Recaps

Chen Shi and Li Tianqing cleansed Qingzhou of the Wan family’s wealth and corrupt officials before parting ways, with Li Tianqing joining Heavenly Court. Chen Shi returned to Huangpo Village for New Year’s Eve, where a neighbor’s family welcomed him to dinner, though he still missed his own family.

• Li Tianqing woke in Wan Manor and helped Chen Shi burn the Wan family’s land deeds while they cooked a goose over the fire.
• Chen Shi and Li Tianqing took turns impersonating the Red Horse Bandit, killing corrupt officials and evil spirits and distributing the Wan family’s treasure to Qingzhou’s commoners.
• Chen Shi told Li Tianqing that future officials might exploit the people again, but the Red Horse Bandit’s intervention would make them fear going too far; Li Tianqing joined Heavenly Court as Scholar.
• Chen Shi gave Li Tianqing the God of Wealth Temple and advised him to take his mother and Li Jindou somewhere safe, while Chen Shi set off for Xijing to pursue the top scholar title.
• Chen Shi returned to Huangpo Village with food and firecrackers, but found his grandfather absent and spent New Year’s Eve dinner with Yuzhu’s family.
• After dinner, Chen Shi returned home and lay awake missing his family.

Chen Shi celebrated the new year with village elders and mountain spirits, then prepared for the journey to Xijing and recruited Fu Leisheng into the Heavenly Court. The chapter ended with Chen Shi refusing help from Chen Tang’s envoy and quietly looking at a family portrait of the relatives he had never met.

• Chen Shi visited Granny Sha, Granny Zhuang, Xuan Shan, Green Goat, and the Hu family to offer new year greetings, and Xuan Shan joined the occupants of his little temple to cultivate.
• Chen Shi decided to leave for Xijing after the fifteenth day of the first month and take the Little King of Hell with him.
• Fu Leisheng warned Chen Shi that provincial scholars faced deadly dangers on the road to Xijing, accepted three cultivation methods, and joined the Heavenly Court as Mister.
• Sun Yisheng arrived from Xijing under Chen Tang’s orders to escort Chen Shi, but Chen Shi refused his concern and sent him away.
• Chen Shi took out Grandpa’s family portrait and looked at Chen Tang and his mother, whom he had never met.

The Li Family learned that Li Tianqing and Chen Shi had disrupted Qingzhou and moved to capture Li Tianqing’s family while its ancestors considered how to deal with Chen Shi. Preparing to travel to Xijing, Chen Shi visited the True King's Tomb to memorize its cultivation methods, then entered its dangerous passageway and encountered a surviving Talisman God Heavenly Mechanism who mistook him for Chen Tang.

• A Li Family emissary reported the Qingzhou upheaval, prompting Li Xiaozai to order Li Tianqing’s parents and grandfather detained and consult the four living patriarchs.
• Ancestor Li Yiran ordered the Li Family to find Li Tianqing, take back his cultivation art, and hand him over, while the patriarchs resolved to assess Created Being Xiao Wu before deciding Chen Shi’s fate.
• Chen Shi agreed to travel to Xijing with Sun Siyheng and told Black Pot that he wanted to see Chen Tang despite regarding him as a stranger.
• Chen Shi offered incense to the True King's Tomb’s guardians, memorized the stele methods, and followed a tomb-guarding beast inside using the West King's Jade Seal.
• The tomb-guarding beast explained that Chen Tang had fought through the passageway and that the fallen bodies were Talisman God Heavenly Mechanisms; one surviving being recognized Chen Shi as Chen Tang, and Chen Shi stopped the guardian from killing it.

Chen Shi solved the Ten Absolute Array guarding the True King's Tomb scripture repository, memorized the Xiao Lang Emperor Chapter Art, and suffered injuries to his mind, spirit, and Nascent Soul. After recovering at Mirror Lake Villa, he set out with Sun Yisheng and received Granny Sha’s Ram Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp to heal his Nascent Soul.

