Chapter Summaries

Yang Jian freed Yunhua Fairy from Peach Mountain, unaware that Wu Tian had already taken her to safety, while Goddess Nüwa considered sending Ling Zhuzi through a mortal trial. As the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation approached, Di Xin visited Nüwa Temple and wrote a lustful poem about bringing the goddess to Changle to serve him.

• Haotian confronted Yang Jian at Peach Mountain, but Yang Jian broke the formation and entered the mountain to find his mother.
• Yang Jian emerged and told Perfected Being Yuding that Yunhua Fairy had left, while Haotian departed without intervening.
• Yang Jian resented his father for taking Yunhua Fairy away without telling him, while Yunhua Fairy asked Wangshu and Goddess Nüwa whether they should reveal the truth to him.
• Goddess Nüwa considered sending Ling Zhuzi to reincarnate and undergo trials during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
• Di Xin visited Nüwa Temple on the third day of the third month, saw the statue revealed by a breeze, and wrote a poem declaring that he would bring the goddess to Changle to serve him.

Di Xin regained fragments of Wu Tian’s memories after being manipulated into writing a lewd poem at Nüwa Temple, and he returned to the palace to assess his situation. Queen Jiang arrived despite his order for solitude, leaving Di Xin stunned by the beauty of the wife he knew King Zhou would eventually kill.

• Di Xin awakened to the fact that he had become Di Xin after writing an insulting poem at Nüwa Temple, and he suspected Sage Zhunti had interfered with him.
• The ministers tried to wash the poem from the temple wall, but it shone more brightly instead of fading.
• Di Xin feigned King Zhou’s arrogance, dismissed the ministers’ alarm, and ordered everyone to return to the palace.
• Di Xin shut himself in his bedchamber to compare his memories and consider how to face his fate as King Zhou.
• Queen Jiang pushed past a palace servant to enter, and Di Xin was struck by her beauty and recalled that King Zhou would kill her.

Di Xin’s lewd poem at Nüwa Temple enraged Goddess Nüwa, but she realized someone had manipulated him to provoke a conflict with Wu Tian. After discovering traces of lust and accusing Sage Zhunti, she attacked the west with the Creation Qiankun Cauldron.

• Di Xin pulled Queen Jiang beneath him and set aside his worries to enjoy himself.
• Goddess Nüwa descended to Nüwa Temple after receiving Great Shang’s incense offerings and found Di Xin’s insulting poem.
• Great Shang’s Fortune stopped Goddess Nüwa’s incarnation from approaching Chaoge, and she suspected the poem was part of a scheme to turn her against Wu Tian.
• Goddess Nüwa found traces of dense lust at the temple and accused Sage Zhunti of manipulating Di Xin.
• Goddess Nüwa’s true body launched the Creation Qiankun Cauldron toward the west.

Nüwa attacked the Western World with the Creation Qiankun Cauldron after Zhunti tried to stop her, forcing Jieyin to defend it while the Three Pure Ones contained the battle’s shockwaves. Nüwa left the Western World under threat and rejected Zhunti’s explanation, telling him to talk to her cauldron.

• Nüwa hurled the Creation Qiankun Cauldron toward the Western World, and Zhunti raced west while pleading with her to stop.
• Jieyin raised his golden body and the Twelfth Grade Golden Lotus of Merit to catch the cauldron, but it smashed through his golden arms and battered him.
• Zhunti swept away the battle’s aftershocks with the Seven Treasure Tree while Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Tongtian used their treasures to keep the tremors from spreading.
• Jieyin stopped the cauldron from striking the Western World, though his golden body was badly damaged.
• Zhunti tried to explain himself as Nüwa seized the cauldron and prepared to strike again, but she told him to talk to her Qiankun Cauldron.

Nüwa battered Jieyin and Zhunti after exposing Zhunti’s plot, and Fuxi arrived with the Human Clan to support her. Taiqing urged Fuxi to return to Fire Cloud Cave to avoid destabilizing the Human Clan’s Fortune, and Nüwa agreed, insisting she could handle the Western saints herself.

