Chapter Summaries

Cangyuan brought Zhunti, Jieyin, and Ksitigarbha to the Netherworld, where Ksitigarbha explored the Eighteen Levels of Hell and uncovered a hidden realm beneath them. Seeing the tormented spirits inside, Ksitigarbha understood his calling, while Cangyuan realized the true Avici Hell was a path meant for Ksitigarbha alone.

• Cangyuan's Netherworld incarnation, Emperor Beiyin Fengdu, met Zhunti and Jieyin, and Cangyuan assured them that Houtu had permitted their visit as long as they did not harm Reincarnation.
• Zhunti sent Ksitigarbha to explore the Netherworld, and Ksitigarbha studied its laws before reaching the Eighteen Levels of Hell.
• Ksitigarbha recognized that Hell's punishments reflected karmic retribution, while Cangyuan suspected Ksitigarbha's vow would shape the Underworld's framework.
• Cangyuan, Zhunti, Jieyin, and Houtu sensed a hidden realm beneath Hell, and Houtu wondered why the Earth Path had reserved an opportunity to Attain the Dao for Ksitigarbha.
• Ksitigarbha descended through the hells into a spaceless realm of baleful aura, Karma Fire, and tormented Wraiths, where he understood his purpose.
• Cangyuan concluded that the hidden realm was the true Avici Hell and that its path belonged solely to Ksitigarbha.

Ksitigarbha entered Avici Hell, attained the Dao, and vowed to remain there until Hell was empty, earning vast merit and reaching the Great Perfection of the Quasi-Saint realm. He refused to leave the Netherworld, leaving Zhunti and Jieyin stunned by the cost of his vow.

• Ksitigarbha used the Mani Pearl to purify nearby wraiths, but Avici Hell's baleful energy and Fierce Ghosts overwhelmed his efforts.
• Ksitigarbha understood his path and vowed before the Heavenly Dao, Earth Path, and Humanity Path to stay in Avici Hell until it was empty and all sinful souls were saved.
• The Three Dao Wills bestowed merit on Ksitigarbha, who suppressed Avici Hell and reached the Great Perfection of the Quasi-Saint realm by severing his three corpses.
• Zhunti and Jieyin celebrated Ksitigarbha's achievement and called for him to return to The West.
• Ksitigarbha refused to leave Avici Hell because his vow bound him to the Netherworld, and Zhunti and Jieyin collapsed in shock.

Ksitigarbha remained in Avici Hell to fulfill his destiny, leaving Zhunti and Jieyin devastated despite the merit he would earn for the Western Teach. The Dao Ancestor summoned the Six Saints to Zixiao Palace to discuss a coming Calamity, and Taiqing Laozi asked who would be drawn into it.

• Ksitigarbha asked Zhunti and Jieyin to send his mount Diting to him, but the two Saints were too distraught to answer.
• Zhunti and Jieyin left the Netherworld, knowing the Western Teach would receive merit from Ksitigarbha’s work in Avici Hell.
• The Dao Ancestor’s Decree summoned the Six Saints to Zixiao Palace as Cangyuan considered the coming Investiture of the Gods ceremony.
• Haotian greeted the Saints as their equal and asked Tongtian about visiting Cangyuan and the three children.
• Heavenly Dao Hongjun told the Six Saints that a Calamity more terrible than those before it was approaching.
• Taiqing Laozi asked Hongjun which side would enter the tribulation.

Heavenly Dao Hongjun revealed the Investiture of the Gods and explained that those who signed it would gain immortality but lose the freedom to cultivate and would obey its master. The Saints abandoned their bids for Heavenly Court positions, and the chapter ended with Taiqing Laozi proposing that each sect contribute disciples to the list.

