Chapter Summaries

Wu Zhiqi confronted Qiongxiao, Bixiao, and Yunxiao after they attacked his forces along the Huai River. As the fight began, Wu Zhiqi’s yellow radiance blocked both Bixiao’s Golden Flood Dragon Scissors and Yunxiao’s Primal Chaos Golden Dipper, leaving the sisters astonished.

• Bixiao’s Golden Flood Dragon Scissors failed to pierce Wu Zhiqi’s yellow radiance, and Qiongxiao demanded that he repent for obstructing Yu the Great’s flood control.
• Wu Zhiqi prepared to attack Qiongxiao and Bixiao, but Yunxiao arrived and recognized him as a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
• Wu Zhiqi knocked the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors away, injuring Bixiao, then vowed to avenge his dead and wounded followers.
• Yunxiao sent the Primal Chaos Golden Dipper at Wu Zhiqi while Qiongxiao and Bixiao withdrew.
• Wu Zhiqi charged through the dipper’s attack, with his yellow radiance holding the treasure back and surprising all three sisters.

Yunxiao and Wu Zhiqi fought while Qiongxiao and Bixiao failed to break through the yellow light protecting him. As Saints and veteran Quasi-Saints recognized the treasure and moved to claim its karmic opportunity, a turtle in the Heavenly Court watched Yunxiao’s battle with admiration.

• Wu Zhiqi repelled Bixiao’s Golden Flood Dragon Scissors and blocked Qiongxiao’s lightning with the yellow light behind his head.
• Yunxiao told Qiongxiao and Bixiao to seek reinforcements, then held Wu Zhiqi back as her sisters flew east.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate sent Cihang to the Huai River, Jieyin and Zhunti chose Due, and Tongtian Cult Master sent Duobao with the Immortal Slaying Sword.
• Laozi remained still, while Nuwa considered using the Crimson Silk Ball and veteran Quasi-Saints watched for a chance to act.
• A turtle in the Heavenly Court watched Yunxiao and felt an unprecedented stirring in his heart.

Shen Gui decided to recruit Wu Zhiqi as the Heavenly Court’s ace fighter and personally headed to the Huai River, alarming the Three Realms’ powerful figures. As Wu Zhiqi and Yunxiao continued fighting, little Yang Jian and little Yang Chan arrived, and Yang Chan suggested they take advantage of the situation.

• Shen Gui chose Wu Zhiqi as his future fighter because of his strength, identity, and appearance.
• Shen Gui went to the lower realm to recruit Wu Zhiqi, unsettling Jieyin, Zhunti, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Laozi, Nuwa, Kunpeng, and Ming He.
• Yunxiao realized that Wu Zhiqi’s defense was stronger than his destructive power and continued to withstand his attacks without being hurt.
• Little Yang Jian and little Yang Chan arrived at the Huai River and watched Wu Zhiqi and Yunxiao fight.
• Little Yang Chan reminded Yang Jian that they had come to gain merit, then asked if he wanted to pull off a job.

Yang Chan persuaded Yang Jian to ambush Wu Zhiqi while he was occupied fighting Yunxiao. Yang Jian landed a surprise hammer strike, leaving Wu Zhiqi and Yunxiao unaware of the weapon’s immense force until it was already swinging.

• Yang Chan urged hesitant Yang Jian to help defeat Wu Zhiqi and proposed that he attack from behind while Yunxiao kept Wu Zhiqi occupied.
• Yang Chan lent Yang Jian the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe so he could approach undetected, then retreated to a safe place.
• As Wu Zhiqi grew impatient with Yunxiao’s defense and the possibility of reinforcements, Yang Jian sneaked behind him unseen.
• Yang Jian swung his four-hundred-thousand-jin hammer at Wu Zhiqi, whose staff swept backward as Yunxiao shouted a warning.

Little Yang Jian’s oversized hammer accidentally knocked both him and Yunxiao out of the fight, leaving Wu Zhiqi free to attack. Shen Gui stopped Wu Zhiqi’s strike and caught Yunxiao, then asked if she was all right.

• Wu Zhiqi knocked Yang Jian’s hammer off course, and it crashed into Yunxiao’s Primal Chaos Golden Dipper, leaving both of them dazed.
• Yang Chan laughed at the mishap until Shen Gui arrived and rapped her forehead for teasing her brother; she accused him of watching without intervening.
• Wu Zhiqi recovered his staff and attacked the unsteady Yunxiao, but Shen Gui appeared and blocked the strike with a yellow barrier.
• Wu Zhiqi demanded to know who Shen Gui was, but Shen Gui ignored him and asked Yunxiao if she was all right.

Shen Gui rescued Yunxiao from Wu Zhiqi and explained that he had come to keep watch over his godchildren. He then told Wu Zhiqi he had saved Yunxiao partly because he admired him, leaving his intentions toward the demon leader to be revealed.

