Chapter Summaries

Buddhist Son Wuxin apologized to Yan Ling with a rare pearl, and Su Bai's group left Cloud City for the Buddhist Kingdom. After five days of nonstop travel, they reached the Gobi wastelands.

• Buddhist Son Wuxin offered Yan Ling the Heart of the Ocean and apologized for offending her.
• Yan Ling accepted the pearl, warned Wuxin not to commit evil deeds in Great Qian again, and decided to leave Cloud City.
• Su Bai and Po Jun exchanged farewells before Su Bai followed Yan Ling back to the Night Watchers' manor.
• Zhu Biao carried Su Bai and Yan Ling toward the Buddhist Kingdom, and the group traveled without stopping.
• Five days later, the group reached dry Gobi wastelands where the Spiritual Energy carried a faint demonic aura.

Su Bai, Zhu Biao, and Yan Ling arrived in Great Thunderclap City for the Buddha’s enthronement ceremony and received accommodations and credentials as honored guests. Their stay was interrupted when a mysterious woman in a crimson gown appeared and asked whether Su Bai was Su Bai.

• The Reception Demon Monk led Su Bai, Zhu Biao, and Yan Ling to a high-ranking guest courtyard near the giant pagodas in Great Thunderclap City.
• The Reception Demon Monk explained that Yan Ling’s Buddha-Guiding Relic identified her as the Great Gan imperial family’s special envoy and allowed the Buddhist Kingdom to locate her for protection.
• Su Bai and Zhu Biao registered their basic information, received residence and passage tokens, and learned that the enthronement ceremony would take place in ten days.
• Yan Ling was about to explore the capital with Su Bai when a seductive woman in a crimson gown appeared at the courtyard gate and asked if he was Su Bai.

Su Bai met Nine Tails, who invited him and Yan Ling to tour Great Thunderclap City. As Yan Ling and Nine Tails traded pointed remarks, Su Bai stepped between them to defuse the tension.

• Su Bai introduced himself to Nine Tails, who said she was connected to his master, Lu Jiu, and invited him to see Great Thunderclap City.
• Su Bai said his duty was to protect Yan Ling, so Nine Tails invited her to join them.
• Su Bai introduced Nine Tails as the Grand Elder of the Crimson Flame Fox Clan and considered how her connections could help him learn about Buddhist Kingdom talents, treasures, and secrets.
• Yan Ling called attention to Nine Tails' fox-spirit charm and challenged Su Bai to agree with her praise.
• Nine Tails warned Yan Ling that Great Thunderclap City had different rules, and Su Bai moved between the two women while sending Yan Ling a telepathic message.

Nine-tailed brought Su Bai, Yan Ling, and Zhu Biao to the Nine-tailed Fox Clan residence in the Buddhist Capital. There, she introduced them to her powerful son San Chan and told him to treat them well and avoid embarrassing her before Senior Lu Jiu.

• Yan Ling and Zhu Biao reacted with astonishment when Nine-tailed revealed that she had 128 children.
• The Reception Demon Monk took his leave after directing the group to contact the Steward Monk Academy if they needed official assistance.
• Nine-tailed guided Su Bai, Yan Ling, and Zhu Biao through the Buddhist Capital to the Nine-tailed Fox Clan residence.
• San Chan, a Peak Deity Transformation Cultivator, greeted his mother when she arrived.
• Nine-tailed introduced Su Bai and his friends to San Chan and ordered him to treat them well; San Chan respectfully agreed and appraised Su Bai.

Su Bai gained San Chan’s goodwill and questioned him about the young talents expected at the Fox Talk Gathering, looking for potential targets to examine with [Immortal Talent Reflection]. Yan Ling chose to explore the Buddhist Capital with Zhu Biao instead, while San Chan assigned Red Five to guide and protect them.

• Su Bai agreed to relay San Chan’s wish to meet Lu Jiu, while making clear that Lu Jiu would decide whether to accept.
• Su Bai asked San Chan about the attendees of the Fox Talk Gathering and identified several possible targets for [Immortal Talent Reflection].
• Yan Ling grew bored of the discussion and announced that she would skip the gathering to explore the Buddhist Capital with Zhu Biao.
• Su Bai instructed Zhu Biao to stay with Yan Ling, and Zhu Biao reluctantly agreed.
• San Chan ordered Red Five to show Yan Ling and Zhu Biao the nearby streets and keep them safe.

