Chapter Summaries

Jiang Sheng explored the Great Tang Dao Palace’s vast repository for twelve days, using its methods and scriptures to develop his Four Symbols Sword Scripture Canon. Afterward, Li Sixian gave him a mysterious seal containing both Immortal and Deity qi, which the Dao Palace could not control.

• Li Sixian welcomed Jiang Sheng to the Dao Palace and gave him access to its ten-thousand-year repository.
• Jiang Sheng entered the repository, studied its cultivation methods, and found inspiration in the Heavenly Heart Five Thunder Method and other scriptures.
• Li Sixian and Su Yajun discussed the dangerous, uncontrollable seal and decided to give it to Jiang Sheng.
• Jiang Sheng spent twelve days studying the repository and advanced his understanding of the Four Symbols Sword Scripture Canon.
• Li Sixian presented Jiang Sheng with the seal, which responded to his aura and revealed the name Central Ziwei Judicial Heavenly Monarch's Imperial Seal.

Jiang Sheng accepted the mysterious seal and recorded his insights while the Tang princes and aristocratic clans prepared for a struggle over the throne. Li Qian’s coup began in Chang’an, as Fang Lan and Tao Yiqian worked to plunge Great Tang into chaos and advance the Star Saint Sect’s plans.

• Jiang Sheng took the little seal from Li Sixian, returned to his lodging, and wrote down his insights into the Dao.
• Li Qian learned that his Daoist Soldiers had arrived and ordered his supporters to begin the coup on Emperor Wende’s birthday.
• Li Tai summoned his younger brothers and invited Li Zhen to a banquet, while Li Zhen told Jiang Sheng that Su Yajun had agreed to support him.
• Li Qian’s Daoist Soldiers entered Chang’an through the eastern and western gates and advanced toward Taiji Palace as Emperor Wende learned of the rebellion.
• Fang Lan and Tao Yiqian watched Chang’an fall into chaos and planned to use Great Tang’s division to make it depend on the Star Saint Sect.

As the coup engulfed Chang'an, Great Tang’s Spirit Transformation cultivators battled released prisoners while Fang Lan and Tao Yiqian confronted the city’s Dharma Image guardians. Jiang Sheng and Su Yajun moved to intervene, and the chapter ended with Su Yajun and Li Sixian appearing against Fang Lan and Tao Yiqian, overturning Fang Lan’s predictions.

• Li Tai sent Daoist Soldiers toward Chang'an, but Duan Xuanguang destroyed tens of thousands of them with the Yellow Sand Waterfall.
• Five Poisons appeared before Taiji Palace, revealing that powerful prisoners had been released, and Great Tang’s Spirit Transformation True Persons joined battle against the assembled evil cultivators.
• Fang Lan and Tao Yiqian faced Wen Zhengming and Wang Zhi above Chang'an, and their Dharma Images attacked one another.
• Jiang Sheng told Li Zhen that victory lay outside the struggle in Chang'an, then departed with Su Yajun to confront Fang Lan and Tao Yiqian.
• Su Yajun’s Dharma Image severed Fang Lan’s attack, and Li Sixian appeared beside her, leaving Fang Lan shaken because his divinations had not foreseen their arrival.

Jiang Sheng and Great Tang’s allies confronted Fang Lan and Tao Yiqian after concealing their operation from Fang Lan’s divinations. Fang Lan exhausted his three life-saving heavenly stars and was struck down by Jiang Sheng’s seal, while Tao Yiqian remained blocked by Wen Zhengming and Wang Zhi.

• Zhang Luyi, Wei Xuancheng, the four seasonal officials, and Dao Palace diviners concealed the operation by altering celestial signs over Luoyang and Chang’an, causing Fang Lan’s divinations to fail.
• Jiang Sheng revealed himself as the Yuchen Heavenly Lord and called on everyone to end Great Tang’s turmoil by defeating Fang Lan and Tao Yiqian.
• Li Sixian and Su Yajun attacked Fang Lan while Wen Zhengming and Wang Zhi blocked Tao Yiqian; Fang Lan shattered his first heavenly star to survive Li Sixian’s thunder strike.
• Li Sixian and Su Yajun suppressed Fang Lan as Jiang Sheng’s sword formation and attacks forced him to spend his remaining two heavenly stars.
• Fang Lan broke free amid the destruction of the sword formation and tried to flee, but Jiang Sheng summoned a great seal that struck him on the head.

