Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanxiao instructs Luohu to set up the Five Spirits Guardian Great Array with Ancestral Dragon, Giant Turtle, and others.
• Xuanxiao begins writing runes in the void, drawing tribulation powers.
• Luohu and others successfully set up the great array, gaining Heavenly Dao approval and merits.
• The great array stabilizes the Primordial World, strengthens its foundation, and makes it harder for Chaos beings to enter.

Character Developments

• Xuanxiao demonstrates his power and foresight by preparing the great array and compelling the Demon God of Formations.
• Luohu shows loyalty and understanding by carrying out Xuanxiao's orders.
• The members of the Three Clans gain merits and strengthen their clans due to their involvement in setting up the great array.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and Foresight: Xuanxiao's careful planning and preparation for the current situation.
• Power and Protection: The great array's power in stabilizing and protecting the Primordial World.
• Reward and Merit: The Heavenly Dao's recognition and reward for the efforts of Luohu and the others.

Character Interactions

• Xuanxiao and Luohu: Xuanxiao gives instructions, and Luohu follows them.
• Luohu and others: They work together to set up the great array, gaining merits and strengthening their clans.
• Xuanxiao and Yang Mei: Yang Mei guards Xuanxiao, and they work together to perfect the great array.

Chapter Summary: “Sea of Lightning Appears”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans withdraw from prominence. New races and powerful Innate Divine Beings emerge, ushering the Primordial Wilderness into a prosperous new era.
• The west remains severely disadvantaged compared with the east. Its spiritual energy was drained by Luohu’s use of the Zhu Xian Sword Formation, while its resources were repeatedly plundered by the Demon Race and other forces during the calamity.
• Unlike the east, which was enriched by the deaths of countless beings during the war, the west gained few resources because it was not the main battlefield. As a result, it becomes the most barren region of the Primordial Wilderness.
• The west nevertheless produces powerful beings because mysterious Great Dao divine lightning frequently descends there. These lightning strikes can temper bodies, strengthen foundations, and allow fortunate cultivators to comprehend Great Dao laws. Mysterious Dao Script also occasionally appears, granting sudden enlightenment and major breakthroughs.
• The chapter reveals that both the divine lightning and Dao Script are manifestations of the “Dao” evolved by Xuanxiao.
• After an unknown passage of time, Xuanxiao’s Dao Body begins to grow illusory and merge with heaven and earth. At the same moment, the Sea of Lightning within him manifests as an enormous phantom across the Primordial Wilderness.
• The appearance terrifies all living beings, as even a trace of its aura seems capable of destroying them.
• Hongjun observes the phenomenon from the Heavenly Dao Origin Space. He recognizes that even if Xuanxiao merges with the Heavenly Dao, Xuanxiao will remain the true controller of the Primordial Wilderness.
• To prevent powerful beings outside the Primordial Wilderness from discovering what is happening, Hongjun works with the Heavenly Dao to conceal the entire world behind a powerful barrier.
• Luohu and the other four guardian spirits—Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, Shi Qilin, and Gui Mi—are alarmed by the manifestation. Despite their strength, enhanced by the Five Spirits Guardian Great Array and the Heavenly Dao, they feel insignificant before the Sea of Lightning.
• The four native guardian spirits turn to Luohu, hoping that his memories of the Demon God of Demons and the Destruction Demon God may provide insight into the phenomenon.

Character Developments

• Xuanxiao: His existence advances toward a higher state as his Dao Body begins merging with heaven and earth. The Sea of Lightning is revealed as an expression of his Dao and demonstrates the overwhelming scale of his power.
• Hongjun: He acknowledges Xuanxiao’s superior authority over the Primordial Wilderness but does not resent it. Instead, he cooperates with the Heavenly Dao to protect Xuanxiao and the world from outside threats.
• Luohu: His unique knowledge of Chaos and inherited Demon God memories becomes especially important, positioning him as the likely source of answers about the Sea of Lightning.
• Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, Shi Qilin, and Gui Mi: Though they have become powerful guardian spirits, their helplessness before the Sea of Lightning humbles and unsettles them, emphasizing the vast gap between their strength and Xuanxiao’s.

Significant Themes

• Transformation and transcendence: Xuanxiao’s fading Dao Body suggests his evolution beyond an ordinary existence into one integrated with the world and its laws.
• Power beyond comprehension: Even beings comparable to Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortals are reduced to helpless observers, highlighting the immense scale of Xuanxiao’s power.
• The balance between calamity and opportunity: The western divine lightning is both destructive and beneficial, allowing suffering to become a path toward stronger bodies, deeper foundations, and enlightenment.
• Protection of the Primordial Wilderness: Hongjun’s concealment of the Sea of Lightning suggests that external Chaos powers pose a serious threat and that the world’s survival depends on secrecy and cooperation.
• The unequal development of the east and west: The west’s poverty contrasts with its unusual opportunities, establishing it as a harsh but spiritually significant region.

Important Character Interactions

• Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao: Hongjun communicates with the Heavenly Dao to create a barrier concealing the Sea of Lightning from beings beyond the Primordial Wilderness.
• Hongjun and Xuanxiao: Although they do not interact directly, Hongjun recognizes Xuanxiao’s supremacy and chooses to support rather than oppose him.
• The Five Guardian Spirits: Luohu, Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, Shi Qilin, and Gui Mi gather in alarm and study the manifestation together.
• The Four Native Guardians and Luohu: The four turn to Luohu for an explanation because his inherited memories may contain knowledge of the Sea of Lightning’s origin and significance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Luohu reveals that Dao Venerable (Xuanxiao) is the Thunder Demon God, one of the most powerful beings in Chaos, and has a connection to the Great Dao.
• The group learns that the Sea of Lightning might be the reason for Xuanxiao's and Pangu's extraordinary power.
• Xuanxiao merges with the Sea of Lightning and is pulled into a trance-like state.
• Pangu and the Great Dao appear to warn Xuanxiao about the risks of merging with the Sea of Lightning and help him wake up.

