Ch. 601Gazing Across Space, Creation Escapes Its Cage

Zheng Fa discovered that the Primordial Purple Qi had transformed Fusang Wood, letting him explore the myriad heavens and draw power from it while the Modern World’s cultivators strengthened it. After Creation Daoist left Nine Luminaries Heaven, Zheng Fa learned he was heading for the Nine Mountains Realm, where Creation Daoist vowed to destroy Zheng Fa’s world to force him out.

  • Zheng Fa merged with Fusang Wood, explored lifeless universes, and encountered Lu Mo, who calmly congratulated him on obtaining the Primordial Purple Qi and said he would await him in Thunderclap.
  • Zheng Fa told Old Man Bai and the others about Lu Mo, then explained that Fusang Wood could reflect the myriad heavens, lend him power across worlds, and accelerate eligible Modern World cultivators’ cultivation by up to eight-point-three times.
  • Zheng Fa revealed that Modern World cultivation strengthened Fusang Wood and, through their connection, strengthened him; Tang Lingwu hurried off to cultivate, and Old Man Bai also began cultivating more diligently.
  • After staying in the Modern World to prepare his third avatar, Zheng Fa sensed that Creation had left Nine Luminaries Heaven and realized he was heading for the Nine Mountains Realm.
  • At Vast Sun Mountain, Creation Daoist told Cloud True Immortal that Zheng Fa had taken his Primordial Purple Qi and declared that he would destroy Zheng Fa’s Nine Mountains Realm to make him appear.

Ch. 602Resting on Arms, Awaiting Dawn, the Great Luo Dharma Assembly

Yan Wushuang rejected Xie Qingxue’s offer to take his place as master of the Immortal-Slayer Sword, determined to face the Creation Devil Ancestor with the Celestial River Legion. As Cloud True Immortal uncovered signs of betrayal at Vast Sun Mountain, Lu Mo announced the Great Luo Dharma Assembly to unite the world’s immortals, leaving Zheng Fa wary of his unexplained confidence.

  • Xie Qingxue urged Yan Wushuang to give up the Immortal-Slayer Sword, but he insisted on defending the Tianhe Sect’s honor and said he wanted to seek justice against the Creation Devil Ancestor.
  • Creation Daoist told Cloud True Immortal that Shi Nandang was Zheng Fa and that White Bone, Founder Gu God, Founder White Lotus, the Golden-Winged Great Peng, and the Lu Clan disciples were dead.
  • Cloud True Immortal realized the Nine Mountains Sect had infiltrated Vast Sun Mountain and suspected Creation Daoist had betrayed the Founder, so he told Yun Fan to secretly ask Thunderclap Temple for help.
  • Lu Mo manifested across Xuanwei Heaven and announced that he would convene the Great Luo Dharma Assembly to discuss the Human Race’s future and establish a unified order.
  • Zheng Fa and Old Man Bai chose to wait and see how the sects responded, while worrying that Lu Mo had a hidden reason for making his ambitious announcement.

Ch. 603Clouds Stir in All Directions, Target of Public Condemnation

Lu Mo gathered the support of Northern Continent’s Demon Gods and Jade Pool’s Blissful Heavenly Maiden, then announced a Great Luo Dharma Assembly to unite the Immortal Way. He revealed that Zheng Fa held the Primordial Purple Qi needed to establish the Celestial-Human System, making Nine Mountains Sect a focus of hostile attention as Creation Daoist rushed toward the Nine Mountains Realm.

  • Thirty-two Demon Gods of Northern Continent knelt to Lu Mo and praised him as Thunderclap Buddha Ancestor.
  • Blissful Heavenly Maiden appeared as a Golden Immortal and bowed to Lu Mo, prompting Xuan Chengzi to question whether Jade Pool had abandoned its alliance.
  • Lu Mo invited the sects to the Great Luo Dharma Assembly and said Zheng Fa’s Primordial Purple Qi could establish rules preventing any one sect from suppressing the others.
  • Sword Dao Body confirmed that Zheng Fa held the Primordial Purple Qi, while Nine Nether Emperor appeared to deter the many hidden powers watching Nine Mountains Sect.
  • Lu Mo announced that Glazed Buddha Ancestor would go to invite Zheng Fa, and Creation Daoist then charged from Vast Sun Mountain toward the Nine Mountains Realm.

Ch. 604Nine Mountains in Peril, Sword Formation Emerges

Creation Daoist attacked the Nine Mountains Realm to seize the Primordial Purple Qi while Thunderclap Temple maneuvered against its defenders. As the Divine Firmament Legion battled invaders in the Sea Region and Creation Daoist broke into the realm, the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation appeared.

  • Creation Daoist blocked the Nine Mountains Realm and endured the Thick-Earth Magnetism Formation as it tried to delay him.
  • Senior Sister Zhang sent the Thick-Earth Magnetism Formation and the Divine Firmament Legion to aid Dragon Lord Shuyu against the invading Dao Fruits, and Xie Qingxue led the fleet into battle.
  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor arrived in the Sea Region, revealed that he intended to capture and kill Zheng Fa, and dismissed Creation Daoist as a lesser concern.
  • Creation Daoist broke through the Sun-Moon Bell and entered the Nine Mountains Realm, where his mouths threatened the mortals and he headed toward the Purple Tenuity Enclosure.
  • The Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation emerged above the Nine Mountains Realm, shocking Glazed Buddha Ancestor.

Ch. 605Courting Death, a Sincere Invitation

The Nine Mountains Sect used the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation to kill Creation Daoist, while Glazed Buddha Ancestor arrived intending to exploit the sect’s isolation. After Zheng Fa was invited to the Great Luo Dharma Assembly, the sect’s battle continued as its sword cultivators headed toward Vast Sun Mountain.

  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor learned that the Supreme Dao would not intervene and led his followers toward the Nine Mountains Realm.
  • Xie Qingxue, backed by the Divine Firmament Fleet and Dragon Lord Shuyu, blocked Glazed Buddha Ancestor and refused to let him pass.
  • The Nine Mountains Sect’s Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation struck Creation Daoist with two swords and destroyed him.
  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor courteously asked Xie Qingxue to invite Zheng Fa to the Great Luo Dharma Assembly, and she sent the message.
  • Xie Qingxue told Glazed Buddha Ancestor that the battle was still underway as the Sword Dao Body led the sect’s sword cultivators toward Vast Sun Mountain.

Ch. 606Though That Was So, the Arrow Became a Rainbow

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Daoist Creation is killed by the Immortal Executing Sword Array, causing panic and despair among the Yun and Luo Clans.
  • The Celestial River Legion, led by the Sword Dao Body, approaches Radiant Sun Mountain to eliminate it as a threat.
  • White Lotus, having escaped from Daoist Creation, arrives at Radiant Sun Mountain and offers to help defend it using the Primordial Demon Ancestor's Dharma Body.

Character Developments

  • Yun Fan: Realizes the shift in power dynamics and the potential betrayal of his fellow disciples.
  • True Immortal Yun: Maintains a calm demeanor despite the dire situation, ultimately deciding to use the Golden Sun Burning Heaven Array to resist the Nine Mountains Sect.
  • White Lotus: Seeks to redeem himself by defending Radiant Sun Mountain and reclaiming the Primordial Violet Qi.

