Chapter Summaries

Zhou Tong searched the memories of five great demons and discovered the location of a damaged Immortal Estate left behind by a Celestial Immortal. He entered the hidden spatial fragment and set off toward its central Volcano.

• Zhou Tong searched the first four great demons’ Primordial Spirits, found only weak techniques and a defensive divine ability, and killed them.
• Distant demons and cultivators feared Zhou Tong’s overwhelming attacks and avoided the blazing area.
• Zhou Tong learned from the final great demon that a hidden Immortal Estate lay within a spatial fragment, and he headed there in secret.
• Zhou Tong found a concealed entrance beneath a lake, activated its restriction, and entered the spatial fragment.
• Zhou Tong recognized the fragment as a scorching volcanic region and hurried toward the central Volcano where the Immortal Estate was believed to be.

Zhou Tong entered a damaged immortal estate and studied its gate formation, gaining new insight into formations before opening it. Inside, he defeated thirteen powerful guardian puppets with his Phoenix Dance Arrow, leaving their bodies available for examination.

• Zhou Tong studied the Divine Patterns on the palace gate and used his understanding of the Nine Scrolls of Formations to open it without force.
• Zhou Tong entered a white-jade plaza and discovered thirteen statues that transformed into giant guardian puppets.
• The puppets warned Zhou Tong that trespassers without the master's token would die, and he shot the first puppet with a Phoenix Dance Arrow.
• Zhou Tong examined the damaged puppet and inferred that the guardians had bodies comparable to Primordial Spirit Realm divine fiends.
• The twelve remaining puppets charged Zhou Tong, who fired thirteen arrows at different body parts and brought down all thirteen guardians.

Zhou Tong searched the immortal estate’s halls, finding most of them stripped of treasures or badly damaged, before discovering a trove of cultivation inheritances in the Scripture Hall. He collected the jade slips and found the second volume of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram.

• Zhou Tong collected the wreckage of the puppets and entered the Fire Refining Hall, where he found a Jade Cauldron sealing a spark of True Sun Fire.
• Zhou Tong found the Treasure Hall empty of magic treasures but collected its racks, which were made of valuable Netherworld Water-Fire Wood.
• Zhou Tong searched the ruined Spirit Grass Hall and found only a few ordinary medicinal herbs, then passed through the damaged Cultivation Hall and empty Spirit Beast Hall.
• Zhou Tong entered the Scripture Hall and found shelves filled with inheritance jade slips, including cultivation methods and body-refining techniques.
• Zhou Tong collected the jade slips and discovered the second volume of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram.

Zhou Tong collected cultivation manuals and other treasures from the immortal estate, then studied the second volume of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram. He corrected flaws in his cultivation and left open whether he would join the Yinglong Inner Guard.

• Zhou Tong found the second and third volumes of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram but discovered that the estate held no fourth volume.
• Zhou Tong gathered sword arts, divine abilities, and reference books on materials and treasures before taking everything else he could from the immortal estate.
• Zhou Tong weighed the benefits of joining the Yinglong Inner Guard against the restrictions of its loyalty oath and decided to learn its rules before choosing.
• Zhou Tong compared the orthodox second volume with his own deductions and identified errors in his Taiyin and Taiyang Divine Marks and his method of drawing power from the stars.
• Zhou Tong began correcting his Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram, drawing on the yin and yang forces between heaven and earth to perfect his divine body.

After three months of cultivation, Zhou Tong returned to the Yinglong Guard assessment and revealed that he had killed a Primordial Spirit Realm great demon. He passed and learned that becoming an Inner Guard required a Heavenly Dao Oath, then boarded the ship with the other successful candidates.

• Zhou Tong completed his improvements to his divine body and returned to the Yinglong Guard camp after three months of cultivation.
• Other cultivators mocked Zhou Tong for seeming to avoid battle, while witnesses said they had seen him enter a Primordial Spirit Realm great demon’s territory.
• Thirty-three survivors returned to the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range, and the Yinglong Guard ordered them to present the heads of Myriad Manifestations Realm great demons they had killed.
• A cold Earth Immortal inspected the heads and revealed that Zhou Tong, despite being in the Myriad Manifestations Realm, had killed a Primordial Spirit Realm great demon.
• The Earth Immortal passed thirteen candidates, led them onto her ship, and gave them books explaining the Yinglong Guard’s rules.
• Zhou Tong read that Inner Guards had to swear a Heavenly Dao Oath and remain loyal to Great Xia until reaching the Heavenly Deity or Pure Yang True Immortal realm.

