Chapter Summaries

Emperor Xin launched a desperate defense of Zhaoge against Shen Gongbao, Yin Jiao, and their allies after Kong Xuan and the Sect of Interception refused to act. Yu Hua and Zhang Kui arrived with reinforcements, and the battle remained deadlocked as Zhang Kui joined Elai against Luo Xuan.

• Emperor Xin denounced Kong Xuan and the Sect of Interception, then rallied Great Shang's soldiers to fight the rebels.
• Feilian charged into battle, while Emperor Xin attacked Shen Gongbao and the Great Shang army advanced against the rebel forces.
• Elai fought Luo Xuan to a standstill, drawing Maitreya Buddha's admiration for his strength and endurance.
• Yu Hua arrived at Zhaoge with tens of thousands of soldiers and pledged to fight beside Emperor Xin.
• Zhang Kui arrived from Mianchi County, leaving Gao Lanying to defend it, and joined the battle against the rebellion.

Emperor Xin turned the battle against Yin Jiao’s rebellion after Yu Hua and Feilian killed Jiang Wenhuan and E Shun. With the rebel army surrendering and Yin Jiao and Yin Hong captured, Emperor Xin faced Shen Gongbao as the revolt collapsed.

• Maitreya Buddha and Jiang Ziya mocked Kong Xuan and the Sect of Interception, while Kong Xuan insisted his standing in Great Shang remained secure.
• Yu Hua severed Jiang Wenhuan’s right arm with the Blood Transformation Divine Saber and suppressed him with the Soul Slaughter Banner as Feilian overwhelmed E Shun.
• Yin Jiao attacked Yu Hua, but Emperor Xin used his armor to disrupt Yin Jiao’s strike, and the Dragon Phoenix Sword returned to Emperor Xin.
• Feilian killed E Shun, and Jiang Wenhuan died as the rebel army lost heart and surrendered; the heads of other rebellious feudal lords were also brought to the battlefield.
• Yu Hua held back Yin Jiao and Yin Hong, who surrendered the Human Emperor Jade Seal and gave themselves up to Emperor Xin.
• Emperor Xin confronted Shen Gongbao while Shen Gongbao reacted in despair to the reversal.

After Yin Jiao and Yin Hong surrendered, Emperor Xin regained control of the battle and ordered Yang Jian and Nezha to capture Shen Gongbao. Shen Gongbao was left in peril as Luo Xuan was subdued and Maitreya Buddha proposed sending him to the North Sea sea eye.

• Emperor Xin reclaimed the Human Emperor Jade Seal and called on Yang Jian and Nezha to capture Shen Gongbao.
• Jiang Ziya and Du'e Zhenren joined Zhang Kui and Elai to suppress Luo Xuan, while Kong Xuan pleaded with Emperor Xin to spare the rebels.
• Maitreya Buddha proposed throwing Shen Gongbao into the North Sea sea eye, and Emperor Xin approved the punishment.
• Feilian brought Fei Zhong and You Hun before Emperor Xin, who ordered their execution by the Burning Pillar and the arrest of their relatives and associates.
• Jiang Ziya and the others subdued Luo Xuan with the God-Slaying Whip and turned their attention back to Shen Gongbao.

Jiang Ziya and his allies captured Shen Gongbao and Luo Xuan, while Elai killed Shen Gongbao’s mount, the White-Browed Tiger. Emperor Xin confronted Yin Jiao and Yin Hong, whose cowardice and attempts to shift blame drove him to unleash his killing intent.

• Jiang Ziya trapped Shen Gongbao in a formation formed by the Apricot Yellow Flag of Wu and Yi, while Nezha, Yang Jian, and Zhang Kui attacked him and the White-Browed Tiger.
• Jiang Ziya used the Wordless Heavenly Book to suppress Shen Gongbao, and Elai crushed the White-Browed Tiger to death.
• Zhang Kui forced Shen Gongbao to kneel, and Yang Jian pierced his shoulder blades as the allies subdued him and Luo Xuan before Emperor Xin.
• Emperor Xin ordered Yin Jiao and Yin Hong brought before him, and both princes begged for mercy while blaming Shen Gongbao.
• Emperor Xin called his sons cowards, struck Yin Hong down, and pressed the Dragon Phoenix Sword against Yin Jiao as his killing intent rose.

Emperor Xin killed Yin Jiao and Yin Hong, punished Fei Zhong and You Hun, and ordered Zhang Kui to dig out Shen Gongbao’s heart. As Maitreya Buddha warned Shen Gongbao against passing on the Six Soul Banner, Ling Xiao expected Tongtian to arrive soon.

