Chapter Summaries

Chu Tianshu defeated the nineteenth prince’s guards and learned that more than a century had passed since his previous visit to Great Tang. The scholar explained how a blood-colored starry sky had reshaped martial arts, and Chu Tianshu discovered that the prince’s ruling family descended from Zheng Hui.

• Chu Tianshu released his oppressive presence, forcing the nineteenth prince, Mr. Wen, and the riders to kneel or fall from their horses.
• Two armored giants attacked Chu Tianshu with a combined hammer technique, but he crushed their weapons and fatally wounded them.
• Chu Tianshu questioned the scholar and learned that Hai Donglai’s duel with Duan Zhong had taken place 107 years earlier.
• The scholar explained that a blood-colored starry sky had appeared after the war against Tubo and inspired new martial arts across the world.
• Chu Tianshu learned that the nineteenth prince’s ruler descended from Zheng Hui and recognized the prince as a sign of how far Zheng Hui’s legacy had fallen.

Chu Tianshu entered Tianchang’s inner city with the Nineteenth Prince and the scholar, seeking news of Cheng Xin and the sealed restaurant. After Yang Zhenyi attacked him, Chu Tianshu defeated the general and hurled him through the palace gate, loudly summoning Zheng Tianchang.

• Chu Tianshu rode through the outer and inner city with the Nineteenth Prince and the scholar, noting that the appeal drums were guarded and unused.
• At the sealed restaurant once owned by Lady Wenjing, Yang Zhenyi arrived and explained that Cheng Xin and his family had been imprisoned.
• Yang Zhenyi mistook Chu Tianshu for a threat connected to the Red Emperor and attacked him with an iron comb, but Chu Tianshu stopped the blow.
• Yang Zhenyi sprang backward and caught the Nineteenth Prince, while Chu Tianshu threw the prince and scholar toward him.
• Chu Tianshu struck Yang Zhenyi in the chest, sending him through the palace’s main gate and collapsing the gate tower.
• Chu Tianshu called out for Zheng Tianchang to come out.

Chu Tianshu confronted Zheng Tianchang over the killing of his youngest son and defeated him with a devastating internal palm technique. Zheng Tianchang died after learning that Chu Tianshu had been an old friend of his great-grandfather, Zheng Hui.

• Zheng Tianchang heard Chu Tianshu shouting in the royal city and went to the palace roof to confront him.
• Zheng Tianchang recognized Chu Tianshu as the man in a portrait his great-grandfather Zheng Hui had shown him.
• Chu Tianshu accused Zheng Tianchang of helping his youngest son overcome his fear by having palace maids dressed as deer hunted and killed.
• Zheng Tianchang attacked Chu Tianshu with a spear-like hand strike, then vanished from sight and launched a punch using Fist Beyond the Mind.
• Chu Tianshu met Zheng Tianchang's punch with the Qian Character Seal and sent an internal force through his arm and chest, causing tumors to swell across the right side of his body.
• Chu Tianshu counted down three seconds, and Zheng Tianchang's tumors exploded; Chu Tianshu said he had come to set his old friend Zheng Hui straight.

Chu Tianshu defeated Zheng Tianchang’s remaining guards and used the Great Void Heavenly Eye to immobilize the people across the palace, extinguishing the fires they had started to escape. He then went to the imperial prison, where Cheng Xin’s family learned that they were being freed.

• An imperial guard commander attacked Chu Tianshu, who killed him with a palm strike as more guards rushed to the palace hall.
• Guards tried to smuggle princes and princesses out of the palace and started fires, but Chu Tianshu unleashed the Great Void Heavenly Eye and immobilized the guards, royals, and fleeing servants.
• Yang Zhenyi crawled out of the ruined palace gate, and Chu Tianshu told him to take him to the imperial prison to see Cheng Xin.
• Cheng Xin reflected on his family’s imprisonment and refused to yield to Zheng Tianchang, while his granddaughter remained sickly from confinement and poison.
• A jailer told Cheng Xin that someone had attacked the palace and that his whole family would be freed as a crowd approached the prison.

