Chapter Summaries

The war between the Star-Picking Pavilion and the Office of the Duke of Qin continued to strain the southwestern circuits as Han Ningyue and Fei Shuhe received alarming news from the front. At the Office of the Duke of Qin, Kuang Liuting rejected True Person Jiuzhen’s offer of help, then reflected on the dangers facing his household.

• Duan Anle recognized the former site of the Changning Sect as he arrived with troops, while Fei Shuhe’s red sparrow reported seeing dreadful things in Two Instruments Sect territory.
• Han Ningyue discussed Fei Wanqing’s future marriage and invited Fei Shuhe’s children to study at the clan school, but Fei Shuhe said her husband would not easily leave the front.
• A violent disturbance shook the rear camp, and Fei Shuhe’s sparrow returned bloodied, pointing toward the eastern side of the Ying Mountain Army’s formation.
• True Person Jiuzhen arrived at the Office of the Duke of Qin to offer aid against Bai Canhong, but Kuang Liuting dismissed the danger as exaggerated and declined the offer.
• True Person Jiuzhen left a summoning talisman and departed, while Kuang Liuting studied Kuang Chexiao’s pendant and sighed that strong branches and a weak trunk brought calamity.

Zen Master Huihai inspected the eight Golden Core human puppets made for the Duke of Qin, then changed course after learning that Billowing Dream Palace’s Jiuzhen had met Kuang Liuting. At the Star-Picking Pavilion, Daoist Qingxuan offered Bai Canhong an alliance with Supreme Unity Temple, but his proposal was cut off before he explained its terms.

• Huihai entered a hidden chamber beneath the Precepts Hall with Liaojue and inspected eight Golden Core cultivators refined into human puppets.
• Huihai told Liaojue to deliver the Calamity-Delivering Vajras to the Duke of Qin’s envoy, but Liaojue questioned the cost of making more.
• Huihai received news that Jiuzhen had met Kuang Liuting and then ordered Liaojue to present his purple talisman at Mystic Firmament Palace and arrange a visit to the Emperor.
• Huihai considered how Billowing Dream Palace’s support for Kuang Liuting could affect Bai Canhong, King Yu Circuit, and the Kuang clan.
• Bai Canhong and the Three Administrations grew wary as Billowing Dream Palace’s involvement weakened pressure on the Star-Picking Pavilion.
• Daoist Qingxuan delivered Supreme Unity Temple’s offer to join forces with Bai Canhong, promising the pavilion control of the southwest after the turmoil, then began to explain what it wanted.

True Person Qingxuan tried to bring Bai Canhong and the Star-Picking Pavilion into the Supreme Unity Temple’s rebellion, tempting him with a place at the Nine Revolutions Star Pivot Lamp gathering. In White Sand County, Kang Dabao’s alliance recovered from battle, and Kang Dabao entered seclusion to cultivate before fighting sounds rose again outside.

• True Person Qingxuan promised Bai Canhong that Joyful Sight Mountain would not advance west and urged him to join the campaign against Kuang Liuting, revealing the Dragon-Locking Udumbara’s protection of the capital region.
• True Person Qingxuan offered Bai Canhong a place as a principal guest at the Nine Revolutions Star Pivot Lamp gathering, and Bai Canhong asked for time to consider the offer.
• The Two Instruments Sect withdrew to Fire Qilin Valley, giving Kang Dabao’s Double Brightness Alliance time to recover and tend to its wounded.
• Kang Dabao arranged medicine and Clear Spirit Sand for the injured, then warned Jiang Qing not to pursue enemy False Core cultivators recklessly.
• Kang Dabao entered a quiet stone chamber and cultivated with the aid of his three jade pendants, making a small advance before sounds of battle grew louder outside.

Zheng Yuntong defeated a probing force, met Peddler Shui at the front, and learned of the wider war’s changing fortunes. Meanwhile, Pu Honggu redirected the Two Instruments Sect’s main force against the Double Brightness Alliance and attacked Kang Dabao, who drew blood before fleeing toward Fei Tianqin.

