Chapter Summaries

Ye Xuan ordered peacetime military exercises and established a force of military physicians to improve Yin Shang’s readiness and care for wounded soldiers. He then sent Jizi on an overseas expedition, promising him rule over Jizi Joseon if he gained a foothold there, and hinted at a further voyage east.

• Ye Xuan proposed dividing the soldiers into red and blue forces for simulated battles, and the generals agreed to prepare exercises outside the city.
• Ye Xuan assigned Zhongjing to create a force of military physicians, and Zhongjing accepted the task of training physicians to treat battlefield wounds.
• Ye Xuan instructed Zhongjing to focus on external injuries, including stitching wounds, preventing infection, and blood transfusions.
• Ye Xuan summoned Shang Jizi and ordered him to sail from Eastern Yi toward an unnamed peninsula, promising him rule there if he succeeded.
• Ye Xuan told Jizi to use Jizi Korea as a base for sailing farther east toward an isolated island.

Ye Xuan assigned Jizi to sail east and conquer the peninsula and the Wokou, while Chaoge launched military exercises and other new policies. In Yinxu City, Zi Qi and Zi Yan decided that Chaoge’s reduced defenses gave them a chance to rebel against Di Xin, though they still worried that the Human Clan’s Saint might intervene.

• Ye Xuan ordered Jizi to seek King Yueji and use Eastern Yi ships and warriors to conquer the peninsula and the Wokou, promising him the conquered territory as a fief.
• Chaoge held military exercises with opposing red and blue armies, while the court’s new policies stirred activity across the realm.
• Zi Qi and Zi Yan gathered their recruited officials in Yinxu City and argued that Di Xin’s campaigns and the absence of Chaoge’s troops made rebellion possible.
• Zi Qi agreed to raise an army against Di Xin, and the conspirators began planning while considering whether the Human Clan’s Saint would intervene.

Ye Xuan learned that Zi Qi and Zi Yan had gathered a three-hundred-thousand-strong rebel army in Yinxu City, with his mother Gao planning to open Chaoge’s gates for them. He ordered preparations to crush the rebellion, and the chapter ended with the city guard Wang Qiang spotting dark figures approaching in the distance.

• Su Daji warned Ye Xuan that Zi Qi and Zi Yan were preparing to rebel against Yin Shang with about three hundred thousand troops.
• Su Daji told Ye Xuan that his mother, Gao, had agreed to help the rebels by opening Chaoge’s gates.
• Ye Xuan decided to use the rebellion to eliminate Yin Shang’s dissenters and ordered Huang Feihu summoned while Su Daji watched Gao closely.
• Ye Xuan made arrangements with Huang Feihu, and the following days passed peacefully as Chaoge’s armies continued their clashes.
• Wang Qiang kept watch on Chaoge’s walls at night and spotted dark figures approaching in the distance.

Wang Qiang tried to open Chaoge City's gates for Zi Qi and Zi Yan, but Huang Feihu exposed and killed him before the conspirators entered. The city’s forces and the War Elephant Cavalry ambushed the rebels, leaving Zi Qi and Zi Yan’s invasion collapsing in slaughter.

• Wang Qiang descended to open Chaoge City's gates, but Huang Feihu killed him after discovering his betrayal.
• Zheng Lun opened the gate, and Zi Qi and Zi Yan led several hundred soldiers into the city.
• Zi Qi and Zi Yan found Chaoge's elite troops surrounding them and saw the War Elephant Cavalry approaching outside.
• Zi Qi and Zi Yan ordered their soldiers to charge toward the imperial palace, but Chaoge's infantry and archers cut them down.
• The rebels outside scattered as Chaoge's battle-hardened troops routed them.

Ye Xuan confronted Empress Dowager Gao after Zi Qi and Zi Yan were captured, questioning her loyalty while revealing that her residence was surrounded. He drew a sword as killing intent rose, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Ye Xuan arrived at Empress Dowager Gao’s residence while Zi Qi and Zi Yan were captured and their army suffered heavy losses.
• Ye Xuan questioned Gao about her partiality toward her eldest and second sons, while Gao worried that they would attack Chaoge.
• Ye Xuan embraced Wushuang and pressed Gao to explain why she was dissatisfied with how he had treated her.
• A palace maid returned in a panic, and Ye Xuan told Gao that her residence was surrounded and no one could escape or send a message.
• After Gao angrily challenged Ye Xuan, he released Wushuang, fixed Gao with a cold look, and summoned a three-foot sword.

