Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou resisted being used as a medium for a spell to find Zou Bugui after learning it could destroy his cultivation. The crown prince offered him a rare spiritual jade to protect and restore him, but the search still depended on Zhang Xuezhou’s cooperation.

• Dong Zhongshu warned Zhang Xuezhou that casting the Technique could drain his Law Power and damage or destroy his cultivation.
• Zhang Xuezhou refused to cooperate, threatened to kill himself, and charged at a wooden pillar before Zhang Qian and Wei Qing restrained him.
• Dong Zhongshu and Sima Xiangru expressed reluctance to cast the Technique, while the crown prince recognized that Zhang Xuezhou had been misled about the spell’s risks.
• The crown prince promised Zhang Xuezhou medicine, but Zhang Xuezhou accused him of leaving him to recover on medicinal porridge; the crown prince then learned that officials had withheld the medicinal pills he had ordered.
• The crown prince sent Wei Qing away with instructions and gave Zhang Xuezhou a precious sentient jade, which he said could replenish his strength, aid his cultivation, and protect him from calamity.
• Chancellor Liu objected to giving the jade to a servant, but the crown prince insisted that finding Zou Bugui was worth the price.

Dong Zhongshu used a searching Technique to locate Zou Bugui, while Zhang Xuezhou relied on the crown prince’s Spirit-Communicating Jade to protect him during the casting. The Technique revealed that Zou Bugui was in Lingnan, 2,600 li south of Chang’an, and that he was badly weakened.

• Zhang Xuezhou initially refused to cooperate with Dong Zhongshu, but the crown prince presented the Spirit-Communicating Jade and persuaded him to proceed.
• Dong Zhongshu offered Zhang Xuezhou the Vast Righteous Qi Art and discipleship in exchange for the jade, but Zhang Xuezhou declined.
• Dong Zhongshu warned Zhang Xuezhou that possessing the crown prince’s treasured jade could bring danger, then began casting the searching Technique with Sima Xiangru assisting.
• The Spirit-Communicating Jade replenished Zhang Xuezhou’s strength as Dong Zhongshu drew out his Law Power and called for Zou Bugui to reveal himself.
• Dong Zhongshu’s Technique showed Zou Bugui curled up and in pain in Lingnan, 2,600 li south of Chang’an.

The crown prince traveled from Chang'an to Lingnan, determined to test himself and become a ruler unlike Emperor Jing. As Emperor Jing watched him leave, he entrusted state affairs to his identical imperial brother and disappeared from Weiyang Palace.

• The crown prince departed Chang'an for Lingnan, and Wei Qing warned him about the danger of traveling there in person.
• The crown prince urged Wei Qing to grow stronger and listened as Wei Qing recommended Zhang Qian as a promising talent to cultivate.
• The crown prince reflected on tempering himself without relying on the Spirit-Communicating Jade and vowed not to follow Emperor Jing's path.
• Emperor Jing watched the crown prince leave and said he was glad his son was not spineless.
• Emperor Jing asked his identical imperial brother to manage state affairs, then vanished from Weiyang Palace.

Dong Zhongshu and Sima Xiangru traveled through Lingnan with Wei Qing and Zhang Qian, reflecting on their limited prospects for advancement and the resources they hoped to gain by serving the crown prince. After reaching a mountain, Dong Zhongshu prepared to use his Technique on the sleeping Zhang Xuezhou to locate Zou Bugui.

• Lingnan barbarians ambushed the carriage, but Dong Zhongshu deflected an arrow and the palace guards defeated the attackers.
• Sima Xiangru lamented that his cultivation made him vulnerable in a fight, while Dong Zhongshu joked about their middling standing among cultivators.
• Dong Zhongshu considered how a lack of resources had stalled his cultivation and resolved to rely on an honorable path rather than seize Zhang Xuezhou's wealth.
• The party reached a mountain, where Wei Qing asked Dong Zhongshu to use his Technique again to find Zou Bugui after nightfall.
• Zhang Qian warned that Zhang Xuezhou had a bodily problem, but Dong Zhongshu and Sima Xiangru said the sleeping man could safely cooperate with the Technique.
• Zhang Qian laid Zhang Xuezhou on the ground, and Dong Zhongshu formed a spell seal as white cloth wrapped around them both.

