Chapter Summaries

Li Fan and the human sages recognized that the Investiture of the Gods Calamity had grown beyond a feud between Chan Teachings and the Interception Sect, with the human race and all beings caught in its designs. The Human Emperors chose to stay out of the conflict for now, but Da Yu warned that dynastic succession and the wider calamity could not be avoided.

• Li Fan explained to Goddess Wangshu, Nuwa, Empress Ziguang, and Goddess Taiyuan that the calamity began with Humanity Dao karma and that the sects were fighting over the human race.
• Empress Ziguang noted that war was approaching among mortals and that Di Xin remained difficult to read, while Goddess Wangshu suggested the conflict could create an opportunity for Li Fan.
• Fuxi convened the human sages in Huoyun Cave, where they agreed that joining the Mystic Gate Killing Tribulation would risk dragging the human race into the saints' conflict.
• Shennong privately doubted that hiding would solve the human race's future problems, but chose not to challenge the other Human Emperors.
• Zhuanxu and the Five Emperors discussed their reluctance to confront the Three Pure Ones, and Da Yu argued that the calamity involved all beings rather than only the Mystic Gate sects.
• Da Yu concluded that the succession of human dynasties could not be stopped and that the calamity offered mortals a chance to become gods and change their fate.

The Twelve Golden Immortals split up to search for disciples as the tribulation began, while Primordial Lord of Heaven sent Daoist Randeng and Yun Zhongzi to watch over them. Several immortals found disciples across the Human Race Territory, leaving the new disciples to cultivate as the tribulation approached.

• Taiyi mistakenly blessed a mischievous child at Yishan Mountain with Lotus Pure Qi, unknowingly laying the foundation for the boy to become a future legend.
• Guang Chengzi proposed that the Twelve Golden Immortals search separately, and Primordial Lord of Heaven sent Daoist Randeng and Yun Zhongzi after them to prevent disasters.
• Guang Chengzi and Chi Jingzi visited Yin Jiao and Yin Hong in Chaoge, bestowed immortal essence on them, and left before the princes had agreed to become their disciples.
• Juliusun accepted Tu Xingsun and gave him the Chan Teachings' inheritance and the Immortal Binding Rope, then abandoned him while they practiced earth-traveling techniques.
• Daoxing accepted Han Dulong, Xue Ehu, and Wei Hu as disciples, while Qingxu persuaded the young Huang Tianhua to follow him.
• Randeng, Manjushri, and Puxian accepted Li Jing and his sons Jin Zha and Mu Zha as disciples; Jin Zha and Mu Zha went to Kunlun Mountain, while Li Jing remained to cultivate Randeng's methods.

Zhunti and Luohu’s schemes against Nuwa were exposed when their thoughts collided through Di Xin, provoking Nuwa to pursue them to Mount Sumeru. As Luohu threatened the Western Teachings, Li Fan and an assembly of Saints and ancient powers arrived, leaving Luohu facing overwhelming opposition.

• On Nuwa’s birthday, Di Xin went to Nuwa Palace to offer incense, but Luohu’s demonic thought and Zhunti’s Buddhist sound urged him to disrespect Nuwa.
• Nuwa detected the two intruders’ influence, suppressed Di Xin, shattered Luohu’s thought within his soul, and pursued the pair.
• Luohu fled to Mount Sumeru and crashed through its gate, where Zhunti confronted him and Jieyin tried to restrain the conflict.
• Zhunti offered to help Nuwa slay Luohu, but Luohu threatened to destroy Mount Sumeru and attacked Zhunti with a spear of the Law of Slaughter.
• Li Fan arrived with six goddesses, the Three Pure Ones, Human Dao Saints, and other ancient powers, surrounding Luohu as he defied them all.

Luohu feigned an attempt to attain Earthly Dao sainthood, drawing the Saints into attacking before using the invincibility granted at the moment of his ascension to wound Zhunti and Jieyin. After his protection faded, he retreated from the Three Pure Ones as Ancestor Dragon and Yuanfeng approached, while Li Fan explained the rule behind Luohu’s maneuver.

