Recaps

At Qilin Cliff, the Three Pure Ones considered how to establish their sects and attain sainthood without provoking their Teacher. Unable to agree on a name for Laozi’s sect, they summoned Zhou Qingqing to advise them.

• Yuanshi revised the Chan Sect’s doctrine to appear to follow Heaven while ultimately following his own heart, and Tongtian planned to appoint Red Cloud Ancestor as deputy leader of the Jie Sect.
• Laozi proposed establishing Daoism but worried that it could suggest the Dao replacing the Mysterious and provoke their Teacher’s intervention.
• Laozi suggested Fangxian, Orthodox Unity, and Celestial Master as alternatives, but the Three Pure Ones each favored a different choice after a hundred years of discussion.
• The Three Pure Ones agreed to ask Zhou Qingqing to choose and Tongtian summoned her from the Seven Little Ones.
• Tongtian carried Zhou Qingqing away while the Seven Little Ones recalled that her previous sudden departure had preceded Nuwa’s sainthood.

The Three Pure Ones asked Zhou Qingqing for advice as they prepared to establish their teachings, and her suggestion convinced Supreme Pure Laozi to pursue their shared goal of establishing Daoism. Laozi told Zhou Qingqing to summon her junior brothers and sisters to witness the Three Pure Ones attaining sainthood, while declaring her the first Celestial Master.

• Supreme Pure Laozi gave Zhou Qingqing Nuwa's Prayer Mat and the cultivation method for the Creation Manipulation divine ability.
• The Three Pure Ones asked Zhou Qingqing to advise them on founding their teachings, and she chose the Celestial Master Dao from Laozi's proposed options.
• After hearing Zhou Qingqing's thoughts, Supreme Pure Laozi decided that the Three Pure Ones would establish Daoism together before pursuing the Chan Sect and Jie Sect.
• Jade Pure Yuanshi and Upper Pure Tongtian agreed with Laozi's plan to establish Daoism first.
• Supreme Pure Laozi told Zhou Qingqing to summon her junior brothers and sisters to witness the Three Pure Ones attaining sainthood, and called her the first Celestial Master.

The Three Pure Ones jointly established Daoism and attained sainthood, surprising Zhou Qingqing, who had expected them to found separate sects. Heavenly Dao Hongjun called their actions “too far” but did not intervene.

• Zhou Qingqing watched as the Three Pure Ones prepared to attain the Dao, while imagining her future identity as a purple-robed Celestial Master.
• The Three Pure Ones announced that they would establish Daoism together, naming Laozi its leader and Yuanshi and Tongtian its deputy leaders.
• The Three Pure Ones used the Heaven-and-Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Treasure Pagoda and the Primordial Heaven-Measuring Ruler to anchor Daoism’s fortune.
• The Three Pure Ones linked their fortunes and became Saints, spreading their authority throughout the Primordial World.
• Heavenly Dao Hongjun sensed their united creation merit, remarked that they had gone too far, and returned to stillness without stopping them.

After the Three Pure Ones established Daoism, Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti followed their example and founded the Western Sect, but they needed Heavenly Dao vows to attain sainthood. They later realized they could have become Saints without repairing the Western Spiritual Veins, leaving them feeling misled by Supreme Pure Laozi without knowing why.

• The Three Pure Ones established Daoism, and Zhou Qingqing thought their united foundation might soften future divisions between the Chan Sect and Jie Sect.
• Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti decided to imitate the Three Pure Ones and jointly established the Western Sect.
• The Heavenly Dao granted the Western Duo merit, but it was insufficient for them to become Saints, so Daoist Jieyin made thirty-six great vows to borrow more merit.
• Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti attained sainthood, while Zhou Qingqing noted that repairing the Western Spiritual Veins had spared them twelve vows.
• Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti realized they could have attained sainthood without repairing the spiritual veins and wondered why Supreme Pure Laozi had sent them to do the work.

After five Heaven-ordained Saints appeared, Demon Master Kunpeng tried to attain sainthood by founding the Northern Abyss Sect and making great vows. Heavenly Dao ignored him, and Di Jun and Taiyi stopped his failed attempt before he could further embarrass the Demon Clan.

