Chapter Summaries

Chen Ning learned more about the difficulty of entering the God Realm and heard how the little monk’s master had finally let go of his burdens. Two days later, Xu Beifeng and the lord of Greedy Wolf City arrived in Brocade Zither City to demand Chen Ning, and Nalan Yao offered to settle the grudge by killing them all.

• Chen Ning considered why the first-generation sect master had made him a target and chose not to flee from the danger ahead.
• The little monk told Chen Ning that his master had understood and let go of his attachments when a female benefactor killed his descendants, and he refused to seek revenge.
• Two days later, Xu Beifeng, the lord of Greedy Wolf City, and six other experts entered Brocade Zither City to demand Chen Ning for Xu Yin’s death.
• The guards warned the visitors that Chen Ning was Nalan Yao’s chosen husband, but Xu Beifeng insisted on avenging his son.
• Nalan Yao appeared with Chen Ning and declared that she would settle the grudge by killing every last one of them.

Sui Qingshan arrived to protect Chen Ning and swiftly killed the Greedy Wolf City lord, while a white-robed subordinate appeared to confront Xu Beifeng and his remaining allies. Xu Beifeng unleashed the Wind-Chiming Heavenly Bell, ringing it nine times as the battle continued.

• Sui Qingshan appeared, knelt before Chen Ning, and identified him as the new leader of So Close Yet Worlds Apart.
• Sui Qingshan killed a Greedy Wolf City expert and then slew the Greedy Wolf City lord with a single finger.
• Xu Beifeng tried to retreat with his remaining allies, but a white-robed man blocked their way and called Chen Ning their leader.
• The white-robed man killed five Saint Realm Middle Stage experts with force from his folding fan, leaving Xu Beifeng protected by the Wind-Chiming Heavenly Bell.
• Xu Beifeng drove the bell to its limit and made it ring nine times, drawing Chen Ning's attention to the power of his trump card.

Chen Ning gathered the members of So Close Yet Worlds Apart, but two failed to appear. He offered to reveal the method of becoming a god after they protected him for a year, while Ding Erliang questioned whether Chen Ning planned to abandon them once he found another backer.

• Bai Ziyu killed Xu Beifeng with a single sword strike, and Sui Qingshan cleaned up the battlefield.
• Bai Ziyu introduced Old Man Yang, Xue Rang, and Ding Erliang to Chen Ning, while explaining that the two remaining members would not come.
• Chen Ning brought the gathered members into the city lord's residence and told them he would share the method of becoming a god if they kept him safe for a year.
• Ding Erliang accused Chen Ning of planning to find a new backer and discard them, leaving Chen Ning wondering how much the first-generation founder had told them about him.

Chen Ning negotiated with the six members of So Close Yet Worlds Apart over revealing a method of becoming a god, which he did not actually know. They agreed to carry out one task each for him before he told them the method, while keeping their freedom to come and go.

• Chen Ning refused to reveal the method unless the others swore an oath to protect him, but they declined to surrender their freedom.
• Ding Erliang threatened that the group could use force and soul-searching, while Bai Ziyu offered to help Chen Ning in exchange for the method.
• Chen Ning asked the six to destroy the Darkness God Clan and rescue one of his elders, but they rejected the task as too dangerous.
• Sui Qingshan proposed that each member complete one task for Chen Ning, after which they could part ways and receive the method.
• Bai Ziyu, Nalan Yao, Old Man Yang, Xue Rang, and Ding Erliang accepted the arrangement, and Chen Ning agreed to rely on them.

After the So Close Yet Worlds Apart members discussed Chen Ning and the rumored method to become a god, Old Man Yang offered to take Chen Ning to the Star King Domain to retrieve a treasure that could help him cultivate. Nalan Yao insisted on joining them, while Chen Ning remained wary of her schemes.

• Bai Ziyu asked Sui Qingshan and Nalan Yao what they had discovered about Chen Ning, and the group discussed whether the previous leader had truly known a method to become a god.
• Ding Erliang suggested creating dangers so Chen Ning would need the members’ help, and Sui Qingshan warned them not to go too far.
• The other So Close Yet Worlds Apart members departed, while Old Man Yang stayed at the city lord’s mansion to protect Chen Ning.
• Old Man Yang offered to take Chen Ning to the Star King Domain to retrieve a supreme treasure that had once belonged to him and could aid Chen Ning’s cultivation.
• Nalan Yao announced that she would accompany Chen Ning, then offered to care for him if he revealed the method to become a god.

Chen Ning and his party reached Ding-Seeking City to seek the Star Soul Cauldron, where he reunited with Huang Yuehua and learned the Dongfang clan was recruiting young cultivators. He agreed to travel with her, then met Ximen Chuan, whose attention shifted from Huang Yuehua to Chen Ning’s beautiful companions.

