Recaps

The Nine Heavens Profound Lady delivered the Xuanyuan Sword and the Three Human Emperors’ cultivation insights to Ye Xuan, strengthening his authority and offering him ways to improve his power. She also gave him Xuan Nü’s Pure Heart Sutra and explained that her duty was to serve a worthy Human Emperor, leaving Ye Xuan embarrassed by her direct attention.

• The Nine Heavens Profound Lady presented Ye Xuan with the Xuanyuan Sword and urged him to use the Human Clan’s treasured weapon well.
• Ye Xuan accepted the cultivation insights of Fuxi, Shennong, and Xuanyuan and studied their teachings on divination, bodily cultivation, and killing.
• Ye Xuan asked the Nine Heavens Profound Lady for the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, and she explained that it was a revised version of Xuan Nü’s Pure Heart Sutra.
• The Nine Heavens Profound Lady gave Ye Xuan the jade slip and warned him not to indulge in the technique at the expense of important matters.
• The Nine Heavens Profound Lady declared that she was qualified to serve Ye Xuan as Human Emperor, and he looked away after meeting her unflinching, shy gaze.

Ye Xuan welcomed the Nine Heavens Profound Lady’s offer of support, then secluded himself to cultivate while awaiting six great demons bound for Chaoge. When they arrived, he recognized them as the Seven Monsters of Mount Mei and began considering a team of Twelve Zodiac Animals.

• The Nine Heavens Profound Lady told Ye Xuan that the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors had authorized him to draw on the providence in the Nine Provinces Cauldrons, then left Chaoge and offered to serve him whenever needed.
• Ye Xuan entered seclusion with Wushuang and Su Daji while leaving the government to Wen Zhong, Huang Feihu, Shang Rong, Bi Gan, and the others.
• Su Daji reported that six great demons were approaching Chaoge, and Ye Xuan guessed they were the Seven Monsters of Mount Mei after hearing that some resembled a bull, pig, dog, and goat.
• Ye Xuan imagined assembling a team of Twelve Zodiac Animals and decided to discuss the idea with the demons when they arrived.
• Ye Xuan personally welcomed the six Demon Saints outside the imperial palace, where they bowed to him as the Human Emperor.

Ye Xuan welcomed six demons from Mount Mei and proposed forming the Twelve Zodiac Animals, assigning five of them and the Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit as candidates. After Wu Long worried that he had been excluded, Ye Xuan summoned the Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit to the hall.

• The six demons introduced themselves as Jin Dasheng, Dai Li, Zhu Zizhen, Chang Hao, Yang Xian, and Wu Long, and said they had come from Mount Mei to serve Ye Xuan.
• Ye Xuan proposed creating the Twelve Zodiac Animals, whose members would form the Twelve Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches Grand Formation.
• Ye Xuan named five of the six Mount Mei demons as candidates and said the Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit would make six, while Yuan Hong had other arrangements.
• Wu Long grew unhappy when he thought Ye Xuan had excluded him, but Ye Xuan summoned the Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit to the hall.
• The Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit arrived after Daji sent word, while the chapter recounted the Green Mound Shadow Guards' service to Chaoge.

Ye Xuan assigned the Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit and Zhang Kui new duties, then reviewed the candidates gathered for the Twelve Zodiac Animals. The chapter ended with Su Daji asking how Ye Xuan had shown such overwhelming power at the North Sea.

• Ye Xuan brought Sanqi into the group of great demons and told her to hand the Green Mound Shadow Guards over to Sanjiu.
• Ye Xuan ordered Zhang Kui and Wu Long to form a 300-to-500-member Earth Escape special operations unit for Yin Shang.
• Ye Xuan counted six assembled Zodiac candidates and considered Wushuang, Dragon King Ao Guang, Chang'e's jade rabbit, and possible demons from the Northern Darkness for the remaining places.
• Ye Xuan ordered Su Daji to search the Primordial World for powerful rat, tiger, monkey, and horse spirits.
• Su Daji and Wushuang massaged Ye Xuan in his bedchamber, where Su Daji asked how he had displayed such divine might at the North Sea.

Su Daji grew intimate with Ye Xuan, then played him a qin piece and asked for his judgment. Ye Xuan teased her by criticizing it and bewildered her with obscure rules of qin performance, then prepared to demonstrate his own skill.