Ye Xuan exposed Empress Dowager Gao’s role in supporting Zi Qi and Zi Yan’s rebellion and had Wushuang kill the maidservant who confessed. He revealed that his informants reached throughout Yin Shang, then confronted his mother about backing his brothers.

• The maidservant confessed that Empress Dowager Gao had ordered her to pass messages to Zi Qi and Zi Yan, and Wushuang killed her at Ye Xuan’s signal.
• Wushuang erased the corpse and blood while Empress Dowager Gao accused Ye Xuan of being an unfilial son and feared he would kill her.
• Empress Dowager Gao asked how Ye Xuan had discovered the rebellion, and he said his eyes and ears reached every corner of Yin Shang.
• Ye Xuan explained that he had previously tolerated Zi Qi and Zi Yan’s lives in Yinxu City, then demanded that Empress Dowager Gao admit who had supported them.
• Empress Dowager Gao fell silent, unable to deny that she had secretly sent her sons money and grain.

After Zi Qi and Zi Yan’s rebellion was crushed, Ye Xuan confronted Empress Dowager Gao with Zi Yan’s severed head. She blamed him for killing her son and begged him to kill her too.

• Su Daji reported that Chaoge’s army had defeated Zi Qi and Zi Yan’s forces, killing or wounding tens of thousands and taking the rest prisoner.
• Su Daji said Zheng Lun had cut off a head after accidentally killing one of the princes, and Ye Xuan pardoned him and promised a reward.
• Ye Xuan opened the jade box and revealed Zi Yan’s head at Empress Dowager Gao’s feet.
• Empress Dowager Gao accused Ye Xuan of murdering his brother and lunged at him, but Wushuang knocked her to the ground.
• Ye Xuan blamed Empress Dowager Gao for supporting the rebellion, while she cursed him, regretted giving birth to him, and demanded that he kill her too.

Ye Xuan ordered Empress Dowager Gao confined for life and sent the captured rebellion leaders to Youli City as a gift for Ji Chang. Su Daji delivered the prisoners as more food, leaving Ji Chang horrified as two figures arrived.

• Ye Xuan ordered a mausoleum built for Empress Dowager Gao and decreed that she remain there until her death.
• Wushuang told Empress Dowager Gao that Ye Xuan had no wish to rule, but the realm needed him to face threats such as Xiqi.
• Su Daji reported that the rebellion had been crushed, with Zi Yan slain and Zi Qi and the other ringleaders imprisoned.
• Ye Xuan ordered the captured leaders sent to Youli City for Ji Chang, while Su Daji went ahead to prepare for his visit.
• Su Daji found Ji Chang reading Ye Xuan's book and hung more than thirty corpses in his room as food.
• Ji Chang stared in alarm as two figures entered.

Ye Xuan visited Ji Chang in Youli City, where Bo Yikao remained hooked up among the corpses, and brought the captured Zi Qi as a gift. He rejected Zi Qi’s plea for mercy and asked Ji Chang whether Zi Qi could hold on to the realm of Yin Shang if it were handed to him.

• Ye Xuan arrived at Ji Chang’s courtyard with Wushuang and found more than thirty fresh corpses hanging there.
• Ye Xuan saw that Bo Yikao was still alive, kicked away the stones supporting his feet, and told Ji Chang not to let him get too comfortable.
• Ye Xuan brought the filthy, captive Zi Qi before Ji Chang and asked where Zi Qi wanted to be hung.
• Zi Qi begged Ye Xuan to spare him, but Ye Xuan recounted how he had repeatedly tolerated Zi Qi’s rebellions before refusing to forgive him again.
• Ye Xuan asked Ji Chang whether Zi Qi could hold on to Yin Shang if the realm were handed to him, and Ji Chang trembled as he realized Ye Xuan had known about Xiqi’s secret military buildup.

Ye Xuan forced Marquis Ji Chang of the West to agree to eat Zi Qi, then visited Empress Jiang and gave her a protective ring. The ring could preserve her spirit and give her a chance to be resurrected if her body was lost.

• Marquis Ji Chang agreed to eat Zi Qi after Ye Xuan demanded it, while both men stared at each other in despair.
• Ye Xuan saw a strange bloody glow in Ji Chang’s fortune and realized his plan to bring down Xiqi’s fortune had failed.
• Ye Xuan visited Empress Jiang, comforted her about losing weight, and held her as he recited a love poem.
• Ye Xuan gave Empress Jiang a ring that could protect her body and spirit, prolong her life, and keep demons and monsters away.