• Nalan Yao told Chen Ning that the Dongfang and Ximen clans controlled the Star Soul Cauldron, which produced Star Soul Essence for young cultivators.
• Chen Ning’s group arrived at Ding-Seeking City, and Nalan Yao explained that the Dongfang clan currently held the cauldron under the clans’ rotation.
• Chen Ning reunited with Huang Yuehua, who had come to try out for the Dongfang clan’s recruitment and hoped to obtain Star Soul Essence.
• Chen Ning agreed to travel with Huang Yuehua, while Nalan Yao teased him by pretending to be his wife.
• Huang Yuehua introduced Chen Ning to Ximen Chuan, who admired Nalan Yao and Hua Luo and reconsidered his interest in Huang Yuehua.

Ximen Chuan accompanied Chen Ning’s group to the Dongfang Clan’s recruitment contest, where he promised Huang Yuehua Star Soul Essence and belittled Chen Ning’s chances. Chen Ning skipped the contest and went with Old Man Yang to see the Dongfang Clan Head, arriving at the palace gates to request an audience.

• Ximen Chuan told Huang Yuehua he would win Star Soul Essence for her, while Nalan Yao said Chen Ning would win it for her.
• The Dongfang Clan announced a free-for-all contest in which the last ten cultivators standing would join the clan and receive Star Soul Essence.
• Ximen Chuan entered the contest, and Huang Yuehua joined him while Chen Ning stayed outside.
• Chen Ning explained through his actions that he had come to reclaim the Star Soul Cauldron and went with Old Man Yang toward the Dongfang Clan’s palace.
• Old Man Yang introduced himself as Yang Yongnian at the palace gates and asked the guards to inform the Dongfang Clan Head of his arrival.

Chen Ning accompanied Old Man Yang to the Dongfang Aristocratic Clan to reclaim the Star Soul Cauldron, but Dongfang He refused and drove them away. As Chen Ning tried to help Old Man Yang leave, the elder’s voice changed and he hinted that he would use force.

• Old Man Yang told Chen Ning his name was Yang Yongnian and met with Dongfang clan head Dongfang He, who welcomed him respectfully.
• Old Man Yang asked Dongfang He to return the Star Soul Cauldron for Chen Ning’s cultivation, but Dongfang He offered only Star Soul Essence.
• Dongfang He revealed he believed Old Man Yang’s Saint King realm was an unstable empty shell and ordered him and Chen Ning to leave.
• Old Man Yang pleaded for the cauldron, but Dongfang He pushed him to the floor and threatened him.
• Chen Ning went to help Old Man Yang up, and Old Man Yang blamed himself before his voice deepened and he warned that living creatures would be plunged into misery.

Elder Yang unleashed Purgatory Fire and a Furnace Hellhound against Dongfang He and the Dongfang Aristocratic Clan after Chen Ning was sent away. As the clan reeled from the destruction, Chen Ning investigated the flames while Ximen Chuan threatened Huang Yuehua after she rejected his advances.

• Elder Yang sent Chen Ning out of the palace complex, then engulfed himself in black flames and destroyed Dongfang He's attack and the great hall.
• Elder Yang's flames spread through the Dongfang Aristocratic Clan, and he destroyed the attacks and bodies of its eight Great Saints with a monstrous hound's head.
• Dongfang He recognized the beast as a Furnace Hellhound and the flames as Purgatory Fire, then tried to negotiate with Elder Yang, who gave no answer.
• Chen Ning used Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils to inspect the hound's head, while Ximen Chuan and Huang Yuehua secured places among the final ten in the recruitment contest.
• Ximen Chuan boasted to Nalan Yao and Hua Luo about his clan's Star Soul Essence, then propositioned them and Huang Yuehua.
• Huang Yuehua rejected Ximen Chuan, and he threatened to ruin her because he had helped her obtain Star Soul Essence and join the Dongfang Aristocratic Clan.

Chen Ning gravely wounded Ximen Chuan after catching him harassing Hua Luo, then faced the Great Saint Middle Stage protector Uncle Lu. As Uncle Lu’s crushing palm descended, Chen Ning revealed the Darkness Divine Mark on his arm.

• Ximen Chuan threatened Huang Yuehua and tried to grab Hua Luo, but Hua Luo dodged him.
• Chen Ning returned and gravely wounded Ximen Chuan with one strike of the Destruction Divine Fist.
• Uncle Lu intervened to protect Ximen Chuan and challenged Chen Ning to attack him.
• Chen Ning unleashed three kinds of lightning against Uncle Lu, but the Great Saint overwhelmed his attack.
• Uncle Lu sent a massive palm print to crush Chen Ning, who revealed the Darkness Divine Mark on his arm.