• Luohu fused the Earth Dao Saint Fruit Position with his Demon Realm Saint Fruit Position and announced that he would attain sainthood, prompting Zhunti, Jieyin, Yuanshi, and Tongtian to attack him.
• The four Saints’ attacks froze when Luohu’s sainthood triggered protection from the origin of the Primordial World, and Luohu stabbed Zhunti before striking Jieyin with the force of the same spear.
• Taishang intervened with the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, preventing Luohu from killing Tongtian as Luohu’s invincibility faded and he retreated.
• Nuwa explained to Fuxi that Human Dao Saints did not receive the same protection, while Ancestor Dragon and Yuanfeng approached Luohu and criticized his restraint.
• Li Fan explained that the Primordial World’s origin protected a Saint during the final moment of attaining Heavenly Dao or Earthly Dao sainthood, and Minghe grew wary of the power tied to the Heavenly Emperor’s authority.

Luohu detonated his Dao body to escape into the River of Time, and Li Fan used the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls to imprison his Dao Fruit across three eras. The others returned to their duties as the Investiture of the Gods Calamity began, while Li Fan’s companions suspected his plan went beyond simply containing Luohu.

• Luohu detonated his Dao body, and his Earth Dao Origin-wrapped Dao Fruit fled into the River of Time toward the future.
• Li Fan calmed the destruction with World Law while Ancestor Dragon, Yuanfeng, Nuwa, and Yuanshi refrained from pursuing Luohu into the river.
• Li Fan deployed the thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls to seal three eras of the River of Time and monitor Luohu’s movements.
• Li Fan told the gathered immortals to return to their positions as the Investiture of the Gods Calamity began.
• Baili, Xihe, and the others suspected that Li Fan’s arrangement served a purpose beyond imprisoning Luohu.

Li Fan prepared the goddesses to intervene in the River of Time as the Spirit Pearl reincarnated at Chentang Pass. Nezha was born, and Taiyi arrived to claim him as a disciple as the Investiture of the Gods Calamity began to stir.

• Li Fan gave the goddesses strands of spiritual light from the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls so they could reach events in the River of Time.
• Yunxiao sent Qiongxiao and Bixiao to investigate Lady Yin's unusual pregnancy at Chentang Pass.
• Lady Yin gave birth to a ball of flesh, and Li Jing tried to strike it down before Bixiao intervened and the infant Nezha emerged.
• Bixiao explained that Nezha was the Spirit Pearl reincarnated, and Lady Yin named him Nezha.
• Taiyi arrived to claim Nezha as his disciple, while Bixiao and Qiongxiao withdrew and Yunxiao observed the first ripple of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao descended from Kunlun on diverging paths, while Tongtian prepared for the coming conflict between Chan Teachings and the Interception Sect. At the East Sea Dragon Palace, Ancestor Dragon resolved to draw the Human Dao Saint of Fire Cloud Cave into the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

• Primordial Lord of Heaven sent Jiang Ziya to Xi Qi and Shen Gongbao to travel the Three Realms, giving each a magical artifact suited to his fate.
• Jiang Ziya headed west toward Xi Qi while Shen Gongbao turned east to seek another path beyond following Heaven.
• Tongtian watched from Zizhi Cliff and declared that the struggle between Chan Teachings and the Interception Sect was about to begin in earnest.
• Ancestor Dragon gathered the Dragon Clan's supreme figures and proposed using the clan's power to draw the Human Dao Saint of Fire Cloud Cave into the calamity and mortal world.

Ao Guang used Nezha’s reputation to fabricate a reason to attack Chentang Pass, and Nezha’s parents believed the accusations instead of him. Nezha killed himself to repay his parents and the city, but Ao Guang continued the assault, while Yunxiao secretly took Nezha’s Divine Soul away.

• Ao Guang ordered the East Sea Water Tribe to flood Chentang Pass and accused Nezha of injuring dragon soldiers and destroying the Dragon Palace.
• Nezha denied the charges, but Li Jing and Lady Yin distrusted him and urged him to admit guilt to save the city.
• Nezha returned his flesh and bones to his parents by killing himself, severing his ties with them and Chentang Pass.
• Ao Guang continued threatening to destroy the city despite Nezha’s death, and Yunxiao secretly took Nezha’s Divine Soul before it entered Reincarnation.
• Li Jing attacked Ao Guang but was thrown back onto the city wall as the Dragon Clan’s assault continued.

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors confronted Ancestor Dragon at Chentang Pass after he revealed his plan to challenge humanity’s place as the protagonist of heaven and earth. Their battle devastated the East Sea and left both sides gravely wounded until Empress Nuwa arrived to separate them and begin repairing the damage.

