Recaps

Wu You warned Hong Lie that Liuzhou’s generous relief, recruitment, and soldiers’ supernatural strength could create lasting loyalty to Chen Qing and threaten Great Jin. He remained wary as Hong Lie began to see that Liuzhou’s arrangements might unsettle the imperial army.

• Wu You told Hong Lie that Liuzhou had 116,853 residents, including around ninety thousand able-bodied men eager to enlist for ten taels a month.
• Wu You argued that generous benefits and improved living conditions could make refugees and soldiers unwilling to return to their old lives, and that soldiers might resent the court if it forced Chen Qing to disband them.
• Wu You pointed out that food distributions had not diminished despite Liuzhou’s growing population, suggesting Chen Qing might be able to sustain the high standard of living.
• Wu You explained that Liuzhou’s ordinary soldiers had gained strength through faith in its door gods and the Battle God of the Tiger Guard Army.
• Wu You warned that Liuzhou’s soldiers were making Hong Lie’s men envious and that Chen Qing’s system could attract military talent and overturn Great Jin.

Wu You feared that Great Jin’s ordinary soldiers would be drawn away by Liuzhou’s promise of power and advancement. After hearing how the gate guards earned strength through hard work and selection, Di Yun and most of his men resolved to seek entry into the Tiger Guard Army, while Old Li asked what Di Yun planned to do.

• Wu You explained that ordinary veterans rarely advanced in Great Jin’s army because bloodline determined who could gain merit and rank.
• Maozi told Di Yun and the Black Dragon Guards that Liuzhou’s gate guards received power through blessings and regular selection tournaments, and that effort could help them rise.
• Maozi said the Tiger Guard Army was expanding and that its second-tier members could carry their power away from the deity.
• After Maozi left, Di Yun declared that he would enter the Tiger Guard Army selection, and most of the soldiers gathered behind him.
• Di Yun challenged Old Li over the limits of their careers in Great Jin, and Old Li finally asked what Di Yun wanted to do.

Wu You allowed Di Yun and Old Li to join the Tiger Guard Army’s recruitment, hoping their enlistment would expose Liuzhou’s limits. Meanwhile, Chen Qing reached an agreement with a primordial worm and led elite soldiers through a passage of living corpses toward the next stage of their campaign.

• Wu You permitted Di Yun and Old Li to enlist in the Tiger Guard Army, and told Hong Lie he wanted to test how many soldiers Liuzhou could support.
• Chen Qing learned that the Black Dragon Guard was joining the Tiger Guard Army and recognized Wu You’s plan to probe the limits of divine blessing power.
• Chen Qing assessed the recruitment limits of Xu Hu and Old Wolf, then spotted a mass of living corpses blocking the river ahead.
• A primordial worm agreed to help Chen Qing invade four Jiangnan prefectures in exchange for protection for her followers and help identifying possessed members of the Shen Family.
• Chen Qing and Ghost Child entered the water, followed by about thirty elite fighters, while black living corpses held the other corpses back.

Chen Qing led his people ashore after crossing a sea of living corpses and planned to make Yangzhou a safe haven, while secretly intending to settle accounts with the monster that had agreed to cooperate with him. In Nanyang, Wang Ye concluded that the Shen Family ancestor had died long ago and warned Sixth Master Shen that the creature behind the dragon-transformation rituals was among his brothers.

• Chen Qing learned from Ghost Child that the black living corpses were powerful retainers, then told his soldiers they would cooperate with the sea creature to protect people before dealing with it later.
• Chen Qing set out with his force for Yangzhou City, aiming to turn it into a safe haven like Liuzhou.
• Yuchi Feihong reported to the woman beneath the sea that Chen Qing had reached Yangzhou, and she discussed the possibility that the Shen Family's ninth son had been possessed.
• Wang Ye showed Sixth Master Shen evidence that the Shen Family ancestor had gathered unusual, far-flung spells because they were requirements of the creature that taught him dragon transformation.
• Wang Ye told Sixth Master Shen that the ancestor had died decades ago and that the monster had reached Nanyang before the eldest brother's death, then warned that it was among Shen's brothers.

Wang Ye secretly exchanged information about the Shen Family with Chen Qing, then left Sixth Master Shen’s residence with Shen Yimiao to discuss the clan’s divisions and the mystery surrounding Second Master Shen’s death. The conversation ended when Sixth Master Shen appeared to reveal that he had already modified Wang Ye, leaving him unable to move or speak.