Character Developments

• Luohu: Shows extensive knowledge about Chaos Demon Gods and the Great Dao.
• Ancestral Dragon and others: Realize the magnitude of Xuanxiao's power and connection to the Great Dao, leading to awe and surprise.
• Yang Mei: Reflects on his past decision to follow Xuanxiao, feeling relieved and proud.
• Xuanxiao: Discovers the risks of merging with the Sea of Lightning and expresses gratitude to Pangu and the Great Dao.
• Pangu: Awakens briefly to warn Xuanxiao and help him, showing brotherly love.
• The Great Dao: Intervenes to help Xuanxiao, demonstrating its mysterious and aloof nature.
• Shi Qilin: Feels an inexplicable chill and senses something in the unseen realm, but keeps it to himself.

Significant Themes

• The power and mystery of the Great Dao.
• The extraordinary nature of Xuanxiao and Pangu, and their connection to the Sea of Lightning.
• The risks and consequences of merging with powerful forces like the Sea of Lightning.

Character Interactions

• Luohu shares his knowledge with the group, leading to their astonishment.
• Xuanxiao interacts with Pangu and the Great Dao, expressing gratitude and receiving help.
• Shi Qilin feels an inexplicable sensation but keeps it to himself, interacting with Yuan Feng with caution.

Chapter Summary: “Establishing Tribulations”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanxiao awakens and withdraws his consciousness, causing the terrifying phantom of the Sea of Lightning covering the Primordial Wilderness to vanish. Had he remained unconscious, the Sea of Lightning could have destroyed the entire Primordial World.
• Having completed his plans for the tribulations, Xuanxiao publicly establishes two new laws:
  • Lightning Tribulation, which occurs whenever beings attempt to advance their cultivation realms.
  • Longevity Tribulation, which forces cultivators to continue progressing or face aging and death through the Five Decays of Heaven and Man.
• The difficulty of a Lightning Tribulation is determined by factors such as merit, Karma, foundation, and fortune. Survivors gain strength and heavenly rewards, while failures are annihilated.
• Cultivators’ lifespans are no longer unlimited. Only those who reach the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm can share the lifespan of heaven and earth.
• Xuanxiao receives a vast amount of Heavenly Dao Merit for establishing these laws. He invests most of it into his Supreme Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Nine Heavens Thunder Punishment Mirror, upgrading it into a Merit Innate Treasure.
• He places the Mirror within the void so it can independently monitor all beings and administer tribulations throughout the Primordial World. The remaining merit will be used to reward those who survive their trials.
• The new tribulations immediately begin affecting living beings. A heavily karmically burdened black panther, already nearing the end of his lifespan, curses Xuanxiao and is instantly destroyed by a Nine Heavens Divine Thunder.
• Similar Lightning Tribulations strike beings across the Primordial Wilderness, establishing the authority and impartiality of the new system.

Character Developments

• Xuanxiao evolves from a powerful cultivator into an administrator and lawgiver of the Primordial World. He deliberately creates a structured system of trials to regulate cultivation, population, and Karma.
• He demonstrates strategic foresight by converting the Nine Heavens Thunder Punishment Mirror from a largely unused treasure into the central instrument of divine judgment.
• Xuanxiao’s methods reveal a harsh but pragmatic approach: he accepts widespread deaths as necessary for long-term stability and the strengthening of the world’s surviving inhabitants.
• The black panther represents beings unable or unwilling to adapt to the new laws. His anger, fear, and death show the immediate consequences of Karma and stagnation under the new order.

Significant Themes

• Order through suffering: Tribulations are presented as necessary mechanisms for maintaining cosmic order, even though they cause immense pain and death.
• Cultivation as survival: Advancement is no longer merely a path to greater power; it becomes essential for extending one’s life and avoiding annihilation.
• Karma and accountability: The Lightning Tribulation ensures that past actions directly influence future trials, making moral and karmic consequences unavoidable.
• Natural selection and purification: The three tribulations—Lightning, Longevity, and Heart Demon—filter out weaker beings while strengthening those capable of enduring hardship.
• Control versus freedom: Many beings view the tribulations as oppressive restrictions on cultivation, while Xuanxiao sees them as necessary safeguards against chaos.
• Managing catastrophe: Xuanxiao seeks to transform the Primordial World’s destructive Calamity Cycles from sudden, concentrated disasters into scattered, manageable tribulations. This reduces immediate destruction and gives the world more time to develop.

Character Interactions

• Xuanxiao has no direct dialogue with the wider population, but his proclamation imposes new rules on every living being.
• The living beings of the Primordial Wilderness react with confusion and fear to the appearance of the Sea of Lightning and later with resentment toward the new tribulations.
• The black panther openly challenges and curses Xuanxiao, prompting an immediate divine response that demonstrates the absolute authority of the Lightning Tribulation.
• The Nine Heavens Thunder Punishment Mirror becomes an indirect extension of Xuanxiao’s will, overseeing and judging beings throughout the Primordial World.

