Chapter Summaries

As the groups climbed the tree, dark clouds multiplied and daylight shortened until darkness lasted so long that everyone feared the sun might not return. With the secret realm’s closing deadline approaching and dark clouds blocking their route, Dog Bro suggested climbing through the night.

• Gou Dan and the others asked Ma Danian why no colorful clouds had appeared, and he admitted the abundance of dark clouds was unprecedented.
• The sky darkened after an unexpectedly short day, and Ma Danian told the gathered climbers that the elders had no records of such an event.
• The next day, Jiang Shisi sensed hostility in the surroundings while Su Nuoyun warned that the secret realm seemed hostile toward them.
• Darkness fell after only about eight hours of daylight, and the climbers spent another cold, exhausting night around their fires.
• By the sixth day, the night had grown so long that the climbers feared daylight would never return and worried they could not reach their destinations before the secret realm closed.
• Dog Bro suggested that everyone climb through the night because dark clouds prevented them from leaving by their usual route.

As the group debated whether to climb through the freezing night, glowing insects attacked the Kongtong disciples and forced everyone to flee upward. With the insects pursuing them and the climb draining their strength, Ma Danian urged the survivors to stop running and fight.

• Ma Danian hesitated to travel at night, while Dog Bro argued that waiting by the dying fire was no safer, and Li Gou Dan fell asleep as Chen Yutong brought out games.
• A Kongtong disciple named Junior Brother Liu swelled and burst into green specks, which Chen Yutong recognized as insects eating his flesh.
• More disciples were devoured, so Chen Yutong urged the group to flee, and Dog Bro woke Gou Dan by throwing a Nine of Bamboo at him.
• The insects chased the climbers upward, devouring exhausted disciples as the cold, thin air, and increasing gravity wore down the survivors.
• Mu Yunji carried Lu Chenshuang when she could no longer climb, while Dog Bro refused to carry Ma Danian.
• Ma Danian shouted that the group should stop running and fight before they ran out of stamina.

The disciples fled upward from the miasma insects, but Mao Junzhuo’s powerful Thunder Talisman failed to stop the swarm, and she was devoured. As the exhausted survivors began dying or killing themselves, Mu Yunji found another way to escape with Lu Chenshuang.

• Ma Danian warned that fleeing would exhaust the disciples, and Mao Junzhuo descended with a Heavenly Talisman to attack the swarm with lightning.
• The insects swallowed the lightning and devoured Mao Junzhuo, while Hong Tianlu stopped Qiu Chuxing from trying to save her.
• The survivors scrambled upward as exhaustion overwhelmed them, and some disciples killed themselves rather than be eaten alive.
• Lu Chenshuang urged Mu Yunji to leave her behind, but Mu Yunji stopped and said they could not keep fleeing.
• Mu Yunji shifted Lu Chenshuang onto a soft surface in a place free of insects and told her it was the only way to survive.

Mu Yunji and Lu Chenshuang escaped the bug swarm by riding a dark cloud, which revealed that it had deliberately forced them aboard and was allied with the bugs. The cloud warned them about a terrifying abyss beneath them and began hinting at its extraordinary origins as it carried them onward.

• Mu Yunji and Lu Chenshuang rode a dark cloud that suddenly sped away from the bugs, leaving the other disciples wondering whether they should jump onto one too.
• Mu Yunji told Lu Chenshuang that the dark cloud and the bugs were working together, and an aged voice spoke from the cloud itself.
• The cloud elder described the abyss below as a place filled with creatures powerful enough to destroy the world, dismissing modern weapons as useless against them.
• Mu Yunji asked where dark clouds usually took their passengers, and the elder claimed their specifications surpassed even those of rainbow clouds and golden clouds.

Jiang Shisi explained the ranks and dangers of the cloud beds as the Kunlun disciples climbed, while the black cloud carrying Mu Yunji and Lu Chenshuang revealed the history of the Great Calamity and the Era of Dharma Decline. The black cloud implied that a surviving martial god was responsible for the disappearance of everyone who had ridden one, leaving Mu Yunji and Lu Chenshuang facing a deadly destination.

• Jiang Shisi stopped Situ Ming from taking Situ Xue onto a black cloud and explained that cloud beds reflected the rank of their immortal riders.
• Jiang Shisi said black clouds carried powerful martial gods who could not ride golden clouds, and warned that only one martial god had remained after the Great Calamity.
• The black cloud told Lu Chenshuang and Mu Yunji that the Era of Dharma Decline had begun in the Pre-Qin period, but that the world's spiritual energy was now being used to seal a hole.
• The black cloud said the immortals had died saving all living beings and noted that many of them had not belonged to the Daoist Sect.
• The black cloud revealed that no disciple who had ridden a black cloud had ever returned because the surviving martial god was still alive.

