Chapter Summaries

Ding Erliang killed the Heaven Thief Emperor but despaired when Chen Ning could not revive Hua Sanniang. Lü Xiaochuan revealed that the Black Soul Banner might summon her intact soul, though it would need a compatible body, leaving Ding Erliang to decide whether to risk it.

• Ding Erliang killed the Heaven Thief Emperor by crushing his heart, then broke down over Hua Sanniang's death.
• Chen Ning finished refining a Divine Pill, but told Ding Erliang that neither it nor the Great Dao of Time could bring the dead back to life.
• Lü Xiaochuan revealed the Black Soul Banner could summon Hua Sanniang's intact soul, but warned that her soul would need a highly compatible body.
• Ding Erliang faced Lü Xiaochuan's warning that waiting could let Hua Sanniang's soul disperse, while summoning it without a suitable body could doom it.

Chen Ning helped Lü Xiaochuan recover Hua Sanniang’s soul from the Black Soul Banner and attached it to a Divine Pill, bringing her back as a Pill Spirit. Ding Erliang took responsibility for protecting her and vowed to grow stronger while Chen Ning promised to seek a way to restore her body.

• Chen Ning agreed to summon Hua Sanniang’s soul and explained that he could attach it to a Divine Pill as a Pill Spirit.
• Lü Xiaochuan used the Black Soul Banner to search among the departed souls and found Hua Sanniang’s soul.
• Chen Ning attached Hua Sanniang’s soul to his seven-mark Divine Pill, bringing forth her illusory form.
• Hua Sanniang thanked Chen Ning and Lü Xiaochuan, while Ding Erliang promised to find a way to rebuild her body.
• Chen Ning entrusted the Divine Pill to Ding Erliang, who vowed to become stronger and protect Hua Sanniang.

After the Pirate Emperor and Heaven Thief Emperor fell, the Mountain Bandit Emperor and Bandit Emperor fought to control the Sin Domain, with Fang Tianque secretly advising the Mountain Bandit Emperor on Emperor Yu’s behalf. Back in the City of Light, Chen Ning learned that Lü Xiaochuan would follow him and completed the third stage of his main quest.

• The Bandit Emperor and Mountain Bandit Emperor formed rival alliances and fought over the fallen emperors’ territories.
• Fang Tianque advised the Mountain Bandit Emperor, helping him turn the Bandit Emperor’s attacks into repeated setbacks and win defectors.
• Chen Ning and his companions returned to the City of Light, where Sui Qingshan, Ding Erliang, and Lü Xiaochuan recovered from their injuries.
• Lü Xiaochuan said he would stay with Chen Ning out of gratitude and loyalty, while hoping to learn how Chen Ning had helped Sui Qingshan and Ding Erliang break through.
• Chen Ning completed the third stage of his main quest and received an enhancement attempt, the Other Shore Immortal Ship, and the Sin Stele.

Chen Ning claimed the Other Shore Immortal Ship and the Sin Stele, adding powerful travel, defense, and combat abilities. He then opened the first-generation sect master's letter and spoke with the returning projection.

• Chen Ning used an enhancement opportunity on Purple Firmament Divine Lightning.
• Chen Ning received the Other Shore Immortal Ship and discovered it could protect passengers while traveling between small worlds through the starry sea.
• Chen Ning examined the Sin Stele, a taboo cultivation method with five realms based on the five punishments, and learned that he had reached only its first two realms.
• Chen Ning unfolded the first-generation sect master's letter, which formed a projection of the sect master.
• Chen Ning introduced himself as the Dragon-Seeking Sect's ninth-generation sect master, and the first generation confirmed that Chen Ning had met his divine sense in the Nine Provinces Realm before inviting him to ask questions.

Chen Ning questioned the founding sect master about his godhood, his past schemes, and the danger in the Vast Land. The founder explained that he had arranged protection for Chen Ning while leaving him the choice to retreat or try to save the Nine Provinces Realm.

• The founding sect master learned that Chen Ning had subdued Old Man Yang and the others, and said he had seen their karma rather than read Chen Ning's memories.
• Chen Ning asked the founder to teach him more killing moves, but the founder said the nameless move was enough for him.
• Chen Ning confronted the founder for inventing a secret treasure and claiming Chen Ning had a way to become a god, which had drawn trouble from Sui Qingshan and the others.
• The founder explained that he had arranged for Old Man Yang and the others to protect Chen Ning while leaving him a way to retreat from the Vast Land.
• The founder revealed that he had also secured protection from the Light God Clan Leader and said he hoped Chen Ning would become a hero and save the Nine Provinces Realm.

Chen Ning learned why the founding sect master had fought the gods’ manifestations and heard that the coming calamity might begin on the Darkness Ancient Road. The founder asked Chen Ning to investigate its source and delay the calamity threatening both the Vast Land and the Nine Provinces Realm.

