Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou proposed rewarding farming and warfare as the proper paths to official rank and noble titles, arguing that courtly connections and flattery weakened Great Han. His attack angered the ministers, but none dared impeach him, despite the new emperor's readiness to support such a move.

• Zhang Xuezhou went to Weiyang Palace after discussing court policy and cultivation with Dong Zhongshu.
• When Xu Chang asked whether he had further ceremonial reforms, Zhang Xuezhou offered a way to strengthen the nation.
• Zhang Xuezhou argued that Great Han should grant posts and ranks through farming and warfare rather than connections and honeyed words.
• Xu Chang, Zhuang Qingdi, and other ministers challenged Zhang Xuezhou, pointing out that his own appointment did not come through farming or warfare.
• Zhang Xuezhou dared the ministers to impeach him, but they only jeered and complained while the new emperor waited for someone to act.

After no official impeached Zhang Xuezhou, he discussed practical ways to strengthen the country with the new emperor, proposing academies and instruction in Confucian virtues, especially Dong Zhongshu’s trustworthiness. The new emperor questioned how Zhang knew of Dong Zhongshu’s teachings and began probing his affiliations, while also recalling Jin Chang and the Nine People Sect.

• Zhang Xuezhou failed to provoke the officials into impeaching him, frustrating the new emperor’s plan to establish a precedent for reshuffling the court.
• Zhang Xuezhou and the new emperor discussed the limits of appointing officials through farming and military merit, as wealthy landowners and corruption could capture the benefits.
• Zhang Xuezhou described Wen Weng’s academy in Shu Commandery City, but the new emperor warned that wealthy students would dominate a nationwide system.
• Zhang Xuezhou recommended teaching benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, explaining that Dong Zhongshu had spoken of trustworthiness.
• The new emperor asked whether Zhang Xuezhou had joined the Confucian School, and Zhang said he remained in the Yin-Yang School and was tied to Jin Chang.
• The new emperor identified Jin Chang as a retainer of the King of Huainan and a suspected member of the Nine People Sect, then questioned Zhang Xuezhou’s connection to Dong Zhongshu.

Dong Zhongshu left Chang'an City for Jiangdu after realizing that the powerful Fortune Technique cultivators there made his plans uncertain and dangerous. Meanwhile, the new emperor visited the Zhang residence to seek guidance from Dong Zhongshu about the Unity of Celestial Person and Heaven.

• Dong Zhongshu worried that the King of Huainan, Zhang Xuezhou, and the new emperor could obstruct or threaten his Fortune Technique plans.
• Dong Zhongshu decided to leave Chang'an City and reduce his influence, giving his hosts ten taels of silver before setting out for Jiangdu.
• Dong Zhongshu considered sending Lü Wangshu to investigate Huainan and make contact in Chang'an City, then traveled onward by carriage.
• The new emperor returned to the Zhang residence in disguise and noticed the crowd gathered there.
• The new emperor went to visit the great Confucian scholar driven from Chang'an City, hoping to learn more about the Unity of Celestial Person and Heaven.

The new emperor arrived too late to meet Dong Zhongshu and learned from Zhang Xuezhou that Jin Chang had suffered a string of bizarre misfortunes after being cursed with the Fortune Technique. He concluded that the King of Huainan was behind the curse and resolved to keep Liu An wary by relying on the counterfeit Red Empyrean Sword.

• The new emperor reached Zhang Xuezhou’s home two hours after Dong Zhongshu had left, and Zhang Zhongshu and Lady Yourong explained that Dong had only left silver and an apology.
• The new emperor asked Zhang Xuezhou to invite Dong Zhongshu to the marquis’s residence if he returned, and hinted that nearby residences would become available.
• Zhang Xuezhou told the new emperor that Jin Chang had been struck by a door and carriage, injured his neck, fallen, and nearly choked while eating.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that Dong Zhongshu had blamed Jin Chang’s misfortunes on an insect called Calamity, Calamity, and the new emperor recognized the events as a Fortune Technique Incantation.
• The new emperor suspected the King of Huainan had cursed Jin Chang and feared that Liu An could target him if he learned the Red Empyrean Sword was counterfeit.
• The new emperor touched the counterfeit Red Empyrean Sword at his waist and decided he must show no weakness to keep Liu An from acting against him.