• Wang Ye used his hidden Star Shifting spell to share information with Chen Qing while recording events in his notebook.
• Wang Ye canceled his spells and answered a late-night visit from Shen Yimiao, who asked him to leave Sixth Master Shen’s residence for a conversation.
• Wang Ye pushed Shen Yimiao through Nanyang City, where Shen Yimiao explained how the Shen Family’s trading houses kept the city prosperous despite the blockade.
• Shen Yimiao accused Fifth and Sixth of caring only about themselves and said the ancestor had made arrangements in Laojiu to save the Shen Family.
• Shen Yimiao warned Wang Ye that Sixth Master Shen would not let him leave and revealed that Sixth possessed the Heavenly Craft Marvelous Art.
• Wang Ye suddenly found himself unable to move or speak as Sixth Master Shen’s voice came from behind him.

Wang Ye was taken under Shen Yixin’s control and brought into a confrontation with Shen Yimiao, who revealed the Shen Family’s secrets and demanded to leave Nanyang to investigate Second Brother’s death. The chapter ended with Shen Yixin threatening to kill Wang Ye through three hidden puppet mechanisms, exposing the vast gap between Wang Ye and the greatest sorcerers.

• Shen Yixin used his craftsmanship to control Wang Ye’s body and brought him to meet Shen Yimiao.
• Shen Yimiao confronted Shen Yixin about his fear, revealed Second Brother’s plan to protect Laojiu, and suspected someone had followed them and killed Second Brother.
• Shen Yimiao explained that the Nanyang spell formation came from the Dragon Palace and that Shen Yixin could use it to keep the Shen Family from leaving the city.
• Shen Yimiao and Eighth Master demanded that Shen Yixin let them leave to investigate Second Brother’s death, but Shen Yixin refused and began making Wang Ye’s body crack apart.
• Shen Yixin revealed that three different puppets had planted separate mechanisms in Wang Ye, and Shen Yimiao would have to destroy all three at once to save him.

Shen Laosan froze Shen Laoliu and took Wang Ye to Liuzhou using Flying Star, while Chen Qing led fighters into Chishui County to clear out living corpses and protect survivors. After hearing villagers describe their losses and hunger, Chen Qing promised that Chishui County would be safe.

• Shen Laosan revealed that he had planted Mystic water on Wang Ye at the banquet, allowing him to freeze Shen Laoliu when the latter prepared to attack.
• Shen Laosan urged Wang Ye to activate Flying Star and travel to Liuzhou, and Wang Ye noticed Chen Qing's late message saying they had his Flying Star.
• Chen Qing led his fighters to Chishui County, explaining that they would secure the countryside instead of attacking the overwhelmed Yangzhou City.
• Chen Qing's men entered Chishui County and found corpses and signs of the living corpses' attack before preparing to clear the buildings.
• Villagers from Hong Village told Chen Qing they had come to scavenge for food and described losing family members to the monsters.
• Chen Qing apologized for arriving late and promised the villagers that Chishui County was safe.

Chen Qing secured Chishui County and planned to spread his forces and faith across Jiangnan while monitoring the Shen Family. In Liuzhou, the Tiger Guard Army’s recruitment stirred martial enthusiasm and worried scholars until Zhou Haitao announced a new academy for them.

• Chen Qing watched villagers gain confidence and strength while defending Chishui County, and considered how to expand his influence before the court or Nine Heavens Mirror Valley reacted.
• Chen Qing judged that the Shen Family was the most troublesome threat to his plans, despite expecting the Duke of Qin to act cautiously.
• The Tiger Guard Army held open recruitment selections in Liuzhou, where displays of archery, fighting, and strength drew enthusiastic crowds.
• Scholars and masters worried that Liuzhou’s growing martial culture would undermine literary learning, and Master Liu’s grandson admitted he wanted to enlist.
• Zhou Haitao urged the masters to attend the academy and revealed that the prefect planned to open a Yin-Yang Academy belonging to Jiangnan.

Chen Qing proposed establishing a Liuzhou Yin-Yang Academy to train spellcasters, especially in spell formations, while the city remained blockaded. After naming it Tsinghua Academy and promising superior spell arts inheritances for its best students, he left the masters eager to support the plan, while privately intending to secure powerful formation-master and runemaster techniques from the Dragon Palace.