After Chu Tianshu freed Cheng Xin’s family and killed Zheng Tianchang, he asked Cheng Xin to take charge of the country and organize new ministers. Yang Zhenyi offered to help investigate court officials in exchange for leniency toward worthy members of his clan, then revealed where Zheng Tianchang had hidden a set of martial arts figurines.

• Officials and household guards freed Cheng Xin’s family from prison and restored their strength and appearance.
• Chu Tianshu helped Cheng Xin break through Qingtang’s poison and told him that Zheng Tianchang was dead.
• Chu Tianshu asked Cheng Xin to lead the country temporarily and appoint new civil and military ministers, and Cheng Xin proposed following Great Tang’s System of Valuing the Public Good.
• Cheng Xin explained how Great Tang’s shared-power system worked and why other countries had adopted similar arrangements.
• Yang Zhenyi offered to provide evidence against court officials if Chu Tianshu spared Yang clan members who proved innocent.
• Yang Zhenyi revealed that Zheng Tianchang had carved an old tree into fist-manual figurines and hidden them at the bottom of the West Brightness Pool.

Chu Tianshu examined the Zheng family’s Wisdom King Finger Spear manual and discovered how its techniques used wind and water to amplify physical force. He planned to learn its moves to comprehend a new essence of heaven and earth and refine it into internal force.

• Chu Tianshu inspected the carvings in the West Brightness Pool and recognized the three parts of the Scattered Rain and Sudden Wind Wisdom King Finger Spear.
• Chu Tianshu realized the martial art suited humid, windy conditions and explained how its robes represented water vapor and air swept up by the practitioner.
• Chu Tianshu used physical force and precise technique to suspend the falling carvings with a surge of water, then flicked a droplet hard enough to chip a distant rock.
• Chu Tianshu decided he needed the Wisdom King Finger Spear’s moves more than its strength-building stances, since he could use them to comprehend the essence of heaven and earth.
• Chu Tianshu resolved to refine that essence with the Great Void Sun-Boiling True Exposition and hoped to exchange cultivation arts with Brother Donglai.

Li Chenxiang and Elder Su brought the Mountain King Divine Drum toward the Great Kingdom of Tianchang, but a pursuing ascetic confronted their caravan at the city gate. At the royal palace, Chu Tianshu sensed the challenge and wondered whether the ascetic had come to avenge Zheng Tianchang.

• A brown-robed young man told Li Chenxiang and Elder Su that Zheng Tianchang had been killed and General Cheng Xin released, and they discussed disguising themselves after entering the city.
• The caravan’s horses panicked at the outer gate as an ascetic monk confronted Elder Su and demanded the Mountain King Divine Drum.
• Elder Su challenged the ascetic to take the treasure from his mechanism-filled carriage, but the monk insisted they bring it out.
• Chu Tianshu practiced the Wisdom King Finger Spear at West Brightness Pool while Cheng Xin discussed his plans and a letter to Chang'an.
• Chu Tianshu sensed Buddhist Fist Intent at the outer city gate and suspected that the ascetic had come to challenge him over Zheng Tianchang’s death.

Chu Tianshu intervened when Fire Tree Dhuta attacked Su Xian’s mechanical carriage and the caravan outside the royal city. He defeated the dhuta in a single devastating blow and demanded that he explain the fight.

• Chu Tianshu reached the city wall and saw Fire Tree Dhuta blocking Su Xian’s caravan as Su Xian transformed his carriage into a spider-legged Weapon Soul.
• Fire Tree Dhuta attacked the transformed carriage, but its eight legs forced him back while draining spices from the caravan to fuel its power.
• Chu Tianshu confronted Fire Tree Dhuta after the dhuta threatened the soldiers, and he pursued the dhuta when he tried to flee.
• Chu Tianshu melted Fire Tree Dhuta’s iron staff with his palm, seized him, and smashed him into a deep pit, leaving him badly injured.
• Chu Tianshu refused to let Fire Tree Dhuta die and ordered him to climb out and explain himself.

