Chapter Summaries

Tao Hongjing and the others were trapped in an S-grade Night Rule Array by a concealed human enemy with Saint-level power. As the formation closed around them, Xu Kun prepared a counterattack while the group fought to survive, but the enemy’s Dharma manifestation broke through their defenses.

• Tao Hongjing used pills and a sword formation to save Xu Kun from a shadow hand, then identified the surrounding darkness as an S-grade Night Rule Array that blocked signals and isolated them from help.
• Tao Hongjing failed to break the formation with his Heaven Piercing Sword Qi, and the enemy began shrinking the array to engulf everyone.
• Xu Kun asked Tao Hongjing to hold the enemy off for three minutes, and Tao Hongjing formed a Heaven Defense Sword Formation with the experts and students.
• Xu Kun and Yang Yao attacked shadow soldiers while the students joined the defense, but the enemy’s Shadow Arcanum: Demon Slash weakened the formation and incapacitated several fighters.
• After Xu Kun said he needed ninety seconds, the enemy’s Dharma manifestation appeared and cut through the Heaven Defense Sword Formation with Shadow Arcanum: Myriad Blades.

Xu Kun and Tao Hongjing struggled against Zed, the half-Saint Master of the Shadow Stream, until Yang Yao sacrificed her body to draw away the shadow power trapping Xu Kun. Xu Kun regained his senses, identified Zed, and charged at him as Zed destroyed the Heaven Defense Sword Formation.

• Xu Kun used poison-based forbidden arts to damage Zed’s Dharma form and help Tao Hongjing repair the Heaven Defense Sword Formation.
• Zed’s shadow formation engulfed Xu Kun, cutting him off from his senses and abilities as Yang Yao failed to reach him with her usual powers.
• Yang Yao transformed into a pool of spring water with her Azure Spring Nectar ability, drawing Zed’s shadow power away from Xu Kun at the cost of being polluted.
• Xu Kun recovered, identified Zed as the half-Saint Master of the Shadow Stream, and recalled the organization’s earlier attacks against him.
• Zed revealed his true body and destroyed the Heaven Defense Sword Formation, while Xu Kun charged at him with the Nine Heavens Blazing Sun.

Xu Kun fought Zed, a half-step Saint-level powerhouse, while the students and guards remained trapped beneath the Night Rule Array. He used Heavenly Judgment to destabilize Zed’s power and collapse his Pseudo Saint Domain, then met Zed’s renewed attack with Peerless Strike.

• Xu Kun ignited his True Fire Body and Celestial Fire Body, then summoned Zhurong’s Right Arm to gather elemental power into a massive Flame Long Blade.
• Zed expanded his Shadow Stream Sanctuary to swallow everyone, while Tao Hongjing warned Xu Kun that the Pseudo Saint Domain would leave them no chance to escape.
• Xu Kun called down Heavenly Judgment, striking Zed and placing a Judgment Mark on him that reduced his attributes and caused his Pseudo Saint Domain to collapse.
• Zed’s strength plummeted below the threshold of a half-step Saint, and he unleashed a desperate wave of shadow power against Xu Kun and the others.
• Xu Kun gripped the Flame Long Blade and swung Peerless Strike at Zed’s oncoming attack.

Xu Kun shattered Zed’s Pseudo Saint Domain and destroyed the Night Rule Array, but Zed then drew the half-step supreme Evil Blade Tianzhu and broke Nine Heavens Blazing Sun. With Xu Kun badly wounded and Tianzhu’s evil power hindering his healing, the battle reached a desperate turning point.

• Xu Kun used his Flame Blade and Sky-Burning Phoenix Flames to break Zed’s Pseudo Saint Domain and tear holes through the Night Rule Array.
• Zed attacked Xu Kun with shadow techniques, but Xu Kun countered with Phoenix Song of the Four Seas and kept him from launching a sustained offense.
• Tao Hongjing recognized Evil Blade Tianzhu and warned Xu Kun that it could devour blood and obliterate souls.
• Zed summoned Tianzhu and clashed with Xu Kun, breaking Nine Heavens Blazing Sun and absorbing Xu Kun’s blood.
• Zed wounded Xu Kun repeatedly, while Tianzhu’s evil power stiffened Xu Kun’s body and blocked the Kongtong Seal’s healing.
• After the Night Rule Array was destroyed and Xu Kun’s attributes were no longer suppressed, Xu Kun put away Nine Heavens Blazing Sun and switched to Chengying.

