Chapter Summaries

Zhou Tong hosted an Enlightenment Tea Banquet, using the gathering of heavenly prodigies to help repair cracks in his Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings and gifting tea and peaches to his guests. After the banquet, he told the remaining Great Emperors that the Immortal Domain had shattered in an ancient battle against darkness and explained how Dark Matter could corrupt and transform living beings.

• Zhou Tong scattered nine thousand Enlightenment Tea leaves for the heavenly prodigies, whose Great Dao laws healed nine tiny cracks in his Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings.
• Zhou Tong served weakened Flat Peaches during the three-day banquet, then gave jade boxes of Enlightenment Tea to seven Great Emperors and Yan Ruyu’s companions.
• Ye Fan asked Zhou Tong what he had found in the Immortal Domain, and Zhou Tong revealed that it had shattered into hundreds or thousands of fragments during the Chaotic Ancient Era.
• Zhou Tong said the Desolate Heaven Emperor had ended the ancient battle against darkness and explained that Dark Matter could replace a victim’s primordial spirit, erase their memories, and mutate their body.
• The Sun Sacred Emperor asked whether those who proved the Dao through corpses followed the same path, and Zhou Tong distinguished their method from Dark Matter contamination while describing how it could create grotesque monsters.

Zhou Tong told Ye Fan and the Great Emperors that Dark Matter had returned and shared the purification method he developed after researching it for thirty thousand years. He warned that an invasion might come within hundreds of thousands of years—or sooner, and Ye Fan and the others decided to join the battle at the front line.

• Zhou Tong explained that the Otherworld had once been contaminated by Dark Matter, and that he had recently encountered and killed a Dark Immortal King.
• Zhou Tong revealed his method for purifying Dark Matter, and Phoenix Heavenly Emperor, Ruthless Great Emperor, Ye Fan, and Wu Shi the Great studied it.
• Zhou Tong estimated that the darkness might reach them in several hundred thousand years or a million years, though his actions might have hastened its advance.
• Zhou Tong said he could survive even if the darkness descended, but he would not abandon his family, descendants, and the other living beings.
• Ye Fan asked Zhou Tong to take the group to the front line, and Wu Shi the Great and Azure Emperor agreed to go and seek growth through battle.

Zhou Tong proposed awakening outstanding figures across the ages to temper themselves against the darkness, while he investigated the dark faction and prepared to let heavenly geniuses attain the Dao. He explained to Yan Ruyu that Desolate Heaven Emperor had reached the Immortal Emperor realm and created an unpassed Sixth Secret Realm called the Dao Fruit, which each cultivator had to comprehend for themselves.

• Zhou Tong proposed sending willing cultivators into the darkness and said he would first investigate the Dark Immortal King's territory.
• Zhou Tong told Ye Fan and the others he intended to break the Myriad Daos' suppression so heavenly geniuses could attain the Dao, and said he had ways to restore the universe afterward.
• After Ye Fan, Wu Shi, and the others left the Divine Domain, Yan Ruyu asked Zhou Tong about Dark Matter and Desolate Heaven Emperor.
• Zhou Tong revealed that Desolate Heaven Emperor was an Immortal Emperor who created the five-secret-realm cultivation system and had also created a Sixth Secret Realm.
• Zhou Tong explained that the Sixth Secret Realm was the Dao Fruit, a personal realm that cultivators had to comprehend themselves because copying another's Dao Fruit could block their path to becoming an Immortal Emperor.

Zhou Tong explained his understanding of the Sixth Secret Realm to Yan Ruyu, then sent his Gu True Fate to reincarnate in the Hong Meng Universe. Heaven and earth created a new Gu ancestor, who was born with Alternative Dao Attainment and immediately faced a Great Emperor tribulation.