Zhang Xuezhou weighed the shifting balance between himself, Dong Zhongshu, and the new emperor while preparing rites for the court. After reassuring Di Rang about his son Di Shan, he encountered a veiled woman from the King of Huainan's Household.

• Zhang Xuezhou considered how the three allies might turn against one another after defeating the King of Huainan and concluded that he needed to make himself indispensable.
• Zhang Xuezhou finished writing extensive proposed rites and ordered his clerk to bind the bamboo slips into scrolls for delivery to court.
• Di Shan brought his family to help sort and bind the writings, and Zhang Xuezhou recognized Di Rang among the helpers.
• Di Rang asked Zhang Xuezhou to look after Di Shan, and Zhang Xuezhou reassured him before leaving the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
• Zhang Cigong drove a carriage from the King of Huainan's Household, where a veiled woman beckoned Zhang Xuezhou.

Zhang Xuezhou accepted Liu Ling’s invitation to the King of Huainan’s Household after learning that Li Shang was there, while weighing whether to reveal his Fortune Technique cultivation. He prepared for the possibility of being identified and learned that Lei Bei was in Shouchun City.

• Liu Ling introduced herself as the eldest daughter of the royal house of Huainan and asked Zhang Xuezhou about revising court etiquette.
• Zhang Xuezhou tried to decline her invitation, but Liu Ling offered to have Li Shang treat his recurring illness.
• Zhang Xuezhou remembered debating pill-making with Li Shang on Five Trees Mountain and decided he wanted to meet him.
• Zhang Xuezhou considered whether to stop hiding his Fortune Technique cultivation and prepare for the King of Huainan to discover it.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked about Lei Bei, and Liu Ling said he was teaching her elder brother swordsmanship in Shouchun City.

Liu Ling brought Zhang Xuezhou to a banquet at the King of Huainan's Household, where he impressed the gathered cultivators with his knowledge of medicinal herbs. The banquet appeared to be an assessment, and Liu Ling watched as Zhang Xuezhou accepted her wine without hesitation.

• Liu Ling rewarded Zhang Cigong for bringing Zhang Xuezhou to the household, sending him to learn from Wu Bei in Shouchun City.
• Zhang Xuezhou rode with Liu Ling to the banquet hall and identified the herbs and their proportions in the sheep-neck broth by scent.
• Li Shang praised Zhang Xuezhou's skill, and Zhang Xuezhou greeted Jin Chang as his martial uncle.
• Liu Ling introduced the gathered guests and seated Zhang Xuezhou among the household's capable cultivators.
• Liu Ling offered Zhang Xuezhou Huainan's wine, Burning in Jade, and he drank it without hesitation, surprising her.

At a banquet, Liu Ling used her Charm Technique to make Zhang Xuezhou reveal the Eight-Step Immortal Ascension Pill formula. Jin Chang and Su Fei also sought to gain from Zhang, while Liu Ling recognized the formula as a valuable boon for the King of Huainan’s Household.

• Liu Ling served Zhang Xuezhou wine and questioned him about the Palace of Peace and Happiness, using the Charm Technique to loosen his tongue.
• Jin Chang realized Zhang had fallen under Liu Ling’s spell and considered how revealing the Yin-Yang School’s Realm Technique could prove his loyalty to the King of Huainan’s Household.
• Jin Chang and Su Fei both rose to question Zhang Xuezhou about his secrets.
• Zhang Xuezhou claimed the grand empress dowager favored him because he presented the Eight-Step Immortal Ascension Pill formula.
• Zhang Xuezhou recited the formula, and Li Shang praised its potential to help cultivators advance toward the Sole Self Realm and possibly the True Self Realm.
• Liu Ling delighted in obtaining the valuable formula, seeing the banquet as another chance to benefit from Zhang Xuezhou’s good fortune.

