Chapter Summaries

A hidden sword strike from True Lord Lingyuan drove Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord, Blood Sea Daoist, and Five-Water Profound Lord from Ten Thousand Waves Marsh, allowing Seven Absolutes Empress and her sisters to escape. Back on Little Penglai, Jiang Sheng explained to Tian Ming'an how his Azure Talisman used the sword intent of the character “slay” to frighten former opponents into fleeing.

• Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord, Blood Sea Daoist, and Five-Water Profound Lord fled in different directions as True Lord Lingyuan’s sword light split Ten Thousand Waves Marsh and struck them.
• Seven Absolutes Empress picked up the spent Azure Talisman and fled thirty million li with Azure Cloud Madam and Three Phoenix Madam.
• Seven Absolutes Empress told her sisters that the writing in the Azure Talisman belonged to True Lord Lingyuan, and she reflected on how vast the world was beyond Vermilion Province.
• Tian Ming'an returned to Little Penglai and told Jiang Sheng that he had delivered the item to Dragon Monarch Aohui.
• Jiang Sheng wrote the character “slay” on blue silk and explained that its sword intent activated for former opponents who feared his power, driving them away.

Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord struggled to recover from Ling Yuan’s sword wound while Seven Absolutes Empress and her sisters fled into Vermilion Flame Kingdom and were attacked by its five Fire-Crow rulers. As the rulers’ formation threatened to kill them, Vermilion Ibis arrived and demanded to know which of them was Seven Absolutes.

• Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord hid in an ordinary mountain cave, swallowed pills, and tried to expel Ling Yuan’s sword qi while worrying that Vermilion Ibis might find him.
• Seven Absolutes Empress, Biyun, and Three Phoenixes entered Vermilion Flame Kingdom to rest after fleeing their pursuers.
• The five Fire-Crow rulers suspected the three visitors of plotting against their territory and attacked them at Firecloud Cliff.
• Seven Absolutes Empress and her sisters revealed their true forms and fought back, but the five rulers formed a blazing formation that overwhelmed them.
• Vermilion Ibis descended in a blazing white fireball, transformed into human form, and demanded to know who was Seven Absolutes.

Demon Lord Vermilion Ibis rescued Seven Absolutes Empress, Biyun, and Three Phoenixes, then tracked the Nine-Headed Insect’s lingering blood qi to find Demon Lord Nine Phoenix. Nine Phoenix fled toward Yang Province, but Vermilion Ibis caught up and attacked him with Southern Ming Separation Flame.

• Demon Lord Vermilion Ibis rescued Seven Absolutes Empress, Biyun, and Three Phoenixes from Firecloud Cliff, leaving the five Fire Crow rulers behind.
• Demon Lord Vermilion Ibis found the lingering blood qi at Ten Thousand Waves Marsh and learned that Seven Absolutes Empress had used True Lord Ling Yuan’s green slip against Nine Phoenix.
• Demon Lord Vermilion Ibis gave the three women jade bottles of pills and departed to pursue Nine Phoenix.
• Seven Absolutes Empress and her companions decided to stay at Biyun’s Shaking Mountain while the danger remained.
• Demon Lord Nine Phoenix left his hiding place and fled toward Yang Province, intending to devour the people in a city along the way.
• Demon Lord Vermilion Ibis caught up with Demon Lord Nine Phoenix and launched three torrents of Southern Ming Separation Flame at him.

Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord pursued Nine Phoenix Demon Lord across western Vermilion Province, forcing him to call on Blood Sea Daoist and Five-Water Profound Lord for help. At the coast, she countered his soul-ravaging cries and attacked with Southern Ming Separation Flame, leaving their battle unresolved.

• Nine Phoenix Demon Lord fled Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord’s Southern Ming Separation Flame because his sword wound was still unhealed.
• Nine Phoenix Demon Lord contacted Blood Sea Daoist and Five-Water Profound Lord, who agreed to help after he promised them all the gains from Jiuzhou World and a way to leave.
• Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord pursued Nine Phoenix Demon Lord across western Vermilion Province, and her Vermilion Flame Feather Blade stopped him near the coast.
• Nine Phoenix Demon Lord transformed into his nine-headed monstrous bird form and unleashed his Soul-Ravaging Shriek, but Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord’s Pure Lotus Silver Bell neutralized it.
• Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord sent a white-flame divine bird at Nine Phoenix Demon Lord with her Magpie-Feather Fire Fan.

Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord cornered Nine Phoenix Demon Lord and unleashed the seventh stage of her Southern Ming Separation Flame, the World-Purifying Luminous Flame. Protected at the last moment by a shattered treasure, Nine Phoenix accepted a mysterious voice’s offer to escape and capture Vermilion Ibis in exchange for accepting his fate.

• Vermilion Ibis’s Separation Flame divine bird destroyed Nine Phoenix’s phoenix-headed cudgels and burned through his other magic treasures.
• Vermilion Ibis revealed that Nine Phoenix’s reinforcements had been intercepted and said his death was needed for her to break through to the Integration realm.
• Vermilion Ibis unleashed the World-Purifying Luminous Flame, which spread across the heavens and swallowed Nine Phoenix.
• Nine Phoenix shattered a treasure that raised a golden barrier against the flames, then accepted a mysterious voice’s offer to rescue him and capture Vermilion Ibis.

Buchen, a True Disciple of the Temple of Great Awe and Virtue, protected the Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord and delayed Crested Ibis as she tried to reach Blazing Owl. Crested Ibis escaped, but Buchen then arrived at the battle between Blazing Owl, Blood Sea Daoist, and the Five-Water Profound Lord and struck at Blazing Owl with his Fearless Sandalwood Meditation Palm.

• Buchen emerged from the golden light and asked Crested Ibis to spare the Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord, then blocked her when she tried to leave.
• Crested Ibis recognized Buchen as a True Disciple of the Temple of Great Awe and Virtue and agreed to spare Nine Phoenix so she could help Blazing Owl.
• The Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord taunted Crested Ibis about Blazing Owl's danger, so she unleashed her Divine Ability and escaped through the opening it created.
• Buchen carried the Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord to Blood Sea Daoist and the Five-Water Profound Lord, who had Blazing Owl on the defensive.
• Buchen condemned the two wicked lords, then raised his hand and struck Blazing Owl with the Fearless Sandalwood Meditation Palm.

Buchen captured Blazing Owl Demon Lord and revealed his intent to use the merit of evil cultivators to break through to the Integration Realm. As Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord arranged allies to rescue Blazing Owl, she discovered Jiuzhou World had become sealed against anyone leaving.

• Buchen wounded Blazing Owl Demon Lord with Fearless Sandalwood Meditation Palm, then captured him in a golden alms bowl before Blood Sea Daoist and Five-Water Profound Lord could kill him.
• Buchen said he wanted to deliver wicked beings, while Nine Phoenix Demon Lord accused him of seeking merit and vow power to complete his Dao Fruit.
• Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord fled to seek reinforcements and told Lan Xin that Buchen had joined the attack on Blazing Owl.
• Lan Xin explained that Buchen sought karmically burdened demonic practitioners to overcome his bottleneck and proposed recruiting Yellow-Brow Venerable, Shaobai Nether Lord, and Four Seas True Lord.
• Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord discovered that Jiuzhou World allowed entry but forbade exit, and recognized the barrier as the Heaven and Earth Investiture of the Gods.

The Heavenly Investiture List sealed Jiuzhou World, trapping everyone inside and locking away its fortune. Daoist Lord Qiantian told Dao Lord Kunhe that Jiuzhou had been turned into a furnace for a struggle over the True Yang Dao Fruit, and insisted they must contend for it.

• The Crested Ibis Demon Monarch asked Kui Yue to bring Underworld Lord Shaobai and Four Seas True Lord into Jiuzhou World to help her fight Blood Sea Daoist and Five-Water Profound Lord.
• Kui Yue agreed to seek reinforcements and left Lingyin in Lin Fan's care, while Lin Fan tried to recall what he had forgotten about Jiuzhou World.
• The Golden Palace Heavenly Emperor, Heavenly Venerable Qingyan, and Mingyang Heavenly Venerable completed the Heavenly Investiture List's net around Jiuzhou World, making entry possible but escape impossible.
• Daoist Lord Qiantian told Dao Lord Kunhe that he knew about events in Vermilion Province and Yangzhou but cared more about contesting the Xuanmen's growing fortune.
• Daoist Lord Qiantian explained that Shanhe World's leaders intended to use Jiuzhou and its entrants as fuel to refine a single True Yang Dao Fruit, and urged Kunhe to fight for it.

Saintess Lan Xin visited Venerable Yellow Brow in Futu World to ask him to intervene in Buchen’s attempt to convert Demon Lord Nine Phoenix and protect Demon Lord Vermilion Ibis. Yellow Brow went to the Futu Heaven-Piercing Pagoda, where he met his master, Maitreya Great Bodhisattva.