• Su Daji drew close to Ye Xuan and nearly gave in to her desire, but he stopped her with a soft cough.
• Su Daji offered to play the qin for Ye Xuan, and he agreed to listen.
• Su Daji played an ancient tune that Ye Xuan found skillful and charming.
• Ye Xuan called her performance unfit for a refined audience, then listed qin taboos and techniques she had never heard of.
• Su Daji stared at Ye Xuan in confusion, and he decided to show her what he could do.

Ye Xuan played The Phoenix Seeks His Mate for Su Daji and Wushuang, summoning two phoenixes with his music and stirring their emotions. As the song recalled his past love, he wondered whether she remained his last innocent attachment.

• Ye Xuan carefully prepared himself and Su Daji's guqin before beginning to play.
• His music astonished Su Daji and Wushuang, who saw a phoenix take shape in the air.
• Ye Xuan played and recited The Phoenix Seeks His Mate, and a second phoenix joined the first as they danced together.
• The song recalled Ye Xuan's former love, their painful reunion, and his decision to let her go.
• Ye Xuan reflected that, despite his happier life with Su Daji and Wushuang, he still remembered the woman he had once loved.

Ye Xuan enjoyed Daji’s qin music and Wushuang’s dancing before resuming cultivation in his temporary palace. As Yin Shang prospered through the seasons, he ended his seclusion on New Year’s Eve to prepare for the new year.

• Ye Xuan played The Phoenix Seeks His Mate, captivating Daji and Wushuang, then asked them to arrange a meal.
• Daji played the qin while Wushuang danced as Ye Xuan ate, and Wushuang lit one of the cigarettes he had taught Daji to make.
• Ye Xuan remained in seclusion to stabilize his realm, relying on the small Heavenly Pool and Innate spirit roots to advance his cultivation.
• The people of Yin Shang celebrated a year of timely weather, peace, and record harvests by preparing for the new year.
• Ye Xuan ended his cultivation on New Year’s Eve to prepare for the new year.

Ye Xuan celebrated his first New Year in the Primordial World with Wushuang and Su Daji, preparing a lavish feast and enjoying their music and dancing. Afterward, he thought about his family and former lovers, then wondered whether Empress Nuwa was celebrating alone in the Wa Huang Palace.

• Ye Xuan decided that dumplings were essential for New Year and made several kinds with Wushuang and Su Daji.
• Ye Xuan prepared a lavish feast, and the three of them ate the dishes and dumplings together.
• Su Daji played music and Wushuang danced for Ye Xuan after dinner.
• Ye Xuan thought about his family and the women from his former life, then wondered how Empress Nuwa was spending New Year's Eve.

Ye Xuan visited Empress Jiang for the first time since his transmigration, finding her alone with a meager New Year’s Eve meal. He comforted her and shared a lavish dinner with her, leaving them reconciled and close.

• Nuwa heard Ye Xuan’s private thoughts about her through Su Daji and felt warmed by his concern.
• Ye Xuan decided to visit Empress Jiang despite dreading the encounter and went to her quarters with Wushuang.
• Ye Xuan found Empress Jiang alone at a simple New Year’s Eve dinner, and she knelt and wept when he arrived.
• Ye Xuan embraced Empress Jiang, apologized for neglecting her, and reassured her that he had not banished her to the cold palace.
• Ye Xuan ordered a lavish meal and drinks, and Empress Jiang poured wine for him while telling him she had missed him.

On New Year’s Eve in Chaoge, Ye Xuan saw the people celebrating and reflected on how he had achieved the four goals he set after transmigrating. With his position, strength, loyal forces, and Saint allies secured, he began considering what goals to pursue next.

• Ye Xuan comforted Empress Jiang, stayed until she fell asleep, and then left Wushuang to return alone to Chaoge’s streets.
• Ye Xuan watched the people of Yin Shang welcome the New Year and felt satisfied that they could enjoy a peaceful, lively life.
• Ye Xuan reflected that he had secured his position as Human Emperor, gained the Kongtong Seal and Xuanyuan Sword, and become a Human Dao Saint.
• Ye Xuan reviewed the forces loyal to him, including the Four Seas Dragon Clan, Kong Xuan’s Phoenix Clan, the Qilin Clan, and the Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Primordial Qilin.
• Ye Xuan recalled that Nuwa, Sect Master Tongtian, and Ancestor Minghe were on his side, and considered trying to win Empress Pingxin over next.
• Ye Xuan realized he had accomplished all four goals he had set after transmigrating and wondered what goals to set next.