• The masters doubted Zhou Haitao's claim that Liuzhou could establish a Yin-Yang Academy because spellcaster clans controlled admissions and training resources.
• Chen Qing explained that Liuzhou needed more spellcasters and a defensive formation, and argued that provincial graduates and other rescued students could provide potential recruits.
• The masters questioned how Liuzhou could train spellcasters without the capital academy's extensive texts and tools, while Chen Ying bristled at being treated as the city's only female spellcaster.
• Chen Qing proposed focusing the academy on spell formations, using Chen Ying's teaching materials and admitting only students suited to the discipline.
• Chen Qing named the institution Tsinghua Academy, outlined its foundation division and four advanced divisions, and promised superior inheritances for students with strong aptitude.
• The masters grew enthusiastic about Chen Qing's promise, while he privately planned to use the Dragon Palace's formation-master and runemaster inheritances to strengthen Liuzhou's academy.

Chen Qing established Liuzhou Tsinghua Academy and explained how its students could train for spellcasting and serve the newly founded Underworld. The gathering ended with the unexpected arrival of the missing Master Yang, whom Chen Qing recognized as the Mr. Five Poisons A Li had mentioned.

• Master Wei and the other scholars gathered to discuss the academy, and Master Wei asked whether anyone had seen Master Yang, who had been missing for ten days.
• Chen Qing introduced Wei Gongcheng as the City God and explained that the Underworld needed learned living people to fill official positions, offering underworld merit and potentially everlasting underworld lifespans in return.
• Chen Qing outlined the academy's focus on arithmetic and the investigation of things alongside classical studies, and he appointed Master Wei dean of arithmetic.
• Chen Qing announced Liuzhou Tsinghua Academy's opening, with government-funded foundational classes for students who could recite the Thousand Character Classic and Hundred Family Surnames, followed by an examination to select spellcasting apprentices.
• Master Yang arrived late, and Chen Qing greeted him, recognizing him as the Mr. Five Poisons A Li had mentioned.

Chen Qing's clone confronted Master Yang about a murder and discovered that Mr. Five Poisons had possessed him, while a mysterious figure resembling Chen Qing appeared and challenged him. Back in Chishui County, Chen Qing sensed that his Liuzhou clone had vanished and feared that something had overcome its safeguards.

• Chen Qing questioned Master Yang about his disappearance and the murder, and Master Yang claimed he had seen Chen Qing near the victim.
• Chen Qing called Master Yang Mr. Five Poisons, prompting the demon to reveal himself and accuse Chen Qing of taking over the King of Qin's reincarnated body.
• A gigantic hand forced a familiar departing soul back into Master Yang, and Master Yang regained his senses without remembering what had happened.
• As Chen Qing's clone faded, he ordered Wei Gongcheng to warn the returning Chen Qing not to mention A Li's name around Master Yang, to remember that Mr. Shen Er was not killed by anyone, and to beware an enemy among their own.
• Another figure resembling Chen Qing appeared and said he understood Chen Qing best, and the two agreed to test each other.
• Three days after settling in Chishui County, Chen Qing sensed that his Liuzhou clone had disappeared despite its prepared escape route to Great Azure Mountain.

Chen Qing offered his fighters incentives to stay in Chishui County and build up the Tiger Guard Army, then set out for Liuzhou to investigate his clone’s disappearance. In Nine Heavens Mirror Valley, he learned that the court had doubled the troops sealing off Jiangnan, leaving him wondering why the emperor had sent such a force.

• Chen Qing told the fighters that those who stayed in Chishui County would receive doubled pay and Battle God blessings, and could earn the chance to command the Tiger Guard Army.
• Chen Qing decided to return to Liuzhou that night so he could investigate his clone’s disappearance and recruit more fighters for Yangzhou City.
• Chen Qing summoned a living corpse and followed it through Nine Heavens Mirror Valley to meet the woman who had helped him enter Yangzhou.
• The woman asked Chen Qing to help eliminate the Eighth’s followers in Qushui County and Siyun County, and warned him that human old monsters were hidden in the Yin-Yang Road.
• The woman told Chen Qing that the imperial court had doubled the soldiers sealing off Jiangnan, and Chen Qing wondered whether the emperor had sent the imperial guards.

The crown prince accepted command of the Golden Dragon Guard and sought counsel from the Duke of Qin, who revealed a hidden plan involving the Shen Family and sent Hei Yun toward West Sea City. After returning to Liuzhou, Chen Qing pieced together clues about Master Yang and realized Second Master Shen was using Shen Laojiu as a vessel for possession.