• Zhunti and Jieyin sought several Heavenly Court Divine Positions for Western Teach, while Primordial Lord of Heaven demanded positions for Chan Teach.
• Taiqing Laozi asked that Donghua retain his position, Haotian insisted that Cangyuan keep the Central Heavenly Great Emperor Ziwei position, and Tongtian declined to bargain.
• Heavenly Dao Hongjun revealed the Investiture of the Gods and explained its restrictions on cultivation and its power over listed immortal gods.
• Zhunti and Jieyin withdrew Western Teach from the positions, and Primordial Lord of Heaven said Chan Teach would not participate either.
• Tongtian refused to let Jie Teach bear the burden alone and clashed with Primordial Lord of Heaven over their disciples.
• Taiqing Laozi offered ten Ren Teach Registered Disciples and urged the other sects to contribute disciples as well.

The Four Sects refused to commit their disciples to the Investiture of the Gods, so Heavenly Dao Hongjun ruled that the Calamity would determine who joined the list by fate. Sect Master Tongtian returned to Jie Sect and summoned its Ten Thousand Immortals, determined to protect them from having their True Spirits trapped on the list.

• Taiqing Laozi signed ten Ren Teach disciples onto the Investiture of the Gods, and Primordial Lord of Heaven added thirty Chan Sect disciples.
• Sect Master Tongtian signed a hundred Jie Sect disciples, but Zhunti and Jieyin refused to add anyone from Western Teach.
• Heavenly Dao Hongjun ruled that the disciples of the Four Sects would enter the tribulation and join the list according to fate, noting that the Three Teachings bore the Tribulation of Killing from their aid to Xuanyuan.
• Heavenly Dao Hongjun declared that the sect accepting the person with the Sign of the Flying Bear would oversee the Investiture of the Gods.
• The Six Saints agreed to Hongjun's ruling and left Zixiao Palace; Haotian accompanied Sect Master Tongtian to Jie Sect.
• Sect Master Tongtian rang Jie Sect's Golden Bell and gathered the Ten Thousand Immortals on Jin'ao Island.

Sect Master Tongtian warned the Jie Sect disciples to avoid the Calamity and quietly recite Huang Ting, then asked Cangyuan how their sect should respond. Cangyuan and the others concluded that the Calamity would likely involve the Human Race, and they looked toward Great Shang for clues.

• Tongtian explained the Investiture of the Gods and urged the Ten Thousand Immortals to stay in their dojos and avoid the Calamity.
• Bixiao and Qiongxiao complained about the new Divine Position system, while Jin Ling advised the disciples to relinquish their positions and return to Jie Sect.
• Zhao Gongming displayed his Early Quasi-Saint aura and warned the disciples not to stir up trouble before they departed.
• Tongtian kept Cangyuan behind and asked him what Jie Sect should do in the Calamity.
• Cangyuan, Tongtian, and Haotian reasoned that the Calamity might fall upon the Human Race and involve immortals acting through it.
• Haotian considered whether the Calamity would bring a change of dynasty, and the three looked toward Great Shang.

Cangyuan reassured Tongtian that he would protect Jie Sect during the coming Calamity, then Haotian met his nephews and niece on Three Immortal Island. In Nuwa Palace, Nuwa agreed to let the restless Spirit Pearl leave and said the Calamity might help it take form.

• Cangyuan told Tongtian he would keep Jie Sect disciples safe and privately resolved that Great Shang would not fall while he was Di Xin.
• Cangyuan brought Haotian to meet Yang Jian, Yang Jiao, and Yang Chan, and the four awkwardly greeted one another.
• The Spirit Pearl pleaded with Golden Phoenix to let it leave Nuwa Palace and see the Prehistoric World.
• Nuwa summoned the Spirit Pearl and agreed to let it travel, suggesting the coming Calamity could help it take form and grow stronger.

Nuwa sent the Spirit Pearl to reincarnate in the Humanity Path, and Cangyuan arranged for Zhao Gongming to become his teacher. The Spirit Pearl entered the Calamity, while Nuwa remained uncertain about his mysterious origins and dangerous baleful aura.

