Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ziya arrived in Chaoge and reunited with Song Yiren, while Zi Shou arranged to keep him occupied with a minor official post. The chapter ended with Song Yiren blaming Jiang Ziya for leaving without a word and hinting that his absence had changed Song Yiren’s life.

• True Person Taiyi left after seeing that Nezha would be able to rebuild his body with the Pure World White Lotus.
• Jiang Ziya arrived in Chaoge and went to stay with his childhood friend Song Yiren.
• Zi Shou learned of Jiang Ziya’s arrival and considered how to keep him from reaching Xiqi before Shen Gongbao established himself there.
• Zi Shou instructed Fei Zhong to arrange a minor official post for Jiang Ziya that would keep him busy in Chaoge.
• Song Yiren welcomed Jiang Ziya with a banquet, then reproached him for leaving without saying goodbye and causing Song Yiren to marry in despair.

Jiang Ziya played dumb when Song Yiren hinted at his feelings, while Luohu left Golden Light Cave after the World Destroying Black Lotus failed to affect Nezha. True Person Taiyi returned to find a new formation blocking his cave and rushed inside, convinced Nezha was in danger.

• Jiang Ziya deflected Song Yiren's confession by urging him to focus on his marriage, then drank to hide his alarm.
• Luohu left Golden Light Cave after discovering that the World Destroying Black Lotus had no effect on Nezha.
• Nezha set up a formation outside Golden Light Cave so she and Ao Xin could be alone together.
• True Person Taiyi returned from Chaoge with the Pure World White Lotus and found that a new formation blocked the entrance to his cave.
• True Person Taiyi concluded that an intruder had entered to harm Nezha and charged into the formation to rescue her.
• Nezha looked up in confusion when she heard True Person Taiyi shouting from the cave entrance.

Nezha confronted True Person Taiyi after he returned to Golden Light Cave and mistook her for one of her brothers. True Person Taiyi recognized Nezha only after she revealed herself, then awkwardly asked how she had come back to life.

• Nezha placed a barrier around sleeping Ao Xin and went to meet True Person Taiyi at the cave entrance.
• True Person Taiyi broke through Nezha’s warning formation, mistook her for Jinzha or Muzha, and demanded that she call him Martial Uncle.
• Nezha revealed her identity and summoned the Fire-Tipped Spear, leaving True Person Taiyi stunned that she had grown up and returned to life.
• True Person Taiyi apologized for failing to recognize Nezha and asked how she had come back to life.

Nezha told True Person Taiyi that an unknown woman had revived him at Ao Xin’s request, then accepted the Pure World White Lotus and kept his master from entering Golden Light Cave while Ao Xin rested inside. In Chaoge, Song Yiren accepted an offer for Jiang Ziya to enter court before Jiang Ziya could decide, leaving him suspicious of his brother’s motives.

• True Person Taiyi asked Nezha who had revived him and reshaped his body, and Nezha said he did not know the woman who had saved him at Ao Xin’s request.
• True Person Taiyi gave Nezha the Twelve-grade Pure World White Lotus, which Nezha accepted and planned to give to Ao Xin for protection.
• Nezha stopped True Person Taiyi from entering Golden Light Cave because Ao Xin was sleeping inside, and True Person Taiyi agreed to wait outside.
• Fei Zhong visited Jiang Ziya, but Song Yiren accepted on Jiang Ziya’s behalf the offer for him to become a court official.
• Jiang Ziya questioned Song Yiren’s eagerness to accept, and Song Yiren insisted the position would give Jiang Ziya a foothold in Chaoge, making Jiang Ziya suspect something was wrong.

Jiang Ziya agreed to take an official post after Song Yiren mistook his reluctance for a wish to avoid romance, and the two brothers reconciled. The next morning, Song Yiren rode to Ma Family Village to arrange Jiang Ziya’s marriage to Ma Meili, whom he believed had loved Jiang Ziya since childhood.

• Song Yiren assumed Jiang Ziya’s talk of saving all living beings meant he would avoid romance, and promised to take responsibility if Jiang refused court service.
• Remembering how Song Yiren’s family had cared for him, Jiang Ziya agreed to seek an official post, and the brothers clasped hands after clearing up their misunderstanding.
• After talking late into the night, Song Yiren decided to arrange a marriage between Jiang Ziya and Ma Meili, Steward Ma’s daughter.
• Song Yiren rode to Ma Family Village, where a servant announced his arrival to Steward Ma, who welcomed him.

After Wen Zhong’s defeat in the North Sea awakened Shen Gui’s sealed memories, he ordered the news spread and reunited with the Mysterious Yellow Qi of the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Pagoda. He left the chapter merged into one Shen Gui, while the powers across the Three Realms watched without intervening.