• The crown prince accepted the emperor’s decree to command the Golden Dragon Guard in Jiangnan, while the Duke of Qin warned him that the emperor had used his sons mercilessly before.
• The crown prince told the Duke of Qin he feared the appointment echoed the past, and the Duke promised to protect him as the King of Qin had instructed.
• After the crown prince left, the Duke of Qin spoke with Hei Yun, who had survived through a substitute; they discussed an ancient power and Hei Yun departed for West Sea City.
• Chen Qing returned to Liuzhou after waiting two days to pass the blockade, and Wei Gongcheng told him what his avatar had communicated before disappearing.
• Chen Qing inferred that a taboo spell formula on Master Yang would kill anyone who directly uncovered his secrets, and concluded that the strange force in the Underworld was Second Master Shen’s ghost.
• Chen Qing deduced that Second Master Shen was possessing Shen Laojiu’s corpse-infected body and went with Wei Gongcheng to meet him.

Chen Qing confronted Shen Yiyun, who had possessed Shen Laojiu’s body, and learned how she had exploited the Underworld and planned to control the monsters in Nine Heavens Mirror Valley. Their discussion turned to the Shen siblings’ strength and Chen Qing’s promise to deliver Shen Laosan within three days, leaving Shen Yiyun shocked.

• Chen Qing and Wei Gongcheng met Shen Yiyun in an abandoned restaurant, where she revealed herself inside Shen Laojiu’s body while his soul remained bound nearby.
• Shen Yiyun explained that she possessed Laojiu after Chen Qing established Liuzhou’s Underworld, which allowed her to remain a disembodied soul and wield the Ghost King’s Arm without restraint.
• Chen Qing deduced Shen Yiyun’s plans involving Laojiu, the monsters, and Nine Heavens Mirror Valley, then agreed to cooperate with her.
• Shen Yiyun warned Chen Qing that Shen Laoba’s Origin Spell made him an exceptionally powerful fighter and urged him not to bring Shen Laosan and Shen Laoba into Liuzhou.
• Chen Qing said he had to deliver Shen Laosan within three days to fulfill an agreement, shocking Shen Yiyun.

Chen Qing formed a spell-bound pact with Shen Yiyun to secure her help against Shen Laoba, promising to help her capture an ancient insect within ten days. He prepared a plan to lure Shen Laoba and Shen Laosan toward Great Azure Mountain, while Wang Ye and the two Shen brothers remained trapped outside Liuzhou on the Yin-Yang Road.

• Chen Qing persuaded Shen Yiyun to help capture Shen Laosan in exchange for helping her capture an ancient insect, and they sealed their agreement with a spell-bound pact.
• Chen Qing told Murong Yunji that Shen Yiyun was the only Shen family member he knew to be uninfected and explained that he needed her help against Shen Laoba.
• Chen Qing asked Murong Yunji to rescue Wang Ye after he broke through the Yin-Yang Road and lure his pursuers toward Great Azure Mountain, where Shen Laosan's Mysterious Water technique could create an opening.
• Outside Liuzhou, Wang Ye explained to Shen Laosan that the city's barrier had blocked his Flying Star passage and that they needed Chen Qing's help to get inside.
• Wang Ye worried that Chen Qing's plan might fail because Shen Laoba had effortlessly guided them through the evil ghosts surrounding Liuzhou.

Wu You suspected Chen Qing had arranged a meeting to keep him away from some hidden plan, so he and Hong Lie went to investigate. As Wang Ye and his companions arrived in Liuzhou, Murong Yunji ambushed Shen Yimiao to help Wang Ye escape, but Wu You and Hong Lie appeared and Shen Yimiao realized he had been set up.

• Hong Lie told Wu You that Liuzhou's contests had stirred martial enthusiasm among the people, while Wu You worried that bloodline soldiers were becoming complacent and ordinary soldiers had little incentive to serve.
• After learning Chen Qing had invited them for drinks that evening, Wu You reasoned the invitation was meant to keep them occupied and left with Hong Lie to investigate.
• Murong Yunji and Chen Qing watched Wu You head toward the busy district, where Wang Ye and his companions arrived through the opened passage to the Yin-Yang Road.
• Shen Yimiao and Eighth Master Shen were impressed by Liuzhou's lively streets and healthy residents, but Murong Yunji suddenly attacked Shen Yimiao with Divine Wind.
• Laoba blocked Murong Yunji's strike with Limitless Yin-Yang Positive Pole, allowing her to retreat with the mystic ice she had removed from Wang Ye and enabling Wang Ye to escape.
• Shen Yimiao tried to pursue Wang Ye, but stopped when Wu You and Hong Lie appeared; Wu You's presence made him realize he had been set up.