At the King of Huainan’s Household banquet, Liu Ling tested Zhang Xuezhou’s fortune and used enchantment to make him reveal Yin-Yang School secrets. Jin Chang realized the household was recording the teachings and feared the school could not escape disaster.

• Su Fei observed Zhang Xuezhou but could not clearly assess him because his light seemed to flare and vanish.
• Liu Ling interpreted Su Fei’s account as evidence that Zhang Xuezhou’s fortune alternated between strong and weak, and connected the Eight-Step Immortal Ascension Pill to fortune he had let slip away.
• Li Shang declined to question Zhang Xuezhou about the pill, saying he lacked the cultivation and materials needed to refine it.
• Liu Ling gave Jin Chang a cup of wine containing Desire Grass, and Jin Chang used it to question Zhang Xuezhou about Yin-Yang School cultivation.
• Zhang Xuezhou recited secret Realm Techniques while Mao Bei recorded his words, and Jin Chang recognized Mao Bei’s handwriting from the Literary Excellence Pavilion’s secret manuals.

At the King of Huainan’s banquet, Zhang Xuezhou was briefly affected by Liu Ling’s wine-triggered Technique but remained cooperative while his Cynomorium helped protect him from enchantment. Jin Chang was pressured to reveal the Yin-Yang School’s teachings, and as he recited them, he suspected Zhang Xuezhou might have regained his senses.

• Liu Ling’s wine triggered a Technique in Zhang Xuezhou, briefly making him lightheaded, but the effect faded as he continued answering her questions.
• Zhang Xuezhou realized the Poison Avoidance Instruction could not fully resist the wine’s effects, while Cynomorium helped guard him against bewitching Techniques.
• Zhang Xuezhou described the Nine Heavens Sect Realm Technique through the Divine Ability Realm, but Jin Chang explained that Zhang Xuezhou lacked its later teachings.
• At Liu Ling’s urging, Jin Chang began reciting the Yin Yang Great Joy Nine People Incantation and continued through the Sole Self Realm.
• Jin Chang noticed Zhang Xuezhou’s foot shift and wondered whether he had awakened from Liu Ling’s Technique, then watched him closely for signs.

At Princess Liu Ling’s banquet, Zhang Xuezhou collapsed after her Technique Method, and Li Shang found him alive but unresponsive. Jin Chang explained that Zhang’s recurring coma was expected, but the household remained cautious and arranged to care for him while Jin Chang struggled to judge whether Zhang had secretly escaped Liu Ling’s control.

• Princess Liu Ling’s banquet interrogated Zhang Xuezhou and Jin Chang about the Yin-Yang School, and Jin Chang wondered whether Zhang’s Eight-Step Immortal Ascension Pill was real.
• Zhang Xuezhou swayed and collapsed after Liu Ling’s Technique Method, prompting Su Fei to catch him and Li Shang to examine his pulse.
• Li Shang reported that Zhang seemed dead but remained vital and barely responsive, and Liu Ling panicked that she had caused trouble.
• Jin Chang reminded Liu Ling that Zhang’s skull injury caused him to fall into a prolonged coma every twelve days, calming her fears.
• Liu Ling ordered Li Shang to treat Zhang and instructed Jin Chang to tell Zhang’s household he was receiving treatment at the King of Huainan’s Household.
• Jin Chang recalled that a Daoist had subdued him while guarding Zhang and remained uncertain whether Zhang’s collapse had concealed his escape from Liu Ling’s control.

Zhang Xuezhou escaped Jin Chang by crossing early and found himself seated on a chair in a strange realm, where he witnessed the destruction of a world-devouring tree and the chair’s long history. The chapter left him sensing the chair’s final owner after countless beings had claimed it and died.

• Zhang Xuezhou called on the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon to cross early and escape Jin Chang’s scrutiny.
• Zhang Xuezhou perceived a chair in the darkness, took human form, and sat on it.
• A towering tree grew until the world beneath it shrank to a planet, then golden lightning destroyed the tree and scattered its seeds.
• A giant branch tried to rescue itself with gemstone-like objects and bodiless workers, but it sank into the darkness, leaving a wooden chair behind.
• The chair passed through many owners who claimed Immortality or godlike power before dying, and Zhang Xuezhou sensed its final owner.

