Chapter Summaries

Manjushri and Samantabhadra backed down after learning that Six-Eared Macaque had taken Li Jing’s sons as disciples, then claimed the matter was settled because their masters were friends. Li Jing saw through their excuse and was grateful his sons had joined Six-Eared Macaque instead.

• Li Jing stayed silent as Manjushri and Samantabhadra struggled with their embarrassment before Six-Eared Macaque.
• Manjushri and Samantabhadra learned that Six-Eared Macaque, a disciple of Venerable Xuan Yang, had taken Li Jing’s sons as disciples.
• Manjushri claimed Venerable Xuan Yang and Primordial Lord of Heaven were close friends and said the Chan Sect would not pursue the matter.
• Manjushri and Samantabhadra hurriedly departed, calling the dispute a misunderstanding.
• Li Jing recalled that Venerable Xuan Yang had once driven back Primordial Lord of Heaven and concluded the friendship claim was an excuse.

Di Yi died after naming Di Xin his successor and entrusting Wen Zhong with protecting Great Shang, and Di Xin ascended the throne as the Investiture of the Gods tribulation erupted. Zhunti Daoist and Daoist Jieyin secretly sought a human ally to overthrow Shang, and Yuan Futong raised the first rebellion against Di Xin.

• Di Yi summoned Wen Zhong, named Di Xin as his heir, and bestowed the King-Beating Golden Whip on the Grand Preceptor before dying.
• Wen Zhong and the veteran ministers supported Di Xin's ascension, and the surge in Tribulation Qi alerted Xuan Yang that the great tribulation had begun.
• Zhunti Daoist and Daoist Jieyin decided to seek a human power to overthrow Great Shang and secretly entered human territory in disguise.
• After Di Xin governed for a year, Yuan Futong, backed by the Two Sages of the West, declared Shang's rule illegitimate and ordered his forces to march on Chaoge.

Wen Zhong killed Yuan Futong and pacified the North Sea rebellion in just over a month, allowing him to return to Chaoge fifteen years earlier than in the original course of history. At Grand Xuan Palace, Nezha asked his master for permission to go home and visit his parents.

• After Tongtian's sword strike drove Zhunti and Jieyin away, he vanished, leaving the mortal battle to Wen Zhong.
• Wen Zhong killed Yuan Futong with his Twin Whip, and the rebel army broke and fled.
• Wen Zhong's forces crushed the remaining rebels, restored Great Shang's rule over the North Sea, and set out for Chaoge.
• Nuwa and Xuan Yang watched Wen Zhong's swift victory, and Xuan Yang considered how his early return might change Di Xin's rule.
• After finishing his cultivation, Nezha asked his master at Grand Xuan Palace if he could return home to visit his parents.

Nezha brought Ao Guang to Grand Xuan Palace, where Yang Jian relayed Venerable Xuan Yang’s order to take the Dragon King to the Underworld so the truth could be revealed. At Reincarnation Hall, they found Empress Houtu and the Twelve Ancestral Witches waiting, leaving Ao Guang overwhelmed and prostrate with fear.

• Nezha said farewell to Li Jing and Lady Yin, then escorted Ao Guang from Chentang Pass toward Grand Xuan Palace.
• Ao Guang was awed by Grand Xuan Palace and feared the power of its inhabitants as Nezha brought him to Yang Jian.
• Yang Jian told Nezha that Venerable Xuan Yang had ordered the matter made known to the Three Realms and sent them to the Underworld to meet Houtu.
• Nezha carried Ao Guang through the Underworld to Reincarnation Hall, where they found Houtu and the Twelve Ancestral Witches waiting.
• Nezha asked Houtu to witness his innocence, and Ao Guang collapsed in terror as Houtu looked upon him.

At Reincarnation Hall, Houtu and the Twelve Ancestral Witches brought back the souls of Ao Bing and the Sea Patrol Yaksha to uncover who had provoked the conflict with Nezha. Their testimony revealed that Burning Sound had manipulated both of them, and Ao Guang agreed to publicly clear Nezha’s name.

