Chapter Summaries

Zhou Wuji accompanied the Fire Phoenix Army into Dream Marsh, treating its wounded and witnessing how morale strengthened the army’s power of Qi and Blood. After Xie Shidao led the main force into the dangerous Cangwu Tree Palace, Zhou Wuji stayed behind to guard the wounded and, on the third night, detected powerful creatures near the camp.

• Zhou Wuji observed that the Fire Phoenix Army’s morale had strengthened its gathered power of Qi and Blood despite the secret realm’s suppression.
• As casualties mounted, Xie Shidao decided to leave the wounded and Zhou Wuji’s cultivators behind with two hundred-man companies, and True Person Zhihua agreed.
• True Person Zhihua explained that the Cangwu Ancient Tree’s law domain could drain the army’s strength, warned Zhou Wuji to retreat if the battle went badly, and said she had her own means of escape.
• After the army departed, Xie Yunjing and Wang Xing helped establish a fortified camp while Zhou Wuji organized the cultivators and kept watch.
• On the third night after the army entered the Cangwu Tree Palace, Zhou Wuji detected clusters of spiritual light from powerful living creatures near the camp.

Zhou Wuji detected a rebel cavalry raid and secretly prepared the camp’s defenders to meet it. The attackers broke through the fence under Xie Yunfeng’s command, and the chapter ended with the two sides locked in a dangerous battle.

• Zhou Wuji spotted a large force of armed riders on black deer approaching the camp and warned Yang Tie Ying, Xie Yunjing, and Wang Xing to prepare quietly.
• Xie Yunjing organized the Fire Phoenix Army into battle formation and positioned archers and crossbowmen to ambush the approaching riders.
• Zhou Wuji announced the riders’ arrival, and the defenders waited until the black deer smashed through the camp’s fence.
• Zhou Wuji cast the Fire Bell Incantation to illuminate the charge, and Xie Yunjing ordered the soldiers to fire crossbows into the leading riders.
• Xie Yunfeng revealed himself as the leader of the rebels, threatened anyone who retreated, and urged the surviving cavalry to keep charging.

The rebels’ black deer broke through the Fire Phoenix Army’s formation, while Xie Sanqiang’s strength forced Xie Yunjing and Wang Xing into a desperate fight. Zhou Wuji entered the battle to help Wang Xing and killed Xie Sanqiang with his sword, as Xie Yunfeng pressed his attack on Xie Yunjing.

• The rebels charged the Fire Phoenix Army on black deer, broke through the shield line, and drove Xie Yunjing to confront Xie Sanqiang.
• Wang Xing killed two black deer and fought to defend the formation, while Xie Sanqiang swept aside the shield bearers and resisted Xie Yunjing and Wang Xing together.
• Zhou Wuji told Yang Tie Ying, Xie Wujin, and the others to retreat into groups of seven, then killed a rebel who attacked him inside the camp.
• Xie Yunfeng charged into the camp to attack Xie Yunjing, and Xie Sanqiang rallied and wounded a soldier as Wang Xing struggled against him.
• Zhou Wuji intervened when Xie Sanqiang threatened Wang Xing, seized the rebel’s spear, and cut him into three pieces with the Dusk Snow Sword.

Zhou Wuji upgraded the Heavenly Puppet Technique, then helped turn the battle by killing the Black Deer King and cutting down most of the rebel riders. Xie Yunfeng fled, but Zhou Wuji urged Xie Yunjing and Wang Xing to keep pursuing him, leaving them facing a potentially deadly fight.

• After Xie Sanqiang died, Xie Yunfeng ordered the Black Deer King to send the black deer rampaging through the camp.
• Zhou Wuji spent Xie Sanqiang's fate weight to raise the Heavenly Puppet Technique to minor accomplishment and strengthened his Heavenly Puppet.
• Zhou Wuji killed charging rebels and cut down the Black Deer King with a single strike as it threatened the lower academy cultivators.
• Zhou Wuji slaughtered most of the rebel riders, and the remaining rebels fled as Xie Yunfeng realized the battle was lost.
• Xie Yunfeng escaped while Xie Yunjing and Wang Xing hesitated to pursue, so Zhou Wuji urged them to keep chasing him for the sake of the soldiers watching.

Zhou Wuji helped Xie Yunjing and Wang Xing fight Xie Yunfeng by restoring their strength and using Yin Thunder to keep him from escaping across a pool. After Xie Yunfeng unleashed a desperate secret technique, Zhou Wuji fought him directly and killed him with the White Rainbow Sword.