Ye Xuan made venison dumplings with Empress Jiang, Wushuang, and Su Daji, while Empress Nuwa overheard his thoughts about pursuing her. After the meal, he brought the women into his divine sense space and prepared to use the Chaos Creation Brush to enlighten Empress Jiang.

• Ye Xuan and the three women prepared and ate venison dumplings together.
• Ye Xuan privately admired the women's beauty and thought that Empress Nuwa was his true target.
• Empress Nuwa heard Ye Xuan's thoughts through Su Daji and reacted with amusement rather than anger.
• Ye Xuan brought Empress Jiang, Wushuang, and Su Daji into his divine sense space after the meal.
• Ye Xuan took out the Chaos Creation Brush, and the women realized he intended to enlighten Empress Jiang.

Ye Xuan used the Chaos Creation Brush to seize heaven and earth’s fortune for Empress Jiang, transforming her into a Mystic Immortal and greatly enhancing her beauty. He gave her the Innate Five Elements Diagram to aid her cultivation, then brought out the Heaven and Earth Bagua Mirror and considered it for Wushuang.

• Ye Xuan used the Chaos Creation Brush on Empress Jiang, causing her immense pain as a purple demonic lotus mark formed on her forehead.
• Empress Jiang completed her transformation and became a Mystic Immortal, astonishing Ye Xuan, Wushuang, and Su Daji with her beauty.
• Ye Xuan showed the women the Innate Five Elements Diagram and gave it to Empress Jiang for cultivation and combat.
• Ye Xuan introduced the Heaven and Earth Bagua Mirror, describing its lethal divine light and ability to see through illusions.
• Ye Xuan chose Wushuang as the most suitable recipient for the Heaven and Earth Bagua Mirror because her combat methods were ordinary and her foundation was shallow.

Ye Xuan rewarded the three women with magical treasures and cultivation resources before secluding himself to refine the Pangu Bloodline. After enduring a vision of Chaos and the bloodline’s overwhelming power, he began to recover as brilliant light shone over Chaoge.

• Ye Xuan gave Su Daji the Amber Vermilion Sash and Wushuang the Three-Star Glazed Sword, then distributed more magical treasures, spiritual roots, precious medicines, and Heavenly Pool Crystals among the three women.
• Ye Xuan returned to his bedchamber with the women, then entered seclusion to cultivate and address his shortcomings against powerful Saints and Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
• Ye Xuan swallowed the Pangu Bloodline, unleashing immense Blood Qi that spread through his body and overwhelmed his other bloodlines.
• Ye Xuan experienced a vision of Chaos and its three thousand gods and demons while suffering the Pangu Bloodline’s agonizing transformation.
• Brilliant light from Ye Xuan’s physical body and soul illuminated Chaoge, and his consciousness began to recover.

Ye Xuan refined the Pangu Bloodline and comprehended the rudiment of the Great Dao of Strength, forming a third Saint Dharma Body alongside his Yin and Yang Dharma Bodies. After gauging his new power, he produced the Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Primordial Qilin bloodlines.

• Ye Xuan felt the Great Freedom Myriad Phenomena Divine Light and the powers of Yin and Yang grow as his strength transformed.
• Ye Xuan endured intense pain while a blood-colored figure resembling him formed in his sea of consciousness.
• Ye Xuan gathered the converging information and formed a vast Strength Dharma Body, realizing that the Great Dao of Strength encompassed all laws and powers.
• Ye Xuan judged that his three Dharma Bodies could match Taishang Laozi's One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, though he remained unsure he could defeat Taishang Laozi or Sect Master Tongtian.
• Ye Xuan brought out the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, the Yuanfeng Bloodline, and the Primordial Qilin Bloodline.

Ye Xuan absorbed the power of his fused bloodlines and reflected on his new realm after learning that only three months had passed. Kong Xuan arrived at Chaoge to meet the Human Emperor and discuss cooperation, and Ye Xuan went to receive her.

• Ye Xuan took the Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Primordial Qilin Bloodlines back into his body, assigning each to a different Dharma Body to absorb its corresponding power.
• Ye Xuan awakened, realized how far his power had advanced, and learned from the two women that his cultivation had lasted three months.
• Kong Xuan flew toward Chaoge, hoping to meet the Human Emperor and arrange cooperation with the Human Clan.
• The Twelve Zodiac Animals intercepted Kong Xuan, and Yingzhi relayed her identity and arrival to the palace.
• Su Changkong felt uncertain about facing Kong Xuan, but Ye Xuan ordered that she be brought to the bedchamber and went to await her.
• Su Daji led Kong Xuan into the bedchamber, where the rich spiritual Qi began to loosen her cultivation bottleneck.