• The Saints considered whether Kunpeng would face a tribulation because his merit might not be enough to support his attaining sainthood.
• Alarmed by the other Saints, Kunpeng proclaimed himself an Innate Divine Demon and announced that he would establish a sect.
• Kunpeng founded the Northern Abyss Sect and used the Gate of the Mysterious Female to suppress its fortune.
• When Heavenly Dao did not respond, Kunpeng imitated the Western Duo and made great vows, but still received no response.
• Di Jun and Taiyi arrived in Swift-Walking Heaven and stopped Kunpeng from continuing his failed attempt.

After attaining Sainthood, Upper Tongtian brought Zhou Qingqing to Western Kunlun to resolve Queen Mother of the West’s karmic backlash. After hearing Zhou Qingqing imagine a technique for severing Karmic Positions, he decided to draw his sword and told her to watch.

• With the other Saints and cultivators in seclusion, Zhou Qingqing stayed in Eastern Kunlun with the Enlightened Beast and the Moon-Howling Divine Hound.
• Upper Tongtian reminded Zhou Qingqing of his promise to help Queen Mother of the West and took his disciple and the two animals to Western Kunlun.
• Queen Mother of the West welcomed Upper Tongtian and Zhou Qingqing, and Upper Tongtian explained that he had come because Zhou Qingqing’s Western Plain White Cloud Boundary Flag had come from her.
• Upper Tongtian examined Queen Mother of the West’s intertwined Karmic Positions and found that Nuwa’s growing karmic fortune threatened to overwhelm her.
• After hearing Zhou Qingqing hope that he would sever Queen Mother of the West’s Karmic Position, Upper Tongtian decided to do so and told Zhou Qingqing to watch his first Saint’s sword.

Upper Pure Tongtian used the Immortal-Slaying Sword to sever Queen Mother of the West’s supreme karmic position, freeing her from its burden. He then offered to use Zhou Qingqing as the foundation for a method to resolve the remaining backlash and help Queen Mother of the West attain the Dao.

• Zhou Qingqing watched as Upper Pure Tongtian prepared to sever Queen Mother of the West’s supreme karmic position.
• Upper Pure Tongtian drew the Immortal-Slaying Sword and used “Dao Divides Yin and Yang” to sever the karmic position.
• Queen Mother of the West thanked Upper Pure Tongtian and felt the crushing burden lift, but he warned that lingering backlash from Nuwa’s fortune might affect her.
• Queen Mother of the West accepted the residual backlash, while Zhou Qingqing considered asking Nuwa for help.
• Upper Pure Tongtian proposed using Zhou Qingqing as the foundation for a method to help Queen Mother of the West attain the Dao.

Zhou Qingqing persuaded Upper Pure Tongtian to use the Purifying White Lotus as a template for Queen Mother of the West’s secret method. Tongtian derived the White Lotus Void Method, which erased Nuwa’s influence and helped Queen Mother of the West break through into the Quasi-Sage realm, while Qingqing began plotting to establish a White Lotus Sect in the West.

• Zhou Qingqing urged Queen Mother of the West to choose the Purifying White Lotus as the foundation for her secret method, and Queen Mother of the West agreed.
• Zhou Qingqing transformed into her Twelve-Petal Purifying White Lotus form so Upper Pure Tongtian could derive a method suited to Queen Mother of the West.
• Tongtian created the White Lotus Void Method to help Queen Mother of the West attain the divine office of the Unborn Venerable Mother.
• Queen Mother of the West cultivated the method, purified Nuwa’s influence, and broke through from the peak of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm into the Quasi-Sage realm.
• Queen Mother of the West thanked Tongtian and Qingqing, while Qingqing considered secretly establishing a White Lotus Sect in the West during a future calamity.

Supreme Pure Laozi and Zhou Qingqing investigated Kunpeng’s calamity and found his surviving primordial spirit inside the Gate of the Mysterious Female. Kunpeng woke and told them that Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi had taken the Primordial Purple Qi.

