Chapter Summaries

Xuanxiao confronted Luohu after finding him suppressing Gou Chen and Mo Yuan, then fought him in the depths of Chaos to stop him from testing his strength. After defeating Luohu, Xuanxiao offered him a chance to spread the demonic Dao in the Derivative Worlds when Sapota World merged into the Primordial Wilderness, and they returned together.

• Xuanxiao arrived and freed Gou Chen and Mo Yuan, then challenged Luohu to battle in the depths of Chaos.
• Gou Chen explained that Luohu was testing Xuanxiao because he saw him as the main obstacle to the Demon Race's return to the Primordial Wilderness.
• Luohu attacked Xuanxiao with the God-Slaying Spear and Nine Demon Pagoda, but Xuanxiao stopped the spear with two fingers and sent the pagoda flying.
• Luohu refused to accept Xuanxiao's explanation for his superior strength and fought him for several thousand years before being defeated.
• Xuanxiao told Luohu he could spread the demonic Dao in the Derivative Worlds after Sapota World merged into the Primordial Wilderness in a hundred years, and Luohu accepted.
• Xuanxiao and Luohu left the depths of Chaos and headed back to Sapota World.

Xuanxiao watched as the Sapota World was absorbed into the Primordial Wilderness, strengthening its laws and spiritual qi. The merger opened passages to three hundred and sixty weaker worlds, whose inhabitants glimpsed the higher realm and weighed the promise of reaching it against the dangers beyond their worlds.

• Xuanxiao reassured the terrified Shiva that he would not attack him now that Sapota was joining the Primordial Wilderness.
• The Primordial Wilderness assimilated the Sapota World, increasing its spiritual qi by thirty percent and strengthening its laws and origin.
• Hongjun observed that the Primordial Wilderness’s expanding Dao foundation followed the Heavenly Dao’s calculations.
• The Heavenly Dao settled Sapota’s inhabitants in the new territory as spiritual roots and innate spirit treasures began forming there.
• Passages opened between the Primordial Wilderness and three hundred and sixty great thousand worlds, which could not safely accommodate beings above the Daluo Golden Immortal level.
• Cultivators and rulers in the connected worlds sensed the higher realm’s power, while the Dragon Sovereign and Phoenix Lord warned against entering it rashly.

Cangming learned that the Primordial Wilderness far surpassed his world and decided to enter it, while beings across the Great Thousand Worlds began crossing into the higher realm. Hongjun reinforced the passages’ restrictions, and the first arrivals emerged into the Primordial Wilderness as more followed.

• The Strongest Immortal Ascension System told Cangming that his strength amounted to little in the Primordial Wilderness and described its ranks, powers, and human population.
• Cangming resolved to enter the Primordial Wilderness and flew into the passage, prompting beings across the Great Thousand Worlds to pursue their own ambitions by following him.
• Gou Chen asked Xuanxiao whether to restrict the newcomers, and Xuanxiao said to let them enter and strengthen the Primordial Wilderness’s fortune.
• Hongjun barred Great Luo cultivators from entering and ordered that Primordial Wilderness beings remain out of the Great Thousand Worlds until their newcomers’ Dao foundations stabilized.
• The first Dao cultivator crossed a passage, had his Dao foundation reforged, and emerged into the Primordial Wilderness as countless others began arriving.

Cangming and other beings from the Great Thousand Worlds arrived in the Primordial Wilderness, where Cangming allied with Floating Light and they encountered arrogant Emperor Zenyuan. Zhao Gongming and other native cultivators offered newcomers a choice between taking three trials to join their sects or leaving to explore freely.

• Cangming's spiritual energy transformed into Innate Spiritual Qi, and he explained what he knew about the Primordial Wilderness to Floating Light, earning his goodwill.
• Emperor Zenyuan arrived, attacked two Golden Immortal cultivators, and declared his status, but the newcomers avoided him and formed groups without him.
• Cangming and Floating Light agreed to travel together, while disciples from the Primordial Wilderness watched from above.
• Zhao Gongming introduced himself as the Interception Sect's chief outer disciple and announced that the sects had come to recruit newcomers.
• Bixiao said the sects would not accept just anyone, and Zhao Gongming clarified that applicants could take three trials or leave to explore the Primordial Wilderness on their own.

