Chapter Summaries

Wu Chao stalled Zhang Cigong’s search for Zhang Xuezhou while Zhang Xuezhou and his companions fled through the night, pursued by Senior Brother Rulai. As they rode onward, Jin Chang reflected on the Yin-Yang School’s lost secret land and noticed Zhang Xuezhou had acquired an unusually obedient horse.

• Wu Chao told Zhang Cigong that Zhang Xuezhou might have fallen into the river and delayed him by claiming he needed to study the stars to find him.
• Rong Tianding suspected Wu Chao was stalling, while Senior Brother Rulai allowed Wu Chao to continue.
• Zhang Xuezhou, Jin Chang, Lei Bei, and Su Fei rode through the dark, leaving the hunting dogs behind as they escaped their pursuers.
• Jin Chang complained that the Western Sect had sent a powerful monk to help Wu Chao and recalled how the Yin-Yang School had lost its secret land to the Immortal Court.
• Jin Chang noticed Zhang Xuezhou’s horse was exceptionally obedient and envied his apparent good luck.

Zhang Xuezhou studied the Beast Taming Sect’s Soul-Upsetting Beast Control Technique and considered how it might be developed to affect humans, though its need for a hostile target left him with no one suitable to use it on. His conversation with Jin Chang ended with Jin Chang seriously considering wishing to become the best under heaven through the Tomb Scripture.

• Zhang Xuezhou examined the Soul-Upsetting Beast Control Technique and recognized its potential as a mental-control method, while noting that it required powerful mental strength and further development.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned that the Technique reversed intense hostility into loyalty but failed on ordinary beasts or targets close to the caster, and he could not think of a suitable enemy.
• Jin Chang noticed Zhang Xuezhou grinning at the inheritance jade, and Zhang Xuezhou claimed he was memorizing it while joking about becoming second-best under heaven.
• Zhang Xuezhou flattered Jin Chang by saying the top spot belonged to him, making Jin Chang laugh and reconsider his abandoned ambition.
• Jin Chang reflected on his limitations and decided that wishing through the Tomb Scripture to become the best under heaven might be worth trying.

Wu Chao stalled Senior Brother Rulai while Zhang Xuezhou’s group prepared their plans, and recruited Li Shaojun by promising him a share of any suitable benefits. Li Shaojun learned that Wu Chao himself was the target of the scheme and agreed to go to Shouchun City to check on Zhang Xuezhou and the others.

• Senior Brother Rulai left to search the secret passage and nearby rivers for Wu Chao’s cousin, while Wu Chao hoped Zhang Xuezhou had already reached Shouchun City.
• Wu Chao told Zhang Cigong that he was stalling for time so they could each obtain what they needed, including the Beast Taming Sect’s inheritance for Zhang Cigong.
• Li Shaojun offered to heal Zhang Cigong in exchange for a share of any suitable benefits, and Wu Chao accepted and swore an oath.
• Li Shaojun fed Zhang Cigong part of a pill, then learned that Zhang Xuezhou was in Shouchun City and that Wu Chao wanted him to make inquiries there.
• When Li Shaojun asked who was being targeted, Wu Chao pointed to himself and explained that the plan aimed to make him a worker for the Great Han Dynasty.

Zhang Xuezhou and his companions reached Shouchun City and prepared to present the Beast Taming Canon to the King of Huainan’s Household. As Lei Bei led them toward the presentation, he warned Zhang Xuezhou that Tian Jiu would likely oppose them and try to prevent the canon from being judged first-grade.

• After traveling for four days, Zhang Xuezhou, Su Fei, Jin Chang, and Lei Bei entered Shouchun City using Lei Bei’s guest elder token.
• The group divided their tasks: Zhang Xuezhou transcribed the Beast Taming Canon, Jin Chang copied the material Wu Chao needed, and Lei Bei searched for Zhang Qian.
• Su Fei agreed to accompany Zhang Xuezhou as a witness when he presented the canon and considered seeking refuge in the King of Huainan’s Household.
• Zhang Xuezhou rapidly transcribed the entire canon onto five bamboo rolls, impressing Su Fei and Jin Chang with his memory and writing speed.
• Lei Bei found Zhang Qian and warned Zhang Xuezhou that Tian Jiu would likely oppose the canon’s first-grade evaluation.
• Zhang Xuezhou and the others followed Lei Bei to present the Beast Taming Canon.