• Chen Shi recognized the scripture repository’s doorway as a Ten Absolute Tribulation Array, studied its changes, and opened it with the Ten Absolute Spirit Banner Talisman.
• Inside the repository, Chen Shi collapsed repeatedly while reading immortal scriptures, but memorized the Xiao Lang Emperor Chapter Art before leaving with his mind, spirit, and Nascent Soul injured.
• Chen Shi took the self-repairing talisman god Tianji out of the tomb with help from the ram-horn human-bodied tomb guardian, and Black Pot carried both of them to Mirror Lake Villa.
• On the sixteenth, Chen Shi met Sun Yisheng at Huangpo Village and revealed that his Nascent Soul was injured and nearing completion in size.
• At Gangzi Village, Granny Sha gave Chen Shi the Ram Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp, and his Nascent Soul entered its flame to begin healing.

Chen Shi traveled toward Xijing with Sun Yisheng, Hu Feifei, and Nannan, while learning that his journey could be dangerous. At a posthouse, the Talisman God Heavenly Mechanism awakened and attacked, leaving Sun Yisheng badly injured before Chen Shi contained it; Sun Yisheng then revealed his connection to Chen Tang and Chen Tang’s position in Xijing.

• Granny Sha, Xuanshan, and Granny Zhuang declined to accompany Chen Shi to Xijing, so he set out with Sun Yisheng.
• Sun Yisheng saw through Hu Feifei’s disguise and warned her that demon cultivators could not take the imperial examinations, but Chen Shi let her and Nannan join the journey.
• At a posthouse, Chen Shi overheard Chen Tang warn Sun Yisheng that powerful enemies might attack them on the road to Xijing.
• The Talisman God Heavenly Mechanism absorbed moonlight, awakened, and attacked Chen Shi, but Sun Yisheng intercepted its blast and was severely injured.
• Chen Shi covered the Talisman God Heavenly Mechanism with the imperial canopy and moved it into the small temple, where he asked Empress Shi Ji to watch over it.
• Chen Shi treated Sun Yisheng’s hands and learned that Sun Yisheng had reached the peak of the Void Refining Realm and that Chen Tang served as a Vice Minister in Xijing.

Chen Shi traveled toward Xijing for the imperial examinations with the injured Sun Yisheng, meeting noble Juren who looked down on poor scholars along the way. After defending his humble origins, Chen Shi declared that he would become the top champion scholar.

• Sun Yisheng mortgaged his carriage to pay for the posthouse damage, dismissed the Imperial Guards, and continued escorting Chen Shi despite their lack of money and his injuries.
• Chen Shi, Sun Yisheng, Hu Feifei, Nannan, and Black Pot traveled in a wooden cart, where Black Pot used its savings to furnish a tiny courtyard carved by Chen Shi.
• Sun Yisheng explained that scholars braved the dangerous road to Xijing because the examinations could change their fortunes, and Chen Shi watched groups of poor candidates traveling on foot.
• In Wind City, Chen Shi sold talismans to replenish their funds, then joined a group of Juren heading west, including Zhou Qianying and Wang Ping.
• Chen Shi stopped to help a poor scholar collect his scattered belongings, but Zhou Qianying and the other noble Juren criticized him for lowering his status.
• Chen Shi declared that his family were mud-legged peasants and vowed to become the top champion scholar.

Chen Shi encountered Ma Zongzhou, who claimed the young master was destined to become top scholar and accused Chen Shi of crimes against the Ma family. Chen Shi beat Ma Zongzhou nearly unconscious and left with Sun Yisheng, asking him to hide the incident from Chen Tang.

• Zhou Qianying discussed the Chen family's prospects, but Ma Zongzhou arrived and said Chen Shi could never become top scholar because the young master would take the honor.
• Ma Zongzhou accused Chen Shi of impersonating a Red Horse Bandit, stealing Ma family elixirs, and destroying a wealthy Qingzhou family.
• Ma Zongzhou's Yellow Turban Strongman attacked Sun Yisheng, while Ma Zongzhou demanded that Chen Shi return the elixirs.
• Chen Shi broke three of Ma Zongzhou's ribs, knocked him down, and beat him unconscious after Ma Zongzhou fought back.
• Chen Shi and Sun Yisheng left in the wooden cart, and Chen Shi asked Sun Yisheng not to tell Chen Tang what had happened.