Jiang Shisi identified the being behind the dark clouds as God King Lei Zhenzi, while the clouds described how far ancient divine ranks surpassed modern cultivation. The group reached God King Palace and encountered a gigantic eye, prompting Xi Ye to teleport to Kunlun.

• Jiang Shisi told Yan Wuliang, Situ Xue, and Su Nuoyan that God King Lei Zhenzi had survived the ancient calamity and continued suppressing the demonic cave.
• The dark clouds dismissed the Kunlun Old Ancestor’s strength by ancient standards and explained the ranks of Earth Immortals and other cultivators.
• The dark clouds carried Mu Yunji and Lu Chenshuang through a vast sea of thunderclouds to God King Palace.
• A gigantic eye opened above the palace and looked past Mu Yunji toward something else.
• Xi Ye sensed the eye from Mars, exclaimed in shock, and ordered the intelligence to teleport him to Kunlun.

The remaining top disciples continued climbing the Divine Tree while Jiang Shisi and others wondered at the Luofu group’s seemingly inexhaustible stamina. The climb ended with a vast eye opening in the sky, and Jiang Shisi realized they could not escape what was coming.

• Jiang Shisi told the exhausted Situ Siblings and Luo Brothers to ride Dark Clouds away and preserve their strength, and Yue Qing soon followed them.
• Su Nuoyun and Jiang Shisi suspected that Luofu’s secret realm had strengthened its disciples without side effects.
• The first-tier disciples climbed for another day, while Hong Tianlu and others grew strained and became wary of Gou Dan and the other Luofu climbers.
• Gou Dan and the others remained fresh because their bodies had received intelligent enhancement and they were accustomed to Gravity Room training.
• A muffled sound drew everyone’s attention to an enormous eye opening in the sky, and Jiang Shisi sighed that they could not escape after all.

Su Nuoyan reasoned that the God King could not stop the group from passing through the clouds and tried to escape the invitation to the God King Palace. The God King struck him down with lightning and revealed that more layers of dark clouds still lay ahead.

• The God King summoned the group to his God King Palace, and Su Nuoyun questioned why he was interfering with their climb.
• Su Nuoyan deduced that the God King could not directly stop them from advancing and refused his invitation.
• Su Nuoyun leaped toward the clouds, but the God King struck him with lightning and the insects devoured his charred body.
• The God King cleared one layer of clouds, revealed more layers beyond it, and admitted he had appeared just to show off.

The survivors arrived at the God King Palace and found the other disciples reduced to blackened shapes, while the unseen voice warned that their recovery time was limited. As Hong Tianlu and Jiang Shisi questioned Luofu, Yan Wuliang fought Dog Bro, and Jiang Shisi concluded that the dead had failed a lightning tribulation.

• The survivors reached the God King Palace and found no one there except densely scattered blackened bodies, including one that Gou Dan identified as Ma Danian.
• Yue Qing, Zhang Lingyu, and the others feared their missing companions had died, while the Luofu group appeared unusually calm.
• Hong Tianlu accused Luofu of knowing what was happening, and Jiang Shisi demanded that they share any information they had.
• Yan Wuliang attacked Gou Dan, but Dog Bro held him in a stalemate until the thunderous voice warned them to stop wasting their recovery time.
• Jiang Shisi called the ordeal a trial and concluded that the bodies belonged to those who had failed a lightning tribulation.

Jiang Shisi learned that the Heavenly Palace’s gods, including the Thunder God, had died, and the God King said survivors could undergo tribulation lightning to fill the vacant divine positions. Meanwhile, Xi Ye went with Wei Lin to find the entrance to the Kunlun Secret Realm after discovering that someone had erased her Space Coordinates.

• Jiang Shisi explained that tribulation lightning was real and that cultivators had to undergo it to attain divine status.
• The God King revealed that the Thunder God and all the other Heavenly Palace gods were dead, and said the survivors could take their vacant positions by passing tribulation lightning.
• Zhang Lingyu challenged the God King about why he had brought them there, and the God King replied that the Heavenly Palace was short on people.
• Xi Ye told Wei Lin that Mu Yunji had contacted her and asked her to take her to the entrance of the Kunlun Secret Realm.
• Xi Ye revealed that her Space Coordinates had been erased, leaving Wei Lin startled by the power required to do so.

Jiang Shisi learned that three disciples had survived the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation, including Lu Chenshuang, whose secret treasure helped her pass. A second gate revealed that the other disciples, including the Luo Brothers and Yue Qing’s sister, were alive too, but Shisi noticed something was wrong with them.