Xu Kun fought Zed with every trick he had, buying time for Yang Yao, Tao Hongjing, and the others to escape before facing the Demi-Saint alone. He unleashed Unyielding Starfire on Zed, then collapsed and could only wonder whether the explosion had killed him.

• Xu Kun used clones, poison, ice, and Soul Fixation to delay Zed and give Tao Hongjing and the others time to flee in five groups.
• Xu Kun returned to confront Zed, used the Judge's Soul-Reaping Brush to interrupt his attack, and let the Silver Emperor Falcon and four griffins escape with the others.
• Zed admitted he had underestimated Xu Kun and gathered power for a final clash, while Xu Kun used Wind's Elegy to recover some health.
• Xu Kun's Annihilation Kill collided with Zed's Fountain of Resentment, collapsing Zed's Dharma Idol and leaving Xu Kun barely breathing.
• As Zed dived toward him, Xu Kun activated Unyielding Starfire, causing a massive explosion before collapsing and wondering if Zed was dead.

Xu Kun’s Unyielding Starfire devastated the battlefield but failed to kill Zed, and Xu Kun held back from using Fate Judgment because he feared its cost. Evil Blade Tianzhu then fused with Zed, restoring his strength and transforming him into a terrifying armored being who attacked Xu Kun.

• Xu Kun considered the immense damage his skills could inflict but decided against using Fate Judgment, wary of its dangers and the limits of his power.
• The blast from Unyielding Starfire left a vast crater and reduced Zed to a charred, mummified state, but Xu Kun sensed that he was still alive.
• As Xu Kun moved to finish Zed, Evil Blade Tianzhu disassembled itself and sent every fragment into Zed’s body.
• Tianzhu’s fragments transformed Zed into an armored creature, and his weakened aura rose back to its peak.
• The transformed Zed announced that Project: Yin was complete, vanished in a blood-red blur, and sent his claws toward Xu Kun’s throat.

Xu Kun struggled to survive Zed’s overwhelming assault after Zed merged with Evil Blade Tianzhu. Just as Xu Kun’s invincibility ended, Order of Balance Eye - Shen intervened, drove Zed to flee, and pursued him.

• Zed attacked Xu Kun relentlessly, and Xu Kun used an Invincible Golden Body Scroll to survive while his attacks barely damaged Zed.
• Zed transformed his blood claws into blades, battered Xu Kun with Shadow Dance and multiple clones, and nearly outlasted Xu Kun’s invincibility.
• Xu Kun called on Thor for help, but Thor inspected the fight and went back to sleep, leaving Xu Kun to prepare to sacrifice his Zhurong Right Arm.
• Order of Balance Eye - Shen arrived through Secret Art Soul Transmigration and blocked Zed’s killing blow with a pillar of light.
• Shen urged Zed to abandon Evil Blade Tianzhu’s forbidden power, but Zed refused and escaped as a blood shadow.
• Shen identified himself to Xu Kun as Order of Balance Eye - Shen and pursued the fleeing Zed.

After defeating Zed at great cost, Xu Kun found Yang Yao and learned that both of them had suffered severe backlash from their divine abilities. Just as they began to recover, Zed marked Yang Yao with shadow power and attacked her, leaving Xu Kun unable to stop him.

• Xu Kun exhausted his strength and lost access to four elemental abilities for seven days, then followed Golden Wind’s link to find Yang Yao.
• Tao Hongjing caught Xu Kun on the Yellow River’s southern bank and explained that the Silver Emperor Falcon and the others had been injured when the river’s powerful beings reacted to the battle’s aftershock.
• Yang Yao emerged from the spring water and reunited with Xu Kun, who learned that Azure Spring Nectar had cost her her strongest ice and water abilities for ten days.
• Xu Kun told Yang Yao about Zed, the Order of Balance, and the Evil Blade Tianzhu, and they decided that crossing the Yellow River was too dangerous.
• A Shadow Mark appeared between Yang Yao’s brows, and Zed emerged from the black mist, vowed to kill the Daughter of Tianyan, and stabbed into her forehead as Xu Kun cried out.

Zed’s Shadow Mark nearly killed Yang Yao, but the Divine Wood King Cauldron protected her and drove off the attack. As Xu Kun and the others prepared to cross the Yellow River, a massive Azure Stone Pagoda appeared and froze Xu Kun.