• Nuwa sent Golden Phoenix with the Spirit Pearl to the Netherworld to arrange its reincarnation.
• Cangyuan threw the Spirit Pearl into the gate of Humanity Path Reincarnation and accepted its Innate Spiritual Treasures.
• Cangyuan proposed Zhao Gongming as the Spirit Pearl's teacher, and Golden Phoenix agreed to report the arrangement to Nuwa.
• Golden Phoenix returned to Nuwa Palace and asked whether the Spirit Pearl should enter the Calamity.
• Nuwa explained that the Spirit Pearl's innate baleful aura threatened him and that the Calamity might offer a chance for him to complete his cultivation.
• A system message appeared, announcing choices for the host after he sent the Chaos Pearl Spirit into reincarnation.

Cangyuan discovered that the Spirit Pearl was the Chaos Pearl Spirit and chose to have Zhao Gongming take it as a disciple. Zhao Gongming traveled to Chentang Pass and arranged to take Li Jing and Yin Shiniang’s three children as his disciples, beginning with their newborn child.

• Cangyuan learned that the Spirit Pearl was the Chaos Pearl Spirit and chose to have Zhao Gongming accept it as a disciple.
• Cangyuan told Zhao Gongming that Li Jing’s third son had master-disciple affinity with him, so Zhao Gongming left the Jie Teach gathering for Chentang Pass.
• Zhao Gongming collected the Human Race’s incense fire and rode his Black Tiger to Li Jing’s residence.
• Zhao Gongming told Li Jing that he intended to take all three of Li Jing and Yin Shiniang’s children as disciples, and Li Jing eagerly agreed.
• Yin Shiniang gave birth as spiritual energy surged through Li Mansion, and Zhao Gongming went with Li Jing to see the newborn.

Zhao Gongming accepted Li Jing and Yin Shiniang’s newborn son Jinzha as his disciple and moved into Li Mansion, drawing crowds to Chentang Pass. Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun arrived hoping to claim Jinzha, but Zhao Gongming exposed his presence just as Li Jing and Yin Shiniang accused him of spying on them.

• Yin Shiniang brought her newborn son to Zhao Gongming for a blessing, and Zhao accepted the child as his disciple and named him Jinzha.
• Li Jing told Yin Shiniang that Zhao Gongming had reserved their future sons as disciples, so Yin Shiniang slapped Li Jing into the courtyard wall.
• Zhao Gongming moved into Li Mansion, and crowds flocked to see him, prompting him to hold a fan meet-and-greet in Chentang Pass.
• Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun reached Li Mansion and sensed that his master-disciple affinity with Jinzha was fading because Zhao Gongming had taken the child as his disciple.
• Zhao Gongming called out Manjushri, and Li Jing and Yin Shiniang rushed out accusing him of spying on them before Manjushri identified himself.

Manjushri tried to claim Jinzha as his disciple, but Zhao Gongming refused and sent him back to Kunlun Mountain empty-handed. Primordial Lord of Heaven arranged another disciple for Manjushri, while Immortal Weng of the South Pole brought two prospective disciples to Jade Void Palace for inspection.

• Yin Shiniang confronted Manjushri, suspecting him of peeking at her and Li Jing, until Zhao Gongming confirmed that Manjushri had just arrived.
• Manjushri announced that he intended to take Jinzha as his disciple, so Zhao Gongming challenged him and refused to give up the child, citing Tongtian's order.
• Manjushri appealed to the bond between the Three Teachings, but Zhao Gongming still rejected his request, and Manjushri returned to Kunlun Mountain.
• Manjushri complained to Primordial Lord of Heaven, who told him he had arranged another disciple and ordered him to bring that person back.
• Immortal Weng of the South Pole brought two people seeking discipleship to Jade Void Palace and asked Primordial Lord of Heaven to examine their unusual fates.

Primordial Lord of Heaven accepted Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao into the Chan Sect as Registered Disciples and assigned Immortal Weng of the South Pole to guide them. At a gathering on Chaos Three Immortal Island, Cangyuan chose to secretly contact Shen Gongbao and win him over.

• Primordial Lord of Heaven saw the Sign of the Flying Bear in Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao's fates and accepted both as Registered Disciples.
• Immortal Weng of the South Pole brought Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao to an immortal mountain in East Kunlun and arranged for White Crane Boy to teach them.
• Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao agreed to watch out for one another as they began their cultivation in the Chan Sect.
• Cangyuan received a System Panel offering rewards for recruiting either Tribulation Child and chose to approach Shen Gongbao.