• Jiang Ziya refused Yin Jiao and Yin Hong’s plea for help, saying they had severed their ties with the Sect of Enlightenment.
• Emperor Xin killed Yin Hong and Yin Jiao, then ordered Feilian to bury them with ordinary royal rites.
• Emperor Xin condemned Fei Zhong and You Hun to die at the Burning Pillar.
• Emperor Xin gave Zhang Kui the Dragon Phoenix Sword and ordered him to dig out Shen Gongbao’s Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart while Maitreya Buddha dealt with the rest.
• Maitreya Buddha exposed Shen Gongbao’s plan to pass the Six Soul Banner to another disciple and warned him not to do so.
• Ling Xiao predicted that Tongtian would soon arrive because Shen Gongbao was facing calamity.

Tongtian arrived as Shen Gongbao faced punishment, but Zhang Kui removed Shen Gongbao’s Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart before the Sage could intervene. Emperor Xin confronted Kong Xuan over his defiance, and Yuanshi Tianzun’s arrival prompted Zhang Kui to ask him to judge Tongtian and his disciples.

• Tongtian appeared with Daoist Duobao and Yun Xiao as Shen Gongbao begged him for help, but Daoist Randeng restrained Shen Gongbao.
• Zhang Kui stabbed Shen Gongbao with the Dragon Phoenix Sword and removed his Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart, citing Emperor Xin’s decree.
• Daoist Duobao attacked Zhang Kui, but Maitreya Buddha blocked him and defended Zhang Kui’s actions as lawful punishment of a rebel.
• Emperor Xin rebuked Kong Xuan for opposing his orders, revoked his post as Grand Preceptor, and demoted him to commander of Golden Chicken Ridge.
• Yun Xiao urged the confrontation to stop, and Yuanshi Tianzun arrived as Tongtian remained silent.
• Zhang Kui asked Yuanshi Tianzun to uphold Heavenly Dao law and hold Tongtian responsible for his disciples’ misconduct.

Emperor Xin ordered Zhang Kui to execute Luo Xuan amid escalating hostility between Tongtian and Primal Lord of Heaven. Tongtian failed to stop the execution, and Luo Xuan's spirit entered the Investiture of the Gods List as Jin Buhuan and Primal Lord of Heaven continued to provoke him.

• Jin Buhuan praised Zhang Kui's call for the Sect of Interception to learn from the Rites Classic, while Primal Lord of Heaven mocked Tongtian and provoked his furious response.
• Emperor Xin ordered Zhang Kui to behead Luo Xuan, declaring that Shen Gongbao's time to die had not yet come.
• Duobao attacked Zhang Kui, but Emperor Xin blocked his strike with the protection of the Great Shang Dynasty's national fortune, leaving both men injured.
• Tongtian tried to freeze time so Kong Xuan and Yun Xiao could save Luo Xuan, but Primal Lord of Heaven dispelled his magic and Maitreya Buddha stopped the rescuers.
• Zhang Kui beheaded Luo Xuan with the Dragon Phoenix Sword, sending Luo Xuan's primordial spirit and True Spirit to the Investiture of the Gods List.
• Jiang Ziya and Jin Buhuan mocked Tongtian over Luo Xuan's death, and Primal Lord of Heaven praised Jin Buhuan while suggesting the list be strengthened.

Tongtian refused Primal Lord of Heaven’s demand to send his remaining disciples onto the Investiture of the Gods List, though he compromised by asking Emperor Xin to pardon Shen Gongbao and assign disciples to defend Great Shang. As Tongtian and Daoist Duobao prepared to leave, Duobao swore his loyalty to the Sect of Interception, while Ling Xiao watched with a knowing expression.

• Primal Lord of Heaven and Maitreya Buddha urged Tongtian to surrender his remaining disciples to the Investiture of the Gods List, but Tongtian rejected them and threatened mutual destruction.
• Tongtian asked Emperor Xin to pardon Shen Gongbao and send him and other disciples to defend Great Shang, then assigned Yun Xiao to reinforce its passes.
• Emperor Xin pardoned Shen Gongbao and ordered him to guard Golden Chicken Ridge with Kong Xuan after learning Sishui Pass had fallen, then appointed Feilian, Zhang Kui, Elai, and Yu Hua to new posts.
• Jiang Ziya questioned Daoist Duobao about Hu Sheng and Hu Lei’s deaths and taunted him about rumors that he would join the Western Sect.
• Daoist Duobao swore that he would never submit to another sect, easing Tongtian’s expression as Ling Xiao watched with a faint smile.