Zhao Gongming and the other factions established three trials to select disciples from the Great Thousand Worlds. After Emperor Zenyuan was killed for his lewd thoughts about Bixiao, Cangming and fewer than a hundred others passed the trials and joined various forces, with Cangming following Zhao Gongming toward Penglai Island.

• Zhao Gongming and the others created trials for Refining the Heart, Questioning the Dao, and Testing the Arts, prompting many proud cultivators to leave while Cangming and Floating Light chose to participate.
• Emperor Zenyuan realized he had transmigrated into a world under the Primordial Wilderness, then lustfully eyed the Sanxiao; Bixiao sensed his thoughts and killed him with the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors.
• After several hundred years, fewer than a hundred of nearly ten thousand participants passed all three trials, including Cangming and Floating Light.
• Xuandu recruited Floating Light into the Human Teachings, while Zhao Gongming recruited Cangming and nearly ten others into the Interception Sect; other factions also selected disciples.
• Zhao Gongming took Cangming and the other new Interception Sect disciples toward Penglai Island, where Cangming marveled at the Holy Land's abundant spiritual energy and wondrous sights.

Zhao Gongming brought Cangming and the others to Penglai Island, where Bixiao warned them that meeting Tongtian would depend on his summons or Dao lectures. Cangming learned that his system had upgraded with costly new functions and treasures, then began cultivating at Jieyuan Peak.

• Zhao Gongming led Cangming and the newcomers to Penglai Island and assigned them to rest at Jieyuan Peak.
• A newcomer asked when they could meet Tongtian, and Bixiao explained that they would have to wait for a summons or a Dao lecture unless they became Direct Disciples.
• Yunxiao warned the newcomers to adjust to the Primordial Wilderness and watch their words and actions outside the Interception Sect.
• Cangming checked that the side hall was secure and found that the system had upgraded into the Strongest Saint Ascension System.
• The system introduced Enlightenment Deduction and an updated shop, but Cangming found the prices far beyond his current points.
• Cangming set aside the system shop and began cultivating with the Innate Spiritual Qi of Jieyuan Peak.

Sage Tongtian summoned Interception Sect disciples to hear him preach, and they gathered amid talk of the coming Five Lineages Dao Discussion. When Cangming learned that the Dao Venerable stood behind the five participating powers, Xuanxiao shielded the secret, then discussed the Primordial Wilderness’s political tensions with Gou Chen and agreed to attend the gathering.

• Sage Tongtian detected Cangming’s system, then announced that he would preach at Biyou Palace in one thousand years.
• A thousand years later, Cangming and other Great Thousand World disciples gathered with Interception Sect members, where they heard that the sect hoped to excel at the upcoming Five Lineages Dao Discussion.
• An Interception Sect disciple explained that the Dao Venerable’s lineage included Interception Sect, Human Teachings, the Chan Sect, the Witch Clan, and Gou Chen’s Starry Sky Clan; the system refused to answer Cangming’s questions about the Dao Venerable.
• Xuanxiao secretly intervened in Cangming’s Sea of Consciousness, triggering a warning that automatically deducted 660,781 points, then returned his attention to Gou Chen’s concerns about Luohu’s allies.
• Xuanxiao told Gou Chen that Zhunti, Jieyin, Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Shi Qilin had colluded with Luohu, but said he would soon enter seclusion and did not blame his disciples.
• After Gou Chen explained the purpose of the Five Lineages Dao Discussion, Xuanxiao agreed to attend, while Gou Chen planned to test the Three Pure Ones’ and Houtu’s loyalty to their master.

During Tongtian’s lecture, the story turned to Nü Deng, whose encounter with Ao Yan at Mount Hua led to the conception of a sacred child. The Jiang Clan Tribe awaited the child’s birth, while True Person Du'e secretly watched over Nü Deng.