Key plot points and events

• Xuanxiao assesses the Primordial Wilderness and is pleased with its stability, especially the strength of the Five Spirits Guardian Great Array.
• Yang Mei gives him the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and their formation diagram, entrusted by Luohu. Luohu has relinquished the dangerous treasures rather than risk them being used to damage the world again.
• Xuanxiao plans to give the swords and diagram to Tongtian, who is especially suited to wield them. He believes the strengthened world and the Heavenly Dao’s closer oversight make the old threat of catastrophic damage far less likely.
• When Xuanxiao checks on Tongtian and the others in the Primordial Realm, he is enraged by what he sees. He opens a gateway and rushes there; Yang Mei follows, eager to learn what happened.
• After they leave, two furtive Daoists appear. They cautiously conclude that the senior who had been cultivating nearby is gone.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanxiao is confident in the world’s safeguards and appreciative of Luohu’s responsible decision. He remains overwhelmingly powerful, but his sudden fury shows that the younger generation can still provoke him.
• Yang Mei is deferential toward Xuanxiao and increasingly aligned with him. He delivers Luohu’s treasures, then follows Xuanxiao out of curiosity.
• Luohu is absent but portrayed as perceptive and prudent: he recognizes that the swords are too dangerous to keep.
• Tongtian is identified as the intended future owner of the swords, reflecting his passion for swordsmanship and formations.
• The two newly arrived Daoists are revealed only through their cautious, covert behavior; the chapter ends before their purpose is clear.

Significant themes

• Responsible stewardship: Powerful artifacts should be entrusted to someone capable of using them wisely.
• Changing safeguards: The strengthened formation and Hongjun’s impending union with the Heavenly Dao make the world less vulnerable than it was before.
• Power and perspective: A weapon that could threaten the world is nearly trivial to Xuanxiao, underscoring the vast differences in power.
• Comic suspense: Xuanxiao’s unexplained outburst and the strangers’ covert arrival set up an unresolved confrontation.

Chapter Summary: Jieyin and Zhunti

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter introduces Jieyin and Zhunti, the two strongest beings in the western region. Zhunti is portrayed as sorrowful and impatient, while Jieyin appears compassionate and contemplative.
• After sensing the immense disturbance caused by Xuanxiao’s recent establishment of the lightning tribulations and Longevity Tribulation, the two hurry to the place where Xuanxiao had previously cultivated.
• They discover that Xuanxiao has already departed, but his prolonged cultivation has left behind a powerful Thunder Great Dao resonance, transforming the area into an exceptional cultivation sanctuary.
• Zhunti is shocked by the scale of the resonance and speculates that Xuanxiao may have surpassed the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm. Jieyin realizes that Xuanxiao’s influence explains why many opportunities in the western region have long been connected to lightning.
• Fearing that other powerful beings from the east or west will arrive, Jieyin and Zhunti establish a concealment formation and begin absorbing the concentrated Dao resonance.
• Both are at the perfected Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, just one step away from becoming Grand Luo Golden Immortals. The resonance causes their stagnant cultivation to begin loosening.
• Other beings soon arrive, but because they are much weaker than Jieyin and Zhunti, they dare not challenge them. Instead, they settle for absorbing the weaker resonance around the outskirts.
• In the Primordial Realm, Taichu senses that Jieyin and Zhunti are using the resonance he left behind. He decides not to interfere, accepting that their discovery of it is their opportunity.
• The chapter then shifts focus to Taichu’s victims, who have all been severely injured by his relentless whipping. Even powerful figures such as Laozi and Gou Chen are wounded, setting up a later explanation of how they came to suffer this fate.

Character Developments

• Zhunti is shown as ambitious, impatient, and highly opportunistic. He immediately recognizes the value of Xuanxiao’s remaining Dao resonance and urges Jieyin to seize it before others arrive.
• Jieyin is more cautious and reflective. He hesitates before acting, considers Xuanxiao’s influence, and demonstrates a deeper appreciation of the senior’s power and legacy.
• Both reveal strong innate foundations and a serious desire to break through to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm.
• Taichu demonstrates a detached and magnanimous attitude by allowing Jieyin and Zhunti to benefit from the resonance rather than reclaiming or obstructing it.
• The wounded figures in Taichu’s realm, including Laozi and Gou Chen, are presented as having endured severe punishment, though the details are deliberately postponed.

Significant Themes

• The immense difficulty of cultivation advancement: The passage emphasizes that the transition from Grand Unity Golden Immortal to Grand Luo Golden Immortal is a transformation in life essence, not merely a higher level of power.
• Opportunities left by great beings: Xuanxiao’s influence persists even after his departure, showing how powerful cultivators can reshape entire regions through unconscious Dao resonance.
• Competition and opportunism: Jieyin and Zhunti rush to claim the opportunity before rival cultivators arrive, reflecting the ruthless competition of the Primordial World.
• The importance of innate foundations: Before Hongjun’s teachings, cultivators rely largely on inherited memories, making talent, origins, and innate aptitude crucial to advancement.
• Mortality and longevity: The newly established Longevity Tribulation makes the distinction between Grand Unity and Grand Luo beings more consequential, since only Grand Luo Golden Immortals can live as long as heaven and earth.
• Delayed consequences and narrative transition: The chapter moves from Jieyin and Zhunti’s opportunity to the mysterious punishment of Taichu’s captives, creating suspense about what happened after Xuanxiao sent them into the Primordial Realm.

