Chapter Summaries

Wei Shao'er faced a life-threatening pregnancy while Chen Zhang and Zhang Xuezhou worked to prepare a life-saving pill that required Huo Zhongru's Essence Blood. Holy Mother Wudang arrived to protect Wei Shao'er, and Zhang Xuezhou asked to borrow her Spiritual Qi to temper the unfinished pill.

• Wei Shao'er told Chen Zhang that Huo Zhongru was the child's father, but she did not know where he was, and Chen Zhang chose to save her anyway.
• Chen Zhang ordered servants to bring medicines while Zhang Xuezhou and Chunyu Tiying continued making the pill, which could not be finished quickly without the father's Essence Blood.
• As Wei Shao'er repeatedly lost consciousness, Holy Mother Wudang arrived with a Soul-Igniting Lamp and warned Chen Zhang to keep it lit to repel spirits seeking Wei Shao'er's soul.
• Holy Mother Wudang recognized Zhang Xuezhou when he asked to borrow her place and Spiritual Qi to temper the Life-Sustaining Pill for Wei Shao'er.

Zhang Xuezhou took the unfinished medicine to Holy Mother Wudang’s palace so he and Yi Shuo could refine it using her Spiritual Qi. He also planned to advance his cultivation in the palace’s stone chamber before returning by the fifth watch.

• Zhang Xuezhou decided to speed up Wei Shao'er’s treatment rather than wait two more days for the Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill to finish forming.
• Zhang Xuezhou poured the medicine into a basin, recruited Yi Shuo and her gourd, and left the Alchemy Chamber with Holy Mother Wudang.
• Holy Mother Wudang led Zhang Xuezhou and Yi Shuo through an underground passage in a bronze carriage to a palace.
• Holy Mother Wudang revealed an eye of Spiritual Qi in a stone chamber and allowed Zhang Xuezhou to use it within his promised time limit.
• Zhang Xuezhou entered the chamber with Yi Shuo to refine the pills and planned to use his Spirit-Forging Pills to advance his cultivation.

Zhang Xuezhou used the gourd to refine pills, broke through to the Body Integration Realm, and hurried back to Chang'an with Yi Shuo and Holy Mother Wudang. As dawn broke, Holy Mother Wudang sent Zhang Xuezhou flying toward Zheng Wukong's courtyard so they could reach Wei Shao'er before the fifth watch.

• By the third and fourth watches, Zhang Xuezhou had refined a Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill and a Potent Spirit-Forging Pill with the gourd.
• Zhang Xuezhou swallowed the Spirit-Forging Pill and broke through to the Body Integration Realm, while Yi Shuo reached the great completion stage of the True Spirit Realm.
• Holy Mother Wudang warned Zhang Xuezhou and Yi Shuo that owners of treasures born from Chaos Spirit Roots often met with misfortune and urged them not to rely on the gourd.
• Holy Mother Wudang drove the bronze carriage through earth and darkness, bringing Zhang Xuezhou and Yi Shuo to Chang'an as dawn broke.
• Holy Mother Wudang hurried Zhang Xuezhou toward Zheng Wukong's courtyard, and he used a gust of wind to land in a stumble.

Wei Shao'er remained in dangerous labor, and Chen Zhang feared she would die despite Zhang Xuezhou and Chunyu Tiying's efforts to keep her alive. The painting demon identified the Yinglong blood in her body as a threat and proposed sucking it out, leaving Zhang Xuezhou and Zheng Wukong willing to try the treatment.

• Chen Zhang waited outside the side room, praying and pacing until Wei Shao'er cried out and woke again in pain.
• True Person Supreme One arrived, and Zhang Xuezhou recognized him as the painting demon and brought him inside to examine Wei Shao'er.
• The painting demon noticed that Yinglong blood was clashing inside Wei Shao'er and might be draining her body to form a dragon soul.
• Chunyu Tiying and Zheng Wukong agreed that drawing out some of the demon blood could reduce the danger, and Zhang Xuezhou allowed the painting demon to try leech therapy.

