Chapter Summaries

Illusionary Nether King abducted Wu Zhao and placed her in Zhuge Xiang’s illusion, where they fell in love and married. After Wu Zhao killed herself when Carefree Old Couple opposed the marriage, Zhuge Xiang’s rage coincided with the illusion collapsing.

• In the illusion, Zhuge Xiang recognized Wu Zhao but could not approach her as she left, and Illusionary Nether King decided to bring the real Wu Zhao into his scheme.
• Illusionary Nether King invaded the Great Tang imperial palace, abducted Wu Zhao, and carried her back to the Scorching Desert despite the emperor’s furious response.
• Illusionary Nether King placed Wu Zhao in Zhuge Xiang’s illusion, where the two met, fell in love, married, and prepared to welcome a child.
• Carefree Old Couple arrived and condemned Wu Zhao’s marriage to Zhuge Xiang, and Wu Zhao slit her throat in front of him to prove her resolve.
• Zhuge Xiang swore to kill Carefree Old Couple, but the illusion shattered around him before he could act.

After waking from Illusionary Nether King’s shared ten-year dream, Zhuge Xiang rejected Wu Zhao’s plea to preserve their dreamlike love, and she left heartbroken. Wu Zhao collapsed while fleeing, and an old man discovered she was pregnant.

• Zhuge Xiang and Wu Zhao awoke from the Nanke Dream with memories of their life together, and Wu Zhao began speaking as though she were still in the dream.
• Zhuge Xiang told Wu Zhao that their life together had been an illusion and that they should let it go; Wu Zhao vomited blood and rejected his offer of friendship.
• Wu Zhao said she hoped their paths would never cross again, then flew away as the Great Tang Dynasty’s imperial powerhouses arrived to confront Illusionary Nether King.
• Zhuge Xiang blamed Illusionary Nether King for trapping them in the dream, while she welcomed his hatred.
• Exhausted and distraught, Wu Zhao lost consciousness in flight and fell to the ground.
• An old man and his grandson found Wu Zhao, and the old man realized she was pregnant.

After waking from the Illusionary Nether King’s illusion, Wu Zhao learned she was pregnant and took comfort in the possibility that Zhuge Xiang’s child would remain with her. Zhuge Xiang and dozens of Void Returning Stage cultivators attacked the Illusionary Nether King, but it survived and seized him as it fled.

• Wu Zhao woke in a thatched hut and learned from an old physician that she was pregnant.
• Wu Zhao realized the child might be hers and Zhuge Xiang’s and resolved to carry on with the child as her companion.
• White National Teacher and dozens of Void Returning Stage cultivators surrounded the Illusionary Nether King, while Zhuge Xiang agreed to help defeat it.
• Zhuge Xiang used the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound as the cultivators launched a devastating combined attack that shattered the Scorching Desert.
• The Illusionary Nether King survived, appeared behind Zhuge Xiang, grabbed him, and fled at tremendous speed.

The Illusionary Nether King explained that she had been born from the thoughts of living beings and asked Zhuge Xiang to use his Heavenly Demon Zen Sound to purge the evil influence within her. Zhuge Xiang still resented her for trapping him in an illusion, but he considered the benefits of their mutual assistance and her protection as the story left their agreement unresolved.

• The Illusionary Nether King took Zhuge Xiang away from the battle and apologized for what she had done to him in the illusion.
• The Illusionary Nether King asked Zhuge Xiang to chant the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound for her, explaining that it had helped her during the battle.
• The Illusionary Nether King revealed that she had emerged from the thoughts of living beings and grew stronger when people remembered her.
• The Illusionary Nether King explained that interacting with humans had tainted her nature, while Zhuge Xiang's Zen Sound could cleanse her of evil.
• The Illusionary Nether King proposed that they help each other, offering to accompany Zhuge Xiang and protect him in return for his assistance.
• Zhuge Xiang weighed his resentment against the advantages of having the Illusionary Nether King as a powerful bodyguard.

