Chapter Summaries

Lin Bai and Wang Zhengyang devised a way to overcome the pro-war and pro-peace deadlock in the Seven Nights Divine Sect's territory by uniting smaller factions and pressuring Pure Yang Sect and Phoenix Valley to join the war. They left Yi Gu with a strategy that could also restore Seven Nights Divine Sect's prestige.

• Yi Gu explained that Pure Yang Sect and Phoenix Valley favored peace, while Seven Nights Divine Sect, Overturning Heavens Sect, and Worship Heaven Sect favored war, leaving the territory divided.
• Lin Bai and Wang Zhengyang independently concluded that the territory must be pacified internally before confronting the enemy beyond its borders.
• Lin Bai argued that the Northern Region intended to seize territory and would not accept peace, so the lands of Seven Nights Divine Sect, Overturning Heavens Sect, and Worship Heaven Sect would be threatened first.
• Lin Bai told Yi Gu to summon small and medium-sized lineages and sects, warn them of the consequences, and claim that Pure Yang Sect and Phoenix Valley had agreed to cede their lands.
• Wang Zhengyang explained that uniting those factions would let Seven Nights Divine Sect pressure Pure Yang Sect and Phoenix Valley into joining the war, while potentially restoring Seven Nights Divine Sect's prestige.

Lin Bai and Wang Zhengyang urged Yi Gu to unite the Seven Nights Divine Sect and rally smaller lineages against their enemies. The Chu Kingdom revealed its preparations for war and sought support, while the leaders warned that its defeat could leave the One Night Divine Sect and Qi Lingyu vulnerable to encirclement.

• Lin Bai and Wang Zhengyang advised Yi Gu to unite the factions that wanted war and force the peace-seeking factions to submit before rallying smaller lineages.
• The Southern Region declared that the Chu Kingdom wanted war and would fight to the death, while warning that the Northern Region might exploit the conflict.
• The Southern Region revealed that the Chu Kingdom had secretly sent most of its seventeen Army Kings and their troops to Horizon Pass and had prepared weapons and pills for the coming battle.
• Chu Emperor thanked Yi Gu, Wang Zhengyang, and Qi Lingyu for their support, and Shi Qian'e praised the Chu Kingdom's foresight.
• Shi Qian and Ten Thousand Saints Mountain warned that the fall of the One Night Divine Sect and the Chu Kingdom could leave Qi Lingyu and Wang Zhengyang surrounded by Brother Lin, the Northern Region, and the Four Gloom Demon Palace.

Lin Bai warned Crown Prince Chen that Seven Nights Divine Sect needed time to stabilize its territory and might still lack the strength to fight the Northern Region. Meanwhile, Nie Shang discussed the territory’s crisis and the push to make Yi Gu the Holy Son with Mu Liangyan and Meng Qinxian, who supported war against Prince Chen.

• Lin Bai warned Crown Prince Chen that Seven Nights Divine Sect needed time to settle its internal and territorial problems, and that its strength might not recover enough to resist the Northern Region.
• Crown Prince Chen thanked Lin Bai and left to greet the guests, while Nie Shang met with Mu Liangyan and Meng Qinxian.
• Nie Shang explained that One Night Divine Sect had lost prestige and that its territory could collapse if internal strife continued.
• Mu Liangyan said he wanted to support Yi Gu as Holy Son and asked whether Chu wanted war or peace, while Meng Qinxian said Overturning Heavens Sect wanted war.
• Nie Shang confirmed that One Night Divine Sect needed a Holy Son and that the Northern Region should not expect the territory to be stable without one.

Lin Bai urged Overturning Heavens Sect and Worship Heaven Sect to support Yi Gu as Seven Nights Divine Sect’s Holy Son to stabilize the sect’s territory against the Northern Region. After deliberating, both sects signaled their support, though they planned to discuss the matter with Lin Bai further.

• Lin Bai argued that choosing a Holy Son could ease Seven Nights Divine Sect’s internal strife and help unite its territory against the Northern Region.
• Meng Qinxian admitted Overturning Heavens Sect was no longer eager to pledge allegiance to Seven Nights Divine Sect, while he and Nie Shang said they could not decide immediately.
• The Sect Master proposed that the two sects signal their choice by either raising their cups or pouring out their wine.
• After deliberating, the two Yi Gus raised their cups toward the Sect Master and drank, signaling their sects’ support for Lin Bai’s rise.
• The Sect Master and Sect Master returned to their seats and said they would discuss the matter with Lin Bai after going back.