• Zhou Tong told Yan Ruyu that the Sixth Secret Realm represented his personal Dao path toward the Immortal Emperor realm, and Yan Ruyu left to cultivate toward a third life.
• Zhou Tong returned to meditation and sent his Gu True Fate into the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings to strengthen their power.
• Golden light and the laws of time and space gathered before Zhou Tong, as heaven and earth created a new Gu ancestor.
• The newborn Gu developed a personalized Gu Clan Treasure Art and attained Alternative Dao Attainment upon birth.
• The Gu transformed into a figure identical to Zhou Tong, went to the Cosmic Frontier, and triggered a Great Emperor tribulation.

Zhou Tong's Gu's True Self broke the shackles of the Myriad Daos and became a Great Emperor, shocking the universe. Zhou Tong then began rebuilding the incarnation's cultivation with the Golden Core and Nascent Soul method, leaving its former Great Emperor cultivation fully converted.

• Yan Ruyu sensed someone challenging the Myriad Daos, but Zhou Tong told her the challenger was his incarnation and urged her to release the Heavenly Heart Imprint.
• Gu's True Self shattered the shackles of the Myriad Daos and ascended to Great Emperor, while cultivators across the universe wondered who had done it.
• Yan Ruyu witnessed the Heavenly Heart Imprint break apart and began cultivating after recognizing the opportunity it offered.
• Zhou Tong took Gu's True Self to the Cosmic Frontier and replaced its former Wheel Sea cultivation with a Golden Core and then a Nascent Soul.
• Zhou Tong observed the Nascent Soul system's links to the Gates of Potential as Gu's True Self converted its Great Emperor cultivation into the new method over several decades.

Gu's True Life endured a Law Creation Tribulation and completed the Soul Transformation into Infant stage of Zhou Tong's new cultivation system. Zhou Tong studied the transformation and judged that the system could reach True Immortality but not the higher realms.

• Gu's True Life faced the Law Creation Tribulation alone as Ye Fan, Azure Emperor, Wu Shi the Great, and others watched in shock.
• After several years, the tribulation ended, revealing Gu's True Life transformed into a golden insect that cultivated the Great Dao of Time and the Great Dao of Space.
• Ye Fan concluded that Zhou Tong had created the new system during his long absence and that the tribulation was connected to him.
• Zhou Tong secretly examined Gu's True Life and observed its completed Nascent Soul and its Soul Transformation into Infant.
• Zhou Tong determined that the system's Soul Transformation into Infant stage was comparable to a True Immortal and that the system's cultivation path ended at immortality.

Zhou Tong refined Gu's True Self's cultivation system by teaching it to form divine power and Heavenly Deity power, making the path viable beyond the Hongmeng Universe. Gu's True Self survived a century-long Law Creation Tribulation, emerged with solidified immortal-level combat power, and began to approach the Immortal King level.

• Zhou Tong realized Gu's True Self lacked divine power and learned from the Sky Horn Ant True Fate how divine spiritual energy formed it.
• Zhou Tong created divine power and taught the method to Gu's True Self, whose nascent soul transformed into a divine infant and began producing Heavenly Deity power.
• The Law Creation Tribulation resumed when the cultivation system became complete, and Ye Fan and the others watched as Gu's True Self faced the unprecedented calamity.
• Gu's True Self endured a hundred years of lightning, using the tribulation to temper its body and grow stronger.
• Ye Fan, Azure Emperor, Ruthless Great Emperor, and the others reflected on the tribulation's significance, while Gu's True Self survived with immortal-level combat power and signs of approaching the Immortal King level.

Zhou Tong reached the level of an Immortal King Giant after comprehending the Law Creation Tribulation and absorbing his aged Chaos Body. He tested the resulting transformation of his Hegemonic Bell, then sensed the profound karmic bond between himself and Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.

• Zhou Tong's aged Chaos Body reached the Immortal King realm through insights from the Law Creation Tribulation, then burned away and poured its power into him.
• Zhou Tong transformed and attained the combat strength of an Immortal King Giant, gaining immense confidence in his ability to face strange threats.
• Zhou Tong's Nine-Colored Immortal Gold bell collided with his Hegemonic Bell, creating a cosmic spectacle that revealed the seven Demon Stars embedded in his artifact.
• Wu Shi the Great observed Zhou Tong's bell and speculated that the Demon Stars came from an existence beyond the Immortal King realm.
• Zhou Tong sensed his deep karmic connection to Nine Heavens and Ten Lands and realized that such ties could burden Immortal Kings who relied on the Immortal Ancient Method.