Cangyuan’s true body was born as Zi Shou, the Crown Prince of Great Shang, while Jiang Zitong and Li Jing’s second son Muzha were also born. Zhao Gongming accepted Muzha as his disciple before Puxian Zhenren could claim him, leaving the Chan Sect immortal furious and threatening to tell his teacher.

• Cangyuan decided to wait until Shen Gongbao was mistreated by the Chan Sect before offering him help and planning to place him undercover in Xi Qi.
• Di Yi named his newborn son Zi Shou Crown Prince of Great Shang after Purple Qi appeared at his birth, and Jiang Hengchu’s family welcomed a daughter named Jiang Zitong.
• Yin Shiniang gave birth to Li Jing’s second son, and Zhao Gongming named the infant Muzha and accepted him as his disciple.
• Puxian Zhenren arrived at Li Mansion and demanded that Zhao Gongming give him Muzha, but Zhao refused and taunted him.
• Puxian Zhenren left in anger, saying he would report Zhao Gongming to his teacher.

Puxian Zhenren left after Zhao Gongming and Li Jing’s newborn son became the next disciple destined for tribulation. On Mei Mountain, Six-Eared Macaque found the newly born Tongbi Ape, named him Yuan Hong, and prepared to take him to meet their teacher.

• Puxian Zhenren departed disappointed after learning that Li Jing’s newborn son had been taken by the same person who had claimed Manjushri’s disciple.
• Li Jing joked about wanting a daughter next, and Yin Shiniang sent him flying into a wall before he apologized and Zhao Gongming told Jin'er to see his little brother.
• Six-Eared Macaque searched Mei Mountain until a stone broke open and revealed a White-Furred Ape with Golden Immortal cultivation.
• Six-Eared Macaque told the newly born ape that they were brothers, invited him to meet their teacher, and explained that their second brother had been executed for his crimes.
• The White Ape agreed to go with Six-Eared Macaque, who named him Yuan Hong and explained that he was Monkey Three.

Cangyuan made Yuan Hong his fifteenth disciple and gave him a spiritual treasure, then revealed his identity to Wen Zhong while reincarnated as Zi Shou. He ordered Wen Zhong to summon Great Shang’s generals and gather slaves for a massive army, and the commanders began traveling to Chaoge.

• Cangyuan accepted Yuan Hong as his fifteenth disciple, gave him the White Jade Sky-Supporting Pillar, and sent Six-Eared Macaque to teach him cultivation.
• Wen Zhong recognized Zi Shou as his Junior Martial Uncle, and Zi Shou made him promise to keep his Human Sovereign identity secret.
• Zi Shou ordered Wen Zhong to summon Great Shang’s pass commanders and gather young, able-bodied slaves to build an army of ten million.
• Wen Zhong obtained Di Yi’s permission and sent orders to the passes, and their commanders and deputy commanders set out for Chaoge.

Cangyuan established the Great Shang Professional Military Academy, where Cangwu taught the commanders and generals the art of war and assigned them ten million slaves to train as soldiers. The academy’s first military competition promised a Yellow Middle Plum to its winner, while the Heavenly Dao Saints received the omen “Destiny Returns to Zhou.”

• Cangwu opened the academy in a secret realm and lectured Great Shang’s garrison commanders and young generals on warfare, impressing even veteran officers.
• Kong Xuan, secretly serving as a minor Grain Supervisor, suspected that Cangwu was Cangyuan and decided not to reveal that he recognized him.
• Cangwu showed the students ten million frozen slaves and told them to train the people as soldiers, with provisions, equipment, and warhorses provided.
• Cangwu announced that the first-place winner of a military competition held every three years would receive a Yellow Middle Plum, prompting the commanders to compete eagerly.
• Cangyuan promised that slaves who enlisted would free their families and descendants from slavery, while the students divided the first batch among themselves.
• The Heavenly Dao Saints sought signs of the calamity and received the words “Destiny Returns to Zhou.”