• Zheng Yuntong’s volunteers routed a weak Two Instruments Sect formation, and he ordered them to stop pursuing the survivors.
• Peddler Shui arrived with a supply caravan, traded with Zheng Yuntong, and shared news about the war and the sects’ cultivators.
• Pu Honggu ordered the Two Instruments Sect’s Dao soldiers to abandon the Fei Household’s Ying Mountain Army and attack the Double Brightness Alliance.
• The Two Instruments Sect’s assault broke through the Double Brightness Alliance’s weakened defenses, and Kang Dabao rushed to help Duan Anle.
• Pu Honggu confronted Kang Dabao with his Law Treasures, wounded him, and was cut by Kang Dabao’s halberd after a Sharpened Spirit Thorn struck true.
• Kang Dabao tried to escape toward Fei Tianqin, but Pu Honggu pursued him and demanded that he stop.

Kang Dabao escaped Pu Honggu and fought to protect Jiang Qing as the battle between the Double Brightness Alliance and the Two Instruments Sect grew deadlier. Fei Tianqin killed Wei Guze and Li Yun, but Jiang Qing fell into the river, and a sudden shift in the mountains and waterways left Kang Dabao unable to find him as Fei Tianqin realized Bai Canhong had acted.

• Pu Honggu pursued Kang Dabao with the Two Instruments Dust Diagram and Taiyi Xuanji Barrier, but Fei Tianqin's attack distracted him and allowed Kang Dabao to escape.
• Fei Tianqin broke through the cultivators surrounding it and forced Pu Honggu to abandon his pursuit of Kang Dabao.
• Wei Guze attacked Jiang Qing and the Pine Wind Volunteers, and Kang Dabao intervened while fighting Li Yun.
• Wei Guze struck Jiang Qing into the river, but Fei Tianqin killed Wei Guze and Li Yun before ordering Kang Dabao to search for Jiang Qing.
• Kang Dabao descended to the river, but a sudden change in the mountains and waterways disrupted his search, and Fei Tianqin recognized Bai Canhong's hand in the disturbance.

Bai Canhong opened the Cold Crow Mountain barrier, unleashing the Li Mountain beast tide and forcing the Ying Mountain Army and allied cultivators to retreat toward Cloud Horn Prefecture. At Pingrong County, Chongming Sect reinforcements helped hold the failing formation, while Kuang Liuting prepared to lead troops into the crisis; Jin Tanglü then sensed danger near Junior Brother Jin.

• Kang Dabao failed to find Jiang Qing in the turbulent river as the Cold Crow Mountain barrier broke and Demon Beasts poured into White Sand County.
• Fei Tianqin ordered a retreat toward Cloud Horn Prefecture, and Kang Dabao led the alliance cultivators away after signaling Duan Anle to raise the main banner.
• Duan Yunzhou brought Jin Tanglü and Zheng Wanbi with Chongming Sect reinforcements to Pingrong County, where the beast tide and Two Instruments Sect's cannons battered the Nine Heavens Mountain-Suppressing Grand Formation.
• Jin Shilun held the formation against invading beasts, then sent Jin Tanglü and half the young disciples to reinforce Kang Rongquan at the Dingwei position.
• Jin Tanglü and Kang Rongquan drove beasts back through a breach and temporarily stabilized the Dingwei position, but Jin Tanglü sensed a new disturbance near Junior Brother Jin.
• Kuang Liuting learned that Bai Canhong had opened the barrier and decided to lead Duke's household troops toward Cloud Horn Prefecture himself.

After being expelled from Mo Ku’s tutelage, You Wenrui fished an unconscious black-clad cultivator from the river and recognized him as possibly Jiang Qing of the Chongming Sect. Wang Qiaobei tried to seize the cultivator’s Second Tier demon core, but You Wenrui killed him and was left weighing whether to bring Jiang Qing to the Mo Household.