Jiang Sheng and his allies killed Fang Lan and defeated Tao Yiqian in the battle over Chang'an. Jiang Sheng then pursued and slaughtered several fleeing wicked cultivators, while other enemies remained within reach.

• Jiang Sheng used the jade seal to destroy Fang Lan’s Yin Spirit and Dharma Image, then claimed one of Fang Lan’s three spiritual treasures and agreed to share the others with Li Sixian and Su Yajun.
• Tao Yiqian tried to flee after sensing Fang Lan’s death, but Li Sixian, Su Yajun, Wen Zhengming, and Wang Zhi surrounded and defeated him.
• The five Dharma Image cultivators descended over Chang'an, prompting Five Poisons True Person, Madam Harmony, Heaven-Crippled Elder, and other wicked cultivators to flee.
• Jiang Sheng pursued the fleeing cultivators and killed Five Poisons True Person, Heaven-Crippled Elder, and Madam Harmony with his sword auras.
• Jiang Sheng sensed more wicked cultivators nearby and flew toward them on Wind Thunder, with Water Fire beneath his feet.

After Emperor Wende died and Li Zhen took the throne, Jiang Sheng agreed not to interfere in Great Tang and divided six damaged spirit treasures with the other powerful figures. He left Great Tang for Ghost King Mountain and ordered three demon kings to bring him the Song Kingdom’s Imperial Preceptor from Dreamcloud Marsh.

• Emperor Wende died mysteriously in Taiji Palace, and the court chose Prince of Jin Li Zhen as the next emperor while the King of Qi and King of Chu remained missing.
• Longyou, Longxi, Henan, and Hebei circuits rejected Li Zhen’s accession, while Jiang Sheng met with Li Zhen and other leaders to confirm Great Tang’s policies and his own noninterference.
• Jiang Sheng, Li Sixian, Su Yajun, Wen Zhengming, and Wang Zhi divided six damaged spirit treasures, with Jiang Sheng taking the Jade Disc Compass and Flame Dragon Lock.
• Jiang Sheng left Tian Ming'an and Qiu Buyu in Great Tang to aid Li Zhen and pursue their grievances, then traveled to Ghost King Mountain.
• Jiang Sheng ordered Golden Lion, Treasure Elephant, and Azure Roc to travel to Dreamcloud Marsh and bring him the Song Kingdom’s Imperial Preceptor.

Jiang Sheng sent three demon kings to draw Zhang Qing out, while Zhang Qing escaped Song Kingdom through an underwater canal to the Eastern Sea. As she approached an undersea settlement, Jiang Sheng’s familiar voice stopped her from leaving.

• Jiang Sheng used Fang Lan’s Jade Disc Compass to locate Zhang Qing and learned she was heading to the Eastern Sea.
• Zhang Qing heard that three demon kings had arrived in Dreamcloud Marsh and prepared to flee Song Kingdom.
• Azure Roc, Golden Lion, and Treasure Elephant confronted Zhao Yin and attacked the royal palace when he refused to hand Zhang Qing over.
• Zhang Qing slipped away through a hidden canal beneath the palace and traveled through an undercurrent to the Eastern Sea.
• As Zhang Qing approached an undersea settlement, she sensed danger and turned to leave, but Jiang Sheng called out to her.

Jiang Sheng captured Zhang Qing and drew out Ming Ying, the Star Sovereign Sacred Sect’s Holy Son, into a battle over the East Sea. After matching Ming Ying’s swordsmanship and Thunder Arts, Jiang Sheng revealed a thousand-zhang Dharma Image, leaving Ming Ying stunned.

• Jiang Sheng apprehended Zhang Qing beneath the East Sea and questioned her about the Star Sovereign Sacred Sect’s plans and forces on the Eastern Domain Continent.
• Jiang Sheng used Zhang Qing as bait to lure Ming Ying, who arrived and challenged him over her rescue.
• Jiang Sheng and Ming Ying wagered on the outcome and exchanged powerful sword attacks above the East Sea.
• Jiang Sheng and Ming Ying clashed with their respective True Thunder arts, shaking the sky and sea with their battle.
• Jiang Sheng asked whether Ming Ying was preparing to break through to Spirit Transformation and condense a Dharma Image, then manifested his own thousand-zhang Dharma Image.