• Zhou Wuji pursued Xie Yunfeng to a large pool with Xie Yunjing and Wang Xing, then restored the two commanders' strength with the Rejuvenation Technique so they could attack together.
• Xie Yunfeng swallowed Cangwu Wood Essence to restore his strength and tried to escape across the water, but Zhou Wuji struck him with Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder and the others surrounded him.
• As the fight moved into deeper water, Zhou Wuji restored Xie Yunjing and Wang Xing again and joined the battle by walking across the surface with the Tianji Step.
• Xie Yunfeng burned his Essence Blood with the Crimson Yang Blood Baleful Intent Transformation and used a thunderous shout to wound Wang Xing and stagger Xie Yunjing, but Zhou Wuji resisted the attack.
• Zhou Wuji pursued Xie Yunfeng across the water and fought him with the White Rainbow Sword; after a dazzling exchange of sword light, Xie Yunfeng bled from his wounds and fell into the water.

After Xie Yunfeng’s death, Zhou Wuji recovered from the battle and perfected the Army-Breaking Sword, strengthening his body and True Qi foundation. He watched the confrontation at the Cangwu Tree Palace through Big Dipper as Eyes, where True Person Zhihua used a jade dipper’s starlight to capture the Lord of Yunmeng after the army’s fight turned dire.

• Zhou Wuji confirmed Xie Yunfeng was dead, brought his body back to camp, and treated the wounded through the night.
• Zhou Wuji perfected the Army-Breaking Sword and used the origin mystic essence of nineteen black deer to reshape his body and acupoint foundation.
• Zhou Wuji observed the Cangwu Tree Palace and saw the Crimson Phoenix Army battling monsters while True Person Zhihua, Xie Shidao, and the Lord of Yunmeng faced off.
• The Lord of Yunmeng unleashed widespread lightning that shattered Xie Shidao’s protective Gang Qi and dispersed the army’s gathered vital essence.
• True Person Zhihua overturned a jade dipper, and its starlight dispelled the lightning and swallowed the Lord of Yunmeng in a vast net.

Zhou Wuji recovered from observing the battle between the Lord of Yunmeng and True Person Zhihua, perfected his Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Divine Incantation, and trained Yang Tie Ying while awaiting the Fire Phoenix Army’s return. True Person Zhihua later revealed that the Cangwu Ancient Tree’s tree heart remained undiscovered, and Zhou Wuji suspected he had seen it during the battle.

• Zhou Wuji healed the damage to his consciousness, concluded that True Person Zhihua and Xie Shidao had won, and realized the Cangwu Ancient Tree’s green core might be its tree heart.
• Zhou Wuji used an Origin Profound Spirit to perfect the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Divine Incantation and discovered it could form a powerful Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Hand.
• Zhou Wuji guided Yang Tie Ying’s cultivation with medicinal soup made from the Black Deer King’s penis, helping him grow stronger and approach Transforming Force.
• The Fire Phoenix Army returned four days after Xie Yunfeng’s night raid with just over twenty-one hundred soldiers, while Xie Lingyun had advanced to the fourth rank.
• Zhou Wuji arranged a tent for the weary True Person Zhihua and waited nearby until she emerged the next morning.
• True Person Zhihua told Zhou Wuji that the Lord of Yunmeng had been slain and the Cangwu Ancient Tree’s foundations severed, but its valuable tree heart had not been found.

After the Fire Phoenix Army defeated the Lord of Yunmeng, Zhou Wuji learned why the Northern Pole Sect supported the Xie Household and received praise and valuable rewards for his service. Back in Yunze City, he grew close to Xie Lingyun, who invited him to celebrate the New Year at Myriad Joy Tower.

• True Person Zhihua explained that the Northern Pole Sect supported the Xie Household to strengthen their ties and demonstrate the sect’s strength, then warned Zhou Wuji about Dream Marsh and urged him to advance his cultivation.
• After the Fire Phoenix Army rested and returned to Yunze City, Zhou Wuji and Xie Lingyun became close friends during the journey.
• The people of Yunze City cheered the victorious Fire Phoenix Army as it entered beneath its banners.
• Abbot Zhi'en praised Zhou Wuji and promised to teach him the Flying Star Armored Horse Technique, while Xie Shidao donated money to the Lower Court and gave Zhou Wuji valuable gifts.
• At New Year, Zhou Wuji joined the Northern Pole Sect’s blessing ceremony, and Xie Lingyun invited him to spend the following evening at Myriad Joy Tower.

Xie Lingyun brought Zhou Wuji to Myriad Joy Tower for a New Year’s banquet, where they watched the Hundred Flowers Pavilion perform and were joined by Peach Blossom and Pear Blossom. Xiao Yun identified Zhou Wuji as the Xiaoxiang Sword Lord and recorded his meeting with Xie Lingyun as possible evidence of ties between the Northern Pole Sect and the Fire Phoenix Army.