• You Wenrui, newly cast out by Mo Ku, borrowed Wang Qiaobei’s spirit net and hauled an unconscious black-clad cultivator from the river.
• Wang Qiaobei urged You Wenrui to throw the apparent corpse back, but You Wenrui recognized the man as possibly Elder Jiang of the Chongming Sect and chose to save him.
• The black-clad cultivator vomited a Second Tier demon core, and Wang Qiaobei attacked You Wenrui to take it.
• Wang Qiaobei pretended to agree to deliver Jiang Qing for a reward, then tried to ambush You Wenrui, who struck first with his Li Fire Sword.
• You Wenrui killed Wang Qiaobei, then hesitated over whether to carry Jiang Qing to the Mo Household after recalling Wang’s warning.

Wei Gu and He Yuanyi led Chongming Sect disciples through a Blood Vulture attack and reached the Nine Heavens Mountain-Suppressing Grand Formation, where the Office of the Duke of Qin’s forces were struggling against the beasts and the Two Instruments Sect. As Kang Dabao and Qiu Yunsheng fought to a stalemate, Kuang Liuting arrived and killed Qiu Yunsheng with a single touch, then challenged someone hidden in the clouds.

• Wei Gu boarded a spirit boat with He Yuanyi and led the journey toward the Nine Heavens Mountain-Suppressing Grand Formation despite their injuries and exhaustion.
• More than fifty Second-Tier Blood Vultures attacked the boat, but Wei Gu, He Yuanyi, and the pilots fought them off and resumed their journey with the damaged vessel.
• Wei Gu and the other Chongming Sect disciples reached the formation, where Attendant Luan assigned them urgent repair and support work amid the fierce battle.
• Kang Dabao fought Qiu Yunsheng with the Jade Palace Impurity Breaker Halberd and the Chaos Thunder Bell, but neither gained a decisive advantage.
• Kuang Liuting descended from the clouds and destroyed Qiu Yunsheng with one finger before asking someone else in the clouds whether they still dared not come out.

Kuang Liuting shattered the Two Instruments Sect’s formation and turned the battle in the Fei Household’s favor, but True Person Cloud Trust intervened and escaped with Pu Honggu and many surviving fighters. Fei Tianqin noticed something was wrong with Kuang Liuting and asked after him.

• Kuang Liuting wounded Demon Officer Zeng Zhang with a golden finger strike, forcing him to flee after his bone talisman broke.
• Pu Honggu deployed the Yin-Yang Two Instruments Spirit-Locking Formation while Fei Tianqin activated the Nine Heavens Mountain-Suppressing Grand Formation, and both sides fought desperately.
• Kuang Liuting’s lightning sword broke the Two Instruments Sect’s yin-yang fire attack and shattered its formation, allowing Fei Tianqin’s forces to rout the sect’s troops.
• Kuang Liuting killed three retreating Demon Officers as Pu Honggu fled, and Fei Tianqin pursued him before suddenly retreating from True Person Cloud Trust’s silver ring.
• True Person Cloud Trust gathered Pu Honggu and many people and beasts into a coarse cloth sack, then departed after acknowledging Kuang Liuting’s strength.
• Fei Tianqin noticed something amiss with Kuang Liuting and hurried to ask him about it.

Kuang Liuting helped secure victory over the Two Instruments Sect, then left to deal with the losses in Ye Prefecture and the threatened Yang Household. As Kang Dabao began restoring the devastated Pingrong County and planning the Chongming Sect’s future, Han Xundao arrived with news that Elder Jiang had been found.