Significant Themes

  • Betrayal and shifting alliances: The Yun and Luo Clans' willingness to surrender to the Nine Mountains Sect highlights their pragmatic nature and the importance of self-preservation.
  • The power of Artifacts and arrays: The Immortal Executing Sword Array's destruction of Daoist Creation and the Golden Sun Burning Heaven Array's potential to resist the Nine Mountains Sect underscore the significance of powerful Artifacts and arrays in cultivation.

Character Interactions

  • Yun Fan and Luo Qing: Their subtle conflict hints at deeper tensions within the Yun and Luo Clans.
  • True Immortal Yun and White Lotus: Their interaction demonstrates True Immortal Yun's strategic thinking and willingness to make difficult decisions, while White Lotus's desperation to redeem himself drives his actions.
  • The Yun and Luo Clans: Their collective decision to surrender to the Nine Mountains Sect reveals their united front in the face of adversity.

Ch. 607Vast Sun Changes Flags, Air-Defense System

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • True Immortal Yun (Yun Wuji) betrays Radiant Sun Mountain and kills White Lotus with an arrow, revealing the presence of Nine Mountains Sect spies within the clan.
  • The Heavenly Emperor Body and others from the Nine Mountains Sect reveal themselves, and Radiant Sun Mountain surrenders to them.
  • White Lotus's self-destructed Artifact sends a message to Thunder Sound Temple, revealing Radiant Sun Mountain's defection.
  • Vaiḍūrya Buddha and the Blissful Heavenly Maiden arrive at Radiant Sun Mountain but find it under the control of the Nine Mountains Sect and leave.
  • Zheng Fa decides to create an air defense system using the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow and the Thick Earth Essence Magnetism Great Array, with True Immortal Yun as the deputy leader.

Character Developments

  • True Immortal Yun betrays Radiant Sun Mountain to save his own life and joins the Nine Mountains Sect.
  • White Lotus sacrifices himself to send a message to Thunder Sound Temple.
  • Zheng Fa decides to use the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow to create an air defense system, showing his strategic thinking.
  • Vaiḍūrya Buddha and the Blissful Heavenly Maiden realize the gravity of the situation and decide to retreat.

Significant Themes

  • Betrayal and its consequences.
  • The importance of strategic planning and adaptability in warfare.
  • The power dynamics between different factions in Mystery Micro.

Character Interactions

  • True Immortal Yun betrays White Lotus and Radiant Sun Mountain, leading to the latter's death.
  • Zheng Fa interacts with True Immortal Yun, deciding to use him to create an air defense system.
  • Vaiḍūrya Buddha and the Blissful Heavenly Maiden interact, deciding to retreat from Radiant Sun Mountain.

Ch. 608Postwar Assessment, Old Friends' Family Banquet

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The Nine Mountains Sect completes its merger with Vast Sun Mountain and begins reorganizing the newly acquired territory.
  • Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang determine that the expanded Thick-Earth Magnetism Formation has reached a power limit of roughly 0.7 Creations, creating a bottleneck for further territorial expansion. However, its detection abilities remain unmatched and can track even powerful Golden Immortals.
  • Zheng Fa proposes establishing the Sun-Shooting Army, whose core weapon and Life-bound Dharma Treasure will be the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow.
  • Although the bow traditionally requires the rare Vast-Sun Mulberry, Madam Xuanhua reveals that Nine Mountains has developed substitute materials and improved forging methods. Yun Wuji examines an unfinished bow and is left impressed despite his pride in Vast Sun Mountain’s traditional techniques.
  • Vast Sun Mountain is renamed Vast Sun Base, serving as the Sun-Shooting Army’s first base and compensating for the Thick-Earth Formation’s limited offensive power.
  • Senior Sister Zhang is appointed commander. She will combine intelligence from the Divine Firmament Legion with the Primordial Eight Trigrams to calculate enemy locations and direct long-range attacks.
  • Zheng Fa assigns Jiao Wuji and the Blood River Ancestor to study the Primordial Dharma Body, hoping they can awaken it and uncover secrets related to the origins of the Dharma Body Method.
  • Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang discuss whether Yun Wuji can be trusted. They conclude that he is cautious and survival-oriented rather than truly loyal, but will likely remain dependable while Nine Mountains remains powerful.
  • After the strategic meeting, Zheng Fa, Senior Sister Zhang, and Little Bird Yuan attend a family banquet at Zheng Fa’s home to celebrate Zheng Fa’s achievement of a Dao Fruit and relax after the war.
  • Zheng Fa offers his sister Zheng Shan the opportunity to leave the Nine Mountains Realm now that the sect has enough defensive strength to protect her. She agrees to first learn the Earthly Fiend Seventy-Two Transformations.
  • Zhao Jingfan and Yan Wushuang join the gathering. Zhao brings congratulations from Azure Wood Sect’s elders and reflects on how far Zheng Fa and their old companions have come.

Character Developments

  • Zheng Fa demonstrates strategic maturity and practical leadership. He accepts that Yun Wuji cannot be trusted completely but uses him because his strength is indispensable.
  • Senior Sister Zhang takes on a major military and analytical role as commander of the Sun-Shooting Army. Her abilities with the Primordial Eight Trigrams make her uniquely suited to coordinate long-range attacks.
  • Yun Wuji remains proud of Vast Sun Mountain’s traditions but is forced to recognize the quality of Nine Mountains’ innovations. His cautious, self-preserving nature is clearly understood by Zheng Fa.
  • Madam Xuanhua shows the technological and scholarly progress of Nine Mountains by developing replacements and improvements for the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow.
  • Jiao Wuji and the Blood River Ancestor gain responsibility for a potentially transformative artifact, reflecting their continued connection to the Dharma Body lineage.
  • Zheng Shan has grown into a powerful late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator but still feels uncomfortable being known primarily as Zheng Fa’s sister. She now has the chance to gain more independence.
  • Mother Zheng has become a Golden Core cultivator through improved aptitude and sustained support from Zheng Fa and Zheng Shan, while retaining her familiar domestic habits.
  • Zhao Jingfan reflects on his long friendship with Zheng Fa. He acknowledges that Zheng Fa’s former arrogance concealed extraordinary potential and sincerely thanks him for their shared journey.

Significant Themes

  • Power and institutional growth: The Nine Mountains Sect is no longer merely a sect but a vast, highly organized force with specialized armies, bases, intelligence networks, and advanced technology.
  • Innovation versus tradition: Nine Mountains’ improvements to the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow challenge Vast Sun Mountain’s historical pride and show that old treasures can be surpassed through collaboration and research.
  • Trust and political necessity: Zheng Fa distinguishes between genuine loyalty and practical allegiance. Yun Wuji need not be fully trusted so long as Nine Mountains remains strong enough to keep his interests aligned.
  • The importance of specialization: The Sun-Shooting Army succeeds because different strengths work together: detection formations, Senior Sister Zhang’s calculations, the Divine Firmament Legion’s intelligence, and powerful bow wielders.
  • Family and friendship amid grand ambitions: After discussing armies and Golden Immortal-level weapons, the chapter shifts to food, wine, family, and memories, emphasizing the emotional bonds that remain beneath the sect’s immense growth.
  • Transformation over time: Characters who were once minor cultivators or overlooked individuals have become major figures, while the Nine Mountains Sect has grown far beyond what any of them once imagined.

