Recaps

His Excellency returned injured from his attempt to investigate the Yang Mausoleum and repaired himself with Zhang Xuezhou’s spirit jade essence. Lu Baibai compensated Zhang for the feng shui damage with his green rockwood staff, and the story left off as a palace eunuch arrived at the residence at noon.

• His Excellency returned to Chang’an with an arrow wound after Li Guang struck him with the Heaven-Shaking Arrow at the Yang Mausoleum.
• His Excellency took Zhang Xuezhou’s spirit jade, while Lu Baibai admitted that his lost bottle of spirit jade essence had ruined Zhang’s household feng shui.
• Lu Baibai gave Zhang Xuezhou his green rockwood staff as compensation, and His Excellency drank the spirit jade essence to repair his cracked body.
• His Excellency complained about the Heaven-Shaking Arrow and said Li Guang would be less of a threat without it.
• Rong Tianding prepared meals and guest rooms for the demons staying at Zhang Xuezhou’s residence.
• A young eunuch from the palace arrived at noon, startling Rong Tianding and drawing the attention of Zhang Xuezhou and the others.

The new emperor visited Zhang Xuezhou in disguise to ask how a young heir could keep his position, but the Venerable One answered the question after entering the room. The new emperor then asked how Qin Er Shi might have escaped his predicament, and the Venerable One suggested the Snake-Slaying Sword, though the method he described depended on Yinglong, who had been dead for nearly a hundred years.

• The new emperor disguised himself as a palace eunuch and entered Zhang Xuezhou's house, where Zhang pretended to be too ill to speak.
• The Venerable One and Lu Baibai entered and clashed with the new emperor over his official airs.
• The Venerable One advised that the Wang Household heir should win his grandmother's favor and make his uncles appear unfit to inherit.
• The new emperor asked how Qin Er Shi could have gained enough strength to hold power, and the Venerable One proposed that he obtain Liu Bang's Snake-Slaying Sword.
• The Venerable One said Qin Er Shi could have used Yinglong's blood to subdue the sword, but acknowledged that Yinglong had been dead for nearly a hundred years.

Zhang Xuezhou discovered that Lu Baibai’s Green Rock Wooden Staff greatly amplified his Stone Transformation Technique and decided to keep using it despite its awkward appearance. After the Exalted One spent the day repairing his Dharma Form, he led Kong Ning and Lu Baibai on a second night raid on Yang Mausoleum.

• Zhang Xuezhou found that the Green Rock Wooden Staff nearly doubled the power of his Stone Transformation Technique and chose to carry it despite looking out of place.
• Kong Ning teased Lu Baibai for losing the staff, while the Exalted One urged him to develop his technique control instead of relying on treasures.
• The Exalted One explained that the Demon Race relied on its own strength and warned that cultivators who depended too much on weapons could be ruined when they lost them.
• Rong Tianding served a meal to the Exalted One, Lu Baibai, and Kong Ning while the Exalted One continued repairing his Dharma Form.
• After night fell, the Exalted One called Kong Ning and Lu Baibai and launched a second raid on Yang Mausoleum.

The new emperor tried to awaken the Red Empyrean Sword with Yinglong’s blood, but discovered the needed demon dragon blood had been stolen and realized he could not yet kill Zhu Jiuyin. Searching for another way to secure his throne, he decided to visit Chunyu Tiying and seek Zhang Xuezhou’s help, then stayed in Weiyang Palace until the empress arrived.

• The new emperor found the Red Empyrean Sword limp and useless, despite hoping it would help him hold onto the throne.
• He recalled the stolen vial of demon dragon blood and concluded it had likely been Yinglong’s Essence Blood, which could have activated the sword.
• He considered killing Zhu Jiuyin for his blood but judged that he lacked the strength and opportunity to attack the Xieluosi River Holy Land.
• The new emperor decided to seek guidance from Zhang Xuezhou’s Physiognomy Technique and planned to visit Chunyu Tiying at the Imperial Medical Bureau in disguise.
• He avoided returning to the empress’s side hall and remained in Weiyang Palace’s main hall until the empress hurried in.

