Chapter Summaries

Haotian negotiated Zhou Ming's support for the Heavenly Court by offering the Wu Clan half of its Fortune and broad autonomy. Zhou Ming also secured two of the Six Imperial Jade Master positions, then departed with Houtu to select clansmen to serve in the Heavenly Court.

• Zhou Ming told Haotian that the Wu Clan would join the Heavenly Court only if its Fortune share was increased.
• Haotian offered the Wu Clan fifty percent of the Heavenly Court's Fortune and promised its members could hold nominal posts without being closely controlled.
• Zhou Ming accepted Haotian's terms but required two of the Six Imperial Jade Master positions for Wu Clan members.
• Haotian agreed to give the Wu Clan any two positions, and Zhou Ming promised its members would cooperate with him.
• Zhou Ming and Houtu left the Yaochi Immortal Realm, while Haotian and Yaochi celebrated the Heavenly Court's new alliance with the Wu Clan.

Zhou Ming explained to Houtu why the Wu Clan had let Haotian and Yaochi rule the Heavenly Court in exchange for half its Fortune. As they continued toward Buzhou Mountain, he revealed that he would need Haotian to initiate the next Tribulation but withheld the details.

• Houtu asked Zhou Ming why the Wu Clan did not seize control of the Heavenly Court themselves.
• Zhou Ming explained that Haotian and Yaochi could manage the Heavenly Court while the Wu Clan supported them and collected half its Fortune.
• Houtu asked why Zhou Ming had not demanded a larger share, and he warned that taking too much would breed resentment and hinder the Heavenly Court's growth.
• Zhou Ming said Haotian would work hard to develop the Heavenly Court because he retained half its Fortune, creating a lasting source of benefits for the Wu Clan.
• Zhou Ming told Houtu that he needed Haotian to initiate the next Tribulation, but he did not explain how as they continued toward Buzhou Mountain.

Zhou Ming arranged for the Wu Clan to join the Heavenly Court, assigning Xing Tian to lead its members and reserving a Six Imperial Jade Master title for Houtu. The news stirred regret and debate across the Primordial Wilderness as the Heavenly Court appeared poised to rise.

• Zhou Ming told Houtu to select Wu Clan members for the Heavenly Court, with Xing Tian leading them and Houtu holding the other Six Imperial Jade Master position.
• Houtu accepted the title and left Pangu Hall to choose suitable clan members.
• Rogue cultivators regretted refusing Haotian’s recruitment, believing Wu Clan protection would have benefited them.
• Taiqing, Primordial Lord Tianzun, Tongtian, and Nuwa each reacted to the news, while Jieyin and Zhunti lamented losing their chance to gain influence in the Heavenly Court.
• The Primordial Wilderness debated whether the Wu Clan had taken control of the Heavenly Court, but all agreed that it was about to rise.

Zhou Ming visited the East Sea Dragon Palace to ask Ao Hai for help, promising that the task would benefit the Dragon Clan. Ao Hai agreed to serve him, though he remained wary of the risks.

• Haotian and Yaochi saw the Heavenly Court attract many Rogue Cultivators after the Wu Clan joined it, and Haotian celebrated the value of sharing its Fortune with the Wu Clan.
• Zhou Ming decided to prepare for Fuxi's reincarnation and traveled from Pangu Hall to the East Sea.
• Ao Hai sensed Zhou Ming's Sage aura and welcomed him at the Crystal Palace alongside Ao Guang and other Dragon Clan leaders.
• Zhou Ming declined Ao Hai's offer of a banquet and requested a private conversation in a side hall.
• Ao Hai promised to do his utmost to fulfill Zhou Ming's request after Zhou Ming said the task would bring great benefits to the Dragon Clan.

Zhou Ming revealed to Ao Hai that Hongjun’s Three Corpses Slaying Method blocked the Path of Laws and offered him a way to restore it in exchange for staying in the Wu Clan. Ao Hai refused to abandon the Dragon Clan, but Zhou Ming showed him a faint aura that left him shocked and horrified.

• Zhou Ming passed Ao Hai the first half of Hongjun’s Three Corpses Slaying Method, and Ao Hai realized it exposed the method’s terrible drawbacks.
• Ao Hai raged that Hongjun had harmed him and countless cultivators by leading them onto a dead-end path.
• Zhou Ming offered to teach Ao Hai a method to escape the Three Corpses Slaying Method’s drawbacks and return to the Path of Laws, on the condition that he remain in the Wu Clan.
• Ao Hai refused because the Dragon Clan still needed him and he would not leave his people for an uncertain chance at attaining the Dao.
• Zhou Ming urged Ao Hai to feel a faint wisp of aura, and Ao Hai reacted with boundless shock and horror.