Jiang Sheng used his Taiyi Nascent Soul Dharma Image and the Jade Dragon Gold Disc to pursue Ming Ying and Zhang Qing across the Eastern Sea. After capturing Zhang Qing, he struck Ming Ying with the One-Qi Heaven-Earth Qianyuan Palm and suppressed him beneath the sea.

• Ming Ying tried to escape Jiang Sheng with Instant Ten Thousand Miles Talismans, but Jiang Sheng tracked his aura with the Jade Dragon Gold Disc.
• Ming Ying learned that Elder Miao Xin had fallen and that Jiang Sheng had taken the Jade Dragon Gold Disc.
• Ming Ying threw Zhang Qing toward Jiang Sheng before fleeing again, and Jiang Sheng captured Zhang Qing with his Sleeve Cosmos Technique.
• Jiang Sheng chased Ming Ying through the heavenly storms and unleashed the One-Qi Heaven-Earth Qianyuan Palm.
• Ming Ying's lightning and sword-pellet counterattack failed, and Jiang Sheng's palm slammed him into the Eastern Sea and pinned him to the seabed.

Jiang Sheng captured Ming Ying and Zhang Qing, then brought them to Lion-Camel Cave while he refined spirit treasures and questioned them about the Star Saint Sect’s plans. After Jiang Sheng left to visit Old Ox, Zhang Qing prepared to interrogate Ming Ying herself.

• Jiang Sheng captured Ming Ying, built a small city for the nearby aquatic clans, and told them to credit the deed to Ling Yuan of Penglai.
• At Lion-Camel Cave, Zhang Qing revealed that the Star Saint Sect had plans across the Eastern, Central, and Southern Domain Continents, but said only Ming Ying could provide details about the Eastern Domain.
• Jiang Sheng spent more than a month refining the Flame Dragon Lock and nurturing the Azure Duckweed Sword to the Nascent Soul level.
• Jiang Sheng used a Clear-Rhythm Soul-Nourishing Pill to heal Ming Ying, then removed Zhang Qing’s Spirit-Sealing Lock after she agreed to question him in exchange for being sent to the Heavenly Pass Dark Prison of Great Tang.
• Jiang Sheng went to Coiling Ox Ridge to find Old Ox and ordered Golden Lion, Treasure Elephant, and Azure Roc to guard the captives.
• Zhang Qing told Ming Ying that his life was in her hands and began taking items from a cloth pouch to interrogate him.

Jiang Sheng returned to Penglai after learning from Zhang Qing that the Star Saint Sect and Panfeng World were plotting across several regions. At Penglai, Tianshu True Person revealed that Panfeng World was nearing Shanhe World and sent Jiang Sheng to keep Ancestor Dejing company.

• Zhang Qing tortured Ming Ying for information and told Jiang Sheng about the Star Saint Sect’s plans, Panfeng World’s support, and the growing danger in the Southern Domain Continent.
• Jiang Sheng took Zhang Qing and Ming Ying to Great Tang, where Li Yan arranged for Zhang Qing to be imprisoned in the Heavenly Pass Dark Prison.
• Jiang Sheng returned to Penglai and presented Ming Ying to Tianshu True Person, then reported what he had learned about the Star Saint Sect and Panfeng World.
• Tianshu True Person told Jiang Sheng that Panfeng World was drawing closer to Shanhe World and that Ancestor Dejing had foreseen a ten-thousand-year calamity from it.
• Tianshu True Person asked Jiang Sheng to go play chess with Ancestor Dejing.

Jiang Sheng visited the Penglai Grotto-Heaven and met Patriarch Dejing, who explained the origins and rank of Jiang Sheng’s Judicial Heavenly Monarch Seal. After teaching Jiang Sheng through a game of Go, Dejing left him with advice about acting decisively.

• Jiang Sheng rode an immortal crane through the vast Penglai Grotto-Heaven to meet Patriarch Dejing in a peach garden.
• Jiang Sheng watched Dejing and Patriarch Qingyan play Go with celestial stars, then learned that both Qingyan and other senior Daoists thought highly of him.
• Dejing examined Jiang Sheng’s artifacts and explained that Sovereign Ziwei had once ruled the Central Pole, while the Judicial Heavenly Monarch had served beneath him.
• Dejing returned the seal after cleansing hidden dangers from it and told Jiang Sheng to nurture it, then invited him to play Go.
• Dejing defeated Jiang Sheng and advised him that repeated probing was indecision, then disappeared and left an immortal peach behind.