The new emperor learned that Zhu Jiuyin and the other demons had seized the Heaven-Shaking Arrow at the Yang Mausoleum, but he could not send help in time. He went to guard the Palace of Peace and Happiness to win the grand empress dowager’s favor, while Li Guang mistook his intentions for a plan to kill her and began to support it.

• The empress told the new emperor that demons had forced their way into the Yang Mausoleum and seized the Heaven-Shaking Arrow from the grand empress dowager.
• The new emperor decided he could not reach the Yang Mausoleum in time and ordered the Feathered Forest Legion, city gate patrols, and Sima Gate guards to protect Chang'an City.
• Remembering advice to win the grand empress dowager’s favor, the new emperor took a sword and set out with Li Guang and the empress for the Palace of Peace and Happiness.
• Li Guang believed the new emperor intended to kill the wounded grand empress dowager and weighed which ruler he would rather serve.
• Thinking the new emperor’s possible coup would benefit him, Li Guang began to harbor murderous intent and prepared to help.

A night raid at Yang Mausoleum turned into a battle as Kong Ning attacked Wei Wan and His Lordship withdrew into the imperial mausoleum. Zhi Buyi sealed the entrance behind him and prepared to fight His Lordship alone, while his retainers tried to stop Lu Baibai from charging inside.

• Wei Wan and Zhi Buyi gathered their retainers to guard Yang Mausoleum as Lu Baibai broke through Kong Zhong and the others’ Earth Techniques.
• Kong Ning attacked Wei Wan with her knives, but his talismans protected him and a lightning bolt was deflected by her green light.
• His Lordship escaped through a small hole in the stone door and entered the imperial mausoleum after Zhi Buyi challenged him to reveal his identity.
• Zhi Buyi ordered the others to guard the entrance, then entered the mausoleum, sealed the hole, and closed the stone door behind him.
• Zhi Buyi’s elderly retainers blocked the entrance as Lu Baibai charged, and several were killed by his antlers and the wooden spikes.

His Excellency crossed the terracotta dog and pig trials by blocking his senses, then entered the terracotta horse area and searched for the Heaven-Shaking Arrow. He discovered a powerful Zhou Yafu terracotta figure guarding the tomb and was drawn into a fight as another attacker approached.

• His Excellency sealed his ears to pass the terracotta dogs and shut his eyes and nostrils to ignore the terracotta pigs.
• He flew past the terracotta horses, burned a distant crossbow bolt, and searched for the Heaven-Shaking Arrow that had wounded him before.
• His Excellency found the attack site and evaded the Cheng Bushi terracotta figure as he moved toward the Sima Gate.
• He recognized the Zhou Yafu terracotta figure and was surprised when its refined swordsmanship sent eighteen gray Sword-Rays against him.
• As His Excellency struggled against Zhou Yafu's figure, someone shouted, “Well done, Marquis of Jiang!” and rushed toward him.

The Grand Empress Dowager used the Nine Needles Technique to numb herself while monitoring an intruder fighting through the imperial mausoleum. As the battle intensified and Zhi Buyi entered the fight, she prepared to use the Heaven-Shaking Arrow to kill the intruder.

• The Grand Empress Dowager ordered Medical Officer Chunyu to needle her so she could cast spells despite the Sha Qi worsening her injuries.
• The Grand Empress Dowager watched the Water Mirror Technique show the Honored One fighting terracotta figures in the mausoleum and questioned the old palace maid about his identity.
• The Grand Empress Dowager learned that Zhi Buyi had entered the burial chamber and lamented that the Confucian School had left others to deal with the intruder.
• Grand Princess Dou reported that Grand Commandant Zhou's terracotta figure had been defeated, and the Grand Empress Dowager began locking onto the Heaven-Shaking Arrow.

Zhang Xuezhou watched the heightened defenses around Chang'an and overheard Grand Astrologer Sima and Dou Ying discussing a possible rebellion at the imperial palace. As Sima noticed an unfamiliar Yang Corporeal Soul spectator above them, Dou Ying sent his own soul rushing upward.

• Zhang Xuezhou observed the firelit defenses around Chang'an and stayed high above the ground to avoid being detected.
• Grand Astrologer Sima and Dou Ying discussed the movement of the emperor and Li Guang from Weiyang Palace toward the Palace of Peace and Happiness, which suggested a rebellion.
• Grand Astrologer Sima considered how the event might be recorded in history and judged that Li Guang would likely defeat Cheng Bushi in a fight.
• Grand Astrologer Sima sensed an unfamiliar Yang Corporeal Soul above him and asked where the spectator held office.
• Dou Ying sent his Yang Corporeal Soul whooshing upward before the stranger could answer.