• Shen Gui blocked Wu Zhiqi's attack and rescued Yunxiao, who recognized him as the Heavenly Emperor and thanked him.
• Wu Zhiqi greeted Shen Gui as Emperor Gouchen, signaling that he respected him as Demon Emperor rather than Heavenly Emperor.
• Shen Gui teased Yunxiao, then explained he had come to watch over his godchildren and pulled little Yang Jian from the Huai River.
• Little Yang Chan mocked little Yang Jian, who stopped himself from retaliating after seeing Shen Gui nearby.
• Wu Zhiqi challenged Shen Gui over whether he planned to wipe out the remaining demons of Southern Jambudvipa, and Shen Gui said they were among his subjects.
• When Wu Zhiqi asked why he had saved Yunxiao, Shen Gui said it was because his godson had put her in danger and because he admired Wu Zhiqi.

Shen Gui offered Wu Zhiqi a place in the Heavenly Court, but Wu Zhiqi demanded justice for his fallen brothers before Yu the Great urged him to abandon resistance. Wu Zhiqi refused to surrender and challenged everyone seeking his life or the Huangzhong Plum.

• Shen Gui explained that he had saved Wu Zhiqi and invited him to take an official post in the Heavenly Realm.
• Yunxiao praised Shen Gui’s offer, while Qiongxiao, Bixiao, Daoist Cihang, Daoist Duobao, and True Man Du E gathered near the Huai River without intervening.
• Wu Zhiqi asked Shen Gui for justice for his fallen brothers, and Shen Gui offered them better reincarnations but said Bixiao had done nothing wrong.
• Yu the Great told Wu Zhiqi that he could become a friend of the human race by serving Shen Gui and supporting flood control.
• Wu Zhiqi refused to surrender, declared that he would rather die than live on his knees, and challenged those seeking the Huangzhong Plum to come and fight him.

Wu Zhiqi refused Shen Gui’s offer to join the Heavenly Court and revealed that he possessed the Huangzhong Plum, an awakened Innate Spiritual Root that had once owed him a debt. As four Daluo Golden Immortals surrounded them, the Huangzhong Plum joined Wu Zhiqi, making the battle’s outcome uncertain.

• Wu Zhiqi identified his treasure as the Huangzhong Plum, prompting the surrounding cultivators to covet it.
• Shen Gui accepted Wu Zhiqi’s refusal to join the Heavenly Court, warned that he would protect him if he changed his mind, and left for the Huai River’s banks.
• Daoist Duobao, Daoist Cihang, True Man Du E, and Yunxiao appeared and surrounded Wu Zhiqi above the Huai River.
• Wu Zhiqi apologized to the Huangzhong Plum, and its awakened consciousness declared that it would face the danger with him to repay his past kindness.
• Shen Gui realized the Huangzhong Plum’s peak Daluo strength and defensive power could make the confrontation with the four cultivators unpredictable.

With the sentient Huangzhong Plum changing the stakes, the Saints and sect disciples hesitated to fight Wu Zhiqi. Yunxiao offered him a way to surrender and protect his followers, leaving Wu Zhiqi wavering over Shen Gui’s earlier proposal.

• The Saints and the disciples surrounding Wu Zhiqi realized that seizing the sentient Huangzhong Plum would bring less reward than they had expected, and the Saints hesitated to intervene.
• Yunxiao urged Wu Zhiqi to stop obstructing Yu the Great’s flood control and warned that his followers would suffer if the fighting continued.
• Shen Gui recognized that Yunxiao was giving the opposing sides a graceful way to withdraw and approved of her approach.
• Wu Zhiqi challenged Yunxiao’s motives and doubted that the human race would spare his followers even if they stopped fighting.
• Yunxiao denied seeking the Huangzhong Plum and advised Wu Zhiqi to accept the Heavenly Emperor’s proposal and join the northern Demon Race under the Heavenly Court.
• Wu Zhiqi fell silent and began to waver as he considered the future of his followers.

Zhunti and Jieyin tried to seize Wu Zhiqi and the Huangzhong Plum, but Nuwa stopped them and Shen Gui reached Wu Zhiqi. When Yuanshi arrived, he abandoned the dispute to visit little Yang Chan, revealing his unexpected fondness for her.

• Zhunti attacked Wu Zhiqi with the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, and Shen Gui tried to protect him with a pagoda.
• Jieyin blocked Shen Gui while Yuanshi and Tongtian chose not to intervene.
• Nuwa knocked Zhunti’s Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree away with her Crimson Silk Ball, ending the attempt to seize Wu Zhiqi.
• Jieyin, Zhunti, Shen Gui, Nuwa, Yuanshi, and Tongtian appeared as the disciples withdrew from the dispute.
• Yuanshi ignored the Huangzhong Plum negotiations and went to see little Yang Chan, astonishing the others and Daoist Cihang.