Zhou Tong explored the Dao Scripture Palace and assessed the Great Xia Dynasty’s cultivation techniques and divine abilities. He chose to join the Yinglong Inner Guard, and two others joined him before the woman led them to register.

• The icy woman brought Zhou Tong and the others to the Dao Scripture Palace and forbade spirit beasts from entering.
• Zhou Tong examined the palace’s manuals and divine abilities, noting that the Candle Dragon’s Eye required ten million merit points and was only half complete.
• The woman invited the group to join the Yinglong Inner Guard, and Zhou Tong immediately agreed.
• A fat man and a third person also volunteered, leaving three people willing to join.
• The woman explained the land and protection offered to members’ families, then led the three recruits to register.

Zhou Tong, Xuan Kong, and Ao Yu swore Heavenly Dao Oaths to join the Yinglong Inner Guard and received five benefits, including access to discounted cultivation methods and divine abilities. They were given a year to settle their affairs before reporting to the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range, and Zhou Tong headed to the Dao Scripture Palace to choose a divine ability.

• Zhou Tong, Xuan Kong, and Ao Yu swore the required Heavenly Dao Oath, binding them to serve the Great Xia Dynasty until they became Heavenly Deities or Pure Yang True Immortals.
• The woman welcomed them into the Yinglong Inner Guard, gave them tokens and crimson armor, and granted them one year to settle their affairs before reporting to the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range.
• The woman explained their five benefits: discounted access to a cultivation method, an Earth-tier Dharma Treasure, an estate with a Spirit Gathering Array, a yearly chance to question an Immortal, and protected land for their families.
• Xuan Kong left to handle family matters, while Zhou Tong told Ao Yu he would look for a divine ability and went to the Dao Scripture Palace.

Zhou Tong obtained the Chaos Divine Arrow inheritance at the Dao Scripture Palace and learned how its rare, powerful arrows were refined. He left understanding that the divine ability’s strength depended on his divine power and how many arrows he accumulated.

• Zhou Tong used his token to obtain the Chaos Divine Arrow jade slip and brought it to the rear hall.
• The short, stout elder recognized Zhou Tong’s cultivation and approved of his choice, then led him to the unlocked jade slip.
• Zhou Tong absorbed the full inheritance in moments, surprising the short, stout elder with his powerful divine soul.
• Zhou Tong learned that the Chaos Divine Arrow could deliver overwhelming attacks but required great effort to refine and preserve each arrow.
• Zhou Tong understood that an arrow’s power depended on the strength of its seal, which was determined by his divine power.

Zhou Tong claimed a treasure bow and settled into his Yinglong Inner Guard residence, where he studied Chaos Divine Arrow. By quickly understanding the Chaos Heavenly Dao, he learned to forge Chaos Divine Arrows far faster than ordinary cultivators.

• The short, stout old man advised Zhou Tong to choose a bow suited to Chaos Divine Arrow, and Zhou Tong selected the attribute-less Cosmos bow at the Myriad Treasures Hall.
• Zhou Tong placed his residence on a designated Yinglong Guard peak and learned that Inner Guard missions could be frequent, though members could apply for leave after five consecutive missions.
• Zhou Tong began studying Chaos Divine Arrow during his year of free time and combined yin and yang qi to produce a wisp of Chaos Qi.
• Zhou Tong recognized the Chaos Heavenly Dao and formed a Chaos Divine Mark into an arrow, preserving the Chaos Qi within it.
• Zhou Tong realized he could forge one Chaos Divine Arrow per day, far faster than ordinary divine demons.

Zhou Tong refined Chaos Divine Arrows, then collected and studied thousands of basic cultivation techniques to build a clearer understanding of the Three Realms’ cultivation system. After a year of study, his comprehension of many paths had deepened, and his aura changed as he considered different techniques.

• Zhou Tong refined a Chaos Divine Arrow and concluded that he should create a new divine ability through the Path of Fire Element rather than improve the arrow.
• Zhou Tong spent half a month comprehending the Chaos Heavenly Dao and accumulated thirty-six Chaos Divine Arrows.
• Zhou Tong copied more than ten thousand basic techniques from the Dao Scripture Palace, prompting the short, stout old man to worry that he was neglecting the path of the archer.
• Zhou Tong studied the techniques alongside manuals from the Heavenly Immortal Cave Mansion, correcting his understanding of the world’s Daos.
• Zhou Tong spent a year studying without cultivating the techniques, while his Sword Power, Blade Power, and other auras grew as he comprehended different paths.