Dong Zhongshu used a spell to investigate Zou Bugui, but found a strange room filled with unfamiliar objects and writing. When a black stone appeared and an unseen voice called him a peeping tom, Dong Zhongshu realized he was in grave danger.

• Lu Neng led the palace guards and the crown prince to the site where Dong Zhongshu had indicated Zou Bugui was located.
• Dong Zhongshu cast his spell, but the white screen showed a boy and girl eating instead of Zou Bugui.
• Dong Zhongshu recognized that probing further could bring him the same devastating backlash Grand Commandant Zhou had suffered, but continued rather than risk failing the crown prince.
• With Sima Xiangru's zither helping him enter the Unity of Celestial Person and Heaven state, Dong Zhongshu resumed his investigation and revealed a strange room filled with unfamiliar objects and writing.
• Dong Zhongshu sensed that the place he was viewing lay beyond countless rivers and mountains, then saw a black round stone as an angry voice called him a peeping tom.

Dong Zhongshu survived a ghostly attack during his attempt to track Zou Bugui, but the Spirit-Communicating Jade protecting him cracked. He concluded that Zou Bugui was guarded by a powerful deceased figure and planned to try again after recovering, while the crown prince continued to seek answers about the border conflict.

• Sima Xiangru changed his music, helping Dong Zhongshu escape the ghostly attack and regain control of his body.
• Dong Zhongshu found that the Spirit-Communicating Jade had cracked while shielding him, and he admitted his failed attempt to the crown prince.
• Dong Zhongshu reported sensing a powerful dead person who likely protected Zou Bugui, and said he would investigate again after composing himself.
• The crown prince set aside his curiosity about the strange paper and objects, focusing instead on uncovering the cause of the war and securing the border.
• Dong Zhongshu waited until daybreak to consider another attempt, tested the cracked jade with a silver needle, then inserted the needle into Zhang Xuezhou.

Zhang Manqian told Zhang Xuezhou she had quickly begun learning the Crane Form Fist, and her demonstration convinced him to start studying it himself. He paid her for the technique and agreed to leave the cultivation methods she had been reluctant to learn to her own choice.

• Zhang Xuezhou remained unsettled by a lingering auditory hallucination and wondered why the Demon Power in his sea of consciousness was warning him.
• Zhang Manqian told Zhang Xuezhou she had gotten started with the Crane Form Fist far sooner than expected.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Zhang Manqian to demonstrate the technique, and she performed the Crane Soars into the Sky move.
• Impressed by Zhang Manqian's display and hoping to improve his own abilities, Zhang Xuezhou asked to use the storage medium for the Crane Form Fist.
• Zhang Xuezhou transferred Zhang Manqian twenty-five thousand yuan and said she should learn the cultivation methods only if she wanted to; Zhang Manqian agreed to study them.

Zhang Xuezhou practiced the Crane Form Fist and worried about his safety and the Spirit-Communicating Jade in the other world. He woke to learn that Dong Zhongshu had used the jade to force his cultivation into the Blood Penetration Realm, leaving the precious jade spent.

• Zhang Xuezhou practiced five hundred Crane Form Fist movements while Zhang Manqian encouraged him.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Zhang Manqian about medicine for combat training, then considered seeking advice from Ren Yisheng and weighed his cultivation needs.
• Zhang Xuezhou worried that the crown prince's party might take back the Spirit-Communicating Jade or abandon him before he could return to the Sacred Mountain.
• Zhang Xuezhou crossed out several escape plans, prepared himself, and went to sleep so he could wake in the other world.
• Dong Zhongshu congratulated Zhang Xuezhou on reaching the Blood Penetration Realm and admitted he had used up the Spirit-Communicating Jade to force the breakthrough.
• Sima Xiangru clarified that Zhang Xuezhou's cultivation had advanced, but the precious jade was gone.

