Chapter Summaries

Wang Chen reached Chituo City and met Xu Yingyi of the Canglan Sect while waiting for Golden Buddha Temple’s grand Teleportation Array to open. After four days, he paid for a slot and teleported to a lush mountain region with normal spiritual energy.

• Wang Chen found Golden Buddha Temple but learned its Teleportation Array could not be used until the next morning, so he stayed at a nearby inn.
• At a tavern, Xu Yingyi introduced himself and invited Wang Chen to share dinner with him and his companions.
• Xu Yingyi told Wang Chen that travelers had to use the temple’s array or risk crossing Flame Mountain, and that an ancient passage beneath Chituo City was unavailable to them.
• Wang Chen returned to Golden Buddha Temple the next morning but had to wait several days for enough travelers to gather.
• On the fourth day, Wang Chen paid three hundred Medium Spirit Stones for a teleportation slot and arrived at a mountain plaza before a Buddhist temple.

Wang Chen and the visiting cultivators faced a soul-shaking Buddhist chant upon arriving at Xuan Yuan Temple, and Yan Xixi and Senior Brother Hu helped resist it. After the temple’s guestmaster escorted them to a side hall, Xu Yingyi urged the cultivators not to let the insult go unanswered.

• Wang Chen used the Primordial Dao Stele to shield his mind from the believers’ chanting as other cultivators struggled against it.
• Yan Xixi played her Phoenix Tail Qin to weaken the chant, and Senior Brother Hu used Enchanting Spirit Roar to silence the square, suffering injuries from the backlash.
• Guestmaster Zhitong apologized for the delayed reception and led the cultivators to a side hall after Xu Yingyi agreed to go.
• The cultivators angrily discussed the Buddhist Sect’s treatment of them, then thanked Yan Xixi for her help.
• Xu Yingyi checked on Senior Brother Hu and declared that the cultivators could not tolerate the insult without harming their sects’ reputations.

After the Daoist representatives protested Xuan Yuan Temple’s humiliating reception, they elected Wang Chen as their chief representative and demanded that the temple address them properly. Wang Chen threatened to leave the Spirit Mountain Dharma Assembly, forcing reception monk Zhitong to fetch the abbot.

• Xu Yingyi said he had never encountered such treatment from the Buddhist Sect and proposed electing a chief representative so the cultivators could act together.
• Xu Yingyi nominated Wang Chen, and the cultivators unanimously supported him as chief representative.
• Wang Chen accepted the position and told Zhitong that the representatives would return home because Xuan Yuan Temple did not welcome them.
• Zhitong tried to dismiss the threat as a joke, but Wang Chen insisted that someone with authority speak to them.
• After learning Wang Chen represented everyone, Zhitong hurried away to summon the abbot.

Wang Chen confronted Xuan Yuan Temple over its mistreatment of the Daoist representatives and refused to meet its abbot privately. After Xuwén died to take responsibility, Wang Chen declined to pursue the matter, and the representatives continued their journey to Spirit Mountain Temple.

• Zhitong returned and invited Wang Chen to meet Abbot Xuming, but Wang Chen insisted on bringing Xu Yingyi, Senior Brother Hu, Yan Xixi, and Senior Brother Zhao as witnesses.
• At the meditation courtyard, Superintendent Xuwén apologized and died in meditation, taking responsibility for Xuan Yuan Temple’s offense.
• Wang Chen told Xuming that the Daoist representatives had no authority over the temple’s internal affairs and asked him to send the Flying Boat promptly.
• Wang Chen and his companions reported the meeting to the other cultivators, who accepted their account and felt the grievance had been answered.
• Xuan Yuan Temple sent the Lingjia Flying Boat, which carried the representatives to Spirit Mountain Temple a day later.

At Spirit Mountain Temple, Wang Chen reunited with Monk Wuxiang, who asked him for a Nest Stone and gave him the final three levels of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma. Wuxiang hinted that Wang Chen was not meant to remain in this world for long, then vanished before Wang Chen could ask what he meant.

• Spirit Mountain Temple postponed the Dharma Assembly by three days, and Wang Chen advised Xu Yingyi and the other representatives to stay cautious in their side compound.
• Wang Chen encountered Monk Wuxiang in his courtyard after practicing the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma.
• Monk Wuxiang asked Wang Chen for a Nest Stone from the Yinming Realm, and Wang Chen gave him the largest one he had.
• Monk Wuxiang gave Wang Chen a Jade Slip containing the final three levels of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma.
• Monk Wuxiang warned Wang Chen that he was fated with this world but must not remain in it for long, then disappeared before Wang Chen could question him.

