Chapter Summaries

Lu Yang established the Imperial City Bureau and won over its human and Demon Cultivator recruits with generous stipends and mission allowances. Emperor Jiayou rewarded the cultivators with incense fire, while Lu Yang secretly planned to use the complete Seven Radiance Heaven to control their loyalties.

• Lu Yang confirmed that his avatar had captured Hongyun and delivered him to his main body, then used Emperor Jiayou's decree to establish the Imperial City Bureau.
• A month later, Lu Yang gathered the True Dragon branch, One Heart Society Demon Cultivators, and transferred human cultivators at the bureau, where he found the two groups divided.
• Lu Yang offered the bureau's recruits annual stipends instead of the Dao Court's hundred-year schedule and distributed spiritual materials, promising Dao methods as personal subsidies.
• Lu Yang promised extra allowances for missions, prompting the recruits to salute Tian Wu Hall and pledge loyalty to Emperor Jiayou.
• Emperor Jiayou sent incense fire to raise the cultivators' ranks, while Lu Yang privately resolved to use the complete Seven Radiance Heaven to determine whom they ultimately served.

Du Huan’s Imperial City Bureau seized authority from the All-Heaven Department and began investigating its corruption. After Ning Haohe tried to stop the executions, Xiao Shan revealed that Du Huan had been appointed Valiant Cavalry General with special authority to execute first and report afterward.

• Ning Haohe condemned the Imperial City Bureau to Hu Zhichun, while Li Tai'an advised him to cooperate with the emperor’s decree for the time being.
• Hu Zhichun ordered Ning Haohe to cooperate, but a guard reported that Du Huan had brought the Imperial City Bureau to the All-Heaven Department offices.
• Du Huan’s forces executed Banner Officers Wang Xue and Chen Dao, along with other officials accused of embezzlement, despite Ning Haohe’s order to spare them.
• Ning Haohe attacked the executioners, but Xiao Shan used incense-fire power to crush his divine ability.
• Xiao Shan told Ning Haohe that Emperor Jiayou had appointed Du Huan Valiant Cavalry General and authorized him to investigate the All-Heaven Department with power to execute first and report afterward.

Lu Yang delivered evidence of corruption in the All-Heaven Department to Emperor Jiayou and urged him to investigate it thoroughly, while secretly keeping three authorization Tokens. The emperor considered how to use the scandal without alienating the Three Dukes, and Lu Yang sensed that Martial Uncle Chongguang had begun Golden Seeking.

• Xiao Shan reported the inspection results to Lu Yang, who rewarded him and reprimanded him for fighting Commander Ning.
• Lu Yang examined the seized funds and accounts, discovered extensive corruption in the All-Heaven Department, and withheld three authorization Tokens before reporting to Emperor Jiayou.
• Emperor Jiayou compared Lu Yang's accounts with the Inner Court's investigation and considered using Lu Yang as a possible scapegoat if the Three Dukes objected.
• Lu Yang urged Emperor Jiayou to thoroughly investigate the All-Heaven Department, while his Unbowed Under Others empowerment rose to eighty percent.
• Lu Yang sensed a massive disturbance of Karma and realized that Martial Uncle Chongguang had begun Golden Seeking.

Lu Yang learned that Chongguang had begun Golden Seeking in Jiangbei and was ordered by Emperor Jiayou to keep him out of the Qing Kingdom. After receiving a First Grade appointment, Lu Yang investigated through his Jiangbei avatar, only for Chongguang to find him and reveal that he knew about Chen Earth.

• Emperor Jiayou confirmed that Chongguang was seeking Gold in Jiangbei, but True Lord Clear Serene Flying Snow sealed off the region to prevent other True Lords from interfering.
• Emperor Jiayou sent Lu Yang to Jiangbei to develop the Incense Fire Divine Path and keep Chongguang outside the Qing Kingdom.
• Lu Yang asked for greater authority and was appointed Nine Gates Commander, gaining a First Grade Official Position with Geng Metal, Noon Fire, Xin Metal, and Wei Earth attainments.
• Lu Yang used his consciousness to enter his hidden Jiangbei avatar and went to investigate why Chongguang had changed his plans.
• Chongguang confronted Lu Yang and explained that Hongju had used a mark Hongyun left on the avatar to locate it; he then asked Lu Yang to explain Chen Earth.