Chen Shi’s party continued across the Western Ox Continent, where Sun Yisheng was injured in a clash between giant xie and healed by Heiguo in the Underworld. In Xijing, Li Yiran confronted Created Being Xiao Wu, saying he had been waiting to test his strength.

• The Ma family arrived after Chen Shi beat Ma Zongzhou, but Ma Zongming stopped his relatives from pursuing Chen Shi and ordered them to treat him courteously while their ancestors handled the matter.
• Chen Shi’s group traveled through a desolate region, saw villages on giant xie and tribes fighting from the beasts’ backs, and Sun Yisheng injured his primordial spirit while holding up an xie’s leg.
• Heiguo took Sun Yisheng and the Ram Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp into the Underworld, where the lamp helped heal Sun Yisheng as Heiguo fought off giant ghosts and spirits.
• Chen Shi and Hu Feifei traded clothing for gold and bought flea pigs, while Chen Shi gave Sun Yisheng some of the gold for expenses.
• In rainy Xijing, Li Yiran recognized the pale cloud of corpses above the city and confronted Created Being Xiao Wu, joined by the Li family patriarch, the family head, and a former sect master.

Created Being Xiao Wu confronted the four Li ancestors in Western Capital to learn the whereabouts of the Innate Dao Embryo, promising to leave if they answered. He killed Li Xinshu and continued fighting Li Yiran, Li Ganfeng, and Li Kunyu while diverting their devastating attacks so the city’s residents remained unharmed.

• Created Being Xiao Wu met Li Yiran, Li Ganfeng, Li Kunyu, and Li Xinshu, who had gathered to stop him and knew he sought the Innate Dao Embryo.
• Li Xinshu challenged Created Being Xiao Wu, who used the Supreme Eight Trigrams Body Protection Art to overturn space, break Li Xinshu’s limbs, seal him, and kill him.
• Li Kunyu revealed that Li family informants had tracked Created Being Xiao Wu’s daily route and knew where he lived.
• Li Yiran, Li Ganfeng, and Li Kunyu attacked together with their strongest arts, while Created Being Xiao Wu scattered their power through Western Capital and reversed heaven and earth without harming its people.
• A child saw Created Being Xiao Wu tumble into a puddle, hand over his umbrella, and return to Wenchang Alley to fight the three ancestors.

Ma Jun and Ma Yu joined the other noble-family ancestors to rescue Li Ganfeng and Li Yiran from Created Being Xiao Wu, but their Void Realms failed to suppress his Ghost and God Three Shocks Transformation. After a fierce battle through Western Capital, Xiao Wu escaped, declaring that he understood why his father had retreated and that he could not defeat the elders either.

• Ma Jun explained that Xiao Wu's three transformations came from Chen Yindu's talismanic techniques and advised using Void Realms to suppress his Ghost and God Domain.
• Ma Jun, Ma Yu, and the Xia Family's Third Ancestor arrived with the other noble-family ancestors to save Li Ganfeng and Li Yiran, but their Void Realms failed to suppress Xiao Wu.
• The ancestors attacked Xiao Wu, and their spells lost their outward manifestations as they fought him through Wenchang Alley and onto Chang'an Street.
• Li Ganfeng and Li Yiran collapsed from their injuries and were carried away by Li Family officials while the battle continued through Western Capital.
• A passerby tried to stop the fight but was killed when Xiao Wu's transformations distorted the city around him.
• Xiao Wu leaped into the sky and fled, saying he knew why his father had retreated and that he could not beat the elders; Ma Jun ordered the others not to pursue him.

After Created Being Xiao Wu escaped the ancestors of the Thirteen Noble Families, Yan Xianshi and Feng Tianhuan plotted to use the imperial examinations to advance Young Master toward the vacant True King throne. Meanwhile, Chen Shi and his companions sheltered traveling scholars in an ancient temple in Nanfeng Province, where Hongyi Cannons suddenly targeted them.