• Houtu had Zhu Jiuyin summon the souls of Ao Bing and the Sea Patrol Yaksha before Ao Guang and Nezha.
• Nezha questioned the Sea Patrol Yaksha, who testified that a strange Burning Sound had filled him with killing intent toward Nezha.
• Nezha questioned Ao Bing, who admitted that the same sound had magnified his anger and made him attack Nezha without reason.
• Ao Guang realized the Western Sect had used the East Sea Dragon Palace to frame Nezha and sacrifice Ao Bing.
• Nezha demanded that Ao Guang announce the truth to the Three Realms, and Ao Guang agreed.

Nezha returned to Chentang Pass with Ao Guang, who publicly apologized and cleared Nezha’s name before fleeing to report to the Dragon Race’s ancestors. After the Dragon Race vowed to avoid Grand Xuan Palace, Nezha returned to his sect, where Yang Jian gave him three treasures from Empress Nuwa.

• Nezha left the Underworld carrying Ao Guang and returned to Chentang Pass, where Ao Guang publicly admitted fault and declared Nezha a victim of a hidden plot.
• Nezha accepted Ao Guang’s clarification, and Ao Guang hurried back to the Eastern Sea to report what had happened to Candle Dragon and Ancestor Dragon.
• Candle Dragon and Ancestor Dragon absolved Ao Guang and ordered the Dragon Race to treat Grand Xuan Palace’s disciples with courtesy and never provoke them.
• Nezha reunited with Li Jing and Lady Yin, then left Chentang Pass to return to Grand Xuan Palace and report to Yang Jian.
• Yang Jian praised Nezha and gave him the Fire-Tipped Spear, Hunyuan Silk, and Universe Ring, treasures Empress Nuwa had left for him.

Xuan Yang arrived as Nuwa confronted Hongjun over Jieyin and unexpectedly agreed to let Hongjun leave with the wounded Saint. Hongjun sensed a hidden scheme, used the Jade Plate of Creation to deduce Xuan Yang’s purpose, and turned back in fury.

• Xuan Yang appeared and asked Nuwa to leave the matter to him, and she withdrew the Universe Cauldron’s destructive radiance and stepped aside.
• Xuan Yang agreed with Hongjun’s argument that a Saint’s death could bring calamity, then told him to take Jieyin and leave.
• Hongjun accepted Xuan Yang’s offer and carried the near-death Jieyin toward a spatial rift while the watching great powers wondered why Xuan Yang had relented.
• Hongjun sensed a terrifying scheme, used the Jade Plate of Creation to deduce Xuan Yang’s purpose, and angrily turned back to curse him.

Xuan Yang exposed that he had secretly sent Zhunti into the space-time currents, then used Hongjun’s own argument about protecting the Primordial Wilderness to prevent him from retaliating. Hongjun left after conceding the exchange, while Xuan Yang remained resolved to face the conflict ahead.

• Hongjun exposed Xuan Yang’s attack on Zhunti, and the great powers calculated what had happened and reacted with shock.
• Tongtian laughed at Xuan Yang’s deception, while Nuwa recognized why Hongjun had lost his temper and Primordial Lord of Heaven feared a clash between them.
• Hongjun demanded an explanation, but Xuan Yang argued that Zhunti deserved punishment for attacking the Human Race and forcibly converting the Human Emperor.
• Hongjun summoned the Jade Plate of Creation and prepared to attack, but Xuan Yang used Hongjun’s own warnings about destroying the Primordial Wilderness to restrain him.
• Hongjun held back, threatened Xuan Yang over the Heavenly Dao’s Grand Trend and the Investiture of the Gods, then departed into the Depths of the Void.
• Xuan Yang watched Hongjun leave and wondered who would regret their choices in the future.

