Chapter Summaries

Ghost Mask overwhelmed Qin Jishi with a palm strike, then rushed him with a golden fist before Qin could finish summoning his flames. Qin was left severely injured on the fighting stage, while Dugu Qiubai insisted he would not retreat because of his fated connection to Ghost Mask.

• Ghost Mask shattered Qin Jishi's Profound Energy Barrier with the Heaven-Capturing Palm and sent him flying, leaving him bleeding and in pain.
• Lord of the Black Fiend Realm and Lord of Heavenly Mystery Realm worried about Qin Jishi, but Dugu Qiubai said Qin would fight Ghost Mask to the death because neither could step back from their fated destiny.
• Qin Jishi stood his ground and summoned flames and three fire Divine Beasts as Ghost Mask mocked his slow pace.
• Ghost Mask vanished and reappeared in front of Qin Jishi, striking his chest with a Gold Element-wrapped fist.
• Qin Jishi was sent crashing to the ground with shattered ribs and severely injured organs, while the Prison Suppressing Realm Venerable smiled sinisterly.

Ghost Mask overwhelmed and humiliated Qin Jishi, provoking him to reveal the Suspended Prison Heaven-Suppressing Coffin. Qin Jishi trapped Ghost Mask inside it, leaving the spectators stunned as the coffin shook violently.

• The Prison Suppressing Realm Venerable hoped Ghost Mask would kill Qin Jishi and end the threat to his realm.
• Ghost Mask taunted Qin Jishi, demanded that he kneel, and said he wanted to eat Qin Jishi's organs.
• Lei Xuan'er and the Lord of Thunder Realm discussed Ghost Mask's hostility, while Lei Xuan'er remained confident Qin Jishi would win.
• Qin Jishi recognized that he needed to burn his blood essence and overdraw his potential to defeat Ghost Mask, then agreed to unleash his strength.
• Qin Jishi summoned the Suspended Prison Heaven-Suppressing Coffin, which drew Ghost Mask inside and closed around him as the spectators watched in disbelief.

Qin Jishi attacked Ghost Mask with the Pagoda Heaven Flipping Seal, the Suspended Prison Heaven-Suppressing Coffin, the Star-Plucking Hand, and three fire Divine Beasts, but Ghost Mask deliberately endured the assault. The chapter left Ghost Mask standing in the crater with blood at his mouth and excitement in his eyes.

• Hall Master of Incense Burning told the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master that he would not interfere with Ghost Mask's actions.
• Ghost Mask allowed himself to be trapped in the Suspended Prison Heaven-Suppressing Coffin, but Suspended Prison could not break through his defense.
• Qin Jishi opened the coffin and struck Ghost Mask with the Pagoda Heaven Flipping Seal, cracking his Golden Light Barrier.
• Qin Jishi sent the Suspended Prison Heaven-Suppressing Coffin crashing into Ghost Mask, shattering the barrier.
• Qin Jishi followed with the Star-Plucking Hand and three fire Divine Beasts, blasting Ghost Mask into a crater.
• Ghost Mask rose from the crater with blood at his mouth and excitement in his eyes.

Qin Jishi turned the fight against Ghost Mask by using his Weak Water Domain and burning his essence blood to gain a brief surge in strength. He battered Ghost Mask with the Suspended Prison Heaven-Suppressing Coffin, leaving him badly injured as the fight continued.

• Ghost Mask emerged from the crater, praised Qin Jishi's attack, and charged at him again.
• Qin Jishi trapped Ghost Mask in his Weak Water Domain as Ghost Mask tried to gather enough profound energy to break free.
• Qin Jishi burned his essence blood, briefly reached the Divine Profound Realm, and scattered Ghost Mask's gathered energy with his increased pressure.
• Qin Jishi struck Ghost Mask in the chest with the Suspended Prison Heaven-Suppressing Coffin, breaking his bones.
• Qin Jishi ordered the coffin to keep attacking, and it battered Ghost Mask until his consciousness began to blur.

Qin Jishi battered Ghost Mask with the Pagoda Heaven Flipping Seal, leaving him apparently near death and prompting Qin Jishi’s allies to celebrate. King Yama revealed that Ghost Mask was deliberately provoking Qin Jishi, his father’s killer, and Dugu Qiubai warned that a life-and-death battle was still to come.

