Chapter Summaries

Su Mu stopped the River of Time and collected crossing fees from a boy and the two pursuers hunting him, then allowed the chase to resume. The boy begged Su Mu for help, but Su Mu hesitated to interfere and learned that the boy was named Gui.

• A silver-haired woman and a brawny man chased young Gui along the River of Time, intent on killing him before his future self could stop them.
• The silver-haired woman shot a needle at Gui, but Su Mu appeared and knocked it aside, bringing the river to a standstill.
• Su Mu demanded a River Crossing Fee from all three; the woman and brawny man gave him Space Rings, while Gui offered a broken iron sword.
• Su Mu lifted the Stillness and told the pursuers to continue chasing Gui, who dropped to his knees and pleaded with him.
• Su Mu asked the boy his name, and he answered, "Gui."

Su Mu honored his promise to an old fisherman by protecting Shao Nian Gui from the Silver-haired Woman and the Brawny Man as they pursued him across the River of Time. The pair withdrew, leaving Su Mu puzzled by Gui’s lack of knowledge about Zero and Gui with nowhere to go after his sect’s destruction.

• Su Mu recognized Shao Nian Gui as the old fisherman’s grandson and returned the Broken Sword, explaining that his grandfather had already paid his River Crossing Fee.
• Su Mu declared that he would get Gui across safely, and the Brawny Man prepared to attack him with his Long Halberd.
• The Silver-haired Woman stopped the Brawny Man, accepted that their mission had failed, and left with him after warning Su Mu about the future karma of his choice.
• Su Mu asked Gui about Zero, but Gui said he did not know anyone by that name, so Su Mu wondered what had gone wrong with the old fisherman’s prediction.
• Su Mu told Gui to go and start over, and Gui knelt to thank him before offering him an object from his sleeve.

Shao Nian Gui gave Su Mu a Stone Ring in gratitude for saving his life, and Su Mu accepted it after learning the youth had an identical one. After Shao Nian Gui departed, Su Mu received a huge reward and decided to test the ring’s cultivation effect that night.

• Shao Nian Gui offered Su Mu his treasured Stone Ring, explaining that it aided his cultivation and had helped him survive.
• Su Mu returned the ring, but Shao Nian Gui showed him an identical, more worn Stone Ring and insisted he keep the original as thanks.
• Su Mu accepted the gift and sent Shao Nian Gui away for his safety; the youth rowed off, and Su Mu praised his potential.
• Su Mu received 100,000 Favor Points for maintaining order and resolved to save them toward raising his River Affinity to 10%.
• That night, Su Mu put on the Stone Ring and closed his eyes to test its effect on cultivation.

Su Mu relived a life as a poor scholar, rose to become the Da Fu Kingdom’s Number One Scholar, and sought enlightenment through Confucianism while caring for his dying wife, Madam Mo. After remembering his true identity and awakening from the dream, he broke through to the fourth realm of Heavenly Immortal and found a note inside his Stone Ring.

• Su Mu awoke as a poor scholar with no memories, recognized his wife Mo Wanwan, and discovered he could memorize and understand books after his dream.
• Su Mu passed the provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations, becoming the Da Fu Kingdom’s Number One Scholar before being sidelined for lacking cultivation.
• Su Mu secluded himself to study Confucian classics, then traveled with bedridden Madam Mo and gained insight from the landscapes they visited.
• As Madam Mo neared death on a snowy mountain, Su Mu attained enlightenment, remembered his true identity, and restored her youth and vitality before vanishing.
• Su Mu woke at dawn, broke through to the fourth realm of Heavenly Immortal, realized the Stone Ring had caused the dream, and found a written sentence inside it.

Su Mu figured out that the Stone Ring let its wearer live through a realistic dream and receive its insights, then wondered whether it could enable cultivation across years of dream time. Far away in the future, five figures guarding a supposedly dead old man discovered that the Reincarnation Zero Ring on his hand had vanished.

• Su Mu read the verses and hidden message inside the Stone Ring and suspected the Old Man who had been fishing wrote them for him.
• Su Mu realized the Stone Ring returned insights from its realistic dreams, though recalling his true memories ended the dream.
• Su Mu considered whether retaining his memories could let him cultivate in dreams for years while only a night passed in reality.
• In a distant future, five figures watched an old man in a ruined world, waiting for his body and will to disappear after a hundred thousand years.
• One of the five noticed that the Reincarnation Zero Ring had disappeared from the old man's hand.