Lei Bei returned to the King of Huainan’s court with Zhang Xuezhou and Su Fei, and Zhang presented the Beast Taming Canon in hopes of gaining access to Room A. The King of Huainan considered the offering, but Tian Jiu challenged its authenticity and demanded that they recite it.

• General Wu warned Lei Bei that the King of Huainan had summoned him repeatedly and that Tian Jiu might denounce him.
• Tian Jiu criticized Lei Bei for arriving late, but Lei Bei explained that he had gone to the Beast Taming Sect and had only just returned.
• The King of Huainan invited Lei Bei to contribute to a theory against realm suppression, and Zhang Xuezhou prompted him to mention meeting a friend.
• Zhang Xuezhou introduced himself as Dongfang Bubai and offered the Beast Taming Sect’s Beast Taming Canon, reminding the King that he had previously presented the Horizontal Sword Technique.
• Zhang and Su Fei confirmed that the bamboo slips contained the complete canon, but Tian Jiu demanded that they recite it to prove it was genuine.

Zhang Xuezhou and Lei Bei tried to convince the King of Huainan's Household that the transcribed Beast Taming Canon was genuine and complete. The King of Huainan accepted Su Fei and Zhang Cigong as witnesses who would cultivate its teachings, and nodded to their request for two hours in Room A.

• Officials and guest retainers debated whether Zhang Xuezhou's transcription was authentic and whether the household could accept an inheritance that might belong to the court.
• Several great cultivators, including Lei Bei and Tian Jiu, examined the Beast Taming Canon and judged its realm system and beast-taming techniques promising, though they could not confirm it was free of flaws.
• Zhang Xuezhou argued that the household could copy the inheritance for the court and said the group would have no reason to risk their lives by presenting a fake.
• When Tian Jiu questioned why they had approached the household instead of the court, Zhang Xuezhou offered Su Fei as a cultivator who could demonstrate the inheritance's later realms.
• Su Fei presented pills and pledged to serve the king's household, while Zhang Xuezhou recommended Zhang Cigong to demonstrate the earlier realms.
• With Lei Bei's support and both men pledged to cultivate the inheritance, the King of Huainan nodded to their request for access to Room A.

The King of Huainan accepted the Beast Taming Canon for review and granted Zhang Xuezhou entry to the grade-A room, while Su Fang was placed under Lei Bei. The King of Huainan planned a visit to Chang'an City to meet the new emperor and prepare against a Fortune War.

• Tian Jiu recommended that Dong Zhongshu examine the Beast Taming Canon, and the King of Huainan ordered someone to invite him.
• The King of Huainan praised Lei Bei for recommending the presentation and promised him credit regardless of Dong Zhongshu's findings.
• The King of Huainan placed Zhang Xuezhou's recommended person under Lei Bei and granted Zhang Xuezhou access to the grade-A room.
• Su Fang thanked the King of Huainan for his support and for being assigned to Lei Bei.
• The King of Huainan considered visiting Chang'an City to meet the new emperor, assess the court, and prepare against a Fortune War.

Zhang Xuezhou presented the Beast Taming Canon to the King of Huainan, and Dong Zhongshu verified that the copied text was complete. After the King of Huainan offered the canon to the imperial court, Dong Zhongshu advised him on research into countering cultivators’ realm-based deterrence, leaving the King with potential scholars to consult.