Lu Yang uncovered how Hongyun and Hongju had led Chongguang to his avatar, while Chongguang proposed replacing his Chen Earth Divine Ability to repair his Dao Foundation. Chongguang refused the price of Lu Yang’s help, but Lu Yang offered him another method and invited him to undertake something great.

• Lu Yang deduced that Hongyun had helped Hongju locate the avatar by giving him a way to sense the Root of All Things, and that Hongju had sought Chongguang as a new patron.
• Chongguang explained that he believed Lu Yang was not Sky Soaring but had opposed him, then asked Lu Yang to replace his Dragon Shade Water Divine Ability with the Root of All Things so he could repair his Dao Foundation.
• Lu Yang warned that the exchange would subject Chongguang to the corruption of his Lifebound Divine Ability and give Lu Yang power over him.
• Chongguang refused the exchange, and Lu Yang recognized that Chongguang would not rely on others or submit to the Ten Thousand Spirit Banner.
• As Chongguang turned to leave, Lu Yang summoned a radiant contract and offered him another method, proposing that they do something great together.

Lu Yang gave Chongguang a method to pursue Golden Seeking in exchange for a binding secrecy contract, and the two agreed to cooperate. Chongguang returned to True Lord Clear Serene Flying Snow, who learned that his Golden Seeking still had hope, while he wondered which True Lord Lu Yang had been reincarnated from.

• Chongguang signed Lu Yang's contract and received Yama Hall's False Holding Gold Position Method and guidance on using Hongyun Gold Nature.
• Lu Yang proposed that Chongguang use False Holding Covered Lamp Fire and reverse Chen Earth to pursue Golden Seeking, and Chongguang agreed to work with him.
• Lu Yang considered how Chongguang's support and other allies could help him seize control of the Dao Court and advance his plans to attain Fire in the Sky.
• Chongguang returned to Sacred Fire Cliff and thanked True Lord Clear Serene Flying Snow for concealing his Karma.
• True Lord Clear Serene Flying Snow told Chongguang she wanted results and that he would not have to face danger once he attained Covered Lamp Fire.
• Chongguang left and wondered which reincarnated True Lord Lu Yang really was.

Lu Yang surrendered his Nine Gates Commander office but kept the duties, then set plans in motion to complete his cultivation and remove Emperor Jiayou. Sky Soaring discovered that his hidden schemes and assets had been disrupted, and realized someone was plotting against him.

• Emperor Jiayou revoked Lu Yang's Nine Gates Commander position after Lu Yang formally returned it, but let him continue overseeing the Nine Gates defenses and rewarded him with extra salary.
• Lu Yang revealed he had already gained the Wei Earth cultivation from the office and sent Yu Suzhen toward the Biyang Cultivation World under the Celestial Embryo Clone's protection.
• Lu Yang decided to obtain the final strand of Ji Earth cultivation, open Non-Existent Heaven, and use Sky Soaring to help bring down Emperor Jiayou.
• Sky Soaring sensed someone plotting against him, lost contact with his Divine Thought in the Real World, and ordered Mu Changsheng's Dao Abomination brought to him.
• Sky Soaring found that Mu Changsheng's Dao Abomination and Hongyun's Grotto-Heaven Fragment were gone, while a surge of Fruit Position power scattered his senses and convinced him that someone was undoing his plans.

Sky Soaring’s plans were disrupted when the Perception Barrier at the Sacred Sect broke and his link to Covered Lamp Fire was cut off. He activated his hidden trump card, Dragon-Serpent Shadow Bodhisattva, intending to draw Sand-In-Metal Earth into the Netherworld before the World Honored One noticed.

• Sky Soaring realized that his Perception Barrier had been broken and that Covered Lamp Fire was no longer an option.
• Sky Soaring crossed into Jiangxi and contacted Dragon-Serpent Shadow Bodhisattva in the Pure Land’s Distinct Image Zen Forest.
• Dragon-Serpent Shadow Bodhisattva recovered sealed memories and recognized himself as Sky Soaring.
• Sky Soaring confirmed that his Perception Barrier had kept Dragon-Serpent Shadow Bodhisattva hidden from the World Honored One.
• Sky Soaring planned to use Dragon-Serpent Shadow Bodhisattva to draw Sand-In-Metal Earth into the Netherworld before the World Honored One discovered the anomaly.

Lu Yang’s Celestial Embryo Clone absorbed the original Suo Huan’s Spirit Ruins Blessed Land, restoring Banner Spirit Suo Huan, while Sky Soaring emerged through Dragon-Serpent Shadow Bodhisattva to reveal Sand-In-Metal Earth and his Netherworld gateway. Lu Yang escaped by self-destructing, and his true body realized Sky Soaring had acted before his larger plan could unfold.