• Fuxi, Xuanyuan, Shennong, Emperor Ku, and Da Yu answered Nuwa’s call and arrived above Chentang Pass, where Shennong healed the injured humans.
• Ancestor Dragon declared that the Dragon Clan would reclaim its glory and challenge humanity’s dominance, revealing that he sought to reshape the Three Realms’ order.
• Xuanyuan led the five Human Dao Saints in an attack as Zhuanxu, Yao, and Shun protected civilians and repaired the collapsing battlefield.
• The five Saints combined their powers against Ancestor Dragon, but his Ten Thousand Dragons Return to the Origin technique shattered their attack and left both sides gravely wounded.
• Empress Nuwa descended from the Nine Heavens, separated the combatants, and began restoring the shattered space and calming the elements.

Li Fan and Nuwa ended the battle between the Dragon Clan and the Human Race by suppressing Ancestor Dragon and confining the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors until the Investiture of the Gods Calamity ended. As the conflict between Chan Teachings and the Interception Sect approached, the Fate Demon God began reviving Destiny, and Heavenly Emperor Cangli sensed a familiar aura.

• Li Fan struck Ancestor Dragon into the East Sea and forbade him from leaving until the Investiture of the Gods Calamity ended.
• Nuwa sealed the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in Huoyun Cave and warned that anyone who disrupted the Three Realms must remain confined during the calamity.
• Li Fan and Nuwa returned to Grand Unity Palace, where they and the three women discussed Chan Teachings’ plans and the approaching conflict with the Interception Sect.
• The Fate Demon God sensed pressure from the Heavenly Realm and began restoring Destiny through the Chaos Spirit Root Golden Apple Tree and its black fruit.
• Deep in Guixu, Heavenly Emperor Cangli sensed a familiar aura.

Jiang Ziya left Chaoge after his marriage and failed attempts to gain a place at court, while Di Xin’s rule drove the Shang capital into chaos. At the same time, Nuwa and Li Fan gave Nezha a powerful Creation lotus body, and Nezha emerged equipped with new treasures.

• Jiang Ziya married Ma Shi through Song Yiren, but Ma Shi scolded him for failing to earn a living and his business ventures repeatedly failed.
• Jiang Ziya could not reach Di Xin because Wen Zhong already held power at court, so he divorced Ma Shi and left Chaoge for Xi Qi.
• Di Xin summoned Ji Chang and other regional rulers to Chaoge as demons and monsters flooded the capital, leaving officials to await Wen Zhong’s return from the Northern Sea.
• Yunxiao brought Nezha’s Divine Soul to Li Fan, and Nuwa used the Twenty-Four Petal Creation Green Lotus to create him a powerful lotus body.
• Nuwa placed a protective lotus mark on Nezha, while Li Fan gave him the Qiankun Hoop and Nuwa draped the Hun Tian Ling over him.

Daji used the Human Immortal Dao Seal to cultivate by draining the power of prisoners in Chaoge’s Heavenly Prison, while Ji Chang comprehended the Houtian Eight Trigrams in captivity. Daji dismissed his achievement and prepared to have Shen Gongbao bring more Interception Sect disciples to the prison.

• Nuwa granted Daji permission to open the Human Immortal Path with Chaoge’s dragon fortune and punish those who disrupted the law.
• Di Xin ordered the gates sealed and the Imperial Guards to seize wandering Interception Sect cultivators, demons, and monsters, filling the Heavenly Prison.
• Daji activated a grand array beneath the prison and refined the prisoners’ Daoxing and demonic power, advancing from Golden Immortal to Taiyi Golden Immortal while Di Xin bore the karma.
• Ji Chang studied the chaos surrounding the array and created the Houtian Eight Trigrams, earning a small measure of Humanity Dao merit.
• Fuxi sensed Ji Chang’s comprehension, but Daji dismissed the ripple of merit and told Di Xin that Shen Gongbao should recruit more Interception Sect disciples for the prison.

Ji Chang returned to Xi Qi after realizing Di Xin had drawn Chaoge’s people, immortals, and feudal fortunes into a vast scheme, and he resolved to seek Jiang Ziya at the Wei River. In Grand Unity Palace, Li Fan reflected on Pangu’s path and the approaching Chaos-ending tribulation, which left him weighing three perilous ways to survive.