• Kuang Liuting killed two high cultivators and helped turn the battle against the Two Instruments Sect, whose routed forces were attacked by Yuan Jin and the Fei Household.
• Kuang Liuting told Kang Dabao that Ye Prefecture had fallen and Yang Yongcheng had died, but he had arranged support and a future for the surviving Yang Household; he said the Ding Prefecture Kuang Household remained unharmed.
• Kuang Liuting departed to visit the survivors, while Kang Dabao surveyed the drained spirit fields and mines of Pingrong County.
• Fei Tianqin urged Kang Dabao to settle in Xian Prefecture or return to Ying Prefecture, but Kang Dabao refused to abandon the Chongming Sect and its disciples.
• Kang Dabao instructed Ye Zhengwen to organize cleanup and claim a fair share of the spoils, then prepared to review the battle’s gains and losses with Yuan Jin.
• Han Xundao rushed from Little Ring Mountain and announced that Elder Jiang had been found.

You Wenrui and the You Household received generous rewards for returning Jiang Qing, while Duan Anle explained why the sect rewarded good actions despite hidden motives. After surveying the destruction and losses in Pingrong, Sect Leader Kang Da led a council that ordered the Chongming Sect to leave its ancestral land and seek a new Third-Tier spirit land; he ended by asking Yuan Jin about the Foundation Establishment Pill formula.

• Zhu Yunsheng announced rewards for You Wenrui and the You Household, and Duan Anle gave You Wenrui a personal gift and offered future help.
• You Xiaobao struck You Wenrui and cursed him after the visitors left, while Zhu Yunsheng questioned the generous reward and Duan Anle defended it as recognition of You Wenrui’s actions.
• Duan Anle surveyed the devastated sect grounds and reported back to Kang Dabao as Jiang Qing lay gravely injured in the cloud chamber.
• Ye Zhengwen reported the battle’s casualties, and the sect’s divisions described the destruction of their resources and facilities.
• Kang Da ordered the Chongming Sect to withdraw from Pingrong, distribute part of the prefecture’s aid, and seek a new Third-Tier spirit land; he then asked Yuan Jin whether he had obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill formula.

Zhang Huangshi gave the Cloud Valley Zhang Household’s Foundation Establishment Pill formula to the Chongming Sect and received a valuable cultivation method in return. Kang Dabao reviewed plans for the southward migration and was relieved when Jiang Qing began to wake, leaving the sect preparing to depart in a few days.

• Duan Anle, Kang Rongquan, and Wan'er met Zhang Huangshi and told him the Chongming Sect wanted to purchase the Zhang household’s Foundation Establishment Pill formula.
• Wan'er promised the Zhang household would not suffer a loss, and Zhang Huangshi handed over the formula Jade Slip.
• Zhang Huangshi offered to send an Alchemist to help refine pills and promised to provide the household’s Spirit Plant cultivation methods.
• Duan Anle gave Zhang Huangshi the Jade Dew Bright Silver Art as compensation, and Zhang agreed to wait at the sect for further word.
• Kang Dabao reviewed Ye Zhengwen’s migration plans beside Jiang Qing’s bed, and Jiang Qing began to stir as the group prepared to leave in a few days.

Kang Dabao spent the night with Fei Shuhe before visiting the Fei Household’s pill house with Jiang Qing, whose injury Attendant Luan treated. Attendant Luan then privately asked Kang Dabao what Lady Han was really returning to Ying Prefecture for.

• Kang Dabao painted Fei Shuhe’s brows, shared news about the conflict, and learned Lady Han planned to take Wanqing, Lingyi, Brother Zhao, and Brother Yan to Ying Prefecture.
• Kang Dabao and Fei Shuhe spent the night together, and he rewarded Wan’er before going to the Fei Household’s old residence with Jiang Qing.
• Attendant Luan examined Jiang Qing’s lingering injury and prescribed a Spirit-Moistening Decoction and gentle exercises, estimating that most of the damage would heal within half a year.
• Attendant Luan sent Jiang Qing outside and privately asked Kang Dabao why Lady Han was really returning to Ying Prefecture.