Zhang Xuezhou learned that the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon had once wielded immense power and confronted a force that judged those who defied the gods. After negotiating unsuccessfully with the being that shared his face, Zhang Xuezhou returned to reality with heightened perception and seemed to have gained the Eighth Sequence's Control early.

• Zhang Xuezhou heard memories of the towering tree's successor facing a judgment that declared, "Those who defy the gods must be slain!"
• Zhang Xuezhou realized the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon had once been far more powerful than he had assumed and that Fire Meteor owners had widely differing circumstances.
• Zhang Xuezhou saw a face identical to his own and demanded equal rights, then offered to coexist with the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon.
• Zhang Xuezhou left the chair and returned to reality as the train's steam whistle sounded and Ren Anran lowered her raised foot.
• Zhang Xuezhou perceived the world in slowed, heightened detail and suspected he had gained the Eighth Sequence's Control ahead of time.

Zhang Xuezhou unexpectedly awakened an ability that made the world seem to slow down, then stopped it by using Intimidation. He and Zhang Manqian and Ren Anran suspected that the giant tree chair he had encountered had triggered Eighth Sequence Control, though its connection to his cultivation remained unclear.

• Zhang Xuezhou found that everyone around him was moving extremely slowly and feared the ability would age and exhaust his body.
• Unable to stop the effect with his other techniques, Zhang Xuezhou used Intimidation, which returned the world to normal.
• Zhang Manqian and Ren Anran realized Zhang Xuezhou had moved behind them too quickly for them to follow.
• Zhang Xuezhou said he might have gained Eighth Sequence Control, and Zhang Manqian linked it to their earlier ideas about mental-power cultivation.
• Ren Anran asked about the tree chair, and Zhang Xuezhou described the enormous tree he had seen.
• Zhang Xuezhou wondered whether the tree chair had triggered a combination of Realm Technique and mental power, then worried that he had learned too many different systems.

Zhang Xuezhou struggled to understand why he could barely reuse his sudden control over speed, then discussed the Tomb Scripture and plans to find Huang Daoxian with Zhang Manqian and Ren Anran. As the freighter neared shore, he realized his Fortune Techniques could cause trouble at court and that he needed to prepare for the new emperor’s response.

• Zhang Xuezhou tested his unusual ability without success, and Ren Anran warned him to be careful of Hongku in his body.
• Zhang Manqian and Ren Anran told Zhang Xuezhou that the freighter would reach shore earlier than expected.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that he wanted to find children who could use the Tomb Scripture, potentially helping locate Huang Daoxian.
• Zhang Manqian worried that finding Huang Daoxian would force a direct confrontation, and Zhang Xuezhou said they could bombard the area before approaching.
• Ren Anran wondered whether the Tomb Scripture was specifically meant to counter Huang Daoxian, making Zhang Xuezhou consider how the court might view his cultivation of Fortune Techniques.

The freighter carrying Zhang Xuezhou and the Twilight Years committee returned safely toward the Scarlet Alliance State, while the group continued discussing the Mental Strengthening Chapter. Zuo Teng regretted learning the method so late and grieved over his past, leaving Zhang Xuezhou to wonder whether Zuo Luo had died.

• Ren Yisheng told Zhang Xuezhou the freighter would reach port soon and described the calm return voyage.
• Zhang Xuezhou greeted the committee members, lifting the mood and reinforcing the group's reliance on him.
• Ren Anran discussed Zhang Xuezhou's progress in the Mental Strengthening Chapter with Ren Yisheng.
• Zhang Manqian questioned Zuo Teng about his solemn mood, and Zuo Teng apologized for his past stinginess and flaws.
• Zuo Teng told Zhang Xuezhou he felt deeply sad, and Zhang Xuezhou suspected that Zuo Luo might have died in Western Capital City.