After becoming an Immortal King, Zhou Tong replenished the universe’s essence and restored its golden age, strengthening his bond with the world. He returned to the Divine Domain to meet Ye Fan and the others, while considering how to repair Gu's True Self’s severed path to the Immortal King realm.

• Zhou Tong realized that Gu's True Self’s advancement had drained the universe’s essence and prematurely ended its golden age.
• Zhou Tong nourished the universe with his power, restoring its vitality and renewing the golden age.
• Ye Fan and Azure Emperor each conceived the idea of developing their universe into a new Immortal Domain, and Ye Fan decided to speak with Zhou Tong.
• Zhou Tong replenished his strength by absorbing essence from an immortal-demon universe within the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings, whose collapse had slowed after his breakthrough.
• Zhou Tong recognized that Gu's True Self’s path to the Immortal King realm was severed, then returned to the Divine Domain to meet Ye Fan and the others.

Zhou Tong confirmed that Gu was one of his incarnations and discussed Ye Fan’s plan to expand the Heavenly Court’s rule across the universe. After agreeing to keep the Divine Domain independent, Zhou Tong reshaped it into a vast continent to prepare for the World Tree.

• Zhou Tong told Ye Fan, Azure Emperor, and Wu Shi the Great that Gu was one of his incarnations.
• Zhou Tong learned that Ye Fan wanted to turn the universe into a second Immortal Domain and have the Heavenly Court rule it.
• Ye Fan declared that whichever was stronger would lead between his Heavenly Court and Blood Phoenix’s Demon Race Immortal Court.
• Zhou Tong offered to help unify the universe under the Heavenly Court on the condition that the Divine Domain remain detached from worldly affairs, and Ye Fan agreed.
• Zhou Tong merged the Divine Domain’s Life Planet with the five continents formed from Lingbao Heavenly Venerate’s Dao Palace, creating a vast continent as a foundation for the World Tree.

Zhou Tong traveled to the Foreign Realm, where he found Dark Matter had returned and captured a Dark True Immortal to learn what had happened. His investigation revealed that darkness had descended five hundred thousand years earlier and left the world’s cultivation system in an inexplicable state, so he decided to kill some Immortal Kings.

• Zhou Tong entered the Foreign Realm and found its land rich in essence and Longevity Substance.
• Zhou Tong discovered a Dark True Immortal tending sixty-seven divine medicines, isolated the valley, and sealed him in a Jade Cauldron.
• Zhou Tong collected the divine medicines and took a cubic unit of Great Luo Immortal Gold from the valley’s vein.
• Zhou Tong suppressed the Dark True Immortal’s primordial spirit and searched his memories, learning that the region belonged to Cloud Mirror Immortal King and darkness had descended five hundred thousand years earlier.
• Zhou Tong found that the Foreign Realm used only the Sky Shrouding Method, with no trace of other cultivation systems, and resolved to kill some Immortal Kings.

Zhou Tong traveled through Cloud Mirror Immortal King’s territory, searching for answers about the ancient Immortal King and the arrival of darkness. In a restaurant, he heard rumors about two indestructible statues said to hold clues to a realm above Immortal King, and resolved to investigate them.

• Zhou Tong recalled that Cloud Mirror Immortal King might have witnessed the ancient arrival of darkness and wondered whether he had later converted to the Sky Shrouding Method.
• Zhou Tong traveled through the Immortal King’s vast territory, listening for rumors and finding that his Reincarnation Mirror showed only distorted scenes when used on ordinary people.
• Cultivators in a teahouse discussed Zhou Tong’s killing of Elder Sanyuan and speculated that other Immortal Kings might target Cloud Mirror Immortal King.
• Cultivators in a restaurant debated two statues from the Chaotic Ancient era that Cloud Mirror Immortal King possessed, including whether they proved that a realm above Immortal King existed.
• Zhou Tong concluded that the statues might be traces of Quasi-Immortal Emperor power and decided to investigate them.