Ling Xiao discussed the coming battle at Golden Chicken Ridge and predicted that its fall would trigger a war among sages. Before Zhaoge, Jiang Ziya dismantled his formation and provoked Shen Gongbao, but Kong Xuan restrained Shen Gongbao and led him toward Golden Chicken Ridge.

• Ling Xiao told Ziwei that Western Qi and Great Qin would soon attack Great Shang, beginning at Golden Chicken Ridge, and predicted Tongtian would start a war among sages after the pass fell.
• Jiang Ziya taunted Shen Gongbao over the deaths of Yin Jiao and Luo Xuan and his expulsion from the demon registry, then removed the runes from Shen Gongbao and ended the formation.
• Shen Gongbao drew his treasures and threatened to kill Jiang Ziya, while Maitreya Buddha manifested three Primordial Spiritual Treasures to deter him.
• Jiang Ziya appealed to Yuanshi Tianzun, who challenged Kong Xuan and Yun Xiao over whether they would defy him and bring him into the battle early.
• Kong Xuan calmed Shen Gongbao and ordered him to lead the army to Golden Chicken Ridge, ending the confrontation before Zhaoge.

Yuanshi Tianzun accepted Cihang and the other two disciples’ destined move to the Western Sect, while Ling Xiao warned that Western Qi and Great Qin experts would also ascend the Investiture of the Gods List. After the gathering ended, Jiang Ziya and the others prepared for the battle at Golden Chicken Ridge, and Ling Xiao and Ziwei flew there.

• Yuanshi Tianzun toasted Ling Xiao and Ziwei, then urged Maitreya Buddha and the others to prepare for the battle at Golden Chicken Ridge.
• Maitreya Buddha explained that Cihang, Manjusri, and Puxian had recovered their cultivation and gained the protection of Buddhist Dao laws.
• Ling Xiao noted that Cihang had become a female immortal, and Yuanshi Tianzun accepted that Cihang and the other two would join the Western Sect.
• Ling Xiao warned that experts from Western Qi and the Great Qin Empire would ascend the Investiture of the Gods List, and Jiang Ziya said they had already foreseen their destinies.
• Yuanshi Tianzun and the others departed to prepare for war, while Ling Xiao and Ziwei flew toward Golden Chicken Ridge.

At Golden Chicken Ridge, Kong Xuan and the others prepared to face Western Qi and Great Qin after Zhang Kui blocked the transfer of reinforcements. Lu Yue planned to spread plague and challenge the enemy, while Shen Gongbao set out to curse Princess Longji to death.

• Zhou Xin and Zhu Tianlin blamed Zhang Kui for preventing more than two hundred thousand Great Shang soldiers from reaching Golden Chicken Ridge.
• Shen Gongbao urged the defenders to hold the pass and wear down Western Qi and Great Qin, but Lu Yue proposed spreading plague while drawing the enemy into battle.
• Lu Yue assigned Chen Geng, Zhou Xin, and Zhu Tianlin to spread plague in Western Qi and planned to lead troops out to challenge the enemy.
• Shen Gongbao volunteered to accompany them and use the Six Souls Banner to curse Western Qi ministers, naming Princess Longji as his true target.
• Yun Xiao warned Shen Gongbao that killing Princess Longji would invite Haotian and Yaochi's grudge, but Shen Gongbao insisted she must die.
• Kong Xuan approved the plans and ordered Lu Yue to lead three hundred thousand troops into open battle, while Lu Yue vowed to unleash plagues and deadly poison.

At Yanshan Mountain, Jiang Ziya’s forces prepared to attack Lu Yue’s army at Golden Chicken Ridge, while Du'e Zhenren declared his intention to join the Investiture of the Gods List. Ling Xiao and Ziwei watched events unfold and discussed Shen Gongbao’s secret attack on Western Qi City and its possible effect on Princess Longji.

• Yang Jian reported that Lu Yue and his forces had deployed beneath Golden Chicken Ridge and were provoking Western Qi and the Great Qin Empire.
• Jiang Ziya and Randeng warned the assembled fighters to follow Heaven’s will and prioritize suppressing Lu Yue, while Huang Tianhua, Nezha, and others volunteered to fight.
• Du'e Zhenren announced that he would seek merit in battle and join the Investiture of the Gods List, and Li Jing paid respect to his former master.
• Jiang Ziya appointed the Howling Celestial Dog and the Three-Headed Flood Dragon as the vanguard against Lu Yue instead of Yang Jian.
• Ziwei told Ling Xiao that Shen Gongbao and three allies had secretly gone to Western Qi City, and Ling Xiao said their attack could prevent Princess Longji’s ill-fated romance with Hong Jin.