Dou Ying encountered Zhang Xuezhou above the palace and tried to turn their meeting into a deal involving spirit jade essence. Their guarded conversation was interrupted by Grand Astrologer Sima, and Dou Ying learned that Zhang Xuezhou could freely enter the emperor’s secret archive.

• Dou Ying recognized Zhang Xuezhou as the immortal he had met before and flew up to question him.
• Dou Ying considered asking Zhang Xuezhou for spirit jade essence to strengthen his Yang Corporeal Soul Dharma Form or advance his cultivation.
• Dou Ying hinted that the palace turmoil resembled the upheaval when Qin Er Shi took power, but Grand Astrologer Sima misrepresented his words as an accusation against the emperor.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Dou Ying to pick a place if he wanted to talk, and Dou Ying realized the man wanted him to be direct about making a deal.
• When Dou Ying mentioned the emperor’s secret archive, Zhang Xuezhou said he could enter it whenever he wanted.

Zhang Xuezhou watched the palace standoff through his Yang Corporeal Soul while officials debated whether the new emperor was rebelling or protecting the Palace of Peace and Happiness. As the palace remained quiet, Dou Ying headed toward Sima Gate and Zhang Xuezhou slipped away toward Ji An’s residence.

• Zhang Xuezhou kept his Yang Corporeal Soul near the imperial palace while avoiding Dou Ying and the distant gaze of Grand Astrologer Sima.
• Grand Astrologer Sima and the officials discussed the fighting at Yang Mausoleum, while Shen Peigong defended his decision to send Kong Zhong there.
• Ji An, Dou Ying, and the others concluded that the new emperor was guarding the Palace of Peace and Happiness while the Grand Empress Dowager faced a powerful opponent.
• Dou Ying left the chancellor’s residence and headed for Sima Gate, while Zhang Xuezhou’s Yang Corporeal Soul drifted toward Ji An’s residence.
• Grand Astrologer Sima saw Zhang Xuezhou enter Ji An’s residence and turned his attention back to the peaceful imperial palace.

The Grand Empress Dowager lost control of the Heaven-Shaking Arrow to a distant opponent and collapsed from the backlash. As Medical Officer Chunyu treated her, armed forces gathered outside the Palace of Peace and Happiness, leaving Grand Princess Dou alarmed by Li Guang’s ruthless gaze.

• The Grand Empress Dowager tried to strike her opponent through the Heaven-Shaking Arrow, but the opponent seized control and erased her divine sense.
• The Grand Empress Dowager collapsed, and Grand Princess Dou protected the group with an ancient painting as a distant voice threatened them.
• Medical Officer Chunyu used eighteen needles to stop the Sha Qi and Law Power from running wild, warning that the treatment could lower the Grand Empress Dowager’s cultivation.
• Medical Officer Chunyu heard armed troops gathering outside and feared a rebellion had begun.
• Grand Princess Dou started to challenge Liu Che, but Li Guang’s ruthless gaze silenced her.

Zhang Xuezhou remained trapped outside his body while His Excellency fought Li Guang over control of the Heaven-Shaking Arrow in Emperor Jing’s burial chamber. His Excellency drew on Spirit Jade to overpower Li Guang, but a golden dragon soul struck him during the contest.

• Zhang Xuezhou sensed Grand Astrologer Sima tracking him and waited for him to withdraw the technique that kept Zhang’s Yang Corporeal Soul away from his body.
• His Excellency discovered that Li Guang had left an imprint on the Heaven-Shaking Arrow and began contesting control of it with Law Power.
• His Excellency identified Li Guang as his opponent and used a piece of Spirit Jade to strengthen his Law Power.
• Li Guang kept resisting His Excellency’s pressure, so His Excellency extracted more Spiritual Qi from a second piece of Spirit Jade to erode Li Guang’s imprint.
• A golden dragon soul struck His Excellency as he touched Li Guang’s imprint, but His Excellency believed he could withstand further attacks.