• Zhang Xuezhou told Dong Zhongshu that Su Fei, the Beast Taming Sect’s heir, had led them to the canon in the sect’s treasury, and Zhang had copied it onto bamboo slips.
• Dong Zhongshu rapidly read the Beast Taming Canon, judged it complete, and congratulated the King of Huainan on acquiring a supreme legacy technique.
• The King of Huainan announced that he would present the canon to the imperial court, then rewarded Zhang Xuezhou and the others as Su Fei and Zhang Cigong were registered.
• The King of Huainan discussed his Study of Countering Deterrence with Dong Zhongshu, who recommended drawing on the Daoist, School of Diplomacy, Yin-Yang, and Beast Taming teachings.
• Dong Zhongshu suggested that Shen Pei could unify the different teachings, but the King of Huainan agreed without intending to seek Shen Pei’s help.

Zhang Xuezhou agreed to search Room A for texts that could help Dong Zhongshu, while Dong Zhongshu reconsidered the new emperor’s intentions and resolved to prepare for a conflict with him. Back at the inn, Jin Chang confronted Dong Zhongshu about whether the Tomb Scripture could truly change fate.

• Zhang Xuezhou refused to delay using his token for Jin Chang, but agreed to search Room A for works related to the classics in the secret archives.
• Dong Zhongshu considered how the new emperor’s mission to Xiong State and recruitment of Shen Pei might serve his political plans.
• Dong Zhongshu decided he needed to cultivate the Fortune Technique and find a way to resolve his conflict with His Majesty.
• Jin Chang visited Dong Zhongshu at the inn and asked whether the Tomb Scripture could really change fate.
• Dong Zhongshu said he had released information about the Tomb Scripture after visiting the court’s secret archives, then reminded Jin Chang of his spirit medium theory.

Zhang Xuezhou studied the Fortune Technique in the Grade-A room but concluded that the Han Dynasty’s divided rule and lack of victories made it difficult to practice. Believing Zhang had chosen the wrong path, the King of Huainan granted him another Grade-A token, leaving Zhang with a chance to study other Techniques later.

• Zhang Xuezhou read Huang-Lao texts and learned that raising fortune required a unified nation, while sacrificing to fortune through war demanded major victories.
• Zhang Xuezhou realized that the Great Han Dynasty’s vassal kings and difficult military campaigns made both methods of practicing the Fortune Technique hard to pursue.
• Tian You reported that Zhang had browsed many classics and left the Grade-A room looking miserable.
• The King of Huainan decided Zhang had pursued the wrong cultivation path and ordered Tian You to give him another Grade-A token.
• Tian You agreed to set a time limit on the token, while the King of Huainan reflected on his own inability to turn back from his path.

Jin Chang returned to the King of Huainan’s Household and discussed the Tomb Scripture with Zhang Xuezhou, advising him to cultivate it in the imperial throne hall. Tian You arrived, welcomed Jin Chang back, and gave Zhang Xuezhou an A-class token that he could use after three years.

• Zhang Xuezhou refused to learn the Tomb Scripture, but Jin Chang explained that it could be cultivated where human, divine, and imperial Qi gathered with the five forms of yang.
• Jin Chang said he planned to cultivate the Tomb Scripture at the King of Huainan’s Household and revealed that he had returned after the Xieluosi River Holy Land’s pursuit had ended.
• Tian You entered, greeted Jin Chang, and said the King of Huainan wanted to see him about several matters, including a Human Pill.
• Tian You gave Zhang Xuezhou an A-class token for the Literary Excellence Pavilion, which he could use after three years.
• After Tian You and Jin Chang left, Lei Bei grumbled that Jin Chang had claimed to defeat him, while he and Zhang Xuezhou doubted whether learning more techniques would help them.

Crown Prince Liu Qian came to Lei Bei’s residence and pressured him and Tian Jiu into a sword fight so he could see Lei Bei’s Horizontal Sword Technique. Zhang Xuezhou proposed testing their swords on an impervious person instead, leaving the fighters to consider Senior Brother Rulai as a safe target.