Zhang Xuezhou and the others tried to save Wei Shao'er after the painting demon was sucked into her body and discovered that her dragon yang power came from dangerous Essence Blood connected to Yinglong. The painting demon escaped back into Sage Kong’s scroll, but its return set the scroll ablaze, leaving the group to confront the threat as the demon warned that Wei Shao'er could transform into a dragon and explode.

• Chunyu Tiying and Zheng Wukong examined Wei Shao'er and realized the apparent child’s hand was her body changing under the influence of dragon yang.
• Zheng Wukong listened at Wei Shao'er's belly as the painting demon fought a remnant soul thought of the Ancestral Dragon and begged to be rescued.
• Zhang Xuezhou fetched the painting of Sage Kong, allowing the painting demon to escape Wei Shao'er's body, but the demon’s golden blood set the scroll on fire.
• The painting demon warned that Wei Shao'er's supremely yang Essence Blood could transform her into a dragon and escape toward Yinglong's remains.
• The painting of Sage Kong burned away completely, and a voice finally came from the ancient painting.

As Wei Shao'er struggled to give birth, Zhang Xuezhou fought the painting demon inside her and fetched Sage Kong's Token while Chen Zhang waited in anguish. A cry of “Righteousness” linked Chen Zhang to Wei Shao'er and her unborn child, and the chapter ended with a baby's wail and Chen Zhang recovering from terrible pain.

• The figure summoned by Sage Kong's painting suppressed everyone with “Benevolence,” eased Wei Shao'er's pain, and was struck down by a red light from her body.
• The injured painting demon was pulled back into Wei Shao'er, while Zhang Xuezhou remembered a voice asking for the Dao Comprehension Stone and went to fetch Sage Kong's Token.
• Chen Zhang worried over the possible outcomes for Wei Shao'er and the child as he waited outside the room.
• A cry of “Righteousness” rang from the room, and Zhang Xuezhou appeared bound by a golden cord to Chen Zhang, Wei Shao'er, and her belly.
• Chen Zhang felt excruciating pain and thrashed about, while Di Rang watched from nearby and delayed reporting the commotion.
• A baby cried, Chen Zhang's screaming stopped, and he felt between his legs, shaken by the pain.

Zhang Xuezhou witnessed Sage Kong's Token suppress the painting demon, leaving Wei Shao'er as an ordinary pregnant woman, and helped deliver her healthy son. After the birth, Wei Shao'er abandoned her plan to fake her death and escape, choosing instead to live for her child.

• Sage Kong's Token manifested a towering man who tapped the Green Rock Wooden Staff and suppressed the painting demon, while Zhang Xuezhou pointed him toward Chen Zhang.
• The physicians awoke from a missing stretch of memory, and Zhang Xuezhou found Wei Shao'er free of the painting demon's signs as her labor began.
• Zheng Wukong delivered Wei Shao'er's healthy son with help from Chunyu Tiying, Yi Shuo, and Zhang Xuezhou.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Wei Shao'er whether she would follow their escape plan, and she recalled that she had planned to fake her death and reunite with Huo Zhongru.
• Wei Shao'er abandoned the plan and decided to keep living for her newborn son.

After Wei Shao'er safely gave birth, Chen Zhang’s pain during the delivery deepened his concern for her, and she chose to return home with him instead of feigning death. Their reunion was interrupted when servants reported that the King of Huainan had entered the capital and Chen He was furious that Chen Zhang had missed the proper courtesies.

• Zhang Xuezhou congratulated the suffering Chen Zhang and explained away the pain he had shared with Wei Shao'er as a sign that they were of one heart.
• Chen Zhang entered the room, comforted Wei Shao'er first, and showed affection for both her and the child.
• Wei Shao'er crushed the pill she had planned to use to feign death and asked Chen Zhang to take her home.
• Chen Zhang and Wei Shao'er discussed naming the child, and he held the baby as they prepared to leave.
• Servants told Chen Zhang that the King of Huainan had entered the capital and that Chen He was angry he had failed to pay his respects.

