Chapter Summaries

Di Xin accelerated Great Shang’s preparations against the Investiture of the Gods by appointing Jiang Ziya and sending Golden Spirit Mother to recruit Nezha as her disciple. Meanwhile, Puxian, Manjushri, and Yun Zhongzi were publicly roasted on the new Pao Luo platform, where the execution took an unexpectedly fragrant turn.

• Di Xin ordered Bigan to continue the nationwide census and sent Jiang Ziya back to court for a new appointment.
• Di Xin asked Golden Spirit Mother to go to Chentang Pass and take Nezha as her disciple when he was born, and she reluctantly agreed.
• Before leaving, Golden Spirit Mother gave You Hun an Image-Recording Stone and told him to season the three prisoners during their execution.
• Five days later, Wen Zhong led Puxian, Manjushri, and Yun Zhongzi to the Pao Luo platform, where You Hun read Di Xin’s decree and the fire was lit.
• As the citizens began to pity the condemned men, You Hun had guards pour jars of seasoning over them, filling the execution site with the aroma of roasting meat.

After Jiang Ziya completed the population and land survey across most of Great Shang, Di Xin recalled him to the capital and revealed plans for sweeping tax reforms. Jiang Ziya enthusiastically accepted the task of implementing them.

• You Hun stopped Puxian and two others from being roasted, and Wen Zhong used magic to carry them and the execution platform to the great prison.
• Jiang Ziya completed the population and land survey across ninety percent of Great Shang while evading bribes and assassination attempts.
• Bi Gan delivered Di Xin's order recalling Jiang Ziya to Chaoge, where Di Xin welcomed him and praised his work.
• Di Xin explained his plan to combine the head tax with land taxes and make officials and gentry pay grain taxes.
• Jiang Ziya knelt before Di Xin and eagerly agreed to help carry out the reforms.

Ji Chang reunited with his family in the Heavenly Prison and tried to bribe Fei Zhong into pleading for him, but Fei Zhong reported Ji Chang’s hidden assets to Di Xin. Di Xin sent Wen Zhong to make Ji Chang talk, and Wen Zhong left Ji Chang’s mouth split into sixteen pieces.

• Jiang Ziya returned to Chaoge and set out to implement the new tax laws.
• Ji Chang reunited with his wives, concubines, and children in the Heavenly Prison, then begged Fei Zhong to speak to Di Xin on his behalf.
• Fei Zhong told Di Xin about Ji Chang’s hidden assets, and Di Xin rewarded Fei Zhong with a promotion to High Minister.
• Di Xin directed Fei Zhong to borrow Wen Zhong’s Pao Luo torture platform to force Ji Chang to talk.
• Wen Zhong stormed into the Heavenly Prison and whipped Ji Chang’s already injured mouth until it was split into sixteen pieces.

Wen Zhong tortured Ji Chang into revealing more than twenty treasure locations, while Di Xin used fear and calculated kindness to keep Fei Zhong loyal. Di Xin secretly moved Ji Chang’s family and the imprisoned Puxian, Manjushri, and Yun Zhongzi into an underground chamber, then staged outrage when their disappearance was discovered.

• Wen Zhong tortured Ji Chang while Fei Zhong questioned him about the royal treasures, and Ji Chang wrote down several hiding places.
• Fei Zhong told Wen Zhong that Ji Chang was concealing more locations, prompting Wen Zhong to beat him until he revealed more than twenty addresses.
• Di Xin received the locations and personally offered Fei Zhong clothing, frightening Fei Zhong into treating the garment as a sacred family heirloom.
• Di Xin secretly moved Ji Chang’s family, Puxian, Manjushri, and Yun Zhongzi from the Heavenly Prison into an underground chamber beneath the palace.
• The guards reported the prisoners missing at court, and Di Xin feigned fury and ordered a realm-wide search.

Jiang Ziya enforced Di Xin’s tax and household policies against powerful clans, surviving repeated assassination attempts and crushing those who resisted. In Chaoge, Zheng Lun presented cheap, high-quality paper made with help from Senior Minister Bi Qiong, and Di Xin received a Time Formation and one hundred Chaos Spirit Stones as rewards for advancing papermaking.