After a year of studying the Yinglong Guard’s cultivation methods, Zhou Tong advanced his Blade Power and Sword Power to the Blazing Sun Realm and discovered he had also comprehended Arrow Power. He began a breakthrough into the Primordial Spirit Realm, with the Sun Star and Taiyin Star sending down their power to reforge his body.

• Zhou Tong practiced saber and sword techniques without magic or divine power, wielding both weapons in harmony despite their conflicting Daos.
• After a year of studying basic cultivation methods, Zhou Tong’s Blade Power and Sword Power reached the Blazing Sun Realm.
• Zhou Tong discovered he possessed Arrow Power and wondered whether the Three Realms’ archers had overlooked it by relying on Chaos Dao Fruits and Heart Power.
• Zhou Tong resolved to learn more about the world’s cultivation path and begin taking Yinglong Inner Guard missions.
• Zhou Tong began breaking through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, drawing True Sun Fire and True Taiyin Water to reforge his divine body.

Zhou Tong advanced to the Primordial Spirit Realm through the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram, drawing the attention of the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range and the Great Xia Yinglong Guard. After revealing his Phoenix true body and demonstrating Myriad Transformations, he expected the Great Xia authorities to take notice and left his next opportunity in their hands.

• Zhou Tong's breakthrough summoned True Sun Fire and True Taiyin Water, prompting cultivators across the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range to recognize his advance through the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram.
• Immortal Gu Yue identified Zhou Tong as an Innate Divine Demon and reported his talent to the Yinglong Guard headquarters.
• Zhou Tong completed his breakthrough and transformed into a Phoenix, astonishing those who witnessed his true body.
• Zhou Tong used Myriad Transformations to turn his feathers into little Phoenixes that became fire and returned to him.
• Zhou Tong reflected that his breakthrough would likely draw the Great Xia Emperor's attention, which he had hoped to gain by joining the Yinglong Guard.

After reporting back to the Yinglong Guard, Zhou Tong cultivated and blood-forged his Calamity Fire Divine Bow with the characters “fire” and “slaughter.” When his Yinglong Guard token lit up, he prepared to take on a mission.

• Zhou Tong reflected on his slower cultivation progress and resumed training after returning to the Yinglong Guard.
• Zhou Tong decided to blood-forge the Calamity Fire Divine Bow as a weapon that could grow with him.
• Zhou Tong designed a ritual that invoked the divine demon characters “fire” and “slaughter.”
• Zhou Tong completed the ritual, strengthening the bow and forming a strange connection between it and himself.
• Zhou Tong resumed cultivating, then opened his eyes when his Yinglong Guard token lit up.

Zhou Tong received his first Yinglong Inner Guard mission: track down and kill a four-feather Five-Colored Peacock that had devoured the 750,000 residents of Thousand Star City. He arrived at the Mountain Sea Great Marsh and began searching, with one year to complete the mission.

• An Earth Immortal assigned Zhou Tong to find and kill the Five-Colored Peacock that had fled into the Mountain Sea Great Marsh after destroying Thousand Star City.
• Zhou Tong accepted the mission and read that the peacock had four elemental tail feathers and had devoured 750,000 people.
• Zhou Tong traveled to the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range teleportation array and showed his mission jade slip to the guards.
• Zhou Tong teleported to the Mountain Sea Great Marsh and found a vast inland sea filled with islands and deep waters that made the peacock difficult to locate.
• Zhou Tong flew out from the Yinglong Guard base to search the marsh, knowing he had one year before the mission would be considered a failure.

Zhou Tong used the Heaven Collapse Secret Method to kill the demons ruling a city of enslaved mortals and gave several meritorious people knowledge of arrays and cultivation. After finding that saving people and killing sinful cultivators only slightly increased his merit, he continued searching the Mountain Sea Great Marsh for the peacock.

• Zhou Tong used his Heavenly Eye to locate places of tainted qi and attacked an island, revealing a city where demons enslaved mortals.
• Zhou Tong suppressed the city with the Heaven Collapse Secret Method, killing the snake-demon city lord and the other demons according to their strength.
• Zhou Tong told the freed slaves to repair the island's protective array and gave several people surrounded by Pure Qi information about arrays and cultivation.
• Zhou Tong inspected his merit and wondered whether the people he saved might later commit evil, then resumed searching for the peacock.

After three months searching the Mountain Sea Great Marsh without finding the peacock, Zhou Tong stopped to cultivate with the Yuan Liquid he had plundered. He advanced through the Myriad Manifestations Realm and broke through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, where he formed a Turtle-Snake Primordial Spirit.