• Fei Zhong reported that Wen Zhong had been defeated in the North Sea and had disappeared, with his fate unknown.
• Shen Gui’s memories awakened, and he ordered Fei Zhong to spread the news of Wen Zhong’s defeat throughout the kingdom.
• Yunxiao confronted Shen Gui, asking what had happened to Zi Shou, while Tongtian remained in Qingping Hall.
• Shen Gui’s aura stirred the Three Realms, and a pillar of light rose from the Heavenly Pool as the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Pagoda revealed its power.
• Shen Gui called the Mysterious Yellow Qi to him and merged with it, becoming the only Shen Gui in heaven and earth.
• Zhunti asked Jieyin whether they should stop Shen Gui, but Jieyin said there was nothing they could do, and no one intervened.

After absorbing the last of the Mysterious Yellow Qi, Shen Gui completed his transformation and spoke with Yunxiao about his identity and their relationship. Yunxiao left Chaoge to think things through, while Shen Gui waited for her decision.

• Shen Gui absorbed the remaining Mysterious Yellow Qi, merging the durability of the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Pagoda with the body of the Mysterious Black Tortoise of the Northern Darkness.
• Shen Gui returned to the great hall and tried to explain his hidden identity and feelings to Yunxiao, who remained distant and called him the Heavenly Emperor.
• Shen Gui revealed that Daoist Qingping was Tongtian and claimed Tongtian had stopped opposing their relationship, prompting Tongtian to angrily reject the claim from Qingping Hall.
• Yunxiao asked Shen Gui to release her and give her time to think, and Shen Gui let her go without blaming her.
• Yunxiao left Chaoge, wondering whether the mortal king she had known and the ruler of the Three Realms could truly be the same person.

After Yunxiao left, Shen Gui told Tongtian that he planned to use the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods to unite the human race and attain the Dao. Tongtian realized Shen Gui’s opponents might be forced to act first, and grew more accepting of Yunxiao’s connection to him.

• Shen Gui confronted Tongtian after Yunxiao left, and Tongtian accused him of seducing his disciple.
• Shen Gui explained that his restored Primordial Spirit gave him a strong chance to attain the Dao if he gathered the Three Realms’ fortune, and that he had arranged for Fei Zhong to spread news of Wen Zhong’s defeat.
• Tongtian warned that Laozi, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti would try to prevent Shen Gui from uniting the human race.
• Shen Gui argued that he could not personally act but could accept independent cultivators into Great Shang, while also drawing on forces outside the Heavenly Court.
• Tongtian concluded that Shen Gui’s forces would be difficult to oppose unless the Saints acted, and felt more comfortable with Yunxiao’s involvement with him.

After Tongtian departed, Shen Gui assessed his affairs and summoned Kong Xuan to crush the North Sea rebellion. Ji Chang seized the news of Wen Zhong’s defeat to plan an attack on Shang, while Shen Gui waited for events to unfold.

• Shen Gui decided to leave Jiang Ziya alone, keep Su Daji and his other consorts, and accept Nezha as his goddaughter.
• Fei Zhong spread news that Wen Zhong had been defeated and his fate was unknown, prompting Ji Chang to decide to attack Shang.
• Ji Chang sent secret letters to E Chongyu and Jiang Wenhuan to coordinate his plans.
• Shen Gui considered who could quell the North Sea rebellion and ignited Kong Xuan’s five-colored feather to summon him.
• After arranging for Kong Xuan to handle the rebellion, Shen Gui returned to enjoying life with his consorts.

Shen Gui confronted Chong Houhu over Wen Zhong’s defeat and ordered him to suppress the North Sea rebellion with Kong Xuan’s help. Kong Xuan agreed to kill any cultivators who intervened, while Shen Gui warned Chong Houhu that failure would cost him his title.

• Chong Houhu wept before Shen Gui and claimed he had only handled logistics during Wen Zhong’s northern expedition.
• Chong Houhu reported that cultivators had ambushed and wounded Wen Zhong, leaving the expedition army leaderless and allowing the North Sea rebels to retake the recovered cities.
• Shen Gui accused Chong Houhu of incompetence and demanded to know whether he could suppress the rebellion if someone dealt with its cultivators.
• Kong Xuan entered the hall, questioned Shen Gui’s mysterious power, and reaffirmed that he would keep his promise.
• Shen Gui assigned Kong Xuan to accompany Chong Houhu and kill cultivators in the North Sea army, then warned Chong Houhu that another failure would end his tenure as Marquis of the North.