• Jiang Ziya used the population records to demand taxes from landlords and powerful clans hiding people as household servants and retainers.
• After surviving repeated assassination attempts, Jiang Ziya inspected estates under Di Xin’s authority and executed resisters while confiscating their property.
• Di Xin learned that Queen Jiang was still pregnant and spent his free time playing Landlord with Daji, Consort Yang, and Consort Huang.
• Zheng Lun presented Di Xin with inexpensive paper made from leaves, bark, and worn-out fishing nets after Senior Minister Bi Qiong used her magical power to process the fibers.
• Di Xin praised Zheng Lun’s achievement, and the system rewarded him with one Yellow Middle Plum, a Time Formation, and one hundred Chaos Spirit Stones.

Di Xin used a Yellow Middle Plum to raise Zheng Lun from a Human Immortal to a Great Golden Immortal, then assigned him to develop printing. The chapter also revealed that Di Xin’s eleventh-grade Three Flowers were nourished by Chaos Qi from Qin Xuan’s Chaos Gourd, Little Green.

• Di Xin learned that the Time Formation could alter time and decided to use it to refine his Ancestral Witch blood essence.
• Di Xin gave Zheng Lun a Yellow Middle Plum, and Zheng Lun broke through to the Great Golden Immortal realm with seven-grade Three Flowers.
• Di Xin’s Three Flowers were revealed to have reached the eleventh grade, while Little Green secretly supplied their Chaos Qi.
• Zheng Lun swore his loyalty to Di Xin, who explained woodblock and movable-type printing and tasked him with putting the methods into practice.

Zheng Lun demonstrated movable-type printing to Di Xin, who received a Yellow Middle Plum and concluded that Qin Xuan was likely behind the system. Di Xin went to Nuwa Palace to seek an audience, while the disguised old man and his disciples watched from above.

• Zheng Lun cut refined iron into type, engraved Great Shang's characters, and printed the Institute for the Investigation of Things' records on paper.
• Di Xin received a Yellow Middle Plum from the system for the invention and, after Qin Xuan refused a hidden reward, speculated that Qin Xuan was controlling the system.
• Di Xin reasoned that Qin Xuan was the only likely power behind the system and decided not to visit him directly in case it disrupted his plans.
• Di Xin left the palace, went to Nuwa Palace, and asked Empress Nuwa to appear.
• An old man disguised as Ji Chang watched Di Xin from the sky with Jin Zha and Mu Zha, while Mu Zha asked why their master was secretly protecting Chaoge and wondered whether his third brother had been born.

Di Xin left Nuwa Palace and encountered Golden Spirit Mother dragging Real Person Taiyi toward Chaoge, where she presented the captured Chan Sect Golden Immortal as a gift. After Di Xin showed he could withstand her growing strength, Golden Spirit threatened to complain to Tongtian and continued dragging Taiyi toward the city.

• Jin Zha told Mu Zha how their neighbors had mocked their pregnant mother, and Mu Zha asked the old man to check on their home.
• The old man looked toward Li Mansion, noticed Real Person Taiyi there, and then turned his attention toward Nuwa Palace.
• Di Xin found no sign of Nuwa in the palace, left Chaoge in ordinary clothes, and confronted a woman dragging a chained man.
• Di Xin recognized the woman as Golden Spirit Mother and learned she had captured Real Person Taiyi to give to him.
• Golden Spirit tested Di Xin's strength with her magic, but he remained unmoved as he secretly reinforced his hand.
• Golden Spirit dragged Taiyi down after Di Xin released her hand, then threatened to complain to Tongtian if Di Xin bullied her again.

Di Xin learned how Golden Spirit had acquired Real Person Taiyi and considered using the conflict to bring Tongtian into the battle against Chan Sect. Golden Spirit described a mysterious old man who had warned her away from Chentang Pass, leaving the old man's identity and purpose unknown.

