Chapter Summaries

Zhou Tong completed Daoist Sanshou’s inheritance, received the Five Elements Essence, and cultivated the Star-Plucking Hand. After learning about his new master and the divine ability’s power, Zhou Tong decided it would support rather than define his own Path of Fire.

• Zhou Tong reached the altar’s summit and absorbed the Star-Plucking Hand inheritance into his soul.
• Zhou Tong bowed to acknowledge Daoist Sanshou as his master, and Daoist Sanshou’s phantom warned that he must survive the heavenly tribulation and become a Heavenly Deity to truly qualify as his disciple.
• Daoist Sanshou sent Five Elements Essence into Zhou Tong, helping him reach major completion in the first turn of the Star-Plucking Hand.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear explained Daoist Sanshou’s origins and the classifications of Divine Demons, and said Zhou Tong could be invincible at the Zifu realm with the Star-Plucking Hand.
• Zhou Tong tested the Star-Plucking Hand and judged it powerful and compatible with the Five Elements, but said it would not become his Dao because he intended to follow the Path of Fire.

Zhou Tong selected a Spirit Gathering Array Disk and received Daoist Sanshou’s Energy Refinement art, the Immortal Burning Tome. After studying Daoist Sanshou’s Five Elements Diagram, he gained new insights into Divine Demon Body Refining and realized he needed to cultivate further before creating his own method.

• Zhou Tong chose a Spirit Gathering Array Disk as his Human-tier Dharma Treasure, explaining that he needed to accelerate his cultivation.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear gave Zhou Tong the Immortal Burning Tome, Daoist Sanshou’s fire-attribute Energy Refinement technique.
• Zhou Tong asked to see Daoist Sanshou’s Five Elements Diagram and declared that he intended to advance the technique.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear warned Zhou Tong about the difficulty but gave him the Five Elements Diagram.
• Zhou Tong studied the technique, gained insights into Divine Demon Body Refining, and concluded that he needed to reach a higher cultivation level before creating his own body-refining method.

After ten days away, Zhou Tong returned to Winged Serpent Lake, subdued its great demon, and established it as his territory. He then returned to Ji Clan West Mansion City, traded a visualization method to Ji Yichuan for one of his promised chances to act, and revealed that his strength had reached the Zifu stage.

• Zhou Tong declared Winged Serpent Lake his territory, forbade the Winged Serpent from causing trouble, and placed a Spirit Gathering Array Disk on the island.
• Zhou Tong returned to Ji Clan West Mansion City and watched Ji Yichuan instruct Ji Ning in swordsmanship.
• Zhou Tong gave Ji Yichuan the Inner View Sun Moon Bright Buddha visualization method in exchange for one chance to act, leaving two chances owed to the Ji Clan.
• Ji Yichuan sensed that Zhou Tong had reached the seventh level of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram and the early Zifu stage.
• Zhou Tong told Ji Yichuan that the Winged Serpent had been subdued and that he would settle at Winged Serpent Lake.

Zhou Tong studied the Immortal Burning Tome, naturally advanced from the Houtian realm to the Early Innate stage, and deepened his understanding of how Qi Refining related to Divine Demon Body Refining. He returned to Daoist Sanshou’s cave abode and entered the War God Hall to use his accumulated challenge chances, seeking another cultivation aid.

• Zhou Tong built a cabin around the Spirit Gathering Array on Winged Serpent Lake and found that it produced about one drop of Yuan Liquid per day.
• Zhou Tong studied the Immortal Burning Tome for seven days, naturally breaking through from Houtian to Innate as the gathered spiritual energy became Innate True Essence.
• Zhou Tong fully comprehended the cultivation method and recognized connections between the Qi Refining Path and the Divine Demon Body Refining path.
• Zhou Tong estimated that the array could help him reach Innate perfection in about a year, then returned to Daoist Sanshou’s cave abode.
• Zhou Tong asked the Yellow-haired Great Bear about his accumulated War God Hall challenges and explained that he wanted a Spirit Gathering Array.
• Zhou Tong entered the War God Hall despite the Yellow-haired Great Bear’s warning, and the bronze doors teleported him away.

Zhou Tong challenged the third layer of the War God Hall and overwhelmed its golden-armored guardian with a single blade strike. He drew a sword to practice his swordsmanship as the enraged guardian launched a desperate attack.