After the King of Huainan presented Vast and Brilliant, the new emperor and the empress dowager worried that his mastery of the Fortune Technique could threaten the throne. The emperor secretly planned to counter him with a fake Red Empyrean Sword, while his mother urged him to seek help from the Immortal Court if he was cornered.

• The empress dowager reassured the new emperor that his uncle had fulfilled royal etiquette in welcoming the King of Huainan.
• The new emperor discussed Vast and Brilliant and feared the King of Huainan could use his Fortune Technique to challenge the throne.
• The new emperor kept his plan to forge a fake Red Empyrean Sword secret, intending to act after the King of Huainan left Chang'an City.
• The empress dowager warned the new emperor that he could borrow the Immortal Court's strength if he was pressed too hard.
• The new emperor accepted her advice but preferred the forgery, and thought of Dongfang Shuo as he escorted his mother back to her palace.

After more than six years apart, Zhang Xuezhou reunited with Lei Bei as the King of Huainan’s party left the imperial palace. Lei Bei told him about Tian Jiu’s death and Jin Chang’s injuries, and offered to bring Zhang Cigong to join them.

• Zhang Xuezhou waited at the Golden Horse Gate for the King of Huainan’s party to leave the palace and spotted Lei Bei among the retainers.
• Zhang Xuezhou followed the delegation and met Lei Bei after the King of Huainan departed by carriage.
• Lei Bei explained that Tian Jiu had been burned to death and that he had inherited the position of first retainer.
• Zhang Xuezhou encouraged Lei Bei not to accept the elders’ doubts about his cultivation, and Lei Bei reconsidered their advice.
• Lei Bei told Zhang Xuezhou that Jin Chang was badly injured and had stayed out of sight.
• Lei Bei offered to find Zhang Cigong among the carriage guards so he could join Zhang Xuezhou’s reunion.

Zhang Xuezhou visited Zhang Cigong at the King of Huainan's Household's camp and secretly asked him to investigate Jin Chang's possible role in the disappearance of their village. The King of Huainan recognized Zhang Xuezhou as Dongfang Bubai and understood why she had come, while she remained a reserve official without a powerful patron.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Lei Bei found Zhang Cigong at the camp, where he had become a head coachman and was advancing in cultivation.
• After Lei Bei left, Zhang Xuezhou privately told Zhang Cigong to look into the Household's mission records connected to Jin Chang and find out why the villagers had disappeared.
• Zhang Cigong agreed to investigate and saw Zhang Xuezhou out, learning that she lived in Old Tree Alley.
• Lei Bei told a woman in the King of Huainan's Household that the scholar was Dongfang Bubai, and the woman arranged for Zhang Cigong to send her New Year gifts.
• The woman reported the visit to the King of Huainan, who recognized Dongfang Bubai and recalled her previous presentations and her lack of a court appointment.

Zhang Xuezhou considered the King of Huainan’s threat to the new emperor, then learned that Yi Shuo’s sudden cultivation breakthrough had left her unable to follow her sect’s usual methods. The chapter ended with the new emperor arriving at Zhang Xuezhou’s home in disguise to test him as a Golden Horse Gate scholar.

• Wei Qing dropped Zhang Xuezhou off without collecting his fare, and Zhang Xuezhou worried about the new emperor’s position amid the King of Huainan’s arrival in Chang'an City.
• Yi Shuo told Zhang Xuezhou that Zheng Wukong had sent her away because her cultivation had become too powerful for him to guide.
• Zhang Xuezhou realized Yi Shuo hoped to use his connections to reach more cultivation opportunities, while he also saw value in keeping her close.
• The new emperor arrived at Zhang Xuezhou’s door dressed as a eunuch and asked which foot he had entered with.