• The ancestors of the Thirteen Noble Families admitted that Created Being Xiao Wu had exposed their strength and agreed to stay together to plan their next move.
• Created Being Xiao Wu retrieved his umbrella from the child, reflected on failing to prevent a bystander’s death, and went to drink soy milk despite his injuries.
• Feng Tianhuan urged Yan Xianshi to reclaim the Grand Scholar post, and Yan revealed that the Yan family would support Young Master as a candidate for the top scholar and a future True King.
• Chen Shi and his companions sheltered dozens of traveling examination candidates from Nanfeng Province’s fierce winds and warned them that a voice outside the temple belonged to an evil entity.
• After the wind stopped, the scholars spotted Hongyi Cannon shells approaching the ancient temple, and Chen Shi recognized the attack.

Chen Shi and the recommended scholars survived an artillery ambush, while Sun Yisheng was badly wounded protecting them. After reaching safety, Chen Shi taught the scholars a new cultivation method and left into the night to settle a score with their attackers.

• Great Five Thunder Talisman shells struck the group, and Chen Shi’s Luo Tian Grand Ceremony umbrella shielded them from the final blast.
• Sun Yisheng discovered scouts in the clouds and killed three Divine Machine Battalion attackers, but a shell wounded his primordial spirit.
• Chen Shi and the scholars escaped the artillery range, and the lantern kept approaching evil spirits away as they sheltered overnight.
• Huang Fengnian and other scholars prepared medicine that stabilized Sun Yisheng, while Black Pot took him into the netherworld to recover.
• The recommended scholars shared their struggles, and Chen Shi taught them the Seven Refinements of the Big Dipper and promised to teach them cultivation techniques.
• Chen Shi left the carriage to attack the artillery force, saying he would wipe them out that night.

Chen Shi hunted down the Divine Machine Battalion’s camps in the storm after learning they had targeted him and the traveling scholars. He killed one camp’s crew, then surrounded Cao Chuting’s camp with stolen projectiles and detonated them, leaving Cao Chuting’s fate uncertain.

• Chen Shi crossed the storm to find a camp where Divine Machine Battalion soldiers guarded a Hongyi Cannon and discussed their orders to kill him.
• Chen Shi killed the soldiers and seized their projectiles, sparing the black dog beneath their cart.
• Chen Shi headed for the next camp after hearing that Lord Cao was a Void Refining Realm expert and resolving to eliminate the remaining threats.
• Cao Chuting prepared to attack Chen Shi’s party once the storm passed, confident that Sun Yisheng was badly injured.
• After the wind stopped, Cao Chuting discovered projectiles surrounding his camp, and one projectile triggered a chain of explosions that engulfed his fleeing Primordial Spirit as Chen Shi watched from afar.

Chen Shi led a growing company of imperial scholars toward Western Capital, sharing cultivation techniques that helped many of them break through and survive the Huangyan Mountain Range. The group reached the capital under attack, but a protective umbrella shielded them as Chen Shi led them inside.

• Chen Shi returned to the scholars after destroying Cao Chuting’s camp with artillery, and he told the injured Sun Yisheng that Cao had died in a gunpowder accident.
• Chen Shi taught the scholars cultivation methods from the True King’s Tomb, and their ranks and strength grew as more examinees joined them.
• Chen Shi organized the scholars into the Ten Absolute Array, whose terrifying power drove away hidden ambushers before the group crossed the Huangyan Mountain Range.
• Chen Shi discovered that teaching and discussing cultivation had helped him understand the Xiao Lang Emperor Chapter Art, and he began practicing it cautiously.
• As Chen Shi led more than two hundred and sixty scholars toward Western Capital, attackers struck with lightning, but a giant silk umbrella shielded the group and they entered the city.

Chen Shi arrived in the Western Capital and reunited with Chen Tang, who welcomed him but refused to acknowledge him as his son. As Chen Shi prepared to leave, he saw his mother Ayu, whose mind had long since faded.