Zhuge Xiang agreed to cooperate with Illusionary Nether King after it revealed that it knew about her Super Game System ring. As the Great Tang Imperial Family struggled to plan a discreet rescue, monks from the Heavenly Dragon Temple publicly demanded to know why Zhuge Xiang had not been rescued, exposing the Imperial Family’s dilemma.

• Zhuge Xiang refused Illusionary Nether King’s offer at first, but agreed after it revealed that it knew the secret of her Super Game System ring.
• Zhuge Xiang told Illusionary Nether King she would chant the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound daily and expected it to fulfill its promise.
• The three National Teachers reported that Illusionary Nether King had escaped their joint attack and that Tribute Official Wu Zhao had been rescued, while Zhuge Xiang’s abduction remained secret.
• The Emperor and the National Teachers worried that they lacked a way to rescue Zhuge Xiang without revealing the abduction and damaging the Imperial Family’s prestige.
• Nine monks from the Heavenly Dragon Temple called out from beyond the palace, demanding to know why the Emperor had not organized a rescue and offering help.

The Great Tang Emperor confronted the Heavenly Dragon Temple monks over their arrival and Zhuge Xiang’s apparent abduction, while they explained their mission and offered to help rescue him. Zhuge Xiang returned safely to Chang’an City, easing the emperor’s concern about the imperial family’s dignity.

• The Great Tang Emperor received the Heavenly Dragon Temple monks and let his eunuch rebuke them for entering the imperial palace without proper etiquette.
• The monks’ abbot apologized and explained that they had come to confirm whether Zhuge Xiang was Sect Master Luo’s disciple and to ask for his help.
• The abbot offered to help rescue Zhuge Xiang after revealing that the Illusionary Nether King had abducted him in the Scorching Desert.
• The eunuch explained that Zhuge Xiang’s disappearance threatened the imperial family’s dignity, and the emperor’s anger began to ease.
• Zhuge Xiang returned to Chang’an City with the Illusionary Nether King following him invisibly, and a guard informed the emperor of his safe return.

Zhuge Xiang returned safely from Illusionary Nether King and received rewards for completing the quest before the emperor summoned him to meet monks from Heavenly Dragon Temple. He explained how he had used the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound and left the monks asking where he had learned it.

• Zhuge Xiang completed the Illusionary Nether King quest, gained three levels, and received a Double Experience Scroll and Necklace of the Spell God.
• An imperial eunuch summoned Zhuge Xiang to Yongning Hall, warning him that monks from Heavenly Dragon Temple had specifically requested to see him.
• The emperor asked how Zhuge Xiang had escaped Illusionary Nether King, and Zhuge Xiang said the creature had only been interested in his Heavenly Demon Zen Sound.
• A monk from Heavenly Dragon Temple questioned Zhuge Xiang about the technique, and Zhuge Xiang admitted he had mastered five of its nine diagrams.
• Zhuge Xiang explained that he had temporarily reached the technique's highest realm by borrowing external force, and the leading prelate then asked where he had learned it.

Zhuge Xiang concealed the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda’s connection to his Heavenly Demon Zen Sound and accepted an invitation to visit the Heavenly Dragon Temple. After returning to Demon Hand Mountain, he learned its influence was growing, confirmed Wu Xuefei had not returned, and delivered the True Dragon’s Eye to the sealed demonic arm.

• Zhuge Xiang claimed he had learned the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound from ancient scrolls, and the Heavenly Dragon Temple’s monks invited him to visit and speak with their abbot.
• Zhuge Xiang accepted the invitation, returned the Great Sun Vajra Mantra to the monks, and watched them leave the Yongning Hall.
• Zhuge Xiang returned to the Hall of Honored Guests, found Die Wu occupied with researching souls and memories, and went through the Gate of Rakshasa to Demon Hand Mountain.
• Zhuge Xiang learned that Demon Hand Mountain’s influence had expanded, but Wu Xuefei had not returned from her search for the Dragon’s Eye and Phoenix Feather.
• Zhuge Xiang placed the True Dragon’s Eye beside the seal containing the demonic arm, which acknowledged him, then assigned duties and returned to reality.