• Supreme Pure Laozi told Zhou Qingqing that Kunpeng had encountered calamity, and she agreed to accompany him to investigate.
• Supreme Pure Laozi traced Kunpeng’s aura and used his deductions to find the Gate of the Mysterious Female.
• Supreme Pure Laozi infused the gate with mana, restoring enough vitality for Kunpeng’s primordial spirit to awaken.
• Kunpeng recognized Supreme Pure Laozi and Zhou Qingqing, then said the Primordial Purple Qi had fallen into the hands of Heavenly Emperor Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi.

Supreme Pure Laozi and Zhou Qingqing found Kunpeng’s surviving primordial spirit, who repented, gave up the Gate of the Mysterious Female, and began to comprehend the Dao of Freedom and Ease. Laozi decided to save Kunpeng rather than send him to reincarnate and asked Zhou Qingqing to take them to Fire Cloud Cave to retrieve Kunpeng’s essence blood.

• Kunpeng admitted that his fate was karmic retribution for threatening Red Cloud and no longer blamed the Three Pure Ones.
• Kunpeng voluntarily removed his primordial spirit imprint from the Gate of the Mysterious Female and gave it to Supreme Pure Laozi.
• Kunpeng recited the story of the Kun and Peng, and Zhou Qingqing recognized his words as the Dao of Freedom and Ease.
• Supreme Pure Laozi decided Kunpeng was fated with him and resolved to save him instead of sending him to reincarnate.
• Supreme Pure Laozi asked Zhou Qingqing to take him to Fire Cloud Cave, where Red Cloud had Kunpeng’s essence blood.

Zhou Qingqing and Supreme Pure Laozi visited Red Cloud Ancestor to ask for help restoring Kunpeng, who had been reduced to a strand of primordial spirit. Red Cloud offered Kunpeng’s essence blood, and Laozi assigned Qingqing to use Nuwa’s Creation-Reversal Divine Ability to fuse them.

• Zhou Qingqing brought Supreme Pure Laozi to Fire Cloud Cave and jokingly told Red Cloud Ancestor they had come to let him vent his anger on Kunpeng.
• Supreme Pure Laozi explained that Kunpeng had suffered a calamity over the Primordial Purple Qi and now had only a strand of primordial spirit remaining.
• Red Cloud Ancestor offered Kunpeng’s unrefined essence blood, which contained one-third of Northern Abyss’s fortune, to help him recover.
• Supreme Pure Laozi released Kunpeng’s primordial spirit, and Kunpeng thanked Red Cloud for giving him the essence blood.
• Supreme Pure Laozi told Zhou Qingqing to use Nuwa’s Creation-Reversal Divine Ability to fuse Kunpeng’s primordial spirit with the essence blood.

Zhou Qingqing used the Creation-Reversal Divine Ability to transform Kunpeng, separating and evolving his Kun and Roc forms into a new body aligned with the Dao of Freedom. Supreme Pure Laozi named the reborn Kunpeng Zhuang Zhou, and Qingqing awoke stunned by the name.

• Red Cloud yielded his seat to Zhou Qingqing and welcomed her and Supreme Pure Laozi into his Dao field after learning she had mastered Nuwa's Creation-Reversal Divine Ability.
• Zhou Qingqing used Kunpeng as her practice target, and Kunpeng willingly placed his primordial spirit and essence blood within the Creation Mystic Light.
• Zhou Qingqing's divine ability separated Kunpeng's Kun and Roc forms, reshaped his essence blood into an innate Dao body, and enabled a new transformation aligned with the Dao of Freedom.
• Kunpeng thanked Zhou Qingqing and Supreme Pure Laozi, saying he felt reborn, then asked Supreme Pure Laozi to give him a new name.
• Supreme Pure Laozi named him Zhuang Zhou in recognition of his new Dao and Zhou Qingqing's role in his rebirth.
• Zhou Qingqing awoke from resting and was stunned to hear that Kunpeng had become Zhuang Zhou.

Zhou Qingqing’s Creation Manipulation transformed Kunpeng into Zhuang Zhou, who thanked her, Supreme Pure Laozi, and Red Cloud Ancestor and chose Red Cloud as his closest friend. Supreme Pure Laozi sent Zhuang Zhou to Mount Shouyang to cultivate in seclusion, where Donghua Dijun was also alive and rebuilding his cultivation.