• Nüwa repeatedly struck Jieyin and Zhunti with the Creation Qiankun Cauldron, leaving both saints injured and disheveled.
• Fuxi arrived with the Three Ancestors, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and other Human Clan sages to stand with Nüwa.
• Nüwa told the Human Clan that Zhunti had ambushed her and framed Human Emperor Di Xin, prompting the group to glare at the Western Sect.
• Zhunti secretly threatened Yuanshi with exposing their agreement, and Yuanshi stepped forward to confront Fuxi.
• Fuxi defended the Human Clan’s right to demand an explanation, while Taiqing urged him to return to Fire Cloud Cave and promised the Western Sect would answer for its actions.
• Nüwa told Fuxi to return, saying she had enough strength and means to deal with Jieyin and Zhunti alone.

Fuxi withdrew after warning Jieyin and Zhunti that the Human Clan would retaliate for their attack on Nüwa and the Human Emperor. Nüwa accepted a great Karma owed by the Western Sect, while Tongtian warned that Wu Tian might later help her collect it.

• Fuxi declared that the Human Clan was holding the Western Sect accountable for now out of respect for Taiqing and the Human Clan’s fortunes, then departed with the others.
• Taiqing persuaded Nüwa to record the grievance as Karma, and Nüwa stopped herself from attacking Jieyin and Zhunti again.
• Zhunti reluctantly admitted his fault and acknowledged that the Western Sect owed Nüwa a great Karma.
• Nüwa withdrew the Creation Cauldron and left, followed by Taiqing and Yuanshi.
• Tongtian warned Jieyin and Zhunti that Wu Tian might come to collect Nüwa’s Karma, then left with a mischievous grin.

After the conflict with the Western Sect, Nüwa consulted Fuxi, and Di Xin learned more about the Human Saint-Father and the hidden history of the Human Clan. He decided to summon Grand Tutor Wen and find out whether a Human Emperor could cultivate.

• Zhunti decided to leave Jieyin in the Western World and travel east to guide those with affinity for the Western Sect and question Yuanshi.
• Nüwa visited Fuxi in Fire Cloud Cave and told him how the conflict had ended; Fuxi agreed to wait for Wu Tian to awaken before acting on the debt owed by the Western Sect.
• Queen Jiang told Di Xin that the Human Saint-Father and Nüwa were not Dao companions and explained why the Saint-Father had no statue or need for incense offerings.
• Di Xin reconsidered what he knew about the Investiture of the Gods world and wondered whether the Human Saint-Father would protect the Human Clan.
• Di Xin decided to summon Grand Tutor Wen and ask whether a Human Emperor could cultivate.

Di Xin burned one of Grand Tutor Wen’s talismans to summon him back from the North Sea, hoping to stabilize the court. Wen Zhong arrived in Chaoge the next night, only to find Di Xin drinking with Queen Jiang, and asked what urgent matter had prompted the summons.

• Di Xin remembered the talismans Grand Tutor Wen had left him and burned one to call Wen back to Chaoge.
• Queen Jiang watched the talisman’s green smoke disappear into the void, then resumed acting confused.
• Wen Zhong sensed the summons in the North Sea, told Ji Li and Yu Qing to steady the army, and secretly rode his Ink Kirin toward Chaoge.
• Wen Zhong arrived at the royal palace the following night and heard Di Xin drinking with Queen Jiang.
• Di Xin hurried out to greet Wen Zhong, who asked why the Great King had urgently summoned him.

Di Xin pulled Grand Tutor Wen close and explained that he had been manipulated into writing a lewd poem at Nüwa Temple. Wen grew furious at the plot against the human emperor, then wondered whether Nüwa’s recent clash with the western Saints had been caused by the incident.