After three months at King Fenghe's Mansion, Wu Zhao agreed to marry Li Zhi in a fictitious wedding to protect her unborn child from stigma. Zhuge Xiang received their wedding invitation and was stunned to learn that Wu Zhao was marrying Li Zhi and carrying his child.

• Zhuge Xiang spent three months without finding clues about the imperial family's fortune and advanced to the fifth layer of the Gathering Origin Stage.
• Wu Zhao reflected on her pregnancy and decided to raise Zhuge Xiang's child, while Li Zhi offered to marry her without expecting her love or physical intimacy.
• Wu Zhao initially refused Li Zhi's proposal as unfair to him, but agreed after he urged her to consider the child's future.
• Mo Lingna told Zhuge Xiang that Li Zhi and Wu Zhao would hold their wedding banquet in ten days and that Wu Zhao was carrying Li Zhi's child.
• Zhuge Xiang read the invitation and was shaken by its confirmation that Wu Zhao would marry Li Zhi.

After learning that Wu Zhao was preparing to marry Li Zhi, Zhuge Xiang realized his love for her was genuine and set out to stop the wedding. He fought his way into King Fenghe's Mansion, where he left two guards dead or crippled and continued toward Wu Zhao.

• Zhuge Xiang read the wedding invitation and remembered the life he and Wu Zhao had shared in the illusion realm, recognizing that he truly loved her.
• Zhuge Xiang rejected the idea of letting Wu Zhao marry Li Zhi and flew toward King Fenghe's Mansion on the Slaying Luo Sword.
• Mo Lingna pursued Zhuge Xiang but could not catch up with his sword flight.
• Two Void Core Stage guards attacked Zhuge Xiang as he entered King Fenghe's Mansion, but his sword strike sent them crashing through a hall roof.
• Zhuge Xiang activated the Demon Luo Scripture and struck the guards again, leaving them dead or crippled.

Zhuge Xiang fought his way into King Fenghe's Mansion to rescue Wu Zhao, injuring Lord Qing with a powerful sword strike before Mo Lingna took a blow meant for him. King Fenghe appeared and stopped Lord Qing, leaving Zhuge Xiang face-to-face with the prince.

• Lord Qing blocked Zhuge Xiang's path, but Zhuge Xiang struck him with Vast Sword Qi and rushed into the mansion toward Wu Zhao.
• Wu Zhao sensed Zhuge Xiang approaching, and Lord Qing caught up and attacked him again.
• Mo Lingna stepped in front of Zhuge Xiang and used Turtle Demon Armor to block Lord Qing's sword, suffering a chest wound when the barrier shattered.
• Zhuge Xiang embraced Mo Lingna and sternly told her never to take an attack for him again.
• King Fenghe arrived, halted Lord Qing, and warmly greeted Zhuge Xiang.

Zhuge Xiang entered King Fenghe's Mansion with Mo Lingna to find Wu Zhao, insisting that he still loved her after realizing their ten years together in an illusion had mattered to him. Wu Zhao rejected his return because he had other women and refused to leave with him, and Zhuge Xiang threatened to take her by force.

• Zhuge Xiang apologized to King Fenghe, then grabbed Mo Lingna's hand and rushed into the manor to find Wu Zhao.
• King Fenghe refused to stop Zhuge Xiang, saying the matter was for the young people to settle.
• Zhuge Xiang kicked open Wu Zhao's door and found her pregnant, stroking her belly as she rested in bed.
• Zhuge Xiang told Wu Zhao he loved her and explained that the pain of receiving her wedding invitation showed their love in the illusion had not been meaningless.
• Wu Zhao accused Zhuge Xiang of treating her as a plaything and rejected him because he had other women.
• Zhuge Xiang declared that he would take Wu Zhao away, even if he had to seize her by force.

Zhuge Xiang confronted Wu Zhao about leaving with him, while the Great Tang Emperor and a mysterious figure plotted to frame King Fenghe for treason over Wu Zhao’s National Destiny. After overhearing their secret, Eunuch Lin was declared a fugitive and sought refuge at King Fenghe’s Mansion, where he found Zhuge Xiang, Wu Zhao, and Mo Lingna.