The five clans believed the old man had been killed after their juniors returned, but he revived and revealed that his Past Self had survived and that he had given away the Reincarnation Zero Ring. As the clans learned their mission had failed, they discovered that a River Warden had rescued the old man’s younger self in the River of Time.

• The five figures deduced that the old man’s Reincarnation Zero Ring had vanished because their juniors had slain his Past Self and taken it.
• One of the figures sensed that his clan’s two juniors had returned, and the five prepared to collect the old man’s body.
• The old man revived, despite being weakened and having lost one cultivation level, then evaded the five figures’ attacks and appeared above the Sea of Worlds.
• The old man told the five that their juniors had not killed his Past Self and that he had given away the Stone Ring himself.
• One of the figures received word from his clan that the two juniors had failed and had pursued the old man’s younger self into the River of Time, where a River Warden rescued him.
• The five figures were shocked to learn that a River Warden existed above the River of Time.

An elder revealed that the Five Clans were pawns of the Descendants of Divinity and killed the five clan leaders with a single strike. He escaped the three golden phantoms, who demanded the Reincarnation Ring, and they began searching for it after he departed.

• The elder told the Five Clans that they were pawns of the Descendants of Divinity and revealed that a River Warden existed.
• The elder killed the five Saintly Body Avatars with a wave of his hand, nearly drying up the realm sea.
• Three golden phantoms confronted the elder and demanded the Reincarnation Ring, but he said they could not retrieve it and warned them about the Great Chaos.
• The elder left for another spacetime, and the three golden phantoms began deducing where the Reincarnation Ring had gone.

The Golden Scale Clan’s divination for the Reincarnation Ring was shattered by a supreme rule, convincing the golden-robed man that the ring had fallen into an existence beyond their reach. He ordered the clan into seclusion, while wondering who was playing the greater game.

• The three men’s divination failed to find the Reincarnation Ring, and a supreme rule shattered their phantom incarnations and nearly injured their true bodies.
• The golden-robed man concluded that the Golden Scale Clan was not qualified to claim the ring and reflected on how their plan to capture its owner had failed.
• The golden-robed man ordered his eldest and ninth nephews to put the entire Golden Scale Clan into seclusion and avoid conflicts in the Azure Central God Realm.
• The golden-robed man decided that cultivation mattered more than status and wondered whether the existence who obtained the Reincarnation Ring was a Chess Player, and who might be playing against him.

Su Mu rescued a familiar turtle from the river and recognized it as the stubborn Little Turtle he had saved two years earlier. After discovering it had become a powerful Profound Heaven Turtle, he contracted with it, and it presented him with a long-guarded gift.

• Su Mu decided to enter the Forbidden Land to cultivate and prepare for the Great Chaos.
• Su Mu returned stranded fish to the river, earning seven thousand Favor Points by the end of the day.
• Su Mu found a large turtle tangled in water grass and recognized the Taiji-marked shell of the Little Turtle he had once rescued.
• Su Mu asked the turtle to follow him, and it agreed without hesitation.
• Su Mu spent 500 Favor Points to contract with the Profound Heaven Turtle, which then spat out a gift it had protected for many years.

Su Mu received an innate treasure technique from Little Six, a newly contracted spirit turtle, then returned home to cultivate with Little NanNan. The chapter shifted to Yao Xin Palace, where its extraordinarily fortunate founder, the Jin Yao Palace Master, stood beneath a moon tree as if waiting for someone.

• The turtle gave Su Mu a living, stone-like object containing the high-ranked God Slaying Treasure Technique, and Su Mu named the turtle Little Six.
• Su Mu returned Little Six to the river, finished his patrol, and headed home with eleven thousand in earnings.
• Little NanNan had prepared food and quietly read while Su Mu cultivated at night.
• The narration introduced Yao Xin Palace, its powerful founder the Jin Yao Palace Master, and her exceptionally talented disciples.
• A white-clad woman stood beneath a moon tree on Jin Yao Peak, gazing into the night sky as though waiting.

Jin Yao planned to use the Yao Xin Palace to weaken the Ancient Desolate Immortal Domain and prepare it for conquest by her brothers and master. After Zhao Qing'er asked to enter the dangerous Azure Valley Sword Pool Forbidden Ground, Jin Yao agreed to reveal some of her plans.