Chong Houhu prepared to march north with Kong Xuan’s help as the regional marquises watched the realm’s unrest. Jiang Huan Chu ordered his forces ready to defend The King, then had his son Jiang Wenhuan confined for urging the family to wait and exploit Chaoge’s possible collapse.

• Chong Houhu gathered troops in Chongcheng and treated Kong Xuan lavishly so he would help pacify the North Sea.
• Ji Chang and E Chongyu prepared their armies but waited for news before acting.
• Jiang Huan Chu ordered his retainers to ready the Jiang clan’s troops and defend Great Shang if rebels moved.
• Jiang Wenhuan urged Jiang Huan Chu to wait and see whether Chaoge could survive before choosing a side.
• Jiang Huan Chu struck Jiang Wenhuan, kicked him down, and ordered the guards to confine him.

Shen Gongbao chose Ji Fa over Bo Yikao and began plotting to remove Ji Chang so Xiqi could raise an army. Meanwhile, Kong Xuan helped Chong Houhu crush the North Sea rebellion, and the Western Teachings concluded that Shen Gui was preparing to act.

• Ji Fa criticized Bo Yikao for opposing Ji Chang's plan to raise an army, while Shen Gongbao praised Ji Fa's suitability to lead Xiqi.
• Shen Gongbao recalled choosing Ji Fa because he was ambitious and easy to manipulate, and decided Ji Chang's death could give Xiqi a reason to rebel.
• Kong Xuan grew bored with the North Sea campaign, but his intervention helped Chong Houhu defeat the rebels and kill the Western Teachings disciples among them.
• Yuan Futong killed himself after his army was defeated, and Chong Houhu returned to Chaoge with Kong Xuan while Chong Yingbiao led the troops back to Chongcheng.
• Zhunti told Jieyin that the Western Teachings' disciples in the North Sea had been killed, and they suspected Shen Gui was about to make his move.
• Jieyin considered whether the figure in Jade Void Palace should act, since the people destined by Heaven had already descended the mountain.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate recalled Shen Gongbao to Kunlun Mountain and chose him to take charge of the Investiture of the Gods, while the North Sea rebellion’s sudden defeat disrupted Ji Chang and E Chongyu’s plans. Shen Gui received Chong Houhu and Kong Xuan back in Chaoge, confident in Kong Xuan’s strength.

• Primordial Heavenly Venerate decided to entrust Shen Gongbao with the Investiture of the Gods and sent Immortal Official of the South Pole to summon him back to Kunlun Mountain.
• News that Chong Houhu had suppressed the North Sea rebellion reached Ji Chang and E Chongyu, making Ji Chang hesitate about raising an army and prompting E Chongyu to wait.
• Shen Gongbao reconsidered his plans in Xiqi after Yuan Futong’s defeat, then obeyed Immortal Official of the South Pole and returned to Kunlun Mountain.
• Chong Houhu and Kong Xuan returned to Chaoge, and Shen Gui judged that few disciples could match Kong Xuan in battle.

After the North Sea rebellion ended, Shen Gui dismissed Kong Xuan, who got into trouble when he tried to eat at a tavern without money. Shen Gui paid the bill and convinced Kong Xuan to work as his guard for forty years to repay him.

• Shen Gui let Chong Houhu redeem himself for his service in the North Sea and dismissed Kong Xuan after declaring the favor repaid.
• Kong Xuan went to Dong Lai Pavilion, ate through its wine and meat supplies, and could not pay the proprietor's bill.
• When the proprietor threatened to take Kong Xuan to an official, Shen Gui arrived in disguise and paid five thousand taels for the meal.
• Shen Gui offered Kong Xuan a guard position to repay the bill, and Kong Xuan agreed to serve for forty years.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate entrusted Shen Gongbao with the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, appointing him to oversee the divine investiture. As Shen Gongbao headed toward Yang Jian, Zhu Zizhen approached Yang Jian on Mount Mei while Chang Hao watched from the forest.

• Primordial Heavenly Venerate gave Shen Gongbao the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, and ordered him to build an Investiture Platform on Mount Qi and preside over the investiture.
• Shen Gongbao swore to carry out Primordial Heavenly Venerate’s orders, then left Kunlun Mountain celebrating his new responsibility and the jade talisman’s signal from Yang Jian.
• Yang Jian returned from the Heavenly Realm and crushed Shen Gongbao’s jade talisman at the foot of a mountain, reflecting on how exhausting his time with Yang Chan had been.
• Zhu Zizhen and Chang Hao watched Yang Jian from a forest on Mount Mei, and Chang Hao urged Zhu Zizhen to approach him first.
• Zhu Zizhen drew his sword and headed toward Yang Jian while Chang Hao stayed behind to observe.