• Tongtian appeared at Biyou Palace and expounded the Dao to the Jie Sect disciples, including Cangming.
• Nü Deng climbed Mount Hua and saw Ao Yan, a divine dragon cultivating in a chasm.
• Ao Yan’s dragon qi merged with Mount Hua’s spiritual vein qi and Nü Deng’s vitality, forming a Dao seed in her abdomen.
• True Person Du'e revealed himself after Nü Deng left, and Ao Yan returned to the Dragon Clan after entrusting her protection to Du'e.
• Three months later, Nü Deng realized she was pregnant, and the Jiang Clan elders and tribespeople revered her unborn child as a sacred human destined for greatness.

After three thousand years of preparation, the Five Lineages’ Dao discussion began on Golden Turtle Island with Xuanxiao unexpectedly occupying the main seat. Zhenwu and Xuandu taught their respective Daos, and disciples from the other lineages continued the exchanges.

• Tongtian answered the Interception Sect disciples’ cultivation questions, then ordered Zhao Gongming to prepare for the Five Lineages’ Dao discussion.
• Zhao Gongming assigned Cangming and the others to help prepare and explained the gathering’s arrangements, but said he did not expect the Dao Venerable to attend.
• Three thousand years later, the five lineages assembled on Golden Turtle Island, where Xuanxiao appeared in the main seat and told everyone to continue as usual.
• Zhenwu presented his True Martial Dao, combining Yin Yang, the Five Elements, and Martial Dao, prompting Tongtian and Yuanshi to comment on his path.
• Xuandu taught Martial Golden Core in place of the absent Six-Eared Macaque, and disciples from the other lineages followed with their own teachings.

Xuanxiao observed the unusual arrivals in the Primordial Wilderness and overheard the others plotting against the Western Religion and the Demon Race. He refined their strategy so the two factions would be driven into conflict and the Western Religion would lose its providence.

• Xuanxiao reflected that the systems and reincarnation or transmigration memories carried by several arrivals had been planted by him, then noticed a technology-oriented world had opened an interrealm passage.
• Gou Chen, the Three Pure Ones, Houtu, and the Ancestral Witches secretly discussed the Three Clans’ involvement and considered how to respond to the Western Religion’s scheme.
• Gou Chen warned the Ancestral Witches that killing another Sage could provoke the Will of Heaven and Earth, while Laozi proposed targeting the Western Religion’s providence.
• Yuanshi, Tongtian, Houtu, and the others shaped a plan to undermine the Western Religion and turn it against the Demon Race.
• Xuanxiao revealed that he had heard their discussion, revised their plan, and explained that the Demon Race’s return would steadily drain the Western Religion’s providence and provoke a conflict between them.

Xuanxiao warned Tongtian and the others to leave the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin tribes to his own arrangements, while Shennong was born to Nü Deng with a bull-like head and faced rejection from the Jiang Clan Tribe. By age five, Shennong and his mother had been confined to a dilapidated house at the edge of the tribe, where Nü Deng taught him to respond to cruelty with kindness.

• Xuanxiao struck Tongtian for speaking carelessly, then told him and the others to leave the Three Clans alone because he had his own plans for them.
• Nü Deng gave birth to Shennong amid heavenly auspicious signs, but the infant's bull-like head frightened the tribespeople.
• Nü Deng named her child Shennong and accepted him despite his unusual appearance, while True Person Du'e foresaw hardship in his path to becoming Co-Lord of the Human Race.
• As Shennong grew, the tribespeople blamed their misfortunes on him and demanded that he be expelled.
• The Tribe Elders allowed Shennong and Nü Deng to stay only in a dilapidated house at the city's edge, and Nü Deng taught Shennong not to resent the tribe.

After Nü Deng died, Shennong vowed to find food and medicine to ease the Human Race's suffering. True Person Du'e recognized his resolve, took him as a direct disciple, and began teaching him cultivation and the Pill Dao, leaving Shennong prepared to study the herbs that could help his people.

• Nü Deng passed away, leaving Shennong alone, and he vowed to find abundant food and cure illness among the Human Race.
• At age ten, Shennong met True Person Du'e, who revealed that he had come specifically to find him.
• Shennong initially declined Du'e's offer to become his disciple, but accepted after hearing that the Pill Dao could teach him to identify and use medicinal herbs.
• Du'e introduced Shennong to the Jiang Clan Tribe chief and elders, who agreed to the discipleship and began treating Shennong with new respect.
• Shennong advanced to the Heavenly Immortal realm while continuing to identify herbs, and Du'e taught him medicinal theory and the Pill Dao.