Lin Bai hosted leaders of Chu Kingdom’s sects and top forces at Star Plucking Platform while considering how to stabilize Seven Nights Divine Sect and confront the Northern Region. The banquet turned toward the missing Holy Sons, while Lin Bai continued searching for a way to rescue Lu Qingjun and leave Chu Kingdom.

• Lin Bai secured support from Worship Heaven Sect and Overturning Heavens Sect for Yi Gu’s bid to become Holy Son and help Seven Nights Divine Sect face the Northern Region.
• Lin Bai considered the Netherworld’s Nether Ferry as a possible route away from Chu Kingdom, since traveling through the Heavenly Realm risked discovery by the Giant God Race.
• Lin Bai arrived at Star Plucking Platform and welcomed the assembled leaders and guests to the banquet.
• Leaders from Qi Tian Sect and other forces asked Lin Bai about their missing Holy Sons, including Silver Moon Sect’s Holy Son.
• Lin Bai continued plotting to rescue Lu Qingjun and find a way to leave Chu Kingdom.

At the Star Plucking Platform banquet, Lin Bai revealed that the Chu Emperor and the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace had joined forces to abduct the Southern Region’s Holy Sons and Holy Daughters. As sect leaders demanded answers, Lin Bai accused the alliance of planning to divide the Southern Region, leaving the gathering on the brink of a crisis.

• The Sect Master of Silver Moon Sect demanded an explanation for the abduction of its Holy Son, prompting leaders from other top sects to rise and ask about their missing heirs.
• Lin Bai explained that the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace had abducted the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters across the Southern Region, using Carefree Powder bought from the Northern Region’s Southern Border Insect Valley.
• Lin Bai said that Chu State had found evidence of a trade between the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace and Chu Emperor martial artists and offered to show the sect leaders the detailed proof.
• Lin Bai said the Chu Emperor and the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace had allied to divide the Southern Region, causing an uproar at the Star Plucking Platform.
• Guan Cheng said Wolf Marquis had safely rescued four captives, while the sect leaders fell silent and weighed the threat posed by the Chu Emperor and the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace.

Emperor Chu used the Northern Region’s growing pressure to justify preparations for war, while Zhao Xing Office and the sect leaders argued over how to recover the abducted Holy Sons. The discussion ended with Zhao Xing Office agreeing to cede territory belonging to the sects and Lineages, not Chu Country.

• Emperor Chu told the assembled martial artists that the Northern Region was preparing to invade and that Chu Country needed to consider how to respond.
• Zhao Xing Office said the abducted Holy Sons were likely held in Chu Country’s Soul Refinement Sect and that her spies were seeking a way to rescue them.
• The sect leaders questioned the evidence against the Northern Region and urged Zhao Xing Office to prioritize rescuing the Holy Sons.
• The Sect Master suggested negotiating with Emperor Chu by offering benefits, while Ling Mengyun argued that only making Emperor Chu fear them would secure the Holy Sons’ release.
• Zhao Xing Office proposed that the sects and Lineages cede their territories and resources in exchange for the Holy Sons, then agreed to cede territory outside Chu Country.

Emperor Chu urged the Eastern Region’s sect leaders to unite and fight the Northern Region rather than negotiate over their kidnapped Holy Sons. Just as they began to settle on war, the Sect Master of Phoenix Valley revealed that envoys from the Northern Region and Nine Underworlds Demon Palace were waiting below the Star Plucking Platform.

• Emperor Chu presented negotiation or war as the Eastern Region’s choices and argued that defeating the Northern Region would secure the Holy Sons’ return on better terms.
• Lin Bai realized that rescuing Meng Qinxian, Nie Shang, Yi Heze, and Lu Qingjun had foiled the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s plan to isolate the Kingdom of Chu and helped unite the Eastern Region.
• A sect leader asked whether the Northern Region would use the kidnapped Holy Sons as hostages, and Emperor Chu urged the sects not to yield to threats.
• As the sect leaders began to favor war, the Sect Master of Phoenix Valley suggested hearing the enemy’s position first.
• The Sect Master of Phoenix Valley revealed that envoys from the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace and the Northern Region were waiting beneath the Star Plucking Platform.