Character Interactions

  • Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang work as strategic partners, jointly planning the Sun-Shooting Army and assessing Yun Wuji’s reliability.
  • Madam Xuanhua and Yun Wuji represent opposing traditions: she confidently presents Nine Mountains’ improved bow, while he silently reassesses his assumptions.
  • Zheng Fa entrusts Jiao Wuji and the Blood River Ancestor with the Primordial Dharma Body, acknowledging their expertise and lineage.
  • Senior Sister Zhang and Yun Wuji’s future relationship is framed by cautious oversight: she will monitor him, while Zheng Fa advises against excessive suspicion.
  • At the banquet, Zheng Fa reconnects with his family and old companions. Senior Sister Zhang treats Zhao Jingfan informally, insisting that the gathering is free of sect hierarchy.
  • Zhao Jingfan and Zheng Fa reminisce about their early relationship, trading humor and acknowledging how their initial rivalry developed into deep friendship.
  • Zhao’s final thanks to Zheng Fa provides the chapter’s emotional conclusion, recognizing the extraordinary path they have traveled together.

Ch. 609Spring Days Linger, an Uninvited Guest

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • During a celebratory drinking gathering, Yan Wushuang boasts about killing the Creation Devil Ancestor, while Zhao Jingfan dismisses the feat as largely due to the power of the sword formation. Drunk, Zhao admits his admiration for Zheng Fa, especially for daring to be with Senior Sister Zhang and for building the Nine Mountains Sect into something prosperous and harmonious.
  • Zheng Fa wakes after drinking in Senior Sister Zhang’s room. He reflects on how exhausting the recent struggle against Vast Sun Mountain was, despite the victory and acquisition of the Primordial Purple Qi.
  • Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang discuss her progress toward attaining the Dao Fruit. She plans to combine the Primordial Eight Trigrams with the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation, potentially using the Comprehensive Mirror and the enormous audience created by Nine Mountains Sect’s educational and cultivation systems.
  • Zheng Fa summons his disciples, Gu Chang and Mu Qingyan, apologizes for neglecting them, and praises their major contributions to the battle: Mu Qingyan’s research helped resist the Gu God, while Gu Chang’s Spirit Intelligence Network was essential to the human-creation project.
  • Zheng Fa gives the two disciples an informal outdoor lesson by a river in the spring countryside. With Senior Sister Zhang playing the jade flute and Senior Sister Yuan grilling fish, the discussion becomes relaxed and conversational. Zheng Fa answers their cultivation questions, while the disciples gain new insights through discussion.
  • Zheng Fa asks Gu Chang and Mu Qingyan about their future ambitions. Gu Chang wishes to continue researching Spirit Intelligence and the origins of intelligence. Mu Qingyan wants to continue pharmacological research but also hopes to become the next Sect Leader so she can protect Xuanwei from repeating the disasters of her prophetic dream.
  • Gu Chang openly supports Mu Qingyan’s potential succession, admitting that the burden of leadership does not suit him. Zheng Fa explains that the next Sect Leader will not automatically be chosen through his own master-disciple lineage, but he will not prevent Mu Qingyan from pursuing the position.
  • Zheng Fa says his own ideal future resembles Senior Sister Yuan’s: spending peaceful spring days with close companions, disciples, and no unnecessary troubles.
  • This peace is interrupted when Glazed Buddha Ancestor sends a calling card and arrives at Nine Mountains Sect with two True Immortal Bodhisattvas and eight Arhats. He comes on behalf of the Great Vehicle Buddha Ancestor to invite Zheng Fa to Thunderclap Temple’s Great Luo Dharma Assembly.
  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor states that Nine Mountains Sect must attend because the assembly concerns the entire Xuanwei Immortal Way and requires the Primordial Purple Qi. He also demands that Yun Wuji be handed over for the killing of Thunderclap Temple’s Future Buddha, White Lotus Bodhisattva. Yun Wuji becomes visibly frightened, while Zheng Fa and the sect face a serious political and spiritual confrontation.

Character Developments

  • Zheng Fa: Reveals his weariness beneath his achievements and shows a strong desire for ordinary peace. He becomes more attentive to his disciples and assumes a thoughtful, non-authoritarian role as a teacher. However, the arrival of Thunderclap Temple forces him to return quickly to a position of vigilance and leadership.
  • Senior Sister Zhang: Continues advancing toward the Dao Fruit through her research and the synthesis of mathematical, formation, and cultivation principles. She quietly supports Zheng Fa and contributes to the disciples’ instruction.
  • Zhao Jingfan: His drunken remarks reveal genuine respect for Zheng Fa and admiration for the Nine Mountains Sect’s ideals, despite his usual pride and critical attitude.
  • Gu Chang: Shows a clear and sincere dedication to scientific and spiritual research, particularly the origins of intelligence. He is self-aware enough to reject leadership and generously supports Mu Qingyan’s ambitions.
  • Mu Qingyan: Gains confidence in expressing her goals. Though uncertain about her own Dao heart, she demonstrates strong responsibility and a desire to protect the future of Xuanwei by helping lead the sect.
  • Senior Sister Yuan: Her simple wish for fishing, leisure, and companionship emphasizes her carefree nature, but it also becomes a model for Zheng Fa’s own ideal of peace.
  • Yun Wuji: His fear at Glazed Buddha Ancestor’s accusation reveals his vulnerable position and foreshadows the difficult choice facing Nine Mountains Sect.

Significant Themes

  • The cost of achievement: Zheng Fa’s victory brings exhaustion rather than uncomplicated pride, showing that power and success carry heavy burdens.
  • Peace versus responsibility: The characters long for a quiet life, but their influence and political position repeatedly draw them into larger conflicts.
  • Mentorship and succession: Zheng Fa’s relationship with his disciples emphasizes mutual discussion, encouragement, and the need to develop a new generation of leaders.
  • Individual ambition and service: Gu Chang pursues knowledge for its own sake, while Mu Qingyan seeks authority to protect others. Both paths are presented as valid forms of cultivation.
  • Institutional ideals: Nine Mountains Sect’s education, mathematics, cultivation methods, and treatment of ordinary people represent an alternative path combining the Immortal Way and Divine Way.
  • Political and moral authority: Thunderclap Temple’s demand for the Primordial Purple Qi and Yun Wuji’s surrender raises questions about who has the right to define law, justice, and order in Xuanwei.

Character Interactions

  • Zhao Jingfan and Yan Wushuang exchange drunken boasts and criticism, while Zhao’s words reveal his deeper respect for Zheng Fa.
  • Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang share a quiet, intimate conversation about exhaustion, cultivation, and her future attainment of the Dao.
  • Zheng Fa apologizes to Gu Chang and Mu Qingyan, praises their achievements, and guides them through a relaxed but meaningful discussion of cultivation and their futures.
  • Gu Chang and Mu Qingyan demonstrate mutual trust when Gu Chang supports her possible succession to the sect leadership.
  • Senior Sister Zhang, Senior Sister Yuan, and Zheng Fa create a warm, familial atmosphere during the riverside lesson, contrasting sharply with the later arrival of Thunderclap Temple.
  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor maintains polite language while making demands that threaten Nine Mountains Sect’s sovereignty, especially through his confrontation over the Primordial Purple Qi and Yun Wuji.