• Jin Yao received a message from First Brother that he and Third Brother were close to controlling the Grand Grief Immortal Domain.
• Jin Yao reviewed her plan to infiltrate the Ancient Desolate Immortal Domain, rise into the Ten Great Immortal Sects, and spark a war that would leave the domain vulnerable to invasion.
• Zhao Qing'er asked Jin Yao for permission to cultivate in the distant and dangerous Azure Valley Sword Pool Forbidden Ground.
• Jin Yao warned Zhao Qing'er that she could face death there and might not receive help from the Yao Xin Palace.
• Zhao Qing'er remained determined to go, and Jin Yao said she had followed her for more than nine thousand years and could now be told some things.

Jin Yao sent Zhao Qing'er to the Azure Valley Sword Pool Forbidden Ground and revealed that her plans ultimately targeted the entire Ancient Desolate Immortal Domain. She continued building influence through her disciples in the Ten Great Immortal Sects, then left after receiving a mental summons.

• Jin Yao told Zhao Qing'er that their true enemy was the entire Ancient Desolate Immortal Domain and urged her to become a revered Sword Venerable.
• Jin Yao opened a spatial passage to the Azure Valley Sword Pool Forbidden Ground, and Zhao Qing'er entered it.
• Jin Yao reflected on her plan to cultivate Zhao Qing'er as a leading Sword Cultivator and use the disciples she had placed in the Ten Great Immortal Sects to prepare for a future war.
• Yue Ling reported that the Phoenix Feather Immortal Gate might nominate her as a Holy Maiden successor, and Jin Yao promised to help her secure the position.
• Jin Yao received a mental summons, smiled, and flew into the void after telling Yue Ling to leave.

Su Mu welcomed Profound Heaven Turtle as his sixth Spirit Beast, healed three injured beasts, and used Favor Points to strengthen Turtle. While cultivating the God Slaying Treasure Technique with the White Jade Meditation Cushion, he witnessed a vast continent under invasion and broke through in his cultivation.

• Su Mu introduced Profound Heaven Turtle to his other Spirit Beasts and urged them to support one another.
• Su Mu spent Favor Points healing Little Black Dragon, Golden Python, and Kong Yao, then reminded them to retreat from enemies they could not defeat.
• Su Mu spent 3000 Favor Points to strengthen Profound Heaven Turtle and sent him back to the river with a warning to stay cautious.
• Su Mu meditated on the White Jade Meditation Cushion and quickly comprehended the threshold of the first volume of the God Slaying Treasure Technique.
• Su Mu saw an invading force pour through void rifts and fight across the continent, while its surging energy gathered around him.
• Su Mu's dantian shattered as he experienced a breakthrough.

Su Mu advanced his cultivation and upgraded the God Slaying Treasure Technique and Nine Secrets before setting out to patrol the river for more Favor Points. Meanwhile, the Grand Grief Immortal Domain faced a long-prepared invasion, and Bai Qiuluo prepared to flee with the Bai Family as the Old Ancestor chose to remain.

• Su Mu spent Favor Points to raise his River Affinity to 8%, advance the God Slaying Treasure Technique and Nine Secrets, and reach the Heavenly Immortal Sixth Stage.
• Su Mu noticed Little NanNan had gone on patrol with Old Green Ox, then headed out to patrol the riverway himself.
• An ancient formation suppressed the Grand Grief Immortal Domain as invaders poured through Space Cracks, and one-third of its territory fell during the thousand-year war.
• Bai Qiuluo stood with the Old Ancestor as the Bai Family prepared to escape aboard the World Opening Boat.
• The Old Ancestor refused to leave Grand Grief and told Bai Qiuluo to go to the Ancient Desolate Immortal Domain without looking back.

Bai Qiuluo learned the Old Ancestor’s plan to save the Bai Family by sending its chosen young people to the Ancient Desolate Immortal Domain, where they would disperse into powerful sects and rebuild the clan later. Meanwhile, Lin Changdong received news of victory on Grand Grief’s northern battlefield, but an enormous body carrying a figure emerged from the dark clouds above North Emblem City.

• Bai Qiuluo told the Old Ancestor that the Bai Family had selected three thousand talented young people to flee to the Ancient Desolate Immortal Domain.
• The Old Ancestor explained that the young people should join powerful sects separately and reunite only after gaining enough strength to rebuild the Bai Family.
• Bai Qiuluo accepted the plan and resolved to restore the Bai Family’s glory in the Ancient Desolate Immortal Domain.
• A wooden boat left the Grand Grief Immortal Domain and flew toward another world.
• Lin Changdong received a report that his army had surrounded and annihilated the enemy’s main forces in the Ku Yuan Mountain Range.
• Lin Changdong raised his Silver Spear when an enormous body carrying a figure emerged from the dark clouds above North Emblem City.