Zhang Xuezhou advanced to the Blood Penetration Realm after Dong Zhongshu used the Spirit-Communicating Jade, then agreed to help him cast another spell to locate Zou Bugui. The spell revealed Zou Bugui beside Jin Chang.

• Dong Zhongshu's spell shattered the Spirit-Communicating Jade and fused Zhang Xuezhou's Law Power with his blood, advancing him to the Blood Penetration Realm.
• Zhang Xuezhou questioned Dong Zhongshu about his new cultivation and accepted beef from Sima Xiangru while the crown prince watched from his carriage.
• Zhang Xuezhou agreed to let Dong Zhongshu cast another spell, provided he withdrew if he sensed danger, and took Dong Zhongshu's palm-leaf fan.
• Dong Zhongshu used Zhang Xuezhou's Law Power to search for Zou Bugui while Sima Xiangru played music.
• Zhang Xuezhou recognized Zou Bugui in the spell's vision and saw Jin Chang standing beside him.

The crown prince’s group watched Jin Chang pressure Zou Bugui for the Yin-Yang School’s Nine Heavens inheritance and debated how to capture him. Wei Qing realized another group might also be closing in on Zou Bugui, while Zhang Xuezhou resolved to become strong enough to avoid being betrayed and helpless.

• Dong Zhongshu used a spell to show Jin Chang demanding Zou Bugui hand over the Nine Heavens inheritance, and Zou Bugui refused.
• Jin Chang repeatedly slapped Zou Bugui, increasing the force each time until Zou Bugui began to bleed.
• Zhang Xuezhou watched the beating, worried that Wu Chao might one day treat him as Jin Chang treated Zou Bugui, and recognized Dong Zhongshu’s Law Treasure fan as a useful defense.
• The crown prince said Jin Chang would not yield unless they could overwhelm him with force, and considered using persuasion to make him submit.
• Wei Qing noticed that Jin Chang’s warning about other pursuers might refer to a separate group searching for Zou Bugui.

The crown prince watched Jin Chang torture Zou Bugui while Dong Zhongshu struggled to maintain his observing spell. Kong Ning arrived and attacked Jin Chang, who escaped with his Puppet Technique, leaving Kong Ning to discover that she had found Zou Bugui instead.

• The crown prince held his people back from intervening as Jin Chang inserted a puppet thread into Zou Bugui and threatened to make him a human puppet.
• Dong Zhongshu warned that he could sustain the spell for only a quarter of an hour, while the crown prince waited for Jin Chang's pursuers to arrive.
• Kong Ning suddenly appeared, and Jin Chang recognized her as a dangerous pursuer.
• Kong Ning attacked Jin Chang, but a voice on the ground revealed his hiding place and helped her cut through his puppet decoys.
• Jin Chang escaped west using the Puppet Technique and taunted Zou Bugui, while Kong Ning recognized Zou Bugui and turned her attention to capturing him.

The crown prince learned that Kong Ning had driven Jin Chang away and sought a way to stop her from taking Zou Bugui. Zhang Xuezhou proposed a feint that would force Kong Ning to protect Zou Bugui, and the crown prince sent Lu Neng and the guards to carry it out, promising Zhang Xuezhou a mid-grade class-A technique if it succeeded.

• The crown prince asked Lu Neng how he could counter Kong Ning, whose speed made her a formidable opponent.
• Zhang Xuezhou recognized Kong Ning and considered developing his own abilities toward her speed and mobility.
• After Dong Zhongshu ended the viewing technique, the crown prince offered a mid-grade class-A technique to anyone who could deal with Kong Ning.
• Zhang Xuezhou proposed that the guards pretend to attack Zou Bugui, forcing Kong Ning to defend him and limiting her movement.
• The crown prince approved Zhang Xuezhou's plan, and Lu Neng led the guards toward Zou Bugui's lodging.
• The crown prince learned Zhang Xuezhou's name and promised him a chance to choose a mid-grade class-A technique if the operation succeeded.