Jiang Sheng refined a five-hundred-year-old Immortal Peach in the Penglai Grotto-Heaven, advancing to the Nascent Soul Late Stage in thirty years of grotto-heaven time but only thirty days outside. Tianshu True Person then sent him to the Southern Domain Continent to help the besieged Zhou Dynasty and Tianhe Dao Sect forces.

• Jiang Sheng ate the Immortal Peach bestowed by Patriarch Dejing, while Patriarch Dejing and Patriarch Qingyan discussed cultivating him as a future pillar of Penglai.
• Jiang Sheng meditated in the peach orchard for thirty years, refining the peach's power and advancing from the Nascent Soul Early Stage to the Nascent Soul Late Stage.
• An immortal crane carried Jiang Sheng out of the grotto-heaven, and Tianshu True Person told him that only thirty days had passed outside.
• Tianshu True Person showed Jiang Sheng the Zhou Dynasty under attack by South Sea aquatic clans and Anti-Heaven Alliance forces, while the Tianhe Dao Sect was stretched thin by threats on several fronts.
• Tianshu True Person assigned Jiang Sheng to the Southern Domain Continent and ordered him to kill until the rebels lost their edge.

Ning Chuan learned that Watchsea City was being worn down by the South Sea aquatic clans despite his efforts to request reinforcements. As Peng Yue and Peng Zhen faced the final assault, Ning Chuan received a message from someone he knew well.

• Ning Chuan, recovering from battle, heard from Bai Qiu that Watchsea City was surrounded and asked the Zhou Emperor and Tianhe Dao Sect to send reinforcements.
• Peng Yue and Peng Zhen defended Watchsea City as Jiao Xing repeatedly sent aquatic forces against it.
• After more than a month of siege, Watchsea City's exhausted cultivators struggled to hold off the aquatic clans, while Peng Yue suffered wounds fighting multiple Spirit Transformations.
• Jiao Xing ordered a final assault, and Peng Yue charged the flood dragons while Peng Zhen led the defenders in a counterattack.
• Ning Chuan realized Watchsea City could no longer hold, then received a message asking, “Is Daoist Friend Mingdong well?”

Jiang Sheng arrived in the Coastal Lands and slaughtered the South Sea aquatic clans ambushing him, including four Spirit Transformation kings, before learning whom they had been waiting to attack. He then turned his gaze toward Watchsea City.

• Jiang Sheng told Ning Chuan that he had reached the Coastal Lands, and Ning Chuan warned him that the South Sea aquatic clans had seized the region and sent Tianhe Dao Sect cultivators to rescue him.
• Jiang Sheng confronted five Spirit Transformation aquatic kings and killed the Whale Shark King with two sword moves.
• Jiang Sheng manifested Lord Yuchen’s Dharma Image and trapped the four remaining kings in a sword formation.
• Jiang Sheng killed the Cloud Kun King, Manta Ray King, and Thunder Eel King, then forced the Phantom Dream King to explain the ambush.
• Jiang Sheng killed the Phantom Dream King and looked toward Watchsea City.

Jiang Sheng arrived at Watchsea City as its defenders faced defeat, rescued the city, and defeated the South Sea flood dragons. He left with Jiao Xing captured, while Watchsea City was safe for the moment and awaiting Zhou Dynasty reinforcements.

• Ning Chuan learned that Jiang Sheng had slain the cultivators blocking his way, while Jiang Sheng set out to lift the siege of Watchsea City.
• Jiang Sheng arrived as Peng Yue and Peng Zhen were close to being overwhelmed, then used his Dharma Image and lightning to destroy the aquatic forces attacking Watchsea City.
• Jiang Sheng pursued the three flood dragons, killed two, and subdued Jiao Xing at the South Sea border despite Zhaoming Crown Prince's presence.
• Jiang Sheng returned to Watchsea City with Jiao Xing bound, and the city’s cultivators cheered as the storm cleared.
• Peng Yue thanked Jiang Sheng, who declined a statue and offerings, said the city was safe for now, and departed east on the Green Ox as Lingyuan of Penglai.