Zhou Ming revealed to Ao Hai that Candle Dragon had entered reincarnation, then secured Ao Hai’s agreement to cultivate the technique and meet him at Pangu Hall after ten thousand years. He also advised the Dragon Clan to aid the rising Human Clan to earn merit and reduce their karmic burden.

• Ao Hai recognized Candle Dragon’s aura, and Zhou Ming confirmed that he had sent Candle Dragon into reincarnation.
• Overjoyed that their Ancestor was not truly dead, Ao Hai thanked Zhou Ming and agreed to follow his arrangements.
• Zhou Ming gave Ao Hai ten thousand years to settle the Dragon Clan’s affairs before meeting him at Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain.
• Zhou Ming refused Ao Hai’s request to see Candle Dragon, explaining that Candle Dragon’s opportunity was not yet ready.
• Zhou Ming advised the Dragon Clan to help the Human Clan develop and earn merit, giving them a chance to escape some of their Karma.
• Ao Hai pledged the Dragon Clan’s gratitude and obedience, and Zhou Ming vanished from the Dragon Palace.

Zhou Ming visited West Queen Mother on West Kunlun and offered her the Shattering Three Corpses Method to reconnect the Dao Path that Hongjun had severed. She agreed to cultivate it under the Wu Clan’s supervision and immediately left with Zhou Ming for Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain.

• Zhou Ming traveled to West Kunlun to seek a Great Power who had Severed two corpses and test the Shattering Two Corpses method.
• Primordial Lord Tianzun noticed Zhou Ming heading toward West Kunlun but chose not to investigate.
• Zhou Ming gave West Queen Mother a jade slip containing the first half of the Three Corpses Slaying Method, and she realized her Dao Path had been severed.
• Zhou Ming offered West Queen Mother the Shattering Three Corpses Method in exchange for cultivating within the Wu Clan until it could be spread throughout the Primordial Wilderness.
• West Queen Mother accepted without hesitation, gave a few instructions, and left West Kunlun with Zhou Ming for Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain.

Nuwa visited Pangu Hall to ask Zhou Ming to arrange Fuxi’s reincarnation now that his Primordial Spirit had been nurtured. Zhou Ming agreed to take her to the Underworld after discussing the Human Clan’s rise, and summoned Wu to involve the clan in the decision.

• Nuwa saw that Fuxi’s Primordial Spirit had been fully nurtured and went to Buzhou Mountain to seek Zhou Ming’s help with his reincarnation.
• Zhou Ming told Houtu that Nuwa had come to discuss Fuxi’s rebirth, and they went out to welcome her.
• Nuwa asked Zhou Ming to arrange Fuxi’s reincarnation as soon as possible, and he agreed to accompany her to the Underworld after discussing the Human Clan’s rise.
• Zhou Ming stopped Nuwa from summoning the other Sages and explained that the Human Clan should be informed and respected as the foundation of their Fortune.
• Wu arrived at Pangu Hall, where Zhou Ming told him that Fuxi would reincarnate into the Human Clan and that the clan would rise.

Zhou Ming and Wu prepared for the Human Clan’s rise by recalling its martial arts masters and setting conditions for Fuxi’s reincarnation. Fuxi agreed to belong solely to the Human Clan, and Zhou Ming promised that Sage schemes would not harm innocent humans before inviting the other Sages to Pangu Hall.

• Zhou Ming warned Wu that Heavenly Dao might intensify the hardships facing the Human Clan and told him to recall its martial arts masters to the Ancestral Land.
• Wu asked that Fuxi become only the Human Clan’s Human Emperor after reincarnation, prompting Nuwa to object and unleash pressure that Zhou Ming stopped.
• Fuxi agreed with Zhou Ming and accepted Wu’s condition, declaring that there would be no more Demon Race Fuxi.
• Wu asked Zhou Ming to ensure that the Sages’ schemes would not harm innocent members of the Human Clan, and Zhou Ming agreed.
• Zhou Ming told Nuwa to summon the other Sages to Pangu Hall to discuss the Human Clan’s rise.

Nuwa summoned the Sages to arrange teachers for the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and asked Zhou Ming to teach her brother Fuxi after his reincarnation as the Human Clan’s Heavenly Emperor. The Sages argued over the remaining positions until Zhou Ming declared that the Wu Clan would claim the Heavenly Emperor and Earthly Emperor teacher roles.