• Jiang Shisi recalled the stages of tribulation recorded in the Kunlun Secret Canon and asked the hidden God King whether any earlier disciples had passed.
• The God King said three had passed, and the divine hall gate opened to reveal Mu Yunji, Lu Chenshuang, and Zhang Huaiyu meditating on a platform.
• Yan Wuliang challenged Lu Chenshuang’s success, and the God King explained that her secret treasure had helped her survive the tribulation.
• The God King opened another gate, revealing the earlier disciples, including the Luo Brothers and Yue Qing’s sister, alive on a gray-white platform.
• The crowd rejoiced at finding their fellow disciples alive, but Jiang Shisi noticed that something was wrong with the people inside.

The God King revealed that the motionless disciples were dead spirits and that their souls might be dragged into an unknown darkness, making Gou Dan and his companions fear that they could not resurrect. As thunderclouds gathered for the next trial, Xi Ye tried to enter Kunlun’s restricted area to reach the secret realm but was blocked by the Kunlun Old Ancestor and the Twelve Golden Immortals Ancestors.

• Ma Danian and Xiao Xue gave cold, distant responses to Gou Dan and Yue Qing, making them suspect something was wrong.
• The God King said Luo Wu and the others were dead spirits whose chance to remain for a second trial depended on their own strength.
• A disciple struggled as an invisible force dragged him into darkness, and Gou Dan and his companions feared the God King could prevent their souls from reaching their resurrection backup.
• The God King announced that the time had come, and everyone saw immense thunderclouds gathering overhead.
• Xi Ye arrived at Kunlun’s restricted area and said a major event in the secret realm required him to go there.
• The Kunlun Old Ancestor and the Twelve Golden Immortals Ancestors confronted Xi Ye, and the Old Ancestor refused to let him enter based on his explanation.

Xi Ye pressed the Old Ancestor of Kunlun to let him enter the Kunlun Secret Realm and showed evidence that the younger disciples were in danger. The Old Ancestor agreed to let him try, though Xi Ye would have to overcome the realm’s restrictions.

• The Old Ancestor of Kunlun judged that he and Xi Ye were likely evenly matched, while Xi Ye recognized that he could not defeat him without preparation.
• Xi Ye asked the Old Ancestor to make an exception so he could enter the secret realm and rescue Gou Dan and the others, but the Old Ancestor refused at first.
• Xi Ye showed footage of Mu Yunji and the others being forced into dark clouds, including Su Nuoyun’s death, alarming Kunlun’s elders.
• Xi Ye warned that Kunlun stood to lose far more than Luofu if the younger disciples perished, and the Old Ancestor reconsidered because Kunlun’s elites were inside.
• Jiang Shisi pointed out that the secret realm barred people over a certain age, but Xi Ye said he had a way to enter.
• The Old Ancestor of Kunlun agreed to let Xi Ye try, believing the attempt posed little risk to him.

Xi Ye entered Kunlun’s secret realm and arrived just before Gou Dan signed the Investiture of the Gods. The chapter left Gou Dan’s appointment as the Vermilion Bird Palace Master interrupted by Xi Ye’s warning.

• Xi Ye entered the secret realm without Kunlun’s help, astonishing the Golden Immortal Old Ancestors.
• The God King praised Gou Dan and two others for their aptitude and revealed that the weakened lightning tribulation had greatly strengthened their bodies, though Yue Qing and Bai Buchun had died.
• Jiang Shisi questioned the God King about the tribulation, and the God King revealed a blank Investiture of the Gods because the Heavenly Court needed people to fill Immortal Positions.
• The God King offered Gou Dan the position of Lingxiao Vermilion Bird Palace Master, and Gou Dan picked up a brush to sign.
• Xi Ye arrived and shouted for Gou Dan not to sign, stopping him just in time.

Xi Ye confronted the God King, discovered the vast Gaia energy bound to the Investiture of the Gods, and removed his helmet to unleash his power. The God King survived unharmed and recognized Xi Ye, exclaiming, “It was you!!”

• Xi Ye arrived and cleared the insects from the group, while Gou Dan and the others gathered around him.
• The God King revealed his enormous true form, and Xi Ye recognized him as a Star Rank Expert suppressing a Void Rift.
• Xi Ye examined the Investiture of the Gods and sensed an immense reserve of Gaia energy bound to it.
• The God King attacked, so Xi Ye used Calm the Spirit to knock everyone unconscious and removed his helmet.
• The God King withstood Xi Ye’s power and recognized him, exclaiming, “It was you!!”

Dracula Vlad returned from the Seven Layer Space with no evidence linking the Level 5 Celestial God to the Void, but Sylvanas remained convinced that a powerful figure had sealed his strength for a reason. Elsewhere, an ancient Celestial God in the former City of Titans awakened after recognizing the divine figure Xi Ye had seen.