The new emperor questioned Zhang Xuezhou about physiognomy and a historical succession crisis, and Zhang’s answer helped him devise a plan to discredit the King of Huainan before the grand empress dowager. Pleased with the insight, the emperor invited Zhang to join a large outing the following spring.

• The new emperor asked Zhang Xuezhou about reading fortunes, and Zhang warned that physiognomy was mostly guesswork.
• The emperor posed a hypothetical about Qin Er Shi’s path to the throne, and Zhang suggested framing Crown Prince Fusu for treason and Emperor Qin’s death.
• The new emperor applied Zhang’s suggestion to the King of Huainan and planned to turn the grand empress dowager against him by linking him to the King of Liang’s death.
• The new emperor invited Zhang Xuezhou to join him and several hundred companions on an outing the following spring.

The new emperor secured the grand empress dowager’s approval to visit the Liang Lands, where he secretly planned to pursue the Red Empyrean Sword. He cooperated with her plans to install loyal officials, leaving her unsettled by how readily he trusted and obeyed her.

• The new emperor asked to visit the Tomb of the King of Liang when spring began, intending to go to Fengxi Marsh, and the grand empress dowager approved.
• The new emperor argued that any extreme response from the Confucian School would amount to rebellion if the court obtained conclusive proof against them.
• The grand empress dowager asked the new emperor to endorse Xu Chang, Zhuang Qingdi, and other marquises for key court positions, and he agreed to every proposal.
• The grand empress dowager sent Grand Princess Dou to arrange the appointments, while Grand Princess Dou suggested that the new emperor’s compliance reflected his trust in her.
• The grand empress dowager reflected that the new emperor was the only family member who could place complete trust in her.

Zhang Xuezhou collected ten half-liang coins during the King of Huainan’s public New Year’s alms and overheard Du Wencai and Kong Anguo discussing how to win more from a Mohist treasure bowl. He met Kong Anguo, who feared that every faction in the unsettled court might be in danger, and left the conversation poised to hear what Zhang knew.

• Rong Tianding went looking for Zhang Xuezhou so they could collect the King of Huainan’s New Year’s gifts, but Zhang had already left.
• Zhang Xuezhou reflected on his Body Transformation Realm cultivation, then joined the crowds receiving alms in Chang’an City and won ten half-liang coins.
• Zhang Xuezhou overheard Du Wencai and Kong Anguo identify the treasure bowl as a Mohist mechanism and discuss a lever sequence that could pay out a string of coins.
• Kong Anguo warned himself that accepting the King of Huainan’s coins could bring trouble, and Zhang Xuezhou approached him.
• Kong Anguo greeted Zhang Xuezhou happily and considered asking him for information to help keep the Kong Household clear of the political turmoil.

Kong Anguo and Zhang Xuezhou headed to the Temple of Confucius to find Kong Zhong and the other Confucians, fearing they would face punishment for disrupting Shen Peigong’s plans. Zhang Xuezhou scouted the crowded temple with his Yang Corporeal Soul, but Shen Peigong spotted him, and Kong Zhong emerged from beneath the statue of Sage Kong.

• Kong Anguo learned that Kong Zhong and the others had gone to the Temple of Confucius, where Shen Peigong was likely to confront them.
• Kong Anguo prepared to take his father and the other Confucians to Zhang Xuezhou’s neighbor for treatment if they were injured, then set off with Zhang Xuezhou for the temple.
• Kong Anguo and Zhang Xuezhou found thousands of Confucians gathered around the Temple of Confucius and climbed trees to look inside.
• Zhang Xuezhou sent his Yang Corporeal Soul toward the temple and overheard Confucians arguing about revolt, the King of Huainan, and a suspected traitor.
• Shen Peigong sensed Zhang Xuezhou near the statue of Sage Kong, and Kong Zhong crawled out from beneath it, claiming he had been cleaning his ancestor’s back.

Duke Shen confronted Kong Zhong and the Kong Household members over their suspected role in Zhao Wan and Wang Zang’s deaths and the loss of Sage Kong’s Token. Choosing to focus on breaking the Confucian School’s political deadlock, he recruited them to dig a passage so he could approach the Grand Empress Dowager and challenge her with a ritual.