Character Interactions

• Zhunti repeatedly urges Jieyin to act quickly, while Jieyin balances his brother’s impatience with caution and reflection.
• The two cooperate closely, setting up a formation and jointly cultivating from the strongest concentration of Dao resonance.
• Other arriving cultivators resent Jieyin and Zhunti for claiming the best location but are too weak to confront them directly.
• Taichu observes Jieyin and Zhunti from afar and consciously chooses not to interfere, treating their discovery as a legitimate opportunity.
• The final interaction is indirect: Taichu’s whipping stops, causing his injured captives—including Laozi and Gou Chen—to exchange confused looks and anticipate what will happen next.

Chapter Summary: “Second Uncle Treats Us So Well”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanxiao sends the Three Pure Ones, the Ancestral Witches, and Gou Chen into the Primordial Hall within the Primordial Realm for their safety.
• The group is astonished by the Primordial Realm’s gentle, dense Chaos Spiritual Qi and powerful Great Dao aura, recognizing it as far superior to their former cultivation grounds.
• Gou Chen explains that Xuanxiao likely sent them away because the Primordial Wilderness has entered a major crisis. Xuanxiao must confront powerful enemies and does not want them becoming burdens.
• The group learns that the upheaval was caused by the Karma Demon God, ranked fourth among the Chaos Demon Gods. Using the Causality Great Dao, he manipulated karmic connections throughout the Primordial Wilderness and triggered widespread chaos.
• Determined not to remain weak, the Three Pure Ones immediately begin cultivating to reach the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm.
• The Ancestral Witches also resolve to improve quickly, but realize they require flesh, blood, and Savage Qi to cultivate their physical bodies.
• Gou Chen reveals that Xuanxiao keeps a large number of Fierce Beasts in the Primordial Realm, which can provide the Ancestral Witches with the resources they need.
• The Ancestral Witches rush off to hunt the beasts. Gou Chen warns them not to eat all of them because they are specially raised by Xuanxiao, but the warning is misunderstood.
• Dijiang mistakenly interprets Gou Chen’s words as permission to consume everything, while Houtu suspects they have misunderstood. The other witches enthusiastically decide to eat all the Fierce Beasts to repay Xuanxiao’s “kindness.”
• Gou Chen begins cultivating alongside the Three Pure Ones, hoping the pressure of the crisis will accelerate everyone’s growth.

Character Developments

• Gou Chen displays pride in Xuanxiao’s Primordial Realm but also deep frustration and helplessness over being unable to assist his master. He takes on a guiding role by explaining the crisis and providing cultivation resources.
• The Three Pure Ones suffer a humbling realization that their current strength is inadequate. Laozi becomes especially determined, and all three immediately enter serious cultivation.
• The Ancestral Witches shift from confidence to wounded pride after recognizing the vast gap between their power and the threats facing the Primordial Wilderness. Their competitiveness, especially toward the Three Pure Ones, motivates them to cultivate harder.
• Dijiang remains decisive and overconfident, misinterpreting Gou Chen’s warning and encouraging the others to consume all the Fierce Beasts.
• Houtu acts as the more cautious and perceptive member of the group, questioning whether they correctly understood Gou Chen.
• Xuanxiao, though absent, is shown to be protective and considerate by preparing a safe cultivation environment and raising Fierce Beasts for the Ancestral Witches’ needs.

Significant Themes

• The urgency of strength and growth: The characters realize that enemies may come from beyond the Primordial Wilderness, so they cannot afford to wait passively for improvement.
• Humility before greater powers: Their encounter with the crisis forces them to acknowledge that their previous confidence was misplaced.
• Protection and sacrifice: Xuanxiao sends his followers away to prevent them from becoming burdens, while facing the greater danger himself.
• Miscommunication and comedy: The Ancestral Witches’ misunderstanding of Gou Chen’s warning creates a humorous contrast with the chapter’s serious crisis.
• Family-like loyalty and competition: The group views Xuanxiao as “Second Uncle,” and their desire to become useful to him drives both cooperation and playful rivalry.

Character Interactions

• Gou Chen explains the danger to the others and encourages them indirectly by revealing the resources available in the Primordial Realm.
• Laozi’s call for cultivation influences the Three Pure Ones, who immediately act together.
• Zhurong turns the Ancestral Witches’ concern into competitive motivation, urging them not to lose to the Three Pure Ones.
• Houtu questions Dijiang’s interpretation, but his confidence persuades the others to follow his mistaken conclusion.
• Gou Chen watches over both groups, worried about the Ancestral Witches’ reckless behavior while hoping their determination will help them reach the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm sooner.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanxiao returns to find his Fierce Beasts, meant for future meat supply, have been eaten by his disciples and nephews.
• He punishes them for their actions and scolds them for ruining his spiritual roots and tearing down his house.
• Xuanxiao takes Yang Mei to the Primordial Hall, impressing him with its unique properties.

Character Developments

• Xuanxiao: Shows anger and disappointment towards his disciples and nephews for their actions, but ultimately accepts their gains in cultivation as a consolation. He subtly shows off his connection to the Great Dao to Yang Mei.
• Gou Chen: Stands up for himself and tries to reason with Xuanxiao, showing some maturity and courage.
• Ancestral Witches & Three Pure Ones: Realize their mistake and feel wronged, but also show some defiance and determination to repay the humiliation.

Significant Themes

• Disappointment and anger towards disloyal disciples and nephews.
• The value of Fierce Beasts as a future meat supply and spiritual roots.
• The power and uniqueness of the Primordial Hall.