• Dracula Vlad emerged from the Abyss Verge, fled the Seven Layer Space, and teleported to Eternal Night City to report to Sylvanas.
• Dracula told Sylvanas that the Observer had dismissed the idea that the Level 5 Celestial God from the Thunder Clan was connected to the Seven Layer Space.
• Sylvanas argued that a powerful figure had sealed the young man's strength because he cared only about the Void, then ordered Dracula to contact the Observer again with ten tons of Ink Crystal.
• Sylvanas gazed toward the Eastern Star Region and wondered what the mysterious figure was planning.
• In the former City of Titans, an ancient Celestial God awakened, recognized the divine figure reflected in Xi Ye's eyes, and said that it really was him.

Xi Ye witnessed the God King and the abyssal presence destroyed by the power sealed in his face, then heard the God King's warning before the stranger vanished. Elsewhere, the Third Lord ordered Kasha to monitor those investigating Xi Ye and prepare to kill Sylvanas if she uncovered the truth.

• The power sealed in Xi Ye's face split the God King apart, then struck the being inside the abyss and silenced it.
• The God King understood what had happened, faded into dust, and warned Xi Ye to beware of those guys before disappearing.
• Xi Ye felt grief at the God King's death, questioned who he had been, then hurried to find his helmet when Gou Dan began to wake.
• The Third Lord admired Xi Ye's appearance until Kasha reported that Borton, Aishara, and Sylvanas were investigating him.
• The Third Lord told Kasha to watch the investigations and said they would kill Sylvanas if she followed the clues to their source.

After Shisi reported that Xi Ye had stopped the God King from granting godhood, Old Ancestor Kunlun sent him toward the Luofu Secret Realm while secretly planning to harvest him. Back at his base, Xi Ye assessed the damaged souls and the danger of the Void Rift, then decided to accelerate his faction’s push into the New Realm.

• Shisi told Old Ancestor Kunlun that Xi Ye had stopped the God King, and the ancestors admitted they had no leverage to question him.
• Old Ancestor Kunlun sent Shisi to the Luofu Secret Realm and secretly resolved to harvest him when he returned.
• Xi Ye explained that tribulation lightning and forced soul detention had badly damaged the captured spirits, while Gou Dan and the others had grown stronger at the cost of unstable foundations.
• Xi Ye weighed the valuable Gaia energy against the threat of the enormous Void Rift and decided he needed the New Realm as a refuge.
• Xi Ye ordered the intelligent system to announce a series of quests related to the Black Goat Diagram.

Grandpa Lu explained the Black Goat Diagram exploration quest, its mutation risks, and the four available outposts and routes. He ended by promising a more detailed comparison in the next guide, while players accused him of padding the chapter and taking bribes.

• Grandpa Lu read the quest announcement, which opened the Corrosion Zone and awarded points for exploration intelligence and samples.
• Grandpa Lu explained that the Alchemy Matrix Mutation had transformed plants and animals across human and orc territories, while excessive mutations could turn subjects into monsters.
• Grandpa Lu relayed Pu Yunchuan's information that biological surgery could stabilize soldiers' mutation energy and strengthen them, giving biotechnology factions an early advantage.
• Grandpa Lu described the official routes from Sisco City and Rudasia, which restricted players' identities, followers, and trade.
• Grandpa Lu introduced the private outposts at Gondolin and the Little Cabbage Faction's orc plains, highlighting their routes, services, and advantages.
• Players criticized Grandpa Lu for splitting his guide, padding its contents, and allegedly accepting bribes from the two factions.

Players debated Grandpa Lu's proposed routes as more newcomers arrived, while Li Gou Dan explained her dream of becoming an independent explorer. The group left to claim shops in the new marketplace, and Grandpa Lu begged Wang Gou Dan for startup money.

• Players discussed the overlap between the official route and the Western Islands mission, the difficulties of sea travel, and how port reclamation would work.
• More than a thousand players crowded the two cities, including Li Gou Dan, who planned to explore the sea instead of building a territory.
• Li Gou Dan told Wang Gou Dan and Little Cabbage that she hoped to explore the universe and occasionally play at being a pirate once space travel became possible.
• Little Cabbage argued that being a lord was freeing, and Grandpa Lu tried to defend the hard work of other lords.
• Liver Emperor announced that shops were open for rental and sale, so Little Cabbage, Liver Emperor, and both Gou Dans hurried to claim locations.
• Li Gou Dan planned a Tailor Shop for her mother, Wang Gou Dan planned a barbecue shop, and Grandpa Lu pleaded with Wang Gou Dan for money to open a shop.