Zhou Tong infiltrated Cloud Mirror Immortal King's palace and discovered statues of An Lan and Yu Tuo, made by the Desolate Heaven Emperor and infused with a potentially invaluable legacy. As he considered studying them, a terrifying force descended to suppress him.

• Zhou Tong reached Cloud Mirror Immortal King's secluded palace and spent half a year deciphering its array restrictions.
• Zhou Tong entered the palace and found two kneeling statues forged from Dao Tribulation Gold and Darkness Immortal Gold.
• Zhou Tong recognized the statues as An Lan and Yu Tuo, whom the Desolate Heaven Emperor had made to kneel facing Sin Province.
• Zhou Tong realized the statues might contain runes left by the Desolate Heaven Emperor and considered studying them to advance his Sixth Secret Realm.
• A terrifying power accompanied by golden light and the River of Time descended upon Zhou Tong, seeking to suppress him.

Zhou Tong was attacked by Cloud Mirror Immortal King, also named Yun Jian, after entering his territory, and the two fought a devastating battle across the Foreign Realm and into chaos. They remained evenly matched, while the Foreign Realm’s Immortal Kings gathered and prepared to help Yun Jian if needed.

• Cloud Mirror Immortal King attacked Zhou Tong with a golden bell, and Zhou Tong pinned it with his Hegemonic Bell before the two began fighting.
• Zhou Tong and Yun Jian traded blows across the Foreign Realm, shattering stars and revealing that their versions of the Sky Shrouding Method differed.
• Yun Jian wounded Zhou Tong with golden bat wings and a time-based cross slash, but Zhou Tong counterattacked and nearly destroyed Yun Jian’s heart.
• The gathered Dark Immortal Kings watched in shock as Zhou Tong fought Yun Jian to a standstill and speculated that his cultivation system represented another path.
• The Immortal Kings agreed to intervene if Yun Jian faltered, but they waited as the battle continued.

Zhou Tong defeated Cloud Mirror Immortal King by using Severing Flowing Light to shatter his golden bell and overwhelm him. He captured Cloud Mirror Immortal King, but after exhausting himself, he faced a coordinated attack from the surrounding Immortal Kings.

• Yun Jian attacked Zhou Tong with his golden bell and wings, while Cloud Mirror Immortal King hinted that changing Cultivation Systems involved a supreme taboo figure.
• Zhou Tong used Severing Flowing Light to cut through the golden bell’s time waves, and Cloud Mirror Immortal King answered with an attack that manifested many versions of himself.
• Zhou Tong’s Hegemonic Bell joined the clash, shattering Cloud Mirror Immortal King’s bell and letting Zhou Tong badly wound him and sever an arm.
• Zhou Tong used the Hegemonic Bell to collect Cloud Mirror Immortal King, his primordial spirit, and the shattered bell, then turned to leave as the seven Demon Stars’ power faded.
• The surrounding Immortal Kings attacked Zhou Tong together with their hands and weapons.

Zhou Tong was ambushed by twelve Immortal Kings and fought while retreating from the Foreign Realm into the depths of chaos, wary that more powerful forces might be watching. The battle left him and his pursuers badly wounded, but the twelve kings continued to press him.

• Twelve Immortal Kings attacked Zhou Tong, and he deflected their opening strikes with the Hegemonic Bell and his fists.
• Zhou Tong unleashed many secret arts to drive the kings back temporarily, then fought while retreating toward the depths of chaos.
• Zhou Tong used the Gu Clan Treasure Art to sever spatial traces and prevent more fighters from the Foreign Realm from joining the battle.
• Zhou Tong and the twelve Immortal Kings fought through repeated exchanges, leaving him bloodied and wounded while many of the kings and their weapons were also damaged.