Ch. 610Swords Drawn, a Sudden Turn of Events

Chapter Summary: “Swords Drawn, a Sudden Turn of Events”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor arrives at Nine Mountains Sect to demand that Zheng Fa surrender Yun Wuji, who killed White Lotus Bodhisattva of Thunderclap Temple.
  • Through Buddhist spiritual pressure, Glazed Buddha Ancestor nearly overwhelms Yun Wuji’s mind, but Zheng Fa and the ringing of bells help him recover.
  • Zheng Fa refuses to hand Yun Wuji over, despite being offered entry to the Great Luo Dharma Assembly in exchange.
  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor reveals that the assembly is intended to establish a ritualized, universally recognized method for using the Primordial Purple Qi. Great Vehicle Buddha Ancestor plans to gather the world’s Golden Immortals and use their agreement to shape the future laws of the Immortal Way.
  • He lists the powerful figures expected to attend, including Xuan Chengzi, the Three Reclusive Immortals, and two of Jade Pool’s Four Fairy Maidens. Zheng Fa realizes that Nine Mountains Sect could be politically isolated if it refuses to participate.
  • Thunderclap Temple threatens Nine Mountains Sect with future retaliation and possible annihilation if Yun Wuji is not surrendered. Guangzhi Bodhisattva attempts to turn the sect against Yun Wuji by asking whether one “traitor” is worth endangering the entire sect.
  • Senior Sister Zhang firmly rejects this reasoning, declaring that Nine Mountains Sect will not blame its own members for Thunderclap Temple’s aggression. Zheng Fa confirms that her position represents his own.
  • Zheng Fa states Nine Mountains Sect’s policy: it will not initiate war, but it will retaliate against anyone who attacks it, “returning an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
  • Negotiations appear to break down, and Glazed Buddha Ancestor leaves with his invitation withdrawn.
  • At the last moment, Zheng Fa receives a letter from Great Vehicle Buddha Ancestor, Lu Mo. Lu Mo dismisses the matter of White Lotus’s death, acknowledges that the Primordial Purple Qi belongs to Zheng Fa, and personally invites him to the Great Luo Dharma Assembly.
  • Zheng Fa receives a new golden invitation, leaving Glazed Buddha Ancestor visibly stunned.

Character Developments

  • Zheng Fa: Demonstrates firm leadership, strategic judgment, and loyalty to his people. He recognizes that surrendering Yun Wuji would destroy the sect’s internal trust and reputation, even if refusing risks exclusion from the Golden Immortal power structure. His policy of defensive peace combined with uncompromising retaliation becomes clearly established.
  • Yun Wuji: Experiences fear, guilt, and insecurity over becoming a burden to Nine Mountains Sect. He expects that Zheng Fa may sacrifice him for the greater good, making Zheng Fa’s refusal especially meaningful. His position in the sect is temporarily made vulnerable by Thunderclap Temple’s manipulation.
  • Senior Sister Zhang: Emerges as a decisive and morally steadfast voice. Her defense of Yun Wuji restores the unity of the sect and counters Guangzhi’s attempt to sow distrust.
  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor: Initially appears confident that political pressure will force Zheng Fa to yield. His confidence weakens as Zheng Fa refuses every compromise and maintains the sect’s resolve.
  • Guangzhi Bodhisattva: Acts as Thunderclap Temple’s aggressive negotiator, using threats and divisive rhetoric. His attempt to isolate Yun Wuji fails when Nine Mountains Sect publicly rejects his framing.
  • Great Vehicle Buddha Ancestor/Lu Mo: Reveals greater flexibility and political calculation than Glazed Buddha Ancestor. Rather than allowing the dispute to prevent Zheng Fa’s attendance, he abandons the demand for Yun Wuji’s surrender and personally renews the invitation.

Significant Themes

  • Loyalty versus political expediency: Zheng Fa chooses to protect a sect member rather than sacrifice him for access to a powerful assembly.
  • Trust as the foundation of leadership: Zheng Fa understands that surrendering Yun Wuji would damage the faith of the entire sect more severely than missing the assembly.
  • Unity against coercion: Thunderclap Temple attempts to divide Nine Mountains Sect, but shared principles and Senior Sister Zhang’s defense preserve its solidarity.
  • Peace backed by strength: Zheng Fa advocates neither aggression nor submission. Nine Mountains Sect will seek peace, but it will answer attacks with decisive retaliation.
  • Power and legitimacy: The Great Luo Dharma Assembly is not merely a gathering; it may determine who has authority to shape the Immortal Way and regulate the use of the Primordial Purple Qi.
  • Political maneuvering: Lu Mo’s reversal shows that the struggle is not only about Yun Wuji’s crime but also about control over the future order of the Immortal Way.

Important Character Interactions

  • Zheng Fa and Glazed Buddha Ancestor: Their negotiation becomes a contest of pressure and resolve. Glazed Buddha Ancestor offers entry to the assembly in exchange for Yun Wuji, while Zheng Fa refuses to let external power dictate Nine Mountains Sect’s principles.
  • Guangzhi Bodhisattva and Yun Wuji: Guangzhi publicly labels Yun Wuji a dangerous traitor and implies that the sect should sacrifice him, deepening Yun Wuji’s guilt and isolation.
  • Senior Sister Zhang and Guangzhi Bodhisattva: Zhang directly rebukes Guangzhi’s threat, defending Yun Wuji and asserting that Thunderclap Temple—not Yun Wuji—is responsible for any future conflict.
  • Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang: Zheng Fa explicitly adopts her words as his own, demonstrating unity between the sect’s leadership and its disciples.
  • Lu Mo and Zheng Fa: Lu Mo’s letter overturns the failed negotiation. By acknowledging Zheng Fa’s importance and inviting him personally, Lu Mo attempts to preserve the Great Luo Dharma Assembly’s legitimacy while avoiding an open confrontation.

Ch. 611A Rare Commodity, a Wager in the Underworld

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Zheng Fa receives a Visit Card from Lu Yao, inviting him to the Great Luo Dharma Assembly at Thunder Sound Temple.
  • The Nine Mountains Sect's upper ranks discuss the invitation, expressing wariness and apprehension due to Lu Yao's unexpected courtesy.
  • Zheng Fa decides to attend the assembly but also visits the Underworld to discuss the situation with the Nine Nether Emperor.
  • The Nine Nether Emperor reveals his concerns about the Underworld's development and the potential threat from Lu Yao's Great Luo Dharma Assembly.

Character Developments

  • Zheng Fa shows strategic thinking and determination to protect the Nine Mountains Sect, even when facing uncertainty.
  • The Nine Nether Emperor reveals his exhaustion and despair, hinting at his willingness to support Zheng Fa's plan to disrupt Lu Yao's scheme.

Significant Themes

  • The power struggle between the Nine Mountains Sect, Thunder Sound Temple, and the Supreme Dao.
  • The relationship between the Nine Mountains Sect and the Underworld, and their shared enemy in Lu Yao.
  • The potential consequences of Lu Yao's Great Luo Dharma Assembly and the possible outcomes of Zheng Fa's gamble.