• The founding sect master explained that Lü Xiaochuan had seen only the superficial contents of Chen Ning’s brocade pouch.
• The founder said he had defeated the divine senses of the Darkness, Barbarian, Crow, and Fate God Clans to protect Chen Ning from powerful future enemies.
• Chen Ning learned that those who enter the Heavenly Ruins Realm cannot return, and that the God Clans remained too powerful for him to challenge now.
• The founding sect master revealed that he had left the brocade pouch to ask Chen Ning to prevent or delay the coming calamity.
• The founder urged Chen Ning to investigate the Darkness Ancient Road, where he suspected the calamity originated.

Chen Ning learned why the Darkness Ancient Road could be the source of the coming calamity and decided to go there to investigate and train. The Light Clan Leader gifted him the Divine Light Sword Instruction and arranged protection for his journey.

• Chen Ning learned that the Darkness Ancient Road was a forbidden fiend graveyard maintained by the Eight Great God Clans and a trial ground for Saint Emperor experts.
• The Light Clan Leader told Chen Ning that the Darkness God Clan had blamed Chu Hengkong for the assassination attempt and refused to hand over Chen Ning’s old acquaintance from the Nine Provinces Realm.
• The Light Clan Leader gave Chen Ning the Light God Clan’s Divine Light Sword Instruction and urged him to stand by Hongyi and the clan.
• Chen Ning told the Light Clan Leader he planned to visit the Darkness Ancient Road and asked him to protect Hua'er and his friends in the City of Light.
• The Light Clan Leader agreed to protect them and arranged for Heavenly Venerable Zhu to accompany Chen Ning on the dangerous journey.

Chen Ning and his companions set off aboard the Other Shore Immortal Ship for the Darkness Ancient Road, where they encountered Saint Emperor guards watching over the burial ground of the West Spirit Sect. The group learned that the ancient demon sect might be stirring again, and the guards were ready to prevent its revival.

• Chen Ning brought Hua Luo, A Li, the little monk, and Lü Xiaochuan along, while Nalan Yao and the others stayed in the City of Light to cultivate.
• Heavenly Venerable Zhu agreed to protect Chen Ning and his companions on their journey to the Darkness Ancient Road.
• The Other Shore Immortal Ship entered the Darkness Ancient Road, where its dark and chaotic presence threatened travelers' Dao hearts.
• The ship reached a mountain range where a towering skeleton sat surrounded by glowing skeletons, and four Saint Emperor guards identified the site as the burial ground of the West Spirit Sect.

Chen Ning warned the four Saint Emperors that A Li sensed danger around the West Spirit Sect, but they ignored him and continued clearing the skeletons. A blood-red light suddenly tore the Flame God Clan Saint Emperor’s skeleton from his body, leaving his flesh and skin to collapse onto the bones below.

• The four Saint Emperors attacked the West Spirit Sect skeletons, destroying many and seemingly halting the central skeleton’s revival.
• Heavenly Venerable Zhu judged that the threat was over and prepared to leave aboard the Other Shore Immortal Ship.
• A Li sensed danger, and Chen Ning warned the four Saint Emperors to retreat.
• The Flame God Clan Saint Emperor and the War God Clan Saint Emperor dismissed Chen Ning’s warning, and the Flame God Clan Saint Emperor continued clearing bones.
• A blood-red light erupted from the Flame God Clan Saint Emperor and pulled his skeleton out, causing his flesh and skin to collapse onto the bones.

The West Spirit Sect sprang its trap, killing two of the four Saint Emperors while its skeletons attacked Chen Ning and the others. Chen Ning discovered that the followers’ bones sustained the Cult Leader’s endless revivals and unleashed Evil-Slaying Divine Lightning.

• The West Spirit Sect skeletons reassembled around the four Saint Emperors, and the West Spirit Cult Leader rose to claim their bodies.
• The West Spirit Cult Leader’s followers overwhelmed the Barbarian God Clan expert, while the War God Clan expert and the Wind God Clan expert called to Heavenly Venerable Zhu for help.
• Heavenly Venerable Zhu destroyed the Cult Leader’s skeleton, but it reassembled; Sui Qingshan and Ding Erliang fought off the other skeletons.
• Chen Ning examined the skeletons with Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils, found their weakness, and unleashed Evil-Slaying Divine Lightning across the mountain range.

After Chen Ning and Heavenly Venerable Zhu destroyed the West Spirit Sect’s ambush, Chen Ning’s group continued along the dangerous Darkness Ancient Road without a set destination. Lü Xiaochuan asked to visit a cemetery for people condemned by the Eight Great God Clans, and Heavenly Venerable Zhu accused him of hiding an ulterior motive, leaving Chen Ning to decide whose side to take.