Ye Xuan inspected the people’s worship in Chaoge and led a New Year procession through the city. As the people praised him, he sensed that their faith had increased his strength.

• Ye Xuan set his goals of collecting powerful corpses, winning over Empress Pingxin, and gathering allies and treasures.
• Ye Xuan found that Chaoge’s people worshipped Human Clan sages and leaders, including him, Empress Nuwa, and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, rather than the gods and Saints of heaven.
• Ye Xuan led his officials on the annual New Year inspection of Chaoge, riding Su Daji’s three-tailed demon fox as the people cheered and paid homage.
• Ye Xuan felt unknown blessings gather from the people’s devotion and realized that their faith might be strengthening him through the Power of Faith.

Ye Xuan celebrated the new year with a grand procession and banquet before unveiling elite cavalry forces to the people of Chaoge. The War Elephant Cavalry and Wang Yong’s cavalry marched past the city, leaving the crowd astonished as the second legion’s display continued.

• Ye Xuan led the officials through Chaoge’s four main streets, then returned to the palace for the annual banquet and gift exchange.
• Ye Xuan addressed the gathered people from the clouds and announced the surprise he had prepared.
• Huang Feihu led ten thousand armored War Elephant Cavalry riders, each at the Heavenly Immortal realm, past Chaoge’s city gate.
• The crowd cheered as Wang Yong led a second force of ten thousand elite cavalry, most of whom had reached the Earth Immortal realm.

Chaoge’s citizens watched Yin Shang’s military review as its cavalry and infantry formations displayed their specialized weapons and capabilities. The chapter ended with the fearsome modao and hengdao troops marching past.

• The crowd cheered as Wang led the second cavalry formation, and his proud wife celebrated his rise to general and invited the neighbors to drink at her tavern.
• A ten-thousand-strong light cavalry regiment passed, carrying multiple complex bows, hundreds of arrows, and wrist-mounted crossbows for sustained fire support.
• The heavily armored Formation-Breaking Camp marched with enormous spiked shields designed to withstand cavalry charges.
• An infantry formation carrying modao and hengdao demonstrated its weapons for charging and close combat.

After the military review, Ye Xuan took Wushuang and Daji on an incognito visit to Chaoge, where they enjoyed the lively New Year streets and discovered an old craftsman making sugar figurines. Ye Xuan praised the craftsman’s skill and prosperity.

• The ten dragons under Wushuang’s command completed the military review, astonishing Chaoge’s people with their flight and size.
• Ye Xuan visited the barracks with the officials to support the troops, then returned late at night.
• The next morning, Ye Xuan brought Wushuang and Daji to Chaoge to stroll among the busy New Year stalls.
• Su Daji spotted a sugar-figurine stall, and Ye Xuan approached the old craftsman with her and Wushuang.
• Children laughed at Ye Xuan for wanting sweets, so he pretended to chase them before joining in their laughter.
• Ye Xuan heard how the old craftsman had learned to make sugar figurines from the Human Emperor’s books and praised his skill and good fortune.

Ye Xuan, Daji, and Wushuang enjoyed sugar figurines and street snacks in Chaoge, where Ye Xuan’s gift of spiritual ginseng eventually transformed the old candy seller and his family into immortals. Their stroll was interrupted when they encountered a runaway slave and his gravely ill companion being beaten by their pursuers.

• Ye Xuan bought three sugar figurines from an old man and gave extra treats to the watching children.
• Ye Xuan traded the old man a rare spiritual ginseng for the figurines, then left with Daji and Wushuang.
• The old man followed Ye Xuan’s advice, regained his youth, reached the True Immortal realm, and helped his family become immortals.
• Ye Xuan, Daji, and Wushuang ate their figurines and other snacks as they walked through Chaoge.
• A young man carrying the gravely ill Xiaoqing fled from several burly men, who caught the pair and began beating him.

Ye Xuan intervened when a group of servants beat two runaway slaves in Chaoge, recognizing that slavery threatened both people’s lives and Yin Shang’s stability. The servants drew their sabers and insulted Wushuang, and Ye Xuan’s killing intent rose.