Du'e Zhenren, the Howling Celestial Dog, and the Three-Headed Flood Dragon prepared to counter Lu Yue's plague and poison, while Huang Feihu led Western Qi's army to Golden Chicken Ridge. The armies faced off, and Lu Yue threatened them with the Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation as the battle was about to begin.

• Du'e Zhenren and the Howling Celestial Dog enlisted the Three-Headed Flood Dragon to help neutralize Lu Yue's plague and poison, and the three formed a plan.
• Chong Heihu and Huang Feihu rallied Western Qi's five hundred thousand soldiers for a deadly assault on Golden Chicken Ridge.
• Huang Tianhua spotted Lu Yue and his forces, and Chong Heihu wondered why Chen Geng, Zhou Xin, and Zhu Tianlin were absent.
• Lu Yue mocked the Western Qi army and threatened to unleash the Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation, while Nezha challenged him to try.
• Gao Jineng denounced Li Jing and Nezha as traitors as the two sides prepared to fight.

Gao Jineng and the Western Qi forces clashed in battle, with Huang Tianhua overwhelming Gao Jineng in their duel. Just as Huang Tianhua seemed to have won, Gao Jineng revealed that the Fiery-Eyed Golden-Eyed Beast had already been reduced to a lifeless skeleton.

• Gao Jineng rejected Ling Jing's appeal to their former friendship and declared he would fight Western Qi to the death.
• Lu Yue and Du'e Zhenren agreed to have the armies test one another, and Huang Feihu led the Great Shang forces into battle.
• The two armies formed giant battle manifestations and fought fiercely as Huang Tianhua charged at Gao Jineng.
• Huang Tianhua battered Gao Jineng with his Eight-Edged Bright Silver Hammers, killing Gao Jineng's Carefree Horse and forcing him to one knee.
• Gao Jineng laughed that Huang Tianhua had fallen for his trap as the Fiery-Eyed Golden-Eyed Beast collapsed into a lifeless skeleton.

Gao Jineng killed Huang Tianhua with his centipede bees, but Chong Heihu, Li Jing, and the others turned the battle around and Huang Feihu slew Gao Jineng. Nezha had also killed Li Ping and his companions, while Lu Yue was stopped from intervening and remained a threat with his Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation.

• Gao Jineng released centipede bees from the Fiery-Eyed Golden-Eyed Beast’s corpse, overwhelming Huang Tianhua and killing him before Huang Feihu could reach him.
• Gao Jineng formed the Centipede Bee Formation and attacked Huang Feihu and the Western Qi soldiers, but Chong Heihu summoned the Iron-Beaked Divine Eagle, which drove the centipede bees back.
• Li Jing used the Seven Treasure Exquisite Pagoda to suppress Gao Jineng, and Wen Pin wounded him as the others attacked.
• Du'e Zhenren blocked Lu Yue from joining the fight, while Nezha revealed that he had killed Li Ping and Lu Yue’s three disciples.
• Huang Feihu stabbed Gao Jineng through the heart, and Gao Jineng’s primordial spirit, True Spirit, Centipede Bee Pouch, and spear drifted toward the Nine Heavens Clouds.
• Ziwei warned that Lu Yue’s Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation remained dangerous.

Lu Yue unleashed the Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation and fought Du'e Zhenren and Nezha, who joined forces to resist him. Nezha fired a second volley of Cosmos Arrows at Lu Yue after his Plague Umbrella shattered.

• Grieving Ling Ping and his three disciples, Lu Yue activated the Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation, killing Western Qi soldiers and turning the dead into insect-controlled puppets.
• Du'e Zhenren assigned Ling Jing to lead the soldiers against the Great Shang elites, while Nezha used the Heavenly Burning Demon Domain and Li Fire Divine Furnace to protect Western Qi's troops.
• Lu Yue and Nezha both used Three Heads, Six Arms, and Nezha lent Du'e Zhenren the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover, empowering it with the Heavenly Burning Demon Fire and Primordial Li Fire.
• Du'e Zhenren attacked Lu Yue with nine flaming dragons from the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover as Nezha shot a Cosmos Arrow at him.
• Lu Yue used the Plague Umbrella to block Nezha's arrow, but it shattered; Nezha then revealed he had three Cosmos Arrows and fired two more at Lu Yue.

Lu Yue used his disciples’ corpses to withstand Nezha’s Cosmos Arrows while Ling Xiao and Ziwei approved him to govern the Plague Department. Meanwhile, Shen Gongbao and his allies unleashed a plague on Western Qi City, leaving Princess Longji and the city’s defenders in danger.