• Zhuge Xiang insisted that Wu Zhao would not be allowed to marry someone else, and Wu Zhao’s resolve to reject him weakened.
• The Great Tang Emperor and a mysterious voice agreed to fabricate evidence that King Fenghe was plotting rebellion to prevent Wu Zhao’s marriage to Li Zhi.
• Eunuch Lin overheard the emperor’s conversation, realized the emperor might not be who he claimed to be, and fled when the mysterious figure detected him.
• The emperor ordered Eunuch Lin accused of stealing a national treasure, prompting Void Returning Stage cultivators across Chang’an to hunt him.
• Eunuch Lin evaded several patrols and chose to seek shelter with King Fenghe, then entered a room where Zhuge Xiang, Wu Zhao, and Mo Lingna were present.
• King Fenghe emerged from hiding and told Eunuch Lin to leave before his presence implicated the mansion.

Eunuch Lin told King Fenghe that the emperor might have been replaced or controlled, and warned that he planned to move against King Fenghe to seize Wu Zhao’s National Destiny. Zhuge Xiang recognized the emperor’s possible replacement as a clue to the Great Qin Empire’s theft of Great Tang’s National Destiny.

• King Fenghe agreed to let Eunuch Lin go, and Eunuch Lin swore by his Dao heart before explaining his news.
• Eunuch Lin argued that he had no reason to steal a national treasure or betray the Great Tang Imperial Family, and King Fenghe questioned why the emperor had accused him.
• Eunuch Lin revealed that he suspected the current emperor was someone else, after overhearing a mysterious voice rebuke the emperor for addressing King Fenghe by name.
• King Fenghe concluded that the emperor might have been replaced or controlled, while Zhuge Xiang wondered whether this was connected to the Great Qin Empire’s theft of Great Tang’s National Destiny.
• Eunuch Lin warned that the emperor planned to target King Fenghe because he wanted Wu Zhao’s National Destiny and saw King Fenghe’s control of it as a threat to the throne.

King Fenghe and Eunuch Lin decided they needed definitive proof that the Great Tang Emperor was an impostor before they could rally support against him. Zhuge Xiang accepted a system quest to investigate the emperor, and after Wu Zhao agreed to a sham wedding with Li Zhi, Zhuge Xiang staged a devastating fight at King Fenghe's Mansion to win the emperor's trust.

• Eunuch Lin urged King Fenghe to investigate the emperor's identity so their rebellion could claim Heaven's mandate and attract practitioners' support.
• Zhuge Xiang received and accepted a system quest to prove the emperor was an impostor, risking five levels if he failed.
• Zhuge Xiang offered to help, and Wu Zhao also volunteered, but Eunuch Lin advised her to remain at King Fenghe's Mansion.
• King Fenghe and Eunuch Lin decided to proceed with Wu Zhao and Li Zhi's formal wedding, while Zhuge Xiang agreed to stage a public falling-out with the prince.
• Zhuge Xiang unleashed his full strength at King Fenghe's Mansion, nearly demolishing it, and escaped gravely injured as the uproar shook the capital and the Great Tang Dynasty.

After Zhuge Xiang recovered from his near-fatal clash at King Fenghe's Mansion, he and Mo Lingna shared a tender moment before Die Wu and the Illusionary Nether King visited. The Illusionary Nether King revealed that Wu Zhao's wedding night with Zhuge Xiang in the illusion had been real, leaving the truth of her pregnancy hanging over him.

• Major factions investigated Zhuge Xiang, Wu Zhao, and Li Zhi, and concluded that Zhuge Xiang had attacked King Fenghe's Mansion over a love rivalry.
• Mo Lingna cared for Zhuge Xiang as he lay gravely injured, and he apologized to her for the pain surrounding Wu Zhao.
• Mo Lingna told Zhuge Xiang that she would rather see him happy than watch him suffer over Wu Zhao, and he embraced her.
• Die Wu and the Illusionary Nether King visited Zhuge Xiang, found that his injuries were not life-threatening, and traded barbed remarks with him.
• Zhuge Xiang asked the Illusionary Nether King whose child Wu Zhao was carrying, and she said that his bridal night with Wu Zhao in the illusion had been real.