At the Chu Emperor’s banquet, the Sect Master of Phoenix Valley revealed that envoys from the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace and the Northern Region had contacted the sect leaders and urged the Chu Emperor to meet them. The Chu Emperor agreed, and the envoys arrived at Star Plucking Platform, where Lin Bai recognized Bu Junfeng among them.

• The Sect Master of Phoenix Valley disclosed that the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace and the Northern Region had sent envoys to negotiate with sects whose Holy Sons had been abducted.
• The Chu Emperor questioned whether Phoenix Valley had submitted to the enemy, and its Sect Master claimed he had negotiated only because the Northern Region held his sect’s Holy Daughter hostage.
• Lin Bai concluded that the Chu Emperor would meet the envoys because the sect leaders wanted to recover their Holy Sons on favorable terms.
• The Chu Emperor agreed to receive the envoys, and Phoenix Valley’s martial artists escorted two young men onto Star Plucking Platform.
• Lu Yunzhe introduced himself as a Divine Son of the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace and greeted the Chu Emperor and two sect leaders, while the other envoy was identified as Bu Junfeng, Holy Son of Soul Refinement Sect.

At the Star Plucking Platform banquet, Yi Wen warned that the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s return would threaten the Seven Nights Divine Sect and the Qi Tian Sect, while the four Flourishing Sects weighed whether to allow it. Yi Wen predicted that the Seven Nights Divine Sect would split and face war before the Northern Region invaded.

• Yi Wen reminded the Qi Tian Sect’s Sect Master that both sects had gained treasures and power from the destruction of the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace, and warned that they would be its first targets if it returned.
• The Sect Masters of Ten Thousand Saints Mountain and the Sacred Hall opposed the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s return, and Lin Bai told the Chu Emperor that he would not agree to it.
• Xiang Yi explained that Ten Thousand Saints Mountain had led the Demon Palace’s destruction and that the four Flourishing Sects held treasures taken from it, giving them deep reasons to distrust its return.
• Yi Wen warned that the Seven Nights Divine Sect’s internal conflict would give the Northern Region an opening and predicted that a great war would erupt within the sect’s territory after the banquet.
• Yi Wen concluded that the Seven Nights Divine Sect was certain to split, and he feared it would be destroyed by the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace within a hundred years.

At Star Plucking Platform, Bei Yu Zhe argued for Nine Underworlds Demon Palace to rebuild its mountain gate, while the Chu Kingdom and Ten Thousand Saints Mountain rejected the proposal. Bu Junfeng then demanded that the Chu Kingdom return seventeen Thousand-Prefecture territories to Sect Master, leaving the Chu Kingdom’s response and the Devil Realm’s next move unresolved.

• Lin Bai suspected Bei Yu Zhe and Nine Underworlds Demon Palace intended to target Seven Nights Divine Sect’s territory and considered whether the Chu Kingdom would support it early or wait until it was nearly defeated.
• Bei Yu Zhe urged the gathered leaders to allow Nine Underworlds Demon Palace to rebuild its mountain gate, but the Chu Kingdom’s Sect Master Chu Emperor and Ten Thousand Saints Mountain’s Chu Emperor refused.
• The Eastern Domain questioned Bu Junfeng about why she had accompanied Bei Yu Zhe, and Bu Junfeng said the visiting Holy Sons and Holy Maidens wanted the Chu Kingdom to return seventeen Thousand-Prefecture territories to Sect Master.
• Bu Junfeng argued that the territories had once belonged to Sect Master and accused the Chu Kingdom of taking them in past wars, provoking angry protests from the Chu Kingdom’s imperial relatives.
• Chu Emperor demanded that Bu Junfeng speak plainly, while Lin Bai considered how the dispute over the territories might affect the Chu Kingdom’s choices regarding Seven Nights Divine Sect.

After negotiations over the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s mountain gate and the seventy-two thousand territories collapsed, the four great flourishing forces of the Northern Region united behind a military campaign against the Chu Emperor. The Chu Emperor gave the Northern Region three months to return its captured holy sons before the army marched, while Tianshui Sect reluctantly accepted that war was unavoidable.