• Zed detonated the Shadow Mark on Yang Yao, sending a lethal Shadow Blade toward her forehead.
• A divine tree phantom emerged from Yang Yao and destroyed the Shadow Blade, while Zed vowed to return.
• Yang Yao realized the Divine Wood King Cauldron had saved her, and Xu Kun embraced her in relief.
• Tao Hongjing reported that the Silver Emperor Falcon could fly, and Xu Kun urged the group to cross the Yellow River.
• A massive Azure Stone Pagoda descended, froze Xu Kun, and an unknown voice told him to come along.

Xu Kun was captured by Chao Gai, the Mount Tai Ghost Race leader who called himself another Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, and remained trapped in his incomplete Azure Stone Pagoda while awaiting someone who wanted to meet him. As Thor explained the strange connection between Chao Gai and Li Jing, he revealed that Human Demon Soldiers had existed in his era and were created by Loki.

• A figure captured Xu Kun inside the Azure Stone Pagoda while Brocade Rat held Tao Hongjing back, and Tao Hongjing took the unconscious Yang Yao toward Imperial Capital Base City to seek help from his Martial Ancestor.
• Xu Kun woke inside the pagoda and learned that his captor was Chao Gai, leader of the Mount Tai Ghost Race, who called himself another Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King and refused to release him until he agreed to meet someone.
• Thor identified Chao Gai as a Demi-Saint and judged the Azure Stone Pagoda to be an incomplete half-step supreme artifact, while Xu Kun wondered how Chao Gai was connected to human Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing.
• Thor said he had avoided fighting Chao Gai because he sensed his presence and believed someone had arranged for Xu Kun to be brought to them.
• Xu Kun asked Thor about Human Demon Soldiers, and Thor said Loki, the evil god who destroyed the Asa God Race, had created them.

Thor explained the origins and creation of the Asa God Race’s Human Demon Soldiers, while Xu Kun realized that Zed’s Evil Blade Tianzhu was not in their records and might be part of a larger scheme. After Zed escaped to the Shadow Stream, his disciple revealed that he had acquired a similar demon weapon named Rhaast.

• Thor told Xu Kun that the Asa God Race had created Human Demon Soldiers by binding dead warriors’ souls to weapons and fusing them with mortal hosts, but abandoned the costly and inhumane program.
• Xu Kun said Zed’s weapon was called Evil Blade Tianzhu and recalled its phrase, “Project: Yin activated”; Thor confirmed that no Human Demon Soldier by that name appeared in Asa records.
• Thor described the resources, powerful souls, and compatible hosts needed to create Human Demon Soldiers, and Xu Kun resolved to investigate whether more had appeared.
• Zed escaped across the ocean, reverted Evil Blade Tianzhu to its weapon form, and returned wounded to the Shadow Stream base while retaining his normal mind.
• Zed’s disciple told him he had cleared the SSS-tier God Race Battlefield secret realm and produced a demon weapon called Rhaast.

Chao Gai brought Xu Kun to Mount Lingjiu, Burning Lamp Daoist’s sanctuary, where Xu Kun discovered the Netherworld Ghost Fire was nearby. As they waited for permission to visit Burning Lamp, a Golden-Winged Great Peng arrived and apologized to Xu Kun on behalf of his son.

• Chao Gai brought Xu Kun through a portal to Mount Lingjiu, where the region’s Saint Domain suppressed Xu Kun’s power and blocked communication with the outside world.
• Xu Kun checked the Ghost Fire Trail map and found that the Netherworld Ghost Fire was close to their location.
• Chao Gai explained that Burning Lamp Daoist ruled Mount Lingjiu from Misty Peak and used the sanctuary to suppress the Western Xia Tribe, while Lingjiu Palace and its allied forces governed the region.
• Chao Gai told Xu Kun that Burning Lamp Daoist could enter Level 70 at any time and might suppress Sky Eye in an ordinary battle.
• A Golden-Winged Great Peng arrived to receive Chao Gai and Xu Kun, then apologized to Xu Kun for his son’s offense.