• Heavenly Venerable Zhu destroyed the West Spirit Sect leader after Chen Ning’s lightning wiped out the sect’s followers, and the surviving Saint Emperor of the Wind God Clan thanked them both.
• Chen Ning returned to the Other Shore Immortal Ship and admitted he had no clear destination for investigating the future calamity.
• Lü Xiaochuan asked Chen Ning to travel north to a cemetery beneath the Two Mysterious Peaks.
• Heavenly Venerable Zhu said the cemetery held condemned demons and villains, then questioned Lü Xiaochuan’s reason for visiting.
• Lü Xiaochuan challenged the judgment of the Eight Great God Clans and said he was a sacrifice, prompting Ding Erliang and Sui Qingshan to sympathize with him.
• Heavenly Venerable Zhu warned Chen Ning not to trust Lü Xiaochuan, while the group waited for Chen Ning to respond.

Chen Ning agreed to take Lü Xiaochuan to the graveyard beneath the Two Mysterious Peaks, where Lü knelt before the fiends’ memorials. There, Heavenly Venerable Zhu encountered the apparent return of Ji Hongyi’s father, whose words exposed Zhu’s guilt over failing to save him.

• Chen Ning decided to trust Lü Xiaochuan and take him to the graveyard, despite Heavenly Venerable Zhu’s displeasure.
• The Other Shore Immortal Ship reached the graveyard, where Lü Xiaochuan knelt before a stele and Heavenly Venerable Zhu left to avoid watching him.
• Heavenly Venerable Zhu encountered a man he believed had died and accused him of being an illusion.
• The man revealed that he was Ji Hongyi’s father and said he no longer blamed Heavenly Venerable Zhu for standing by during his death.
• Heavenly Venerable Zhu recognized the man and recalled that envy had kept him from intervening when the Darkness God Clan attacked.

Lü Xiaochuan told Chen Ning how Hou Da saved him and why he believed Hou Da had been wrongly accused. The Rat Emperor and more than a hundred Hall of Ten Evils members arrived to reignite calamity, and Chen Ning refused to let them pass.

• Lü Xiaochuan poured wine before Hou Da’s stele and told Chen Ning that Hou Da had been falsely accused of releasing the Eight-Armed Devil.
• Lü Xiaochuan recounted how Hou Da had saved him with a stolen treasured pill and taught him skills, then thanked Chen Ning for standing up for him.
• The Rat Emperor arrived at the graveyard with more than a hundred Hall of Ten Evils members and asked Chen Ning’s group to make way.
• The little monk warned Chen Ning that the Rat Emperor intended to reignite calamity, and Chen Ning refused to let him proceed.
• The Rat Emperor threatened Chen Ning, and the Hall of Ten Evils members unleashed their presences, ready to attack.

Chen Ning fought the Rat Emperor, who devoured the remains of evil demons to greatly increase his power. Chen Ning countered the Rat Emperor’s attacks with the Sin Stele and sealed him in place.

• Sui Qingshan and Ding Erliang held off the Hall of Ten Evils while killing its members and battling two Saint Emperors.
• Chen Ning struck the Rat Emperor with Yi Wood Orthodox Lightning, putting the Late Saint Emperor at a disadvantage.
• The Rat Emperor devoured the remains of evil demons and unleashed a greatly strengthened blood-red palm attack.
• Chen Ning used the Sin Stele’s Flogging and Exile powers to lash the palm print and banish it into a rift in space.
• The Rat Emperor burned his bloodline and charged Chen Ning, but Chen Ning invoked Imprisonment to trap him in a cage of Essence Power.

Lü Xiaochuan betrayed Chen Ning and used the Black Soul Banner to revive the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable, hoping to restore Grandpa Monkey’s soul. The Demon Venerable killed the Rat Emperor, overwhelmed the others, and escaped with Chen Ning and Lü Xiaochuan.

• Lü Xiaochuan released the Sea of Death from the Boundless Divine Bottle to separate Chen Ning and the others while he used the Black Soul Banner to awaken the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable.
• Lü Xiaochuan asked the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable to bring Grandpa Monkey’s soul back, but the Rat Emperor admitted he had lied to make Lü Xiaochuan steal the banner.
• The Rat Emperor asked the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable to lead the Hall of Ten Evils, but the Demon Venerable pierced him and absorbed his life force.
• Lü Xiaochuan unleashed the Sea of Death against the Demon Venerable, who blocked it and seized Chen Ning.
• Ding Erliang and Sui Qingshan tried to stop the Demon Venerable, but he blocked their attacks, grabbed Lü Xiaochuan, and fled with both captives.

