noticed the phenomenon and Huaiqing asked the Heaven and Earth Society what had happened.
• Number Eight declared that Xu Qi'an had advanced to the Second Rank, but the others doubted it because he still had a Demon-Sealing Nail in his body.
• Baiji woke in the Pagoda Treasure Tower, learned from the tower spirit monk that Xu Qi'an and Mu Nanzhi had not come inside, and fell asleep again after receiving healing light.
• Ji Yuan left for the court assembly with Xu Yuanshuang, Xu Yuanhuai, and four elders, then mocked Song Tingfeng for calling him an enemy.

Ji Yuan delayed the Yunzhou delegation’s audience, blamed Song Tingfeng for the delay, and began peace talks by demanding tribute from Great Feng. The court recognized Song’s connection to Xu Qi'an and let the accusation go, but the Minister of Revenue challenged Ji Yuan’s first demand.

• Song Tingfeng confronted Ji Yuan at the relay station, refused to back down, and later told the Copper Gongs that Xu Ningyan’s friendship made him unafraid of trouble.
• Ji Yuan arrived late to the throne hall and accused Song Tingfeng of obstructing and insulting him.
• Liu Hong defended Song by citing his service alongside Xu Qi'an, and Emperor Yongxing promised to investigate without punishing him.
• Ji Yuan announced that Yunzhou would negotiate peace only if Great Feng accepted four conditions, beginning with annual payments of silver and silk.
• The Minister of Revenue protested the tribute demand, and Ji Yuan challenged whether Great Feng could afford even the silver payment.

Ji Yuan forced Emperor Yongxing to accept Yunzhou’s demands in the peace talks, including recognizing Yunzhou’s legitimacy and ceding territory, while unrest spread through the capital. Xu Qi'an remained at the Directorate of Astronomy, reassured the Heaven and Earth Society that he would handle the talks, and asked Huaiqing whether everything was ready.

• Ji Yuan negotiated a reduced tribute, demanded recognition of Yunzhou as a legitimate ruling line, and secured Emperor Yongxing’s agreement despite protests from the imperial relatives.
• Ji Yuan demanded Yongzhou, Yuzhou, and Zhangzhou, then used Great Feng’s military losses and Yunzhou’s Transcendent allies to pressure the court; Emperor Yongxing agreed to discuss ceding territory and heard Ji Yuan’s demand for the Superintendent’s artifact-refining notes.
• Hanlin scholars protested the negotiations, students of the Directorate of Education went on strike, and rumors about ceding territory and recognizing Yunzhou spread through the capital.
• Ji Yuan told Xu Yuanshuang and Xu Yuanhuai that the state preceptor wanted him to test Xu Qi'an, and he predicted Xu Qi'an would be unable to stop the peace talks.
• Lin'an worried that ceding territory would doom Great Feng, while Qian Qingshu told Wang Zhenwen that Yongxing’s bottom line was ceding Yuzhou and that he had sent word to Xu Qi'an.
• Xu Qi'an told the Heaven and Earth Society he would handle the peace talks, then privately asked Huaiqing whether everything was ready.

As Huaiqing and Xu Qi'an prepared to remove Emperor Yongxing and stabilize the court, Xu Qi'an revealed he had reached the Second Rank and won Wang Zhenwen's support for enthroning Prince Yan. Three days after the negotiations ended, the peace agreement seemed certain to everyone in the capital.

• Huaiqing arranged the Wei Faction's support for a rebellion and asked Xu Qi'an to secure Wang Zhenwen and help stabilize the court.
• Xu Qi'an told Huaiqing that Asuro had removed his Demon-Sealing Nails and helped him advance to the Second Rank.
• Xu Qi'an visited the ill Wang Zhenwen, announced his advancement, and proposed replacing Yongxing with Prince Yan; Wang Zhenwen approved and summoned members of his faction.
• Prince Li and the imperial clan condemned Yongxing's concessions but agreed to wait until spring and preserve their position.
• Three days after negotiations ended, Yunzhou and the court entered the final stage of peace talks, and the capital expected the agreement to be sealed.

Emperor Yongxing concluded a humiliating peace agreement with the Yunzhou delegation while secretly expecting Xu Qi'an to secure reinforcements. As the delegation prepared to leave, Huaiqing and Yang Yan launched a coup, and Xu Qi'an appeared to force Yongxing to abdicate.