Su Bai asked San Chan whether any young Demon Cultivators had comprehended the Yin-Yang Law so he could strengthen his Five Elements Sword Array. San Chan revealed that his father, the Wutian Buddha, had comprehended the Yang Law, leaving Su Bai startled by the unexpected lead.

• Su Bai explained that he wanted to find a cultivator who had comprehended the Yin-Yang Law so he could replicate their insights and complete his sword array.
• San Chan said the Yin and Yang Laws were difficult to grasp and that he knew only one or two cultivators who had mastered them.
• San Chan revealed that his father, the Wutian Buddha, had comprehended the Yang Law.
• Su Bai nearly choked on his tea at San Chan's revelation.

Su Bai considered how to use his relationship with Nine Tails to get close to Wutian Buddha and copy the Law of Yang, while weighing the risks of provoking the powerful Buddha. When the Fox Talk Gathering began, San Chan led Su Bai to the rear garden, where powerful guests were converging.

• Su Bai recognized that San Chan's status as Wutian Buddha's son and leader of the Crimson Flame Fox Clan had helped him attract foreign guests.
• Su Bai assessed Wutian Buddha's likely strength and concluded that his Five Revolutions Grand Five Elements Sword Array could contend with even the strongest Peak Deity Transformation cultivators.
• Su Bai devised a plan to use Nine Tails to create an opportunity to approach Wutian Buddha and copy the Law of Yang without triggering an irreconcilable conflict.
• Three bell chimes announced the Fox Talk Gathering, and San Chan invited Su Bai to follow him to the rear garden.
• Su Bai and San Chan flew to the rear garden as Su Bai sensed Deity Transformation cultivators converging on the manor from across the Buddhist capital.

Su Bai surveyed the gathering and recognized Gold Horn, whose Law of Metal he had already copied under the identity of Lu Jiu. He identified Blood Eye and Xuan Bing as potential targets for copying rare laws, then continued assessing their abilities.

• Su Bai recognized Gold Horn, a Peak Deity Transformation Demon Cultivator whose Law of Metal he had copied while posing as Sword Cultivator Lu Jiu.
• Su Bai learned that Blood Eye was a newly established young master of the Profound Yin Bat Demon clan and suspected he had comprehended the Law of Yin.
• Su Bai identified the Law of Yin as a crucial element needed to complete his Great Five Elements Yin-Yang Sword Array.
• Su Bai observed Xuan Bing, a Peak Deity Transformation cultivator from the Frost Demon clan, and determined that she had comprehended the Law of Ice.
• Su Bai considered copying Xuan Bing's Law of Ice to broaden the future offensive methods of his Myriad Transformations Sword Dao.

At the Fox Talk Gathering, Su Bai’s identity as Lu Jiu’s disciple drew warm greetings from several Demon Cultivators, while Blood Eye, Xuan Bing, and Liu Meng watched from afar. Skyshroud of the Sky Roc Dynasty then challenged Su Bai, deriding him as a human borrowing his master’s prestige.

• Gold Horn recognized Su Bai as Lu Jiu’s disciple and warmly praised him and his master.
• Several Demon Cultivators who had traded pills with Lu Jiu greeted Su Bai, while Blood Eye, Xuan Bing, and Liu Meng stayed back.
• Skyshroud accused Su Bai of relying on Lu Jiu’s reputation and disgracing the Demon Race.
• Su Bai identified Skyshroud as a Late Deity Transformation cultivator from the Sky Roc Dynasty.

Su Bai accepted Skyshroud’s challenge to defend his master Lu Jiu’s honor, and San Chan opened a sturdy underground trial space for their duel. Su Bai arrived inside as the onlookers followed, leaving the fight about to begin.

• Skyshroud agreed that no one would pursue the duel’s outcome afterward and taunted Su Bai to surrender.
• San Chan warned Su Bai about Skyshroud’s bloodline, Wind Law, and strength, but Su Bai said he had to defend Lu Jiu’s honor.
• San Chan offered to mediate but, after Su Bai refused, agreed to oversee the duel and keep him safe.
• San Chan opened a spatial scroll leading to an underground trial arena built to withstand Deity Transformation battles.
• Skyshroud, Su Bai, Gold Horn, Blood Eye, Xuan Bing, Liu Meng, and the other guests entered the arena, with San Chan following last.
• Su Bai reached solid ground inside the trial space.