• Di Xin warmly welcomed Grand Tutor Wen and dismissed Queen Jiang, who accepted Wen’s admonition that she should counsel the Great King.
• Di Xin plied Wen with wine and praise before explaining that a strange fragrance had muddled his mind at Nüwa Temple and led him to write the poem.
• Grand Tutor Wen became enraged when he heard Di Xin had been schemed against and vowed to find the culprit.
• Wen recalled Nüwa’s recent battle with the western Saints and wondered whether she had acted because of Di Xin’s poem.

After learning that the Western Sect Saints had schemed against him, Di Xin asked Grand Tutor Wen to help him cultivate, but learned that Human Emperors could not cultivate. As Di Xin refused to give up, a vast memory surfaced in his mind, revealing the Myriad Tribulations Entwining Fate Devouring Art.

• Grand Tutor Wen told Di Xin that Goddess Nüwa had discovered the Western Sect's scheme and gone to confront them, but he could not say whether she would forgive Di Xin for the poem.
• Di Xin asked Grand Tutor Wen to help him cultivate so he could protect himself from future attacks.
• Grand Tutor Wen explained that Human Emperors could no longer cultivate after the Nine Provinces Barrier was established, and that even the Martial Dao could not bypass the rule.
• Di Xin resolved to find a way to cultivate, and a vast memory suddenly surged into his mind.
• Di Xin recognized the memory as the Myriad Tribulations Entwining Fate Devouring Art.

Di Xin decided to cultivate the Myriad Tribulations Entwining Fate Devouring Art if he could not obtain a safer method, and he warned Grand Tutor Wen that Great Shang might fall during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. Grand Tutor Wen left for Golden Turtle Island to seek answers and ask whether the Intercepting Sect could provide Di Xin with a cultivation method.

• Di Xin recognized that the Myriad Tribulations Entwining Fate Devouring Art could use his immense Fortune for cultivation and decided to practice it if necessary.
• Di Xin raised his fears about being manipulated and told Grand Tutor Wen that a Daoist had warned him Great Shang would perish during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
• Di Xin asked Grand Tutor Wen to question his master about the Investiture of the Gods and whether the Great King could cultivate.
• Grand Tutor Wen grew uncertain and agreed to return to Golden Turtle Island to consult his teacher and clarify the matters.
• Di Xin sent Grand Tutor Wen off to Chaoge's court and vowed not to let Great Shang's Fortune fall to Ji Fa or the Saints.

Di Xin studied the Myriad Tribulations Entwining Fate Devouring Art while waiting for Grand Tutor Wen, then avoided court to enjoy himself with the women in his household. After ministers urged him to attend court, he persuaded them to handle state affairs in his absence, and Fei Zhong arrived with a proposal to fill the royal harem with beauties.

• Di Xin studied the Myriad Tribulations Entwining Fate Devouring Art but waited for Grand Tutor Wen to return before cultivating.
• Di Xin claimed illness and spent several days drinking and making merry with Queen Jiang, Consort Huang, and Consort Yang.
• Shang Rong, Bi Gan, and Huang Feihu sought an audience, and Di Xin persuaded them to manage court affairs while he recuperated.
• Fei Zhong advised Di Xin to order the Four Great Marquis to each present one hundred beauties for the harem.
• Di Xin hesitated and asked whether Fei Zhong's proposal was appropriate.

Di Xin refused Fei Zhong’s proposal to gather four hundred beauties, then ordered him to secretly amplify Ji Chang’s virtuous reputation. Di Xin planned to use that reputation to push the Marquis of the West into an eventual fall and considered killing him outright.