• Sky Soaring prepared to use Dragon-Serpent Shadow Bodhisattva to draw Sand-In-Metal Earth into the Netherworld, but discovered that his karmic connection to Suo Huan had been severed.
• Lu Yang’s Celestial Embryo Clone revealed the truth to Suo Huan, who chose to die and give his Spirit Ruins Blessed Land to Banner Spirit Suo Huan so the latter could pursue Gold and rebuild the Huanxu Realm.
• Banner Spirit Suo Huan recovered much of his damaged Spirit Ruins Blessed Land, and Lu Yang sent him into seclusion before he could rush into Ascending to Seek Gold.
• Sky Soaring, controlling Dragon-Serpent Shadow Bodhisattva, attacked Lu Yang, who self-destructed to escape and exposed Sky Soaring’s disguise to the Pure Land’s Bodhisattvas.
• Sky Soaring revealed Sand-In-Metal Earth and opened a gateway to the Netherworld, while Lu Yang’s true body recognized that Sky Soaring had sensed danger and acted first.

Sky Soaring revealed his long-prepared plan to claim Sand-In-Metal Earth and White Wax Metal, fighting off True Lord Clear Serene Flying Snow and Pure Land’s Bodhisattvas. After securing Sand-In-Metal Earth, he seized Pure Land’s Spirit Immortal and set his sights on White Wax Metal.

• Lu Yang realized Sky Soaring had found a way to counter his trap and watched to see how far he would go.
• True Lord Clear Serene Flying Snow confronted Sky Soaring overseas, while the Old Dragon Lord avoided getting involved.
• True Lord Clear Serene Flying Snow exposed Sky Soaring’s identity, and Sky Soaring summoned his Purple Qi Retribution Dharma Outer Body to fight her and the other True Lords.
• Sky Soaring used Dragon-Serpent Shadow Bodhisattva’s External Dao Fruit Position to draw Sand-In-Metal Earth into the Netherworld.
• Sky Soaring seized Pure Land’s Spirit Immortal, which pointed toward White Wax Metal, revealing that he had planned to claim that Fruit Position as well.

Sky Soaring completed the White Wax Metal Spirit Immortal with Sand-In-Metal Earth and seized its Fruit Position for the Netherworld while the True Lords tried to stop him. He erased a hidden Sword Light and its witnesses, leaving Sword Pavilion silent as Lu Yang resolved to become like him.

• Lu Yang realized the White Wax Metal Spirit Immortal was incomplete and believed Sky Soaring had a way to finish it.
• Sky Soaring used Sand-In-Metal Earth to catalyze the Spirit Immortal, completing it and bringing the White Wax Metal Fruit Position into the world.
• Sky Soaring self-destructed his Retribution Dharma Outer Body to block the True Lords, then seized White Wax Metal.
• A Sword Light from Sword Pavilion attacked Sky Soaring, but he erased it with Perception Barrier, wiping the memories of everyone who witnessed it.
• Sky Soaring pulled the White Wax Metal Fruit Position into the Netherworld, while Gangxing Budao True Lord and Sword Pavilion vanished from perception.
• Lu Yang called Sky Soaring the Number One True Lord Under Heaven and vowed to become like him.

Lu Yang assessed Sky Soaring’s remaining weaknesses and cautiously contacted him through a puppet, revealing Yama Hall and leading Sky Soaring to suspect he was the World Honored One. The chapter ended with Sky Soaring cautiously asking Lu Yang if he was the World Honored One.

• Lu Yang concluded that Sky Soaring was trapped in the Netherworld and that his plans had been severely damaged, though he had secured the Three Lines and preserved his Late Golden Core cultivation.
• Lu Yang sent a puppet carrying nine Incense Fire Gods into Jiangnan before temporarily unsealing the Grotto-Heaven fragment to contact Sky Soaring.
• Sky Soaring nearly used Gangxing Budao True Lord of Sword Pavilion’s hidden sword strike against Lu Yang, but stopped when he realized the puppet had no connection to Lu Yang’s true body.
• Lu Yang combined the nine Incense Fire Gods into Yama Hall, prompting Sky Soaring to recognize that Lu Yang had killed Hongyun and could False Hold Covered Lamp Fire.
• Sky Soaring realized Lu Yang was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had uncovered his secrets and cautiously asked, “World Honored One?”