• Qin Jishi struck Ghost Mask with the Pagoda Heaven Flipping Seal, sending him crashing into the arena barrier and then to the ground.
• The hall masters questioned how Ghost Mask could have been defeated so completely, while the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master noted that Ghost Mask had never attacked.
• King Yama told White Brow that Ghost Mask was toying with Qin Jishi because Qin Jishi had killed Ghost Mask’s father.
• White Brow worried that Qin Jishi had survived King Yama’s will inscription tablet, but King Yama insisted that Qin Jishi had no chance of surviving Ghost Mask.
• Xuanyuan Qi and the Lord of the Black Fiend Realm celebrated Qin Jishi’s apparent victory, but Dugu Qiubai warned that a life-and-death battle was still ahead.

Ghost Mask revealed that his apparent defeat was an act meant to break Qin Jishi’s Dao Heart, then attacked him after Qin Jishi refused to despair. The chapter left Qin Jishi struck in midair by Ghost Mask’s powerful blow.

• Dugu Qiubai confirmed to the Lord of the Black Fiend Realm that Ghost Mask had deliberately pretended to be defeated to shatter Qin Jishi’s Dao Heart.
• Ghost Mask rose unharmed, shocking the crowd and leaving the exhausted Qin Jishi in danger.
• Lei Xuan'er tried to rush to Qin Jishi’s aid, but the Lord of Thunder Realm stopped her and told her to trust him.
• Qin Jishi laughed at Ghost Mask and said he would not be broken by the ploy.
• Ghost Mask seized Qin Jishi, hurled him into the air, and smashed his chest with a powerful fist.

Ghost Mask brutally beat Qin Jishi and lifted him from the crater, intent on torturing him to death because of his hatred and fear of Qin Jishi. Despite his grievous injuries, Qin Jishi challenged Ghost Mask to kill him, leaving Ghost Mask momentarily stunned.

• Ghost Mask struck Qin Jishi with a powerful punch, sending him crashing into the arena and leaving a crater across its cracked surface.
• Xuanyuan Qi accused Ghost Mask of deliberately torturing Qin Jishi, while spectators from the Lower and Middle Planes worried that Qin Jishi might die.
• Ghost Mask approached Qin Jishi in the crater and found him badly injured but still resolute.
• Ghost Mask seized Qin Jishi by the throat and carried him out of the crater, determined to torture him because Qin Jishi had killed his father and once defeated him.
• Qin Jishi struggled to speak and dared Ghost Mask to kill him, leaving Ghost Mask momentarily taken aback.

Ghost Mask brutally tortured Qin Jishi during their duel, while the spectators and hall masters debated whether the fight should be stopped. Qin Jishi refused to surrender despite his severe injuries, and Ghost Mask crushed his chest as the chapter ended.

• Ghost Mask slammed Qin Jishi into the ground and battered him, leaving him covered in blood and near death.
• The Yin Yang Hall Master accused the Hall Master of Incense Burning of letting Ghost Mask act ruthlessly, but the Hall Master of Incense Burning defended the fight as a matter of victory and defeat.
• The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master questioned whether Ghost Mask and Qin Jishi had a deep-seated blood feud, and the Hall Master of Incense Burning claimed he did not know.
• Ghost Mask kept pressing his foot against Qin Jishi's chest and urged him to admit defeat, but Qin Jishi stared back without yielding.
• Yanhuang Enforcement warned Qin Jishi that continuing to fight could cost him his life, but Qin Jishi still refused to surrender.
• Ghost Mask crushed Qin Jishi's chest beneath his foot.

After Ghost Mask stomped down on Qin Jishi, the spectators believed he had been killed, while King Yama and White Brow planned to claim his corpse. Baihe stopped Caiyun from intervening, choosing to trust that Qin Jishi would survive the crisis.

• Ghost Mask stomped down on Qin Jishi, leaving the spectators from the Lower and Middle Planes, Lei Xuan'er, Zhang Shiqing, Su Qi, and the people of the Black Fiend Realm convinced he was doomed.
• King Yama and White Brow decided to obtain Qin Jishi's corpse for his blood essence, then sensed the Primordial Phoenix's arrival.
• Baihe revealed that she had let King Yama notice her presence to warn him that Qin Jishi was not alone.
• Caiyun offered to save Qin Jishi, but Baihe stopped her and chose to trust that he would find new life in the crisis.

Qin Jishi lay near death after Ghost Mask crushed his body, but visions of the people waiting for him rekindled his will. As Ghost Mask prepared to deliver the final blow, Qin Jishi awakened a terrifying black vortex that alarmed everyone present.

• Qin Jishi saw visions of the Old Man, Zhang Shiqing, Su Qi, Baihe, and the White Dragon Hall Master, who revealed that the child Meng'er was his daughter.
• Qin Jishi struggled to stay conscious, drawing strength from the people waiting for him as Ghost Mask kicked him into the barrier.
• Ghost Mask summoned a golden longsword and aimed to stab Qin Jishi through the heart.
• Qin Jishi roared and opened his eyes, causing a huge black vortex filled with lightning to form in the sky.
• The Realm Kings, Realm Lords, Realm Venerables, and Hall Masters recoiled in fear, while the Yin Yang Hall Master asked the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master what was happening.

