Chapter Summaries

Laozi named his five-thousand-word work the Classic of the Way and Virtue, while Confucius’s disciples compiled Kongzi Lun Yu, sparking a flourishing of schools across the Nine Provinces. As feudal wars intensified, rulers recruited scholars and the chapter leaves readers debating how the Great Dao evaluates the schools.

• Laozi named his work the Classic of the Way and Virtue and rode west through Hangu Pass as Yin Xi and the officials bade him farewell.
• Confucius named his work Lun Yu, and Yan Hui inscribed Kongzi Lun Yu on the bamboo slips; Mozi left the Eastern Lu Gang because Confucius’s teachings did not match his ideals.
• The Classic of the Way and Virtue and Kongzi Lun Yu spread through the Nine Provinces, and many schools emerged.
• Mozi returned to the State of Lu after two and a half years of secluded cultivation and founded Mohism around Universal Love and Non-Aggression.
• Bian Que founded the Medical School, while Sun Wu completed The Art of War, became a general under King Helü of Wu, and established the Military School’s renown.
• As the feudal states fought for the Human Sovereign’s Throne, rulers recruited scholars, and the Legalist and Military schools rose alongside other schools; people then debated how the Great Dao judged them.

Subhuti transformed from the remains of his former body, received permission from the Three Dao Wills to settle in the Prehistoric World, and established a dojo near Spirit Mountain. He sent the last surviving origin essence of an old friend to Flower-Fruit Mountain, while Jixia Academy announced a grand debate to determine the standing of the Hundred Schools.

• Subhuti used the remains of his body to form a new one and declared that he had severed ties with the Bodhi Gods and Devils.
• The Three Dao Wills approved Subhuti's request to live in the Prehistoric World, and he raised an underwater continent to establish Spiritual Terrace Square Inch Mountain, Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave.
• Subhuti sent his old friend's remaining origin essence to Flower-Fruit Mountain, where it became an immortal stone.
• A troublemaker established Jixia Academy beside Chaoge and arranged a grand Hundred Schools Dao Debate under a royal decree from the Shang court.
• News of the debate spread across the Nine Provinces, and people argued over whether Laozi, Confucius, Mozi, or the Buddhist School would prevail.

As Jixia Academy’s debate among the hundred schools drew near, masters and rulers from across the Nine Provinces traveled to Chaoge to take part. Mozi, Laozi, Confucius, and other renowned scholars arrived, leaving the story with Confucius and his followers watching the mechanical Vermilion Bird descend.

• Immortals across the Prehistoric World discussed Jixia Academy, while Cangyuan predicted that its debate would bring the Spring and Autumn era to an end.
• Mozi agreed to attend the debate, and his disciples departed for Chaoge aboard the mechanical Vermilion Bird.
• Laozi left Hangu Pass on his old ox and set out for Chaoge.
• Confucius returned to Lu with three thousand followers, paid respects at his parents’ graves, and vowed to become foremost among the hundred schools.
• Over two and a half months, Bian Que, Xu Xing, Guigu, Zhuang Zhou, Sun Wu, and other scholars arrived in Chaoge.
• Confucius and Yan Hui watched the mechanical Vermilion Bird descend and recognized Mozi as its rider and the Mohist Giant.

Confucius, Mozi, Laozi, and other renowned thinkers gathered in Chaoge City for a debate at Jixia Academy. Shijia and Ami arrived late and found no seats before the debate began with Confucius and others presenting their teachings.

• Confucius recognized Mozi and discussed the Mohist ideal of universal love as impractical but beneficial to common people.
• Laozi, Xu Xing, and representatives of many other schools arrived in Chaoge City.
• The King of Shang led the scholars to Jixia Academy the next day, where Shijia and Ami arrived from Western Ox Continent after the seats were filled.
• Shijia and Ami pleaded for seats, received none, and sat at the edge of the hall.
• The Jixia debate began as Confucius, Laozi, Sun Wu, Ji Qiao, and others stated their doctrines.

After five years of debate at Jixia Academy, Laozi’s Daoism ranked first, followed by Confucianism and Mohism, and the schools spread their teachings across the Nine Provinces. When the pioneers died and the Hundred Schools expected a final judgment, the Great Dao instead extended the contest for another two hundred years, to be decided by each school’s influence on the Human Race.