Xu Kun traveled with Chao Gai and Winged Immortal to Yuanjue Cave, learning how Burning Lamp Daoist maintained balance on Mount Lingjiu and used the Life-Death Talisman to control the factions under Tianshan Child Granny. Chao Gai revealed that Yao Yao knew the Tianshan Six Yang Palm, one way to remove the talisman, and the group approached Misty Peak, where Xu Kun spotted a little monk.

• The Golden-Winged Great Peng introduced himself as Wan Lipeng’s father, made peace with Xu Kun, and carried Xu Kun and Chao Gai toward Yuanjue Cave.
• Chao Gai explained that Burning Lamp Daoist fostered rivalry between Tianshan Child Granny’s factions and the Lingjiu Emperor’s race to maintain balance and block the Western Xia Tribe’s expansion toward Huaxia.
• Chao Gai revealed that Burning Lamp Daoist gave Tianshan Child Granny the Life-Death Talisman to control the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands.
• Chao Gai explained that Burning Lamp Daoist, Tianshan Child Granny, and Yao Yao could remove the talisman, since Yao Yao had learned the Tianshan Six Yang Palm.
• As Winged Immortal neared Misty Peak, Xu Kun noticed a little monk on a steep peak.

Xu Kun met Burning Lamp Daoist in Yuanjue Cave and learned that the intelligent Netherworld Ghost Fire, Ma Shan, needed a master capable of controlling him. Burning Lamp offered Xu Kun the chance to absorb Ma Shan, warning that the process could inflict unbearable pain on his soul and that failure would have dire consequences.

• Xu Kun and Chao Gai saw a young monk slip while climbing Misty Peak, and Xu Kun saved him with the Dragon Binding Cord.
• The monk warned them that someone was trying to harm Grandma, but Winged Immortal carried Xu Kun and Chao Gai away before they could respond.
• Burning Lamp Daoist examined Xu Kun and doubted that he was the Lord of Ghost Fire because he sensed no fire-element cultivation.
• Xu Kun told Burning Lamp that he had fused with the Six Ding Divine Fire but temporarily could not use fire powers after fighting the Master of the Shadow Stream.
• Burning Lamp summoned Ma Shan from his gray lamp and explained that the powerful Netherworld Ghost Fire longed for freedom and could cause a calamity if left uncontrolled.
• Burning Lamp offered Xu Kun the chance to absorb Ma Shan and warned that the process would severely test his soul.

Burning Lamp Daoist pressured Xu Kun to absorb Ma Shan, the Netherworld Ghost Fire, warning that the Emperor-realm flame could devastate Blue Star if it escaped. Ma Shan entered Xu Kun despite Thor's inability to protect him, while Thor and Burning Lamp played chess and discussed Xu Kun's fate and Thor's chance to rebuild a body.

• Burning Lamp explained that Ma Shan was the Netherworld Ghost Fire, and that Xu Kun was the only suitable person to absorb him before Burning Lamp lost control of the flame.
• Xu Kun agreed to try absorbing Ma Shan, believing Thor could protect him, but Thor warned that the ghost fire could burn away his soul.
• Ma Shan entered Xu Kun, who collapsed unconscious, while Thor removed the Iron Gauntlets and watched over him.
• Burning Lamp invited Thor to play chess, and Thor said he hoped to rebuild his divine body by restoring his soul and finding a Dao body.
• Burning Lamp warned Thor not to harbor ill intent toward Xu Kun and suggested Dao Thunder Celestial Venerable's remains as a possible body; Thor laughed at the prospect.

Burning Lamp explained his plans for the ghost race and Xianbei to Chao Gai, who would take responsibility for humanity after the others departed. Meanwhile, Ma Shan attacked Xu Kun inside his Sea of Consciousness, but the Chiwen Molted Scale saved him and turned the fight around.

• Burning Lamp told Chao Gai to reclaim Huaxia, divide and manage the ghost race, and prepare to reunite his three souls after the Xianbei conflict.
• Chao Gai learned that Burning Lamp had sent Great Sui Frost and Great Tang Kun Yue to influence the Murong Xianbei and accepted the duty of safeguarding humanity.
• Ma Shan invaded Xu Kun's Sea of Consciousness and burned his soul with Netherworld Ghost Fire until Xu Kun could no longer resist.
• The Ghost Fire Trail map transformed into the Chiwen Molted Scale, absorbed the flames, and protected Xu Kun from Ma Shan's attack.
• Xu Kun recognized the scale's fire-extinguishing power and charged at the frightened Ma Shan.