After confirming that Wu Zhao’s unborn child was his, Zhuge Xiang received medicine and an imperial edict summoning him to court. The emperor began raising the proposed wedding between Wu Zhao and Li Zhi before the assembled officials.

• The Illusionary Nether King confirmed that Wu Zhao’s child was Zhuge Xiang’s, leaving Zhuge Xiang anxious about becoming a father.
• A eunuch delivered rare medicinal herbs, healing pills, and an imperial edict that ordered Zhuge Xiang to attend court in three days.
• Zhuge Xiang recovered and met Niu Dali at the Council Hall, where Niu Dali openly condemned King Fenghe and offered to oppose him.
• The emperor presided over the morning court session and then asked the officials about invitations from King Fenghe’s Mansion concerning Wu Zhao’s wedding to Li Zhi.

The Great Tang Emperor revealed that Wu Zhao carried national fortune and used her marriage to King Fenghe’s son as grounds to accuse the prince of rebellion. He appointed Zhuge Xiang commander of the campaign against King Fenghe, leaving Zhuge Xiang to seek a discreet way to coordinate with the prince.

• The Emperor told the court that Wu Zhao had gained national fortune from the gathered obsessions of the Six Nations in the Hundred Emperors Tomb.
• The Emperor cited reports of King Fenghe hoarding troops and his son’s marriage to Wu Zhao as reasons to suspect rebellion.
• The Emperor named Zhuge Xiang commander-in-chief of the campaign against King Fenghe, and Zhuge Xiang reluctantly accepted.
• The Emperor assigned veteran General Wang and one hundred thousand troops to Zhuge Xiang and ordered them to attack King Fenghe’s Mansion.
• Zhuge Xiang sent his Demon Incarnation toward King Fenghe’s Mansion to seek a private meeting, but guards stopped him and went to report his arrival.

Zhuge Xiang’s Asura avatar confirmed his identity to King Fenghe’s group and joined their plan to resist the emperor who had been replaced. King Fenghe revealed that Imperial Uncle Li Batian had entered the Demon Sealing Tower willingly two centuries earlier, and proposed that Zhuge Xiang seek his help.

• Wu Zhao recognized Zhuge Xiang’s Asura avatar, confirming his identity to King Fenghe, Eunuch Lin, and Li Zhi.
• Eunuch Lin explained that the emperor had appointed Zhuge Xiang commander because he trusted someone who had already broken with King Fenghe’s mansion.
• King Fenghe planned to gather reinforcements and delay the imperial army, while Eunuch Lin warned the emperor might send more troops and Void Returning Stage powerhouses.
• King Fenghe recalled the Demon Sealing Tower turmoil and revealed that Imperial Uncle Li Batian had entered the tower voluntarily after suppressing his inner demon.
• King Fenghe asked Zhuge Xiang to enter the Demon Sealing Tower and invite Li Batian out to help defeat the swapped emperor.

Zhuge Xiang entered the Demon Sealing Tower to seek cultivation breakthroughs and find the Imperial Uncle Li Batian, accepting a quest to lead him out. Inside the tower, he overcame a darkness that blocked light and spiritual sense by using his minimap radar, but the search began with a deadly encounter.

• Zhuge Xiang accepted the quest to lead Imperial Uncle Li Batian out of the Demon Sealing Tower and saw that the Demon Incarnation's quest had also appeared on his interface.
• Zhuge Xiang asked the Great Tang Emperor for permission to enter the tower, and the emperor approved his month-long cultivation stay.
• The three National Masters summoned the Demon Sealing Tower, and Zhuge Xiang entered before they sealed it and hid it away again.
• A hidden attacker tore flesh from Zhuge Xiang's shoulder and arm, while darkness prevented him from seeing or sensing it.
• Zhuge Xiang used his minimap radar to locate and kill a 5-star fairy Shadow Spider with the Demon Subduing Sword Art, earning 1.02 million EXP.