Yang Jian confronted Zhu Zizhen on Plum Mountain, and the mountain god and local deity revealed his powerful standing in the Heavenly Court. Zhu Zizhen learned Yang Jian was the Heavenly Emperor’s godson and prepared to apologize.

• Zhu Zizhen accused Yang Jian of trespassing on Plum Mountain and claimed it belonged to the Seven Sages of Plum Mountain.
• Yang Jian summoned Plum Mountain’s mountain god and local deity, who arrived and respectfully greeted him as a superior immortal.
• Yang Jian asked the deities to clarify who controlled Plum Mountain and reported Zhu Zizhen’s accusation.
• The mountain god told Zhu Zizhen that Yang Jian was the Heavenly Emperor’s godson and that rumors called him the Emperor’s illegitimate son.
• Zhu Zizhen was frightened and told the mountain god he would apologize to Yang Jian.

After Zhu Zizhen mistakenly called Yang Jian the Heavenly Emperor’s illegitimate son, Yang Jian pieced together a false explanation for his parentage and ordered everyone to keep the rumor secret. He left the others under threat, still intent on confronting the Heavenly Emperor if his suspicions proved true.

• Zhu Zizhen apologized to Yang Jian for offending him and bluntly called him the Heavenly Emperor’s illegitimate son.
• Yang Jian demanded to know where Zhu Zizhen had heard the claim, and Zhu Zizhen blamed the Meishan Mountain God.
• The Meishan Mountain God admitted he had heard the rumor from others, prompting Yang Jian to believe his mother had been forced into a relationship with the Heavenly Emperor and that they had concealed his parentage.
• Yang Jian released Zhu Zizhen and ordered the Mountain God and Earth God not to repeat what had happened, deciding to keep the matter from Yang Chan.
• Yang Jian dragged Chang Hao out of hiding and made him promise not to spread the rumor either.

Yuan Hong learned that Yang Jian was at Plum Mountain and mistook his arrival for a sign that the Heavenly Emperor wanted him to protect Yang Jian. He met Yang Jian and offered friendship, while Yang Jian remained cautious but said he planned to leave once the person he was waiting for arrived.

• Zhu Zizhen and Chang Hao returned to Plum Mountain and told Yuan Hong about Yang Jian, despite having promised not to tell outsiders.
• Yuan Hong recalled his elder brother Yuan Feng's instruction to act according to circumstances and concluded that Yang Jian's arrival was the opportunity to protect him.
• Yuan Hong had Zhu Zizhen and Chang Hao lead him to Yang Jian at the foot of Plum Mountain.
• Yuan Hong introduced himself and offered to befriend Yang Jian, while concealing that he believed the Heavenly Emperor had sent him to protect Yang Jian.
• Yang Jian sensed that Yuan Hong was powerful, stayed guarded, and said he would leave Plum Mountain after the person he awaited arrived.

Yang Jian challenged Yuan Hong to a fight after refusing his offer of friendship, then discovered they were evenly matched and both practiced the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique. Their battle stalled until Shen Gongbao arrived and chose to watch rather than intervene.

• Yang Jian rejected Yuan Hong's offer of friendship and attacked him with his three-pointed, double-edged blade.
• Yuan Hong blocked Yang Jian's attack with a long staff and eagerly fought back.
• Yang Jian recognized that Yuan Hong practiced the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique, but Yuan Hong claimed an old man had taught it to him.
• Yang Jian and Yuan Hong fought to a standstill, each matching the other's strength and fighting style.
• Shen Gongbao arrived on his Black Spotted Tiger, decided not to join the fight, and watched from nearby.

Luohu worried that Shen Gui’s awakening had ruined her chance to rise again, and she considered joining forces with Hongjun. At Plum Mountain, Yuan Hong hosted Yang Jian and Shen Gongbao at a banquet, where Shen Gongbao interrupted Yuan Hong as he asked Yang Jian about his plans.

• Luohu realized Shen Gui had refined the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Pagoda and feared he would soon attain the Dao.
• Luohu blamed Pangu for favoring Shen Gui and resolved to consider an alliance with Hongjun.
• Yang Jian and Yuan Hong ended their evenly matched fight after Yang Jian noticed Shen Gongbao watching.
• Yuan Hong invited Yang Jian and Shen Gongbao to Plum Mountain and hosted a banquet with the Seven Sages of Plum Mountain.
• Yuan Hong asked Yang Jian where he planned to go next, but Shen Gongbao spoke before Yang Jian could answer.