• Lan Xin entered Futu World and traveled to Little Futu Temple to meet Yellow Brow.
• Lan Xin told Yellow Brow that Buchen of Esoteric Adornment World had gone to Jiuzhou World to convert Demon Lord Nine Phoenix.
• Lan Xin asked Yellow Brow to intervene for Demon Lord Vermilion Ibis, but Yellow Brow said he needed to consider the matter.
• After Lan Xin left, Yellow Brow went to the Futu Heaven-Piercing Pagoda.
• Yellow Brow found his master, Maitreya Great Bodhisattva, disguised as an old beggar in a ruined temple.

Maitreya explained to Huangmei that tribulations in the Upper Three Realms were contests of fate and karmic cause and effect, and that cultivators had to kill their way free of them. He revealed that Huangmei’s rival was Buchen and urged him to recognize and seize his own karmic affinity; Huangmei accepted the instruction as Maitreya vanished.

• Maitreya taught Huangmei that Void Refinement and Integration tribulations involved breaking through layers of karmic cause and effect, where cultivators contended for fate and advancement.
• Maitreya explained that the Eastern Xuanmen tribulation was a struggle for the Dao Fruit, and described how Lingyuan rose after Qiyuan fell.
• Huangmei identified Buchen of the Temple of Great Awe and Virtue as the Buddhist prodigy whose fate was entangled with his own.
• Maitreya told Huangmei that only one of them could claim the true position-fruit of their generation and illustrated how power determined who could claim a treasure as karmically connected to them.
• Maitreya revealed that Jinjue Buddha had invited him to West Heaven to become the Future Buddha, then asked Huangmei to find his own karmic affinity before disappearing.
• Huangmei rose from meditation and said he would remember Maitreya’s instruction.

Kui Yue visited Jiang Sheng to seek advice on gathering allies for Crested Ibis in the Jiuzhou World, and Jiang Sheng sent Tian Ming'an with a letter to meet two powerful figures. Jiang Sheng’s original body then prepared to reach the Void Refinement Extreme Realm within three hundred years while keeping his own Dao distinct from the mysteries of the Pure Yang Dao Seed.

• Kui Yue saw through Jiang Sheng’s Dharma body and explained that Crested Ibis needed reinforcements against the Nine-Headed Insect, Blood Sea, and Five Waters.
• Jiang Sheng advised Kui Yue to seek Underworld Lord Shaobai and the Four Seas True Lord, then sent Tian Ming'an with a letter to accompany him.
• Kui Yue gave Tian Ming'an a Void Refinement lightning beast core before taking him to visit the two potential allies.
• Jiang Sheng told Huang Ping'an that his disciples would soon travel beyond Little Penglai, then discussed the growing conflict and its connection to escaping tribulations with his Dharma body.
• Jiang Sheng said he could reach the Void Refinement Extreme Realm within three hundred years and gave his Dharma body the four Zhu-Lu-Xian-Jue swords to refine.
• Jiang Sheng cultivated with the Pure Yang Dao Seed while rejecting its influence and affirmed that his own Dao was Lingyuan.

Kui Yue and Qi Bai traveled to Canghai World to seek Four Seas True Lord’s help against Five Waters, while Tian Ming'an accompanied them and learned from Canghai’s powerful waters. Four Seas True Lord agreed to enter Jiuzhou World for Jiang Sheng’s sake, signaling Canglang Sacred Sect’s wish to make peace with Eastern Heaven Daoist Sect.

• At Profound Simplicity Sect, Kui Yue asked Qi Bai to help deal with Blood Sea, and Qi Bai agreed to accompany him to Canghai World if Four Seas True Lord would act against Five Waters.
• Kui Yue explained that he had brought Crested Ibis out and felt responsible for returning her safely to the Southern Fire Divine Palace.
• Qi Bai warned Kui Yue and Tian Ming'an that Canghai World’s storms were dangerous and that outsiders must not damage its land.
• As they traveled through Canghai’s waters, Tian Ming'an gained insight into water’s power, and Kui Yue urged him to observe the currents closely.
• At an underwater city, Four Seas True Lord told Kui Yue and Qi Bai he would enter Jiuzhou World for Jiang Sheng, not for Crested Ibis or Five Waters.
• Tian Ming'an promised to relay Four Seas True Lord’s message to Jiang Sheng, understanding that Canglang Sacred Sect sought peace with Eastern Heaven Daoist Sect.

Vermilion Ibis secured help from Underworld Lord Shaobai and Four Seas True Lord through Ling Yuan, then confronted Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord at the Western Extremity of Vermilion Province. The chapter ended as Vermilion Ibis unleashed a storm of flames and Nine Phoenix prepared to fight back.