Sky Soaring mistook Lu Yang for the World Honored One, and Lu Yang used that suspicion to negotiate for Ji Earth Dao cultivation. Sky Soaring agreed to cooperate in exchange for Lu Yang helping him send Covered Lamp Fire into the Netherworld, but he gave Lu Yang Dao knowledge that might contain a trap.

• Sky Soaring concluded that Lu Yang was likely the World Honored One after connecting his abilities to the World Honored One's methods.
• Lu Yang denied being the World Honored One and proposed that Sky Soaring help him obtain Fire in the Sky in exchange for sending Covered Lamp Fire into the Netherworld.
• Sky Soaring agreed to the deal, believing that the promised benefit made cooperation worthwhile.
• Lu Yang offered Sky Soaring information about Long Flowing Water in exchange for Ji Earth Dao cultivation sufficient to refine the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.
• Sky Soaring gave Lu Yang a strand of Divine Sense containing Ji Earth Dao cultivation, while suspecting Lu Yang might be afraid to use knowledge tainted by his Perception Barrier.

Lu Yang manipulated Sky Soaring and the Old Dragon Lord into giving him the Ji Earth cultivation knowledge and abundant resources, then spent half a year expanding his influence and perfecting his cultivation. After reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, he decided the time had come for the Ancestor to establish Non-Existent Heaven and draw the True Lords into the conflict.

• Lu Yang gave Sky Soaring intelligence about Mu Changsheng, a Foundation Establishment Perfection soul who cultivated Long Flowing Water, and sealed the Grotto-Heaven fragment while Sky Soaring suspected a trap.
• Lu Yang asked the Old Dragon Lord to examine Sky Soaring's Ji Earth cultivation knowledge, and the Old Dragon Lord mistook its Perception Barrier for evidence that Sky Soaring was secretly supporting the True Dragon Clan.
• The Old Dragon Lord removed the Perception Barrier and sent Lu Yang a large supply of spiritual materials after Lu Yang complained about lacking resources and Dao techniques.
• Over half a year, Lu Yang expanded the Imperial City Bureau's control of Tianwu City's defenses and grew the One Heart Society, while secretly using the Immortal Kingdom Dao Law enhancement authority to study Ji Earth.
• Lu Yang refined Ji Earth and Wei Earth, combined his divine abilities into the Double-Departure Imperial Mountain-Sea Chart, and reached Foundation Establishment Perfection.
• Lu Yang judged that Emperor Jiayou was no longer useful and decided the Ancestor should establish Non-Existent Heaven and draw the True Lords into the conflict.

After reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, Lu Yang sent Patriarch Tingyou into Non-Existent Heaven to seek its True Lord Position and warned him that Chongguang might compete. Patriarch Tingyou encountered Chongguang and then Mu Changsheng, who recognized him as a Banner Spirit.

• Lu Yang considered refining Gold Nature himself and saw that Patriarch Tingyou had gathered the four divine arts needed for Non-Existent Heaven.
• Lu Yang warned Patriarch Tingyou that Chongguang might secretly contend for Non-Existent Heaven, and Patriarch Tingyou promised to give it his all.
• Patriarch Tingyou entered Non-Existent Heaven and explored its Cloud Sea and overlapping realms.
• Chongguang appeared, and Patriarch Tingyou asked why he sought another Fruit Position when Covered Lamp Fire was within reach.
• Mu Changsheng emerged from the Cloud Sea, ignored Chongguang, and cautiously asked Patriarch Tingyou if he was a Banner Spirit.

Patriarch Tingyou convinced Mu Changsheng that Non-Existent Heaven could be greatly improved and gained the chance to inherit it. He took the divine ability Struggle for Freedom and renamed it Passing the Torch, intending to secure a new future for Lu Yang and the Witch Ghost Sect.

• Patriarch Tingyou criticized Non-Existent Heaven's trials and argued that its sealing power could be strengthened, prompting Mu Changsheng to ask for his guidance.
• Patriarch Tingyou told Chongguang that cooperation would eventually secure the Covered Lamp Fire position, but Chongguang chose to pursue his own path and negotiated privately with Mu Changsheng before leaving.
• Mu Changsheng gave Patriarch Tingyou the divine ability Struggle for Freedom after accepting his plans for Non-Existent Heaven.
• Patriarch Tingyou resolved to oppose the True Lords for Lu Yang and the Witch Ghost Sect, then renamed Struggle for Freedom Passing the Torch.