• Zhou Qingqing’s Creation Manipulation transformed Kunpeng into Zhuang Zhou, who thanked Supreme Pure Laozi, Zhou Qingqing, and Red Cloud Ancestor.
• Red Cloud Ancestor welcomed Zhuang Zhou as a friend, and Zhuang Zhou declared Red Cloud his closest friend.
• Zhou Qingqing’s thoughts made Zhen Yuanzi briefly worry that something had happened to Red Cloud, but he returned to his work in the Witch Race Earthly Court.
• Supreme Pure Laozi invited Zhuang Zhou to recultivate at Mount Shouyang alongside Donghua Dijun and avoid involvement in the Witch-Demon Calamity.
• Zhuang Zhou agreed to cultivate in seclusion, and Supreme Pure Laozi returned the Gate of the Mysterious Female to him so he could study the Dao.

Supreme Pure Laozi gave Red Cloud the Book of No Words and invited him to join Daoism to help Tongtian select disciples. Red Cloud accepted and was directed to Golden Turtle Island to help choose Dragon Clan members, while Qingqing wondered at Supreme Pure Laozi’s plans.

• Supreme Pure Laozi explained the Book of No Words’ functions to Red Cloud and offered it in exchange for Kunpeng’s essence blood.
• Supreme Pure Laozi invited Red Cloud to join Daoism and help Tongtian select disciples.
• Red Cloud accepted the invitation and received the Book of No Words.
• Supreme Pure Laozi sent Red Cloud to Golden Turtle Island to help select suitable members of the Dragon Clan.

Supreme Pure Laozi told Primordial Beginning and Tongtian that Kunpeng had become Zhuang Zhou and that Di Jun and Taiyi held his Primordial Purple Qi, then revealed he had brought Red Cloud into Daoism. Zhou Qingqing traveled to Mount Buzhou to observe the Human Race and saw Suiren pass on spiritual fire, while Youchao and Ziyi showed signs of being closely aligned with the Human Dao.

• Supreme Pure Laozi reported that Kunpeng had become Zhuang Zhou and that Di Jun and Taiyi possessed his Primordial Purple Qi.
• Supreme Pure Laozi told Tongtian that he had invited Red Cloud into Daoism and sent him to Golden Turtle Island, prompting an argument with Tongtian that Primordial Beginning ended with his treasures.
• Supreme Pure Laozi explained that he had sent Qingqing to Mount Buzhou to observe Nuwa's Human Race and visit the Earthly Court.
• Zhou Qingqing headed to Mount Buzhou after Supreme Pure Laozi left her behind, intending to see how the Human Race had developed under the Human Teaching.
• Zhou Qingqing watched Suiren pass spiritual fire among the humans and judged that his cultivation had great potential.
• Zhou Qingqing looked at Youchao and Ziyi and sensed that their Great Dao laws were exceptionally compatible with the Human Dao.

Zhou Qingqing saw how Nuwa’s guidance had helped Suiren, Youchao, and Ziyi strengthen the Human Race, and she left them to build their civilization themselves. After Nuwa warned her of a disturbance tied to the Witch Race, Zhou Qingqing changed course to find Kuafu and Steel Bone.

• Zhou Qingqing watched Suiren, Youchao, and Ziyi demonstrate methods that united their people and saw the Human Race’s potential to resist future calamity.
• Nuwa explained that she had used the Kongtong Seal and Fuxi’s Book of Changes method to develop paths for the human leaders, and Zhou Qingqing praised their prospects for creating their own civilization.
• Nuwa told Zhou Qingqing that she had built Nuwa Palace on Mount Fengqi, reserved a hall for her, and named the blue lotus the Human Race’s Saint Flower.
• Nuwa warned Zhou Qingqing that her premonition now pointed to trouble among the Witch Race, and Zhou Qingqing suspected the ten suns would appear in the sky.
• Zhou Qingqing abandoned her plan to visit the Earthly Court and set out to find Kuafu and Steel Bone.

Zhou Qingqing caught Kuafu and the Iron-Eating Beast as they prepared to travel to the Nine Li Tribe, then decided to accompany them and see whether she could change the fate of the Great Witches. Meanwhile, Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti secretly set the Ten Golden Crows on a path toward calamity, but discovered that the sixth Golden Crow was untouched by Zhunti’s Karma Great Dao.

