Chapter Summaries

After Zhao Gongming killed True Lord Taiyi, Ye Chen stopped Yuanshi from retaliating directly and took charge of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. He sent Jiang Ziya to Xiqi and assigned Shen Gongbao a secret mission, while the Jie Sect prepared for Chan Sect reprisals.

• Jiang Ziya discovered that True Lord Taiyi’s name had appeared on the Investiture of the Gods, and the Chan Sect learned that Taiyi had died.
• The Chan Sect divined that Zhao Gongming had killed Taiyi, and Yuanshi raged at the Jie Sect disciple.
• Ye Chen warned Yuanshi that Saints must not interfere in the tribulation, then urged the Chan Sect to target Nezha instead.
• Yuanshi appointed Ye Chen to lead the tribulation, and Jiang Ziya left for Xiqi under Ye Chen’s instructions.
• Ye Chen promised Shen Gongbao a chance to become a personal disciple and secretly assigned him a mission at Chentang Pass.
• Tongtian and Hongyun worried that Yuanshi would retaliate, while Li Xinghe anticipated further deaths; Ji Chang decided to strike Xiqi’s enemies before they attacked him.

Jiang Ziya returned from Kunlun, divorced Lady Ma, and went to Xiqi to serve Ji Chang as military adviser. When an Azure Luan appeared at Mount Qi, Lu Xiaobu mistook it for a threat to his chosen foster father and killed it.

• Jiang Ziya returned to his ruined hometown, learned Song Yiren had cared for his parents' graves, and accepted his brother's help in rebuilding his house and arranging a marriage.
• Jiang Ziya divorced Lady Ma after she repeatedly berated him, then left for Xiqi, unaware that Di Xin had taken the Song family and Lady Ma to Chaoge.
• Li Xinghe arranged for Lady Ma to become pregnant with Jiang Ziya's son and had Wenzhong take one of Song Yiren's descendants as a disciple.
• Jiang Ziya joined Ji Chang in Xiqi, where they prepared for war, and an Azure Luan's appearance on Mount Qi signaled that the right timing had arrived.
• Lu Xiaobu saw Ji Chang and decided to make him his foster father, then cleaved the Azure Luan in two with his Fang Tian Hua Ji, believing it was attacking Ji Chang.

Lu Xiaobu killed the Azure Luan Divine Bird and became Ji Chang’s adopted son as Xiqi rebelled against Great Shang. While Di Xin appointed Wenzhong and Huang Feihu to suppress the revolt, Jiang Ziya began to suspect that the Snow Ferret was harming Ji Chang.

• Lu Xiaobu asked Ji Chang to adopt him, and Ji Chang welcomed him as his one hundred and first son.
• After news arrived that Di Xin had taken Su Daji as his consort, Ji Chang declared rebellion and swore an oath at Mount Qi.
• Di Xin appointed Wenzhong grand marshal and Huang Feihu vanguard to put down the revolt, while Su Hu and Chong Houhu sent troops against Xiqi.
• Jiang Ziya planned to unite the feudal lords, but Su Hu and Chong Houhu publicly denounced Ji Chang and defended Di Xin.
• Jiang Ziya noticed Ji Chang’s declining Fortune and suspected that the Snow Ferret was behind the change in him.

Jiang Ziya sent Lu Xiaobu to investigate Snow Ferret, but she seduced him and convinced him that Ji Chang had wronged her. Lu Xiaobu killed Ji Chang and escaped Xiqi with Snow Ferret, while Wenzhong discovered a new imperial star rising in the west.

• Jiang Ziya asked Lu Xiaobu to investigate Snow Ferret, and Lu Xiaobu recognized her as the woman his master had mentioned.
• Lu Xiaobu entered Ji Chang's harem, where Snow Ferret seduced him and claimed Ji Chang had kept her against her will.
• Ji Chang and Jiang Ziya returned and found Lu Xiaobu with Snow Ferret; when Ji Chang struck him, Lu Xiaobu killed Ji Chang with his Fang Tian Hua Ji.
• Lu Xiaobu escaped Xiqi with Snow Ferret, overwhelming the guards but sparing Jiang Ziya after sensing divine protection around him.
• Wenzhong saw Ji Chang's imperial star fall and a more powerful star rise in the west, then hurried to inform Di Xin.

