Chapter Summaries

Xuanyuan and Chi You faced off again at the Plains of Zhuolu, where Xuanyuan vowed to capture him and avenge his humiliation. After Chi You agreed not to use an Innate Spiritual Treasure again, Xuanyuan prepared a coordinated formation with Ying Long, Nine Heavens Xuannü, and the Chan Sect immortals for the coming decisive battle.

• Xuanyuan’s newly trained army defeated the Jiuli forces at Zhuolu, but Chi You secretly enlisted Great Witches to disrupt later battles with storms and fog.
• As Xuanyuan’s troops adapted and gained the advantage, Chi You took an Innate Spiritual Treasure into battle and nearly captured Xuanyuan after overpowering his allies.
• Xuanyuan went to Huoyun Cave and threatened to withdraw from the struggle for the Human Emperor unless Chi You stopped using the treasure.
• Wu visited Chi You on behalf of the Human sages, and Chi You promised not to use the Innate Spiritual Treasure again.
• Xuanyuan returned to Chendu and organized Ying Long, Nine Heavens Xuannü, and the Chan Sect immortals into a practiced formation designed to capture Chi You.

Xuanyuan’s forces defeated Chi You’s army while Guang Chengzi, Daoist Burning Lamp, Ying Long, Nine Heavens Xuannü, and the other immortals trapped and suppressed Chi You. Xuanyuan ordered Chi You taken to Chendu to be dismembered, but Chi You continued to taunt him.

• Xuanyuan ordered his allies to end the battle quickly, and they attacked Chi You together.
• Guang Chengzi used the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner to block Chi You’s attempt to escape the formation, while the immortals wore him down.
• Xuanyuan’s trained army outmaneuvered the Jiuli army, whose battle lines collapsed under the coordinated formations.
• Daoist Burning Lamp struck Chi You with the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, allowing Nine Heavens Xuannü and the other Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect to seal and suppress him.
• The defeated Jiuli warriors fled, and the Great Witches who had secretly aided the battle left to report to the Ancestral Witch.
• Xuanyuan ordered his men to take Chi You to Chendu for dismemberment, while Chi You mocked Xuanyuan for needing so many allies to defeat him.

Xuanyuan sought help from the Chan Sect immortals to kill Chi You, but they refused to take on the Karma. He went to Huoyun Cave, where the Ancestors gave him the Human Emperor Sword to help him execute Chi You and suppress him for ten thousand years.

• Xuanyuan asked Guang Chengzi, Daoist Burning Lamp, Ying Long, and Nine Heavens Xuannü to help him kill Chi You, but none agreed.
• Guang Chengzi offered to ask his master for a divine weapon, but Xuanyuan dismissed the immortals and said he already had a solution.
• Xuanyuan realized he should rely on the Human Race's Ancestors and flew to Huoyun Cave.
• Xuanyuan told Wu, Fuxi, Shennong, and the others that he would execute Chi You publicly, dismember him, and suppress him for ten thousand years.
• Wu gave Xuanyuan the Human Emperor Sword, forged by Zhou Ming from the Innate Gourd Vine and the Human Race's Destiny, and said it could kill Chi You's physical body.
• Xuanyuan accepted the sword and left Huoyun Cave to complete his merit.

Xuanyuan executed Chi You and unified the Human Race, but his merit remained incomplete because the slaughter had left him tainted by fiendish energy and karma. Venerable Lord Yuanshi gave Guang Chengzi a dual cultivation method to resolve it, and Xuanyuan’s fury at the proposed solution erased his remaining respect for the Chan Sect.

• Xuanyuan beheaded Chi You, then ordered his remains sealed and scattered across the Human Race’s territory after Chi You revealed he could survive decapitation.
• The tribal leaders submitted to Xuanyuan, who unified the Human Race and presided over its prosperity, but could not complete his merit and attain the Human Emperor’s Dao.
• Guang Chengzi and the other immortals debated why Xuanyuan’s merit remained incomplete, then Guang Chengzi returned to Kunlun Mountain to ask Venerable Lord Yuanshi for guidance.
• Venerable Lord Yuanshi identified the slaughter’s fiendish energy and karma as the obstacle, and gave Guang Chengzi a dual cultivation method for Xuanyuan to practice with a Human Race woman.
• Guang Chengzi brought the jade scroll to Xuanyuan, who read it and rejected the method as an insult to the Human Emperor, losing his last respect for the Chan Sect.