• The leaders of the Eastern Region concluded that neither the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace nor the Chu royal family would get what they demanded, and the negotiations failed.
• The Sect Master of Ten Thousand Saints Mountain, Zu Zhangbai’s Sect Master, and Yi Wen each pledged their forces to the Chu nation’s northern expedition.
• The Chu Emperor declared that the Northern Region would go to war in three months unless the Chu Emperor returned the captured holy sons.
• Sect Master Chu Xi pledged Tianshui Sect’s support, while Old Qi Tian Sect Master Liu recognized that his sect could not resist the united forces’ decision.

At the Immortal Abode Restaurant, the sect representatives discussed the coming war and the mobilization ordered by Chu. Worship Heaven Sect and Overturning Heavens Sect agreed that they should eliminate Phoenix Valley and Pure Yang Sect, while the One Night Divine Sect’s weakened authority made conflict within its territory likely.

• Lin Bai arrived late after seeing off the Old Ancestor and disciples of Tianshui Sect, joining the gathered representatives in a gloomy private room.
• Huang Qingyun said Sacred Lotus Palace had received His Majesty’s secret decree to return to its sect, summon its disciples, and await further orders, while Yi Song said Celestial Immortal Sect would leave at dawn.
• Nie Shang explained that the Seven Great Sects of Chu had ordered Dao Realm martial artists across the Eastern Region to prepare for battle, and that the One Night Divine Sect had lost the authority to mobilize its territory.
• Qi Tian Sect and Brother Lin agreed that Worship Heaven Sect and Overturning Heavens Sect intended to destroy Phoenix Valley and Pure Yang Sect, and Brother Lin said their plan had to begin within three months.
• Qi Tian Sect warned that chaos within the One Night Divine Sect’s territory could erupt before the Northern Region war, while the sect representatives noted that Azure Lotus Sect had yet to take a position.

A month after the Star Plucking Platform banquet, Lu Yun was summoned to the palace as Chu faced rising tensions at the Northern border. In a separate conversation, Li Guxian connected the Devil Palace’s reacting throne to the possibility that the Holy Lord had survived, leaving her determined to investigate the records.

• Eunuch Gui told Lu Yun that Chu Di had summoned him, Prince Liang, Chu Zimo, Chu Tinghan, Chu Tingxue, and other nobles as the border situation worsened.
• Lu Yunzhe explained to Lin Baixian that the Devil Palace’s Emperor’s Throne had reacted during the period when she was hunted by Prince Liang’s Estate.
• Lin Baixian recalled that nothing unusual had happened in the Imperial Capital beyond the search for her, then wondered whether the Holy Lord had survived or left behind a remnant soul.
• Lu Yunzhe and Lin Baixian considered whether the Holy Lord’s throne had reacted because of a method used by Lu Yun.
• Li Guxian decided to examine the Devil Palace’s records to learn whether the Holy Lord had possessed the same ability as Lu Yun.

Lin Bai met Chu the Emperor, who briefed him on the conflict in the Seven Nights Divine Sect’s territory after Phoenix Valley and Pure Yang Sect betrayed their allies and attacked first. Chu the Emperor warned that Northern Region and Nine Underworlds Demon Palace support could leave the allied sects in grave danger.

• Lin Bai entered the golden hall and stood ten paces from the dragon throne, alongside Prince Liang, Prince Chen, the Third Prince, and Princess Chenxian.
• Chu the Emperor told Lin Bai that Phoenix Valley and Pure Yang Sect had defected to the Northern Region and attacked Overturning Heavens Sect and Worship Heaven Sect.
• The Seven Nights Divine Sect, Overturning Heavens Sect, and Worship Heaven Sect formed an alliance and fought Phoenix Valley and Pure Yang Sect, but could not defeat them quickly.
• Lin Bai concluded that powerful forces from the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace and Northern Region were secretly aiding the two rebellious sects.
• Chu the Emperor warned that the Northern Region’s position and a possible two-sided attack put the allied sects in grave danger.

Chu Emperor decided to send troops to aid the Seven Nights Divine Sect despite the Northern Region’s threat at Chu’s borders. After committing eight million soldiers and ordering two returned battalions to join them, he asked Lin Bai whether he would go with the reinforcements.

• Lin Bai argued that the Northern Region was more likely to attack the Seven Nights Divine Sect than Chu, while Chu Emperor kept his forces at Horizon Pass to guard the border.
• Chu Emperor showed Lin Bai Yi Wen’s urgent request for aid and decided Chu would reinforce its ally.
• Prince Liang said his estate would send five armies under Chu Tinghan, Chu Tingxue, and Chu Zimo, while Princess Chenxian committed three million soldiers from Prince Hong Estate.
• Chu Emperor ordered the Dragon Slayers Battalion and Dragon Guard Battalion to join the expedition after learning they had both returned in full.
• Chu Emperor asked Lin Bai whether he wanted to go to the territory of the Seven Nights Divine Sect.