After Ji Chang’s death threw Xiqi into a succession crisis, Jiang Ziya led its army against Su Hu and Chong Houhu while Li Xinghe let Wenzhong manage the Great Shang court. At Chentang Pass, Nezha’s attacks on sea creatures led the Dragon Clan to unleash a storm, setting up a confrontation with Li Jing’s household.

• Ji Fa blamed Di Xin for Ji Chang’s death, while Jiang Ziya struggled to choose between Bo Yikao and Ji Fa as Xiqi’s next ruler.
• Jiang Ziya took command of Xiqi’s army to face Su Hu and Chong Houhu as their forces reached the border.
• Li Xinghe left the court in Wenzhong’s hands, kept up his lecherous public image, and allowed the Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit and Jade Pipa Spirit into the palace.
• Zhao Gongming trained Nezha until he became an immortal, and Nezha began beating shrimp soldiers and crab generals who came ashore.
• Shen Gongbao secretly killed the sea creatures Nezha had beaten, prompting the Dragon Palace to suspect Chentang Pass.
• The Dragon King’s Third Prince brought a violent storm over Chentang Pass, and Li Jing and Yin Shiniang questioned why the evil dragon was flooding the town.

Nezha fought Ao Bing after the Third Prince of the Dragon King of the East Sea threatened Chentang Pass with a flood, then crippled him and pulled out his dragon sinews. Shen Gongbao killed Ao Bing and blamed Nezha, prompting Ao Guang to attack Chentang Pass, where Nezha used Zhao Gongming's Nine Dragon Fire-Casting Hood to protect the city.

• Nezha rushed out to stop Ao Bing from flooding Chentang Pass and fought him with his magical treasures.
• Nezha bound Ao Bing with the Chaos Tunic, crippled his magic power, and pulled out his dragon sinews after Ao Bing dismissed the drowned commoners.
• Shen Gongbao killed Ao Bing and stripped away his dragon skin, then left his corpse for the aquatic creatures to find.
• Ao Guang learned that Ao Bing had gone to Chentang Pass, confronted Li Jing, and demanded the murderer as he unleashed a storm over the city.
• Nezha admitted he had fought Ao Bing, and Ao Guang sent towering waves toward Chentang Pass.
• Nezha flew into the air and expanded Zhao Gongming's Nine Dragon Fire-Casting Hood to cover Chentang Pass.

Nezha used Zhao Gongming’s Nine Dragon Fire-Casting Hood to hold off Ao Guang, but the Four Seas Dragon Kings returned with a threat against Chentang Pass. As Nezha faced them, they revealed that they knew he was Zhao Gongming’s disciple.

• Nezha confronted Ao Guang with the Nine Dragon Fire-Casting Hood, and Ao Guang gave Li Jing three days to hand him over.
• Li Jing worried that the Dragon King would endanger Chentang Pass’s civilians, while Yin Shiniang sent a carrier pigeon to Chaoge for help.
• Di Xin recognized the Dragon Clan’s growing ties to the Heavenly Court, and Li Xinghe sent Zhao Gongming to Chentang Pass to investigate who was behind the conflict.
• Three days later, the Four Seas Dragon Kings arrived amid towering waves and demanded that Li Jing surrender Nezha or let the people of Chentang Pass die with Ao Bing.
• Nezha challenged the Dragon Kings, who demanded that he kill himself and revealed they had discovered he was Zhao Gongming’s disciple.

The Four Seas Dragon Kings tried to force Nezha to die for Ao Bing, but Zhao Gongming intervened and revealed that Nezha had not killed him. The chapter left Ao Bing facing reincarnation in the Animal Path while the Dragon Kings confronted Zhao Gongming.

• The Four Seas Dragon Kings used their dragon pearl and threatened to flood Chentang Pass, but Zhao Gongming secretly suppressed the seas and turned their rain back onto them.
• Zhao Gongming appeared before the Dragon Kings and defended his disciple Nezha, then summoned Ao Bing's ghost from the Netherworld.
• Ao Bing said Nezha had beaten him and pulled out his tendons, but explained that an unknown person had skinned and killed him after Nezha sent him back to the sea.
• The Dragon Kings refused to accept that Nezha was not Ao Bing's killer, and Zhao Gongming challenged them to say what they would do.
• Two ghost officials arrived to take Ao Bing back to the Netherworld and send him into the Animal Path, then urged Zhao Gongming to fight or let them finish their task.