• Ji Chang saw that Chaoge had become a city of blood and told Bo Yikao to return to Xi Qi without discussing the capital.
• Ji Chang told Bo Yikao to prepare gifts and accompany him to the Wei River, hoping to meet Jiang Ziya.
• Li Fan considered the difficulty of reaching the Great Dao realm and recalled how Pangu had survived Chaos’s final tribulation.
• Li Fan realized the World-Destroying Millstone had appeared at Chaos’s edge and that the end of the Prehistoric Universe’s End of Dharma Era would bring the tribulation.
• Li Fan weighed relying on a Chaos Supreme Treasure, entering the Hongmeng Supreme Reincarnation Dao, or attaining the Great Dao realm himself.
• Wangshu approached Li Fan and asked what was troubling him, and he brushed the moonlight between her brows and said it was only a few thoughts.

After Bo Yikao was assassinated, Ji Fa and Jiang Ziya rebuilt Xi Qi and prepared for war against Shang as the Chan Teachings and Interception Sect gathered on opposing sides. The first battle ended in Huang Feihu’s sudden death, while the Heavenly Emperor’s intervention halted the Investiture of the Gods and left the immortals bewildered.

• Interception Sect disciples infiltrated Xi Qi and killed Bo Yikao, after which Ji Fa took the throne and Jiang Ziya assumed command of Xi Qi’s military and political affairs.
• Ji Fa rallied Xi Qi’s people and feudal lords while Jiang Ziya reorganized the army, and Huang Feihu later defected to Zhou with the Huang Family Generals.
• The Chan Teachings and Interception Sect assembled with their armies outside Xi Qi and Chaoge as their disciples and reinforcements rushed toward the impending sect war.
• Ji Fa led Xi Qi’s army into battle against Zhang Guifang’s Shang forces, but Zhang Guifang used Call Name and Fall Horse to bring Huang Feihu down, and Huang Feihu was killed.
• Jiang Ziya ordered Xi Qi to withdraw, while Yuanshi discovered that the Heavenly Emperor had suspended the Investiture of the Gods Script and went to consult Taishang.

The Heavenly Emperor’s intervention stalled the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, prompting the Western Teachings, Dragon Clan, and Phoenix Clan to reconsider their plans. After three eras passed without progress, Ji Fa’s unnaturally prolonged life left him aged and bedridden.

• Taishang told Yuanshi that the Heavenly Dao had changed the calamity’s course and urged him to adapt rather than rush to kill Di Xin.
• In the West, Zhunti and Jieyin sent Maitreya, Medicine Master, and other disciples east to provoke conflict or lure away Interception Sect disciples.
• Dragon Mother Ao Li ordered the Dragon Clan to seal the Dragon Palace and wait, while Yuanfeng sent Kong Xuan to Chaoge to gain experience and protect the Human Emperor’s line.
• Three eras passed as the war between Shang and Xi Qi dragged on, and the stalled calamity became a story passed down through generations.
• Guang Chengzi arranged for Ji Fa’s lifespan in the Book of Life and Death to be infinite, but Ji Fa continued to age until he became frail and bedridden.

After nine eras of war, Shen Gongbao intervened between the Shang remnants and Xi Qi, while his Calamity Dao and Daji’s cultivation continued to grow. At Grand Unity Palace, Li Fan and the goddesses discussed waiting for Taishang to act so they could reopen the Pangu Era and resolve the accumulated karmic consequences.

• Shen Gongbao descended on the battlefield and urged Ji Yue and the Shang Dynasty remnants to stop fighting, but Ji Yue refused to reconcile.
• Shen Gongbao’s Calamity Dao had made him a Taiyi Golden Immortal whose courteous invitation led enemies into traps, while Daji had advanced to Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
• Yun Zhongzi challenged Daji and was defeated, stripped, and thrown outside the city.
• Li Fan, Nuwa, Ziguang, Taiyuan, and Wangshu discussed how Di Xin could prolong his life and how the Three Pure Ones might respond to the ongoing delay.
• Li Fan said they would act when Taishang stopped being inactive, using the changing era to reopen the Pangu Era and resolve old karmic consequences.

Li Fan summoned the Three Pure Ones and proposed using the change of eras to reopen the Pangu Era, breaking the old laws to give the Prehistoric Universe a new path of survival. Tongtian agreed after Li Fan offered him the Immortal Slaying Sword, and the group planned to settle the Investiture of the Gods Calamity before convening a Grand Unity Assembly.

• Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian arrived at Grand Unity Palace after Taishang received Li Fan's decree.
• Li Fan announced his plan to reopen the Pangu Era, shocking the Three Pure Ones, who questioned the danger and purpose of overturning the old order.
• Li Fan explained that he sought to break the Heavenly Dao's restraints and prevent the Prehistoric Universe from stagnating toward extinction.
• Li Fan presented Tongtian with the Immortal Slaying Sword, and Tongtian agreed to reopen the Pangu Era despite his disrupted plans for the Investiture of the Gods.
• Li Fan said they would gather the power of the Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Humanity Dao at a Grand Unity Assembly after the Investiture of the Gods Calamity was settled.
• Yuanshi and Taishang accepted the plan, and Li Fan ordered everyone to accelerate the remaining calamity before preparing to open a new era.

The Ten Heavenly Lords deployed the Ten Absolute Arrays outside Xi Qi, killing eight Chan Teachings fighters and repelling the Twelve Golden Immortals. Yang Jian urged the Chan Teachings to borrow supreme treasures, and its Golden Immortals left to retrieve them as the Ten Heavenly Lords strengthened the arrays.

• The Four Generals of Mo were killed by Randeng, prompting Wen Zhong to recruit the Ten Heavenly Lords to defend the Shang Dynasty front lines.
• The Ten Heavenly Lords arranged the Ten Absolute Arrays outside Xi Qi, and the Chan Teachings lost eight Golden Immortal-level fighters while testing them.
• The Twelve Golden Immortals entered the arrays but were forced out injured, and Yang Jian refused to risk his life by entering them.
• Yang Jian urged the Chan Teachings to borrow powerful treasures, so the Golden Immortals scattered to seek them from their masters.
• The Ten Heavenly Lords increased the arrays' power with the world's baleful qi, while Randeng warned that they underestimated the danger of Innate Supreme Treasures.

Randeng continued to hold back the Ten Heavenly Lords while Chan Teachings sought treasures and Tongtian rallied the Interception Sect for war. As Primordial Lord of Heaven headed to Xi Qi, ten thousand Interception Sect immortals marched there to face the Chan Teachings.

• Randeng remained unmoved by the Ten Heavenly Lords' taunts as Xi Qi's army retreated before the Ten Absolute Arrays.
• Yu Ding Zhenren and Yang Jian went to Jade Spring Mountain to borrow the Immortal Slaying Sword, while Chi Jingzi received the Taiji Diagram from Taishang.
• Tongtian condemned Taishang for aiding the Chan Teachings, summoned the Interception Sect's immortals, and began setting up the Ten Thousand Immortals Array.
• Zhunti worried over whether the Two Sages of the West should intervene, while Primordial Lord of Heaven prepared to confront Tongtian and took Guang Chengzi and Grand Unity True Person with him toward Xi Qi.
• Daoist Duobao led ten thousand Interception Sect immortals toward Xi Qi, with the Four Great Direct Disciples calling them to defend their sect and battle the Chan Teachings.

Sect Leader Tongtian raised the Ten Thousand Immortals Array against Primordial Lord of Heaven, but Taishang secretly disrupted it with the Taiji Diagram, allowing Yuanshi to shatter its foundation. Tongtian retreated to Golden Ao Island as the Interception Sect scattered, while Yuanshi destroyed the Ten Absolute Arrays; the conflict between the Chan Teachings and Interception Sect remained unresolved.

• Sect Leader Tongtian summoned the Interception Sect's immortals and formed the Ten Thousand Immortals Array to confront Primordial Lord of Heaven.
• Taishang sent the Taiji Diagram's Yin Yang Energies into the array, weakening its coordination, and Primordial Lord of Heaven struck its barrier with the Pangu Banner.
• The Twelve Golden Immortals entered the damaged array while Yang Jian and Nezha attacked Interception Sect disciples, and both sides fought amid the array's collapse.
• Primordial Lord of Heaven shattered the innate array diagram, and Tongtian gathered Duobao, Jin Ling, and other core disciples before retreating to Golden Ao Island.
• Primordial Lord of Heaven's distant strike killed the Ten Heavenly Lords and erased the Ten Absolute Arrays, while the struggle between the two sects remained unsettled.