Character Interactions

  • Zheng Fa and the Nine Mountains Sect's upper ranks discuss the invitation to the Great Luo Dharma Assembly, leading to a consensus to attend and cause trouble.
  • Zheng Fa visits the Underworld and has a tense conversation with the Nine Nether Emperor, ultimately gaining his support for the plan to disrupt Lu Yao's scheme.
  • Yan Changge, the former sect leader of the Celestial River Sect, plays a crucial role in convincing the Nine Nether Emperor to support Zheng Fa's plan.

Ch. 612The Way of the True Immortal, Zheng Fa's Trump Card

Chapter Summary: The Way of the True Immortal, Zheng Fa’s Trump Card

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Zheng Fa discusses Lu Mo and the upcoming Great Luo Dharma Assembly with the Nine Nether Emperor. The Emperor warns that Lu Mo is extremely dangerous and may have ulterior motives in sending Zheng Fa an invitation.
  • Nine Nether Emperor reveals the truth about Lingxi, the former Dao companion of Venerable Tianhe. Though once believed to have betrayed Tianhe, Lingxi actually died, and her True Spirit was nearly destroyed. The Emperor preserved it inside the Mandarin Duck Treasure Mirror.
  • The Emperor gives Zheng Fa the mirror, explaining that Lingxi was once highly valued by Jade Pool Water Mother and knew many of Jade Pool’s secrets. Her instinctive reactions may help Zheng Fa expose or disrupt the current alliance between Jade Pool and Lu Mo.
  • Nine Nether Emperor explains that Water Mother may be one of the strongest Golden Immortals in Xuanwei. Her apparent absence, combined with Blissful Heavenly Maiden’s submission to Lu Mo, suggests that Jade Pool’s situation is more complicated than it appears.
  • Zheng Fa asks how to advance more quickly from Loose Immortal to True Immortal. The Emperor explains that the first five tribulations cannot easily be accelerated, but the final four Law Tribulations may be triggered artificially using treasures that conflict with one’s Dao.
  • Since most of Zheng Fa’s cultivation derives from the Fusang Wood, he realizes that Jade Pool may contain something capable of opposing his Dao. He therefore suggests that the Nine Nether Emperor visit Jade Pool.
  • Before Zheng Fa departs, the Emperor warns him that the Four Law Tribulations are impossible for others to assist with. His final advice is: “My Dao is self-born; through ten thousand tribulations, it shall not perish.”
  • Zheng Fa returns to the Modern World and spends several months studying the Creation Jade Disc alongside mathematics, computer science, physics, biology, and other modern subjects. He is attempting to complete an important insight or theory.
  • Lu Mo’s invitation finally reveals that the Great Luo Dharma Assembly will take place at Thunderclap Temple in six months.
  • At Thunderclap Temple, Glazed Buddha Ancestor questions Lu Mo’s tolerance of Zheng Fa, especially after the death of White Lotus. Lu Mo insists that Thunderclap Temple must embrace all forces in order to unify Xuanwei and confidently declares that Zheng Fa will eventually have no choice but to submit.
  • The people in the Modern World worry about Zheng Fa’s safety. Old Man Bai urges him to prioritize survival and retreat if necessary.
  • Zheng Fa reveals his trump card: a Golden Lotus containing the inheritance token of the Buddhist Sages Jieyin and Zhunти. He intends to use it to break any trap Lu Mo has prepared. If no trap exists, he may instead rely on Taishang Sage’s inheritance token to influence the Supreme Dao.
  • Old Man Bai realizes that Lu Mo may have unknowingly invited the successor of the Buddhist School into Thunderclap Temple.

Character Developments

  • Zheng Fa becomes increasingly confident and strategic. Rather than confronting Lu Mo recklessly, he prepares multiple contingencies involving the Mandarin Duck Treasure Mirror, the Sage inheritance tokens, his avatars, and the Creation Jade Disc.
  • Nine Nether Emperor reveals a more regretful and compassionate side through his treatment of Lingxi. He also shifts from merely warning Zheng Fa to actively supporting him by giving him the treasure mirror.
  • Lingxi is recontextualized. Instead of simply being a traitor, she appears to have been a victim whose death and remaining True Spirit may reveal hidden truths about Jade Pool and the Tianhe Upheaval.
  • Lu Mo is shown to be patient, calculating, and politically ambitious. He is willing to tolerate Zheng Fa temporarily in order to absorb the Nine Mountains Sect and unify Xuanwei under Thunderclap Temple.
  • Old Man Bai displays deep affection and anxiety for Zheng Fa, temporarily abandoning his usual carefree attitude. His concern highlights the emotional stakes of Zheng Fa’s journey.
  • Tang Lingwu becomes openly determined to support Zheng Fa. Though frightened, she promises to seek him out if he fails to return.
  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor remains suspicious of Lu Mo’s leniency but ultimately submits to Lu Mo’s broader vision and authority.
  • Yan Changge begins to place genuine hope in Zheng Fa’s ability to challenge Lu Mo, even though he initially doubts the possibility.

Significant Themes

  • Hope against overwhelming power: Zheng Fa’s allies may not know whether he can defeat Lu Mo, but they begin to see him as a source of hope.
  • Preparation versus recklessness: Zheng Fa’s strength lies not only in cultivation but in careful planning, scientific investigation, backup strategies, and the ability to preserve himself through avatars.
  • Hidden histories and unreliable judgments: Lingxi’s story shows that past events, especially the Tianhe Upheaval, may not be as straightforward as they were believed to be.
  • Political unification and submission: Lu Mo presents Thunderclap Temple’s expansion as universal salvation, but his words reveal an ambition to make all major forces his subjects.
  • The nature of one’s Dao: The Emperor’s warning emphasizes that Zheng Fa must discover and protect a Dao born from himself rather than relying entirely on external powers or inherited techniques.
  • Science and cultivation: Zheng Fa’s study of modern disciplines suggests that mathematical, physical, biological, and technological ideas may help him complete or transform his understanding of the Dao.
  • Emotional bonds as motivation: The concern of Old Man Bai, Tang Lingwu, and the others reinforces that Zheng Fa’s struggle is not merely personal or ideological; he is also fighting to protect those who depend on him.

Important Character Interactions

  • Zheng Fa and Nine Nether Emperor: They discuss Lu Mo, Lingxi, Jade Pool, the Loose Immortal Tribulations, and ways to accelerate Zheng Fa’s cultivation. The Emperor provides both practical assistance and profound spiritual advice.
  • Nine Nether Emperor and Yan Changge: Their exchange reveals that the Emperor sees Zheng Fa not merely as someone seeking help, but as someone capable of giving the older generation hope.
  • Lu Mo and Glazed Buddha Ancestor: Lu Mo calmly dismisses Glazed’s desire for vengeance and explains his strategy of absorbing all opposition into Thunderclap Temple.
  • Zheng Fa and Old Man Bai: Old Man Bai anxiously urges caution, while Zheng Fa reassures him with his avatars, protected treasures, and careful preparations.
  • Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu: Their exchange reveals Tang Lingwu’s fear and loyalty. Zheng Fa comforts her by showing the Golden Lotus, assuring everyone that he possesses a way to resist Lu Mo.
  • Zheng Fa and the modern-world scholars: His unusual period of intense study is interpreted by Old Man Bai and the others as the cultivation equivalent of a scientist nearing a major breakthrough.