Character Interactions

• Xuanxiao interacts with his disciples and nephews, showing anger and disappointment, but ultimately accepts their gains in cultivation.
• Gou Chen interacts with Xuanxiao, trying to reason with him and showing some maturity.
• Ancestral Witches and Three Pure Ones interact with each other, feeling wronged and determined to repay the humiliation.
• Xuanxiao interacts with Yang Mei, subtly showing off his connection to the Great Dao to impress him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanxiao warns Yang Mei about his past actions by pointing out a brick made from his body, implying consequences if he continues to slack off.
• Xuanxiao offers to take Yang Mei to a place in the Primordial Era where the Heavenly Dao won't reject him, allowing him to gain merit continuously.
• Xuanxiao reveals there are three wills of the Primordial Era, and the place he's taking Yang Mei is the birthplace of one that accepts Chaos Demon Gods.
• Gou Chen and the others return, and Yang Mei gives them top-grade spiritual treasures as meeting gifts. Xuanxiao praises their efforts but warns them not to be arrogant.

Character Developments

• Yang Mei understands Xuanxiao's warning and accepts his offer, showing he's willing to change his ways.
• Xuanxiao shows he's aware of Yang Mei's past actions and is willing to give him another chance.
• Gou Chen and the others show respect and gratitude towards Xuanxiao and Yang Mei, demonstrating their loyalty and eagerness to please.

Significant Themes

• Redemption and second chances (Yang Mei's situation)
• The power dynamics and hierarchies within the Primordial Era's cultivation world
• The importance of hard work and humility in cultivation (Xuanxiao's warning to Gou Chen and the others)

Character Interactions

• Xuanxiao and Yang Mei: Xuanxiao warns and offers help to Yang Mei, while Yang Mei accepts the offer, showing a change in his attitude.
• Gou Chen and the others with Xuanxiao and Yang Mei: They show respect and gratitude towards both, demonstrating their loyalty and eagerness to please.

Chapter Summary: Why the Fierce Beast Tribulation Occurred

Key Plot Points and Events

• Laozi asks Xuanxiao whether any Chaos Demon Gods survived the ancient Calamity of World Creation, prompted by the mysterious voice claiming to be the Karma Demon God.
• Xuanxiao explains that although the Chaos Demon Gods’ physical bodies were destroyed, a few escaped by abandoning their original forms and reincarnating. The known survivors are:
  • Yang Mei, formerly the Space Demon God
  • Shichen, the Time Demon God
  • The Fate Demon God
  • Xuanxiao himself, who preserved his primordial spirit with Pangu’s help
• The being who recently appeared as the Karma Demon God is not the original Demon God, but an Innate Divine Being who inherited his memories and legacy.
• Xuanxiao reveals that some early Innate Divine Beings inherited the memories of the Chaos Demon Gods. These memories included both profound Dao insights and hatred toward Pangu and the Primordial Wilderness.
• The inherited memories affected beings differently:
  • Some accepted themselves as native beings of the Primordial Wilderness.
  • Others believed themselves to be reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods and sought revenge.
• Shen Ni and the Fierce Beast Clan became the leaders of this remnant faction, while Hongjun, Luohu, and others sided with the Primordial Wilderness. Their conflict caused the first major war, the Fierce Beast Tribulation.
• After the Heavenly Dao emerged, Hongjun and his allies defeated and killed Shen Ni and the Four Fierce Beast Kings. The Three Clans then helped purge the Fierce Beast Clan.
• The surviving followers of the Chaos Demon Gods either died or fled into the endless Chaos.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Xuanxiao acts as the group’s source of historical knowledge, explaining the origins of the Fierce Beast Tribulation and the inherited memories of the Chaos Demon Gods.
• Yang Mei is revealed to be the reincarnation of the Space Demon God, clarifying his mysterious connection to Xuanxiao. He is especially troubled by why Pangu allowed the inherited memories to remain.
• Laozi demonstrates increasing insight by questioning whether Pangu foresaw the danger posed by the inherited memories.
• Yuanshi challenges Xuanxiao’s explanation by pointing out that the recent speaker was the Karma Demon God, not one of the known surviving Demon Gods.
• The Ancestral Witches remain confused by the complex history but eagerly accept Xuanxiao’s promise to take them somewhere beneficial for their cultivation.
• Xuanxiao urges the Three Pure Ones and Gou Chen to leave the sealed Primordial Realm, travel through the Primordial Wilderness, meet the new generation of native Innate Divine Beings, and discuss the Dao with them.

Significant Themes

• Inheritance and identity: Memories and legacies can shape a being’s identity, but they do not determine whether that being considers itself native to the Primordial Wilderness or a descendant of the Chaos Demon Gods.
• Resentment and revenge: The inherited hatred of the Chaos Demon Gods became the driving force behind the Fierce Beast Tribulation.
• Trial and survival: Pangu deliberately allowed the danger to remain, treating it as a test of whether the Primordial Wilderness was strong enough to survive.
• Cycles of catastrophe: The Fierce Beast Tribulation is presented as the first major calamity in a larger sequence of world-shaping conflicts.
• Growth through experience: Xuanxiao emphasizes cultivation, travel, and interaction with other beings as necessary steps toward gaining the strength to confront future threats.

Ending

• Xuanxiao tells Gou Chen and the Three Pure Ones to leave and travel throughout the Primordial Wilderness.
• He takes the Ancestral Witches with him to a place suited to their cultivation.
• Xuanxiao and Yang Mei depart together, leaving the group to begin a new phase of exploration and growth.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanxiao leads the Ancestral Witches, accompanied by Yang Mei, to the Sea of Blood, the Primordial World's dumping ground for impurities.
• The Ancestral Witches absorb the turbid spiritual energy without any adverse effects, refining it into cultivation energy and receiving merit from the void.
• Xuanxiao mentions Minghe, the Innate Divine Being and Lord of the Sea of Blood, who possesses three Supreme Grade Innate Spirit Treasures and has a unique existence in the Primordial World.
• Xuanxiao addresses Minghe, who emerges from the Sea of Blood.