Chen Ning used the Darkness Divine Mark to overpower a Great Saint and force the Ximen Aristocratic Clan to choose between Ximen Chuan’s life and the clan’s survival. The Ximen clan leader arrived and offered to change the clan’s faith, leaving Chen Ning’s demand unresolved.

• Chen Ning revealed the Darkness Divine Mark and shattered the purple-robed elder’s thousand-foot palm with a Destruction Divine Fist.
• The purple-robed elder, believing Chen Ning belonged to a god clan, knelt and offered the Ximen Aristocratic Clan’s allegiance.
• Ximen Chuan was stunned, Huang Yuehua regretted her choice, and Nalan Yao recognized the connection between Chen Ning and the Darkness God Clan.
• Chen Ning concealed his Divine Mark and demanded that Ximen Chuan die or the Ximen Aristocratic Clan be destroyed.
• The Ximen clan leader appeared and offered ample compensation, including changing the clan’s faith, to resolve the conflict.

Chen Ning forced the Ximen family head to choose between sacrificing Ximen Chuan and facing the consequences, while Old Man Yang’s destruction of the Dongfang Aristocratic Clan made the choice clear. After leaving Ding-Seeking City, Chen Ning revealed that he had another hidden protector following them.

• The Ximen family head refused Chen Ning’s demand at first and secretly considered killing him, but black flames suddenly destroyed the Dongfang Aristocratic Clan.
• Old Man Yang emerged carrying Dongfang He’s corpse and delivered the Star Soul Cauldron to Chen Ning, revealing that he had wiped out the Dongfang Household.
• Frightened by Old Man Yang’s strength, the Ximen family head chose to sacrifice Ximen Chuan, whom Chen Ning killed with Sword Intent.
• Chen Ning left Ding-Seeking City with Hua Luo, Old Man Yang, and Nalan Yao, while Huang Yuehua watched them go and regretted her choices.
• Old Man Yang admitted he would have been no match for the Ximen family head, and Chen Ning said Nalan Yao or another companion could have intervened.
• Nalan Yao and Old Man Yang noticed the towering Xue Rang silently following the group.

Chen Ning refined the Star Soul Essence for three days and advanced to the Saint Realm Middle Stage, greatly increasing his confidence against the purple-robed elder. After returning to Brocade Zither City, Old Man Yang opened the bamboo scroll Chen Ning had gifted him and reacted with shock.

• Old Man Yang helped Chen Ning prepare to refine the Star Soul Essence while Hua Luo watched over him.
• Nalan Yao questioned Old Man Yang’s loyalty and warned that Ding Erliang and the others might use other means to make Chen Ning seek their help.
• Chen Ning absorbed all the Star Soul Essence in the cauldron and broke through to the Saint Realm Middle Stage.
• Chen Ning gave Old Man Yang a bamboo scroll left by his founding ancestor as thanks for helping him.
• Old Man Yang opened the scroll that evening, then trembled violently after studying it.

After returning to Brocade Zither City, Chen Ning spent peaceful days helping Hua Luo recover while preparing for the Darkness God Clan to notice his use of the Darkness Divine Mark. The Blazing Star Lord set out to capture him, while Old Man Yang discovered that the bamboo slip had made his taboo ability safe to control.

• Chen Ning devoted himself to helping Hua Luo rediscover herself and meditated with the little monk, though he expected the Darkness God Clan to come after him.
• The Blazing Star Lord learned that Chen Ning had used the Darkness Divine Mark and departed the Darkness God Domain with his two young cousins to capture him.
• Old Man Yang emerged from seclusion and gave Nalan Yao the bamboo slip that the leader had given him.
• Old Man Yang demonstrated that the bamboo slip's guidance let him use his taboo ability with control, astonishing Nalan Yao.
• Old Man Yang suggested the old leader had left the bamboo slip for him because of his loyalty to the leader.

Chen Ning used Old Man Yang’s hidden technique and its flaws to create a bamboo-scroll guide, prompting Nalan Yao to seek his favor and offer a trip to the Wangchuan Treasure Land. Chen Ning agreed to leave the next day, and the little monk agreed to join them.

• Chen Ning used Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils to identify the flaws in Old Man Yang’s Purgatory Fire technique and carved guidance onto a bamboo scroll for him.
• Nalan Yao realized Old Man Yang’s loyalty had earned him the scroll and decided to seek guidance from Chen Ning herself.
• Nalan Yao apologized to Chen Ning and offered to take him to the Wangchuan Treasure Land, where she promised him a fortuitous opportunity.
• Chen Ning agreed to leave for Wangchuan the next day, and the little monk readily agreed to travel with them.