• Taiqing, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Jieyin, and Zhunti received Nuwa’s message and traveled to Buzhou Mountain.
• Zhou Ming told the gathered Sages that the rulers of the Human Clan needed masters to guide them and proposed allocating the positions.
• Nuwa offered to withdraw from the allocation on the condition that Zhou Ming teach her brother Fuxi, and Zhou Ming accepted.
• Zhunti proposed dividing the remaining positions between the West and the Three Pure Ones, but Yuanshi and Tongtian rejected the West’s claim, prompting an argument.
• Zhou Ming rebuked the Sages for deciding matters for the Wu Clan and claimed the Heavenly Emperor and Earthly Emperor teacher positions for his clan, leaving the other positions for the Sages to divide.

Zhou Ming secured two imperial-teacher positions for the Wu Clan, then watched the other Sages divide the remaining posts. After warning them not to harm the Human Clan in their pursuit of Merit, he sent them away.

• Zhou Ming asked the Sages for objections to the Wu Clan taking two positions, and they unanimously stayed silent.
• Zhunti offered to let the Three Pure Ones take all Five Emperor positions in exchange for the Western Teachings receiving the Human Emperor position, but Yuanshi and Tongtian rejected the offer.
• Laozi allocated the Human Emperor position and three Five Emperor positions to the Three Pure Ones, and two Five Emperor positions to Jieyin and Zhunti; the Western Sages reluctantly agreed.
• Yuanshi claimed the Human Emperor position for Guangchengzi, while Tongtian accepted the three Five Emperor positions for the Jie Sect.
• Zhou Ming warned the Sages that harming or involving the Human Clan in their contests for Merit would cost them all Merit from the Clan's rise, then dismissed them from Pangu Hall.

Zhou Ming agreed to help Nuwa send Fuxi into reincarnation and arranged for Wu to recruit Hong Yun into the Human Clan. Fuxi safely entered the Humanity Dao of reincarnation, and Nuwa left to watch over his rebirth while Zhou Ming returned to Pangu Hall.

• Zhou Ming asked Wu to travel to Huoyun Cave and persuade Hong Yun to join the Human Clan.
• Zhou Ming and Nuwa left Houtu Sister in Pangu Hall and traveled to the Netherworld.
• Calm Heart led Zhou Ming and Nuwa to the Six Paths of Reincarnation, where she sent Fuxi's Primordial Spirit into the Humanity Dao.
• Fuxi reassured Nuwa before disappearing into reincarnation, and Nuwa thanked Zhou Ming and Calm Heart.
• Nuwa returned to Empress Wa's Palace to watch over Fuxi's reincarnation, while Zhou Ming returned to Pangu Hall.

Wu visited Hong Yun at Huoyun Cave and offered him a Saint Position through the emerging Human Dao in exchange for joining the Human Clan. Hong Yun accepted and became the Yun Ancestor, leaving Wu to announce the alliance to the Human Clan.

• Wu arrived at Huoyun Cave and greeted Hong Yun, who welcomed him as a fellow Daoist.
• Wu asked whether Hong Yun wanted a Saint Position and explained that the flourishing Human Dao could help him attain the Dao, as the Earth Dao had helped Zhen Yuanzi.
• Hong Yun asked what the Human Clan would require in return, and Wu said he must join the clan and put its interests first.
• Hong Yun agreed without hesitation to join the Human Clan and share in its fortune and fate.
• Wu named Hong Yun the Yun Ancestor and said he would proclaim the news to the Human Clan.

Huaxu Shi became pregnant after stepping into a giant footprint, and the Fengyan Tribe feared the child’s mysterious origin while awaiting guidance from the Ancestral Land. The Ancestral Land declared the pregnancy a blessing, but twelve years passed without Huaxu Shi giving birth.

• Huaxu Shi’s father worried that the tribe lacked powerful fighters and agreed to keep her at the tribe’s edge while they awaited the Ancestral Land’s response.
• Miraculous Auspicious Beasts brought Spiritual Fruits and Spiritual Grass to Huaxu Shi, deepening the tribe’s awe and her father’s concern.
• After nearly ten months without a reply, Huaxu Shi’s father prepared to send her away, but an envoy arrived with the Ancestral Land’s decree to protect her and ensure a safe birth.
• Huaxu Shi’s father brought her back into the tribe, where the clanspeople celebrated and cared for her.
• Twelve years passed, and Huaxu Shi remained pregnant without showing any sign of giving birth.

Zhou Ming went to the Fengyan Tribe when Fuxi was born and accepted him as his disciple, naming him Fuxi. As Fuxi grew into a gifted leader, he became chief of the tribe and accepted the responsibility of guiding his people.

• Zhou Ming left Pangu Hall for the Fengyan Tribe, where he met Nuwa waiting for Fuxi's birth.
• Auspicious signs filled the sky when Fuxi was born, and Zhou Ming announced that he would take the child as his disciple.
• Zhou Ming named the newborn Fuxi and left an imprint on him without taking him away from the tribe.
• Fuxi grew rapidly, displayed extraordinary insight, and often advised the Fengyan Tribe's chief.
• The old chief passed the authority of the Fengyan Tribe to Fuxi, who accepted the position and vowed not to disappoint the tribe.

