Chapter Summaries

After returning home from the Imperial Medical Hall, Zhang Xuezhou continued pretending to be ill while Medical Officer Chunyu worried that the deception would eventually be exposed. To secure his help and protect herself, she offered to teach him the complete Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique.

• Zhang Xuezhou returned home after nine days in the Imperial Medical Hall, and his neighbors visited while he loudly celebrated being back.
• Medical Officer Chunyu warned Xue Qian and Zhao Yi to watch Zhang Xuezhou and report any changes, then examined his steady pulse.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Medical Officer Chunyu discussed how to maintain his false illness, and he warned her not to try to kill him through treatment.
• Medical Officer Chunyu offered to teach Zhang Xuezhou the complete Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique in exchange for help surviving her predicament.
• Medical Officer Chunyu explained that the technique theoretically granted immortality at the ninth revolution, which required the True Self Realm.
• Zhang Xuezhou accepted the offer and told Medical Officer Chunyu about symptoms he expected to develop in a few days.

Zhang Xuezhou forced Jin Chang to reveal that Liu An had sent him to the Yang Mausoleum to find the Marquis of Sui's Pearl, then drove him away. After the Heaven-Shaking Arrow struck Jin Chang, Zhang Xuezhou replaced the Spirit Jade beneath Emperor Jing's coffin with bluestone so he could use the jade to heal himself.

• Zhang Xuezhou questioned Jin Chang, who begged for his life while hiding from the grand empress dowager and the Heaven-Shaking Arrow.
• Zhang Xuezhou exposed Jin Chang's connection to Liu An and forced him to admit that Liu An wanted him to find the Marquis of Sui's Pearl in the Yang Mausoleum.
• Zhang Xuezhou ordered Jin Chang to leave and threatened him to keep him from returning.
• Jin Chang emerged from the shadows and fled, but the Heaven-Shaking Arrow shot after him as he escaped.
• Zhang Xuezhou sealed the formation, replaced the Spirit Jade beneath Emperor Jing's coffin with bluestone, and took the jade to nurse his body.

Zhang Xuezhou escaped the Yang Mausoleum with the Spirit Jade after Jin Chang survived and fled, then used the jade and the Supreme Purity True Technique to heal his shattered head. The next morning, Wei Shao'er visited him and saw that he was still weak from his injuries.

• Zhang Xuezhou left the Heaven-Shaking Arrow behind and escaped the imperial mausoleum with the Spirit Jade while Zhi Buyi and Wei Wan raised the alarm.
• Zhang Xuezhou returned to Old Tree Alley, used the Supreme Purity True Technique with the Spirit Jade to mend his head, and considered hiding the jade for Rong Tianding to use.
• Zhang Xuezhou resolved to seek Spiritual Qi and retrace his cultivation path to advance more quickly.
• Rong Tianding told Zhang Xuezhou that Wei Shao'er had arrived with an entourage, and Zhang Xuezhou hid the Spirit Jade under the bed.
• Wei Shao'er stopped her servants from entering and recognized that Zhang Xuezhou remained physically weak despite his healing.

Wei Shao'er visited the injured Zhang Xuezhou and asked what he needed to recover so he could help deliver her baby. She offered medicine and promised to seek Spirit Jade and a place to recuperate, while Zhang Xuezhou vowed to reach her when labor began.

• Wei Shao'er asked whether Zhang Xuezhou would recover before she was due to give birth, and he said his injuries might not heal in time.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Wei Shao'er that her usual doctors could not stop the severe bleeding she feared during childbirth.
• Wei Shao'er gave Zhang Xuezhou Deer Blood Pellets and promised to find Spirit Jade and ask Holy Mother Wudang for a place nourished by Spiritual Qi.
• Zhang Xuezhou promised to reach the Marquis of Quni's residence and cast a spell to stop Wei Shao'er's bleeding if he was conscious.
• Wei Shao'er swore she would delay giving birth until Zhang Xuezhou arrived, and Zhang Xuezhou considered a backup plan.

The Venerable One visited Zhang Xuezhou in Chang'an and learned that the court had treated him after his head was opened, removing the mark that connected him to the Venerable One. After discovering Zhang had taken Spirit Jade from Emperor Jing’s tomb, the Venerable One left to visit the Yang Mausoleum, while Zhang stayed behind and waited to hear what happened.

• Lu Baibai led the Venerable One and Kong Ning to Zhang Xuezhou’s home, where Zhang explained that he was bedridden after the Imperial Medical Hall treated him.
• The Venerable One realized that the court’s medical officer had removed the mark linking Zhang to him and learned that Zhang served at the Yang Mausoleum’s East Sima Gate.
• The Venerable One asked about Zhang’s Spirit Jade, and Zhang admitted he had taken it from Emperor Jing’s tomb.
• The Venerable One decided to go to the Yang Mausoleum, and Lu Baibai and Kong Ning left with him.
• Zhang got out of bed to shut the door, then wondered whether the Venerable One would take the remaining Spirit Jade and waited for news from the mausoleum.

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.