Xu Kun was trapped in his Sea of Consciousness when Ma Shan opened the Netherworld Gate, but the resentful spirits drawn to Xu Kun turned on Ma Shan and devoured his ghost fire. Xu Kun used the Book of Life and Death and summoned the Four Soul Reaping Envoys to fight them, but the ghost fire absorbed from the dying spirits made his soul swell toward bursting.

• Ma Shan opened the Netherworld Gate and summoned countless resentful spirits, whose Earthly Souls joined with their Human Souls around Xu Kun’s baleful energy to become vengeful ghosts.
• The vengeful ghosts attacked Ma Shan, and a terrifying hand from the gate struck him apart before they devoured his ghost fire.
• The ghost fire–armored vengeful ghosts overwhelmed Xu Kun, tore apart his Chiwen Molted Scale, and began burning themselves against his soul.
• Xu Kun used the Book of Life and Death and the Judge’s Soul-Reaping Brush to destroy the vengeful ghosts, then summoned Ox-Head, Horse-Face, Black and White Impermanence to help.
• As the summoned envoys killed the vengeful ghosts, their ghost fire flowed into Xu Kun until his soul swelled violently and neared explosion.

Xu Kun’s soul nearly shattered after absorbing the power released by the Ghostfire Wraiths, so the Myriad Races Bestiary diverted the excess to his bound allies. After the wraiths were dealt with, Xu Kun’s soul began to recover, while the surviving Corrosive Poison Termites and Mo Chou had grown stronger.

• Xu Kun’s soul overflowed with the Ghostfire Wraiths’ residual soul power and ghostfire, and he summoned the Myriad Races Bestiary before collapsing.
• The Myriad Races Bestiary sent the excess power to the Corrosive Poison Termites at the Desolate Shrine and Fire Poison Ant Valley, and to Mo Chou.
• Many weak Corrosive Poison Termites died under the influx, while the stronger termites endured and transformed into formidable ant warriors.
• Mo Chou eagerly absorbed the power at first, but the Bestiary sent him so much that he struggled to endure it.
• After Ox-Head and Horse-Face and Black and White Impermanence finished their work, Xu Kun’s Sea of Consciousness emptied and his soul began shrinking back toward normal.

Xu Kun fused with Netherworld Ghost Fire, evolving himself and the Corrosive Poison Termite Race into powerful soul-and-fire beings. He named the new Tier-B race the Nether Soul-Scorching Poison Ant Race and sent its strongest members to expand beyond the Poisonous Mistlands.

• Netherworld Ghost Fire transformed Xu Kun, Mo Chou, and many Corrosive Poison Termites, granting them new talents and abilities.
• Xu Kun discovered that the evolved ants had become upright warriors with Netherflame wings, soul-scorching scythe legs, and improved breeding prospects.
• Xu Kun named the evolved Tier-B race the Nether Soul-Scorching Poison Ant Race and entered its new name in the Myriad Races Bestiary.
• Xu Kun ordered 102 high-level ants to sweep through the Poisonous Mistlands, gather resources, and breed, while sparing human trial participants.
• The ants devastated the Poisonous Mistlands, and Xu Kun commanded them to expand unchecked across the areas above the Haotian Pagoda's Tenth Floor.

Xu Kun discovered that Mo Chou had become an SS-tier talent and transformed the Ink Jade Mine into a highly productive operation. He offered Mo Chou’s Demon Sound Race a chance to join humanity, leaving Mo Chou to decide whether to persuade his clan.

• Mo Chou appeared in Xu Kun’s Sea of Consciousness with an evolved SS-tier talent, Embrace of Netherflame, and greatly improved abilities.
• Mo Chou explained that he had used Soul Control to raise two Earth Dragon Kings to S-rank and direct the Earth Dragon Clan’s mining, increasing the Ink Jade Mine’s output fivefold and producing vast quantities of high-grade ore.
• Xu Kun learned that Mo Chou’s evolved talent could make him the young clan leader of the Demon Sound Race, then told him that revenge against the powerful races was not a viable goal.
• Xu Kun proposed that the Demon Sound Race join humanity and described the human race’s strength and its recent victory at the Battle of Jiangnan.
• Xu Kun offered to let Mo Chou leave the Haotian Pagoda and ask his master and clansmen to join humanity, giving them freedom and a future if they agreed.