Primordial Lord of Heaven discovered that True Man Taiyi had entered the Killing Tribulation and devised a scheme to transfer it to Nezha by framing him for Empress Shi Ji’s death. True Man Taiyi left Kunlun Mountain for Chentang Pass, where Nezha remained unaware of the plot.

• Primordial Lord of Heaven sensed Taiyi’s impending death in the Killing Tribulation and went to him beneath Kirin Cliff.
• Primordial Lord of Heaven explained that Taiyi had lost his chance to use Spirit Pearl as a substitute and revealed Nezha was back at Chentang Pass.
• Primordial Lord of Heaven ordered Taiyi to secretly fire the Xuanyuan Bow’s Sky Shaking Arrow at Empress Shi Ji and imitate Nezha’s aura to lay the blame on him.
• Primordial Lord of Heaven concealed Taiyi’s presence with a Jade Purity Rune, and Taiyi departed for Chentang Pass.
• Nezha spoke happily with Lady Yin, unaware that Taiyi was on his way to frame him.

Pharmacist Daoist killed Juliusun and sent his cleansed True Spirit to the Investiture of the Gods Platform, escalating the conflict between the Western Sect and Chan Sect. Guangchengzi and the other Golden Immortals suppressed their grief, while Primordial Lord of Heaven chose to endure the insult and preserve his alliance until the Tribulation ended.

• Pharmacist Daoist burned Juliusun’s body with Pure Glazed Fire, cleansed his True Spirit of resentment, and sent it toward the Investiture of the Gods Platform.
• Pharmacist Daoist flew toward Mount Sumeru, recognizing that Juliusun’s death had made war with the Chan Sect’s revenge likely.
• Guangchengzi sensed Juliusun’s death, identified Pharmacist Daoist as the killer, and restrained himself from seeking vengeance.
• The other Chan Sect Golden Immortals learned of Juliusun’s fall but remained silent and focused on filling the Investiture of the Gods List.
• Primordial Lord of Heaven saw Juliusun’s death and condemned him as a disgrace, then decided to tolerate the Western Sect’s act to preserve his fragile alliances until the Tribulation ended.

Xuan Yang seized a rare insight into the Primordial Limitless Golden Immortal realm and entered seclusion, leaving Six-Eared Macaque in charge of Grand Xuan Palace during the Investiture of the Gods tribulation. Nuwa, Tongtian, and Houtu sensed his retreat and each anticipated or pledged support for what his breakthrough might mean.

• Xuan Yang recognized that his sudden inspiration pointed toward the Primordial Limitless Golden Immortal realm and decided to abandon outside affairs and cultivate in seclusion.
• Xuan Yang ordered Six-Eared Macaque to seal Grand Xuan Palace, keep the disciples inside, and defend their home, calling on Chang Xi, Xi He, Wangshu, Nuwa, Tongtian, or Houtu if needed.
• Six-Eared Macaque accepted responsibility for guarding the palace, and Xuan Yang closed himself away to pursue the Great Dao insight.
• Nuwa sensed Xuan Yang's seclusion and anticipated that his success could overturn the Heavenly Dao's established order.
• Tongtian celebrated Xuan Yang's pursuit of a higher realm and vowed to shield him from outside interference.
• Houtu sensed Xuan Yang's attempt and promised that the power of the Earth Path would support him.

Hongjun, Jieyin, and Zhunti joined Yuanshi’s scheme to isolate Nezha and make him take the blame for Taiyi’s killing tribulation. At Chentang Pass, Taiyi reached the Universe Bow and prepared to fire the Sky Shaking Arrow at the unsuspecting Nezha.

• Hongjun used the Jade Plate of Creation to obscure the heavenly secrets and twist the karmic threads around Chentang Pass, ensuring Nezha’s death could drive a wedge between Xuan Yang and Tongtian.
• Jieyin sensed Yuanshi’s plan and, with Zhunti’s approval, used Karmic Annihilation to block Nezha from seeking outside help.
• The three powers’ combined actions formed a net around Chentang Pass while Nezha played in the courtyard with Lady Yin, unaware of the danger.
• Taiyi sensed that Hongjun and Jieyin had strengthened the concealment around his scheme and headed for the city wall.
• Taiyi reached the Universe Bow, readied power imitating Nezha’s aura, and gripped the bowstring to fire the Sky Shaking Arrow.