Chu Tianshu defeated Fire Tree Dhuta and learned that the dhuta had sought the Mountain King Divine Drum to challenge Hai Donglai. Su Xian and Li Chenxiang explained that they were taking the drum to Chang'an to offer it to Hai Donglai, hoping he could use it to mend his weakness and protect Great Tang; Chu Tianshu laughed as he reflected on Hai Donglai’s many enemies and the people who wished for peace.

• Chu Tianshu pulled Fire Tree Dhuta back to the caravan and questioned him about the fight at the city gate.
• Fire Tree Dhuta admitted he had come for the Mountain King Divine Drum, hoping to use it to kill Hai Donglai and make his name.
• Cheng Xin explained the drum’s legends, including the claim that it could expose a fatal flaw in Hai Donglai’s martial arts.
• Chu Tianshu questioned the people inside the mechanism carriage, and Su Xian and Li Chenxiang came out with the sandalwood box containing the drum.
• Su Xian and Li Chenxiang said they intended to present the drum to Hai Donglai so he might address his weakness and preserve peace; Chu Tianshu laughed again.

After killing Fire Tree Dhuta, Chu Tianshu treated Su Xian and Li Chenxiang with medicinal tea and exchanged his medicinal formulas for Su Xian’s Weapon Soul art. He examined the Mountain King Divine Drum and tapped its drumhead, leaving its mystery unresolved.

• Chu Tianshu brought Su Xian and Li Chenxiang to a pavilion and served them medicinal tea, which made Su Xian’s nose bleed until he circulated his strength to absorb the tonic.
• Su Xian asked Chu Tianshu to teach him tea brewing, and Chu Tianshu offered medicinal formulas in exchange for the Great Tang’s Weapon Soul art.
• Su Xian wrote the Weapon Soul art on his brocade pouch, while Chu Tianshu considered how to use it to improve Sanqi and combine his treasures.
• Chu Tianshu gave Su Xian the medicinal formulas for his caravan, and Su Xian handed over the completed Weapon Soul art.
• Chu Tianshu opened the case containing the Mountain King Divine Drum, sensed an incomplete Weapon Soul within it, and tapped the center of its drumhead.

Chu Tianshu discovered that the Mountain King Divine Drum’s power gathered and dispersed origin Qi, weakening experts by narrowing the gap between them. He planned to use the drum to draw unfamiliar origin Qi into himself for cultivation, after preparing medicine to protect his meridians.

• Li Chenxiang explained that the Mountain King Divine Drum had caused people to bleed when a disciple struck it in the Kingdom of Chenla.
• Chu Tianshu struck the drum and saw its Weapon Soul fragments gather and scatter, briefly making power leak from his finger and causing Su Xian and Li Chenxiang to feel their hearts skip.
• Chu Tianshu realized the drum gathered surrounding origin Qi and then dispersed it, making experts lose power and reducing the advantage of the stronger side.
• Chu Tianshu considered using the drum to draw unfamiliar origin Qi into himself and broaden his cultivation foundations.
• Chu Tianshu decided to obtain pills for treating his meridians before trying the new cultivation method.

Pei Dongcheng and eight conspirators in the Kunlun Society discussed a mysterious newcomer in Nanzhao who had seized the Mountain King Divine Drum and rescued Cheng Xin. They decided to send Pei Dongcheng’s disciple to lead an expedition, with a Turk clansman as deputy, to take the drum and kill the newcomer.

• The nine holders of the Shared Heart Mirrors gathered, and the Tubo member reported that an unknown newcomer had taken the Mountain King Divine Drum in Nanzhao.
• The Tubo member said the newcomer had destroyed Zheng Tianchang’s palace, captured Fire Tree Dhuta, and rescued Cheng Xin, who called him granduncle.
• The Dashi member urged the Kunlun Society to eliminate the newcomer and the conservative forces associated with Hai Donglai.
• Pei Dongcheng agreed to send a powerful disciple to lead an expedition against the newcomer.
• The Turk member offered his younger clansman as deputy, and the group agreed to meet, seize the drum, and kill.