Blazing Star Lord forced his way into the Ximen Household and revealed that Chen Ning was a man from a lower realm, not a member of a God Clan. Enraged by the truth about his son’s killer, Ximen Longyuan joined Blazing Star Lord’s pursuit of Chen Ning.

• Ximen Longyuan refused to receive visitors until Blazing Star Lord and his companions fought their way into the Ximen Household.
• Blazing Star Lord introduced himself as a member of the Darkness God Clan, and Ximen Longyuan learned that Chen Ning was not from a God Clan but from a lower realm.
• Ximen Longyuan asked to join Blazing Star Lord so he could kill Chen Ning himself.
• Blazing Star Lord agreed to let Ximen Longyuan come along, intending to use him as a tool.

Chen Ning and his companions arrived at Yellow Dragon Island, where Nalan Yao and Old Man Yang slaughtered Fire Madman’s men after he threatened them. Liu Feng told Chen Ning about the Undying Ancient Lamp, but Nalan Yao revealed it was not what she had come to find.

• Chen Ning and his companions reached Yellow Dragon Island and encountered Fire Madman’s group confronting cultivators from Lake Light Island.
• Fire Madman challenged Chen Ning’s group, and Chen Ning let Nalan Yao and Old Man Yang handle him and his men.
• Old Man Yang and Nalan Yao reflected the Fire Thunder Island cultivators’ attacks, killing dozens, and Nalan Yao turned Fire Madman into bloody mist.
• Liu Feng thanked Chen Ning and told him about the Undying Ancient Lamp, a rumored treasure said to grant eternal life.
• Chen Ning asked Nalan Yao if they had come seeking the lamp, and she said it was not her goal.

Chen Ning and Nalan Yao searched Yellow Dragon Island for a genuine Lower Divine Artifact guqin hidden behind a time restriction. As Nalan Yao began breaking the restriction, Luo Wuchen of the Grand One God Clan arrived and introduced himself to the little monk.

• Nalan Yao explained that the Yellow Dragon's caves concealed treasures behind time restrictions, and that her guqin music could make the restrictions resonate and unravel.
• Chen Ning's group chose an unexplored cave, where Nalan Yao began using her guqin to break the time restriction while Old Man Yang stood guard.
• Nalan Yao discovered the restriction had not been broken, though she could not tell whether her guqin lay inside.
• Luo Wuchen and Uncle Qi entered the cave; Uncle Qi recognized Chen Ning's True Dragon Body and the little monk's natural Buddha Child Physique.
• Luo Wuchen approached the little monk and introduced himself as a member of the Grand One God Clan, asking for his Dharma name.

After Nalan Yao broke the cave’s time restriction, Chen Ning opened two stone chests and found the Wind-Chanting Immortal Zither and a heavenly pearl. Luo Wuchen offered to trade for the zither, but Chen Ning refused, leaving the Grand One God Clan’s divine son displeased.

• Luo Wuchen invited Chanxin to travel with him, but Chanxin chose to stay with Chen Ning and his companions.
• Nalan Yao broke the time restriction, revealing a changed cave and two stone chests.
• Chen Ning opened the chests and obtained the Wind-Chanting Immortal Zither and a heavenly pearl.
• Luo Wuchen asked Chen Ning to sell or trade him the zither, but Chen Ning refused.
• Nalan Yao warned Luo Wuchen and Uncle Qi against taking the zither by force.

Luo Wuchen and Uncle Qi left the cave after Chen Ning refused to trade for the Wind-Chanting Immortal Zither, but the Red Scorpion Clan arrived and attacked Chen Ning’s group. As Old Man Yang, Nalan Yao, and the others fought back, Chen Ning rejected the God Clan’s offer of help and prepared to face the attackers himself.

• Luo Wuchen chose to leave rather than take the Wind-Chanting Immortal Zither by force, but the Red Scorpion Clan blocked the cave entrance.
• Uncle Qi hinted that the Red Scorpion Clan should attack Chen Ning’s group, while Luo Wuchen publicly disapproved of using power to bully others.
• The Red Scorpion clan leader attacked Chen Ning, and Old Man Yang intercepted him with Purgatory Fire.
• Nalan Yao stopped the Red Scorpion Clan’s other Saint King, while the remaining clansmen charged at Chen Ning’s group.
• Chen Ning released his Saint Realm Middle Stage presence as Hua Luo and the demonic ape prepared to fight.
• Uncle Qi and Luo Wuchen offered to stop the battle if Chen Ning surrendered the Wind-Chanting Immortal Zither, but Chen Ning refused to compromise.