Xuan Yang killed True Man Taiyi on Kunlun Mountain despite the Primordial Lord of Heaven’s presence, then left with his allies after the battle. The confrontation ended, but Xuan Yang anticipated that the conflict with Yuanshi and Hongjun was only beginning.

• Xuan Yang crushed True Man Taiyi’s treasures and killed him before the Primordial Lord of Heaven, destroying his body and True Spirit.
• Xuan Yang warned the Chan Sect immortals that the matter was over and departed Kunlun Mountain with Sect Master Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu’s avatar.
• Sect Master Tongtian thanked Xuan Yang for saving him and securing justice for the Jie Sect, then returned to Golden Ao Island to recover.
• Nuwa and Houtu’s avatar thanked Xuan Yang for his support and returned to the Palace of the Tortoise Empress and the Underworld.
• Xuan Yang reflected on how Taiyi’s death would deter those plotting against him, then flew toward Grand Xuan Palace, thinking of Yuanshi and Hongjun.

The Chan Sect’s Eleven Golden Immortals surrounded Shen Gongbao and attacked despite his warning that he belonged to Grand Xuan Palace. After they crushed and pinned him beneath the Sky-Turning Seal, they began sealing him away, but a mysterious aura arrived and stopped the world around them.

• Shen Gongbao tried to flee, but Juliusun trapped him with the Immortal Binding Rope.
• Guangchengzi persuaded the Golden Immortals to disregard Shen Gongbao’s ties to Venerable Xuan Yang and attack him.
• The Golden Immortals combined their attacks, burning Shen Gongbao and crushing him beneath the Sky-Turning Seal.
• Guangchengzi ordered the others to form the Jade Purity Demon Sealing Array and imprison Shen Gongbao beneath the North Sea Sea Eye.
• A powerful aura descended, freezing the wind, clouds, and the Golden Immortals’ descending seal.

Yang Jian returned to the Great Shang camp with Shen Gongbao after rescuing him from the Chan Sect’s Eleven Golden Immortals. He agreed to stay as a safeguard against powerful immortals, while leaving the mortal war to Wen Zhong and his generals, who prepared to march on West Qi at dawn.

• Wen Zhong welcomed Yang Jian and learned from Shen Gongbao how the Chan Sect’s Eleven Golden Immortals had ambushed him and Yang Jian had broken their formation.
• Wen Zhong was astonished to hear that Yang Jian had driven Guangchengzi and the other Golden Immortals to flee.
• Yang Jian said he would remain with the Great Shang army but would not interfere in mortal battles.
• Yang Jian vowed to act if the Chan Sect sent powerful immortals to oppress the army.
• Wen Zhong thanked Yang Jian and declared that Great Shang would march on West Qi at dawn, while the generals’ morale rose.

Xuan Yang told cultivators who had severed their Good Corpses that they could not abandon the Path of Sainthood and return to the Dao of Primordial Chaos. He then revealed that another path remained, leaving them eager to hear his guidance.

• Laozi asked Xuan Yang whether cultivators who had already followed Hongjun's Dao of Slaying the Three Corpses could switch to the Dao of Primordial Chaos.
• Zhu Rong and Gong Gong mocked Yuanshi, and Di Jiang reprimanded them for interrupting Xuan Yang's lecture.
• Xuan Yang explained that severing the Good Corpse made a cultivator incomplete and prevented them from switching paths.
• Laozi, Yuanshi, Zhunti, Jieyin, East King Gong, and Styx despaired, while Nuwa, Fuxi, Zhen Yuanzi, Hongyun, and Queen Mother of the West felt relieved that they had chosen another path.
• Xuan Yang said the cultivators still had one other path available, prompting them to beg him to reveal it.