• Zhou Tong chose to challenge the third layer despite the Yellow-haired Great Bear warning that his chances were only thirty percent.
• Zhou Tong entered the tower and encountered a golden-armored man who mocked his Zifu Realm cultivation and demanded that he surrender.
• Zhou Tong cut through the guardian’s hammer and armor with a powerful blade strike, leaving him badly wounded.
• Zhou Tong told the guardian that he had used only half his power and explained that he wanted to practice swordsmanship and comprehend Sword Power.
• The golden-armored man roared and hurled his remaining hammer at Zhou Tong in a desperate attack.

Zhou Tong defeated the third-floor Divine Demon avatar with his sword and chose the Calamity Fire Divine Bow as his reward. On the fourth floor, he began learning archery and briefly awakened the embryonic form of Heart Power before the nine avatars overwhelmed his arrow and attacked him.

• Zhou Tong repelled the third-floor Divine Demon avatar with one strike and demonstrated both Blade Power and Sword Power, astonishing the Yellow-haired Great Bear.
• Zhou Tong chose the Calamity Fire Divine Bow instead of the Spirit Gathering Array formation diagram, explaining that he would seek a formation after clearing the fourth floor.
• Zhou Tong entered the fourth floor and faced nine golden-armored Divine Demon avatars.
• Zhou Tong fired a flaming arrow at one avatar, then realized that archery in this world relied on Heart Power.
• Zhou Tong focused his heart into his next arrow and briefly manifested the embryonic form of Heart Power, but the avatar shattered the arrow and the nine attackers surrounded him.
• Zhou Tong escaped the encirclement with an explosive burst of speed.

Zhou Tong discovered Heart Power while fighting the golden-armored men and rapidly learned to guide his arrows with it. He defeated all nine opponents, leaving the Yellow-haired Great Bear stunned by his extraordinary talent.

• Zhou Tong fired another arrow and made a slight midflight adjustment, causing the golden-armored man to recognize his Heart Power.
• Zhou Tong reflected on Heart Power as an extension of the heart and continued practicing his archery against the golden-armored men.
• Over a quarter of an hour, Zhou Tong's Heart Power grew rapidly, and he used it to fire an arrow that pierced a golden-armored man's hammer and killed him.
• Zhou Tong fired eight more arrows and killed the remaining golden-armored men, ending the trial.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear watched Zhou Tong's progress and wondered how someone only one month old could comprehend Heart Power so quickly.

After clearing the fourth level of the War God Hall, Zhou Tong’s Heart Power reached the third realm, Dominator, but he found himself unable to advance toward the fourth realm, Mortal Realm. He questioned whether someone with his immense strength and experience could ever again feel insignificant.

• Zhou Tong emerged from the War God Hall and continued converting his accumulated insights and Dao Hearts into Heart Power.
• His Heart Power reached its limit, and he recognized that he had entered the third realm, Dominator.
• Zhou Tong tested his new Heart Power and felt its oppressive force, then reflected on how it differed from divine sense.
• He concluded that advancing to the fourth realm, Mortal Realm, required a Dominator to retain a sense of weakness and insignificance.
• Zhou Tong doubted he could reach Mortal Realm because his strength and experience made it difficult to feel like a speck of dust.

Zhou Tong set up a terrestrial-grade Spirit Gathering Array at Winged Serpent Lake, then spent a year cultivating carefully and studying the techniques and treasures he had gathered. By the end of the year, he had completed the ninth level of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram and reached peak Xiantian, ready to establish his Zifu.

• Yellow-haired Great Bear gave Zhou Tong twelve formation flags, and Zhou Tong set them at Winged Serpent Lake's water-vein nodes to strengthen the Spirit Gathering Array.
• The strengthened formations filled the area with dense natural Yuan energy and greatly increased the production of Yuan Liquid.
• Zhou Tong entered secluded cultivation, carefully advancing his cultivation while studying his possessions and the Nine Scrolls of Formations.
• After observing Zhou Tong for several months, Yellow-haired Great Bear and Black Old Ox praised his cautious cultivation and strong foundation.
• Over the following year, Zhou Tong practiced his techniques, created new martial arts when inspiration struck, and consulted Daoist Sanshou's Dao traces.
• Zhou Tong completed the ninth level of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram and reached peak Xiantian, ready to establish his Zifu.

After a year of accumulating Yuan Liquid and improving his Spirit Gathering Array, Zhou Tong used it to break through the Innate realm and rapidly advance through the Zifu stages. He reached Zifu perfection and prepared to continue toward the Myriad Manifestations Realm.

• Zhou Tong reflected on a year of cultivation and drew on the more than two thousand jin of Yuan Liquid he had accumulated.
• Zhou Tong compressed his Innate True Essence, broke through into the Zifu realm, and gained insight into the Path of Fire Element during seven days of Dao enlightenment.
• Zhou Tong absorbed Yuan Liquid to expand the elemental-energy lake in his Zifu and form its central source of elemental energy.
• Zhou Tong rapidly advanced through the middle and late Zifu stages by continuing to refine Yuan Liquid.
• Zhou Tong reached Zifu perfection, with his elemental energy at its limit of quality and only its quantity needing to increase further.