Skyshroud attacked Su Bai with the Heavenly Roc clan’s Golden Storm, but Su Bai answered by summoning five Houtian Spirit Treasure swords and forming the Four-turn Grand Five Elements Sword Array. The array took shape around Su Bai as the Golden Storm approached.

• Skyshroud opened the trial with his Golden Storm, a deadly wind-law technique that tore through the arena ground.
• Su Bai assessed Skyshroud’s strength and judged his Wind Law comprehension to be around forty to fifty percent.
• Su Bai summoned five Houtian Spirit Treasure swords embodying the elements of fire, earth, metal, wood, and water.
• Su Bai used the swords and his Myriad Transformations Sword Dao to form the Four-turn Grand Five Elements Sword Array around himself.

Su Bai killed Prince Skyshroud in the duel, earning the Demon Race geniuses’ respect despite the danger of angering the Sky Roc Dynasty. San Chan accepted responsibility for explaining the death to the dynasty and warned Su Bai about its pride and tyranny.

• Wuxin and the other Buddha Sons watched Su Bai’s victory with shock, and Wuxin was relieved he had not made an enemy of him.
• Gold Horn praised Su Bai’s Five-Colored Sword Formation as the crowd recognized his strength, while Blood Eye, Xuan Bing, and Liu Meng showed new interest in him.
• Su Bai recalled his swords and apologized to San Chan for Skyshroud’s death and the disruption to the gathering.
• San Chan said the duel’s life-or-death terms had been agreed to publicly and promised to explain the matter to the Sky Roc Dynasty.
• San Chan privately warned Su Bai that the Sky Roc Dynasty cared deeply about its reputation and was known for arrogance and tyranny.

Su Bai approached Blood Eye to ask about obtaining Extreme Yin Baleful Intent for his master, Lu Jiu. Blood Eye offered to reserve some from a future yield and gave Su Bai a token to arrange a meeting in the Thousand Caverns Grotto-Heaven.

• Su Bai left the conversations around the venue and approached Blood Eye, identifying him as a member of the Mystic Yin Bat Demon Clan.
• Su Bai said Lu Jiu wanted Extreme Yin Baleful Intent for an ancient pill formula and offered personally refined Deity Transformation Breakthrough Pills in exchange.
• Blood Eye explained that the rare substance came from the Ten Thousand Bat Yin Cavern and was scarce, prized by yin-aspected Cultivators, and usually claimed by powerful clans.
• Blood Eye said he had none available but could set aside a portion from the next yield through his clan's distribution rights.
• Blood Eye gave Su Bai a blood-colored bat token and invited Lu Jiu to visit the clan's territory to complete the exchange.

Su Bai and Nine Tails shared an intimate morning in her nine-tailed true form, their powers and Laws entwining. Meanwhile, Wutian Buddha awoke from secluded cultivation inside the Buddhist Capital’s great relic as he prepared to ascend the throne in one week.

• Su Bai stroked Nine Tails’ nine tails and asked whether they were her true form.
• Nine Tails explained that her Nine-Tails True Form marked the Crimson Flame Fox Clan’s bloodline at an exceptionally high level.
• Nine Tails drew Su Bai into further intimacy, and their mana, Sword Intent, demon power, and Dao resonance intertwined.
• Wutian Buddha awoke inside the relic at the Buddhist Capital’s central tower.
• Wutian continued preparing for his enthronement ceremony, which was one week away.

Nine Tails recognized that Su Bai was her Devil Master, Lu Jiu, and submitted to him. She began explaining how Wu Tian’s mark came to be, revealing that he had demanded she become his Dao companion in exchange for his Blood Essence.

• Nine Tails used the Demon Servant contract and her memories of their intimacy to identify Su Bai as Lu Jiu, the Devil Master.
• Su Bai dropped his disguise and withdrew the concealment masking their contract connection.
• Nine Tails bowed to Su Bai, apologized for her earlier offenses, and was told to explain Wu Tian’s mark.
• Nine Tails said she had used the Crimson Flame Fox Clan’s Heavenly Fox Progeny-Extending Art to borrow bloodline origins and conceive offspring.
• Nine Tails explained that Wu Tian offered his Blood Essence only if she became his Dao companion and bore his children, which she refused.