• Confucius fought the mechanical Vermilion Bird, and Jixia Academy restored order by forbidding combat.
• Laozi narrowly defeated Confucius and Mozi in the debate, and the schools were ranked with Daoism first, Confucianism second, and Mohism third.
• Laozi and Confucius established Daoism and Confucianism, while other schools consolidated their teachings and spread them across the Nine Provinces.
• Rulers favored Confucian, Legalist, and Military doctrines, while Daoism and Mohism received less support and Mohists faced suppression.
• Confucius, Laozi, Mozi, and the other pioneers died as the century-long limit ended, and their ideas remained influential.
• The Great Dao declared that the foremost school would be determined by influence on the Human Race after two hundred more years, prompting the Immortal Gods to argue and place bets.

As the Warring States era began, Guangchengzi’s reforms made the Legalist School influential across the Nine Provinces, prompting Taiqing Laozi and Tongtian to consider sending disciples into the world. Wei’s ruler then appointed Wu Qi, whose victory over Qin’s army brought Wei the Hexi Land and left Qin severely weakened.

• The Three Families destroyed the Zhi clan, divided its territory, and gained recognition as the lords of Han, Zhao, and Wei, while Jin became a puppet state.
• Guangchengzi, reincarnated as Li Kui, reformed Wei and spread Legalist influence, leading Taiqing Laozi to send Xuandu into the world and Tongtian to search for a suitable disciple.
• Tongtian wondered where Cangyuan had gone and concluded that the Hundred Schools’ debates were only beginning.
• Wu Qi was expelled from Zeng Shen’s school after refusing to return home for his mother’s funeral, then became a general in Lu and later fled to Wei.
• Wei’s ruler appointed Wu Qi, who led the Wei Wu Battalion against Qin and destroyed Duke Hui of Qin’s two-million-strong army through an ambush.
• Wu Qi advanced toward Xianyang, forcing Duke Hui to negotiate peace and surrender the entire Hexi Land to Wei.

After Wu Qi made Wei the foremost hegemon, Marquis Wu of Wei and Gongshu Zuo conspired to undermine him. Wu Qi refused a marriage to a Wei princess, lost his military authority, and eventually realized he had been set up.

• After Marquis Wen of Wei died, Marquis Wu of Wei appointed Gongshu Zuo prime minister instead of Wu Qi, prompting Gongshu Zuo to fear losing his position.
• Gongshu Zuo and the Princess of Wei pressured Marquis Wu of Wei to help secure Gongshu Zuo's position, and the three agreed on a plan to contain Wu Qi.
• Marquis Wu of Wei ordered Wu Qi to marry a Wei princess, but Wu Qi refused after witnessing the princess's domineering treatment of Gongshu Zuo.
• Gongshu Zuo accused Wu Qi of disloyalty, and Marquis Wu of Wei stripped him of his military authority and sidelined him after old officials pleaded for his life.
• After two and a half months in seclusion, Wu Qi concluded that he had been set up.

Wu Qi fled Wei with the Wei Wu Battalion, transformed Chu into a powerful state, and died after protecting King Dao of Chu from rebel arrows. His soul was revealed to be Jiang Shang, who hoped his achievements would secure him a sage position, while Shen Gongbao welcomed him in the Heavenly Court.

• Wu Qi escaped Wei after predicting its decline, and Marquis Wu of Wei ordered troops to pursue him.
• The Wei Wu Battalion defected to Wu Qi in two waves, leaving Marquis Wu of Wei to faint when he learned the entire force was gone.
• King Dao of Chu made Wu Qi Prime Minister, and Wu Qi’s reforms and military victories raised Chu above Wei.
• After King Dao of Chu died, aristocratic rebels attacked Wu Qi, who died shielding the king’s corpse and triggered the execution of more than seventy noble families.
• Wu Qi’s soul revealed that he was Jiang Shang, and Shen Gongbao greeted him in the Heavenly Court.
• Jiang Ziya left for the human Holy Hall hoping to gain a sage position, and Shen Gongbao called after him, “Daoist Please Stay!”