• Seven Absolutes Empress agreed to surrender Seven Absolutes Cave after Vermilion Ibis requisitioned it.
• Kui Yue told Vermilion Ibis that Underworld Lord Shaobai and Four Seas True Lord would send reinforcements, with Ling Yuan receiving credit for the favor.
• Vermilion Ibis concluded that Zhuming World would soon merge into the Three Realms Great Thousand World.
• Vermilion Ibis arrived at the Western Extremity and attacked Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord's royal capital with Southern Ming Separation Flame.
• Buchen led Nine Phoenix, Blood Sea Daoist, and Five-Water Profound Lord out through Buddhist light, and Vermilion Ibis attacked with the Magpie-Feather Fire Fan.
• Nine Phoenix summoned the phantom of a nine-headed, four-winged bird and used Nine Roars: Soul-Rending Spirit-Seizing.

Crested Ibis, Qi Bai, and Four Seas True Lord intervened in the battle at Vermilion Province, facing Nine Phoenix, Blood Sea Daoist, and Five-Water Profound Lord. As the fighting continued, Huangmei arrived to confront Buchen and trapped him inside his Golden Cymbals.

• Crested Ibis charged Nine Phoenix while Qi Bai appeared and challenged Blood Sea Daoist, and Five-Water Profound Lord turned to fight Qi Bai.
• Crested Ibis burned a hole through Nine Phoenix, but he sacrificed one of his heads to heal and trapped her in an illusion.
• Rain from Four Seas True Lord struck Five-Water Profound Lord, who re-formed after exploding into mist, and the two began fighting across the rivers and sea.
• The immortals, devils, and celestial demons fought across Vermilion Province while Buchen remained seated, chanting scripture.
• Huangmei stepped through a rift, spoke with Buchen, and threw his Golden Cymbals at him.

Huangmei, Buchen, and their allies fought a prolonged battle against Crested Ibis and Nine Phoenix, but neither side won decisively. Afterward, the Crested Ibis Demon Monarch planned another fight in three days, hoping to defeat Nine-Headed Insect while her allies kept the others occupied.

• Huangmei and Buchen clashed with Buddhist treasures and close-combat techniques, but neither gained the upper hand.
• Crested Ibis and Nine Phoenix fought in their true forms while Shaobai, Blood Sea Daoist, the Four Seas True Lord, and the Five-Water Profound Lord battled nearby.
• After several hours, the combatants withdrew in stages; Crested Ibis and her allies later fought the opposing group again before both sides retreated.
• At Seven Absolutes Cave, the Four Seas True Lord admitted he could not defeat True Lord Lingyuan quickly, and Shaobai said he was likewise unable to overcome his opponent easily.
• The Crested Ibis Demon Monarch proposed that her allies draw away Buchen, Blood Sea Daoist, and the Five-Water Profound Lord while she tried to defeat Nine-Headed Insect.
• Huangmei, Shaobai, and the Four Seas True Lord agreed to fight again in three days.

Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord's allies failed to defeat Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord again, prompting Vermilion Ibis to seek more reinforcements. As Penglai prepared for a coming war, Ling Yu proposed asking Suqin Fairy to help counter Nine-Headed Insect's many lives.

• Vermilion Ibis Demon Lord's party fought Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord and his companions for two hours, severed a second head, but failed to defeat him.
• Shaobai Nether Lord recalled Jiang Sheng's strength, and Yellow Brow Venerable suggested recruiting more allies; Vermilion Ibis agreed to request reinforcements.
• Ling Yu visited Jiang Sheng at Little Penglai and explained that Penglai was sending inheritors to contact allies ahead of the coming war.
• Lin Fan entrusted Kui Yue and Lingyin to Jiang Sheng while he traveled to Cangwu World, and Kui Yue soon received Vermilion Ibis's request for aid.
• Ling Yu explained that Nine-Headed Insect's heads were incarnations and that all nine had to be severed at once before his heart was destroyed.
• Ling Yu offered to invite Suqin Fairy, whose Celestial Zither Resonance Bow could pursue an enemy across great distances, to help in Jiuzhou World.

Ling Yu brought Suqin Fairy from Yaochi Sacred Land to help Crested Ibis Demon Monarch defeat Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord. After Crested Ibis was badly wounded in their battle, Suqin Fairy’s arrows pierced all nine of his heads, allowing Crested Ibis to kill him.