After Wuxiang vanished, Wang Chen realized the monk had warned him to leave the Mountain Sea Realm before its great calamity and achieved enlightenment about his path to survival. He spent three days deepening his understanding of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma, then attended the start of the Spirit Mountain Dharma Assembly, where the enormous gathering began with a display of Buddhist power.

• Wang Chen deduced that Wuxiang had appeared through an external incarnation and understood that he needed to reach the higher realm to survive the coming great calamity.
• Wang Chen thanked Wuxiang and achieved enlightenment, strengthening his will and resolving to leave the Mountain Sea Realm.
• Wang Chen spent three days reviewing the first six layers of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma and studying its newly acquired seventh-layer method at Spirit Mountain Temple.
• Wang Chen, Xu Yingyi, and the other cultivators entered the temple and saw tens of thousands of monks and an immense assembly gathered for the Dharma Assembly.
• Bells rang across the region, believers chanted the Buddha’s name, and heavenly flowers fell as a vast Buddhist aura filled the area.

At the Spirit Mountain Dharma Assembly, Wang Chen witnessed the Buddhist sect’s sermons and rivalries before Zhihai challenged him over the death of his master, Xuwén. Wang Chen accepted the duel on the Lotus Platform and opened with a devastating staff strike.

• Faxin preached briefly at the Dharma Assembly, and Wang Chen recognized his appearance atop the Lotus Platform as an external incarnation.
• Monks from several Western Regions Buddhist temples took turns preaching and debating, while Wang Chen noticed tension among the sect’s factions.
• After the sermons paused, Zhihai leaped onto the Lotus Platform and challenged Wang Chen, accusing him of driving Xuwén to his death.
• Xu Yingyi warned Wang Chen that the Lotus Platform empowered Zhihai and suppressed Daoist techniques, but Wang Chen accepted the fight and climbed onto it.
• Zhihai declared that the duel would be to the death, and Wang Chen swung the Hidden Dragon Staff at him with overwhelming force.

Wang Chen defeated and killed Zhihai in their Lotus Platform duel, revealing that he had mastered the sixth layer of Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma. When a monk questioned him about the technique, Wang Chen said he had bought it with Spirit Stones at the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

• Zhihai met Wang Chen's staff strike with his Golden Light Crescent Shovel, but Wang Chen's strength shattered Zhihai's arms and bent his weapon.
• Wang Chen revealed the Heavenly Dragon Dharma Image and demonstrated the sixth layer of Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma, astonishing the assembled monks.
• Zhihai accepted his defeat, recited the Buddha's name, and died on the Lotus Platform.
• Wang Chen bowed to Zhihai, then challenged the Buddhist Sect's gathered monks when their hostile auras pressed against him.
• A burly monk asked Wang Chen where he had learned the technique, and Wang Chen replied that he had bought it with Spirit Stones at the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

Wang Chen refused another Buddhist monk’s challenge at the Spirit Mountain Dharma Assembly and later met Master Wuxiang, who revealed that they were both outsiders known in this world as Heavenly Demons. Wang Chen was left shocked to learn that he himself was one of them.

• Wang Chen defended how he had obtained the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma, then refused a monk’s request to exchange pointers and returned to the ceremonial seating area.
• Xu Yingyi warned Wang Chen that Buddhist monks might attack him on the journey home, and Wang Chen acknowledged the danger.
• Wang Chen returned to the separate courtyard and found Master Wuxiang waiting beneath a bodhi tree.
• Wuxiang told Wang Chen that he had lived in this world for five hundred and forty-seven years and nineteen days, and that they came from different worlds.
• Wuxiang explained that outsiders like them were called Heavenly Demons, leaving Wang Chen shocked to learn he was one.

Wuxiang revealed why he had spared Wang Chen and urged him to ascend to the Upper Realm to escape his karmic calamity, then disappeared after saying farewell. Wang Chen began the journey home with Xu Yingyi and the other cultivators, but after they were driven out of Chituo City, he set off alone into the desert.

• Wuxiang told Wang Chen that he had been reborn as a Heavenly Demon and that his master had raised him despite knowing what he was.
• Wuxiang explained that he had spared Wang Chen and given him the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma so he could cross into the Upper Realm and escape the calamity threatening his life.
• Wuxiang said his bonds to this world prevented him from ascending safely, then bid Wang Chen farewell and vanished.
• The next morning, Wang Chen, Xu Yingyi, and the other cultivators returned to Chituo City aboard the Lingjia Flying Boat and through Xuan Yuan Temple's teleportation array.
• A martial monk at Golden Buddha Temple ordered the cultivators to leave because the city was to be sealed for a search for Evil Spirits, and Wang Chen and the others departed.
• Xu Yingyi headed back to the Canglan Sect while Wang Chen flew alone toward the depths of the desert.