• Xie Lingyun welcomed Zhou Wuji to Myriad Joy Tower and showed him the crowded restaurant and its performances.
• Zhou Wuji watched the Hundred Flowers Pavilion dance and noticed that several of its performers were powerful martial artists.
• Xie Lingyun invited Peach Blossom and Pear Blossom to drink with them, seating Peach Blossom beside himself and Pear Blossom beside Zhou Wuji.
• Xiao Yun asked the manager about Zhou Wuji and concluded that he was the Xiaoxiang Sword Lord.
• Xiao Yun recorded Xie Lingyun and Zhou Wuji’s meeting and connected it to Zhihua and Xie Shidao’s alliance against the Lord of Yunmeng.

Zhou Wuji spent several days drinking with Xie Lingyun and the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, impressing Peach Blossom and Pear Blossom with his poems while Xiao Yun recorded her agents’ assessments. After leaving Yunze City, he tested his Flying Star Armored Horse Technique, and True Person Zhihua offered to take him to the Cangwu Tree Palace to try his luck.

• At a banquet, Zhou Wuji recited poems for Pear Blossom and Peach Blossom, and Xie Lingyun enjoyed their lively company.
• Xie Shidao warned Xie Lingyun not to get too involved with the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, then urged him to build a good friendship with Zhou Wuji.
• Xiao Yun questioned Peach Blossom and Pear Blossom and recorded their impressions of Xie Lingyun and Zhou Wuji, including Zhou Wuji’s literary talent and skill at charming women.
• Xie Lingyun brought Zhou Wuji to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion for several days before Zhou Wuji left Yunze City under cover of night.
• Zhou Wuji summoned a white horse with the Flying Star Armored Horse Technique and considered visiting Dream Marsh before returning to the lower court.
• True Person Zhihua praised Zhou Wuji’s progress in Law Techniques and offered to take him to the Cangwu Tree Palace to try his luck.

Zhou Wuji and True Person Zhihua traveled through Dream Marsh to the Cangwu Tree Palace, where Zhou Wuji used the Northern Emperor’s blessing to locate the hidden Cangwu tree heart. When they found it buried deep beneath the roots, Zhou Wuji offered to use an unorthodox treasure to retrieve it, and True Person Zhihua told him to proceed as long as he kept righteous thoughts in his heart.

• Zhou Wuji and True Person Zhihua traveled through Yunze and rested near the Cangwu Tree Palace until nightfall.
• Zhou Wuji and True Person Zhihua entered the forest, where she protected them from monsters as they approached the Cangwu Ancient Tree.
• Zhou Wuji performed a ritual and used his marked spiritual intent to locate the Cangwu tree heart beneath the forest.
• Zhou Wuji told True Person Zhihua that the tree heart lay too deep to dig out and offered to use an unorthodox treasure to reach it.
• True Person Zhihua told Zhou Wuji to use whatever methods he had, provided he kept righteous thoughts in his heart.

Zhou Wuji used the Heavenly Puppet to help True Person Zhihua seek the Cangwu Ancient Tree’s heart while probing her suspicions about the Northern Emperor’s Book of Heavenly Punishment. True Person Zhihua explained the sect’s history, trusted him with the Tianxuan Sword, and watched him master its basics as they waited for the earth dragon to return.

• Zhou Wuji reasoned that obtaining the tree heart could strengthen his friendship with True Person Zhihua and decided to reveal the Heavenly Puppet to her.
• Zhou Wuji showed True Person Zhihua the Heavenly Puppet and offered to use it to control an earth dragon; she praised his resourcefulness and warned him to be discreet.
• True Person Zhihua told Zhou Wuji that the sect suspected he had the Northern Emperor’s Book of Heavenly Punishment, but she had opposed seizing him and explained how the book had been lost with True Lord Mingjing.
• True Person Zhihua pulled a fifth-rank earth dragon from the soil, and Zhou Wuji used the Heavenly Puppet Spirit Pulling Technique to order it to retrieve the tree heart.
• While the earth dragon burrowed, Zhou Wuji killed demons and ghosts until True Person Zhihua taught him the Tianxuan Sword and explained its defensive and concealing techniques.
• Zhou Wuji used origin profound spirit to raise the Tianxuan Sword to minor attainment in a day, convincing True Person Zhihua of his extraordinary talent.