Kong Xuan arrived in Chaoge and met Ye Xuan, the Human Emperor, who welcomed her with Dao Comprehension Tea. As she admired his spiritual roots and paintings, her unexplained familiarity with him remained unresolved.

• Kong Xuan was astonished by the supreme spiritual roots planted throughout the imperial palace gardens.
• Ye Xuan appeared, and Kong Xuan felt an inexplicable familiarity with him despite not remembering meeting him.
• Ye Xuan welcomed Kong Xuan and served her Dao Comprehension Tea, which she recognized as an extraordinarily valuable spiritual root.
• Kong Xuan studied Ye Xuan’s painting of the battle between Yin Shang and the Eastern Yi, then recited a line about the brevity of life.
• Kong Xuan examined Ye Xuan’s painting of Nuwa Mending the Heavens, which showed the Primordial World facing ruin and calamity.

Ye Xuan revealed to Kong Xuan that he was Wuming, the Human Dao Saint she had longed to meet, and comforted her when she cried over his deception. He welcomed her to Chaoge and invited her to share hot pot with him and his companions.

• Kong Xuan admired Ye Xuan's painting of Nuwa mending the heavens and asked where the Human Dao Saint was so she could meet him.
• Ye Xuan revealed himself as Wuming by producing the Prajna Asura Tribulation, shocking Kong Xuan with the truth that he and the Human Dao Saint were the same person.
• Kong Xuan cried over Ye Xuan's long deception, and he held her until she calmed down.
• Ye Xuan welcomed Kong Xuan to Chaoge, pleased that her strength would help protect the city while he was away on missions.
• Ye Xuan asked Wushuang to prepare hot pot, then introduced Kong Xuan to the red and white broths and the meal's side dishes.

Kong Xuan visited Chaoge to discuss an alliance between the Phoenix Clan and the Human Clan, and Ye Xuan asked her to stay as the tensions with the Saints escalated. Their teasing turned awkward when Ye Xuan questioned her closeness with the Qilin King.

• Ye Xuan showed Kong Xuan how to eat hot pot, and she eagerly devoured plate after plate of meat and vegetables.
• Kong Xuan explained that she had come to Chaoge to discuss the promised alliance between the Phoenix Clan and the Human Clan.
• Ye Xuan recounted how the Human Dao Will had recognized him and joked that Kong Xuan could become his disciple.
• Kong Xuan told Ye Xuan that she had hidden the Phoenix Clan inside the ancient parasol tree in Southern Wilderness Mountain.
• Ye Xuan asked Kong Xuan to stay and cultivate in Chaoge, then said Ao Guang and the Qilin King should come because a battle with the Saints might begin soon.
• Kong Xuan agreed to contact the Qilin King, and Ye Xuan's pointed question about the two of them prompted her to insist she had explained things before.

After discussing their plans, Ye Xuan received a mission to drive the corpses of Demon Emperor Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi in exchange for the Chaos Bell. He suspected the Golden Crows’ remains might be on the Taiyin Star and decided to seek them there, possibly finding Chang'e and another Zodiac Animal along the way.

• Kong Xuan left after speaking with Ye Xuan for three days and nights, apparently to find the Qilin King.
• Ye Xuan reviewed his forces and resolved to gather the remaining Zodiac Animals and monkey before destroying Xiqi and confronting his enemies.
• The system assigned Ye Xuan a mission to drive the corpses of Demon Emperor Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, with the Chaos Bell as the reward.
• Ye Xuan considered seeking Daoist Lu Ya, then recalled Chang'e and reasoned that the Golden Crows' bodies might be hidden on the Taiyin Star.
• Ye Xuan decided to travel to the Taiyin Star, where he hoped to find the Golden Crows' remains and recruit the Jade Rabbit as a Zodiac Animal.

Ye Xuan traveled to Taiyin Star, found the Moon Laurel Tree and Guanghan Palace, and encountered Chang'e and Jade Rabbit. After he introduced himself as the Human Emperor, the two women realized he had written the books they had seen in Chaoge.

• Ye Xuan left Su Daji and Wushuang and traveled through the starry void to Taiyin Star.
• Ye Xuan explored the frozen, barren Taiyin Star and found the Moon Laurel Tree.
• Ye Xuan discovered Guanghan Palace beneath the Moon Laurel Tree.
• Chang'e and Jade Rabbit appeared and recognized Ye Xuan from their earlier meeting in Chaoge.
• Ye Xuan introduced himself as the Human Emperor, and Chang'e and Jade Rabbit realized he had written the books in Chaoge.