Zhou Tong reached the absolute limit of the Zifu stage after refining six thousand jin of Yuan Liquid, exceeding the Immortal Burning Tome’s recorded limit. He began breaking through to the Myriad Manifestations Realm, while the Yellow-haired Great Bear noted that he would need to venture out because he lacked the next volume of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram.

• Zhou Tong chose to improve his Spirit Gathering Array before breaking through, and he successfully raised it to the Heaven rank.
• The Heaven-rank formation produced at least twenty jin of Yuan Liquid each day, and Zhou Tong spent half a year accumulating six thousand jin.
• Zhou Tong refined the Yuan Liquid, expanded his Lake of the Purple Mansion beyond the cultivation method’s limit, and finally reached the absolute limit of the Zifu stage.
• Zhou Tong began cultivating the Myriad Manifestations Realm method, causing his Zifu to tremble as his breakthrough began.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear and Black Old Ox remarked on Zhou Tong’s extraordinary progress, and the Yellow-haired Great Bear said he would need to explore because he lacked the second volume of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram.

Zhou Tong broke through to the Myriad Manifestations Realm, forming the phenomena of stars, a bright moon, and a rising sun within his Zifu. He then studied their celestial motion to clarify the tenth level of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram, leaving his understanding deepening as the Taiyin and Taiyang Divine Marks began to shine.

• Zhou Tong's Zifu Sea condensed Myriad Stars in the Sky, Sea Rises Bright Moon, and Morning Sun Rising in the East as he advanced to the Myriad Manifestations Realm.
• Zhou Tong condensed points of light from the remaining Zifu Sea, strengthening the sun, moon, and stars until the realm was complete.
• Zhou Tong used his third-realm Heart Power to observe the celestial bodies revolving and resonating with the true stars outside.
• Zhou Tong compared the celestial motion with the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram and began to understand its tenth level as a rehearsal for creating a divine body technique suited to his Phoenix identity.
• Zhou Tong's Taiyin Divine Mark and Taiyang Divine Mark glowed more brightly as the auras of Taiyin and the Sun Emperor seeped from his body.

Zhou Tong advanced his self-created Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram to the Myriad Manifestations Realm, drawing power from the Sun Star and Taiyin Star to transform his body. He discovered flaws in his technique and identified how adding the power of the stars might improve it, then decided to leave and seek the orthodox diagram.

• The Yellow-haired Great Bear and Black Old Ox realized Zhou Tong was advancing the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram without its second volume and suspected he had created a new level himself.
• Zhou Tong connected with the Sun Star and Taiyin Star, absorbed True Sun Fire and True Taiyin Water, and completed his breakthrough to the Myriad Manifestations Realm.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear and Black Old Ox saw that Zhou Tong's breakthrough was proceeding correctly and relaxed their concern.
• Zhou Tong examined his transformed body, found flaws in his self-created technique, and realized the diagram lacked stars to aid cultivation and breakthroughs.
• Zhou Tong decided to leave the immortal estate and search for the orthodox Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram.

After advancing to the Myriad Manifestations Realm, Zhou Tong prepared to leave Winged Serpent Lake to seek the second volume of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram. Before departing, he gave the Ji Clan control of his fortified island and offered to take Ji Ning as his disciple, which Ji Ning accepted.

• Zhou Tong chose the Five Elements Spirit Pearls from the Treasure Hall and planned to use them to advance his Star-Plucking Hand.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear advised Zhou Tong to find the second volume of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram and compare it with the cultivation art he had completed himself.
• Zhou Tong fortified the island and discovered that the Ji Clan had established a market beside Winged Serpent Lake.
• Zhou Tong told Ji Yichuan he was leaving to seek the next volume and offered to fulfill his remaining favors before he went.
• Zhou Tong gave Ji Yichuan a token controlling the fortified island and offered Ji Ning the chance to become his disciple.
• Ji Ning immediately accepted and paid respects to Zhou Tong as his master.

Ji Ning formally accepted Zhou Tong as his master, and Zhou Tong passed on the first level of the Star-Plucking Hand before leaving for Anchan City. Zhou Tong entered the vast city and began learning its layout and rules from the guidebook he received at the gate.