Lin Bai was named Qin King and granted Ancient Qin Thousand Provinces, while Emperor Chu assigned him to lead Chu’s aid to One Night Divine Sect. Lin Bai arranged for Tianshui Sect to manage Eastern Region’s Ancient Ningrui Xian, leaving Eastern Region with its title, stipend, and tribute rights.

• Emperor Chu granted Lin Bai the title of Qin King and assigned him Ancient Qin Thousand Provinces, prompting Lin Bai to give thanks.
• Emperor Chu explained that Eastern Region would receive an annual stipend and could retain one-third of Ancient Ningrui Xian’s tribute every hundred years, but would remain under Chu’s military department.
• Lin Bai agreed that Eastern Region could entrust Ancient Ningrui Xian’s management to Tianshui Sect, which Emperor Chu would notify to take over the territory.
• Emperor Chu appointed Lin Bai, Chu Tinghan, Princess Chenxian, Chu Tingxue, Chu Zimo, Chao Yushi, Zhang Linghu, and others as envoys to aid One Night Divine Sect.
• Eastern Region and the others left the Golden Hall to prepare for the mission, while Prince Liang and Crown Prince stayed behind to continue discussions.

After leaving the Golden Palace, Lin Bai and the two princesses arranged how to reinforce the One Night Divine Sect and gather troops from their fiefs. Chu Emperor prepared to travel ahead and scout the territory while the armies mobilized, as news of his ennoblement spread through the Demon Realm.

• Chu Tinghan teased Lin Bai about his new princely estate, while she and Princess Chenxian exchanged hostile glances over him.
• Chu Tingxue proposed that Chu Emperor and he return to their fiefs to mobilize the armies of Prince Liang's Estate and Prince Hong Estate.
• Chu Tinghan and Princess Chenxian agreed to serve as scouts and planned to meet at the East City Gate at dawn with the Black Tortoise Battalion.
• Chu Emperor decided to go ahead with His Highness the Young Lord to investigate the One Night Divine Sect's territory while the estate armies assembled.
• Chu deliberately spread news of Chu Emperor's new title throughout the Demon Realm.

Lin Bai contacted the Tianshui Sect and Prince Chen through a secret sound transmission formation, then discussed the sect’s role in the coming conflict. He prepared to leave for the territory of the One Night Divine Sect at dawn, leaving the Tianshui Sect to manage his fief while he was away.

• Lin Bai used Ancestor Zu Zhangbai’s projection formation to contact the Tianshui Sect and told them that he had been made a prince and would soon depart for the territory of the One Night Divine Sect.
• Ancestor Zu Zhangbai agreed that the Tianshui Sect would manage Ancient Qin Prefecture and preserve its tribute for Lin Bai.
• Lin Bai told the Tianshui Sect to remain cautious and said that Chu Tinghan and Princess Chenxian were mobilizing troops while he and Chu Zimo would investigate the One Night Divine Sect’s territory.
• Lin Bai met with His Highness Chu Emperor, who described the pressure of leading Chu and told Lin Bai to prepare for his journey.
• At midnight, Lin Bai used the sound transmission formation to contact Prince Chen and ask about his condition.

Lin Bai summoned Crow, who warned Cangsheng that the Heavenly Realm was dangerous and that Prince Liang could discover his Heaven Swallowing Race identity. Crow then sensed old monsters nearby and fled, leaving Cangsheng to find another way to the Dao Ruins World.

• Lin Bai called for Crow on the imperial city's wall, and Crow arrived while warning him not to shout loudly.
• Cangsheng asked Crow about the Heavenly Realm, and Crow explained that Prince Liang had a stronghold there and might notice a Heaven Swallowing Race member.
• Crow said many powerful old monsters had appeared in the imperial capital, including figures who were not from the Chu Kingdom or even the Demon Realm.
• Crow sensed one of the old monsters approaching, told Cangsheng to take care of himself, and vanished through the void.
• Cangsheng concluded that entering the Heavenly Realm was a dangerous way to return to the Dao Ruins World and resolved to investigate another route.