• Di Xin realized Golden Spirit's complaint to Tongtian might help persuade him to come to Chaoge and intervene against Yuanshi Tianzun.
• Di Xin sealed the half-dead Real Person Taiyi inside a bottle-shaped magic treasure, and he and Golden Spirit walked toward Chaoge.
• Golden Spirit explained that she had waited months near Li Jing's home for Nezha's birth, then was transported to a strange space where an old man left Real Person Taiyi and told her to stop targeting Chentang Pass.
• Golden Spirit said the old man seemed as powerful as Tongtian, and Di Xin agreed that his actions against Chan Sect disciples benefited them.
• Golden Spirit boasted that she might capture more Chan Sect Golden Immortals, and Di Xin asked her what her true form was.

Di Xin witnessed the prosperity of Chaoge and the people's support for Great Shang, causing Humanity's Fortune to surge and the dynasty's fate to extend to twenty-eight thousand years. As Di Xin entered seclusion to cultivate, Yuanshi Tianzun was left bewildered by the sudden reversal of Great Shang's fortunes.

• Golden Spirit Mother teased Di Xin by refusing to reveal her true form, and Di Xin turned his attention to Chaoge's thriving streets.
• Di Xin reflected that better lives for the people and widespread education could strengthen Great Shang against its enemies.
• Humanity's Fortune gathered above Chaoge as a Black Golden Xuan Bird appeared, then surged into Di Xin and triggered his breakthrough.
• Di Xin vanished into a royal palace secret chamber, activated a time formation, and began cultivating with Ancestral Witch essence blood.
• A mysterious old man failed to suppress the phenomenon, concealed Jiang Ziya's heavenly aura, and took Jin Zha and Mu Zha toward Chentang Pass as the Saints turned their attention to Chaoge.
• Yuanshi Tianzun discovered that Great Shang's fortune had risen to twenty-eight thousand years and questioned why Jiang Ziya and the other disciples had failed to weaken it.

Hongjun appeared at Jade Void Palace, confronted Yuanshi Tianzun over the altered course of the Investiture of the Gods, and gathered the other Saints to discuss how to restore the Heavenly Dao’s decree. The gathering ended with Yuanshi Tianzun accusing the other Saints of contributing to the changes.

• Hongjun appeared in Jade Void Palace with power that forced Yuanshi Tianzun to kneel, then questioned him about the Investiture of the Gods.
• Hongjun showed Yuanshi Tianzun a vision of Fei Zhong arresting the Marquis of the West’s family and Jiang Ziya reforming Great Shang, prompting Yuanshi to blame Jiang Ziya and try to capture him.
• Hongjun stopped Yuanshi Tianzun from leaving and summoned Jieyin and Zhunti, then brought Grand Supreme Laozi to Jade Void Palace.
• Hongjun explained that Great Shang’s fortune was rising despite the Heavenly Dao’s decree that it must fall, and asked the Saints to discuss how to correct the grand momentum.
• Jieyin blamed Yuanshi Tianzun for mishandling the tribulation, and Yuanshi retorted that the other Saints and Tongtian were also responsible.

The Saints argued over how to salvage the Investiture of the Gods after Jiang Ziya aided Great Shang, then Hongjun effortlessly halted their fight and ordered them to act. His emotionless demeanor alarmed Grand Supreme Laozi, and the others agreed Yuanshi Tianzun should go to Chaoge to rescue Ji Chang’s family; Hongjun approved.

• Jieyin and Zhunti accused Yuanshi Tianzun of betraying the Saints, prompting Yuanshi to conclude that Shen Gongbao should be sent to Xi Qi instead of Jiang Ziya.
• Jieyin punched Yuanshi Tianzun, and their fight escalated until Zhunti joined in and Grand Supreme Laozi stepped in to defend Yuanshi.
• Hongjun stopped all four Saints with a single word and told them to discuss how to salvage the grand momentum.
• Grand Supreme Laozi sensed that Hongjun had lost his humanity and worried about what he might do for the Heavenly Dao’s grand momentum.
• Jieyin proposed supporting Xi Qi, but Yuanshi pointed out that Ji Chang’s family had been captured and taken to Chaoge.
• Jieyin, Zhunti, and Grand Supreme Laozi agreed that Yuanshi should go to Chaoge to rescue Ji Chang’s family, and Hongjun approved.