• Emperor Yongxing reviewed the tribute and territorial terms, and told Prince Li he planned to ask Xu Qi'an to bring Southern Frontier reinforcements.
• Yang Yan entered the capital and ordered his subordinates to gather their hidden allies, while Song Tingfeng persuaded four Gold Gongs to side with Xu Qi'an.
• Ji Yuan and Ge Wenxuan discussed Great Feng's weakness, and the Yunzhou delegation exchanged documents with Emperor Yongxing at court.
• Cannon fire and drums announced a rebellion at the palace, and Yang Yan led Nightwatchers and allied guards into the Golden Throne Hall.
• Huaiqing demanded that Emperor Yongxing abdicate, and nearly half the officials joined her call while Yang Yan moved to seize the emperor.
• Xu Qi'an appeared after subduing the imperial guard battalions and ordered Yongxing to abdicate, threatening him with Yuanjing's fate.

Xu Qi'an forced Emperor Yongxing to abdicate, arguing that his rule threatened Great Feng, and the Nation-Guarding Sword chose Xu Qi'an. Huaiqing gathered the imperial princes to settle the succession and announced that she intended to take the throne herself.

• Xu Qi'an threatened Emperor Yongxing and rebuked the imperial family and officials for supporting peace with Yunzhou, while soldiers pledged to follow him into battle.
• The Nation-Guarding Sword flew to Xu Qi'an, silencing the court, and he left with Huaiqing after taking Emperor Yongxing from the throne hall.
• The Yunzhou delegation realized it was trapped in the palace, and Ji Yuan feared Xu Qi'an would show them no mercy.
• In the imperial study, Xu Qi'an explained why he was forcing Yongxing to abdicate and left Huaiqing to handle the succession.
• Huaiqing summoned Prince Li and the imperial princes, rejected Prince Yan as a candidate, and declared that she intended to claim the throne.

Huaiqing secured the imperial clan’s submission and the court’s support for her bid to become emperor, while Xu Qi'an helped consolidate control of the capital. After learning that Ji Yuan had been secretly contacting Noble Consort Chen, Xu Qi'an rode to the palace to question her about the Consort Fu Case.

• Huaiqing announced her intention to become emperor and convinced the imperial clan to submit by citing Xu Qi'an’s support, her military backing, and her agreement with Cloud Deer Academy.
• Huaiqing entered the throne hall and received the officials’ approval to take the throne, while Xu Qi'an reflected on his rise and discussed securing public support with her.
• Xu Qi'an visited the Yunzhou delegation in the dungeon, humiliated Ji Yuan, and ordered the prisoners transferred beneath the Star Observation Tower.
• Azhu asked Xu Qi'an to release her, and he decided to find her a position because he needed people.
• Xu Yuanshuang told Xu Qi'an that Ji Yuan had secretly contacted Noble Consort Chen, prompting Xu Qi'an to plan a public parade of the Yunzhou delegation and ride to the palace to question Noble Consort Chen.

Xu Qi'an confronted Dowager Consort Chen in Splendid Scenery Palace and exposed her ties to Xu Pingfeng, while Lin'an struggled with his decision to force Yongxing to abdicate. After Huaiqing threatened Dowager Consort Chen, Xu Qi'an returned to comfort Lin'an and carried her away.

• Xu Qi'an visited Dowager Consort Chen and Lin'an, where they begged him to spare Yongxing and let him leave the capital.
• Xu Qi'an accused Dowager Consort Chen of plotting with Xu Pingfeng and explained how the Consort Fu Case had served the Yunzhou rebels.
• Under the Heart Gu's influence, Dowager Consort Chen revealed that Xu Pingfeng had once been her lover and that she had kept contact with him through an agent in Splendid Scenery Palace.
• Xu Qi'an took Lin'an away and told her that Great Feng's survival was tied to his own, but Lin'an remained distant and collapsed in tears after he left.
• An eunuch delivered white silk and poisoned wine to Dowager Consort Chen on Huaiqing's orders, warning that she could choose one if she caused trouble.
• Xu Qi'an returned to Lin'an, carried her in his arms, and told her that her hatred would not make him leave her.