Cheng Xin asked Chu Tianshu to carry Nanzhao’s letter of state to Chang’an, requesting that Nanzhao be incorporated into the Great Tang, and Chu agreed. As Chu Tianshu continued cultivating with the Mountain King Divine Drum, a party of riders led by a striking woman approached the royal city.

• Chu Tianshu checked Cheng Xin, Li Chenxiang, and Su Xian, then gave Cheng Xin a pill and advised him not to worry so much.
• Cheng Xin asked Chu Tianshu to deliver Nanzhao’s letter of state requesting incorporation into the Great Tang, and Chu agreed to carry it to Chang’an.
• Su Xian said his family had sought help from the Inner Guard and that Commander Nie Hongxian should arrive soon to witness the letter.
• Chu Tianshu cultivated with the Mountain King Divine Drum and three pills, drawing in and refining unusual Qi until he felt close to reaching the Leakless Mystic Art.
• Chu Tianshu nourished the Three-Seven Sword’s Weapon Soul while a party of riders led by a splendidly dressed woman approached the royal city.

Nie Hongxian’s supposed Inner Guard party arrived in Nanzhao, but Chu Tianshu recognized a Tubo spy and exposed a coordinated ambush. He survived the attackers’ wolf-like Fist Intent and a three-strike sword assault, while the identities of the disguised commander and her allies remained uncertain.

• Cheng Xin welcomed Nie Hongxian and her party, introduced Su Xian and Li Chenxiang, and led them to visit Chu Tianshu.
• Chu Tianshu sensed Tubo origins in the rosy-cheeked deputy, and the man reacted, exposing himself as a spy.
• The deep-set man unleashed a wolf-shaped Fist Intent while the red-clad woman attacked Chu Tianshu with a sword that struck in three successive changes.
• Chu Tianshu repelled the attack, emerged from the shattered pavilion unharmed, and challenged the attackers to give their names.
• The deep-set man identified himself as A'ertai, while the Tubo spy began to announce his own name.

Chu Tianshu and Cheng Xin fought the Tubo-led killers, while a village girl unexpectedly killed the Tubo man and helped turn the battle. After Chu Tianshu defeated the woman in red and A'ertai, the village girl revealed herself as Nie Hongxian and greeted him as her Martial Uncle.

• Su Xian was poisoned as the black-clad killers moved to seize him, but Cheng Xin took up Sanqi and cut down the attackers with his transformed Saber Intent.
• A Tubo man charged Cheng Xin, but a village girl blocked the punch and killed him with her brush knife.
• Chu Tianshu dragged the woman in red into the air, tore through her defenses, and killed her before dodging a stone thrown by A'ertai.
• Chu Tianshu battled A'ertai, severed his leg with a sweeping kick, and struck him down with a powerful palm.
• The village girl revealed that she was Nie Hongxian, then knelt and greeted Chu Tianshu as her Martial Uncle.

Chu Tianshu rescued Nie Hongxian, who explained how she had been delayed while investigating powerful clans and revealed her healing Weapon Soul ability. The group learned that Nie Hongxian’s master would return to Chang’an before the Martial Exhibition of All Nations, which was scheduled to take place for the sixth time this year.

• Nie Hongxian explained that she had traveled alone after trouble on the road delayed her party and impostors took her identity.
• Chu Tianshu drew poisoned blood from Su Xian and Li Chenxiang, while Nie Hongxian identified the poison as Fine Ink-Soaked Scroll Fragrance from the Hedong Pei Lineage.
• Nie Hongxian revealed that her golden-ring Weapon Soul healed her faster as her injuries worsened.
• Nie Hongxian said she had gathered evidence against powerful clans and planned to organize it in Chang'an before acting with her master.
• Nie Hongxian said her master would return before October’s Martial Exhibition of All Nations, and Cheng Xin and Su Xian explained the event’s origins and its importance to Chang'an.

After learning about the political tensions surrounding the Myriad Nations Martial Arts Tournament and its venue on Mount Zhongnan, Chu Tianshu decided to travel to Chang'an. A discussion of Hai Donglai’s Mountain Collapse and Water Extinction martial art convinced Chu Tianshu to pursue Leakless Mystic Art before he arrived.