• Ji Ning knelt and accepted Zhou Tong as his master, and Zhou Tong transmitted the first level of the Star-Plucking Hand to him.
• Zhou Tong warned Ji Ning that he could cultivate the divine ability's foundation only after reaching the Zifu realm and should avoid using it unless necessary.
• Zhou Tong left Winged Serpent Lake and traveled toward Anchan City in the Great Xia World.
• Zhou Tong reached Anchan City's eastern gate, paid one jin of Thunder Gold, and received a guidebook.
• Zhou Tong read about Anchan City's districts, Marquis Anchan's Residence, and the rules governing killing in the city.

Zhou Tong studied the powers of Anchan Commandery and chose to seek entry into the Great Xia Dynasty’s Yinglong Guard rather than join a sect. After surveying the city, he reached its Crimson Dragon Mountain Range branch and was taken in by two guards.

• Zhou Tong read guides about Anchan Commandery’s sects and powers, including the Sky-Splitting Sword Sect and Black-White Academy.
• Zhou Tong decided the Yinglong Guard’s resources and scriptures suited him better than joining a sect.
• Zhou Tong spent several days exploring Anchan Commandery City before leaving for the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range.
• Two crimson-armored Zifu cultivators questioned Zhou Tong at the Yinglong Guard branch, and he said he had come to join.
• The two cultivators told Zhou Tong to follow them.

Zhou Tong settled on Guest-Welcoming Peak and cultivated the second revolution of the Star-Plucking Hand while waiting for the Yinglong Guard assessment. After two months, one hundred candidates gathered to depart for the trial at Prison Mountain Great Wilderness Swamp.

• A Purple Mansion Cultivator escorted Zhou Tong to Guest-Welcoming Peak and warned him to obey the rules while awaiting the Yinglong Guard assessment.
• Zhou Tong chose an empty stone house, absorbed the Five Elements Essence from the Five Elements Spirit Pearls, and completed the second revolution of the Star-Plucking Hand.
• Two months after Zhou Tong arrived, a thunderous voice summoned the candidates to Prison Mountain Great Wilderness Swamp.
• Zhou Tong saw that exactly one hundred candidates had gathered and silently assessed the Sword Immortal leading the group.
• The leader explained that successful candidates could enter the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range and might receive guidance from an Immortal.

Zhou Tong and the other candidates underwent the Yinglong Guard’s initial examination and were sent to Prison Mountain Great Wilderness Swamp. They had to survive there for three months and return with the head of a Myriad Manifestations Realm great demon.

• The candidates reported their names, origins, and strength under the bronze mirror, which revealed that Zhou Tong was an Innate Divine Demon less than two years old.
• The middle-aged sword-bearing man privately encouraged Zhou Tong to join the Yinglong Guard, and Zhou Tong acknowledged him.
• The candidates refined Trust Talismans, left their spirit beasts behind, and followed the man through Crimson Dragon Mountain Range to a teleportation formation.
• The man sent the candidates to Prison Mountain Great Wilderness Swamp and explained that they had to survive three months and bring back a Myriad Manifestations Realm great demon’s head.
• The guards warned the candidates not to return to the teleportation site, linger in one place, or approach shattered space, and told them to navigate by the stars.

Zhou Tong tested his self-refined Phoenix Dance Arrow by sniping a Primordial Spirit Realm great demon from beyond its divine sense. He killed the White Elephant Great Demon and took its head as his assessment token.

• Zhou Tong spotted a Primordial Spirit Realm great demon cultivating in a mountain and chose it as his target.
• Zhou Tong fired a Phoenix Dance Arrow from five hundred li away, and the demon sensed danger but could not locate him.
• The demon raised its Mystic Turtle Shield, but Zhou Tong's arrow pierced the shield and engulfed him in flames.
• The explosion destroyed the mountain peak and killed the White Elephant Great Demon, drawing the attention of nearby demons.
• Zhou Tong flew to the corpse, severed the demon's head, and took it for the assessment.

After killing the White Elephant Great Demon, Zhou Tong decided to improve his archery and pursue the path of a Divine Archer. When five great demons secretly followed him, he detected them and attacked with five arrows.

• The nearby great demons speculated that Zhou Tong’s bow and arrows were supreme treasures, and some considered killing him while others fled.
• Zhou Tong reflected on the arrow that killed the White Elephant Great Demon and recognized that his archery skills needed more training.
• Zhou Tong resolved to pursue becoming a Divine Archer while continuing toward his long-term goal of the Eternal Ultimate Fire Dao.
• Zhou Tong sensed five Primordial Spirit Realm great demons following him and fired five ordinary arrows at them.
• The five arrows struck the demons, setting off explosions and sweeping flames across the mountains.