• A young slave begged the servants to spare him and Xiaoqing, but they continued beating him and threatened to take them back to their master.
• Ye Xuan saw the attack, reflected on the suffering of slaves and the danger it posed to Yin Shang, and shouted for the servants to stop.
• The servants challenged Ye Xuan and claimed they had the right to kill the runaway slaves because their master owned them.
• Wushuang confronted the servants and demanded they show respect to Ye Xuan.
• The servants mocked Wushuang and suggested she should join them, provoking Ye Xuan’s killing intent.

Ye Xuan and Wushuang intervened when Fei Lian’s retainers tried to capture runaway slaves in Chaoge, and Ye Xuan resolved to punish Fei Lian and abolish slavery. The patrol captain recognized Ye Xuan, arrested the retainers, and was ordered to investigate them properly.

• Wushuang injured Fei Lian’s retainers after they threatened her and claimed they were capturing runaway slaves under orders.
• Ye Xuan recalled that Fei Lian had escaped an earlier crackdown and decided to execute him and abolish slavery, or at least clear the slaves from Chaoge.
• A patrol led by a captain arrived, and Fei Lian’s retainers demanded that the soldiers arrest Ye Xuan and the women with him.
• The captain recognized Ye Xuan as the Human Emperor and kicked the retainers, then ordered his soldiers to take them into custody and investigate their crimes.
• Ye Xuan told the captain to handle the case properly, and the captain hurried away with the arrested men.

Ye Xuan learned that Fei Lian kept three thousand armed slaves and suspected that Ji Chang of Xiqi was covertly building a force in Chaoge. He ordered Bi Gan to prepare for the next morning’s court, where he planned to act against slavery and the feudal lords’ schemes.

• Su Daji reported that Fei Lian secretly maintained three thousand well-equipped slaves, and Ye Xuan grew furious at the threat of private troops in Chaoge.
• Ye Xuan summoned Bi Gan, showed him the investigation, and declared his intention to abolish slavery; Bi Gan supported him in dealing with Fei Lian.
• Ye Xuan questioned Bi Gan about the feudal lords sending slaves, women, weapons, and armor to Chaoge, and Bi Gan admitted that his household also had slaves from them.
• Ye Xuan told Bi Gan to prepare for the next morning’s court and said he would be watching his performance.
• Bi Gan realized the slaves sent by Ji Chang might be soldiers hidden in ministers’ households, while Ye Xuan concluded that Ji Chang had laid a covert net around Chaoge.

At morning court, Bi Gan accused Fei Lian and other ministers of keeping vast numbers of slaves and secretly building armed forces. Ye Xuan singled out Fei Lian for questioning, and Bi Gan challenged him to explain his thousands of trained men and stockpiled weapons.

• Fei Lian learned that Lord Li had arrested his men after they offended the Human Emperor, and he spent the night terrified.
• Ye Xuan summoned the ministers to court, where Bi Gan presented a memorial accusing officials of corruption, slaveholding, and private armies.
• Bi Gan's memorial detailed Fei Lian's household, including thousands of trained men and large stores of armor and weapons.
• Ye Xuan demanded that Fei Lian explain his force of more than three thousand, and Fei Lian denied that it was an army.
• Bi Gan challenged Fei Lian to account for the men and weapons, while Fei Lian tried to deflect the accusation by pointing to other officials' slaves.

Ye Xuan executed Fei Lian after discovering his household’s thousands of armed slaves, then accused Ji Chang of using gifts to undermine Yin Shang and ordered Ji Xuan beheaded. He warned the court to dispose of their slaves as he moved to abolish slavery in Chaoge.

• Bi Gan exposed that Fei Lian had more than three thousand slaves equipped with weapons, and Ye Xuan ordered Fei Lian executed and his property confiscated.
• Ye Xuan saw Fei Lian’s true spirit depart and recognized him as a future deity on the Investiture of the Gods.
• Ye Xuan condemned the officials for keeping hundreds of thousands of slaves in Chaoge and warned that they could rise in rebellion.
• Ye Xuan questioned Ji Xuan about Ji Chang sending slaves and beautiful women to Chaoge, then ordered Ji Xuan beheaded when he denied any ulterior purpose.
• Ye Xuan ordered the officials to dispose of their slaves and threatened execution for anyone who secretly defied him.

After officials and wealthy households sold their slaves to the court, Ye Xuan found that more than 300,000 slaves had been gathered and tasked Bi Gan with explaining their options. Bi Gan began addressing the crowd, announcing that they had three choices, but the chapter ended before he could finish listing them.