Shennong left his master, True Person Du'e, to seek ways to ease the human race’s hunger and disease. Meanwhile, Xuanxiao pressured Mo Yuan to marry Huo Ling'er and set their Earthly Marriage for fifty thousand years later in the Primordial Realm, stirring excitement throughout the Primordial Wilderness.

• Shennong told True Person Du'e he would travel beyond the Jiang Clan Tribe to find ways to help the suffering human race, and his master reluctantly let him go.
• Shennong traveled through the wilderness, identifying herbs and observing the people’s conditions.
• After the Interception Sect’s discussion of the Dao ended, Xuanxiao went to confront Mo Yuan about delaying his marriage to Huo Ling'er.
• Mo Yuan explained that he hoped the Earthly Marriage’s merit would help Huo Ling'er advance, and Xuanxiao told him the marriage would take place at his Dao field in fifty thousand years.
• Mo Yuan agreed to the wedding, and news that the Primordial Realm would open for the ceremony spread throughout the major forces.

Tongtian, Yuanshi, and Gou Chen staged a quarrel at Mo Yuan and Huo Ling'er’s Earthly Marriage celebration while Zhunti and Jieyin watched warily. Xuanxiao officiated the wedding, whose merit raised Huo Ling'er to the Half-step Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm and transformed Nuwa’s Red Embroidered Ball into an Innate Treasure of Merit.

• Tongtian arrived with Zhao Gongming and the Interception Sect disciples, then gave Duobao the order to lead them to the side hall.
• Tongtian presented Mo Yuan with a pair of Lover's Bells, and Yuanshi soon argued with Tongtian over the conduct of the Interception Sect disciples.
• Zhunti and Jieyin suspected the Three Pure Ones' dispute was a staged act, while Gou Chen urged Tongtian and Yuanshi to end it before the wedding began.
• Xuanxiao officiated as Mo Yuan and Huo Ling'er exchanged wedding rites, joining their fortunes and bringing forth a great mass of merit.
• Mo Yuan directed the couple's share of merit into Huo Ling'er, raising her cultivation to the Half-step Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm.
• Xuanxiao merged his share of the merit with the Red Embroidered Ball's, and it became an Innate Treasure of Merit; Nuwa thanked him.

After the Three Marriages brought forth the Heavenly Rules, Xuanxiao announced that he would enter deep seclusion and sealed the Primordial Realm. His absence stirred ambitions among hidden forces, and Karma sent causal threads to test the Primordial Wilderness while Pangu anticipated a trial ahead.

• The Heavenly Rules appeared above the Immortal Court, including a prohibition on marriage between immortals and mortals, and Xuanxiao reflected on Haotian and Yaoji’s past tragedy.
• Xuanxiao announced his seclusion to the Sages, dismissed their pleas to reconsider, and instructed his followers to protect their domains and avoid conflict.
• After the marriage banquet ended, Xuanxiao sealed the Primordial Realm with formations and revealed his true form as a vast Sea of Lightning.
• Pangu, Hongjun, Shichen, and the Fate Demon God sensed Xuanxiao’s actions; Pangu expected Karma to take advantage of Xuanxiao’s absence, while Shichen and the Fate Demon God remained cautious.
• Karma decided to test the Primordial Wilderness and sent causal threads to stir up trouble, prompting hidden beings and surviving demon gods to consider invading.
• Yang Mei left the Netherworld Underworld to reclaim what he had left in Chaos, while Wu watched the boundary with Hong and dismissed concern about the coming turmoil.

After realizing that humanity should repay Heaven and Earth for what it takes, Shennong returned to the Jiang Clan Tribe to pursue the Dao of contribution. Years of studying weeds led him to cultivate millet, a hardy crop that could free his people from hunger.