• Chu Tianshu discussed the Great Tang’s rivals and the dangers surrounding the Myriad Nations Martial Arts Tournament with Su Xian and Nie Hongxian.
• Nie Hongxian explained that the tournament would be held on Mount Zhongnan, where powerful nations sent a few experts and younger fighters to represent them.
• Chu Tianshu decided to go to Chang'an and took the Mountain King Divine Drum and Sanqi with him.
• After eating with the others, Chu Tianshu learned that Nie Hongxian practiced the Water Extinction method from Hai Donglai’s Mountain Collapse and Water Extinction art.
• Chu Tianshu assessed Hai Donglai’s likely strength and resolved to achieve Leakless Mystic Art on the way to Chang'an.

Pei Dongcheng and Wu Chunlei suspected that Hai Donglai had found a way to extend his life, and they alarmed the Kunlun Society with their theory. On the journey to Chang'an, Chu Tianshu heard about the Great Tang’s suppression of Buddhism and Du Fanchuan’s mysterious prophecy.

• Pei Dongcheng learned that Pei Ying’s assassination attempt in Nanzhao had failed and grieved her apparent capture.
• Pei Dongcheng and Wu Chunlei discussed their setbacks and worried that Hai Donglai might survive beyond the usual lifespan of a Plain King and advance further.
• Pei Dongcheng and Wu Chunlei proposed that Hai Donglai’s travels and the newly emerged elder in Nanzhao were connected to a plan to extend their lives, then called the Kunlun Society together.
• The Kunlun Society reacted with alarm to the theory that Hai Donglai had found a way to prolong his life.
• Chu Tianshu asked why so many monks aided the great clans, and Nie Hongxian and Su Xian explained the court’s crackdown on religious institutions and recounted Du Fanchuan’s final prophecy.
• Nie Hongxian said Du Fanchuan’s Weapon Soul had survived his death and been inherited by one of his disciples.

Chu Tianshu traveled with Nie Hongxian and the others to Chang'an, where he saw the crowds and clashes gathered outside the closed city gates. Feng Bohu brought Guo Lingwei to Nie Hongxian for help, and Chu Tianshu realized that Guo Lingwei’s intentions and actions had been reversed.

• Nie Hongxian explained that Cao Mengzheng had inherited Du Fanchuan’s Weapon Soul and could predict some natural disasters months in advance.
• Chu Tianshu played the divine drum beneath the stars, and Su Xian and Li Chenxiang sensed a subtle transformation taking place in him.
• The group reached Chang’an after nightfall, and Su Xian and Li Chenxiang went to explore the crowds camped outside the city.
• Chu Tianshu and Nie Hongxian watched Zoroastrian and Church of the East fighters stop their duel after recognizing Nie Hongxian, while Chu Tianshu sensed many other fights nearby.
• Feng Bohu brought the uncoordinated Guo Lingwei to Nie Hongxian, and Chu Tianshu determined that Guo Lingwei’s actions and intentions had been reversed.

Feng Bohu told Nie Hongxian how a mysterious martial artist restrained her and Guo Lingwei and ordered them to meet him at the ruins of Han Dynasty Chang'an. Chu Tianshu treated Guo Lingwei’s nerve disorder and decided to retrieve the rabbit lantern himself, leaving the group preparing to confront the mysterious figure.

• Feng Bohu recounted how a powerful stranger immobilized her and Guo Lingwei at the western market and left instructions to seek Nie Hongxian and meet him outside the city.
• Nie Hongxian realized the stranger had deliberately manipulated Guo Lingwei’s condition to draw them into a trap.
• Chu Tianshu examined Guo Lingwei, explained that the stranger had twisted his nerves, and used silver needles to begin restoring them.
• Nie Hongxian confirmed that Anxi had recovered after the fighting with Tubo, and Chu Tianshu reflected on the white-haired soldiers who had held their ground.
• When Feng Bohu suggested waiting since Chu Tianshu could treat Guo Lingwei, Chu Tianshu said he would go retrieve the rabbit lantern for him.