• Zhou Qingqing caught Kuafu and the Iron-Eating Beast when they tried to flee, then learned they were headed to the Nine Li Tribe to instruct its members.
• Zhou Qingqing recalled that Kuafu would chase the suns and die while the Iron-Eating Beast would remain with the Nine Li Tribe, so she decided to go with them and try to alter that fate.
• At Mount Sumeru, Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti agreed to send the Ten Golden Crows into Witch Race territory to provoke conflict and plunge the east into chaos.
• Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti traveled to Hot Water Valley, concealed the workings of heaven’s secrets, and Zhunti used his Karma Great Dao on the Ten Golden Crows.
• Zhunti’s Karma Great Dao failed to affect the sixth Golden Crow, and Jieyin recognized that it possessed the origin of the Fire Demon God and was fated to spread their western teachings.

Bo Huang led the Ten Golden Crows down to the Primordial World, where they attacked the Nine Li Tribe and Kuafu confronted them. Zhou Qingqing recognized the Two Sages of the West behind the scheme and discovered that Lu Ya was the sixth Golden Crow, hiding his true identity among his brothers.

• Bo Huang persuaded his brothers to leave Hot Water Valley and visit the Primordial World, while Lu Ya silently recognized that a mighty figure had influenced them.
• Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti arranged for the Ten Golden Crows to attack a Witch Race tribe instead of the Human Race, then returned to Mount Sumeru to watch.
• The Ten Golden Crows reached the Nine Li Tribe and scorched the land with Solar True Fire as Kuafu ordered the Iron-Eating Beast to protect Chiyou and the tribe.
• Kuafu used Heavenly Law, Earthly Manifestation to confront the Ten Golden Crows while Zhou Qingqing stayed back and observed the battle.
• Zhou Qingqing identified the Two Sages of the West as the ones concealing the events and recognized Lu Ya as the sixth Golden Crow, deliberately disguising his savagery and power.

Zhou Qingqing watched the Ten Golden Crows use their speed and formation to overwhelm Kuafu, then intervened as they tried to burn the Nine Li Tribe. Appearing as Zhou Honghong, she blocked their Solar True Fire and confronted the princes.

• The Ten Golden Crows used their speed to wear down Kuafu, while Bo Huang urged his brothers to attack the Nine Li Tribe and Lu Ya prepared for the conflict to escalate.
• Daoist Zhunti used the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree to form a karmic connection intended to draw Da Yi and his Sunset Divine Bow into the conflict.
• The Ten Golden Crows' Solar True Fire burned through the bamboo raised by the Iron-Eating Beast, forcing Kuafu to divert his attention and exposing him to attack.
• Zhou Qingqing transformed into Zhou Honghong and appeared between Kuafu and the Ten Golden Crows as they unleashed their Solar True Fire.
• Zhou Honghong's karmic flames swallowed the Solar True Fire, and she rebuked the Golden Crow princes for attacking the Witch Race tribe.

Zhou Qingqing intervened to save Kuafu and the Nine Li Tribe from the Ten Golden Crows, then tried to prevent Da Yi from killing the Golden Crows when his Karma Nine Arrows targeted them. She left the arrows racing toward a barrier formed by her Karmic Fire Red Lotus.

• Zhou Qingqing appeared in red and accepted the thanks of Kuafu, the Iron-Eating Beast, and Chiyou after saving them from the Solar True Fire.
• The Ten Golden Crows recognized Zhou Qingqing, while Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin discussed how Zhunti's karmic power had influenced the conflict.
• The Golden Crows activated the Ten Suns' Finality Formation against Zhou Qingqing, but Da Yi arrived with the Sunset Bow.
• Da Yi fired nine Karma Nine Arrows at the Golden Crows, and Zhou Qingqing decided to shield them rather than let them die.
• Zhou Qingqing declared that she wanted to mediate between the Witch Race and the Demon Clan, then formed a barrier of Karmic Fire Red Lotus before the Golden Crows.