Xuanyuan rejected the Chan Sect’s Dual Cultivation Method and brought it to Huoyun Cave for the Ancestors to examine. They explained its hidden costs and left him seeking their help to resolve the baleful energy and Karma binding his Dao.

• Guang Chengzi gave Xuanyuan the Chan Sect’s Dual Cultivation Method, but Xuanyuan dismissed him and refused to use it.
• Xuanyuan flew to Huoyun Cave and presented the jade manuscript to Wu, Fuxi, Shennong, Hong Yun, and the other Ancestors.
• The Ancestors laughed with relief that Xuanyuan had come to them, and Hong Yun explained that his slaughter in the battle against Chi You had left him burdened by baleful energy and Karma.
• Fuxi described three possible solutions: let Human Race Destiny slowly wear away the Karma, establish another great achievement, or use the Chan Sect’s method to forcefully remove it.
• Wu and the others warned that the Dual Cultivation Method would halt Xuanyuan’s cultivation and exclude him from Huoyun Cave’s inner circle.
• Xuanyuan realized he had avoided the Chan Sect’s trap and bowed to the Ancestors, asking them to help him.

Xuanyuan spread the Immortal Scripture throughout the Human Race, completing his merit and preparing to pass the Human Emperor position to Zhuanxu. At the ceremony in Chendu, Zhou Ming began proclaiming Xuanyuan’s elevation as the Human Emperor.

• Hong Yun gave Xuanyuan the Immortal Scripture and charged him with establishing and spreading the immortal path among the Human Race.
• Xuanyuan made the Immortal Scripture public across the Human Race, sparking widespread cultivation and greatly increasing the race’s strength and his own prestige.
• As his merit neared completion, Xuanyuan chose Zhuanxu as his successor and ordered an altar ceremony in Chendu.
• Zhou Ming and the Sages, along with the leaders from Huoyun Cave, headed to Chendu to witness Xuanyuan’s return to his rightful position.
• At the ceremony, Zhou Ming raised the Kongtong Seal and began proclaiming Xuanyuan’s title as Human Emperor.

After Xuanyuan completed his reign and Zhuanxu took the Human Emperor Sword, Zhou Ming established Human Dao and linked it to the Kongtong Seal, then handed the seal to Wu for the Human Race to control. The Sages turned their attention to the coming struggle for Human Dao authority, while Tongtian prepared his disciples to assist the Five Emperors.

• Xuanyuan received most of the merit, while Guang Chengzi and the other Chan Sect immortals received too little to clear their Karma, angering Yuanshi and delighting Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Xuanyuan gave Zhuanxu the Human Emperor Sword, and Zhuanxu took over as Human Emperor.
• Zhou Ming declared that the Three Sovereigns had taken their places and called for Human Dao to emerge; the Human Race's Destiny gathered, awakening Human Dao.
• Zhou Ming connected the Kongtong Seal to Human Dao, then handed it to Wu so the Human Race could control it, prompting the Sages to plan for its authority.
• Zhou Ming ended Chi You's ten-thousand-year punishment and took him back to the Witch Clan; Wu and the Huoyun Cave elders escorted Xuanyuan away.
• Tongtian ordered the disciples who would assist the Five Emperors to come to Biyou Palace, eager to build the Interception Sect's influence among the Human Race.

After Human Dao emerged, the Sages and Heavenly Court moved to secure influence among the Human Race while Zhou Ming focused on Ao Hai and West Queen Mother beginning the Method of Shattering Three Corpses. Ao Hai started reversing the Origin connection to his Good Corpse, enduring the first wave of spiritual agony as Zhou Ming and Houtu guarded the secret chambers.