Zhao Gongming stopped the Four Seas Dragon Kings from attacking Nezha and exposed Shen Gongbao as the one who had framed him and caused Ao Bing’s death. After the Dragon Kings left, Zhao Gongming kept Shen Gongbao in his custody and warned Li Jing to prepare to suppress the Marquis of Xibo’s rebellion.

• Chi You and Xing Tian frightened the Four Seas Dragon Kings into backing down, and Zhao Gongming challenged them to fight before they agreed to leave.
• Zhao Gongming dragged Shen Gongbao out of hiding and revealed that he was Yuanshi’s disciple and the one who had plotted against Nezha.
• Nezha tried to stab Shen Gongbao, but Zhao Gongming restrained him and promised to arrange Ao Bing’s reincarnation into a good family.
• The Four Seas Dragon Kings thanked Zhao Gongming and left, while Zhao Gongming refused to hand Shen Gongbao over to them.
• Zhao Gongming praised Li Jing for protecting Nezha and told him to prepare to suppress the Marquis of Xibo’s rebellion.

Li Xinghe exposed Ye Chen’s scheme to use Shen Gongbao against the Jie Sect and explained that Shen Gongbao was a destined figure in the Investiture War. He spared Shen Gongbao and offered him a path forward, leaving Shen newly convinced that Li Xinghe understood his mistreatment by Yuanshi.

• Zhao Gongming brought Shen Gongbao to Li Xinghe on Golden Tortoise Island.
• Li Xinghe revealed that Ye Chen had ordered Shen Gongbao to target Nezha, infiltrate the Jie Sect, and help Su Daji disrupt the Great Shang Dynasty.
• Shen Gongbao begged for mercy after realizing Li Xinghe knew Ye Chen’s entire plan.
• Li Xinghe explained that Ye Chen intended either to have him killed or to make his presence bring calamity upon the Jie Sect.
• Li Xinghe spared Shen Gongbao and said the Jie Sect’s doctrine gave him a path forward despite Yuanshi’s prejudice.

Li Xinghe arranged for Shen Gongbao to join the Western Teachings while Tongtian and Hongyun concealed his misfortune-tainted nature. The group arrived at Mount Sumeru, where Jieyin and Zhunti welcomed Li Xinghe in person.

• Li Xinghe told Shen Gongbao that neither the Chan Sect nor the Jie Sect could safely take him in and proposed sending him to the Western Teachings.
• Li Xinghe summoned Tongtian and Hongyun, who agreed Shen Gongbao could become Tongtian's disciple if he survived the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
• Li Xinghe planned for Shen Gongbao to join the Western Teachings, and Tongtian and Hongyun concealed his Leopard of Dispelling Calamities physique.
• Li Xinghe urged Shen Gongbao to help the Western Teachings grow and recruit oppressed Chan Sect disciples, while Shen Gongbao promised to protect the Jie Sect's interests.
• Li Xinghe brought Shen Gongbao to Mount Sumeru, where Jieyin and Zhunti personally welcomed him.

Li Xinghe brought Shen Gongbao to the Two Sages of the West and persuaded them to take him in, in exchange for their staying neutral toward the Jie Sect during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. Meanwhile, Jiang Ziya weakened Chong Houhu by persuading his brother to defect and attack the Marquis of the North’s territory.

• Li Xinghe offered Shen Gongbao to Jieyin and Zhunti, explaining that he was destined to play a role in the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
• Li Xinghe asked the Western Teachings not to ally with the Chan Sect, and Shen Gongbao promised to help it prosper and recruit disciples from the Chan Sect.
• Jieyin and Zhunti accepted Shen Gongbao and agreed not to become enemies of the Jie Sect; Li Xinghe then left after conveying Hongyun’s greetings.
• Jiang Ziya attacked nearby feudal powers rather than the Great Shang Dynasty’s main forces, while Chong Houhu fought to distance himself from Ji Chang.
• Jiang Ziya persuaded Chong Hei Hu to join Xiqi, and Chong Hei Hu raided the Marquis of the North’s territory while Chong Houhu was away.
• Chong Houhu rushed back to defend his territory as Jiang Ziya pursued him and steadily weakened his forces.