After defeating the South Sea aquatic races and saving Watchsea City, Jiang Sheng reached Haojing and learned that the Zhou Kingdom was beset by the Anti-Heaven Alliance and other forces. He volunteered to go to Sky Shore Pass, where Ling Yu faced several children of fortune and a massive enemy army.

• Zheng Feihu welcomed Jiang Sheng at Coastal Pass and escorted him to Haojing, where Jiao Xing was taken to the Heavenly Prison.
• Ning Chuan and Bai Qiu thanked Jiang Sheng and explained that the Tianhe Dao Sect's weakening had fueled rebellion across the Southern Domain Continent.
• Ning Chuan told Jiang Sheng that Ling Yu was guarding Sky Shore Pass against the Anti-Heaven Alliance and its children of fortune.
• Jiang Sheng volunteered to travel to Sky Shore Pass to meet Ling Yu and fight the children of fortune.
• Outside Sky Shore Pass, Luo Tianze challenged Ling Yu, who resolved to kill him even if doing so cost her half her life.

Ling Yu’s duel with Luo Tianze turned into a two-on-one fight when Sun Anran intervened with the Golden Fire Heaven-Turning Seal. The seal and Luo Tianze’s Golden Light Mirror trapped Ling Yu in a deadly attack, leaving her fate unresolved.

• Ling Yu and Luo Tianze fought outside Sky Shore Pass, matching thunderfire sword arts against Buddhist flames and swordsmanship.
• Ling Yu lured Luo Tianze into her Thunderfire Without Delusion formation, but a defensive treasure from Heaven-Turning True Lord Sun Xing protected him.
• Sun Anran attacked Ling Yu with the Golden Fire Heaven-Turning Seal, while Luo Tianze trapped her in his Pure Lotus Sword Net.
• Ling Yu escaped the seal’s first strike and fought on, but Luo Tianze and Sun Anran pressed their advantage together.
• Luo Tianze used the Golden Light Mirror to immobilize Ling Yu as Sun Anran sent the Golden Fire Heaven-Turning Seal crashing toward her.

Jiang Sheng arrived at Sky Shore Pass and stopped the Anti-Heaven Alliance’s attacks on Ling Yu, revealing himself as a powerful true disciple of Penglai. After identifying himself, he struck Sun Anran and defeated Luo Tianze’s Golden Light Mirror, leaving the Alliance’s members shaken.

• A small jade seal from ten thousand li away blasted Sun Anran’s Golden Fire Heaven-Turning Seal aside, and the newcomer’s sword light, wind-and-water phenomenon, and heavenly thunder repelled Luo Tianze, Su Yixian, and Gu Hongyun’s attacks.
• Jiang Sheng rode a Green Ox to Ling Yu, introduced himself as Penglai’s Lingyuan, and told her to rest while he faced the Southern Domain prodigies.
• Jiang Sheng confronted Sun Anran over her earlier use of the spirit treasure and struck her flying with his Four Symbols Azure Lotus Palm.
• Luo Tianze activated the Golden Light Mirror against Jiang Sheng, but Jiang Sheng’s Separation-Fire True Dragon shattered its golden light.
• The Anti-Heaven Alliance’s cultivators watched in alarm as Jiang Sheng demonstrated that the Penglai Dao Sect had taken a stand.

Jiang Sheng challenged the Anti-Heaven Alliance to break his new sword formation outside Sky Shore Pass, while the alliance’s four Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul cultivators prepared to face him. Though Luo Tianze recognized the formation’s dangers, he dismissed it as flawed and led the four into the challenge.

• Jiang Sheng rode into Sky Shore Pass after openly challenging the Anti-Heaven Alliance, and the Zhou Kingdom’s defenders celebrated his display.
• Jiang Sheng told Ling Yu that his formation would weaken the alliance and might lure Spirit Transformation cultivators into a trap.
• Luo Tianze, Sun Anran, Su Yixian, and Gu Hongyun agreed to confront Jiang Sheng after spending three days recovering their strength.
• Jiang Sheng deployed a three-thousand-mile sword formation using the Jade Dragon Gold Disc and four-colored Sword Aura.
• Luo Tianze used his Golden-Eyed Dharma Eye to inspect the formation, judged its spiritual treasure and sword phantoms to be flawed, and declared that the four would break it.