• Chen Shi entered the Western Capital with Sun Yisheng and drew attention as the Child Scholar who had returned from the dead.
• Prefect Xia Jiuge warned Chen Shi to avoid trouble in the capital, and Chen Shi went with Sun Yisheng to Chen Tang's residence.
• While waiting in the main hall, Chen Shi examined a painting of Huangpo Village and spotted a scholar speaking to the hanged ghost.
• Chen Tang arrived and thanked Sun Yisheng for bringing Chen Shi safely to the capital.
• Chen Tang told Chen Shi he could stay but would not acknowledge him as his son, and the two argued until Chen Shi smashed the table and tried to leave.
• Chen Shi saw his mother Ayu in a wheelchair, and Chen Tang gently told her their son had come home.

Chen Shi reunited with Chen Tang and his catatonic mother, moved into the Chen Mansion with Black Pot and the wooden cart, and clashed with Chen Tang over family rules and expenses. As Chen Shi’s return stirred the capital and officials discussed how to control him, Created Being Xiao Wu asked Chen Tang to treat Chen Shi well, prompting Chen Tang to accuse him of taking everything from him.

• Chen Shi met his catatonic mother, learned that grief had driven her soul far from her body, and moved into the Chen Mansion with Black Pot and the wooden cart.
• Chen Tang objected to Black Pot sitting at the dinner table, but relented and warned Chen Shi not to reveal his extraordinary nature or rely on Chen Tang to support the wooden cart.
• Chen Shi offered money to help with household expenses, and Chen Tang urged him to accept an official post rather than behave like a dissolute young master.
• News of Chen Shi’s arrival spread through Xijing, and Yan Xianshi advised cabinet ministers to control him by giving him status, family ties, and personal attachments.
• After court, Chen Tang met Created Being Xiao Wu, who said the Li Family ancestor had promised information about the person who obtained Chen Shi’s Divine Embryo.
• Created Being Xiao Wu asked Chen Tang to treat Chen Shi well and offered to take him in, and Chen Tang angrily accused Xiao Wu of stealing his father, teacher, paternal affection, and son.

Chen Shi sought help from two underworld messengers to retrieve his mother's lost soul, only to learn she had followed him into the Underworld and been imprisoned as his accomplice. The boatman and his daughter agreed to help if Chen Shi first captured the reincarnated fugitive Zhong Kui.

• Chen Tang taught Chen Shi how to care for his unconscious mother and warned him to avoid Xiao Wu and Qiao Zhuo.
• Chen Shi brought several juren to examine his mother, and they made spiritual pills that greatly increased Chen Tang's lifespan.
• Chen Shi went to Qu Shang River to find two soul-seeking underworld messengers, while Chen Tang learned he had gone to a pleasure house.
• Chen Shi offered the messengers his Ram Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp, but the boatman refused and revealed that Chen Shi's mother had entered the Underworld to find him and was imprisoned there as his accomplice.
• The boatman and his daughter agreed to help rescue Chen Shi's mother if he captured the reincarnated underworld fugitive Zhong Kui.

Chen Shi agreed to hunt down the escaped Yin messenger Zhong Kui in exchange for help reclaiming his mother's soul, then took up his post overseeing the Guangji Treasury. After Ma Zongzhou and other officials tried to humiliate him, Chen Shi beat them and threatened to launch them on dragon-headed fire-arrows unless Gongtian Prefecture apologized.

• Chen Shi agreed to find and capture Zhong Kui in Duxian County so the boatman and boat girl would help retrieve his mother's soul.
• Chen Tang told Chen Shi that his Guangji Treasury appointment was a trap and urged him to act cautiously and meticulously.
• Chen Shi took office and inspected the treasury's weapons, becoming eager to test its powerful firearms and talisman weapons.
• Ma Zongzhou arrived with Zhou Qianying, Wang Ping, and other officials, demanded that Chen Shi kowtow, and claimed authority to inspect the weapons.
• Chen Shi knocked Ma Zongzhou and the others down, tied them to dragon-headed fire-arrows, and ordered Sun Yisheng to demand an apology from Gongtian Prefecture.