Character Developments

• The Ancestral Witches: They demonstrate their unique ability to absorb and refine any substance, including the turbid spiritual energy of the Sea of Blood, and receive merit for their cultivation.
• Minghe: His background and unique status as the Lord of the Sea of Blood are revealed. He possesses three powerful Supreme Grade Innate Spirit Treasures and has a special, immortal existence in the Primordial World.

Significant Themes

• The Sea of Blood represents the Primordial World's impurities and the Ancestral Witches' ability to transform such impurities into beneficial resources for their cultivation.
• Minghe's unique existence highlights the theme of adaptation and finding one's place in the world, even in seemingly inhospitable environments.

Character Interactions

• Xuanxiao and the Ancestral Witches: Xuanxiao leads the Ancestral Witches to the Sea of Blood, knowing it's the perfect place for their cultivation. He also provides information about Minghe.
• Xuanxiao and Minghe: Xuanxiao addresses Minghe, who emerges from the Sea of Blood, indicating a potential interaction or confrontation between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Minghe, an Innate Divine Being and Lord of the Sea of Blood, meets Xuanxiao, the Dao Venerable, for the first time.
• The Ancestral Witches, initially hostile, engage in a chaotic fight among themselves upon seeing Minghe.
• Xuanxiao requests Minghe to allow the Ancestral Witches to cultivate in the Sea of Blood, promising environmental benefits for Minghe.

Character Developments

• Minghe: Initially worried and panicked due to the Ancestral Witches' behavior and Xuanxiao's power, Minghe later shows hesitation and consideration when Xuanxiao requests to let the Ancestral Witches stay in the Sea of Blood.
• Xuanxiao: Displaying curiosity, surprise, and a gentle demeanor, Xuanxiao uses reasoning to convince Minghe to allow the Ancestral Witches to stay.
• Ancestral Witches: Despite their initial chaotic behavior, they show embarrassment and shame, indicating some level of maturity. They also display a simple, honest demeanor when trying to reassure Minghe.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The chapter explores the power dynamics between Minghe, Xuanxiao, and the Ancestral Witches, with Xuanxiao's power and status being the highest.
• Hesitation vs. Acceptance: Minghe's hesitation in accepting Xuanxiao's request highlights the theme of weighing one's own interests against the benefits of acceptance.

Character Interactions

• Minghe and Xuanxiao: Their interaction is marked by curiosity, surprise, and eventual negotiation, with Xuanxiao using reasoning to convince Minghe.
• Ancestral Witches and Minghe: Their initial chaotic behavior and later attempt to reassure Minghe show a complex interaction, with Minghe being both intimidated and uncertain about their presence.
• Xuanxiao and Ancestral Witches: Xuanxiao's interaction with the Ancestral Witches is marked by exasperation and eventual discipline, with him using lightning strikes to control their behavior.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanxiao wants to leave the Twelve Ancestral Witches in Minghe's Sea of Blood.
• Minghe is terrified of the Ancestral Witches' fighting and fears for his safety.
• Xuanxiao suggests leaving Yang Mei to help manage the Ancestral Witches.
• Yang Mei reluctantly agrees to stay in the Netherworld Underworld within the Sea of Blood.

Character Developments

• Minghe: Shows cowardice and fear of the Ancestral Witches, prioritizing self-preservation.
• Xuanxiao: Demonstrates concern for Minghe's well-being but is determined to leave the Ancestral Witches in the Sea of Blood.
• Yang Mei: Initially bewildered and reluctant, agrees to stay and manage the Ancestral Witches.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The Ancestral Witches' power and recklessness cause Minghe to fear for his safety, highlighting the power imbalance.
• Responsibility and Burden: Xuanxiao's decision to leave the Ancestral Witches in the Sea of Blood places a burden on Minghe and Yang Mei.
• Reluctant Acceptance: Both Minghe and Yang Mei reluctantly accept their new roles due to their inability to refuse Xuanxiao's request.

Character Interactions

• Minghe and Xuanxiao: Minghe expresses his fears to Xuanxiao, who reassures him but remains determined to leave the Ancestral Witches.
• Xuanxiao and Yang Mei: Xuanxiao asks Yang Mei to help manage the Ancestral Witches, and Yang Mei reluctantly agrees.
• Minghe and Yang Mei: Minghe feels relieved that Yang Mei will help manage the Ancestral Witches, while Yang Mei is bewildered by the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanxiao reveals a spatial gate leading to the Netherworld Underworld, which Yang Mei enters with him.
• Minghe is left behind due to his weak strength, causing him to feel grievance and curiosity.
• The Ancestral Witches, unrestrained by Xuanxiao's presence, begin fighting among themselves, accidentally involving Minghe.

Character Developments

• Minghe: Realizes his strength is considered weak in the Primordial Era, feels grievance, and later joins the Ancestral Witches' fight.
• Ancestral Witches: Show their true, chaotic nature when Xuanxiao leaves, engaging in a free-for-all fight.
• Xuanxiao: Reveals a mysterious brother who left the spatial gate, further adding to the enigma around him.

Significant Themes

• Strength and Power: Minghe's realization of his relative weakness highlights the theme of power dynamics in the Primordial Era.
• Trust and Betrayal: The Ancestral Witches' behavior raises questions about their loyalty and trustworthiness.
• Mystery and Enigma: The Netherworld Underworld and Xuanxiao's brother contribute to the overarching theme of mystery and enigma.