After Jiang Ziya’s identity as Wu Qi was revealed, the Chan Sect welcomed him back and appointed him one of the Twelve Golden Immortals. Meanwhile, Wei fell into crisis after Wu Qi’s death, fulfilling his prophecy as Qi rose and Qin welcomed a young man.

• Shen Gongbao advanced to Great Luo Golden Immortal after calling out to Jiang Ziya, then wondered how powerful it would feel to call out to a Saint.
• Immortal Gods and Chan Sect disciples reacted with surprise when they learned Wu Qi was Jiang Ziya, a mortal with an unusually weak constitution who had become the Military School’s Sub-Saint.
• The Chan Sect disciples agreed to invite Jiang Ziya back, and True Lord Yu Ding traveled to the Ancestral Land of Humanity to speak with him.
• Jiang Ziya admitted his regret, accepted Master’s forgiveness, and returned to the Chan Sect as one of the Twelve Golden Immortals and a Great Sage of the Human Race.
• After Marquis Wu of Wei died, the Turbid Marsh upheaval began, Han and Zhao moved against Wei, and Wei’s decline fulfilled Wu Qi’s prophecy as Qi rose and Qin welcomed a young man.

Cangyuan decided Shang Yang must be protected and sent Styx to reincarnate as Bai Qi, while Qin’s nobles plotted against Shang Yang. After a mysterious massacre wiped out most of the nobles, Shang Yang identified the words left behind as belonging to the ancient Heaven Monitoring Department.

• Cangyuan resolved to protect Shang Yang and have Bai Qi enter the world, then summoned Styx to help unify the Human Race.
• Styx agreed to protect a person and a nation, severed part of his Primordial Spirit, and reincarnated into the Humanity Path as Bai Qi.
• King Xiao of Qin rejected the ministers’ impeachments and vowed to protect Shang Yang, while the nobles planned to kill him covertly.
• Mysterious attackers infiltrated noble estates across Qin and exterminated ninety percent of the nobles, leaving the words “Heaven Monitoring” behind.
• King Xiao of Qin asked who was responsible, and Shang Yang said the name belonged to the ancient Heaven Monitoring Department under Sage Monarch of Shang.

The Heaven Monitoring Department’s return shocked the Nine Provinces and the Prehistoric Immortal Gods, while Shang Yang remained in Qin through successive reigns. In the thirteenth year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Bai Qi emerged as a formidable soldier and captured Hancheng in his first recorded campaign.

• Shang Yang questioned King Xiao of Qin about the Heaven Monitoring Department, and the king explained that the force that had returned was the original department established by Sage Monarch of Shang.
• News of the department’s return spread across the Nine Provinces, alarming rival rulers and prompting the current King of Shang to celebrate.
• Taiqing Saint, Yuanshi Tianzun, Tongtian, Zhunti, and Jieyin watched the mortal world and speculated that Cangyuan was behind the department’s actions.
• The Warring States era entered a period of cautious peace, and Shang Yang continued serving Qin after King Xiao died and Ying Si, King Wu, and King Zhaoxiang successively took the throne.
• In the thirteenth year of King Zhaoxiang’s reign, Bai Qi joined Qin’s army, earned rapid promotion, and captured Hancheng of Han.

Bai Qi’s victories made him Qin’s feared Slaughter God, while the Underworld warned King Zhaoxiang not to harm him. As the six states united against Qin and Ying Yiren lived as a hostage in Zhao, Ancestor Dragon sent part of his Primordial Spirit into Zhao Ji’s womb, and a new emperor’s birth stirred the heavens.

• Bai Qi conquered cities across Wei, Zhao, and Chu, earning the title Lord Wu'an and a reputation as an invincible Slaughter God.
• Black and White Impermanence warned King Zhaoxiang that Bai Qi could not be touched, and the king returned to the living world resolved to trust him.
• After King Zhaoxiang died, Ying Yiren became a hostage in Zhao, where Lu Buwei later supported him and gave him his concubine Zhao Ji.
• Following Bai Qi’s victory at Changping, Zhao Ji became pregnant, and Ancestor Dragon sent one-fifth of his Primordial Spirit through reincarnation into her womb.
• Purple Qi appeared over Handan, and the Immortal Gods sensed that an emperor was coming into existence.