Yuanshi Tianzun recoiled from Hongjun’s order to confront the human race, while Grand Supreme Laozi and the Western Saints feared Hongjun’s changed nature. Jieyin proposed secretly informing Qin Xuan of Hongjun’s plans while outwardly obeying, hoping the West would benefit whichever side won.

• Hongjun ordered Yuanshi Tianzun and the other Saints to work together to advance the Investiture of the Gods, and vanished before Yuanshi could object.
• Grand Supreme Laozi left Jade Void Palace to prepare at Shouyang Mountain, while Jieyin and Zhunti mocked Yuanshi before departing.
• Jieyin and Zhunti met Grand Supreme Laozi outside Shouyang Mountain, but he refused to explain Hongjun’s behavior and sealed himself inside.
• Back at Spirit Mountain, Jieyin and Zhunti concealed the secrets of heaven and worried about being forced to fight Qin Xuan’s allies.
• Jieyin proposed using Qin Xuan’s sound-transmission jade stone to secretly report Hongjun’s plans while publicly helping him advance the tribulation, so the West could profit whichever side prevailed.

Jieyin and Zhunti tried to contact Qin Xuan while Yuanshi Tianzun investigated Ji Chang’s disappearance and realized Di Xin had likely hidden him in Chaoge. In seclusion, Di Xin reached the peak of the Great Golden Immortal realm and faced a final choice of which law to use as the foundation for his breakthrough.

• Zhunti agreed to stake everything, and Jieyin sent Qin Xuan a jade message about Hongjun’s changes, but Qin Xuan did not respond because he was in deep seclusion.
• Yuanshi Tianzun sent an incarnation to investigate Chaoge and learned that Ji Chang and his family had vanished from the Heavenly Prison.
• Yuanshi Tianzun concluded that Di Xin had secretly kept Ji Chang’s family in Chaoge, but he did not dare challenge the Human Emperor’s authority.
• Di Xin cultivated for nearly ten years inside the accelerated formation and rose to the peak of the Great Golden Immortal realm.
• Di Xin approached the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal breakthrough but struggled to choose which law would form the foundation of his Primordial Dao Fruit.

Di Xin broke through to the early-stage Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm by awakening the law of the Human Dao, which drew a terrifying Dao Tribulation over Chaoge. As Golden Spirit Mother called for Tongtian and five powerful figures gathered outside the city, Di Xin faced the Heavenly Dao’s trial alone.

• Di Xin rejected the laws of heaven and earth and drew on the Human Dao’s power to break through to the early-stage Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm.
• The law of the Human Dao formed within Di Xin, growing through the human race’s survival and prosperity rather than worship or offerings.
• A Dao Tribulation appeared over Chaoge, and the Heavenly Dao’s pressure locked onto Di Xin.
• Golden Spirit Mother recognized the danger and sent a message to Tongtian asking him to help Di Xin overcome the tribulation.
• Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and three other figures arrived outside Chaoge, while Yuanshi Tianzun questioned whether Di Xin was worthy of creating his own Dao.

Di Xin faced the final strike of his Dao Tribulation, the Primordial Divine Thunder, and used the fortune and hopes of the human race to clash with it. When the light faded, the thunder and fortune sword were gone, and Di Xin still stood alone in the clear sky above Chaoge.

• The five Saints watched as Di Xin rose above Chaoge and destroyed the first eight bolts of lightning with a single punch.
• The ninth bolt transformed into the Primordial Divine Thunder, which Grand Supreme Laozi recognized as a primordial force of annihilation.
• Pingxin projected Di Xin's tribulation across the human territories, and people prayed for their king as their hopes gathered around him.
• Di Xin formed a golden sword from the human race's fortune and faith, then slashed it toward the Primordial Divine Thunder.
• The golden sword and Primordial Divine Thunder vanished after their collision, leaving Di Xin standing alone above Chaoge.

After withstanding the Primordial Divine Thunder, Di Xin collapsed and Golden Spirit carried him to her residence to treat his severe injuries. When he could not eat the spirit fruit she offered, Golden Spirit fed it to him mouth-to-mouth, leaving the two in an intimate moment.