Character Interactions

• Xuanxiao and Yang Mei: They share a mysterious bond, with Xuanxiao guiding Yang Mei to the Netherworld Underworld.
• Minghe and the Ancestral Witches: Their interactions range from confusion and helplessness to eventual combat, highlighting Minghe's frustration with the Ancestral Witches' behavior.
• Ancestral Witches among themselves: Their interactions are chaotic and aggressive, showcasing their true nature when unsupervised.

Key plot points

• Xuanxiao and Yang Mei enter the Netherworld Underworld, passing through the eerie Ghost Gate Pass, across the River Minghe, and over a bridge made of bones.
• Yang Mei confirms that the Heavenly Dao has no jurisdiction here and senses a gentler, welcoming power: the Earthly Dao, which has yet to fully awaken.
• Xuanxiao leads him toward the Underworld’s center. Yang Mei recognizes the strong aura of the Six Paths of Samsara and asks whether the place is connected to Lunhui.
• Xuanxiao reveals that the Underworld’s heart was formed from Lunhui’s Chaos body, so they are walking across his remains.
• They reach the Six Paths Samsara Disk. Xuanxiao explains that Pangu repaired it before Lunhui’s body became the Underworld; it now embodies the Earthly Dao’s authority and serves as its manifestation.

Character developments and interactions

• Yang Mei moves from skepticism to acceptance after personally sensing the Earthly Dao. The Underworld’s lack of hostility also makes him feel he may belong there.
• Yang Mei’s former resentment toward Xuanxiao and Pangu has softened; he accepts Lunhui’s death with restrained grief rather than renewed anger.
• Xuanxiao guides Yang Mei without initially revealing his destination, then explains the origins and purpose of the Samsara Disk. He is mildly irritated that Yang Mei doubted his account of the Underworld.
• Yang Mei’s recognition of Lunhui’s aura prompts him to question Xuanxiao, who answers candidly.

Significant themes

• Death and transformation: Lunhui’s body becomes the foundation of the Underworld, while his repaired treasure takes on a new cosmic role.
• Cosmic order and belonging: The Earthly Dao offers a gentler alternative to the Heavenly Dao’s perceived hostility.
• Reconciliation and acceptance: Yang Mei’s changing attitude reflects his gradual release of old grudges and acceptance of loss.

Key plot points and events

• Yang Mei discovers that the Six Paths Samsara Disk contains the auras of several Chaos Demon Gods, including his own. Xuanxiao admits that Pangu likely used their corpses to repair it.
• Yang Mei is horrified and suspicious, especially because he has already learned that part of his corpse was turned into a brick.
• When Xuanxiao checks the disk himself, he finds the aura of the Thunder Demon God—meaning Pangu also used part of Xuanxiao’s body.
• Xuanxiao’s anger rises. Yang Mei tries to console him, but his sympathy is transparently sarcastic.
• Xuanxiao proposes a “sparring match” to vent his frustration and immediately punches Yang Mei. Yang Mei realizes he may have provoked a much stronger opponent.

Character developments

• Yang Mei shifts from alarm and resentment to mischievous delight when he learns Xuanxiao’s body was also used. His teasing backfires when Xuanxiao turns his anger on him.
• Xuanxiao moves from guilt over the disk’s construction to outrage upon discovering Pangu used part of his own body too. He channels that anger into challenging Yang Mei.
• Pangu, briefly waking, acknowledges that he used part of Xuanxiao’s body but hopes his younger brother will not blame him, then goes back to sleep.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice for the greater good: Xuanxiao defends the use of the Demon Gods’ remains as a contribution to the Primordial Wilderness, though the practice feels deeply disrespectful.
• Irony and shared misfortune: Yang Mei finds comfort in learning he is not the only one whose body was repurposed.
• Consequences of teasing: Yang Mei’s mock consolation turns a bad situation into a confrontation.

Character interactions

• Yang Mei confronts Xuanxiao about the auras in the disk; Xuanxiao explains that Pangu likely used their corpses and feels guilty.
• Yang Mei needles Xuanxiao by pointing out that his own aura is present too.
• Xuanxiao responds to Yang Mei’s sarcasm with a challenge, while Yang Mei tries—too late—to back out.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuanxiao punishes Yang Mei for a hundred years, then targets the Twelve Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones with divine thunders.
• The Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones withstand the divine thunders, which strengthen them rather than harming them.
• Minghe, witnessing the events, is shocked by Xuanxiao's brutality.

Character Developments

• Xuanxiao: Shows his power and ruthlessness, targeting his brother's descendants.
• Minghe: Realizes Xuanxiao's terrifying nature and is concerned for the Ancestral Witches' safety.
• The Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones: Display resilience and understanding of Xuanxiao's punishments, accepting them without resistance.

Significant Themes

• Family dynamics and power struggles within the divine realm.
• The consequences of actions and the importance of understanding one's superiors.
• Resilience and acceptance of hardships.

Character Interactions

• Xuanxiao and Yang Mei: Xuanxiao punishes Yang Mei for a hundred years, showing his dominance.
• Minghe and the Ancestral Witches: Minghe is worried about the Ancestral Witches' safety but is also shocked by their resilience.
• The Three Pure Ones and Fuxi, Nuwa: The Three Pure Ones remain calm under divine punishment, while Fuxi and Nuwa admire their resolve.