Shen Gui defended Wu Zhiqi from the Saints’ demands and chose to bear the karma for his past obstruction of Yu the Great’s flood control. After Jieyin and Zhunti withdrew, Shen Gui used his supposed connection to Primordial Heavenly Venerate to draw a baffled Tongtian into a conversation.

• Zhunti accused Shen Gui of shielding Wu Zhiqi and obstructing Yu the Great’s flood control, but Shen Gui countered by suggesting the western Saints had ordered Wu Zhiqi’s actions.
• Zhunti argued that Wu Zhiqi must be punished for obstructing the flood control, and Tongtian agreed that Shen Gui should enforce heavenly justice.
• Shen Gui asked Wu Zhiqi whether he accepted the offer to enter his service, and Wu Zhiqi doubted Shen Gui would take him in despite his fault.
• Shen Gui declared that Wu Zhiqi bore karma but that he would bear it for him, leaving Jieyin, Zhunti, Tongtian, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, and Laozi surprised.
• Jieyin and Zhunti departed, and Tongtian prepared to leave after inviting Shen Gui to Golden Ao Island.
• Shen Gui claimed he and Tongtian were close through Primordial Heavenly Venerate and began speaking frankly, leaving Tongtian confused about their relationship.

Shen Gui pressed Tongtian to follow through on his promise to ask whether his disciples would serve in the Heavenly Court, so Tongtian summoned Duobao and the San Xiao to hear their answers. Yunxiao volunteered to go, leaving Tongtian furious and Yunxiao wondering what she had done wrong.

• Shen Gui reminded Tongtian that he had promised to ask his disciples whether they would serve as officials in Heaven.
• Tongtian claimed he had already asked but received no answers, and Shen Gui urged him to ask Duobao and the San Xiao who were present.
• Tongtian summoned Duobao, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao and explained that he wanted to hear their opinions.
• Duobao declined, saying he should remain with Tongtian as his chief disciple.
• Yunxiao volunteered to ascend to Heaven and serve as an official, prompting Tongtian to explode in anger.
• Yunxiao asked Tongtian whether she had said something wrong.

Shen Gui assigned Wu Zhiqi to help Yu the Great control the floods and sent the San Xiao to the Heavenly Court, while Yang Chan left for Kunlun Mountain with Yuanshi. After everyone else departed, Nuwa confronted Shen Gui and beat him for taking on Wu Zhiqi’s karmic burden.

• Tongtian accepted that Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao would go to the Heavenly Court, then returned to Golden Ao Island with Duobao.
• Yuanshi took Yang Chan and Cihang to Kunlun Mountain after Shen Gui gave his permission.
• Shen Gui appointed Wu Zhiqi Huai River Water God and ordered him to form the Huai River Corps to assist Yu the Great with flood control.
• Shen Gui left Yang Jian with Wu Zhiqi to train and sent the San Xiao to meet Yaochi in the Heavenly Court.
• After Yu the Great and the others departed, Nuwa demanded that Shen Gui put away his protective treasures and beat him for taking on Wu Zhiqi’s karmic burden.

Nuwa punished Shen Gui for taking on the karma of Heavenly Court members, then caught him rubbing the Crimson Silk Ball as though it were her head and beat him again. Meanwhile, Nü Jiao waited for Yu the Great in Yang City and worried that her pregnancy would reveal her identity before he returned.

• Nuwa stopped striking Shen Gui and criticized his decision to bear the karmic burdens of those under his command.
• Shen Gui rubbed the Crimson Silk Ball while thinking it felt like patting Nuwa's head.
• Nuwa appeared behind Shen Gui, realized what he had been doing, and struck him again despite his plea to spare his face.
• Wangshu watched Shen Gui's punishment on the Lunar Star and said he deserved it.
• Nü Jiao finished sewing another garment for her unborn child and worried that her pregnancy was not showing enough to conceal her identity until Yu the Great returned.

Yu the Great completed the flood-control effort and returned home after hearing that Nü Jiao had given birth, fearing that she was not human. Seeing her and their child, Qi, he welcomed them with love and comforted Nü Jiao, while Wu Zhiqi quietly left.

• Yu the Great led the flood-control effort with help from Wu Zhiqi's mountain spirits and water monsters while Wu Zhiqi trained Yang Jian.
• Yu the Great learned that Nü Jiao was pregnant, then years later heard that she had given birth and suspected their child was not fully human.
• As flood control neared completion, rumors spread that Nü Jiao was a demon, and the Dragon Race helped Yu the Great suppress the sea eyes of the Four Seas.
• Yu the Great returned to Yang City without attending the celebration or reporting to Shun, then embraced Nü Jiao and their infant son, Qi.
• Nü Jiao introduced Qi to Yu the Great as his father, and Wu Zhiqi left after wishing them happiness.