Zhou Qingqing blocked Da Yi’s Karma Nine Arrows with her Karmic Fire Red Lotus, preventing the Ten Golden Crows from being struck. After the princes turned their attention to Da Yi, she again unleashed karmic fire against them, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• The Three Pure Ones listened to Zhou Qingqing’s thoughts and observed her intervene in the conflict between Da Yi and the Ten Golden Crows.
• Daoist Zhunti was astonished when Zhou Qingqing’s Karmic Fire Red Lotus blocked his karma-laden arrows, while Daoist Jieyin reasoned that she might possess the Twelve-Petaled Merit Golden Lotus.
• Da Yi understood that Zhou Qingqing was trying to prevent the conflict from escalating, and Lu Ya was astonished by her defense.
• The Golden Crow princes ignored Zhou Qingqing and prepared to attack Da Yi, believing he had been weakened by his shot.
• Zhou Qingqing sent karmic fire toward the Ten Golden Crows again as the confrontation continued.

Zhou Qingqing stopped Da Yi from pursuing the Ten Golden Crows and argued that they had been manipulated into attacking the Witch Race. She proposed calling their father, Heavenly Emperor Di Jun, to settle the matter, then produced a purple-and-white gourd.

• Da Yi told Zhou Qingqing that the Ten Golden Crows had attacked first, and she agreed that they were at fault.
• Zhou Qingqing argued that the Golden Crows had been driven by another cultivator because they attacked despite knowing she was the First Disciple of the Three Pure Ones.
• Da Yi and Kuafu accepted Zhou Qingqing's reasoning, while the Three Pure Ones and Daoist Zhunti were surprised that she had noticed the manipulation.
• Zhou Qingqing said the witches should invite Heavenly Emperor Di Jun to answer for his sons' actions.
• Zhou Qingqing announced that she had a way to summon Di Jun and brought out a purple-and-white gourd.

Zhou Qingqing exposed the unusual sixth Golden Crow, Lu Ya, and forced him to contact his father, the Heavenly Emperor Di Jun. Di Jun arrived at the Nine Li Tribe, where Zhou Qingqing put away the flying dagger and asked him for a reward.

• Zhou Qingqing threatened Lu Ya with the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger and ordered him to summon Di Jun.
• Lu Ya dropped his disguise of normality, agreed to contact his father, and formed a rune with Solar True Fire.
• Di Jun sensed the ten Golden Crow princes were in the Nine Li Tribe and flew there from the Thirty-Three Heavens.
• Di Jun arrived and asked Zhou Qingqing to put away the dagger; she withdrew it and reminded him to reward her.

Zhou Qingqing refused to let the Ten Golden Crows escape punishment despite Di Jun’s apology, and proposed that they earn merit while serving their sentence. The chapter ended with her asking Di Jun whether he knew of the Ten Heavenly Stems.

• Lu Ya explained to Di Jun that the Golden Crows had lost consciousness and appeared in Witch Race territory, while Di Jun demanded that his other sons awaken.
• Zhunti dispelled the karma affecting the Golden Crows and Da Yi, allowing the princes to regain clarity and apologize to Di Jun.
• Di Jun asked the Witch Race to forgo punishment, and Da Yi, Kuafu, and the Nine Li Tribe members agreed, but Zhou Qingqing objected.
• Zhou Qingqing argued that the Golden Crows and Di Jun should be punished, then offered to let the princes gain merit during their punishment.
• Zhou Qingqing asked Di Jun whether he knew of the Ten Heavenly Stems.

Zhou Qingqing persuaded Di Jun to have the ten Golden Crow princes suppress the Ten Heavenly Stems as punishment, allowing them to earn merit and avoid the Witch-Demon Calamity. Di Jun agreed, and after rewarding Lu Ya with Crow Nest, the princes accepted their confinement.

• Zhou Qingqing proposed that the ten Golden Crow princes suppress the Ten Heavenly Stems until their punishment ended, earning merit as the stems were perfected.
• Di Jun agreed to the plan and offered to confine the princes for the duration of the Calamity, asking whether the Witch Race would accept it.
• The ten Golden Crow princes, including Lu Ya, agreed to the punishment, though Lu Ya was unwilling.
• Di Jun rewarded Lu Ya with the Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Crow Nest for sobering up and informing him.
• Lu Ya accepted his punishment after receiving Crow Nest and tried to keep his distance from Zhou Qingqing.