Heavenly Dao Divine Thunder gathered above the arena, and the powerful figures watching debated what had provoked the Heavenly Dao. King Yama suspected Qin Jishi was responsible and waited to see what would happen next.

• The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master identified the lightning as Heavenly Dao Divine Thunder, and the other hall masters wondered what had made the Heavenly Dao wary.
• The Lord of Heavenly Mystery Realm tried to divine the cause but suffered a backlash and confirmed that some existence had threatened the Heavenly Dao.
• Senior Dugu told the Lord of the Black Fiend Realm that the Heavenly Dao had sent down the thunder in response to a threat, then wondered whether it was related to the Young Hall Master.
• White Brow asked King Yama why Heavenly Dao Divine Thunder had appeared, and King Yama speculated that Qin Jishi might have triggered it.
• King Yama said they would soon learn whether Qin Jishi had caused the thunder and watched the arena with anticipation.

Qin Jishi recovered from the brink of death and began breaking through into the Divine Profound Realm, drawing the Heavenly Dao Divine Thunder. As the lightning struck toward him, his allies could only watch and hope he survived the tribulation.

• Baihe realized Qin Jishi had triggered the Heavenly Dao Divine Thunder and believed he was about to break through.
• Ghost Mask and the gathered hall masters sensed the ancient, terrifying thunder gathering above Qin Jishi as his life force and aura rapidly recovered.
• The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master confirmed Qin Jishi was breaking through, while the Hall Master of Incense Burning hoped the divine thunder would kill him.
• The Lord of the Black Fiend Realm and others prepared to rush to Qin Jishi, but Dugu Qiubai stopped them and insisted no one interfere.
• A water-barrel-thick pillar of lightning struck down toward Qin Jishi, and Baihe urged him to survive.

Qin Jishi was struck repeatedly by Heavenly Dao Divine Thunder as the arena was destroyed, leaving his survival uncertain. The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master believed he was still alive, while Hall Master of Incense Burning feared Qin Jishi would remain a threat.

• Ghost Mask fled the arena as the first Heavenly Dao Divine Thunder struck Qin Jishi.
• Two more divine thunderbolts hit Qin Jishi, tearing the arena apart and prompting observers to believe he could not have survived.
• A fourth bolt descended, and the Four Hall Masters discussed how extraordinary Qin Jishi’s tribulation was.
• The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master recalled witnessing someone trigger five Heavenly Dao Divine Thunderbolts long ago.
• The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master said Qin Jishi should still be alive because the Heavenly Dao’s attack had not ended.
• Hall Master of Incense Burning revealed his hostility toward Qin Jishi and insisted the divine thunder would kill him.

Qin Jishi survived the first eight Heavenly Dao Divine Thunders while absorbing their lightning energy and growing stronger. As the Hall Masters protected the onlookers and Ghost Mask plotted to devour him, a ninth divine thunder began to form.

• Qin Jishi endured seven Heavenly Dao Divine Thunders, and the four Hall Masters raised a barrier to protect the disciples from the spreading lightning energy.
• Qin Jishi sat cross-legged within the lightning, absorbed its energy, and rapidly recovered as his body and cultivation strengthened.
• Qin Jishi withstood an eighth, deep-purple lightning pillar while the barrier distorted and the surrounding space collapsed.
• Ghost Mask celebrated Qin Jishi's survival and hoped to devour him after the tribulation to increase his own strength.
• Xuanyuan Qi, Zhang Shiqing, Su Qi, and the Divine Dragon rejoiced that Qin Jishi was still alive.
• A ninth sea of deep-purple lightning began to form in the sky.

The Heavenly Dao gathered a ninth, devastating divine thunderbolt to kill Qin Jishi, while the watching Hall Masters considered recruiting him and the Hall Master of Incense Burning vowed to kill him if he survived. The purple thunderbolt finished condensing, leaving everyone waiting to see whether Qin Jishi could endure it.

• The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and Yin Yang Hall Master both declared their intention to take Qin Jishi as their final disciple if he survived the nine divine thunderbolts, and agreed to compete for his choice.
• The Hall Master of Crimson Blood decided to act and ordered Xue Chan to return to the Divine Palace and inform Chen Xi.
• The Hall Master of Incense Burning revealed his killing intent toward Qin Jishi, whether he survived the thunderbolt or not.
• The ninth purple divine thunderbolt fully condensed, its power injuring and knocking unconscious some of the weaker cultivators.
• Dugu Qiubai clenched his fists and urged Qin Jishi to survive as the onlookers waited for the thunderbolt to strike.