The Heavenly Dao declared that destiny would return to Zhou, signaling that the Canonization of Gods would unfold through Great Shang’s overthrow. Tongtian chose to defend Great Shang, while Taiqing Laozi and Primordial Lord of Heaven decided to support a new dynasty; Haotian recognized that Cangyuan had predicted the calamity.

• The Heavenly Dao issued the decree “Destiny Returns to Zhou,” and the Saints understood that Great Shang would fall to a new dynasty.
• Sect Master Tongtian chose to side with Great Shang to preserve the Jie Sect’s influence among the Human Race.
• Taiqing Laozi decided to aid Zhou, hoping a new regime would bring the Ren Sect more fortune.
• Primordial Lord of Heaven also chose to support the overthrow of Great Shang to break the Jie Sect’s dominance and compete for fortune anew.
• Haotian read the decree, recalled Cangyuan’s accurate prediction, and wondered which side his Senior Brothers would choose.

Zhunti persuaded Jieyin to enter the Calamity by supporting a northern feudal state against Great Shang, hoping Western Teach would become the Human Race’s state religion. Zi Shou chose to defend Great Shang, received the Chaos Spirit Transformation Vine, and went to his Inner Space to consider combining it with Tongtian Jianmu.

• Zhunti proposed that Western Teach support a new dynasty so it could gain fortune and merit, and Jieyin worried that entering the Calamity could put their disciples on the Investiture of the Gods.
• Zhunti persuaded Jieyin to take the risk, and they decided to support the northern feudal lords; Zhunti left Mount Sumeru to act on the plan.
• At Great Shang, the system offered Cangyuan the choice to defend Great Shang or help Zhou destroy it, and he chose to defend Great Shang.
• Cangyuan received the Chaos Spirit Transformation Vine and realized it could transform Chaos Qi into Innate Spiritual Energy for his Inner World.
• Zi Shou wondered whether the new spiritual root could fuse with Tongtian Jianmu, then entered his Inner Space.

Cangyuan’s Chaos Spirit Transformation Vine devoured Tongtian Jianmu and became the Chaos Spirit Absorbing Jianmu Tree, sustaining his Inner World with spiritual energy drawn from Chaos. At Peach Mountain, Immortal Weng of the South Pole punished Shen Gongbao by sealing his cultivation and consciousness and turning him into a mindless Black Panther for a year.

• The Chaos Spirit Transformation Vine absorbed Tongtian Jianmu’s origin and advanced into a Supreme Chaos Spiritual Root, becoming the Chaos Spirit Absorbing Jianmu Tree.
• The new Divine Tree drew Chaos Qi, transformed it into Innate Spiritual Energy, and spread it throughout Cangyuan’s thirty-five great realms.
• Cangyuan left his Inner Space and resumed his role as the Great Shang Crown Prince while Zi Shou expanded his Special Agent Agency.
• Shen Gongbao startled Jiang Ziya by appearing as a Black Panther, then teased him about his slow cultivation.
• Immortal Weng of the South Pole overheard Shen Gongbao complain about their teacher, struck him with his cane, and turned him into a mindless Black Panther for a year despite Jiang Ziya’s plea.

Jiang Ziya received Enlightenment Tea Leaves while Shen Gongbao suffered the Chan Sect’s contempt. Years later, Zi Shou married Jiang Zitong, took in two princes as their supposed children, and inherited the throne as Di Xin.

• Immortal Weng of the South Pole gave Jiang Ziya three Enlightenment Tea Leaves and refused to give any to Shen Gongbao, humiliating him.
• Jiang Ziya comforted Shen Gongbao, whose Primordial Spirit grew resentful after witnessing the discrimination.
• In the 23rd Year of Di Yi, Zi Shou married Jiang Zitong and promised to share the world with her if he became king.
• After Jiang Zitong worried that she could not bear children, Zi Shou brought home Yin Jiao and Yin Hong and publicly declared them her children.
• In the 30th Year of Di Yi, Di Yi abdicated and passed the throne to Zi Shou, who took the imperial title Di Xin.