• Zhou Tong abandoned his search for the hidden peacock and settled in a fortified cave on an uninhabited island.
• Zhou Tong refined Yuan Liquid to advance from the early stage of Myriad Manifestations to its middle stage and then to perfection.
• Zhou Tong used his remaining Yuan Liquid to trigger his breakthrough into the Primordial Spirit Realm.
• Zhou Tong formed a Turtle-Snake Primordial Spirit as the sun, moon, and stars in his Zifu space converged into a turtle-snake.

Zhou Tong formed a Turtle-Snake Primordial Spirit, advanced his Qi Refiner cultivation, and searched the Mountain Sea Great Marsh for Peacock. After nine months, he discovered Peacock amid a massive breakthrough disturbance and realized he had completed his Five Elements feathers by devouring people from Thousand Star City.

• Zhou Tong formed his Turtle-Snake Primordial Spirit, whose Yuan Fire and nurturing effect strengthened his soul as he reached the early Primordial Spirit Realm.
• Zhou Tong decided to cultivate the Qi Refiner path only to the peak of the Primordial Spirit Realm before focusing on Divine Demon Body Refining.
• Zhou Tong searched the Mountain Sea Great Marsh for Peacock while cultivating and advanced the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram to its fourteenth level.
• After nine months without finding Peacock, Zhou Tong sensed a vast elemental disturbance and saw a heavily sinful great demon preparing to break through to the Void Returning Realm.
• Zhou Tong recognized the breakthrough cultivator as Peacock and realized he had devoured people from Thousand Star City to gain his fifth, water-element feather and complete the Five Elements.

Peacock broke through to the Void Returning Earth Immortal realm and perfected his Five-Colored Divine Light, then Zhou Tong killed him with a flaming arrow infused with Arrow Power and Heart Power. Zhou Tong confirmed that his mission was complete.

• Peacock cultivated in a Water Mansion and broke through to the Void Returning Earth Immortal realm, evolving his divine beast bloodline.
• Peacock celebrated his perfected Five-Colored Divine Light and declared that he was ready to fight powerful opponents.
• Zhou Tong fired a flaming arrow at Peacock from ten thousand miles away.
• Peacock attacked with his Five-Colored Divine Light, but the arrow's pitch-black Arrow Power pierced through it.
• Zhou Tong's arrow pierced Peacock's head and struck his soul with third-level Dominator Realm Heart Power, killing him.
• Zhou Tong lowered his Calamity Fire Divine Bow and announced that his mission was complete.

Zhou Tong absorbed the Five Elements Essence from a peacock’s divine feathers to cultivate the third transformation of the Star-Plucking Hand, then returned to the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range and reported his mission. After receiving his merit, he spent it on thousands of secret arts and divine abilities to broaden his understanding of the Cultivation System.

• Zhou Tong absorbed most of the Five Elements Essence from the peacock’s Five-Colored Divine Feathers and completed the third transformation of the Star-Plucking Hand.
• Zhou Tong returned through the Yinglong Guard’s transmission formation to the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range with the peacock’s corpse.
• Zhou Tong reported his completed mission, and the inspecting Earth Immortal was shocked that he had killed a Void Returning Realm Five Elements peacock in one strike.
• Zhou Tong received twenty thousand merit points for the mission and left the Military Affairs Hall.
• Zhou Tong spent all his merit points at the Dao Scripture Palace on more than three thousand secret arts and divine abilities.

After two years of missions and studying secret arts, Zhou Tong became the strongest Yinglong Guard in Anchan Commandery and returned to Winged Serpent Lake. There, he saw Ji Ning break through to the Xiantian stage with the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram and headed to Star Picking Manor to make a breakthrough of his own.

• Zhou Tong accumulated more than three million merit and became the top Yinglong Guard in Anchan Commandery, reaching the fifteenth level of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram.
• Immortal Gu Yue told Zhou Tong that Yinglong Guard headquarters planned to recruit him for special training, but Zhou Tong said he could reach the Void Return Realm within a month.
• Zhou Tong left the Crimson Dragon Mountain Range and flew in his Phoenix True Body to Winged Serpent Lake.
• Zhou Tong saw Ji Ning breaking through to the Xiantian stage with the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram while Ji Yichuan and his wife watched.
• Zhou Tong returned to Star Picking Manor, where the Black Old Ox and Yellow-haired Great Bear noticed his Divine Demon Body Refining cultivation had reached the Primordial Spirit Realm.