Qin Jishi absorbed the Heavenly Dao Divine Thunder instead of being destroyed by it, using its lightning energy to advance toward the Divine Profound Realm. After the thunder vanished, everyone was left staring at a bottomless black hole where the martial arts platform had stood.

• The purple divine thunder descended on Qin Jishi, and the Four Great Divine Hall Masters joined forces to shield Incense Burning Mountain from its force.
• Su Qi, Zhang Shiqing, and Lei Xuan'er feared Qin Jishi had been killed, but he welcomed the lightning as a chance to break through.
• Qin Jishi drew the purple divine thunder into his body with the blue light between his brows, causing his aura to rise.
• Lightning damaged the defensive barrier and its escaping energy threw the crowd into chaos, so Dugu Qiubai swept it away while the Four Great Divine Hall Masters repaired the barrier.
• The terrifying lightning energy abruptly vanished, leaving a deep, bottomless black hole where the martial arts platform had stood.

After the final Heavenly Dao Lightning Tribulation, the crowd believed Qin Jishi had been reduced to ashes, while his allies and enemies reacted to the apparent loss. The four Hall Masters searched the crater, but Qin Jishi suddenly emerged alive and began falling through the sky.

• The crowd detected no trace of Qin Jishi and concluded that the final Lightning Tribulation had killed him, though Dugu Qiubai refused to believe it.
• Xue Chan reported that the Hall Master wanted Chen Xi to win over Qin Jishi, and Chen Xi warned that the Hall Master should not approach him before diving into the pool.
• At Star-Plucking Pavilion, Su Tianqing assured Qingfeng and Mingyue that Qin Jishi would survive the tribulation and turn disaster into fortune.
• The four Hall Masters removed the defensive barrier and searched the empty crater, while the Hall Master of Incense Burning secretly rejoiced at Qin Jishi's apparent death.
• Qin Jishi suddenly shot out of the crater alive, then began falling as the stunned crowd recognized him.

Qin Jishi returned alive after surviving the Heavenly Dao Lightning Tribulation, with his cultivation advanced to the Divine Profound Realm. The Divine Son Competition resumed, and Qin Jishi and Ghost Mask prepared to continue their battle.

• Qin Jishi appeared before the crowd, challenged Ghost Mask to continue fighting, and hastily put on a robe after Lei Xuan'er pointed out that he was unclothed.
• The Hall Master of Incense Burning questioned Qin Jishi about surviving the Heavenly Dao Lightning Tribulation, but Qin Jishi said he had been unconscious and did not know how he had survived.
• The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master proposed continuing the Divine Son Competition, and the other Hall Masters agreed.
• Ghost Mask accepted the fight, and Yanhuang Enforcement restored the collapsed fighting platform.

After Qin Jishi survived the Heavenly Dao Lightning Tribulation and advanced to the Divine Profound Realm, Yanhuang Enforcement resumed his interrupted battle with Ghost Mask. Qin Jishi provoked his opponent until Ghost Mask stepped onto the arena, and the two prepared to fight again.

• Yanhuang Enforcement restored the arena and ordered Qin Jishi and Ghost Mask to continue their battle.
• Qin Jishi taunted Ghost Mask about his new strength, while White Brow worried and King Yama expressed confidence in Ghost Mask.
• Baihe rejoiced at Qin Jishi’s breakthrough and believed no one in the competition could stop him.
• Ghost Mask entered the arena and declared he still intended to beat Qin Jishi to death.
• Qin Jishi urged Ghost Mask to attack, and Ghost Mask laughed and agreed to satisfy him.

Ghost Mask revealed himself as Helian Wang and used the Golden Armor Domain against Qin Jishi, who countered with the Weak Water Domain. Ghost Mask then unleashed ancient death energy, suppressed Qin Jishi’s cultivation, and summoned Earth’s Embryo, leaving Qin Jishi to meet it with the Pagoda Heaven Flipping Seal.

• Ghost Mask used the Golden Armor Domain, confirming to Qin Jishi that he was Helian Wang and suggesting the Incense Burning Divine Hall was under his control.
• Qin Jishi activated the Weak Water Domain, and both fighters became bound as their domains took hold.
• Ghost Mask unsealed death energy, which raised his power and suppressed Qin Jishi’s cultivation to the Immortal Realm.
• Ghost Mask unleashed the Earth Domain and sent Earth’s Embryo crashing down on Qin Jishi.
• Qin Jishi summoned the Pagoda Heaven Flipping Seal and expanded it to a hundred zhang to collide with Earth’s Embryo.