• Lu Yue used the corpses of Ling Qi and Yang Wenhui to block Nezha’s Cosmos Arrows, then continued fighting Nezha and Du'e Zhenren with the Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation.
• Ling Xiao and Ziwei agreed that Lu Yue would become the Plaguebringer Haotian Great Emperor and that his junior brothers and disciples would serve as righteous gods of the Plague Department.
• Ling Xiao watched Shen Gongbao’s plan unfold and predicted that the attack on Western Qi City would bring disaster to its ministers and defenders.
• Chen Geng, Zhou Xin, and Zhu Tianlin sealed off Western Qi City and unleashed plagues and poisonous insects against its soldiers and commoners.
• Dragon Subduing Arhat and Nangong Shi confronted the attackers as Princess Longji faced Shen Gongbao, who threatened to kill her with the Six Soul Banner.

Shen Gongbao used the Six Soul Banner to curse Tai Si and Western Qi’s defenders while his allies slaughtered Nangong Shi’s troops. Tai Si died after rallying Western Qi’s ministers, and Dragon Subduing Arhat sacrificed himself to create a Dragon Vein that could protect Western Qi.

• Shen Gongbao revealed that he had written San Yisheng, Nangong Shi, Princess Longji, Dragon Subduing Arhat, Yang Ren, and Tai Si on the Six Soul Banner, drawing San Yisheng and Yang Ren’s condemnation.
• Shen Gongbao restrained Dragon Subduing Arhat and the others, ordered Chen Geng, Zhou Xin, and Zhu Tianlin to attack Western Qi’s soldiers, and unleashed the banner’s curse.
• Tai Si recognized the curse, steadied Western Qi’s ministers, and died after taking her place on the throne in the great hall.
• Shen Gongbao’s Heavenly Dao blessings and luck began to dissipate after Tai Si’s death, though he did not notice.
• Dragon Subduing Arhat merged his life and spirit into a divine dragon, which fused with Western Qi’s earth veins and became a Dragon Vein to protect its people.

The Dragon Vein ended Shen Gongbao’s plague attack on Western Qi City, but he and his allies slaughtered its defenders before fleeing. After Ji Fa learned what had happened, Jiang Ziya set out to hunt Shen Gongbao and vowed to punish him.

• The Dragon Vein appeared in Western Qi City, dispelling the plague and killing the poisonous insects, but Shen Gongbao used the Six Soul Banner to kill Yang Ren, Nangong Shi, San Yisheng, Princess Longji, and the Azure Luan.
• Chen Geng, Zhou Xin, and Zhu Tianlin massacred Nangong Shi’s Western Qi elites as Shen Gongbao and the others fled toward Golden Chicken Ridge.
• A light from Western Qi City revealed the massacre to Ji Fa, Jiang Ziya, Yang Jian, Wen Jing, Maitreya Buddha, and the others on Yanshan Mountain.
• Ji Fa ordered Jiang Ziya to kill Shen Gongbao and the other three, and Jiang Ziya set out with Wen Jing and Yang Jian to pursue them.
• Jiang Ziya vowed to capture Shen Gongbao and punish him before the Sect of Interception, then suggested Lu Yue would also suffer for the deaths.

Kong Xuan ambushed Western Qi’s commanders with the Five-Colored Divine Light, killing Huang Feihu and four other generals and turning the battle at Golden Chicken Ridge. As Randeng and Maitreya Buddha attacked Kong Xuan, Lu Yue recklessly expanded the Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation, forcing Du'e Zhenren and his allies to act before it destroyed everything.

• After Gao Jineng’s death, Li Jing demanded that the surviving Great Shang Dynasty elites surrender as Western Qi’s forces overwhelmed them in the Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation.
• Kong Xuan ambushed Huang Feihu, Li Jing, and the others with the Five-Colored Divine Light, killing Huang Feihu and four other commanders while Nezha protected Li Jing.
• Randeng and Maitreya Buddha condemned Kong Xuan and attacked him, while Western Qi soldiers bound the defeated Great Shang Dynasty elites and led them out through Randeng’s spatial gateway.
• Kong Xuan defended his ambush as a legitimate act of war and regretted that he had failed to kill Li Jing.
• Lu Yue taunted Du'e Zhenren and recklessly spread the Ten Thousand Plagues Poisonous Lotus Formation, prompting Du'e Zhenren to order an urgent attack and the Howling Celestial Dog and Three-Headed Flood Dragon to help dissolve the formation.