After Huaiqing secured the court’s support to become empress, she sought an auspicious omen to win over the people, while Xu Qi'an discovered Mu Nanzhi’s awakening power causing flowers and grass to grow throughout his room. The chapter ended with Xu Qi'an telling Huaiqing he had an idea for a historic, heaven-sent omen.

• Zhong Li’s ill fortune caused Nightwatchers and prisoners to stumble as they confined Emperor Yongxing and the princes in the Directorate of Astronomy.
• Mu Nanzhi returned to the Pagoda Treasure Tower, where the tower spirit helped regulate the abundant Qi in her body and noted that the Undying Tree’s spiritual essence was awakening.
• Wang Zhenwen learned that Huaiqing would become empress and warned Qian Qingshu and the other officials that she would struggle to secure the throne.
• Xu Qi'an returned to his room, found Mu Nanzhi asleep, and learned from the tower spirit that she had gained abundant Qi and a miraculous awakening power.
• Huaiqing told Xu Qi'an that she needed an auspicious omen for her enthronement, but their initial suggestions failed to satisfy her.
• Flowers and grass suddenly grew throughout Xu Qi'an’s room around Mu Nanzhi, and he messaged Huaiqing that he had an idea for a historic omen.

Ji Yuan and the Yunzhou officials were paraded through the capital as Xu Qi'an announced Huaiqing's support for the throne, while the court prepared for her enthronement. The chapter ended on enthronement day, with Huaiqing's accession poised to test public opinion and the Xu family reacting to the upheaval.

• Nightwatchers dragged Ji Yuan and the Yunzhou officials from the dungeon and paraded them through the streets, where the crowd pelted and cursed them.
• A public notice announced that the emperor would abdicate in favor of Huaiqing, with Xu Qi'an assisting her, provoking mixed reactions among the capital's people.
• Huaiqing's ministers reported that enthronement preparations were complete and discussed how Xu Qi'an's reputation could help win public support.
• On the day of Huaiqing's enthronement, students, townsfolk, and nobles held differing views about a woman becoming emperor.
• At the Xu Residence, Auntie worried about the public reaction and her absent family, while Xu Lingyue defended her eldest brother's plans.

Xu Qi'an reunited with his family, prepared to confront Xu Pingfeng, and witnessed Huaiqing’s enthronement and Mu Nanzhi’s citywide blossoming miracle. The chapter ended with Xu Qi'an realizing the Fate-Disordering Hammer’s true purpose.

• Xu Qi'an returned home, reassured Xu Pingzhi and Xu Lingyue, and said he would go to Qingzhou to face Xu Pingfeng in a fight to the death.
• Xu Qi'an told his family that Xu Yuanshuang and Xu Yuanhuai were confined at the Directorate of Astronomy, while Auntie rejected the idea of welcoming them into the Xu household.
• Huaiqing ascended the throne as emperor and established the Huaiqing era after officials proclaimed her accession edict.
• Mu Nanzhi made flowers bloom throughout the capital, exhausted herself, and later discovered that Xu Qi'an had taken advantage of their recovery ritual to dual cultivate with her.
• Zhao Shou left Cloud Deer Academy in his Confucian regalia and bamboo book case, reciting as he headed toward the capital.
• Xu Qi'an reasoned that the Fate-Disordering Hammer could address Great Feng’s lack of Transcendent fighting strength and realized its true purpose.

Zhong Li used the Fate-Disordering Hammer to open Xu Qi'an's apertures, allowing him to command the Power of All Living Beings. As Ji Xuan learned that Ji Yuan had gone missing, Xu Qi'an announced plans to travel to Qingzhou and challenge Xu Pingfeng, while his messages with Huaiqing puzzled the Heaven and Earth Society.

• Xu Qi'an realized the Fate-Disordering Hammer could let him control the Power of All Living Beings, and Zhong Li repeatedly struck him to open his apertures.
• After experiencing many different lives and fates, Xu Qi'an awakened the Power of All Living Beings on the Star Observation Tower, and the capital's arcanists prostrated themselves before him.
• Ge Wenxuan told Ji Xuan he could not contact Ji Yuan, and Ji Xuan suspected Xu Qi'an was involved and reported the matter to the great general.
• Xu Qi'an told the Earth Book group he planned to investigate the Yunzhou rebels and challenge Xu Pingfeng in Qingzhou.
• Huaiqing invited Xu Qi'an to the palace to receive a surprise, leaving the other Heaven and Earth Society members confused by their exchange.