• Tian Jiu accused Lei Bei of disrespecting Crown Prince Liu Qian when Su Fei opened the gate.
• Liu Qian asked Lei Bei to demonstrate the Horizontal Sword Technique by fighting Tian Jiu, and Tian Jiu reluctantly agreed after Liu Qian invoked the King of Huainan.
• Lei Bei prepared to face Tian Jiu, recognizing that Tian Jiu intended to prevent him from building up the technique’s counterattacking force.
• Zhang Xuezhou offered an impervious person as a target so Lei Bei and Tian Jiu could demonstrate their swordsmanship without harming each other.
• Lei Bei and Tian Jiu questioned the suggestion, and Lei Bei identified Senior Brother Rulai as the likely target.

Liu Qian arranged for Lei Bei and Tian Jiu to test their swords against Senior Brother Rulai while Zhang Qian planned to recruit Wu Chao. Jin Chang tried to use the Tomb Scripture to gain power, but the King of Huainan detected him and secretly tied Jin Chang to Huainan’s Fortune.

• Liu Qian agreed to watch Lei Bei and Tian Jiu test their swordsmanship against Senior Brother Rulai when he arrived in Shouchun City.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained to Zhang Qian that Liu Qian’s presence at the gate tower would provide the show of strength needed to recruit Wu Chao.
• Jin Chang watched Zhang Xuezhou, concluded he had no interest in the Tomb Scripture, and went to the King of Huainan’s Household to recite it himself.
• Jin Chang wished to become number one under heaven, and the King of Huainan noticed him drawing on Huainan’s Fortune.
• The King of Huainan used ritual flags to channel Huainan’s Fortune into Jin Chang, marking him so he could later summon him into a Fortune War.

Zhang Xuezhou and Dong Zhongshu discussed the dangers of cultivating Fortune Technique and considered watching Jin Chang's attempt to learn from it. After Zhang Xuezhou fell asleep, Dong Zhongshu chose not to investigate his strange condition, while the painting demon feared their cultivation was doomed to fail and considered abandoning him.

• Dong Zhongshu explained that Fortune cultivators risked being discovered by emperors and admitted he still did not know how to coexist with His Majesty.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Dong Zhongshu reasoned that Jin Chang might be cultivating the Tomb Scripture in the King of Huainan's palace, where the King could detect him.
• Dong Zhongshu explained how the Tomb Scripture, Three Qi and Five Yang, and Emperor Jing's Fortune might have caused anomalies in Chang'an, then agreed to see what happened to Jin Chang.
• Zhang Xuezhou reviewed classics with Dong Zhongshu before his voice trailed off, and Dong Zhongshu decided not to investigate his unusual condition.
• After Dong Zhongshu left, the painting demon emerged from Zhang Xuezhou's Heavenly Robe and feared Fortune Technique would bring failure and backlash, so he considered finding a new master.

Zhang Xuezhou felt reassured that he had a future extending at least twenty years, then discussed the lab and its staffing with Zhang Manqian. Wang Haoran called with news that Western Capital City had been targeted in an international dispute match and Changkong Yinghao and others were seriously injured.

• Zhang Xuezhou woke to Zhang Manqian calling him to eat Black-Tipped Chicken and recalled that Yao Yuanguang's Physiognomy Technique had shown him surviving for at least twenty years.
• Zhang Manqian served Black-Tipped Chicken prepared using techniques she had developed through research, and she told Zhang Xuezhou she had submitted their lab's first paper.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that their lab should focus on theoretical research and borrow personnel from friendly Lineages rather than recruit and train staff who might be poached.
• Zhang Xuezhou messaged Professor Wang Haoran and discussed Zhang Manqian's concerns about the lab's spending and workload.
• Wang Haoran called Zhang Xuezhou and said Western Capital City had been targeted in an international dispute match, leaving Changkong Yinghao and others seriously injured.

Zhang Xuezhou and Wang Haoran discussed the diplomatic dispute with the British Alliance State and the slim chance of treating the injured Changkong Yinghao. News of the contest’s aftermath reached the younger generation, leaving them to confront another setback for the Scarlet Alliance State.