Zhang Xuezhou realized Zuo Teng might be recovering from Zuo Luo’s influence after Zuo Luo’s apparent death, while Zuo Lianguang negotiated for Zuo Teng to receive a share of ferocious tiger extract. The chapter ended with an agreement granting Zuo Teng a future share if he reached the Sixth Sequence and could use it.

• Zhang Xuezhou concluded that Zuo Teng had been assimilated by Zuo Luo’s seed but might now break free, and wondered whether Zuo Luo had been killed in Western Capital City.
• Zuo Teng wept uncontrollably, and Zuo Lianguang mistakenly scolded him before pleading for a share of ferocious tiger extract.
• Ren Yisheng and the others debated the request, while Zhu Bufan agreed to give up part of his potential share.
• Zhang Xuezhou agreed that Zuo Teng could claim extract after reaching the Sixth Sequence, provided he could use it and Zhang Manqian had not already used it.
• Zuo Lianguang drafted an agreement and obtained Zhang Xuezhou’s and Zhang Manqian’s signatures.

After the Ferocious Beast hunt, Zhang Xuezhou watched Ren Anran calm Zuo Teng and considered her ability to detect changes in a person’s true self. At the port, the haul inspired Li Yingbo and others to support the hunting effort, while Qimeng Haige decided his future lay with Ren Yisheng’s group rather than the Aomeijia Alliance.

• Ren Anran said Zuo Teng seemed different when calm and that his true self appeared when he cried, prompting Zhang Xuezhou to reflect on her ability to detect changes in people.
• Zhang Xuezhou and the hunting party arrived at the deep-water port, where Li Yingbo greeted Ren Yisheng and showed excitement about future Ferocious Beast hunts.
• Li Yingbo considered how expanding the number of Sequence Holders could lead to higher sequences, while Li Qi and Zhong Rang discussed their families’ prospects alongside Ren Yisheng’s group.
• Qimeng Haige watched the Ferocious Beasts being loaded onto trucks and reconsidered his plan to contend with the Montes Lineage and remain in the Aomeijia Alliance.
• Qimeng Haige decided that his future was not in the Aomeijia Alliance and turned his attention to following Ren Yisheng, Ren Anran, and Zhang Xuezhou.

After returning to Western Capital City, Zhang Xuezhou headed to the Zuo Household to investigate while Zuo Teng was taken for treatment. Worried that Zhang Xuezhou might face danger there, Ren Anran brought Ren Wuyang along to follow him.

• Zhang Xuezhou agreed to take the unwell Zuo Teng to Jishi Medical Center, then decided to visit the Zuo Household alone.
• Zhang Xuezhou sent Zhang Manqian to find Luo Burang and drove toward the Zuo Household using Zuo Teng's keys.
• Ren Anran suspected Zhang Xuezhou had encountered a serious rival and sent Zhang Manqian back to North Rehe.
• Ren Anran pulled Ren Wuyang out of seclusion and told him to help watch over Zhang Xuezhou at the Zuo Household.
• Ren Wuyang armed himself with a sniper rifle and longsword, then drove off with Ren Anran to the Zuo Household.

Unable to find anyone at the Zuo Household, Zhang Xuezhou learned that Zuo Jin had been visiting the Eastern Mountain Imperial Mausoleums and went there to investigate. The crowded mausoleums and Zuo Jin’s interest in the Luo Zhong Imperial Mausoleum left Zhang Xuezhou suspecting that something important was happening there.

• Zhang Xuezhou drove through the Zuo Household’s empty grounds and found no one at Zuo Jin’s villa.
• Zhang Xuezhou contacted acquaintances and learned that the household was not truly deserted and that Zuo Jin had recently visited East Mountain.
• Zhang Xuezhou drove to the Eastern Mountain Imperial Mausoleums and ran through the congested construction area after night fell.
• Ren Wuyang and Ren Anran warned Zhang Xuezhou that something was strange about the Zuo Household, and he told them he was looking for Zuo Jin and Zuo Luo.
• Zhang Xuezhou saw crowds worshipping across the imperial mausoleum areas and suspected that Zuo Jin’s repeated visits to the Luo Zhong Imperial Mausoleum pointed to a hidden secret or urgent matter.