Plot points and events

• Divine lightning strikes the Three Pure Ones, leaving Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian blackened and smoking. They wonder which of them angered Xuanxiao.
• Yuanshi blames the Ancestral Witches, while Tongtian briefly considers defending them because of his friendship with them. He ultimately gives up, and both groups mistakenly assume the other caused the punishment. In reality, they are suffering because of Pangu’s actions without his knowledge.
• Fuxi and Nuwa praise the Three Pure Ones for supposedly facing the lightning bravely. Yuanshi pretends it was harmless, unwilling to admit they could not evade it. Xuanxiao notices their posturing but lets it go.
• In the Netherworld, Xuanxiao summons the Six Paths Samsara Disk and decides to awaken the Earthly Dao early, sparing his niece Houtu the sacrifice that would otherwise be required.
• To do so, he severs his Great Daos of Earth and Samsara and infuses them into the disk. Yang Mei is shocked at the apparent loss, but Xuanxiao considers it a manageable cost.
• The disk manifests the six paths—heavenly human, asura, human, beast, hungry ghost, and hell—connecting them to the Netherworld. The chapter explains that the Asura Clan’s eventual creation is required by the world’s order, with Minghe chosen as its founder and rewarded with merit.

Character developments and interactions

• Yuanshi is proud and quick to blame the Ancestral Witches, then saves face by pretending the lightning posed no danger.
• Tongtian shows sympathy for the Ancestral Witches but yields to Yuanshi’s pressure.
• Laozi reacts with weary confusion, looking to his brothers for an explanation.
• Xuanxiao is stern but controlled: he punishes those involved, then withdraws, and makes a major personal sacrifice to protect Houtu.
• Yang Mei questions Xuanxiao’s decision, highlighting how valuable the severed Daos are.
• Fuxi and Nuwa misread the Three Pure Ones’ forced endurance as courage, prompting Yuanshi’s boastful cover story.

Significant themes

• Pride and saving face: The Three Pure Ones conceal their helplessness rather than admit the truth.
• Misunderstanding and blame: Both divine groups wrongly accuse each other, while the real cause is Pangu’s unwitting “debt.”
• Sacrifice for family: Xuanxiao willingly gives up hard-won cultivation to protect Houtu.
• Cosmic order and destiny: The Asura Clan and the six paths arise as necessities of the world’s structure, not merely individual choices.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Primordial World's development was disrupted due to Gonggong's destruction of Buzhou Mountain and the subsequent Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, leading to the world's reduction to a Great Thousand World.
• Xuanxiao, angered by past events, punishes the Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones with divine thunder.
• The Three Pure Ones and Ancestral Witches blame each other for the punishments, vowing revenge.

Character Developments

• Xuanxiao: Shows anger and impulsiveness, but also a desire to improve relationships through conflict.
• The Ancestral Witches: Display shamelessness and cunning, faking pain to lessen their punishment.
• The Three Pure Ones: Maintain composure despite severe punishment, demonstrating stubborn pride.
• Minghe: Shows understanding of the Ancestral Witches' true nature and awe at Xuanxiao's power.
• Fuxi and Nuwa: Express bewilderment and suspicion towards the Three Pure Ones' situation.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of impulsive actions (Gonggong's destruction of Buzhou Mountain).
• The cycle of blame and retaliation.
• The contrast between shamelessness and stubborn pride.
• The power dynamics between Xuanxiao and other characters.

Character Interactions

• Xuanxiao vs. Ancestral Witches and Three Pure Ones: Xuanxiao punishes them, while they blame each other and vow revenge.
• Minghe and Fuxi siblings: Minghe observes the scene, while Fuxi and Nuwa discuss the Three Pure Ones' situation.
• Xuanxiao and Yang Mei: Xuanxiao notices Yang Mei's bitter expression but misunderstands its cause.

Chapter Summary

• The Earthly Dao awakens and connects with Xuanxiao, asking him to design the Netherworld Underworld. Xuanxiao agrees and enters its source space with the Six Paths Samsara Disk.
• The Netherworld is nearly empty, with only Ghost Gate Pass completed. Xuanxiao recognizes that the Earthly Dao expects him to supply the resources, but willingly contributes a vast trove of treasures. His vision then begins shaping the realm.
• The new landscape takes form: Yellow Springs Road, lined with memory-awakening Shore Flowers; the perilous River of Forgetfulness, which flows into the Three Paths River; and the Hometown Gazing Platform, where souls can look back on the living world.
• Beyond them, Xuanxiao plans the Hall of Senluo, where the Ten Halls of Yama will judge the dead by examining their identities and deeds. He also designs the Eighteen Levels of Hell as eighteen separate spaces.
• Since creating those spaces would be a daunting task, Xuanxiao asks Yang Mei to open them using his Space Great Dao. Yang Mei initially complains about the effort, but agrees after Xuanxiao hints that the work may benefit him.
• As Yang Mei creates the first space, he senses his bond with the Netherworld strengthening. Realizing that Xuanxiao had arranged the task for his benefit, Yang Mei becomes grateful and eagerly continues.

Character Developments and Interactions

Xuanxiao proves generous with his resources and imaginative in designing the afterlife, while also showing a playful, strategic side: he secures Yang Mei’s help and privately enjoys the chance to rest. Yang Mei shifts from reluctant skepticism to gratitude and enthusiasm once he experiences the personal advantage of his work. Their exchange is teasing but trusting, with Xuanxiao presenting the task as a favor and Yang Mei ultimately accepting that interpretation.

Significant Themes

The chapter explores the creation of order from emptiness, presenting death as a structured passage involving judgment, remembrance, and consequences. It also emphasizes cooperation and mutual benefit: Xuanxiao’s investment helps establish the Netherworld, while Yang Mei’s labor strengthens his connection to it.