• Di Xin survived the thunder tribulation, then lost consciousness as Chaoge’s citizens and his allies cried out for him.
• Golden Spirit caught Di Xin and carried him to her residence, while the five Saints left in shock at the power of humanity he had displayed.
• Golden Spirit treated Di Xin’s burns and internal injuries, but he teased her about touching him while he lay naked.
• Golden Spirit tried to feed Di Xin an innate spirit fruit, but she could barely pry his lips open with her spiritual power.
• When Di Xin’s aura seemed to fade, Golden Spirit chewed a Peach of Immortality and pressed her lips to his to feed it to him.

Di Xin recovered from the Primordial Divine Thunder while teasing Golden Spirit, who punished him and left to deal with Wen Zhong. After reflecting on the battle above Chaoge, Di Xin resolved to establish schools and implement the imperial examination system, even if the nobles rebelled.

• Golden Spirit saw the Peach of Immortality restore Di Xin, then realized he had been pretending and touching her; she punched him in retaliation.
• Di Xin called Golden Spirit by her real name, Bi Qiong, and she gave him spirit fruits while urging him to finish healing.
• Wen Zhong entered to check on Di Xin, but Golden Spirit dragged him out and shut the door.
• Di Xin changed clothes and reflected that the human race's unity could challenge Heaven, while warning himself not to rely on Hongjun or Dao Venerable Qin Xuan.
• Di Xin planned to establish schools and introduce imperial examinations, deciding to crush any noble rebellion that obstructed the human race.

Di Xin abandoned his plan to use Puxian and the other captured Golden Immortals as Nezha’s sparring partners, while Great Shang’s palace and academy plans continued. Yuanshi Tianzun arranged for Shen Gongbao to await his opportunity by the Wei River and helped Ji Fa rise as Xi Qi’s king, leaving Ji Fa to meet a suspicious-looking Daoist there.

• Di Xin ordered the Nine-tailed Spirit Fox to take Puxian and the other captives away, then focused on founding Great Shang’s first academy as Golden Spirit Mother began teaching Nezha in the palace.
• Queen Jiang, Daji, and Golden Spirit Mother bonded over a game of Landlord after Daji invited Golden Spirit Mother to her chambers.
• Yuanshi Tianzun sent Shen Gongbao to the Wei River and took Ji Fa to Spirit Mountain, where Jieyin and Zhunti agreed to use their secret art to influence Xi Qi.
• A phoenix appeared over Mount Qi, and the prophecy that Xi Qi would replace Shang spread among the influenced people, raising Ji Fa’s prestige.
• Ji Fa proclaimed himself King of Xi Qi, reversed Di Xin’s reforms, restored slavery, and began conscripting an eager army while Di Xin’s spies failed to report the changes.
• Shen Gongbao studied Jiang Ziya’s achievements before waiting by the Wei River, while Ji Fa followed Yuanshi Tianzun’s dream guidance and found a Daoist who looked sleazy.

Ji Fa persuaded Shen Gongbao to join Xi Qi, but Shen Gongbao’s attempts to reform the state met Ji Fa’s refusal. After comparing Xi Qi with the prosperity he had seen in Great Shang, Shen Gongbao began to doubt his mission and concluded that Heaven’s mandate belonged to Great Shang.

• Ji Fa begged Shen Gongbao to aid Xi Qi and pulled his carriage 873 steps, prompting Shen Gongbao to promise his descendants 873 years of rule.
• Ji Fa appointed Shen Gongbao State Preceptor with authority over Xi Qi’s military and political affairs.
• Shen Gongbao proposed reforms modeled on Jiang Ziya’s, but Ji Fa and Xi Qi’s slave owners opposed abolishing slavery, reducing taxes, and counting the population.
• Ji Fa insisted that slavery was essential and that Xi Qi needed grain and conscripts for war against Di Xin, leaving Shen Gongbao unable to advance his reforms.
• Shen Gongbao recalled the prosperity and people’s gratitude in Great Shang, questioned his beliefs about Ji Fa and Di Xin, and decided Heaven’s mandate belonged to Great Shang.