After the crown prince offered Zhang Xuezhou a middle-grade, class-A Technique for the guards’ success against Kong Ning, Zhang Xuezhou considered how a better cultivation Technique could replace the Yin-Yang School’s method blocking his progress. The operation succeeded, but Lu Neng’s threat to kill Zou Bugui left the confrontation with the demoness unresolved.

• Dong Zhongshu gathered his spellcasting implements and reflected on how Zhang Xuezhou had maneuvered the imperial guards into fighting Kong Ning.
• Zhang Qian explained the value of a middle-grade, class-A Technique and envied Zhang Xuezhou’s chance to receive one from the crown prince.
• Zhang Xuezhou considered his need for a higher cultivation realm and a stronger Technique to replace the Yin-Yang School’s method and improve his Technique Within the Clouds.
• Zhang Qian lamented that Zhang Xuezhou had gained the rewards despite Zhang Qian coming to claim credit, and Zhang Xuezhou comforted him.
• Lu Neng threatened to kill Zou Bugui if the demoness made another move, as the operation succeeded.

The crown prince’s men captured Zou Bugui by falsely accusing him of causing the border war, while Kong Ning struggled to understand why the Han Dynasty wanted him executed. Zou Bugui recognized the crown prince behind the arrest and was taken toward Chang’an, while Kong Ning realized the crown prince himself had arrived.

• The crown prince reflected that he needed to build a broad network of capable people, including those who could work at every level.
• Lu Neng and the imperial guards seized Zou Bugui, and Lu Neng claimed the court had ordered his execution for stirring up war between Xiong State and the Han Kingdom.
• Kong Ning demanded that the guards release Zou Bugui, but Lu Neng threatened her and kept his sword at Zou Bugui’s neck.
• Zou Bugui insisted that he had done nothing wrong and recalled how Jin Chang had grown stronger while he was forced to share resources with him.
• After seeing the crown prince’s convoy and purple qi, Zou Bugui pleaded to the Crown Prince that he had been wronged, and Lu Neng shoved him into a carriage.
• Kong Ning realized the Crown Prince was present and saw him as a valuable target.

Kong Ning attacked the Crown Prince’s party, but his talismans shielded him from her first strike. After realizing the Crown Prince knew only her name and was bluffing about the Han Dynasty identifying her, Kong Ning remained intent on securing a reward from him or Zou Bugui.

• Kong Ning shattered the Crown Prince’s carriage, but his golden light and talismans protected him from the attack.
• Wei Qing and the wounded Lu Neng guarded the Crown Prince as he threatened Kong Ning with the Han Dynasty’s retaliation.
• The Crown Prince called Kong Ning by name, startling her and making her fear that the Han Dynasty could identify and target her.
• Kong Ning demanded that the Crown Prince come with her, return Zou Bugui, or offer enough compensation.
• Kong Ning realized the Crown Prince likely knew only her name, possibly from Jin Chang, and saw through his threat to trap her in Han territory.

Kong Ning followed the crown prince’s convoy while the imperial guards failed to learn from Zou Bugui why Xiong State had issued a warrant for him. Just as the crown prince considered handing Zou Bugui over, Kong Ning and three demon kings incapacitated the convoy with Drunken Immortal Wine.

• Kong Ning shadowed the crown prince’s convoy after negotiations failed, while the crown prince waited for Zou Bugui to reveal the truth about the war between the Han Dynasty and Xiong State.
• Zou Bugui cooperated with the imperial guards but insisted he knew nothing and blamed his junior brother Jin Chang for dragging him into trouble.
• The crown prince learned the interrogation had yielded no answers, and Lu Neng advised him to hand Zou Bugui over to Kong Ning.
• The crown prince’s protective talismans activated as Drunken Immortal Wine spread through the air, leaving Wei Qing, the imperial guards, and the horses barely conscious.
• Kong Ning welcomed Lu Er and two other demon kings, revealing that they had brought the wine to capture the crown prince and help claim credit for Zou Bugui.