Zhang Kui killed Chong Hei Hu and rescued Chong Houhu, then prepared to confront Xiqi’s army. After learning Zhang Kui’s Earth Evasion Technique threatened Jiang Ziya’s forces, Ye Chen sent Julius Sun and Tu Xingsun to assist them.

• Chong Hei Hu seized Chong Houhu’s fief and tried to kill him, but Zhang Kui arrived and challenged him.
• Zhang Kui used Earth Evasion to appear behind Chong Hei Hu and behead him, allowing Chong Houhu to reclaim his fief.
• Zhang Kui told Chong Houhu to guard his territory while he took responsibility for fighting the Xiqi rebels.
• Ye Chen learned Zhang Kui had reached the front lines and sent Julius Sun to assist Jiang Ziya.
• Tu Xingsun volunteered to face Zhang Kui, but Ye Chen warned that Zhang Kui’s Earth Evasion was faster than his.
• Julius Sun agreed to descend the mountain after Ye Chen urged him to act quickly.

Shen Gongbao intercepted Julius Sun and warned him that Ye Chen was using the Chan Sect disciples as expendable pieces, while tempting him with a place in the Western Teachings. After Julius Sun continued toward Xiqi, Zhang Kui infiltrated the camp and killed Jiang Ziya, leaving the battle poised to shift.

• Shen Gongbao told Julius Sun that he had joined the Western Teachings after Ye Chen made him cannon fodder, and claimed the Chan Sect could face disaster if its disciples entered the war.
• Shen Gongbao suggested Ye Chen might benefit from the Twelve Golden Immortals’ deaths and offered Julius Sun a reserved Buddha position if he joined the Western Teachings.
• Julius Sun warned Tu Xingsun to keep the conversation secret, then continued toward Xiqi.
• Zhang Kui used his earth-traveling technique to enter Xiqi’s camp and find Jiang Ziya’s tent.
• Jiang Ziya tried to flee and invoked Saint Yuanshi, but Zhang Kui bound him and killed him with one sword stroke.
• Zhang Kui shouted that Jiang Ziya was dead, prompting the Great Shang Dynasty’s forces to prepare to attack.

After Zhang Kui wiped out Xiqi’s army and killed Jiang Ziya, Julius Sun brought Jiang Ziya’s body and soul to Kunlun Mountain, where Yuanshi Tianzun revived him and gave him Si Bu Xiang as a mount. Yuanshi reprimanded Julius Sun for arriving late and ordered him and Jiang Ziya back to Xiqi, while Julius Sun began to suspect Ye Chen.

• Zhang Kui’s forces routed Xiqi’s army, and Julius Sun collected Jiang Ziya’s body and soul before returning to Kunlun Mountain.
• Yuanshi Tianzun revived Jiang Ziya and bestowed Si Bu Xiang on him, though Si Bu Xiang resented being assigned to carry a mortal.
• Yuanshi Tianzun reprimanded Julius Sun for delaying the battle and ordered Jiang Ziya to return to Xiqi.
• Ye Chen scolded Julius Sun and ordered him back to Xiqi, prompting Julius Sun to grow resentful and question Ye Chen’s motives.
• The Two Sages of the West were revealed to have secretly influenced Shen Gongbao and delayed Julius Sun.

After Jiang Ziya returned from the dead, his forces challenged Wenzhong’s army, and Tu Xingsun was killed by Zhang Kui. Julius Sun moved to avenge his disciple, but Bi Xiao arrived to block him and protect Wenzhong’s side.

• Wenzhong stopped Zhang Kui and Su Hu from advancing on Xiqi, wary because Jiang Ziya’s body had not been found.
• Jiang Ziya appeared at the enemy camp with Tu Xingsun, who challenged Zhang Kui and fought him underground.
• Zhang Kui emerged with Tu Xingsun’s severed head, and Tu Xingsun’s primordial spirit entered the Investiture of the Gods.
• Julius Sun revealed himself as Tu Xingsun’s master and seized Zhang Kui, but Wenzhong warned that killing him would draw Julius Sun into the tribulation.
• Julius Sun prepared to kill Zhang Kui, but Bi Xiao descended and blocked him, prompting Wenzhong to greet her as his Uncle-Master.