Fei Nanying joined Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing at Qichi Hall, where Jiang Qing’s sword insights impressed the Fei elders and earned him an offer of Golden Cores. Kang Dabao then revealed his interest in securing a rare Core Formation opportunity for his wife Shuhe, and Fei Tianqin demanded to know what he would offer in exchange.

• Fei Nanying left seclusion after learning that Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing had been discussing the Dao with Fei Tianqin and Fei Donggu.
• Jiang Qing explained how he combined three sword methods into his technique, Primordial Unity Suppresses the Firmament, and Fei Tianqin praised his insight.
• Fei Tianqin offered Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing one or two Golden Cores, then remembered they had another use and promised to obtain more later.
• Fei Tianqin asked why Kang Dabao had brought Jiang Qing to discuss the Dao, and Kang Dabao told his junior brother to wait outside.
• Fei Nanying explained that Shuhe was seeking a share of a rare Core Formation method, and Fei Tianqin asked Kang Dabao what he would offer to secure the opportunity for her.

Fei Nanying argued that the Fei Household should invest in Kang Dabao, and Fei Tianqin agreed to seek spirit fruits for Fei Shuhe and Han Ningyue. After Guhongzi visited Xuanwei City to thank Yuan Jin, urgent news from a cold courtyard prompted Fei Shuhe to summon the eldest young master from Mountain North Circuit.

• Fei Nanying urged Fei Tianqin to support Kang Dabao and use the alliance to strengthen the Fei Household, while Fei Donggu objected.
• Fei Tianqin praised Fei Nanying’s reasoning and revealed that he had asked for spirit fruits for Han Ningyue and Fei Shuhe.
• Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing returned to Xuanwei City and met Guhongzi, who came to thank Yuan Jin for saving him from Pu Honggu.
• Kang Dabao hosted Guhongzi for three days before seeing him off.
• A tearful maid rushed out of a desolate courtyard, and Fei Shuhe ordered an attendant to fetch the eldest young master from Mountain North Circuit without delay.

Kang Changyi helped the Kuang Household and Ten Thousand Beasts Sect defeat Xianyu Household forces, killing False Core cultivator Xianyu Lie with a Primordial Lightning Talisman. After returning to camp, he learned that his master Chu Yanran was injured and that his birth mother was near death; he reached Xuanwei City too late and joined his family in mourning Huo Ying.

• Kang Changyi fought through Xianyu Household soldiers with the Azure Thunder Crimson Ox and aided Kuang Mingyuan and Zhou Yue as their forces came under attack.
• Kang Changyi used the Primordial Lightning Talisman to kill Xianyu Lie, turning the battle and helping the allied cultivators scatter the remaining Xianyu Household soldiers.
• Kang Changyi returned to camp and learned that Chu Yanran had been injured by an Outer Dao cultivator's Blood Sha backlash and that his birth mother was gravely ill.
• Kang Changyi hurried to Xuanwei City, where he found mourning drapes and learned from Kang Dabao that Huo Ying had died before he arrived.
• Kang Dabao remembered Huo Ying's care and grieved alone outside as snow fell.

After a series of funerals, the Chongming Sect arranged its defenses and sent Guhongzi to deliver a Dao lecture that benefited its disciples. As the sect’s members departed for their assignments, Kang Dabao urged Jiang Qing to focus on Core Formation, then learned that his wife might be traveling with Kang Lingyi and her brothers.

• Kang Lingyi, Kang Changzhao, and Kang Changyan prepared to travel with Han Ningyue to Ying Prefecture to become Fei Wanqing’s disciples, while Kang Changyi returned to the front in Ding Prefecture.
• Kang Dabao assigned Tang Jiu and Jin Tanglü to oversee Han City and arranged the Chongming Sect’s defenses and administration across its territories.
• Yuan Jin told Kang Dabao that Guhongzi planned to repay Yuan Jin for saving his life by giving three Dao lectures in Xuanwei City.
• Guhongzi gave a lecture on cultivation and answered the disciples’ questions, then stayed in Xuanwei City for three months to guide Duan Anle, Kang Rongquan, and other disciples.
• Kang Dabao encouraged Jiang Qing to stay with the Fei Household and cultivate toward Core Formation, and Jiang Qing agreed after Ye Zhengwen supported the plan.
• A Fei Household messenger arrived to discuss the journey to Ying Prefecture and said that Madam seemed to be going with Kang Lingyi and her brothers, startling Kang Dabao.