Dong Zhongshu and Sima Xiangru fought off an ambush by demon kings while Zou Bugui escaped and Kong Ning targeted the Crown Prince. Kong Ning was wounded by the Crown Prince’s iron sword, then a hidden black sword pierced her chest.

• Dong Zhongshu used a wind Technique to drive back the Drunken Immortal Wine, but the three demon kings were caught in its effects.
• Zou Bugui escaped the sleeping guards by sinking into the ground with a talisman.
• Kong Ning approached the Crown Prince’s carriage and grabbed the Crown Prince, but his iron sword cut her palm.
• Kong Ning struck back, shattered the iron sword, and drove the Crown Prince through the carriage floorboards.
• Wei Qing charged Kong Ning, but a hidden black sword pierced her chest before she could strike him.

With Dong Zhongshu’s spell clearing his head, Zhang Xuezhou witnessed Emperor Jing’s manifested Dharma body overpower Kong Ning and her father’s manifested Dharma body. As Kong Ning’s father struggled and the three demon kings failed to help, Demon King Luli activated a golden orb that summoned a gigantic serpent-bodied demon with a human face.

• Dong Zhongshu helped Zhang Xuezhou shake off his drowsiness, and Zhang saw Kong Ning and the three demon kings before a clash erupted.
• Emperor Jing’s black short sword wounded Kong Ning, who called on her father to spare her life; her father’s manifested Dharma body appeared and asked Emperor Jing to stop.
• Emperor Jing refused, drove the old monk back with his short sword, and threatened the Western Sect.
• Kong Ning called on Luli, Huli, and Yangli for help, but the drunken and incapacitated demon kings could not effectively intervene.
• At Kong Ning’s urging, Luli threw a golden orb and recited its activation incantation, causing a gigantic demon with a human face and serpent’s body to appear in the sky.

Demon King Luli summoned the Nine Yin Exalted One, who confronted Emperor Jing while temporarily blinding everyone nearby. Sima Xiangru completed his long zither technique just as the Exalted One prepared to destroy Emperor Jing, and the Ten Yin Holy Son’s laughter revealed that the Exalted One would never obtain his body.

• Demon King Luli told the Nine Yin Exalted One that he had activated the sacred relic to save Kong Ning, but Emperor Jing’s manifested Dharma body had defeated him.
• Emperor Jing killed the old monk and stayed hidden, while the Exalted One used his Yin and Yang eyes to plunge everyone into darkness and then blinding white light.
• Zhang Xuezhou guessed the blindness was temporary because the Crown Prince was in the convoy, and Zhang Qian agreed.
• Sima Xiangru finished playing his Scorched-Tail Zither piece as the Exalted One prepared a white-hot breath attack against the fleeing Emperor Jing.
• The zither music made the Exalted One see the Ten Yin Holy Son’s body, and the Holy Son’s laughter convinced him that he would never possess it.

The Golden Toad Dharma King and Jin Wanliang followed Kong Ning’s group, hoping to find Zou Bugui before them. After sensing his Golden Toad Poison and rushing toward him, the Golden Toad Dharma King heard an enraged roar and spotted a fiery-red serpent body in the distance.

• The Golden Toad Dharma King told Jin Wanliang about the valuable treasures he had received from the Ten Yin Holy Son, including a pearl he had traded to Demon King Luli for medicine.
• The Golden Toad Dharma King and Jin Wanliang followed Kong Ning’s party south, planning to locate Zou Bugui and take him back to the Holy Land.
• Jin Wanliang asked whether Kong Ning’s group was really seeking Zou Bugui, and the Golden Toad Dharma King said they meant to target the easier prey rather than Jin Chang.
• The Golden Toad Dharma King sensed his poison on Zou Bugui and hurried toward its source with Jin Wanliang.
• An angry roar shook the sky, and the Golden Toad Dharma King saw a fiery-red serpent body in the distance.