After Huaiqing announced her accession to the throne, Xu Qi'an and the Heaven and Earth Society planned to use his challenge in Qingzhou to draw Yunzhou's forces away while attacking the Earth Sect's headquarters and killing Heilian. Xu Qi'an revealed to himself that Asuro would be the operation's hidden main force, while Daoist Jinlian learned that the Earth Sect's headquarters was already empty.

• Huaiqing told the Heaven and Earth Society that she had become emperor, and she and Xu Qi'an explained how they had stabilized the capital.
• Daoist Jinlian explained that Huaiqing's unusual purple-gold fortune had led him to give her an Earth Book Fragment, then Li Lingsu proposed attacking the Earth Sect's headquarters to draw Heilian away.
• The Heaven and Earth Society approved a plan to attack Heilian while Xu Qi'an delivered his challenge, with Daoist Jinlian coordinating the operation.
• Xu Qi'an revealed that Asuro would be the operation's hidden main force because Luo Yuheng could not safely fight at full strength before her tribulation.
• Qiu Chanyi told Daoist Jinlian that the Earth Sect's headquarters was empty and its wicked Daoists had moved without leaving a known destination.

Daoist Jinlian learned that the Earth Sect's wicked Daoists had abandoned their headquarters, while Li Lingsu recruited Yang Qianhuan to help fight a Transcendent enemy and told him that Huaiqing had become emperor through Xu Qi'an. The Heaven and Earth Society planned to locate the wicked Daoists and draw Yunzhou's forces into battle, as Qi Guangbo announced that the peace talks had failed and Qingzhou would prepare to attack Yongzhou.

• Qiu Chanyi told Daoist Jinlian that the Earth Sect's wicked Daoists had not come down from their mountain for nearly a month, and Daoist Jinlian realized they had changed their behavior after the Superintendent was sealed.
• Daoist Bailian learned that Qiu Chanyi had reached the Yin Spirit Realm and explained that Daoist Jinlian had developed a habit of possessing orange cats.
• Li Lingsu asked Yang Qianhuan to help with formations during a coming hunt for one of the Transcendents who had attacked the Superintendent, then told him that Xu Qi'an had put Huaiqing on the throne.
• Daoist Jinlian reported that the Earth Sect's headquarters was deserted; Xu Qi'an concluded that the wicked Daoists were likely in Qingzhou, and Huaiqing said Duke Wei's covert agents could help locate them.
• Chu Yuanzhen proposed provoking Yunzhou's army into attacking Yongzhou, while Huaiqing's plan called for Xu Qi'an to occupy Yunzhou's Transcendent experts.
• Qi Guangbo told Qingzhou's officers that the peace negotiations had failed and ordered preparations to attack Yongzhou; Ge Wenxuan reported that Ji Yuan was missing.

The Yunzhou leaders rejected peace and prepared to pressure Yongzhou, while Xu Qi'an arranged for the Heaven and Earth Society to meet near the city. The chapter left Xu Qi'an facing Mu Nanzhi's jealousy after she learned he had sent Luo Yuheng a letter asking for dual cultivation.

• Qi Guangbo told the Yunzhou generals that Huaiqing had taken the throne, then ordered them to march on Yongzhou in three days and demand Ji Yuan's release.
• Xu Pingfeng approved the plan and discussed the failed negotiations and the coming campaign with Bodhisattva Jialuoshu.
• Xu Qi'an gave Sun Xuanji a brocade pouch, then went to Numinous Treasure Temple but withdrew after overhearing Mu Nanzhi tease Luo Yuheng.
• Luo Yuheng received Xu Qi'an's letter asking for dual cultivation, while Mu Nanzhi reacted with jealousy.
• Xu Qi'an learned from the Earth Book Fragment that Earth Sect demonic Daoists controlled Qingzhou's Provincial Surveillance Commission and arranged a Heaven and Earth Society meeting near Yongzhou.
• Mu Nanzhi confronted Xu Qi'an at night, asking why he was not dual cultivating with Luo Yuheng.