Zhou Tong used the Hegemonic Bell’s seven Demon Stars and his True Dragon Avatar to turn the battle against the Immortal Kings who had besieged him. After killing several enemies, he was left weakened and still facing the danger of Darkness Erosion.

• Zhou Tong fought the Immortal Kings head-on and killed the black-tripod wielder with his three divine swords and the Hegemonic Bell.
• Zhou Tong sensed Darkness Erosion within himself and decided he had to end the battle quickly.
• Zhou Tong unleashed the full power of the Hegemonic Bell’s seven Demon Stars, binding the eleven remaining Immortal Kings.
• Zhou Tong’s True Dragon Avatar appeared and killed three Immortal Kings while Zhou Tong killed another.
• The seven Demon Stars’ light faded, revealing an exhausted Zhou Tong and his True Dragon Avatar.

Zhou Tong defeated the twelve Immortal Kings who pursued him, but discovered that Dark Matter was inexhaustibly emerging from his body despite his efforts to purify it. He suspected one of the fallen kings was connected to the Soul River, the Ancient Underworld, or Above High Heaven, and began searching their memories for a cure.

• Zhou Tong and his True Dragon Avatar used the Hegemonic Bell to suppress and capture the remaining seven Immortal Kings, completing the defeat of all twelve pursuers.
• Zhou Tong's True Dragon Avatar returned after suppressing the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings, which had sustained further damage from its use.
• Zhou Tong went to his Small World and found that immortal light and Phoenix Nirvana Divine Fire could not stop Dark Matter from continually emerging within him.
• A white-haired Immortal King and the Blue-eyed Immortal King of the North Sea discussed the fallen pursuers and said their killing move would likely cause Zhou Tong to fall into darkness.
• Zhou Tong suspected the owner of the black tripod was connected to a source of darkness, then used the Hegemonic Bell to refine the captured Immortal Kings and search their memories for a solution.

Zhou Tong opened the vaults of thirteen Immortal Kings and found vast stores of Immortal Gold and other treasures. Cloud Mirror Immortal King's vault contained a mountain-sized mass of Time Immortal Gold, which Zhou Tong stored away before planning to refine it into the Hegemonic Bell after dealing with the Dark Immortal Kings.

• Zhou Tong opened the treasure vaults of thirteen Immortal Kings and discovered enormous quantities of Immortal materials and divine materials.
• Zhou Tong identified fourteen kinds of Immortal Gold among the vaults and considered how gathering the full set could create indestructible Chaos Gold.
• Zhou Tong opened Cloud Mirror Immortal King's vault and found an immense, unfamiliar Immortal Gold that caused the surrounding world to decay.
• Zhou Tong recognized the metal as Time Immortal Gold, speculated that Cloud Mirror Immortal King had ties to Above High Heaven, and stored it away.
• Zhou Tong considered whether other Mother Golds might exist in the Foreign Realm but knew he could not go there until he resolved his Darkness Erosion problem.

Zhou Tong added Void, Time, and Great Luo Immortal Gold to the Nine-colored Vajra Ring and tested his own continuation of the Divine Emperor Scripture. The ring became an Immortal Artifact, confirming that his tenth transformation was on the right path as he sought a way to complete his Sixth Secret Realm and resist Darkness Erosion.

• Zhou Tong recalled that he had never found a way to advance the Nine-colored Vajra Ring into an Immortal King artifact and decided to use it to test his tenth transformation of the Divine Emperor Scripture.
• Zhou Tong refined Void Immortal Gold into the ring, disrupting its balance and reducing it from an Immortal Artifact to an ordinary Great Emperor weapon.
• Zhou Tong added Time and Great Luo Immortal Gold, then sent his newly written tenth-transformation scripture into the ring while the Reincarnation Mirror released its Light of Reincarnation.
• The ring transformed into a river-like weapon embodying time and space, and Zhou Tong sensed that the scripture had no major flaws.
• The Vajra Ring broke through a new limit, gained an immortal aura, and became an Immortal Artifact again.