The grand empress dowager and Grand Princess Dou used the Nine Dragons Cauldron to attack Zhu Jiuyin while Li Guang held him in a battle of techniques. When they needed the Demon-Revealing Mirror delivered to the Yang Mausoleum, the new emperor learned that no known official could reach it in time, though Grand Astrologer Sima noticed an unnamed Yang Corporeal Soul moving with remarkable speed.

• Li Guang confirmed that Zhu Jiuyin was his opponent, and the grand empress dowager ordered Grand Princess Dou to unleash the Nine Dragons Cauldron’s dragon souls against him.
• Grand Princess Dou released the cauldron’s dragons one by one as Li Guang reported that Zhu Jiuyin remained in the struggle, and the seventh dragon also failed to break through His Eminence’s sea of consciousness.
• The grand empress dowager asked for someone to carry the Demon-Revealing Mirror to the Yang Mausoleum, and the empress went to seek the new emperor’s help.
• Grand Astrologer Sima told the new emperor that no available official could reach the Yang Mausoleum within half a quarter hour, while the fastest named candidates would take longer.
• Grand Astrologer Sima recalled an unnamed person with a swift Yang Corporeal Soul, then realized that person had already left the area; Cheng Bushi suspected the person was exceptionally skilled at flying.

Tian Fen watched the imperial court’s options dwindle while His Eminence survived the ninth golden dragon and seized control of the Heaven-Shaking Arrow. As His Eminence prepared to leave Emperor Jing’s burial palace, an unseen attacker struck him from the shadows.

• Tian Fen decided to visit the empress dowager and noticed Chancellor Dou Ying heading to the library pavilion in the middle of the night.
• Tian Fen saw the eighth golden dragon cross the sky, while His Eminence believed the Palace of Peace and Happiness had only one strike left.
• His Eminence used the last Spirit Jade in his left palm to withstand the ninth dragon, which drained and withered his hand.
• His Eminence traced Li Guang’s Law Power to a cauldron and decided against rashly attacking Chang’an City.
• His Eminence subdued the Heaven-Shaking Arrow and prepared to leave the burial palace, but an unseen figure struck him twice near the waist.

Zhang Xuezhou learned that the Venerable One was trapped in the Yang Mausoleum and was summoned to the Palace of Peace and Happiness for an examination. As he tried to conceal his suspicious health, Medical Officer Chunyu gave him a pill that made his cultivation fluctuate.

• Zhang Xuezhou watched the battle at the Yang Mausoleum from his window, then practiced his Techniques through the night.
• Kong Ning arrived bloodied and told Zhang Xuezhou that the Venerable One seemed trapped, Lu Baibai had fled after being struck by a Law Treasure, and the Venerable One's Dharma Body had stopped responding.
• Kong Ning asked Zhang Xuezhou to investigate the Yang Mausoleum, then left for Mount Sumeru; Zhang feared the commotion would lead the authorities to him.
• At dawn, Medical Officer Chunyu and Old Eunuch Cui arrived with the Grand Empress Dowager's order for Zhang Xuezhou to go to the Palace of Peace and Happiness.
• Medical Officer Chunyu gave Zhang Xuezhou a Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill to disguise his health, but it caused a burning sensation and made his Yang Corporeal Soul Dharma Form's cultivation fluctuate.

Medical Officer Chunyu gave Zhang Xuezhou a Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill, and he used its power to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique. At the Palace of Peace and Happiness, he pretended to be in a final burst of life and ran outside, where Li Guang and Cheng Bushi blocked his path.

• Medical Officer Chunyu explained that the Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill could help Zhang Xuezhou cultivate the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique and keep him alive until they reached the Palace of Peace and Happiness.
• Zhang Xuezhou used the pill's power to adjust his body and advance his cultivation of the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique.
• Eunuch Cui announced their arrival, and Grand Princess Dou ordered him to receive twenty strokes after Medical Officer Chunyu said he had disrupted Zhang Xuezhou's cultivation.
• Zhang Xuezhou jumped off the stretcher and demanded twenty strokes too, prompting Medical Officer Chunyu to claim he was showing signs of a final burst of life.
• Zhang Xuezhou forced his way out of the palace while the attendants and guards tried to catch him without hurting him.
• Li Guang and Cheng Bushi moved to block Zhang Xuezhou after Grand Princess Dou called from inside the palace.