Wang Chen hurried toward the West Sea Sect after offending the Western Regions Buddhist sect, but a Golden Core cultivator ambushed him in the desert. He escaped the first attacks by using three Talismans from Changhe True Person, only to face the cultivator’s crushing palm with his Mana exhausted.

• Wang Chen traveled by Magic Treasure Flying Ship through the Sand Tribe’s desert while remaining alert for Buddhist retaliation.
• Wang Chen recalled Wuxiang’s account of the Haotian Realm and the Void Trial required to enter it.
• A Golden Core cultivator trapped Wang Chen’s Flying Ship with a binding force, and Wang Chen activated one of Changhe True Person’s Talismans to break free.
• The Golden Core cultivator pursued Wang Chen with a long-whip Magic Treasure and wrapped the Flying Ship in it.
• Wang Chen activated his remaining two Talismans, broke the whip, and drained his Mana.
• The enraged Golden Core cultivator appeared beside the Flying Ship and reached to crush it as Wang Chen felt powerless.

Wang Chen survived Qiu Jianshan’s ambush when Changhe True Person intervened and rescued him. Back on Changhe Island, Wang Chen agreed to stay in seclusion while he studied options for a Native Magic Treasure with his master’s support.

• Qiu Jianshan tried to seize Wang Chen’s Magic Treasure Flying Ship, but Changhe True Person’s sword strike severed his hand and freed Wang Chen.
• Changhe True Person pulled Wang Chen and his Flying Ship through a spatial rift to Zhouye Peak on Changhe Island.
• Changhe True Person identified the ambusher as Qiu Jianshan, a former West Sea Sect disciple, and warned Wang Chen to stay on the island because Qiu might seek revenge.
• Wang Chen told Changhe True Person he wanted to commission a Native Magic Treasure to improve his chances of surviving stronger enemies.
• Changhe True Person gave Wang Chen a Jade Slip recording 759 Magic Treasures and promised to provide some materials once Wang Chen chose one.

Wang Chen reviewed the West Sea Sect’s Magic Treasure records and selected the Dragon Abyss Flying Sword as his natal Magic Treasure. He went to seek Changhe True Person’s help obtaining its materials but learned that his master had entered a long seclusion.

• Wang Chen considered asking Little Cauldron to refine his natal Magic Treasure but hesitated to entrust it with such an important task.
• Wang Chen decided to choose a Flying Sword for its killing power, combat strength, and usefulness for flight and escape.
• Wang Chen selected the Dragon Abyss Sword, a renowned West Sea Sect sword whose attributes matched him and whose secret sword arts could be exchanged for with merit.
• Wang Chen calculated that refining the Dragon Abyss Sword required seventeen kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, then went to Zhouye Peak to seek Changhe True Person’s help.
• Wang Chen learned that Changhe True Person had entered a long seclusion.

Wang Chen received Changhe True Person’s materials and recommendation for refining a natal Magic Treasure, but chose to craft the Dragon Abyss Sword himself with the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron. After spending most of his Merit Points on the remaining materials, he began the sword’s refinement and left its success to Little Cauldron.

• Cao Hongzhi gave Wang Chen a Storage Bag and a letter of recommendation from Changhe True Person.
• Wang Chen examined the materials and decided to use the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron rather than entrust his natal Magic Treasure to a sect Artifact Refining Master.
• Wang Chen and Little Cauldron selected materials for the Dragon Abyss Sword, which Wang Chen designed to balance all five elements and allow future upgrades.
• Wang Chen spent nearly all his Merit Points obtaining the remaining materials, including five thousand grains of costly Void Stardust.
• Wang Chen warned Little Cauldron to refine the sword successfully, and Little Cauldron entered the cauldron as the refinement began.

Wang Chen used the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron to forge the Dragon Abyss Sword, sacrificing two spirit swords and nearly exhausting his Spirit Stones and Mana. He completed the refinement and subdued the newly born Magic Treasure.

• Wang Chen spent seven days feeding Spirit Stones and Mana into the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron as the Dragon Abyss Sword took shape.
• Wang Chen sacrificed the Crimson Ni Flying Sword and the Yaoguang Sword to strengthen the Dragon Abyss Sword and make it easier to control.
• When his Mana ran low, Wang Chen drew spiritual energy directly from the Heavenly Net to Punish Evil into the cauldron.
• The Dragon Abyss Sword emerged from the cauldron, and Wang Chen restrained it with his Sword Control Technique and drew it into his hand.
• Little Cauldron congratulated Wang Chen as the sword forging was completed.