Taiyi and Di Jun reconsidered their plans after the Three Races withdrew from the struggle for supremacy, and they were impressed by Xuan Yang’s predictions and rapid cultivation progress. As they read his latest diary entries, they learned about the coming conflict between Luohu and Hongjun and discovered that Xuan Yang believed a major opportunity awaited them.

• Taiyi and Di Jun acknowledged that Xuan Yang had predicted the Three Races’ downfall and began questioning whether they should abandon their own ambitions.
• The brothers reread Xuan Yang’s diary, learned that he had gained the Nine Revolutions Primordial Essence Technique, and saw that he had reached the mid-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
• Taiyi and Di Jun read Xuan Yang’s predictions about Luohu and Hongjun’s coming conflict and agreed to heed his advice more often.
• Xuan Yang’s new diary entries revealed that he had reached the sixth revolution of his technique and believed a great opportunity awaited Taiyi and Di Jun.

Di Jun and Taiyi followed Xuan Yang’s advice and purified the Primordial Wilderness’s malevolent qi, earning merit and deciding to lie low rather than pursue the title of Ruler of Heaven and Earth. Meanwhile, Xi He and Chang Xi arrived on the Sun Star to find Xuan Yang and thank him for his diary.

• After reading Xuan Yang’s explanation, Di Jun and Taiyi realized that purifying malevolent qi could earn them merit before the Witch Tribe absorbed it.
• Di Jun and Taiyi used the River Diagram and Luo Book and the Chaos Bell to cleanse a region, earning a mass of Great Dao Merit after three thousand years.
• Di Jun and Taiyi resolved to follow Xuan Yang, strengthen themselves, and avoid competing for the title of Ruler of Heaven and Earth.
• Xuan Yang continued cultivating and occasionally purifying malevolent qi on the Sun Star, expecting a future diary reward to provide him with Magic Artifacts.
• Xi He and Chang Xi arrived from the Lunar Star to seek Xuan Yang and offer him gifts in gratitude for the merit they had gained through his diary.

Chang Xi and Xi He visited Xuan Yang to repay their debt of gratitude, but his hospitality, Dao discussion, and gift of Enlightenment Tea left them feeling even more indebted and fond of him. After reading his diary and entering seclusion, they left Xuan Yang on his Sun Star while Di Jun and Taiyi planned to return with merit and give him the Sun Essence Wheel.

• Chang Xi and Xi He met Xuan Yang on the Sun Star, offered him Lunar True Water, and accepted his invitation to tour the star and stay as guests.
• Xuan Yang hosted the sisters, discussed Dao with them for a hundred years, and gave them a box of tea as a parting gift.
• Chang Xi and Xi He brewed the tea and discovered it was Enlightenment Tea; they read Xuan Yang's diary praising them and resolved to repay him after their seclusion.
• Taiyi and Di Jun purified another region of malevolent qi, divided the resulting merit into three shares, and decided to return to the Sun Star.
• Taiyi and Di Jun read Xuan Yang's diary and discussed his feelings for Chang Xi and Xi He; Di Jun planned to give him the Sun Essence Wheel but advised Taiyi not to interfere in the courtship.

Xuan Yang welcomed Di Jun and Taiyi back to the Sun Star and learned that they had abandoned their ambition to become Ruler of Heaven and Earth. The brothers presented him with a gift of merit and a Sun Essence Wheel, leaving him stunned.

• Xuan Yang spotted Di Jun and Taiyi returning to the Sun Star and greeted them warmly.
• The three brothers drank wine together while Xuan Yang looked for a way to persuade his brothers to give up their ambition.
• Di Jun and Taiyi told Xuan Yang they had decided to stop fighting for the position of Ruler of Heaven and Earth.
• Di Jun explained that they had reflected on Xuan Yang's advice and feared the fate of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin races.
• Di Jun revealed a gift of merit and a Sun Essence Wheel, and Xuan Yang wondered where his brother had gotten so much merit.