Rumors that Yu the Great’s wife, Nü Jiao, was a demon undermined support for Yu’s succession, and Jun secretly helped spread accusations against them. As Shun’s ministers debated who should succeed him, one proposed following Emperor Ku’s example and passing the throne to his son, drawing everyone’s attention to Jun.

• Jun seized on rumors about Nü Jiao to weaken Yu’s claim to the throne and secretly spread a false story blaming Yu and demons for the Great Flood.
• Rumors shifted to portraying Nü Jiao as a demoness who had bewitched Yu, turning her into the target of public hostility.
• Yu stayed home in Yang City and told Nü Jiao he would give up the position of Human Emperor for her and their child.
• Nü Jiao realized that her identity could burden Yu and their child, and a vague thought arose in her heart.
• Shun’s ministers deadlocked over whether Yu could succeed him and who else was qualified to rule.
• An old minister proposed following Emperor Ku’s example by giving the throne to Shun’s son, prompting the assembly to look toward Jun.

Jun persuaded Shun to let him pressure Yu into distancing himself from Nü Jiao, then publicized the plan to undermine Yu’s chances of becoming Human Emperor. Yu stayed committed to Nü Jiao and Qi, while Wu Zhiqi told Tu Shan Feng that Nü Jiao had married Yu.

• Shun asked Jun what he thought about Yu succeeding as Human Emperor, and Jun said Yu was the most capable choice but would need to separate himself from Nü Jiao.
• Shun entrusted the matter to Jun, deciding that the Human Emperor’s position could not risk being tainted by another race.
• Jun publicized the purpose of his journey to Yang City, making it impossible for Yu to quietly distance himself from Nü Jiao without appearing to abandon her for power.
• Yu remained calm and decided that staying with Nü Jiao and Qi mattered more than becoming Human Emperor.
• Wu Zhiqi revealed Nü Jiao’s marriage to Yu to Tu Shan Feng, who was stunned to learn that his daughter had married without his knowledge.

Tu Shan Feng found Nü Jiao in Yang City and urged her to return to Qingqiu, warning that the human race would condemn her if her identity as a demon became known. She refused to leave Yu and Qi, and Wu Zhiqi suggested asking the Heavenly Emperor to enter her into the celestial registry.

• Tu Shan Feng learned from Wu Zhiqi about Nü Jiao’s situation and went to Yang City to find her.
• Tu Shan Feng ordered Nü Jiao to leave Qi behind and return to Qingqiu, but she refused, saying she would not abandon Yu and Qi to bear the infamy alone.
• Tu Shan Feng left Nü Jiao after she warned that she would hate him if he forced her to return, and she wept alone in the courtyard.
• Outside Yang City, Tu Shan Feng told Wu Zhiqi he might forcibly take Nü Jiao back if her life were in danger, despite her hatred.
• Wu Zhiqi explained that the Heavenly Emperor had made him Huai River Water God and proposed asking him to enter Nü Jiao into the celestial registry, leaving Tu Shan Feng stunned.

Tu Shan Feng recalled his old connection to Shen Gui and decided to seek the Heavenly Emperor’s help for Nü Jiao. He arrived at Moon-Gazing Palace with Wu Zhiqi, where Shen Gui agreed to receive them.

• Tu Shan Feng remembered Shen Gui’s former role in the Demon Alliance and resolved to ask him to save Nü Jiao as a personal favor.
• Wu Zhiqi brought Tu Shan Feng to the Heavenly Court after arranging Yang Jian’s demanding training schedule at the Huai River Water Manor.
• Shen Gui recovered from the beating Nuwa had given him after he accidentally flirted with her.
• Shen Gui initially refused Wu Zhiqi’s request for an audience but became interested when he heard Wu Zhiqi had brought an old acquaintance.
• Yaochi arranged for Shen Gui to receive Wu Zhiqi and Tu Shan Feng at Moon-Gazing Palace.

Shen Gui reunited with Tu Shan Feng in Heaven and agreed to help secure Nü Jiao’s standing as Yu the Great’s wife. Yaochi warned that making Nü Jiao an immortal would violate the Heavenly Edict while Yu the Great remained mortal.

• Shen Gui warmly welcomed Wu Zhiqi and summoned Tu Shan Feng, whom he recognized from Qingmang Mountain.
• Shen Gui and Tu Shan Feng recalled their former companions, and Tu Shan Feng reported that Lu Zhu Dao Ren had perished while saving Daoist Black and White.
• Tu Shan Feng explained that Nü Jiao was his daughter and asked Shen Gui to help with her situation.
• Shen Gui agreed to invest Nü Jiao as Princess of Qingqiu and enter her in the immortal register.
• Yaochi cautioned that the Heavenly Edict forbade immortals from marrying mortals, so Nü Jiao’s investiture could violate it while Yu the Great remained mortal.