Wang Chen completed and began nurturing his natal Dragon Abyss Sword, then visited Xu Xinlan in Myriad Spirit City to obtain the High Spirit Stones he had promised Little Cauldron. After Xu Xinlan helped sell his spoils, Wang Chen stayed with her while the items were exchanged for Spirit Stones.

• Wang Chen forged the Dragon Abyss Sword, bonded with it using his blood, and placed it in his Qi Sea Dantian to nurture it.
• Wang Chen emerged from more than half a month of seclusion because he could not pay Little Cauldron the promised one hundred High Spirit Stones.
• Wang Chen traveled to Myriad Spirit City and reunited with Xu Xinlan, who told him she had reached peak Qi Condensation.
• Wang Chen advised Xu Xinlan to strengthen her foundation before breaking through and promised to guard her when she advanced.
• Wang Chen gave Xu Xinlan a Storage Bag of spoils to sell, and she promptly arranged one hundred High Spirit Stones for him.
• Wang Chen stayed with Xu Xinlan for several days while she sold his items through the Xu family's channels and exchanged them for Spirit Stones.

Wang Chen broke through to the seventh level of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma, gaining an Immortal Body and Golden Core-level Physique. After stabilizing his realm, he met with Cao Hongzhi, who summoned him to discuss a matter with their fellow disciple Sulan.

• Wang Chen spent a month preparing for a breakthrough, then endured seven arduous days of cultivation to reach the seventh level of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma.
• Wang Chen gained an Immortal Body, raising his Physique to 26 and giving him greater confidence about reaching the upper realm.
• Wang Chen spent three days stabilizing his new realm, then emerged with his aura concealed and a more refined appearance.
• Wang Chen received Cao Hongzhi's flying talisman and traveled to Zhouye Peak to meet him.
• Cao Hongzhi congratulated Wang Chen on his breakthrough and said he had summoned him to discuss a matter with their fellow disciple Sulan.

Yin Sulan invited Wang Chen to join a team exploring the Azure Heaven Secret Realm, and he accepted after sensing a response from the Primordial Dao Stele. He prepared to leave with her in two hours while Cao Hongzhi stayed behind to guard the Dao Palace.

• Yin Sulan met Wang Chen in the Dao Palace's main hall and learned that he was at the Purple Mansion fifth layer.
• Yin Sulan invited Wang Chen to explore a predecessor's Cave Mansion, but he initially declined.
• Yin Sulan revealed that the Azure Heaven Secret Realm had appeared again, and Cao Hongzhi recognized its significance.
• Wang Chen recalled his connection to the secret realm, including the Primordial Dao Stele and other treasures, and sensed the stele stirring in his Sea of Consciousness.
• Wang Chen accepted Yin Sulan's invitation, and she told him to prepare before she returned in two hours.
• Cao Hongzhi reassured Wang Chen that Yin Sulan would not betray a fellow disciple and said he wished he could go too.

Wang Chen learned about the dangers and shifting location of the Azure Heaven Secret Realm, then traveled with Yin Sulan and a large group of cultivators to Taiwu Mountain. The group arrived ahead of the realm’s emergence, where cultivators from across the region were expected to gather.

• Cao Hongzhi explained the Azure Heaven Secret Realm’s unpredictable location, powerful restrictions, dangers, and treasures to Wang Chen.
• Wang Chen boarded Yin Sulan’s Flying Ship and met a crowd of fellow cultivators, including Li Mengyan, whom he recognized but did not approach.
• Yin Sulan warned Wang Chen not to trust anyone else aboard the ship once they entered the secret realm.
• The Flying Ship traveled for a day and reached Taiwu Mountain, where the Azure Heaven Secret Realm was expected to emerge and overseas cultivators might also arrive.

Wang Chen and Yin Sulan searched Taiwu Mountain for the emerging Azure Heaven Secret Realm, guided by the Primordial Dao Stele. The realm’s location seemed to be drifting, and Wang Chen felt an uncanny pull toward it.

• Sun Wenxuan organized the West Sea Sect cultivators into search parties and warned them to stay wary of opponents and Taiwu Mountain’s dangers.
• Wang Chen and Yin Sulan teamed up to search for the secret realm, while Wang Chen relied on the Primordial Dao Stele’s reaction rather than the talisman coin.
• Wang Chen redirected Yin Sulan toward the route indicated by the Primordial Dao Stele, and she trusted his judgment without pressing him for an explanation.
• Wang Chen and Yin Sulan encountered five gray-robed cultivators, who backed away after a tense standoff rather than starting a fight.
• Wang Chen followed the shifting guidance of the Primordial Dao Stele and noticed that the Heavenly Net to Punish Evil was also reacting to the secret realm.