Contains books 10–12 of Painting the Mists.
Words of Creation, book ten: Cha Ming and Huxian are back at the bottom of the food chain. Emperors and immortals would kill for their secrets. The Inkwell Plane is a magical place. Daoist arts and technology work hand in hand, and transcendents are on friendly terms with demigods and demons. But not all is well. As a new ascendant, there aren't many people who are weaker than Cha Ming. He must fight to prove his worth and carve out a place for himself in this dog-eat-dog world. To succeed, he may need to share more secrets than he's comfortable with. Huxian and his friends find themselves surrounded by strange new customs and powerful demons. Why toe the line when they can start breaking rules the moment they land? It's too bad demonic society doesn't take kindly to thieves and scoundrels. They'll need to adapt if they ever hope to be reunited with Cha Ming. One man. A pack of rowdy demons. A world that's falling apart. It's rotten at its core, and no god, demon, or immortal can save it. Crown of the Starry Sky, book eleven: People are missing in the demon lands. Only a karmic anomaly can save them. It's been six months since Cha Ming's clash with the White-Eyed Tiger Clan. His growth has stalled to nothing, and his search for an heir to the Golden Dragon has come up empty. When two angry city lords come looking for revenge, an unlikely group decides to shield him. The price for his safety is a single mission that requires no less than twisting the web of fate. To find answers, Cha Ming must journey to the Star-Eye Monkey Clan. The ancient builders are on the brink of war, and Cha Ming will stop at nothing to prevent it. Claddings of Light, book twelve: A phoenix suffers five burnings to ascend. Five flames. Five colors. Rebirth in iridescence. The Burning Lake Prefecture has declared war on the demon lands. The human invaders are mighty, and even Stargazer City's new seer can't stop them. Cha Ming would love to help, but his hands are tied. He has a death match to attend and only six months to prepare. To survive, he'll need to awaken his divine blood using the Iridescent Phoenix's inheritance. But such a precious treasure is not easy to obtain. Cha Ming's competitors are strong and have been preparing all their lives. They wield alchemical skills that exceed his own and iridescent flames that turn emotions into reality. Cha Ming's friends fight to buy him as much time as they can, because should he win the death match, he will take control of the Burning Lake Prefecture. Should he lose, however, not only will he and Huxian die, but every demon tribe in the north will be forced to surrender or perish.