Shen Yimiao pursued Wang Ye and Murong Yunji to Great Azure Mountain, where Chen Qing and Chen Ying sheltered behind the Azure Dragon Barrier. After Shen Yimiao’s water attacks failed to break it, Chen Qing stepped outside to face him and called for an unseen senior to act.

• Wu You recognized that Chen Qing had led him into a setup, so he and Hong Lie avoided intervening as Shen Yimiao pursued Wang Ye and Murong Yunji.
• Shen Yimiao and Shen Laoba reached Great Azure Mountain and decided they had to break the Azure Dragon Barrier rather than threaten Liuzhou’s citizens.
• Shen Yimiao sent a flood of water against the barrier, and Chen Ying strained to maintain it while Chen Qing and Wang Ye watched from inside.
• Shen Yimiao rose from his wheelchair and compressed the water into deadly droplets, but the barrier continued to hold.
• Chen Qing stepped outside the barrier, faced Shen Yimiao, and called on a hidden senior to act.

Chen Qing’s scheme ended with Shen Yimiao possessed by an ancient insect, while Shen Yiyun warned Chen Qing about the danger and demanded he honor their agreement. Elsewhere, the crown prince discovered that the Princess Royal was commanding the court’s reinforcements, and she said she had come to deal with the Duke of Qin.

• Shen Yimiao was trapped by the ancient insect, while Wang Ye and Shen Lao'er sealed Shen Laoba’s power and Wang Ye teleported him away.
• The insect possessed Shen Yimiao and devoured his soul; Chen Qing received the soul as payment and demanded that she withdraw from Liuzhou.
• Shen Lao'er warned Chen Qing that the possessed Master Shen San would become dangerous, and Chen Qing promised that Master Shen San would become the lord of Nanyang's Underworld if their plans succeeded.
• The crown prince and Fei Jun arrived at the reinforcements’ camp and learned that the Princess Royal was leading the army; Fei Jun went to see his father in the command tent.
• The Princess Royal told the crown prince that she had come because she was the only person in Great Jin capable of dealing with the Duke of Qin.

The eldest princess revealed that the crown prince’s memories of being reborn had been fabricated to draw out Lu Ming, and that she had arranged for Thousand-Faced Fox to enter the capital. The crown prince realized she had killed his imperial mother, and demanded to know why.

• The eldest princess exposed the crown prince’s carefully concealed behavior and forced his Golden Crow Bloodline back into him with a touch.
• She severed the crown prince’s arm before he could use the mark connecting him to Lu Ming, then revealed that Lu Ming had bound himself to the prince because he believed him to be a reincarnator.
• The eldest princess explained that reincarnators had appeared twice in history and that she had deliberately manufactured one by altering a child’s memories to attract Lu Ming.
• The crown prince realized the eldest princess had arranged for Thousand-Faced Fox to enter the capital and had killed his imperial mother.
• The crown prince asked the eldest princess why she had done it.

The eldest princess revealed why she had plotted against the crown prince and exposed the schemes of his father, Lu Ming, and Liu Yu, leaving him devastated by the truth about his identity and bloodline. In Liuzhou’s Underworld, Chen Qing discussed the uncertain odds of taking control of Nanyang, hinting that an unknown worst-case scenario could leave him only a ten percent chance.

• The eldest princess told the crown prince that she and A Li had planted memories in him to lure the Duke of Qin into their trap, and she accused his father, Lu Ming, and Liu Yu of pursuing selfish plans.
• The eldest princess explained that the emperor had transplanted his blood essence into the crown prince to stabilize his Golden Crow bloodline and suggested he hoped to use A Li’s unborn child for his immortality experiments.
• The crown prince realized that his reincarnator identity and bloodline were false, then laughed in despair as he reconsidered his father’s past kindness.
• Wei Gongcheng showed Shen Yimiao the growing Liuzhou Underworld, and Shen Laosan learned that he might become lord of Nanyang’s future Underworld.
• Wei Gongcheng estimated Chen Qing had an eighty percent chance of taking Nanyang if three newer branches held the escaped ancient insects, but only forty percent if the fourth or seventh branch was involved.
• Chen Qing arrived and warned Shen Laosan that the worst-case scenario would leave him with only a ten percent chance.