Ch. 613Thunderclap Temple Observations, Golden Immortals Gather

Chapter Summary: Thunderclap Temple Observations, Golden Immortals Gather

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • After leaving Tang Lingwu and the others, Zheng Fa travels from the Nine Mountains Realm to Thunderclap Temple for the upcoming Great Luo Dharma Assembly.
  • Arhat Huihong, acting under Great Vehicle Buddha Ancestor Lu Mo’s orders, intercepts Zheng Fa at the Western Continent’s coast and escorts him to Thunderclap Temple. Their route deliberately avoids Jade Pool, making Zheng Fa suspect that Thunderclap Temple does not want him visiting there.
  • Along the way, Zheng Fa observes the Western Continent’s prosperous agriculture and peaceful villages. However, the villagers live in crude wooden huts and muddy conditions, while nearby cities display enormous wealth and religious extravagance.
  • In one city, a road paved entirely with gold leads to a magnificent Buddhist temple. Believers voluntarily donate gold, silver, and jewels, while treating Arhat Huihong with extreme reverence. Although no one appears to be physically coerced, Zheng Fa feels an oppressive gloom beneath the apparent prosperity and devotion.
  • Thunderclap Temple itself is built around a gigantic mountain whose summit holds a grand Buddhist hall. The slopes are filled with residences, scripture academies, temples, and other structures, revealing that Thunderclap Temple remains deeply involved in ordinary society rather than isolating itself from the mortal world.
  • Huihong gives Zheng Fa a secluded courtyard near the accommodations prepared for the visiting Golden Immortals. The gathering includes:
    • Three Golden Immortals from the Supreme Dao
    • Jade Pool’s Blissful Heavenly Maiden
    • Two Demon Race Golden Immortals
    • The Three Reclusive Immortals
    • Zheng Fa himself
      Altogether, there are ten visiting Golden Immortals, excluding Thunderclap Temple’s own forces.
  • Zheng Fa meets several important attendees:
    • Blissful Heavenly Maiden visits him warmly, accompanied by Nishang Yuanjun.
    • Nishang Yuanjun behaves with deep reverence and submission toward Blissful Heavenly Maiden, despite previously having different ideals.
    • Earthshaker Demon Lord, whose true form is a green ox, shows hostility toward Zheng Fa but restrains himself when Peacock Great Emperor reminds him that Zheng Fa is the Demon Emperor’s guest.
    • The Three Reclusive Immortals offer only distant greetings and avoid further contact.
    • Li Sanxian warmly greets Zheng Fa when the Supreme Dao arrives, but Xuan Chengzi makes clear that the Supreme Dao and Nine Mountains Sect are now enemies.
  • Xuan Chengzi explains that Zheng Fa is now opposed by nearly every Dao Fruit and survives largely because of Nine Nether Emperor’s protection and the Primordial Purple Qi.
  • The Supreme Dao believes Lu Mo convened the Dharma Assembly to unify the Dao Fruits beneath his influence and possibly secure cooperation against Nine Nether Emperor. They assume Lu Mo will personally negotiate with the Supreme Dao.
  • The chapter ends with Lu Mo arriving at the courtyards—but calling specifically for Zheng Fa, not the Supreme Dao. Zheng Fa welcomes him, leaving the Supreme Dao shocked and silent.

2. Character Developments

  • Zheng Fa: Becomes increasingly wary of Lu Mo’s influence and Thunderclap Temple’s hidden intentions. His observations of the Western Continent make him skeptical of its supposed “land of bliss,” and he recognizes the immense political danger surrounding the Dharma Assembly. He remains calm and observant even when confronted by hostile forces.
  • Arhat Huihong: Acts as a courteous and attentive guide. His gentleness contrasts with his former oppressive presence, though his careful route and explanations suggest that he is managing Zheng Fa’s movements on Thunderclap Temple’s behalf.
  • Lu Mo / Great Vehicle Buddha Ancestor: His influence is shown to extend across Thunderclap Temple, the Demon Race, Jade Pool, and much of the Golden Immortal world. His personal decision to visit Zheng Fa first suggests that Zheng Fa is central to his plans.
  • Blissful Heavenly Maiden: Presents herself as warm and welcoming, indicating that Jade Pool may seek cooperation or at least maintain a favorable relationship with Zheng Fa.
  • Nishang Yuanjun: Her unquestioning reverence toward Blissful Heavenly Maiden suggests a significant shift in allegiance, ideology, or personal loyalty.
  • Earthshaker Demon Lord and Peacock Great Emperor: Earthshaker openly dislikes Zheng Fa, but Peacock’s authority and Lu Mo’s status as “Demon Emperor” are sufficient to restrain him. This demonstrates Lu Mo’s unusual control over the Demon Race.
  • Li Sanxian: Still regards Zheng Fa as a friend and respects the value of the Yellow Court Scripture, but he is caught between personal ties and the Supreme Dao’s political position.
  • Xuan Chengzi: Treats Zheng Fa as an enemy and views the Dharma Assembly primarily as a political negotiation. His confidence that Lu Mo will need the Supreme Dao may be challenged by Lu Mo’s decision to seek Zheng Fa instead.

3. Significant Themes

  • Religious devotion versus material inequality: The Western Continent appears prosperous and peaceful, yet ordinary villagers live in poverty while enormous resources are devoted to temples, golden roads, and religious displays.
  • Voluntary faith and invisible control: No direct coercion is apparent, but the believers’ behavior is so devoted and submissive that Zheng Fa senses a deeper, less visible form of control.
  • Power concealed beneath civility: Nearly every interaction is polite, yet the gathering is filled with rivalries, alliances, old grudges, and political calculations.
  • Political isolation and shifting alliances: Zheng Fa is formally opposed by most major factions, but Lu Mo’s protection and interest prevent him from being openly eliminated. The Dharma Assembly is clearly a contest to determine the future alignment of the Dao Fruits.
  • The gap between appearance and reality: Thunderclap Temple presents itself as compassionate and prosperous, but its splendor contrasts sharply with the condition of the common people. Similarly, the supposedly unified gathering conceals deep divisions.
  • The significance of individual influence: Lu Mo’s ability to command respect from the Demon Race and attract multiple Golden Immortals demonstrates that his power is not merely personal but increasingly institutional and political.

4. Character Interactions

  • Zheng Fa and Huihong: Huihong escorts Zheng Fa, answers his questions, and attempts to explain Thunderclap Temple’s customs. Zheng Fa remains courteous but internally suspicious.
  • Zheng Fa and Blissful Heavenly Maiden: Their meeting is cordial and warm, suggesting that Jade Pool may be open to dialogue with him.
  • Zheng Fa and Nishang Yuanjun: Their reunion is restrained but significant. Zheng Fa notices that Nishang Yuanjun now shows complete submission to Blissful Heavenly Maiden.
  • Zheng Fa and the Demon Race: Earthshaker Demon Lord reacts with obvious hostility, while Peacock Great Emperor prevents an escalation by invoking Lu Mo’s protection of Zheng Fa.
  • Zheng Fa and the Three Reclusive Immortals: They exchange only distant formal greetings, reflecting the immortals’ deliberate isolation.
  • Zheng Fa and Li Sanxian: Their friendly reunion reveals that personal goodwill remains despite the political hostility between the Supreme Dao and Nine Mountains Sect.
  • Li Sanxian and Xuan Chengzi: Li Sanxian worries about Zheng Fa’s fate, while Xuan Chengzi insists that they are enemies and prioritizes the Supreme Dao’s strategic interests.
  • Lu Mo and Zheng Fa: The chapter closes with Lu Mo bypassing the Supreme Dao and summoning Zheng Fa directly, signaling that Zheng Fa may be more important to Lu Mo’s plans than the other Golden Immortals realize.