• Duke Shen found Kong Zhong, Ye Siqian, Li Mingrui, and Zhu Jiusi hiding beneath Sage Kong’s statue and questioned them about Zhao Wan and Wang Zang’s deaths.
• Kong Zhong revealed that he had pawned Sage Kong’s Token, and Ye Siqian said it had gone to a scholar who helped Kong Anguo break through.
• Duke Shen concluded that the Kong Household had sided with the court and suspected the Grand Empress Dowager of directing the opposition to the Confucian School.
• Duke Shen offered to let Kong Zhong and the others off if they helped him, and Kong Zhong agreed to dig a passage.
• Duke Shen planned to use the passage to approach the Palace of Peace and Happiness, set up an altar, and challenge the Grand Empress Dowager in a ritual.

Zhang Xuezhou and Kong Anguo tried to work out why Shen Peigong had forced Kong Zhong and his companions to dig a tunnel, while Du Wencai considered how to help them escape. They suspected Shen Peigong was plotting an attack on Old Madam Dou at the Palace of Peace and Happiness, but feared the plan would end in disaster.

• Zhang Xuezhou told Kong Anguo that Shen Peigong had compelled Kong Zhong and the others to dig a tunnel, though their purpose remained unclear.
• Kong Anguo admitted he could not rescue his father, and Du Wencai offered to help build an escape route once he knew where the tunnel was.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Kong Anguo reasoned that Shen Peigong might be planning to attack a powerful target in Chang'an City.
• Kong Anguo considered that Shen Peigong might target the Palace of Peace and Happiness, and Du Wencai doubted he could survive such a confrontation.

Shen Peigong and the Confucian scholars plotted to kill the grand empress dowager and seize influence at court, while Kong Anguo and Du Wencai prepared to follow them and protect themselves. Zhang Xuezhou lent Kong Anguo Sage Kong's Token for payment as the group split up to track Shen Peigong and retrieve the token.

• Shen Peigong told Zhou Ba, Xia Kuan, Dang Lu, and the other Confucian scholars that he planned to use the Sword-Drawing Life-Slaying Technique to kill the grand empress dowager swiftly.
• The Confucian scholars hoped that killing the grand empress dowager would let them take Zhao Wan and Wang Zang's places at court and unite Confucian schools under their leadership.
• Kong Zhong and the others overheard Shen Peigong's plans but, unable to escape, followed him and his companions out of the Temple of Confucius.
• After Zhang Xuezhou's Yang Corporeal Soul revealed that Shen Peigong's group had left through the back door, Kong Anguo decided to follow them and locate their target.
• Kong Anguo asked to borrow Sage Kong's Token for protection, and Zhang Xuezhou agreed in exchange for a string of coins.
• Du Wencai went to track Shen Peigong's group while Kong Anguo followed Zhang Xuezhou home to collect the token.

Zhang Xuezhou waited for Kong Anguo to return Sage Kong's Token while preparing to return to reality, then received new year gifts from the King of Huainan. Zhang Cigong explained that the gifts had been sent widely, possibly to win favor for the king's daughter, who was seeking a husband in Chang'an City.

• Zhang Xuezhou asked Rong Tianding to welcome Kong Anguo if he came to return Sage Kong's Token.
• Zhang Xuezhou continued teaching Yi Shuo the Grain Avoidance Instruction and planned to recommend the Poison Avoidance Art once Yi Shuo reached a realm-based bottleneck.
• Zhang Cigong arrived with gifts from the King of Huainan, and Zhang Xuezhou invited him inside.
• Zhang Cigong explained that the King of Huainan had sent gifts to officials across Chang'an City, possibly to pave the way for his daughter to find a suitable husband.
• Zhang Xuezhou joked that Zhang Cigong could win the princess's hand by becoming capable enough, and their conversation left Zhang Cigong more hopeful about his chances.