Fairy Bi Xiao rescued Zhang Kui from Julius Sun and pursued Julius Sun toward Kunlun Mountain, while Si Bu Xiang moved the armies away and gave Jiang Ziya a chance to advance. Daoist Hua Bei appeared to protect Julius Sun, as Bi Xiao continued the fight according to Li Xinghe’s secret plan.

• Fairy Bi Xiao freed Zhang Kui and cut Julius Sun’s Immortal Binding Rope with the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors.
• Julius Sun fled from Bi Xiao, while Zhang Kui and Wenzhong attacked Jiang Ziya’s forces.
• Si Bu Xiang transported Jiang Ziya and both armies several hundred li away, and Jiang Ziya ordered his troops to seize nearby cities.
• Bi Xiao pursued Julius Sun toward Kunlun Mountain and wounded his Daoist robe with her scissors.
• Daoist Hua Bei blocked Bi Xiao and asked her to spare Julius Sun, but Bi Xiao continued attacking as part of Li Xinghe’s arrangement.

Jieyin persuaded Julius Sun to abandon the Chan Sect and join the Western Teachings after saving him from Bi Xiao. Meanwhile, Jiang Ziya advanced toward Sishui Pass as Xiqi's succession struggle deepened, and Kunpeng arrived to support Bo Yikao against the Chan Sect.

• Jieyin revealed his identity to Julius Sun and convinced him to join the Western Teachings by promising protection from Yuanshi Tianzun.
• Jiang Ziya led his soldiers through several cities and stopped before Sishui Pass, wary of its defending general and concerned about Xiqi's unstable rear.
• Bo Yikao resisted yielding his claim to Ji Fa as their supporters clashed over who would inherit Ji Chang's position.
• Old Ancestor Kunpeng arrived at Bo Yikao's residence and offered to help him oppose Jiang Ziya and the Chan Sect.

After Ji Fa declared Zhou and led its army to Sishui Pass, Jiang Ziya received reinforcements from Kunlun while Ye Chen worried over Julius Sun’s disappearance. Huang Tianhua challenged Yu Hua at the pass, but their fight was interrupted by the arrival of Huang Feihu.

• Ji Fa declared the state of Zhou, proclaimed himself King Wu, and appointed Jiang Ziya Chancellor and Grand Marshal, while Bo Yikao left Xiqi for Qinzhou with Kunpeng’s support.
• Jiang Ziya led the Xiqi army to Sishui Pass and requested help from Kunlun; Ye Chen sent disciples of the Twelve Golden Immortals to answer the tribulation.
• Ye Chen could not divine Julius Sun’s whereabouts and did not know that Julius Sun had become Julius Sun Buddha of the Western Teachings and joined Bo Yikao and Kunpeng.
• Lei Zhenzi nearly fell to Yu Hua’s Blood-Transforming Divine Blade, then Yang Jian, Jin Zha, Mu Zha, and Huang Tianhua arrived to reinforce Jiang Ziya.
• Huang Tianhua challenged Yu Hua and struck him with his Heart-Piercing Nail, but an imposing voice ordered Huang Tianhua to stop.

Huang Feihu arrived at Sishui Pass, confronted his rebellious son Huang Tianhua, and took charge of the city’s defense. After One Qi Immortal Yu Yuan healed Yu Hua, he faced Huang Tianhua outside the pass and wagered that he could withstand three attacks, leaving the contest about to begin.

• Huang Feihu arrived at Sishui Pass and berated Huang Tianhua for joining the rebellion, while Huang Tianhua withdrew rather than attack his father.
• Huang Feihu’s forces brought the critically wounded Yu Hua into the pass, and Wenzhong sent for One Qi Immortal Yu Yuan to save him.
• Yu Yuan arrived with permission from Li Xinghe and healed Yu Hua with a spiritual pill.
• Yu Yuan went outside the pass to confront Huang Tianhua, who had challenged the city again.
• Yu Yuan wagered that Huang Tianhua could strike him three times without killing him, and Huang Tianhua accepted despite Jiang Ziya’s warning about Yu Yuan’s Diamond-Indestructible Body.