• Ling Yu asked Suqin Fairy to travel to Jiuzhou World and use her Celestial Zither Resonance Bow against the Nine-Headed Insect.
• Suqin Fairy arrived at Nine-Headed Mountain by teleportation formations, and Crested Ibis Demon Monarch arranged for her to wait until Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord revealed his true form.
• Crested Ibis Demon Monarch used Separation Fire: Heaven’s Return to expose Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord, but he blinded her and wounded her as they fought in their true forms.
• Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord defeated Crested Ibis Demon Monarch and plunged her into Ten Thousand Waves Marsh, then declared that he would take her life to complete his Integration Dao Fruit.
• Suqin Fairy fired nine arrows from Nine-Headed Mountain and pierced Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord’s nine heads.
• Crested Ibis Demon Monarch rose from the marsh and drove her flaming beak into Nine-Phoenix Demon Lord’s chest, killing him.

Jiang Sheng reflected on the balance of Yin and Yang after Nine Phoenix’s death, while the Azure Wave Dragon Lord sought revenge on Su Qin by hiring the Heavenly Evil Ancestor. The Ancestor dispatched two followers to attack Su Qin and began preparing Jiao Jiao for pill refinement.

• Jiang Sheng told Tian Ming'an that he should dare to contend for opportunities despite the risks, then explained to Kui Yue that Nine Phoenix’s death would eventually be balanced by another being of similar nature.
• The Azure Wave Dragon Lord mourned his son’s death and ordered Jiao Jiao to offer five hundred years of Azurewave Marsh’s treasures to the Heavenly Evil Ancestor in exchange for Su Qin’s assassination.
• Jiao Jiao entered Zuoshen World and, under the Heavenly Evil Ancestor’s gaze, revealed the Azure Wave Dragon Lord’s request.
• The Heavenly Evil Ancestor sent two dazed followers to Vermilion Province to find Su Qin, peel off her skin, and send it to the Azure Wave Dragon Lord.
• The Heavenly Evil Ancestor threw Jiao Jiao into a pool of blood to prepare him for pill refinement and lamented that he lacked the pill formulas held by Xuanmen sects.

After Su Qin Fairy helped defeat the Nine-Headed Insect, the victors planned to use the Moon Spirit Profound Simplicity Needle against Buchen. Su Qin Fairy was ambushed while trying to leave Jiuzhou World and disappeared, prompting Ling Yu to decide to enter the world early and investigate.

• Underworld Lord Shaobai proposed separating the enemy alliance and assigned Crested Ibis Demon Monarch, Four Seas True Lord, and himself to deal with Blood Sea Daoist, Five-Water Profound Lord, and Buchen.
• Yellow-Brow Venerable identified the Moon Spirit Profound Simplicity Needle as a way to break Buchen's Immovable King Ming Body, and Su Qin Fairy agreed to fetch it from Yaochi Sacred Land.
• Su Qin Fairy discovered Jiuzhou World's barrier prevented her from leaving, then was ambushed by hidden attackers wielding blades and demonic arts.
• Su Qin Fairy wounded one attacker with the Kunlun Sea-Covering Seal, but was injured and forced to detonate her Jade Pool Flowing-Light Jade Pendant to escape; she then went missing.
• After learning of Su Qin Fairy's disappearance, Ling Yu asked the Demon Monarch to search for her and told Lingwei she would enter Jiuzhou World early to investigate.
• Lingwei agreed to Ling Yu's plan but required her to inform Lingyuan beforehand.

Jiang Sheng gave Ling Yu talismans and a projection of the Lu-Xian Sword before she set out for the Jiuzhou World to find Suqin Fairy. At the Vermilion Province Dao Palace, Daoist Longyuan held Suqin Fairy captive and threatened to torture her, but the Crested Ibis Demon Monarch attacked and fled after a clash with Longyuan and Martial Uncle Mu Feng, leaving Suqin’s fate unresolved.

• Jiang Sheng gave Ling Yu Wind-Thunder-Fire Three Tribulations Azure Talismans and a projection of the Lu-Xian Sword to aid her search for Suqin Fairy.
• Daoist Longyuan and Martial Uncle Mu Feng discussed using Suqin Fairy as bait to draw out the Shanhe Daoist Sect, and Longyuan went to interrogate her.
• Daoist Longyuan threatened Suqin Fairy with torture and asked why Yaochi Sacred Land had entered the Jiuzhou World, but she refused to reveal more than that she had come to eliminate a demon.
• The Crested Ibis Demon Monarch attacked the Vermilion Province Dao Palace and demanded Suqin Fairy’s release, prompting Daoist Longyuan and Martial Uncle Mu Feng to fight her.
• The Crested Ibis Demon Monarch escaped after clashing with Longyuan and Mu Feng, and Longyuan resolved to torture Suqin Fairy and use her as bait.