After becoming the human race’s Co-lord, Fuxi sought Zhou Ming’s advice on governing the scattered tribes and establishing a nation. Zhou Ming advised him to discuss moving the Human Tribe out of Wu Clan territory with Wu, and Fuxi set out for the Human Clan Ancestral Land.

• Fuxi’s governance brought prosperity to the Fengyan Tribe, and neighboring tribes joined him until their leaders unanimously chose him as the human race’s Co-lord.
• Fuxi told Zhou Ming that the tribes were too scattered to govern efficiently and asked for a solution.
• Zhou Ming suggested establishing a nation with capable officials, and Fuxi explained that the best location for its capital lay within Wu Clan territory.
• Zhou Ming agreed that the Human Tribe should migrate and told Fuxi to discuss it with Wu at the Human Clan Ancestral Land.
• Fuxi thanked Zhou Ming for the Wu Clan’s past protection and left to discuss the migration.

Fuxi gained the Ancestors’ support for moving the Human Clan out of Wu Clan territory, and the Ancestral Land instructed the tribes to cooperate. After the migration, Fuxi established Chen as the first human city and became the Human Clan’s first Human Emperor, beginning to build a new order.

• Fuxi met with Martial Ancestor and the other Ancestors and proposed relocating the Human Clan from Wu Clan territory.
• Martial Ancestor approved the relocation, instructed Fuxi to let Witch-Humans choose whether to leave, and explained that the Ancestral Land would move to Huoyun Cave.
• Fuxi announced the migration to the tribes, and the Ancestral Land issued a proclamation supporting his decision and ordering all tribes to cooperate.
• With help from the Wu Clan, Fuxi led the Human Clan’s smooth migration and established its capital at Chen.
• The tribes chose Fuxi as the first Human Emperor, and he appointed capable officials to govern the Human Clan.

Fuxi completed his merit as the Human Clan’s Heavenly Emperor, regained his memories, and chose to identify himself solely with the Human Clan. He retired to Huoyun Cave as Shen Nong took the throne and became Houtu’s disciple.

• Wu and the others traveled to Chen Capital to welcome Fuxi, while Zhou Ming and Houtu arrived to oversee the succession.
• Zhou Ming used the Kongtong Seal to proclaim Fuxi the Heavenly Emperor, and Heaven bestowed merit upon Fuxi, Zhou Ming, and Fuxi’s ministers.
• Fuxi recovered his past-life memories and told Nuwa he belonged only to the Human Clan, asking her not to call him Elder Brother.
• Fuxi agreed to return to Huoyun Cave and appointed Shen Nong as the new Human Emperor; the tribal leaders acknowledged Shen Nong.
• Houtu accepted Shen Nong as her disciple and promised to protect him until his merit was complete.

After Shen Nong became Human Emperor, Houtu settled in Chen Capital to guide him and grew close to his daughter, Nüwa. Houtu realized Zhou Ming’s protective mark had transferred to Nüwa and suspected a Sage was plotting a calamity against the child.

• Zhou Ming left the altar after placing a hidden mark on Shen Nong, and Houtu stayed to guide the new Human Emperor.
• Zhunti lamented that the Western Teachings had missed out on positions teaching the Three Sovereigns, while Jieyin warned him not to break the Sages’ agreement.
• Houtu settled in Chen Capital as Shen Nong devoted himself to governing the Human Clan.
• Nüwa visited Houtu after Shen Nong broke his promise to spend the day with her, and Houtu agreed to take her out to play.
• Houtu recalled that Zhou Ming’s mark had moved from Shen Nong to Nüwa at her birth and concluded that a Sage might be plotting a danger the child could not survive alone.

Shen Nong sought a way to protect the Human Clan from disease, began tasting herbs to discover their properties, and introduced the Five Grains as food. After arranging for Ao Guang and the Dragon Clan to bring timely rain, Ao Guang took Nüwa toward Houtu to ask permission to bring her to the Eastern Sea.

• Shen Nong asked Houtu to save the Human Clan from disease, and she gave him a Pill Refining Method that proved too difficult to help everyone.
• Shen Nong entrusted the Human Clan's affairs to ministers and traveled the wilderness, tasting herbs despite repeated poisonings.
• Shen Nong found useful grains, named them the Five Grains, and taught the Human Clan to cultivate them.
• Shen Nong asked Ao Guang to arrange rain for the Human Clan's fields, and Ao Guang promised the Dragon Clan would help.
• Ao Guang invited Nüwa to visit the Eastern Sea, then agreed to accompany her to tell Houtu before they left.