While waiting in the Cangwu Tree Palace, Zhou Wuji advanced his swordsmanship under True Person Zhihua’s guidance and strengthened their friendship by sharing a passage from Zhuangzi’s Free and Easy Wandering. The earth dragon finally returned with the tree heart, leaving Zhou Wuji pleased that his underground mission had succeeded.

• Zhou Wuji spent fate weights to raise the Tianxuan Sword to major accomplishment and blended its techniques with his other sword arts.
• True Person Zhihua praised Zhou Wuji’s sword talent and told him that reaching fourth rank and standing above his peers in Jingyang could make him a candidate to become the sect leader’s true disciple.
• True Person Zhihua described the formidable young cultivators in Jingyang, and Zhou Wuji declared that he welcomed the chance to compete with them.
• Zhou Wuji recited and copied a passage from Zhuangzi’s Free and Easy Wandering, impressing True Person Zhihua and shifting her view of him toward that of a friend and peer.
• On the thirty-seventh day, the earth dragon returned and spat out a fist-sized green pearl, delighting Zhou Wuji.

Zhou Wuji returned from Dream Marsh with the Cangwu Ancient Tree’s heart and received ten beads of Tree Heart Jade Liquid from True Person Zhihua. After reuniting with Yang Tie Ying and Wuming at Cloud Marsh Lower Court, he consumed one bead and underwent a profound physical and spiritual cleansing, then considered who should receive the remaining nine.

• Zhou Wuji gave the tree heart to True Person Zhihua, who divided its jade liquid among them and promised to have its central crystal refined into a Law Treasure for him.
• True Person Zhihua warned Zhou Wuji to keep the jade liquid secret because its life-extending power would attract dangerous attention.
• Zhou Wuji returned to Cloud Marsh Lower Court, reunited with Yang Tie Ying and Wuming, and visited the abbot, the hall master, and Daoist Yizhen.
• Zhou Wuji swallowed a bead of jade liquid and used the Mind Mirror to observe it cleanse and strengthen his body, consciousness, and upper Dantian acupoints.
• Zhou Wuji found that his lifespan had risen by fifty years and his Divine Sense and body had each reached seven hundred and twenty, then wondered who should receive the nine remaining beads.

Zhou Wuji chose people to receive his nine drops of jade liquid and gave them to Wuming and Daoist Yizhen, whose cultivation and vitality improved dramatically. As he prepared for his journey to the upper court, Daoist Yizhen warned him about powerful figures there, and an envoy from the Heavenly Master's Manor arrived.

• Zhou Wuji selected Wuming, his disciple, Daoist Yizhen, Zhiyuan, Wuzheng, Xie Lingyun, Wuleng, and Li Ruyi as recipients for the jade liquid, while deciding not to give a drop to Xie Shidao.
• Zhou Wuji gave Wuming a drop of jade liquid, and she advanced to seventh rank after opening all seven acupoints.
• Wuming agreed to keep the spiritual treasure secret, and Zhou Wuji told her he had saved a drop for her father, Martial Uncle Yiping, to help him break through to fifth rank.
• Zhou Wuji gave Daoist Yizhen a drop, and Daoist Yizhen advanced to fifth rank while gaining renewed vitality.
• Daoist Yizhen warned Zhou Wuji about the upper court's internal rivalries and the influential Lu Household, then planned to arrive several months after him.
• An envoy from the Heavenly Master's Manor arrived on the fifteenth day of the second month.

Zhou Wuji received the title Master Hongde and a silver belt from the Heavenly Master's Manor, then celebrated with Xie Lingyun, whose cultivation advanced after Zhou Wuji gave him jade liquid. Before leaving, Zhou Wuji gave jade liquid to Li Ruyi, who broke through to the Seventh Rank.

• Zhishan proclaimed the Heavenly Master's decree, and Zhou Wuji received the title Master Hongde, which was inscribed on his Heavenly Pivot Token.
• Zhou Wuji examined the Fifth Rank silver belt awarded with the title and found it practical and well suited to his robe.
• Xie Lingyun celebrated Zhou Wuji's new title at Myriad Joy Tower, where Yang Tie Ying became drunk after hearing the singing girls.
• Zhou Wuji gave Xie Lingyun jade liquid, and Xie Lingyun woke with his marrow replacement complete and a quicker path toward the Third Rank.
• Xie Lingyun gave Zhou Wuji two fine horses, including Wind Chaser, while Yang Tie Ying stayed behind to learn how to care for them.
• Zhou Wuji gave Li Ruyi jade liquid, and she immediately broke through to the Seventh Rank.

Zhou Wuji returned to Cloud Dragon Lower Court and Siming County, rewarding old friends with Jade Liquid and preparing to leave for the upper court. Before departing, he secretly entered the underground river beneath Hidden Dragon Temple to investigate the Qi eye, whose connection to him might involve the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment.