• Jieyin and Zhunti ordered their disciples to enter the mortal world and spread the Western Teachings among the Human Race.
• Taiqing Laozi, Venerable Lord Yuanshi, Nuwa, Haotian, and Yaochi made plans to strengthen their factions' ties to the Human Race and seek a share of Human Dao.
• Ao Hai and West Queen Mother told Zhou Ming and Houtu that they had mastered the Method of Shattering Three Corpses and were ready to begin cultivating it.
• Zhou Ming and Houtu promised to protect Ao Hai and West Queen Mother, then escorted them to isolated chambers inside Pangu Hall.
• Ao Hai summoned his Good Corpse and reversed their Origin connection, beginning to return its Origin power and suffering severe pain as the corpse started to disintegrate.

Ao Hai successfully shattered his Good Corpse and reclaimed its Origin, restoring his path, while West Queen Mother began the more dangerous process of shattering her Corpse of Evil. Zhou Ming watched her turbulent seclusion as Houtu worried about the greater difficulty ahead.

• Ao Hai and West Queen Mother shattered their Good Corpses and merged their Origins into their true bodies.
• Ao Hai emerged from seclusion, thanked Zhou Ming for the method, and learned that he needed to strengthen his law comprehension and foundation.
• Ao Hai gave Zhou Ming a Jade Slip containing his insights, then returned to seclusion in Pangu Hall.
• Zhou Ming sensed that West Queen Mother had begun shattering her Corpse of Evil immediately after merging her Good Corpse.
• Houtu praised West Queen Mother's resolve but warned Zhou Ming that shattering the Corpse of Evil would be much harder.

West Queen Mother struggled to merge her Corpse of Evil after absorbing the Good Corpse, resisting its attacks on her Dao heart and its attempt to sever their Origin connection. She ultimately destroyed it and survived its self-destruction, leaving her path forward open as Zhou Ming and Houtu waited outside while she recovered.

• Zhou Ming and Houtu guarded the secret chamber as West Queen Mother began drawing out her Corpse of Evil.
• The Corpse of Evil mocked West Queen Mother and tried to sever their Origin connection, threatening her cultivation and Dao foundation.
• The Corpse of Evil attacked West Queen Mother's Dao heart with painful memories and illusions, while Zhou Ming and Houtu sensed her weakening but did not intervene.
• West Queen Mother reaffirmed her purpose, unleashed her resolve as a Dao sword, and suppressed the Corpse of Evil.
• The Corpse of Evil self-destructed as West Queen Mother destroyed it, but she survived and absorbed its Origin despite severe pain and injuries.
• Zhou Ming and Houtu recognized West Queen Mother's success and waited for her to recover in seclusion.

After West Queen Mother recovered from shattering her Corpses of Good and Evil, Zhou Ming summoned Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi to discuss the Human Race and the competing Sage lineages. He learned that the Interception Sect dominated among the Human Race, setting it against the other Sages as the future Investiture of the Gods Calamity approached.

• West Queen Mother thanked Zhou Ming and Houtu for restoring her life, then followed Zhou Ming's advice to enter seclusion and heal her injuries.
• Zhou Ming studied the Jade Slips from Ao Hai and West Queen Mother, then sent messages summoning Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi to Pangu Hall.
• Hong Yun left Huoyun Cave after asking Wu, Sui Ren Shi, and the other Human Race Ancestors to oversee its affairs, while Pingxin allowed Zhen Yuanzi to leave the Underworld.
• Hong Yun told Zhou Ming and Houtu that the Human Race flourished under the Five Emperors and that several Sages were establishing Dao lineages among its people.
• Hong Yun reported that Tongtian's Interception Sect had the strongest presence among the Human Race, and Zhou Ming anticipated that its influence would make Tongtian a target in the coming calamity.

Zhou Ming showed Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi that severing the Three Corpses was a dead end and offered them the method to shatter them, which they agreed to cultivate. He then went to retrieve Di Jun and Taiyi, finding their reincarnated selves as Fire Crow Clan leaders Huo Jun and Huo Yi, who sensed his arrival.