A black dragon and a gray-robed figure appeared above North Emblem City, overwhelming its defenders and revealing themselves as the invaders from a battle more than two thousand years earlier. As Lin Changdong unleashed his power, the figure raised a hand and began shattering the space around the city, declaring that his master was beyond the likes of them.

• Lin Changdong rallied North Emblem City’s gathered cultivators to prepare for battle against the colossal presence in the black clouds.
• A black dragon opened its eyes in the clouds, suppressing Lin Changdong and the defenders with its presence.
• Lin Changdong recognized the black dragon and its rider as the invaders from a conflict more than two thousand years earlier and realized they had been laying a trap.
• Lin Changdong pierced his heart with two fingers, greatly increasing his power and covering himself in blood-red runes.
• The gray-robed figure raised his hand and shattered the space around North Emblem City, saying his master was not one vermin like them could speak of.

Old Three killed Lin Changdong with a single golden scale and forced the Northern Main Battlefield to submit, then appointed Zhang Taixuan to oversee the city. Old Three and Oldest departed to continue conquering Taishang, while a young cultivator condemned Zhang Taixuan for surrendering.

• Lin Changdong burned his Essence Blood and charged Old Three, who shattered his immortal weapon and killed him with a golden scale that erased his consciousness.
• The Northern Main Battlefield’s cultivators submitted after Old Three offered them a choice, and he placed Slave Seals on them to prevent betrayal.
• Old Three told the cultivators he intended to rule Taishang and lead them to greater heights rather than destroy them.
• Zhang Taixuan identified himself as deputy commander, promised to report the battle as a victory, and was appointed to replace Lin Changdong.
• Old Three and Oldest left after taking the Northern Battlefield, and a hot-blooded young man cursed Zhang Taixuan for surrendering.

Zhang Taixuan persuaded the people of North Emblem City that submitting to an overwhelming enemy could protect their families and disciples from meaningless deaths. Impressed by his judgment and prestige, Old Three and Oldest planned to use him to help govern conquered battlefields, while Old Three began proposing a new idea for their Master.

• Deng Kun denounced Zhang Taixuan for supporting the invaders, and Zhang Taixuan explained that resisting an unbeatable enemy would bring pointless deaths to Taishang's people.
• Zhang Taixuan challenged Deng Kun for waiting until the enemy had left to voice his anger, prompting Deng Kun to recognize that he had acted from fear and a desire to survive.
• Zhang Taixuan urged the people to trust that the invader intended to rule Taishang rather than destroy it, and the crowd's view of submission changed.
• Old Three revealed that he and his companions had only pretended to leave North Emblem City and praised Zhang Taixuan as someone worth nurturing.
• Old Three and Oldest planned to bring Zhang Taixuan along to persuade other battlefields and eventually appoint him Taishang's new Domain Lord.
• Old Three discussed the future attack on the Ancient Desolate Immortal Domain and began offering Oldest an idea he claimed was for their Master.

Oldest rejected Old Three’s plan to send Ran Qingqing to Su Mu, deciding instead to spare her if possible and recruit her to fight for Master. Su Mu returned from earning Favor Points to learn that someone was stealing the Bodhi Tree, and hurried to the backyard to catch them.

• Oldest struck down Old Three’s suggestion that Ran Qingqing accompany Master, insisting she was nowhere near worthy and that Master had no need for desire or company.
• Oldest told Old Three to spare Ran Qingqing if possible and bring her under their command, while killing Realm Lords who resisted.
• Su Mu cleared the riverbank weeds and earned 10,200 Favor Points before heading home.
• Little NanNan told Su Mu that someone was stealing the fruit tree they had planted, and Su Mu rushed toward the backyard.
• The Wild Boar hanging from the Willow Tree secretly wondered which unfortunate soul had come to share its misery.

Su Mu caught a golden monkey stealing eight nearly ripe Bodhi Fruits and made it accept an eighty-year debt or repay him with treasures. He hung the monkey beside the Wild Boar, then whipped them both the next morning before leaving on patrol.

• Su Mu caught the golden monkey picking Bodhi Fruits from his tree and beat it for ruining eight nearly ripe fruits.
• Su Mu demanded that the monkey repay the fruits by working for him for eighty years or finding treasures of equal value, and the frightened monkey agreed.
• Su Mu hung the monkey upside down from the Willow Tree beside the Wild Boar and went to eat.
• That night, the Wild Boar tried to persuade the resentful monkey to give up its stubbornness, but the monkey ignored it.
• The next morning, Su Mu whipped the monkey and the Wild Boar before heading out on patrol.