• Shennong told Du'e that Heaven establishes laws while Earth nourishes all things, and declared that living beings should contribute to Heaven and Earth rather than only take from them.
• Shennong returned to the Jiang Clan Tribe and spent years tending weeds in his courtyard while the tribespeople dismissed him as a fool.
• Shennong discovered that several grass seeds were edible, drought-resistant, easy to grow, and productive, and he named them millet.
• Du'e arrived at Shennong's courtyard and watched him excitedly explain that millet could spare their people from hunger and constant hunting and gathering.

Shennong cultivated millet and the five grains, spreading them among humanity to relieve hunger, but continued risking his life to develop crops and medicines. Houtu sensed that the Dao Lord of the Humanity Path had appeared while she hoped Minghe would emerge from seclusion and attain Sagehood.

• Shennong planted millet and persuaded the Jiang Clan Tribe to help after Du'e vouched for him and the tribespeople tasted the grain.
• The tribe embraced farming after the harvest proved abundant, and Shennong spent a hundred years improving millet before refusing the leadership offered by the Tribe Chief.
• Shennong traveled the Primordial Wilderness for nearly ten thousand years, cultivating rice, broomcorn millet, millet, wheat, and beans and sharing their seeds and planting methods.
• Du'e rescued Shennong from the brink of death after he tested dangerous substances, but Shennong insisted on continuing his work to feed humanity and cure illness.
• Houtu sensed a brief stirring in the primordial violet qi within the Six Paths of Samsara and concluded that the Dao Lord of the Humanity Path had appeared.
• Houtu looked toward Minghe in seclusion and hoped he would attain Sagehood and become the Dao Lord of the Asura Path.

Fuxi completed the Innate Eight Trigrams and began preparing to relinquish his position as Co-Lord of the Human Race, but he worried about choosing a successor. After the elders recommended Shennong, Fuxi learned of his virtues and decided to visit him personally.

• Fuxi revealed the Innate Eight Trigrams above Chen Capital, and the Human Race celebrated his method for seeking fortune and avoiding calamity.
• Fuxi taught the Innate Eight Trigrams to the tribal leaders, who spread it throughout the Human Race as his merit neared completion.
• Fuxi told the elders he would soon relinquish his position and asked them to recommend a successor; one elder proposed Shennong of the Jiang Clan Tribe.
• The elders described Shennong's efforts to relieve hunger and help the Human Race, and explained that he was Fuxi's junior brother through Transcendent Calamity Immortal.
• Fuxi decided to visit Shennong himself and persuade him to succeed as Co-Lord, despite the elders' objections.

Fuxi visited Shennong and told him that Human Race Destiny had chosen him as the next Co-Lord. Shennong accepted, and the two began discussing the human race’s future.

• Aji told Shennong that visitors from Chen City had come, but Shennong declined to meet them so he could continue researching medicinal herbs.
• Aji learned that Fuxi was the Co-Lord, and Fuxi asked him to lead the group to Shennong.
• Fuxi waited while Shennong worked, speaking with True Person Du'e about Shennong and Six-Eared Macaque.
• Fuxi told Shennong that Human Race Destiny had guided him to name Shennong as the next Co-Lord.
• After Fuxi explained that the position would help him serve the human race, Shennong accepted the responsibility.
• Fuxi and Shennong discussed the human race’s future and development.

As Fuxi prepared to pass the Human Race leadership to Shennong, Jieyin and Zhunti secretly spread rumors to undermine the succession, but Heaven and Earth punished them for opposing its established course. A Human Race spiritual treasure then emerged at Kongtong Mountain, where Laozi and Nuwa both arrived to claim it.

• Fuxi returned to Chen Capital with Shennong as news spread that he would abdicate, leaving many humans uneasy about the change in leadership.
• Zhunti urged Jieyin to test whether they could interfere with Shennong's succession, and Jieyin agreed on the condition that they act only through others.
• Zhunti spread rumors discrediting Shennong, prompting Fuxi to order an investigation and condemn the scheme against the Human Race.
• Heaven and Earth's backlash injured Jieyin and Zhunti, who ended their interference after Jieyin warned that Shennong's succession could not be changed.
• Wu observed the backlash and declared that the spiritual treasure fated for the Human Race would emerge.
• Laozi and Nuwa independently reached Kongtong Mountain to claim the treasure, and Nuwa told Laozi that its ownership would be decided by strength.