Xia Jiuge tried to force Chen Tang to surrender his post by using Chen Shi’s confrontation at the Guangji Treasury as leverage, but senior ministers intervened and the political pressure shifted onto Xia Jiuge. Chen Tang was left wondering how his son had drawn such powerful support, while Xia Jiuge was ordered to retire.

• Sun Yisheng hurried to warn Chen Tang that Chen Shi had beaten and detained Gongtian Prefecture officials, while Xia Jiuge prepared to use the incident to trap Chen Shi.
• Chen Tang sent Sun Yisheng to seek help from someone in Tingyu Tower, but the person refused to come; Chen Tang then intercepted Xia Jiuge and heard his demand that Chen Tang resign or lose his son.
• Xia Jiuge’s party arrived at the Guangji Treasury, where Chen Shi confronted the officials and refused to submit as they demanded his arrest.
• Xia Canghai arrived and stopped the confrontation, then rebuked Xia Jiuge and ordered him to resign; Gao Quan and Yan Shuhe also congratulated Chen Shi.
• Sun Yisheng told Chen Tang that the person in Tingyu Tower had refused to help, while Chen Tang and Sun Yisheng wondered why the Grand Secretariat ministers supported Chen Shi.
• Xia Canghai told Xia Jiuge that the Xia family would not support him at the cost of offending a taboo, and Xia Jiuge lowered his head with tears in his eyes.

Chen Shi uncovered the political fallout from the Gongtian Prefecture purge and gathered his allies in the Western Capital to pursue Zhong Kui. The chapter ended with Chen Shi preparing to confront Zhong Kui, backed by Heavenly Court veterans and Guangji Treasury’s weapons.

• Zhang Fuzheng publicly signaled his support for Chen Tang, while Gongtian Prefecture’s officials were arrested and Xia Jiuge resigned.
• Chen Shi and Chen Tang discussed why the noble families feared Chen Shi, including the corpse cloud and the demons possibly hidden within his body.
• Chen Shi met Situ Wen, who revealed that Luban Gate, Red Mountain Hall, and several Heavenly Court figures had established themselves near the Western Capital.
• Chen Shi gave Situ Wen the Mysterious Mechanism Myriad Changes Furnace and asked him to apply its techniques to Luban Gate treasures.
• Chen Shi summoned Granny Sha, Green Goat, and Hu Xiaoliang to Guangji Treasury, where Black Dog concealed their removal of weapons and supplies.

Chen Shi cultivated the Xiao Lang Emperor Chapter Art and discovered that placing his Nascent Soul in his shrine let him safely open a sixth heaven and greatly accelerate his progress. After realizing his soul was too solid to merge with his Nascent Soul, he decided to enlarge the Nascent Soul to match it, then returned to the Western Capital as news spread that the Young Master had arrived.

• Granny Sha and the others took firearms from the Guangji Treasury, while Situ Wen collected weapons to study and reproduce.
• Chen Shi told Granny Sha that he planned to capture the reincarnated nether bailiff Zhong Kui, and then cultivated the Xiao Lang Emperor Chapter Art in an empty warehouse.
• When Chen Shi tried to close his sixth heaven, his vital blood surged out of control, but his divine embryos helped him draw it back safely.
• Chen Shi realized he could use his own Nascent Soul as a divine embryo; from the shrine, he opened six heavens without danger and advanced his cultivation.
• Chen Shi found that his soul had become too solid to merge with his Nascent Soul, so he decided to cultivate the Nascent Soul until it matched his body's size.
• As Chen Shi returned to the Western Capital, people at the city gates cried out that the Young Master had arrived.

Chen Shi watched the Young Master kill Du Wanshu and heard Chen Tang warn that the killing was a calculated show of righteousness. After arguing with his father, Chen Shi traveled to Death Valley with Black Pot, Granny Sha, Qingyang, and Hu Xiaoliang to investigate a possible reincarnation of the underworld official Zhong Kui.