• Zhou Ming gave Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi Jade Slips revealing that the Method of Severing Three Corpses could not lead to Hunyuan.
• Zhou Ming explained that Ao Hai and West Queen Mother had successfully cultivated the Method of Shattering Three Corpses, and Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi agreed to learn it.
• Zhou Ming gave them Jade Slips containing Ao Hai and West Queen Mother's experiences, and they entered separate secret chambers to study.
• Zhou Ming asked Houtu to protect Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi while he went to retrieve Di Jun and Taiyi before the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
• Zhou Ming found Di Jun and Taiyi reincarnated as Fire Crow Clan leader Huo Jun and his younger brother Huo Yi, both at the Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
• Huo Jun and Huo Yi sensed a sudden crisis and opened their eyes as Zhou Ming appeared in their cave dwelling.

Zhou Ming restored Huo Jun and Huo Yi’s memories as the ancient emperors Di Jun and Taiyi, then asked them to return with him to the Witch Clan. After they settled the Fire Crow Clan’s affairs, Di Jun asked whether his children, Xi He, and the fallen Demon Saints had been reincarnated.

• Zhou Ming appeared in Huo Jun and Huo Yi’s secret chamber and used Mystic Light to restore their sealed memories.
• Huo Jun and Huo Yi remembered their former lives as Di Jun and Taiyi, including their rule over the Heavenly Court and their deaths in the Calamity of Immortals and Demons.
• Di Jun and Taiyi thanked Zhou Ming and agreed to return with him to the Witch Clan.
• Di Jun and Taiyi handed the Fire Crow Clan’s authority to others and left behind cultivation techniques before returning to Zhou Ming.
• Di Jun asked Zhou Ming whether his nine children, Xi He, and the fallen Demon Saints had also entered Reincarnation.

Zhou Ming reunited Di Jun and Taiyi with Xi He and restored the Demon Clan’s fallen Demon Saints. After gathering them, he led the group toward Penglai Immortal Island to meet old friends.

• Zhou Ming told Di Jun and Taiyi that their nine sons had returned and that Xi He and the Demon Saints could be awakened.
• Di Jun and Taiyi pledged their loyalty to Zhou Ming, who led them out of the cave and across the Primordial Wilderness.
• Zhou Ming restored Xi He's memories, and she reunited with Di Jun before thanking the Sage.
• Zhou Ming awakened Ji Meng, Ying Zhao, Fei Lian, Ghost Chariot, and the other Demon Saints, who paid their respects to him, Di Jun, and Taiyi.
• Zhou Ming announced that the Demon Clan had gathered and led the group toward Penglai Immortal Island in the East Sea.

Zhou Ming found Dong Hua and Candle Dragon on Penglai Island and restored their memories of their past lives as East Prince Gong and Candle Dragon. The former enemies reconciled and followed Zhou Ming toward the Witch Clan after he said they would search for East Prince Gong’s former subordinates.

• Zhou Ming arrived at Penglai Island with Di Jun, Taiyi, and the Demon Saints, then located Dong Hua, who had reincarnated as a Human and returned to the island.
• Zhou Ming awakened Dong Hua’s memories, and Dong Hua recognized his past life as East Prince Gong and thanked Zhou Ming for his rebirth.
• Zhou Ming found Candle Dragon in a cave by the sea and awakened his memories of his past life.
• East Prince Gong and Candle Dragon exchanged words with Di Jun and Taiyi, then agreed to let go of their old grievances.
• Zhou Ming led East Prince Gong, Candle Dragon, Di Jun, Taiyi, and the others away to search for East Prince Gong’s former subordinates and return to the Witch Clan.

Zhou Ming settled Di Jun, East Prince Gong, and the other revived immortals near Buzhou Mountain, then told Houtu that he had reached a cultivation bottleneck. He left for Jinao Island to discuss the Dao with Tongtian, hoping to learn from his Sky-Opening Mark and build an alliance ahead of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.

• Zhou Ming ordered Di Jun, East Prince Gong, and the others to enter seclusion near Buzhou Mountain and warned them to prevent disputes on Witch Clan territory.
• Di Jun and East Prince Gong promised to restrain their subordinates, then led their people to find caves in the mountain range.
• Zhou Ming told Houtu that he had reached the peak of the Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm and could no longer advance through secluded cultivation alone.
• Zhou Ming explained that Tongtian’s Sky-Opening Mark might offer insights into the Great Dao and that building a relationship with him could help the Witch Clan during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
• Houtu agreed to oversee the newcomers, and Zhou Ming departed for Jinao Island to meet Tongtian.