Patriarch Tingyou used Non-Existent Heaven’s reality-and-illusion power to evade a Fruit Position attack, attain Carefree Heaven, and force the world’s True Lords into seclusion. Before withdrawing himself, he established Eternal Paradise and entrusted Lu Yang with its authority, leaving him to face the coming upheaval.

• Treasure Lotus Concealing Bodhisattva attacked Non-Existent Heaven with the Hidden Gold Boudoir profound wonder, but her Radiance passed through it.
• Patriarch Tingyou emerged from Non-Existent Heaven and announced that he had attained Carefree Heaven overseas.
• Patriarch Tingyou revealed several divine powers, stripped the True Lords of their foundations, and forced them to withdraw into seclusion.
• Patriarch Tingyou established Eternal Paradise, offering cultivators and mortals rewards for completing bounties, and transmitted its authority to Lu Yang through the Ten Thousand Spirit Banner.
• Patriarch Tingyou withdrew Carefree Heaven into seclusion, leaving Lu Yang unable to contact him.
• The Immortal Kingdom Dao Law told Lu Yang that the Three Dukes were about to withdraw into seclusion and ordered him to summon all ministers to the palace.

Lu Yang maneuvered to protect his position as Emperor Jiayou and the Three Dukes prepared to withdraw from the world, secretly arranging for Sky Soaring to strike them. The chapter ended as Chen Yuanli unleashed Sky Soaring’s hidden sword light in Tian Wu Hall.

• Lu Yang ordered Tianwu City sealed under martial law and secretly sent Hongyun’s Grotto-Heaven Fragment to Chen Yuanli.
• Lu Yang asked Sky Soaring to use his hidden sword against Emperor Jiayou and the Three Dukes, and they agreed to a contest over Hongyun Gold Nature.
• Emperor Jiayou prepared to strip Lu Yang of his official position, while Lu Yang publicly asked to surrender it first.
• Lu Yang signaled Sky Soaring, and Chen Yuanli rose and shouted, “For His Highness the Crown Prince!”
• Sky Soaring’s hidden sword light erupted from the Grotto-Heaven Fragment and engulfed Tian Wu Hall.

Sky Soaring attacked Tian Wu Hall, and Lu Yang used the chaos to kill Emperor Jiayou and seize control of the investigation. The Three Dukes also vanished, while Lu Yang ordered the Imperial City Bureau to arrest suspects and investigate the assassination.

• Sky Soaring unleashed a sweeping sword attack, but Emperor Jiayou used the Immortal Kingdom Dao Law to suppress it as the Three Dukes shielded the officials and vanished.
• The Sea-Commanding Conch protected Lu Yang from the first attack, and Emperor Jiayou recognized Sky Soaring's sword strike.
• Lu Yang secretly False Held the Sword Dao Fruit Position and killed Emperor Jiayou while he was occupied suppressing Sky Soaring's attack.
• Lu Yang accused All-Heaven Department Vice Commander Chen Yuanli of the assassination, seized Ning Haohe, and ordered the Imperial City Bureau to investigate.
• The Imperial City Bureau's Incense Fire Gods arrived and swore their loyalty and faithfulness to Lu Yang's investigation.

After Emperor Jiayou and the Three Dukes vanished, Lu Yang used the emperor’s martial-law decree to seize control of Tianwu City and surround Crown Prince Longxing’s residence. He persuaded Longxing that he was there to protect him and urged him to enter Tian Wu Hall, secretly planning to confine him and command the court in his name.

• Lu Yang ordered the Imperial City Bureau’s Incense Fire Gods to detain All-Heaven Department officials and enforce martial law across Tianwu City.
• Crown Prince Longxing panicked after learning that Emperor Jiayou’s assassin, Chen Yuanli, had claimed to act for him, and he went out to confront Lu Yang.
• Junior Guardian Li Tai'an and Junior Preceptor challenged Lu Yang’s forces, but Xiao Shan invoked the martial-law decree and the Imperial City Bureau’s Incense Fire Gods stood their ground.
• Lu Yang told Longxing that the bureau had surrounded his residence to protect him from possible assassins and implied that Li Tai'an could be a rival backed by the Three Dukes.
• Lu Yang urged Longxing to enter Tian Wu Hall and govern the state, while secretly intending to isolate him there and use his authority to command the hundred officials.