Ch. 614Thunderclap Offer, Discussing the World

Chapter Summary: “Thunderclap Offer, Discussing the World”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lu Mo personally visits Zheng Fa at his separate courtyard, accompanied by Glazed Buddha Ancestor, Huihong Bodhisattva, other Thunderclap Temple figures, and the divine beast Truth Listener.
  • Zheng Fa secretly livestreams the meeting through the Creation Jade Disc, allowing Senior Sister Zhang, Yun Wuji, Uncle-Master Pang, Old Han, and others in the Nine Mountains Realm to observe and analyze Lu Mo.
  • Lu Mo reveals that Zheng Fa’s interference prevented him from obtaining the Book of Life and Death and caused the failure of his attempt to attain the Grand Luo Dao. He also blames Zheng Fa for the death of his disciple White Lotus.
  • Instead of seeking revenge, Lu Mo offers Zheng Fa White Lotus’s former position as the future Buddha Ancestor. In exchange, Zheng Fa must help Lu Mo unify Xuanwei and surrender the Primordial Purple Qi.
  • Lu Mo explains that Zheng Fa is uniquely valuable because he is the rare human capable of obtaining the Primordial Purple Qi. He also warns that the Nine Mountains Realm, its sect, disciples, and mortals are Zheng Fa’s vulnerabilities and could be used against him.
  • Lu Mo argues that only he and Zheng Fa possess the qualities needed to lead Xuanwei. He dismisses the major factions and leaders, claiming the Supreme Dao is unstable, Jade Pool is powerless, and the Three Reclusive Immortals merely protect their own interests.
  • Zheng Fa rejects Lu Mo’s implied judgment of good and evil, insisting that he will decide for himself whom to trust.
  • Lu Mo accepts that Zheng Fa cannot be easily controlled but declares that Venerable Tianhe is the one person he absolutely cannot tolerate. This reveals that Lu Mo’s hostility toward the Tianhe Sect is ideological as well as strategic.
  • After leaving, Lu Mo orders Thunderclap Temple to prepare an assault on the Nine Mountains and search for the Primordial Purple Qi.
  • In the following days, the other Golden Immortals form alliances and negotiate with one another, while Zheng Fa’s courtyard is isolated. The chapter ends as the Great Luo Dharma Assembly begins.

Character Developments

  • Zheng Fa: Demonstrates composure, humility, and independence. He refuses Lu Mo’s flattering assessment and rejects the offer despite its enormous advantages. He recognizes both his own weaknesses and Lu Mo’s political and ideological ambitions.
  • Lu Mo: Emerges as a charismatic, calculating, and extraordinarily ambitious leader. Though he has deep grievances against Zheng Fa, he is willing to forgive or overlook them for the sake of larger goals. His ability to respect talent and envision a unified Xuanwei explains the loyalty of Thunderclap Temple and the Demon Race.
  • Glazed Buddha Ancestor and Huihong Bodhisattva: Their deferential behavior toward Lu Mo demonstrates his overwhelming authority within Thunderclap Temple, even among fellow Golden Immortals.
  • Yun Wuji: Appears uncertain about Lu Mo’s motives and admits that Lu Mo’s willingness to value Zheng Fa is unprecedented.
  • Senior Sister Zhang, Uncle-Master Pang, Old Han, and the Nine Mountains group: Serve as a strategic analytical team, carefully observing Lu Mo and recognizing the sincerity and danger behind his offer.
  • Xie Qingxue: Though she hates Lu Mo because of the Tianhe Sect’s suffering, she is shaken by his vision and admits that his proposal could tempt even a strong opponent.

Significant Themes

  • Ambition and leadership: Lu Mo presents himself as one of the few people capable of unifying and ruling Xuanwei, framing leadership as requiring exceptional talent, endurance, and breadth of heart.
  • Ideological conflict: Lu Mo’s hatred of Venerable Tianhe goes beyond personal or strategic rivalry. The chapter suggests a deeper conflict between competing inheritances and doctrines descending from ancient Sages.
  • Power versus moral independence: Lu Mo offers Zheng Fa immense authority, status, and protection, but accepting would require submission to Lu Mo’s political project. Zheng Fa chooses autonomy instead.
  • Respect amid rivalry: Lu Mo acknowledges Zheng Fa’s exceptional potential despite their enmity, showing that admiration and hostility can coexist.
  • Humanity and destiny: The Primordial Purple Qi can only be obtained by a human who possesses extraordinary qualities and the ability to lead the Human Race, placing Zheng Fa at the center of Xuanwei’s future.
  • Vulnerability: Zheng Fa’s attachment to the Nine Mountains Realm and its people gives him strength and purpose but also provides Lu Mo with leverage.

Character Interactions

  • Zheng Fa and Lu Mo: Their conversation shifts from accusations and old grievances to an unprecedented offer of alliance. Zheng Fa remains respectful but refuses to be manipulated.
  • Lu Mo and his followers: Their silent, rigid deference shows that Lu Mo commands near-total authority within Thunderclap Temple.
  • Zheng Fa and the Nine Mountains strategists: The livestream creates a collective consultation, with the group evaluating Lu Mo’s claims and motives in real time.
  • Lu Mo and Venerable Tianhe’s legacy: Lu Mo’s statement that he can tolerate nearly everyone except Tianhe exposes the central ideological fault line behind the conflict.
  • The various Golden Immortal factions: Their alliance-building before the Great Luo Dharma Assembly suggests that the political struggle is entering its decisive phase.

Ch. 615Great Luo Dharma Assembly, Truth of Spiritual Qi

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Zheng Fa attends the Great Luo Dharma Assembly at Thunder Sound Temple, led by Lu Yao.
  • Lu Yao reveals that the chaos in Xuanwei is due to the disorder of Daoist inheritances, causing Spiritual Energy Decline.
  • He explains that excessive spiritual energy leads to chaos, and the Xuanwei Fetal Membrane temporarily expels Chaos Qi, allowing spiritual energy to reappear briefly.
  • Lu Yao offers the Reincarnation Dao Proving Method to other Golden Immortals in exchange for converting to Thunder Sound Temple and upholding the Heaven-Earth Order.

Character Developments

  • Lu Yao demonstrates his charisma and strategic thinking by using the threat of Reincarnation and the promise of the Reincarnation Dao Proving Method to rally other Golden Immortals to his cause.
  • Zheng Fa gains a profound understanding of Spiritual Energy Decline and takes a significant step towards Enlightenment.