Chen Qing left Xu Hu in charge of raising troops and rescue operations while he traveled toward Nanyang with Second Master Shen and Ghost Child. After they emerged from the formation at a harbor, Second Master Shen realized Chen Qing could use its exits to reach other prefectures, revealing the scale of his ambitions.

• Chen Qing ordered Xu Hu to handle the Liuzhou troops and county rescues, and to reach yellow rank, first grade within three months.
• Chen Qing explained that the court was advancing and a decisive battle could come within six months, so he needed enough fighters to protect his forces and join the campaign.
• Aboard the warship, Chen Qing refused to take Eighth Master Shen back, reasoning that he could remain safe on the Yin-Yang Road if he kept a low profile.
• Chen Qing told Second Master Shen that Eighth Master Shen's Yin-Yang Ultimate Art was suited to formation mastery, then led her and Ghost Child through an exit in the formation.
• Chen Qing, Second Master Shen, and Ghost Child emerged at a harbor in Nanyang, where Second Master Shen inferred that Chen Qing could reach other prefectures through the exits.

Shen Yifeng kept the Shen Family’s costly market-support efforts going while investigating the threat of a monster among the family. Chen Qing arrived at Nanyang without an identity token, and Sixth Master Shen wondered whether he had brought news of Wang Ye and Third Brother.

• Shen Yifeng ordered the merchant association to keep buying goods despite the mounting expense of the river blockade.
• Laoshi'er approached Shen Yifeng for an alliance against the suspected monster, and Shen Yifeng detected the other two young branch heads hiding nearby.
• The three young branch heads followed Shen Yifeng to meet Chen Qing, who had arrived at the southern gate with a child.
• Hong Rui asked Chen Qing for proof of identity, and Chen Qing explained that Sixth Master Shen had taken his token when Vice Minister Wang visited.
• Sixth Master Shen studied Chen Qing and wondered whether Wang Ye had taken Third Brother to Liuzhou and what the prefect was planning.

Chen Qing entered Nanyang City and confronted the Shen Family over the monster hidden among them. After the family challenged his innocence, he proved himself by sending his soul out of his body and proposed testing everyone in turn.

• Chen Qing entered Nanyang City after Shen Yixin deactivated the remaining formations at its gates.
• At a banquet, Shen Yichen demanded to know what had happened to Shen Laosan, Shen Laoba, and Shen Lao'er.
• Chen Qing revealed that Shen Lao'er had taken control of Shen Laojiu before Shen Laosan and Shen Laoba drove her into the river mist.
• Chen Qing said the monster was among the Shen Family members present, and the family challenged his account and demanded proof that he was clean.
• Chen Qing sent his soul out of his body and proposed that the Shen Family members do the same to identify the monster.

Chen Qing persuaded the Shen Family to test for parasitized members by exposing their souls one at a time, with Ghost Child and Chen Qing guarding them. Shen Yifeng began the test, and the chapter ended as a sudden scream interrupted it.

• Chen Qing proposed that the Shen Family members expose their souls in turn while he protected them, and Ghost Child unleashed his blood qi to prove he could help guard them.
• Shen Yixin agreed to the test, and Shen Laoqi volunteered to go first despite his brothers' suspicions.
• Chen Qing used prepared dragon crystal stones to activate formations around the tavern, making the Shen Family more wary of his abilities.
• The Shen Family members paired off or took separate positions, and Shen Yixin reassured Laoshi'er by standing beside him.
• Shen Yifeng began projecting his soul under Chen Qing's protection, but a shrill scream suddenly rang out.

Shen Yinian received a court order to provide the Crown Prince’s army with a defense map, while secretly revealing that he was a living corpse enduring the sun with a device made by Laoliu. Elsewhere, Laoliu attacked and killed Laoshi'er, exposing himself and making Chen Qing suspect Shen Yinian was part of a larger conspiracy.

• The Duke of Qin and Shen Yinian discussed concentrating troops in Nanming Prefecture while keeping forces ready for the West Sea.
• Shen Yinian read a confidential order naming the Crown Prince as army leader with General Hong assisting, then declined to send the current defense map.
• In his tent, Shen Yinian revealed his damaged black hand and told the silver-armored officer that Laoliu’s sun-shielding membrane helped him endure daylight.
• As Laoqi’s soul left his body, Laoliu seized Laoshi'er and ground him to death inside his puppet body.
• Chen Qing confronted Sixth Master Shen and realized Shen Yinian might also be involved, raising fears that living corpses had infiltrated Great Jin’s court and military.