After Heavenly Venerable Zhu joined the search for Chen Ning, the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable kept Chen Ning and Lü Xiaochuan bound in a mountain ravine while he recovered. Chen Ning claimed he could help the Demon Venerable regain his strength faster, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Ding Erliang and Sui Qingshan returned to the Other Shore Immortal Ship without finding a trace of Chen Ning, and Ding Erliang insisted they keep searching.
• Heavenly Venerable Zhu arrived, said he had also been trapped by an illusion, and ordered the search to continue while he contacted the Light God Clan's experts.
• Heavenly Venerable Zhu said he would keep the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable's revival secret and kill him before he regained his full strength.
• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable sat in a mountain ravine, using the Darkness Ancient Road's evil presence to recover while Chen Ning and Lü Xiaochuan remained bound by an Immortal-Binding Rope.
• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable revealed that he had abducted Chen Ning to devour his pure Devil Qi, and Chen Ning offered to help him recover faster because he was an Alchemist.

Chen Ning persuaded the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable to spare him by promising to refine a Divine Pill that could restore much of the demon’s strength. The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable agreed to search for divine herbs on the Darkness Ancient Road and let Lü Xiaochuan live as Chen Ning’s assistant.

• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable admitted that his weakened state left him vulnerable and considered eating Chen Ning to regain strength.
• Chen Ning promised that a Divine Pill made from rare divine herbs could restore at least half the demon’s strength, and claimed he had the skill to refine one.
• Chen Ning explained that he lacked the necessary divine herbs, then convinced the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable that they could be found on the Darkness Ancient Road.
• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable suspected Chen Ning of plotting to escape but agreed to search for the herbs while keeping him under control.
• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable moved to eat Lü Xiaochuan, but Chen Ning argued that he needed Lü Xiaochuan’s help with pill refining.
• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable spared Lü Xiaochuan and ordered Chen Ning to set off in search of divine herbs.

Chen Ning led the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable to a barren region where a divine medicine was expected to appear, and the demon hid there with Chen Ning and Lü Xiaochuan as God Clan experts arrived. The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable revealed that a human bearing Profound Nether God Clan markings had created him, leaving Chen Ning to suspect a larger conspiracy involving that clan.

• Chen Ning asked the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable to remove the Immortal-Binding Rope, but the demon refused and took him to the barren land where Chen Ning said a divine medicine would appear.
• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable suspected Chen Ning of setting a trap, but Chen Ning challenged him to accept the risks of waiting for the medicine.
• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable concealed himself, Chen Ning, and Lü Xiaochuan in black fog that spread across the barren land.
• Four experts from the Profound Nether God Clan and the Fate God Clan arrived, and the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable recognized the Profound Nether God Clan markings.
• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable recalled that a human with similar markings had fused the bodies of eight ancient evil demons to create him, and Lü Xiaochuan identified Heavenly Venerable Yifeng as the likely culprit.

Chen Ning chose to remain with the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable and help him search for the real Linglang Wondrous Flower, while hoping to learn more about the demon’s secrets. Their arrival revealed the Demon Venerable’s revival and made the other experts believe Chen Ning was in league with him, spreading the story Chen Ning wanted people to hear.

• A sea of Linglang Wondrous Flowers appeared, and the Sun and Moon Elder explained that only one was real and it had to be found before the flowers withered.
• Chen Ning proposed that he and the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable search together, and persuaded the Demon Venerable to loosen his restraints enough for him to use Demonic Qi.
• The Eight-Armed Demon Venerable and Chen Ning rushed to the flowers and began picking them faster than the two Fate God Clan members and the Sun and Moon Elder.
• The Sun and Moon Elder recognized the revived Eight-Armed Demon Venerable, and the experts were even more startled to see Chen Ning working alongside him.
• The Sun and Moon Elder suggested Chen Ning had awakened the Demon Venerable, while Chen Ning’s plan relied on witnesses spreading the claim that he was in league with the devil.

Chen Ning realized the Sun and Moon Elder and the other experts planned to attack the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable rather than summon help, despite warnings about his strength. Lü Xiaochuan tried to persuade them to retreat, but the Sun and Moon Elder instead vowed to kill the demon and seize Chen Ning.

• A Fate God Clan Saint Emperor uprooted dozens of Linglang Wondrous Flowers, was overwhelmed by evil presence, and sat down to resist falling into the devil's path.
• The Sun and Moon Elder urged the other two Saint Emperors to summon nearby experts while they prepared to attack the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable.
• The three experts sent a signal for reinforcements and circulated their Essence Power, hoping to kill the weakened demon and earn lasting fame.
• Chen Ning realized they intended to fight the Eight-Armed Demon Venerable and activated his backup plan by sending Lü Xiaochuan to warn them.
• Lü Xiaochuan told the experts that the Rat Emperor had revived the Eight-Armed Devil and been killed by him, but the Sun and Moon Elder refused to retreat and threatened to capture Chen Ning as well.