Significant Themes

  • The cyclical nature of eras and the consequences of Spiritual Energy Decline.
  • The interconnectedness of the Myriad Worlds and the impact of Reincarnation on the Xuanwei Realm.
  • The importance of unity among Golden Immortals in the face of calamity.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Yao interacts with various Golden Immortals, attempting to win them over to his side.
  • Zheng Fa exchanges nods with Blissful Heavenly Maiden, showing a thaw in their relationship.
  • Venerable Lady Nishang's suspicious behavior hints at a potential secret or conflict.
  • Master Xuan Cheng and the Supreme Dao faction engage in tense negotiations with Lu Yao, ultimately showing interest in his offer despite initial reservations.

Ch. 616Cast Aside Sages, Sever Wisdom; Origin of Dao Fruit

In the Modern World and Nine Mountains Sect, Zheng Fa’s allies reviewed his True Immortal theory while Lu Mo proposed a system that would control cultivation, faith, and the Dao Fruit ranks. As Xuan Chengzi and the other Golden Immortals began to consider Lu Mo’s offer, Zheng Fa continued comprehending the Primordial Purple Qi and formed a new scripture titled Origin of Dao Fruit.

  • Old Man Bai received Zheng Fa’s spirit talisman, and Tang Lingwu and the others began reviewing his True Immortal theory.
  • The Heavenly Emperor Body assigned Senior Sister Zhang and Xiao Yuying to review parts of Zheng Fa’s work as Lu Mo proposed limiting Dao Fruit cultivators and establishing a Nine-Rank Immortal System.
  • Lu Mo revealed that Thunderclap Temple’s Dharma Aspects preserved previous lives in the Pure Land, allowing cultivators to advance through Tribulation Reincarnation by using themselves as their audience.
  • Lu Mo explained that the Pure Land needed mortal faith and proposed placing mortals under Buddhist rule, while Xuan Chengzi and the other Golden Immortals discussed the plan.
  • Lu Mo claimed the Primordial Purple Qi would let the Human Race prove the Dao as a whole, and Zheng Fa formed the scripture Origin of Dao Fruit.

Ch. 617Lu Mo Sets the Stage, Zheng Fa Takes the Lead

Lu Mo won over Golden Immortals at the Great Luo Dharma Assembly by offering them a share in the Pure Land, then tried to seize Zheng Fa and force him to reveal where Primordial Purple Qi was hidden. As Lu Mo’s scripture began converting the Western Continent, the Golden Alms Bowl protected Zheng Fa, and Zheng Fa appeared in the Pure Land as Lu Mo vanished from the Dharma altars.

  • Lu Mo offered Supreme Dao the Future Buddha position and a share in the Pure Land, while Xuan Chengzi said his faction would consult the other Nine Sons of Taishang.
  • Lu Mo persuaded the Three Reclusive Immortals to support him, shifting the balance of Golden Immortals at the assembly and pressuring Xuan Chengzi to seek his colleagues’ agreement.
  • Lu Mo demanded that Zheng Fa surrender Primordial Purple Qi, then trapped him in the Golden Alms Bowl when Zheng Fa refused.
  • Lu Mo began lecturing on the Universal Salvation Heart Sutra across the Western Continent, using the Pure Land and its believers to strengthen its Dharma Aspects and convert those who listened.
  • The Golden Alms Bowl resisted Lu Mo and protected Zheng Fa; a Golden Lotus appeared beneath Zheng Fa as his phantom appeared before the believers and Lu Mo’s figure vanished from the Dharma altars.

Ch. 618Zheng Fa Expounds the Dao, Mahayana Buddhism

Zheng Fa used the Golden Lotus and Pure Land to gather faith and nourish his Immortal Body while expounding the origins of matter, life, thought, and emergence to Thunderclap Temple and its believers. He ended by arguing that even powerful cultivators were merely parts of a greater whole, leaving Lu Mo and Nine Nether Emperor sobered by his insight.

  • Zheng Fa discovered that the Golden Lotus connected him to the Pure Land and converted believers’ faith into nourishment for his Immortal Body.
  • Zheng Fa claimed that Jieyin and Zhunти had made him heir to the Buddhist School, and Lu Mo chose to reclaim the Pure Land rather than risk damaging it.
  • Zheng Fa demonstrated how atoms and molecules formed matter and could eventually produce self-replicating life, compelling Xuan Chengzi and others to listen closely.
  • Zheng Fa explained that cells formed thinking beings and introduced emergence as many weak entities combining under rules to create greater capabilities.
  • Zheng Fa compared powerful cultivators to atoms, cells, or organs within the Human Race, and Nine Nether Emperor recognized the insight behind his words.

Ch. 619All Beings Equal, the Decay Tribulation Descends

Zheng Fa defended Mahayana Buddhism before the Golden Immortals, arguing that open cultivation, rewards for innovation, and freedom to choose Dao methods would let the Immortal Way evolve. As his sermon strengthened him through the Pure Land’s faith, he reached the Five Decays Tribulation and drew the attention of the Thunderclap Buddha Ancestor.

  • Zheng Fa used the histories of the Yang Spirit Method, the Dharma Body Method, and the Celestial River Method to show that Dao methods emerged from collective effort and inherited knowledge.
  • Zheng Fa presented Mahayana Buddhism’s principles of equal access to cultivation, rewarding innovation, and freely choosing methods, while Lu Mo and the Golden Immortals grew hostile to his vision.
  • Zheng Fa continued preaching and explaining cultivation methods to the believers, whose faith transformed into spiritual rain that rapidly completed his Immortal Body.
  • After three months, Zheng Fa developed signs of the Five Decays Tribulation, astonishing Xuan Chengzi and Li Sanxian.
  • Lu Mo and the other Buddha Ancestors bowed toward the Pure Land as the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats followed, heralding the arrival of the Thunderclap Buddha Ancestor.

Ch. 620Pure Land Falls, Sealing Off the Continent in Seclusion

Zheng Fa destroyed the Sage’s Golden Lotus to burn and cripple the Pure Land, weakening Thunderclap Temple and breaking Lu Mo’s hold over the gathered Golden Immortals. Lu Mo sealed the Western Continent and sent allies toward the Nine Mountains Sect, while preparations there continued for an approaching attack.

  • Lu Mo and the gathered Golden Immortals agreed to march on the Nine Mountains Sect while Zheng Fa remained trapped beneath a mountain formed from Lu Mo’s palm.
  • Zheng Fa ignited the mountain and the Pure Land with the Golden Lotus, escaping as the Pure Land broke apart and Thunderclap Temple’s Dharma Aspects were damaged.
  • The Thunderclap Buddha Ancestor extinguished the flames, but the Pure Land remained shattered, prompting Xuan Chengzi and Daoist Guhong to question Lu Mo’s offer of cultivation.
  • Lu Mo sealed the Western Continent with the Great Vajra Dharma Realm and said everyone would have to wait while Truth Listener prepared to identify Zheng Fa.
  • Lu Mo sent the Heaven-Shaking Demon Emperor, the Peacock Great Emperor, and the Blissful Heavenly Maiden toward the Nine Mountains Sect, warning them to avoid Vast Sun Mountain.
  • In the Nine Mountains Realm, Yun Wuji told Senior Sister Zhang that the Sun-Shooting Army and Divine Firmament Legion had completed nine drills and were ready.
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