• Zhou Wuji left Cloud Marsh Lower Court with Yang Tie Ying and, during their journey, gave him Jade Liquid that helped him reach the seventh rank in both paths.
• At Cloud Dragon Lower Court, Zhou Wuji thanked Abbot Zhihe for transferring Daoist Yiping back to Flying Profound Hall, then gave Yiping a spiritual treasure that restored his vitality.
• Zhou Wuji visited Siming County, where Yang Tie Ying reunited with Yang Shuling and demonstrated that he had mastered transforming force.
• At Hidden Dragon Temple, Zhou Wuji gave Wuzheng Jade Liquid, bringing his True Qi close to opening the Heavenly Gate aperture.
• After asking Wuzheng to leave him alone in the secret chamber, Zhou Wuji changed into black clothes and examined the Qi eye with the Big Dipper Star Eye.
• Zhou Wuji blessed himself with a Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Divine Incantation and plunged into the underground river leading to the Qi eye.

Zhou Wuji discovered True Lord Mingjing’s final account of Fu Tianji and the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, then concealed the message and resumed cultivating his relationships. On the journey to Jingyang, he gave Wuleng a spiritual substance that left her absorbed in its effects while he stood by.

• Zhou Wuji found True Lord Mingjing’s long inscription and learned that Fu Tianji had been killed in the underground secret realm, while Mingjing died from his wounds after leaving the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment for a Northern Pole Sect cultivator.
• Zhou Wuji memorized Mingjing’s message, scraped the writing from the cavern wall, and erased traces of his passage through the underground river.
• Zhou Wuji visited Siming County’s local leaders, then returned to the Cloud Dragon Lower Court and gave Jin Ying a gift.
• Zhou Wuji, Wuleng, and Yang Tie Ying set out for Jingyang on the fifteenth day of the third month.
• Zhou Wuji gave Wuleng jade liquid and urged her to consume it while he stood guard; she swallowed it and became absorbed in the Spiritual Qi spreading through her body.

Zhou Wuji arrived at Jingyang Upper Court with Wuleng and Yang Tie Ying, where Zhiyuan warned him about the influential Lu Household and asked him to repay a debt. Zhou Wuji instead offered Zhiyuan Jade Liquid said to extend life by fifty years, and Zhiyuan agreed to buy it for one hundred thousand taels of silver.

• Wuleng led Zhou Wuji and Yang Tie Ying through Upright Yang Peak, where Zhou Wuji worshipped at the North Pole Heavenly Emperor Hall before visiting Flying Profound Hall.
• Wuleng left to cultivate in seclusion, and Zhou Wuji met Zhiyuan, who offered him wine and promised to help him settle into the Upper Court.
• Zhiyuan told Zhou Wuji that the Lu Household funded the Upper Court and warned him not to offend Lu Wuyuan or his father, Lu Zhijing.
• Zhiyuan asked Zhou Wuji to repay the ten thousand taels he owed, but Zhou Wuji offered him Jade Liquid that he claimed could extend life by fifty years.
• Zhiyuan tried to bargain over the Jade Liquid, then accepted Zhou Wuji's price of one hundred thousand taels.

Zhou Wuji settled into the Upper Court, where Zhiyuan introduced him to its power struggles and arranged his registration and studies. After Zhihua scheduled his transmission ceremony for the day after tomorrow, Zhou Wuji worried that he would need to convincingly display another Northern Emperor’s blessing before the many expected spectators.

• Zhiyuan swallowed Zhou Wuji’s Jade Liquid and, after more than ten hours, regained vigorous Qi and Blood; he agreed to repay Zhou Wuji’s ninety thousand taels over time by letting him stay at Flying Profound Hall.
• Zhiyuan warned Zhou Wuji about the Lu and Zhou Households, Yining’s authority, and the Upper Court’s politics, then arranged his Sixth Rank transmission and Secret Methods studies for a fee.
• Zhiyuan took Zhou Wuji and Yang Tie Ying to Heavenly Pivot Hall, where Zhou Wuji paid his respects to Zhijing and transferred his Daoist registration to the Upper Court.
• Zhiyuan directed Zhou Wuji to ask Zhihua to conduct his transmission ceremony, but Zhou Wuji declined because he did not want to join the Yuheng Lineage.
• Zhihua scheduled Zhou Wuji’s transmission and register conferral for the day after tomorrow and warned him that many people would attend to see whether he received the Northern Emperor’s blessing again.
• Zhou Wuji realized he had not prepared a convincing display of the blessing and worried about how to distinguish himself before the Upper Court.