Zhang Xuezhou acted wildly in the Palace of Peace and Happiness, while Medical Officer Chunyu persuaded Grand Princess Dou to delay treating the Grand Empress Dowager for four days. Chunyu gambled that the delay would let Zhang Xuezhou’s plan unfold and spare them from a dangerous procedure.

• Zhang Xuezhou escaped the palace maids and eunuchs long enough to pull hairs and poke the eyes of Li Guang and Cheng Bushi, who complained after he was taken away.
• Dou Ying, Tian Fen, and the Empress Dowager waited outside the palace, uncertain about what had happened at Yang Mausoleum.
• Medical Officer Chunyu explained that she had given Zhang Xuezhou a pill and taught him the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique, while Zhang shouted insults and claimed he could not control his excitement.
• Medical Officer Chunyu suggested Lord Cui had blocked Zhang’s Qiaoyin acupoint, and Grand Princess Dou ordered Cui Zhifu to receive twenty more strokes.
• Medical Officer Chunyu said the Grand Empress Dowager needed further observation, then promised to perform the procedure in four days, wagering that Zhang Xuezhou’s condition would develop as he had predicted.

Zhang Xuezhou stayed awake for two days in the Palace of Peace and Happiness, worrying Grand Princess Dou about whether his recovery would last. While recounting his village’s disappearance, he heard the Grand Empress Dowager’s theories and decided to investigate Jin Chang’s possible involvement.

• Zhang Xuezhou apologized to the palace attendants for his earlier behavior but remained unusually energetic after two days without sleep.
• Grand Princess Dou checked on Zhang Xuezhou and questioned him about his family and village.
• Zhang Xuezhou described how the people of Zhang Household Village had vanished, and the Grand Empress Dowager suggested they may have been controlled or deceived into leaving.
• Zhang Xuezhou recalled that Jin Chang knew the Puppet Technique and had been near the village, though he could not identify a motive.
• Zhang Xuezhou decided to ask Lei Bei and Cigong to investigate Jin Chang’s records from his time serving the King of Huainan.

Zhang Xuezhou recounted his difficult past while being observed in the Palace of Peace and Happiness, appearing unusually healthy despite his skull surgery. After he suddenly collapsed, Medical Officer Chunyu found his life force fading and the Grand Empress Dowager ordered three more days of observation with stronger medicine.

• Zhang Xuezhou described his hardships to Grand Princess Dou and the Grand Empress Dowager, who sympathized with him.
• Medical Officer Chunyu warned the Grand Empress Dowager that Zhang Xuezhou's vigor after surgery was unusually concerning.
• Zhang Xuezhou suddenly collapsed while recounting his business travels, and Medical Officer Chunyu found his life force rapidly fading.
• Medical Officer Chunyu said the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique kept Zhang Xuezhou barely alive and prepared to use the Nine Needles Technique.
• The Grand Empress Dowager ordered three more days of observation and authorized raising Zhang Xuezhou's treatment allowance by two cultivation levels.

After returning to Western Capital City, Zhang Xuezhou planned to strengthen himself and Zhang Manqian using the gains from the Qinmeng hunt. He aimed to reach the Body Transformation Realm while urging his sister to build up her genetic strength for their next expedition.

• Zhang Manqian told Zhang Xuezhou that their debts to the Zhou Household and Luo Household were paid and that they had saved money from the Qinmeng trip.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned that Professor Wang Haoran was hospitalized after struggling to readjust to Western Capital City, while information about Montes Ganghao and the giant Ferocious Beast bird remained inaccessible.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Zhang Manqian to obtain high-grade tiger and leopard blood serums to strengthen her genetic abilities.
• Zhang Xuezhou planned to prepare Spirit-Forging Pill liquid and advance toward the Body Transformation Realm and Divine Ability Realm.
• Zhang Xuezhou warned that their hunting group would become divided by strength and asked Zhang Manqian to advance as far as she could, improving their team's close-combat capability.

Zhang Xuezhou prepared and repeatedly drank concentrated Spirit-Forging Pill liquid, enduring its effects as he pushed his cultivation forward. While visitors watched and misunderstood his behavior, Zhang Manqian sensed his Law Power growing frighteningly strong.