• Fei Zhong urged Di Xin to request one hundred beauties from each of the four regions, but Di Xin refused, citing the burden on the people.
• Fei Zhong praised Di Xin’s benevolence and claimed his proposal would strengthen the Shang royal bloodline.
• Di Xin recalled that Fei Zhong’s future resentment of Su Hu would lead to the demand for Su Daji, and considered killing Ji Chang when the lords came to court.
• Di Xin asked Fei Zhong about rumors praising the Marquis of the West, and Fei Zhong said people from Western Qi were spreading them in Chaoge.
• Di Xin ordered Fei Zhong to secretly spread Ji Chang’s reputation as a flawless sage even farther, and Fei Zhong agreed.
• After Fei Zhong left, Di Xin resolved to make Ji Chang’s perfect image impossible to maintain, then realized the Duke of Zheng had not yet existed.

Grand Tutor Wen returned to Golden Ao Island and learned from Holy Mother Jinling that the Investiture of the Gods tribulation would determine Great Shang’s fate. Resolved to stand by his king and country, he asked whether Di Xin could be taught to cultivate, but Holy Mother Jinling said only the Martial Ancestor might make that possible.

• Di Xin wondered whether killing Ji Chang would alter the Investiture of the Gods, then went to spend time with Queen Jiang.
• Grand Tutor Wen hurried to Golden Ao Island and paid his respects to Holy Mother Jinling.
• Holy Mother Jinling explained the coming tribulation and warned that Wen Zhong’s ties to Great Shang meant he could not avoid it.
• Wen Zhong was shocked to learn that Great Shang would fall, but he refused to abandon the kingdom and vowed to die for his country if necessary.
• Wen Zhong asked whether the Intercepting Sect could help Di Xin cultivate, and Holy Mother Jinling replied that only the Martial Ancestor might be able to do so.

Grand Tutor Wen returned to Chaoge after learning that the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation was real and that Nüwa might hold Di Xin responsible for the Nüwa Temple incident. Di Xin and Grand Tutor Wen resolved to resist the tribulation together, while Grand Tutor Wen still had no answer about Di Xin’s cultivation.

• Holy Mother Gold Spirit warned Grand Tutor Wen to avoid the word “end” and cautioned him to be careful during the tribulation.
• Grand Tutor Wen hurried back to Chaoge and told Di Xin that the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation truly existed.
• Di Xin reassured Grand Tutor Wen that Great Shang might still find a way to survive the tribulation.
• Grand Tutor Wen proposed going to Western Qi immediately to kill Ji Chang, but Di Xin argued that killing him might not change the Heavenly Dao’s plans.
• Di Xin declared that he would become a tyrant and carve out a chance of survival through slaughter if necessary, and Grand Tutor Wen pledged to follow him unto death.
• Di Xin asked what Holy Mother Gold Spirit had said about his cultivation, and Grand Tutor Wen admitted that he had no answer.

Di Xin arranged for Grand Tutor Wen to return to Chaoge while Huang Feihu took command of the North Sea campaign, then began cultivating the Myriad Tribulations Entwining Fate Devouring Art. As Di Xin drew in a wisp of Great Shang’s Fortune and neared his first strand of magical power, Wu Tian briefly noticed him through their connection.

• Di Xin asked Grand Tutor Wen to return to Chaoge and proposed sending Huang Feihu to suppress the North Sea rebellion.
• Grand Tutor Wen agreed to hand the army over to Huang Feihu and secretly summoned him to the Royal Palace.
• Huang Feihu accepted the decree and left with Grand Tutor Wen to prepare for their departure to the North Sea.
• Di Xin ordered the hall guarded and began cultivating the Myriad Tribulations Entwining Fate Devouring Art.
• Di Xin drew a wisp of damaged Great Shang Fortune into his body, where it began to kindle his blood and vital energy as his first magical power nearly formed.
• Wu Tian briefly awoke and looked upon Di Xin through their connection.

Di Xin finally formed mana after Wu Tian secretly removed the force blocking his cultivation, then devoured the scattered Fortune created by the poem’s effects. Nüwa erased the poem and prepared to punish Di Xin without harming Great Shang, but noticed Fortune disappearing from Chaoge.