The birth of a Heavenly Mandate Emperor in Handan stirred the Prehistoric World's factions, who rushed to find and recruit him for the merit and prestige his rise might bring. While several factions dispatched agents or waited for Cangyuan's guidance, a group in the mortal world learned the emperor was the son of a Qin State hostage and set out to seize the child.

• Purple Qi appeared over Handan as the Heavenly Mandate Emperor was born, but karmic tribulation prevented the great powers from identifying him precisely.
• Great powers discussed sending Primordial Spirit fragments into the Nine Provinces, while Primordial Lord of Heaven ordered Guangchengzi to recruit the emperor for the Chan Sect.
• Taiqing ordered Xuandu to go to Handan, but the reincarnated Xuandu doubted he could beat Cangyuan to the matter and planned to focus on promoting Daoism.
• Jin Ling urged Tongtian to send Jie Sect agents, but Tongtian said Cangyuan made haste unnecessary.
• Nuwa and Houtu stayed inactive, with Houtu relying on Cangyuan's guidance, while other factions prepared to act.
• A sect leader learned the emperor was the son of a Qin State hostage and led his followers toward Handan to seize the child.

Holy Mother Bai Lian and the three sisters prepared to seize Handan and rescue the Heavenly Mandate Emperor, but Cangyuan ordered them to leave him there and secretly protect him. The Heavenly Mandate Emperor was born as Ying Zheng, son of the Qin hostage Ying Yiren, whose family faced growing danger in Handan.

• Holy Mother Bai Lian learned that the Heavenly Mandate Emperor was not a member of Zhao State's royal family and ordered the Bailian Cult to prepare to capture Handan and rescue him.
• Cangyuan told Xiao Bai, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao to protect the Heavenly Mandate Emperor in secret and let him return to Qin Dynasty when the time was right.
• Ying Yiren named his newborn son Ying Zheng, who showed an unusual awareness and imperial aura from birth.
• Ying Zheng's family lived under Zhao State's hostility after Qin's Bai Qi buried Zhao soldiers alive at the Battle of Changping.
• When Ying Zheng was two, Qin besieged Handan, and Zhao State considered killing Ying Yiren's family to vent its anger.

After Ying Zheng returned to Qin, he inherited the throne and killed Lu Buwei when he tried to seize power. He then took charge of the court and searched for the teachers who had guided him, but Qin found only three of them.

• Lu Buwei fled Handan with Ying Yiren, leaving Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng behind; Zhao Ji protected and raised Ying Zheng for five years.
• Ying Zheng trained in Martial Dao and studied with Mister Xi, Mister Nong, Mister Ji, and other teachers, unaware that some of the people he saw were illusions.
• After King Zhaoxiang and King Xiaowen died, Ying Yiren became king, and Zhao State returned Ying Zheng and Zhao Ji to Qin.
• Ying Yiren named Ying Zheng Crown Prince, then died three years later, and Ying Zheng ascended the throne.
• Lu Buwei tried to control the court, but Ying Zheng killed him with a punch and took charge of Qin's affairs.
• Ying Zheng searched the realm for Mister Xi, Mister Nong, Mister Ji, Mister Bi, Instructor Qiong, and Steward Bai, but Qin found only three.

Ying Zheng gathered Qin’s officials and declared that he would personally lead the conquest of the Nine Provinces, beginning with Han State. After ordering Bai Qi to assemble an army, Ying Zheng mounted his warhorse and rode before two hundred thousand Asura Iron Cavalry.

• Ying Zheng thanked the Three Sovereigns after confirming that Mister Xi, Mister Nong, and Mister Ji had likely been the teachers who guided him.
• Ying Zheng announced to his gathered officials that he would personally lead Qin’s armies to unify the Nine Provinces.
• Shang Yang reported that Qin had stored enough grain to feed a ten-million-strong army for ten years, while the Bailian Cult leader offered grain and was asked to stir up unrest in other states instead.
• Bai Qi recommended attacking Han State first because it was close to Qin and weaker than the other dominant states.
• Ying Zheng ordered Bai Qi to gather two hundred thousand Asura Iron Cavalry and declared that he would lead the campaign against Han State himself.
• Ying Zheng donned armor, mounted his dragon-blooded Demonic Horse, and rode before the assembled cavalry.