Chu Yanran defended Kang Changyi’s leave and Kang Dabao against Sha Shan’s accusations, while Exalted Cultivator Lanxin rebuked the camp’s infighting and assigned Sha Shan to work with Chu Yanran. The chapter ended with Sect Leader Kang Da welcoming the Fei Household’s spirit boat in Xuanwei City.

• Kang Changyi returned to the Ding Prefecture camp after escaping a mounted patrol and learned that Chu Yanran was in the main tent.
• Sha Shan accused Chu Yanran’s disciple of abandoning the formation, but Chu Yanran countered that he had received an official leave decree and challenged Sha Shan’s criticism of Kang Dabao.
• Exalted Cultivator Lanxin arrived, confirmed Zhu Tong had issued the leave document, and rebuked Sha Shan for acting like a military magistrate without an assigned post.
• Exalted Cultivator Lanxin urged the gathered households to unite, announced that Shen Lingfeng was bringing imperial guards south, and ordered Sha Shan to assist Chu Yanran.
• Chu Yanran reminded Sha Shan that Kang Changyi had earned his leave after killing a Xianyu Household Pill Master, and Sha Shan withdrew from the argument.
• Sect Leader Kang Da welcomed the Fei Household’s spirit boat in Xuanwei City.

Fei Tianqin advised Jiang Qing on his Core Thesis and warned him that his loyalty to his senior brothers could become a burden on his cultivation. He gave Jiang Qing a Sword Core Diagram and books to study, then revealed that political changes might force him to travel to Mountain North Circuit.

• Fei Tianqin questioned Jiang Qing about his devotion to the sword and urged him to contemplate the meaning of “Primordial Unity” as a possible key to Core Formation.
• Fei Tianqin praised Jiang Qing’s bond with Kang Dabao and warned that valuing his senior brothers above himself could hinder his future cultivation.
• Fei Tianqin explained that the Fei Household would not try to win Jiang Qing over through marriage and gave him a fragmentary Sword Core Diagram and several books to study.
• Jiang Qing accepted the gifts, thanked Fei Tianqin, and left Repose Hall to cultivate in the Fei Household.
• After Jiang Qing departed, Fei Tianqin worried that political changes involving Shen Lingfeng could threaten the Fei Household and resolved to travel to Mountain North Circuit.

Fei Shuhe received news that Kang Changxi had earned military merit and been promoted, prompting Han Ningyue to reconsider the conditions for his marriage into her family. In Xuanwei City, Kang Dabao oversaw the Zhang Household’s delivery of Foundation Establishment Pills, encouraged promising disciples, and went to visit a female True Disciple.

• Han Ningyue comforted Fei Shuhe about accepting her family’s cultivation opportunity and considered how Kang Dabao might support the Fei Household’s succession.
• Fei Shuhe received a message reporting that Kang Changxi had defeated bandits in Jing County, wounded a False Core bandit chief, and earned a promotion.
• Han Ningyue reconsidered whether Kang Changxi still needed to meet the original condition before marriage talks with the Han Household could begin.
• The Zhang Household Alchemist delivered seven lower-grade Foundation Establishment Pills and praised Qi Ke, Gun Fangmu, and Chen Zihang for their alchemy talent.
• Kang Dabao rewarded the Zhang Household representatives, warned the three disciples against flattery, and told Ye Zhengwen to make most of the pills available through the Merit Points Hall.
• Kang Dabao took two Foundation Establishment Pills from his account and went to the residence of a female True Disciple, where he knocked on her door.