Zhou Ming visited Jinao Island to discuss the Dao with Tongtian, revealing that he had reached the peak of the Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm and faced a bottleneck. Tongtian agreed to share Pangu’s insights and asked Zhou Ming to lecture the Interception Sect’s disciples before their discussion began.

• Tongtian sensed Zhou Ming approaching Jinao Island and sent Duobao to welcome him.
• Zhou Ming met Tongtian in Biyou Palace and said he had come to discuss the Dao because his cultivation had reached a bottleneck.
• Zhou Ming revealed that he was at the peak of the Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, and Tongtian realized he sought insights related to Pangu’s Sky-Opening Mark.
• Tongtian eagerly agreed to discuss the Dao with Zhou Ming, expecting their exchange to benefit them both.
• Tongtian asked Zhou Ming to lecture the Interception Sect’s disciples, and Zhou Ming agreed.
• Tongtian ordered Duobao to summon all the Interception Sect’s disciples to Jinao Island to hear the Dao.

Tongtian and Zhou Ming lectured the Interception Sect’s disciples on the Dao, leaving them enlightened and ordered to enter seclusion. After the disciples departed, Tongtian sealed Biyou Palace so he and Zhou Ming could discuss the Dao privately.

• Daoist Duobao spread Tongtian’s decree, and Interception Sect disciples gathered at Jinao Island for the lecture.
• Tongtian introduced Zhou Ming as a Witch Clan Sage and announced that they would lecture together.
• Tongtian taught the disciples about cultivation from the Heavenly Immortal realm through the Quasi-Saint Path, inspiring many to advance.
• Zhou Ming expounded the Great Dao of laws, revealing visions of creation, cosmic cycles, and worlds within dust.
• Tongtian thanked Zhou Ming, ordered the disciples to enter seclusion for ten thousand years, then activated Jinao Island’s formation and went with Zhou Ming to discuss the Dao.

Zhunti persuaded Jieyin that the Western Teachings should exploit tensions between the Three Pure Ones rather than confront Interception Sect directly. He planned to provoke a clash between Yuanshi and the Heavenly Court over Haotian’s past intervention in Xuanyuan’s affairs, leaving Jieyin eager to hear how he would proceed.

• Zhunti said the Western Teachings could not claim the Human Dao Authority while Interception Sect dominated among the Human Race.
• Zhunti argued Taiqing and Yuanshi would oppose Tongtian if he tried to seize the authority, so the Western Teachings could wait for them to weaken Interception Sect.
• Zhunti proposed warning Haotian and stirring turmoil around the Human Race, but Jieyin cautioned that this could provoke the other Sages and the Human Race.
• Zhunti revealed that he would secretly give Yuanshi an opportunity to settle his grudge against Haotian over Nine Heavens Xuannü’s aid to Human Emperor Xuanyuan.
• Jieyin agreed that Yuanshi would seize the pretext to escalate the conflict with the Heavenly Court and asked Zhunti how he planned to proceed.

Zhunti persuaded Jieyin to target Haotian through a scheme involving his younger sister Yao Ji and a mortal, hoping to provoke conflict between the Heavenly Court, the Chan Sect, and the Human Race. They finalized the plan on Mount Sumeru, with Zhunti secretly setting it in motion.

• Zhunti proposed arranging for Yao Ji to be injured, rescued by a mortal, and drawn into a forbidden marriage.
• Jieyin warned that the scheme could alienate the Human Race and damage the Western Teachings.
• Zhunti explained how they would manipulate events to appear as natural accidents and implicate Yuanshi in the resulting conflict.
• Jieyin recognized that Haotian would lose either way, while the Chan Sect and Heavenly Court would become enemies and the Human Race might turn against Heaven.
• Jieyin agreed to the plan, and the two Sages discussed its details before Zhunti sent out a faint streak of golden light.