• Zhang Xuezhou prepared Spirit-Forging Pill liquid with ingredients he had bought and considered medicines for the Divine Ability Realm.
• Zhou Yueyan, Zhou Tianhao, Changkong Shenguang, Changkong Weiguang, Zuo Teng, Song Sijia, and others arrived at the North Rehe Research Institute to seek access to the Ferocious Beast Belt.
• The visitors watched Zhang Xuezhou drink a large beaker of medicinal paste and mistook his repeated drinking for strange or addictive behavior.
• Zhang Manqian beat Zhang Xuezhou when he drank too much, but he vomited and then continued drinking the paste.
• Zhang Manqian sensed Zhang Xuezhou's Law Power growing purer and stronger, then felt overwhelmed when his presence seemed to tower over her.

Zhang Xuezhou realized he had unconsciously used the Body Transformation Realm’s suppression ability and began considering how it differed from his Mental Fighting Technique. After Zhou Yueyan tasted his bitter Spirit-Forging Pill paste and became violently ill, Zhang Xuezhou told the others she would recover if they let her retch.

• Zhang Xuezhou reflected that his suppression ability had activated without his awareness and considered whether he could control it.
• Zhang Manqian recovered from the effect of Zhang Xuezhou’s glance and told him that only her legs were still shaking.
• Zuo Teng and the others entered Zhang Xuezhou’s laboratory, where Zhou Yueyan tasted the Spirit-Forging Pill paste and began vomiting.
• Zhou Yueyan recalled her harsh youth and training under Zhou Xin while she struggled with the paste’s effects.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Zhou Yueyan that she would be fine if she retched for a while, leaving her worried despite her Fourth Sequence cultivation.

Zhou Yueyan suffered severe vomiting after tasting Zhang Xuezhou’s cultivation medicine, while Zuo Teng and Changkong Shenguang tried to obtain some of it before Zhang disposed of it. Zhang then arranged loans of his Ferocious Beast belt in exchange for blood preparations, leaving the group to gather resources and take turns using it.

• Zhou Tianhao worried about his aunt, and Zuo Teng said he had induced vomiting and pumped Zhou Yueyan’s stomach, though Song Sijia doubted it would help.
• Zuo Teng and Changkong Shenguang considered using Zhang Xuezhou’s powerful emetic, but Zhang poured it down the drain and refused to provide a sample.
• Zhou Tianhao offered Zhang a high-grade tiger blood preparation and an intermediate-grade leopard blood preparation, and Zhang gave him second place to borrow the Ferocious Beast belt for up to half a month.
• Zhang explained that the belt could speed up blood preparation absorption but could not overcome the scarcity of preparations and the time needed to advance cultivators.
• Zuo Teng offered three intermediate-grade antelope blood preparations for about ten days with the belt, and Changkong Shenguang and others also offered preparations in exchange for borrowing it.

Zhang Xuezhou cultivated his Realm Techniques in the North Rehe Research Institute while Zhou Yueyan tried to understand his unusual behavior and Zhang Manqian used the Ferocious Beast Belt to absorb crane blood serum. The chapter ended when Professor Zhu Liangping asked Zhang Xuezhou whether his rejected paper about communicating with exotic beasts was true, since the committee had to evaluate him for an associate professor title.

• Zhou Yueyan watched Zhang Manqian use the Ferocious Beast Belt and discussed with Zhou Tianhao whether the belt could be researched or used to obtain blood serum.
• Zhou Yueyan wondered why Zhang Xuezhou was meditating and speculated that his unusual habits and intermittent vegetative symptoms came from the sinkhole.
• Zhang Xuezhou practiced his Evasion Techniques and the Nine Revolutions Harmonizing Qi Technique, reaching its second revolution in a few hours.
• Zhang Xuezhou assessed how his Realm Technique and Mental Strengthening Chapter gave him an instantly activated suppressive force with a range of a little over twenty meters.
• Professor Zhu Liangping messaged Zhang Xuezhou to ask whether his rejected paper, “Tuer God and Whispers with Exotic Beasts,” was true, because the committee had to evaluate his associate professor nomination.