• Di Xin repeatedly failed to form mana until Wu Tian sent down an aura that dissolved the obstruction, allowing him to cultivate.
• Di Xin used the Myriad Tribulations Entwining Fate Devouring Art to refine scattered Fortune into mana, then stopped when Great Shang’s remaining Fortune proved too solid to absorb.
• Nüwa sensed Wu Tian briefly awaken in the Origin Realm and decided to return after Fuxi warned her not to play into her enemies’ plans.
• Nüwa reassured Fuxi that she would only give Di Xin a minor punishment, then sent a thought to Nüwa Temple instead of going herself.
• Nüwa erased the poem at Nüwa Temple and observed Chaoge without entering its Fortune canopy.
• Nüwa noticed Fortune vanishing from Chaoge and grew curious about its cause.

Nüwa went to Great Shang's Royal Palace to investigate the strange Fortune and meet Di Xin, but Queen Jiang received her instead. Queen Jiang revealed that Di Xin was Wu Tian's avatar and urged Nüwa to call her Sister so she could help bring Nüwa into the harem.

• Nüwa concealed her aura, traveled to Chaoge, and asked the palace guards to report that she wished to see Di Xin.
• Queen Jiang learned that a mysterious visitor had arrived and arranged to receive her because Di Xin was unavailable.
• Nüwa entered the front hall and was shocked to discover that Queen Jiang was her fellow Daoist.
• Queen Jiang told Nüwa that Di Xin was Wu Tian's avatar and that his memories had not yet awakened.
• Queen Jiang teased Nüwa by asking her to call her Sister and offering to recommend her for the harem.

Nüwa left Queen Jiang and settled at Nüwa Temple while Di Xin focused on cultivation and inventions to increase Great Shang’s Fortune. After his inventions began spreading across the kingdom, Queen Jiang grew impatient with his absence and headed toward Nüwa Temple.

• Nüwa realized Di Xin was Wu Tian’s reincarnation, rejected Queen Jiang’s invitation to beg for palace access, and returned to Nüwa Temple to consider their destined bond.
• Di Xin found Great Shang’s scattered Fortune depleted and began governing diligently, hoping inventions could raise its Fortune enough for him to absorb.
• Grand Tutor Wen returned to Chaoge, and Di Xin worked with him to develop the Curved Shaft Plow, though it barely increased Great Shang’s Fortune.
• Di Xin and Grand Tutor Wen developed blast-furnace steelmaking, then put Grand Tutor Wen, Bi Gan, and others to work producing more inventions that improved people’s lives and brought Di Xin Fortune to cultivate.
• As Di Xin spent more time cultivating and less time with her, Queen Jiang left the palace with a procession and headed toward Nüwa Temple.

Queen Jiang visited Nüwa Temple to provoke Nüwa, who planned to enter the palace and help Di Xin cultivate. In Di Xin’s eighth year, he summoned his ministers to discuss the lords’ homage, and Grand Tutor Wen revealed why he considered Ji Chang a threat to Great Shang.

• Queen Jiang offered incense at Nüwa Temple, dismissed her attendants, and asked Nüwa whether she would call her big sister; Nüwa rebuffed her and vanished into the statue.
• Queen Jiang announced she would pray for Di Xin and Great Shang at the temple on the first and fifteenth of each month, prompting Nüwa to suspect she was trying to annoy her.
• Nüwa reasoned that Di Xin was secretly cultivating Great Shang’s Fortune to reclaim Human Dao, and planned to enter the palace and help him so she could be the first to meet Wu Tian when he awakened.
• In Di Xin’s eighth year, he summoned Grand Tutor Wen, Shang Rong, Bi Gan, and Fei Zhong to discuss the coming homage of the realm’s lords.
• Grand Tutor Wen suggested executing Ji Chang while he was in Chaoge, explaining that Ji Chang’s fame rivaled Cheng Tang’s and made him a danger to Great Shang; Shang Rong and Bi Gan were shocked, while Fei Zhong recognized something in Wen’s words.