• The officials sought Bi Gan’s help, and he told them the court would buy slaves to reclaim wasteland for spring planting.
• Chaoge’s officials and wealthy households began selling their slaves, and Shen Wansan overcame his father’s and concubine’s objections to dismiss the people in his household.
• After several days, the court had gathered 300,000 slaves and 70,000 to 80,000 singers, dancers, and prostitutes, more than Ye Xuan had expected.
• Ye Xuan entrusted the gathered people’s fate to Bi Gan, who announced that they had three choices and began by offering enlistment in the army to those who passed examination and verification.

Bi Gan arranged for Chaoge’s slaves to enlist or clear land, while Ye Xuan sent a decree summoning Marquis Ji Chang of the West to Chaoge. Ji Chang foresaw seven years of imprisonment, entrusted Xiqi’s affairs to San Yisheng, and ordered preparations for a future uprising before setting out.

• Bi Gan offered Chaoge’s slaves the choice of military service, five years clearing land, or death, and most chose to clear land.
• Ye Xuan decided to confront Marquis Ji Chang of the West and sent a decree to summon him to Chaoge.
• Ji Chang divined that he faced at least seven years of imprisonment and feared the summons would lead to his detention.
• Ji Chang told San Yisheng to oversee Xiqi and instructed its ministers to stockpile supplies, produce weapons, and secretly train soldiers.
• Ji Chang insisted he would travel to Chaoge despite the danger, saying Xiqi should be ready to rise when he returned, then called Bo Yikao forward.

Marquis Ji Chang of the West entrusted Xiqi to Bo Yikao and set out for Chaoge with a large retinue and gifts, expecting hardship and possible imprisonment. After his party entered Mount Yan, Ji Chang predicted a storm and ordered everyone to seek shelter, but the downpour still drenched them as he thought of Chaoge.

• Marquis Ji Chang of the West instructed Bo Yikao to govern Xiqi by the old rules, care for their family and the people, and never travel to Chaoge without permission.
• Bo Yikao promised that if Ji Chang had not returned in seven years, he would lead an army to Chaoge to rescue him.
• Ji Chang bade farewell to his mother Taijiang and departed with Xiqi's ministers, generals, heirs, and a large cavalry escort carrying gifts for Chaoge.
• Ji Chang's party crossed Mount Qi and entered Mount Yan, where Ji Chang ordered his attendants to find shelter because he expected rain.
• A fierce storm struck the forest where the party had taken shelter, soaking the travelers while Ji Chang sat in his carriage thinking of Chaoge.

As Marquis Ji Chang of the West traveled toward Chaoge, strange spring thunder led him to a newborn child in an ancient tomb, fulfilling his prophecy of having a hundred sons. Yun Zhongzi appeared and introduced himself, while Ji Chang wondered what the immortal had come for.

• Ji Chang watched unnatural purple lightning and rain clear, then cast a divination that showed the sign of his hundred sons.
• Ji Chang sent his followers to search the forest, where they found a baby beside a vast, unmarked ancient tomb.
• Ji Chang picked up the baby and rejoiced that the prophecy had been fulfilled, but worried about taking the child with him to face imprisonment in Chaoge.
• Yun Zhongzi appeared, introduced himself as a cultivator from Jade Pillar Cave on Mount Zhongnan, and greeted Ji Chang.
• Ji Chang recognized Yun Zhongzi as a renowned Golden Immortal and asked why he had come.

Yun Zhongzi named the newborn Lei Zhenzi and took him as his disciple before Marquis Ji Chang traveled to Chaoge. Ye Xuan imprisoned Ji Chang, confiscated his treasures, and ordered his men killed, then visited him in Youli City and found the famed sage unremarkable.

• Yun Zhongzi named Ji Chang’s newborn son Lei Zhenzi and took him away to train as his disciple.
• Yun Zhongzi divined that Ji Chang’s journey to Chaoge would bring trials but not threaten his life, and Ji Chang set out.
• After arriving in Chaoge with three to four thousand men, Ji Chang was seized on Ye Xuan’s orders and sent to Youli City; Ye Xuan confiscated his treasures and had his men killed.
• More than a month later, Ye Xuan visited Ji Chang in Youli City, where Ji Chang knelt and paid his respects.
• Ye Xuan studied Ji Chang and privately judged that the famed sage looked like an ordinary old man.