• Zhang Xuezhou read reports describing strained relations between the Scarlet Alliance State and the British Alliance State, and Wang Haoran said the Scarlet Alliance State had probably come off worse.
• Wang Haoran considered contacting Changkong Yinghao to offer treatment, but Zhang Xuezhou warned him against approaching the Changkong Household uninvited.
• Zhang Xuezhou declined to promise treatment before learning what injury Changkong Yinghao had and suggested they wait to see whether he sought them out.
• Wang Haoran reflected on Zhang Xuezhou’s caution and compared him with Ren Yisheng, then dropped the subject of treatment.
• Luo Gaogao posted in the Scion's Back Garden group chat that his father had lost, and an ID called Big and Burly posted an unfinished message.

Wang Li and Zhang Xuezhou discussed why Flying Entertainment Livestream had stopped gaining users: too few people owned suitable visual devices or high-speed network access. They concluded that trade barriers and the enormous cost of communications infrastructure made the problem too large for one company to solve, and left open the possibility of looking for investment opportunities.

• Zhang Xuezhou raised Flying Entertainment Livestream’s stalled user growth, and Wang Li explained that the industry had reached a bottleneck.
• Wang Li said that although he and Mama Song had invested in a visual-device factory, trade monopolies and wholesalers made it difficult to sell its products.
• Wang Li explained that slow network services and expensive infrastructure were widespread across countries, limiting the spread of livestreaming.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Wang Li to share promising investment opportunities that could produce quick returns or lasting benefits.
• Wang Li replied that major returns on small investments were rare outside the Qinmeng Ruins and the gene-technology industry.

Zhang Xuezhou invested five hundred thousand in the Jiang Household’s plan to launch a dedicated communications satellite after Wang Li explained how the connection could help Feiyu Livestream. The investment gave him a potential foothold in the communications industry, while Zhang Manqian received an invitation to an exotic beast sale in Western Capital City.

• Luo Gaogao invited Zhang Xuezhou to invest in the Jiang Household’s dedicated communications satellite, and Zhang agreed to put in five hundred thousand.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Wang Li about the satellite investment, and Wang Li discussed how access to the Jiang Household’s communications data could help optimize Feiyu Livestream.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Wang Li viewed the investment as a way to build ties with the Jiang Household and gain a foothold in the communications industry.
• Zhang Manqian teased Zhang Xuezhou about his easygoing conversations with Wang Li and reflected on how her attitude toward money had changed.
• Zhang Manqian received an invitation to an exotic beast sale in Western Capital City as a customer who had bought an exotic beast.

Zhang Xuezhou visited a Western Capital City market selling exotic beasts and tested his Soul-Upsetting Beast Control Technique on a reindeer. After winning the reindeer’s trust, he considered raising exotic beasts as a business.

• Zhang Manqian took Zhang Xuezhou to a special market where exotic beasts from Qinmeng were sold.
• Zhang Xuezhou studied a hostile reindeer and tried to use the Soul-Upsetting Beast Control Technique on it, but his first attempt failed.
• Zhang Xuezhou struck the reindeer with a stone, provoking its hatred, then quietly used the technique while Zhang Manqian distracted Elder Wang and the other old men.
• The reindeer’s hostility faded, and it ate grass when Zhang Xuezhou offered it.
• Elder Wang suggested that raising tame exotic beasts could cut costs and bring in money, prompting Zhang Xuezhou to consider expanding the North Rehe Research Institute’s animal-rearing business.

Zhang Xuezhou used the Soul-Upsetting Beast Control Technique to tame exotic beasts and sell them at the farmers' market, quickly earning a profit. After selling four beasts, he announced that he would return the next day to find more.

• Zhang Xuezhou led a docile reindeer through the farmers' market to attract potential buyers.
• Zhang Xuezhou tamed a swift leopard and sold it to Li Baojia for 1.5 million after showing how obedient it was.
• Zhang Xuezhou sold a long-legged bird and a giant ape, bringing his profit from three beasts to 1.3 million.
• Zhang Xuezhou sold the reindeer to Elder Wang for 480,000 and collected the payment.
• Zhang Xuezhou announced that he would return the next day to tame and sell more exotic beasts.