• The Young Master arrived in Western Capital on a fire Qilin and executed Du Wanshu, accusing him of keeping evil spirits and pursuing immortality.
• Chen Tang told Chen Shi he believed Du Wanshu had been framed and killed so the Young Master could build political momentum.
• Chen Shi argued with Chen Tang about his upcoming journey and his companions, then left the next day with Black Pot to meet Granny Sha, Qingyang, and Hu Xiaoliang.
• The group traveled to Du County, where Zhuge Jian said he had found a possible reincarnated minor underworld official named Tie Chi, born in Shennan Village in Death Valley.
• Zhuge Jian described Tie Chi's birth and childhood rumors as the group passed a school where Chen Shi briefly suspected the leopard-headed teacher, Yong Nan.

Chen Shi and his companions subdued Tie Chi, only to discover that the private school teacher Yong Nan was the true reincarnation of Zhong Kui. Zhong Kui overwhelmed Granny Sha, Hu Xiaoliang, and Green Goat, forcing Chen Shi to send them into the underworld, where Black Pot carried everyone away as Zhong Kui pursued them.

• Zhuge Jian brought a corrupted monk from Huaguang Temple to Shennan Village, and Tie Chi emerged, swallowed the monk, and ate his chain.
• Green Goat challenged Tie Chi to repeated headbutts before Hu Xiaoliang and Granny Sha joined forces to bind and seal him.
• Chen Shi recognized the fleeing private school teacher Yong Nan as Zhong Kui, and Zhong Kui struck Green Goat, Hu Xiaoliang, and Granny Sha with overwhelming force.
• Granny Sha attacked Zhong Kui with iron caltrops, but he emerged from the thunder-fire and swallowed one of them.
• Chen Shi used the Youquan Swimming Dragon Sword to send Granny Sha and the others into the underworld, then followed with Zhuge Jian, Black Pot, and the wooden cart.
• Black Pot caught the others on its back and fled as Zhong Kui reached into the underworld after them.

Chen Shi and his companions escaped Zhong Kui’s pursuit with help from the Underworld’s Fire and Earth Judges, then reached Western Capital and learned about its powerful treasures and the Six Paths of Reincarnation. As they headed toward Gaoshan County, Chen Shi spotted an ambush near the Guangji Treasury and realized he had found a way to deal with Zhong Kui.

• Granny Sha, Hu Xiaoliang, and the Green Goat fought Zhong Kui while the Black Pot fled, until the Fire and Earth Judges attacked Zhong Kui and tried to drag him into the Underworld.
• Chen Shi summoned Empress Shi Ji to shatter and absorb a wave of skeletons, while he and Zhuge Jian fought off the surrounding lava goblins and bones.
• The group discovered that the Green Goat had died, but Granny Sha explained that he would revive after basking in moonlight.
• Near Western Capital, Granny Sha explained the city’s nine palace treasures, powerful Void Realm Primordial Spirits, and the Six Paths of Reincarnation.
• Chen Shi and Granny Sha identified a cluster of reincarnation halos as an ambush near the Guangji Treasury, and the Black Pot carried them toward Gaoshan County.
• After Zhong Kui stopped pursuing them, Chen Shi thought of someone who could help deal with him.

Chen Shi brought Nannan to Death Valley and found Zhong Kui, who recognized her as the Benevolent Lord and agreed to help. Chen Shi then enlisted Zhong Kui to force a boatman and his daughter to help save his mother.

• Granny Sha showed Chen Shi how to use the Youquan Flowing Dragon Sword to travel between the Underworld and the Yang World, and Chen Shi left Gaoshan County for Xijing.
• Chen Shi avoided the Guangji Treasury, where Shen Hongniang and her allies waited to ambush him, and instead traveled with Nannan and Black Pot toward Death Valley.
• At Yong Nan's home, Nannan's presence caused the group to enter the Underworld, where Zhong Kui recognized her as the Benevolent Lord and agreed to assist Chen Shi.
• Zhong Kui explained that he and Tie Chi had been reincarnated as Yong Nan and another mortal, with their ghostly forms emerging at night.
• Chen Shi brought Zhong Kui to a pleasure boat in Xijing and asked him to beat the boatman and his daughter until they agreed to help save Chen Shi's mother.