Su Bai kept the Great Sun True Yang Seal in Nine Tails to use as bait in a plan to draw Wutian Buddha into a trap. He transformed into Lu Jiu and provoked Wutian at the Buddhist tower, where he effortlessly destroyed the Buddha’s furious attack.

• Su Bai reprimanded Nine Tails for her scheme, examined the Great Sun True Yang Seal in her origin, and decided to leave it intact as bait.
• Su Bai ordered Nine Tails to remain in his Grotto-Heaven and warned her not to disturb the Void-Escaping Spirit Mice.
• Su Bai transformed into Lu Jiu and appeared above the Buddhist tower, releasing his Peak Deity Transformation aura before the watching cultivators.
• Wutian Buddha opened his Great Sun Buddha Eye and fired a golden beam at Lu Jiu.
• Lu Jiu countered with Five-Colored Sword Light, which annihilated Wutian’s attack before it reached him.

Wutian revealed that he had planned to use Nine Tails and her Fire Law to strengthen his own Yang Law, but Su Bai’s intervention ruined his scheme. Wutian’s demonic nature took control and attacked Su Bai, who summoned his Five Elements Flying Swords to meet the assault.

• Wutian’s hidden plan to refine Nine Tails’ Fire Law through a secret art was revealed.
• Wutian let his demonic nature take over, transforming his Buddhist power into demonic might.
• Cultivators across the Buddhist capital activated defensive formations to protect the city.
• Demonized Wutian attacked Su Bai with hair that emerged from the void and formed a demonic net.
• Su Bai summoned the Crimson Flame, Thick Earth, Geng Metal, Azure Wood, and Mysterious Water Flying Swords.

Su Bai confronted Wutian Buddha after their battle, but Wutian unexpectedly thanked him and appeared transformed. Three senior Buddhist cultivators intervened to protect Wutian, while the truth behind his divided Buddha and demonic nature was later revealed.

• Wutian Buddha calmly thanked Su Bai after the demonic nature within him had been destroyed.
• Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva, Xuanzhen Arhat, and the Nameless Mud Monk arrived and formed a protective formation around Wutian.
• Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva and Xuanzhen Arhat urged Su Bai to end the confrontation, while the Nameless Mud Monk watched in silence.
• Su Bai realized the battle had deeply affected Wutian and that the three cultivators were guarding against him exploiting Wutian's weakness.
• Su Bai later learned that Wutian's divine soul had been formed by fusing a failed eminent monk's demonic nature with a young cultivator's Buddha nature.
• Wutian's cultivation required his Buddha and demonic natures to clash, and each awakening risked his falling permanently into the Demonic Path.

Wu Tian invited Su Bai to speak privately in the Relic Pure Land and offered to leave Su Bai and Nine Tails alone for ten years before his demonic nature might return and drive him to attack them. Su Bai recognized that Wu Tian’s condition came from his Buddha-and-demon cultivation, then demanded compensation for Wu Tian’s earlier attempt to kill his disciple.

• Wu Tian sent Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva, Xuanzhen Arhat, and Nameless Mud Monk away from the conversation and took Su Bai into the relic.
• Wu Tian promised not to pursue Su Bai and Nine Tails for ten years, but warned he might attack them afterward.
• Wu Tian explained that his cultivation technique balanced Buddha nature against demonic nature, and that he expected his demonic side to return within ten years.
• Su Bai dismissed Wu Tian’s riddles and demanded that he make amends for trying to kill Su Bai’s disciple and for coercing the disciple’s wife and marking her.

On the day of the Buddha's succession ceremony, Yan Ling fretted over rumors linking Su Bai with the Nine-tailed Empress and worried about his safety. Su Bai returned to the Great Qian delegation unharmed, reassured her that his master had settled the danger, and left their relationship unresolved.

• Yan Ling complained about Su Bai and the Nine-tailed Empress while Zhu Biao tried to keep out of her way.
• Yan Ling slapped Zhu Biao after guessing that he was silently criticizing her.
• Su Bai appeared at the delegation's courtyard and apologized for being away on important business.
• Yan Ling welcomed Su Bai back and told him she had sent urgent Transmit Messages asking Imperial Brother to support him and Lu Jiu.
• Su Bai thanked Yan Ling and said Lu Jiu had settled his affairs, easing her worries.