Ying Zheng launched Qin’s campaign to conquer Han while Qin pressured Zhao and Wei and worked to keep Chu, Yan, and Qi from intervening. After Han’s Nanyang surrendered, Ying Zheng raced to Xinzheng and prepared to break its defenses.

• Ying Zheng rallied two hundred thousand Asura Iron Cavalry to destroy Han and led them toward Nanyang.
• Bai Qi stationed two hundred thousand Asura Iron Cavalry along the Zhao border, while Wang Jian brought two million veteran soldiers to Wei’s frontier; Qin also appeased Chu and Yan and bribed Qi to stay out of the war.
• Teng surrendered Nanyang to Ying Zheng without a fight, and Li Xin later arrived with Qin forces to occupy the city as a forward base.
• Ying Zheng bypassed Hangu Pass and surprised Xinzheng, but Han’s defenders activated the city-protecting formation.
• Ying Zheng ordered ten thousand formation-breaking ballistae brought forward to attack Xinzheng’s defenses.

Ying Zheng broke Xinzheng’s defenses, crushed Han’s remaining resistance, and conquered the Han State. After Qin established Yingchuan Commandery, Ying Zheng’s forces ruthlessly suppressed nobles who tried to undermine the new rule.

• Ying Zheng used ten thousand ballistae to break Xinzheng’s City-Protecting Formation, then led Qin’s heavy cavalry into the city.
• Ying Zheng killed the Han State’s Returning to Void and Merging with Dao cultivators, and the defeated army surrendered.
• The King of Han learned Ying Zheng’s identity and accepted the state’s destruction as Ying Zheng declared that Han’s territory would become Yingchuan Commandery.
• Qin officials restored order in the former Han State, while nobles secretly provoked unrest and disrupted the new administration.
• Qin troops seized nobles’ property and executed their clans, shocking the nobles who had expected the new dynasty to court them.

After the Qin Dynasty annihilated Han and redistributed aristocratic resources, the other states formed an alliance to resist Qin and plotted to assassinate its new ruler. Jing Ke arrived in Qin to present Yan’s Territory Map, only to learn that the ruler had gone to the front lines.

• The Qin Dynasty massacred most of Yingchuan Commandery’s aristocrats, replaced Han officials, and distributed part of the seized resources to commoners.
• The rulers of Zhao, Chu, Wei, Qi, and Yan met and agreed to unite against Qin, while Yan proposed assassinating Qin’s new ruler to provoke internal chaos.
• Yan’s ruler assigned Jing Ke to fake a surrender and present Yan’s Territory Map as a way to approach and kill the Qin ruler.
• Zhao, Wei, Chu, and Qi sent troops to the Qin borders, while Yan attacked its supposed allies and sent Jing Ke to Qin with the map.
• Jing Ke reached the Xianyang Palace and learned that Qin’s new ruler had personally led an expedition to the front lines.

Jing Ke tried to assassinate Ying Zheng while presenting Yan’s territory map, but Ying Zheng saw through the attempt and killed him. Ying Zheng then personally led four hundred thousand Asura Iron Cavalry to attack Zhao, while Qin’s other generals held off Wei and Chu.

• Jing Ke learned that Ying Zheng had reached the Returning to Void and Merging with Dao Realm and concealed a lethal dagger in Yan’s territory map.
• Shang Yang arranged for Jing Ke to travel to the Qin-Zhao border and meet Ying Zheng.
• Ying Zheng ordered Jing Ke to unfold the territory map, and Jing Ke attempted to stab him with the hidden dagger.
• Ying Zheng seized Jing Ke with a dragon claw, spoke of unifying the realm, and crushed him to death.
• Ying Zheng ordered an attack on Zhao and led four hundred thousand Asura Iron Cavalry against its million-strong army as Qin generals held the borders against Wei and Chu.