Chapter Summaries

Ding Ling arrived at the Jade Clarity Palace with Zhi Qiu Yiye, whose Master, An Ru, challenged him to a Thunder Magic contest after hearing how Ding Ling had defeated his disciple. Ding Ling blasted An Ru across the hall with Jade Clarity Immortal Lightning, then revealed he had used only ten percent of his strength.

• Zhi Qiu Yiye wondered whether Ding Ling was the orthodox successor of the Jade Clarity Palace after seeing him shake its gate.
• An Ru arrived with Kunlun Sect disciples, and Zhi Qiu Yiye introduced Ding Ling and explained their bet.
• An Ru challenged Ding Ling to a Thunder Magic contest, wagering that Ding Ling would become his disciple if he lost.
• Ding Ling struck An Ru with Jade Clarity Immortal Lightning and sent him crashing into the palace wall.
• An Ru claimed he had used only ten percent of his strength, and Ding Ling said he had done the same.

Ding Ling defeated An Ru in a clash of thunder arts, then revealed that he had inherited Jiang Taigong’s Jade Clarity Immortal Method and wielded the Divine Whip. An Ru accepted Ding Ling’s strength and asked him about Jiang Taigong, leaving Ding Ling to recount what he could of the immortal’s deeds.

• An Ru challenged Ding Ling to prove their strength, but their lightning clash ended with An Ru hurled into Jade Clarity Palace’s wall.
• An Ru admitted defeat and praised Ding Ling’s Thunder Magic, while Ding Ling named it Jade Clarity Immortal Lightning.
• Ding Ling told An Ru that his method shared the origin of the Jade Clarity Immortal Method and that he had inherited it from Jiang Taigong.
• Ding Ling produced the Divine Whip and activated the Jade Clarity Immortal Method, shocking An Ru and the others.
• An Ru greeted Ding Ling respectfully and asked about Jiang Taigong, and Ding Ling shared a general account while withholding some details.

After accepting Ding Ling as the Jade Clarity Palace’s ancestral heir, An Ru led him to the forbidden ground, where Ding Ling merged his Divine Whip with the Palace’s counterfeit. Ding Ling then offered to teach An Ru the Jade Clarity Immortal Lightning and asked to see the Kunlun Sect’s library.

• An Ru declared Ding Ling the Jade Clarity Palace’s Grand Ancestor, and the disciples paid their respects.
• Zhi Qiu Yiye learned from Wu Mian that Zhuge remained in seclusion under An Ru’s strict orders.
• An Ru led Ding Ling through the forbidden ground, where Ding Ling obtained its Divine Whip and merged it with his own.
• Ding Ling demonstrated the fused Divine Whip and taught An Ru the incantation for the Jade Clarity Immortal Lightning.
• Ding Ling asked to browse the Kunlun Sect’s library, and An Ru questioned why he wanted to study their humble techniques.

Ding Ling spent two days mastering the Kunlun Sect’s vast collection of books, greatly increasing his abilities and advancing his Martial Dao True Understanding. He then asked An Ru for the sect’s signature arts and agreed to teach the Kunlun disciples the pre-ascension Jade Clarity Immortal Method in exchange.

• An Ru led Ding Ling to the Book Vault, where Ding Ling rapidly read its books and mastered their methods and arts.
• Ding Ling’s mastery of many martial arts and spells strengthened his attributes and fed the Martial Dao True Understanding as it advanced toward version 3.0.
• An Ru watched Ding Ling’s progress in shock and realized he surpassed even Zhuge Liang as a genius.
• After two days, Ding Ling’s strength, agility, and constitution exceeded eight hundred, bringing his Body Refinement realm to Primordial Spirit Perfection.
• Ding Ling asked An Ru to teach him the Kunlun Sect’s signature arts, and An Ru explained that its advanced methods were passed down orally.
• Ding Ling agreed to teach the pre-ascension Jade Clarity Immortal Method, then recited its incantations and principles for An Ru to memorize.

An Ru chose to cultivate Ding Ling’s Jade Clarity Immortal Method and taught him the Kunlun Sect’s spells and fundamental method, which Ding Ling mastered instantly. Ding Ling ordered the Kunlun Sect to leave seclusion and help unify the world’s Daoist sects, while Zhuge Liang revealed Ding Ling’s reputation in the Lower Realm to a stunned An Ru.

• An Ru decided to abandon his old cultivation method and switch to the Jade Clarity Immortal Method after Ding Ling explained its advantages.
• An Ru taught Ding Ling dozens of Kunlun Sect spells, and Ding Ling mastered them all, gaining substantial attributes and testing his Immobilization Spell on An Ru.
• An Ru taught Ding Ling the Kunlun Sect’s fundamental method, Heaven and Earth Law Spirit, and Ding Ling gained three points of mana.
• Ding Ling ordered An Ru to bring the Kunlun Sect out of seclusion and cooperate with his plan to unify the world’s Daoist sects.
• An Ru summoned Zhuge Liang, who identified Ding Ling as the Jade Emperor of the Lower Realm and recounted his achievements, leaving An Ru astonished.

Zhuge Liang reunited with Ding Ling at Kunlun after ascending through several worlds and joining the sect. He shared his journey and cultivation progress, and Ding Ling invited him to stay so he could guide him personally.

• Zhuge Liang told An Ru that the visitor was Ding Ling, the Emperor he admired, and urged the Kunlun Sect to seize the opportunity to follow him.
• An Ru took Zhuge Liang to the Jade Void Palace, where Zhuge Liang excitedly reunited with Ding Ling after nearly ten years apart.
• Zhi Qiu Yiye and the other Kunlun disciples were astonished to learn that Zhuge Liang knew Ding Ling and wondered about Ding Ling's power and past.
• Zhuge Liang recounted his ascension through several worlds and revealed that his cultivation had reached the shattering realm.
• Ding Ling invited Zhuge Liang to stay with him and offered to guide him personally, and Zhuge Liang gladly accepted.

After mastering the Jade Clarity Immortal Method, Ding Ling led Zhuge Liang and the others to the capital to kill Pudu Cihang and rebuild the empire as the Great Ming Empire. Pudu Cihang learned that Ding Ling had arrived and prepared to confront him, intent on recovering his Human Tribulation Immortal Pills.

• Ding Ling guided Zhuge Liang, Zhi Qiu Yiye, Wu Mian, and the others in learning the Jade Clarity Immortal Method, then invited them to accompany him to the capital.
• Ding Ling used the Ground Shrinking Step to bring the group from the Kunlun Mountains to the capital, where he sensed Pudu Cihang cultivating at the National Preceptor's residence.
• Ding Ling entered the city openly as citizens and players recognized him, and some players hurried to report his arrival to Pudu Cihang.
• Pudu Cihang learned from the informants that Ding Ling was at the western city gate and resolved to kill him and reclaim the three Human Tribulation Immortal Pills.

Ding Ling confronted Pudu Cihang at the western city gate and effortlessly killed the demon, exposing the Centipede Spirit that had controlled the imperial court. He brought its body to the National Preceptor's residence and began extracting its memories and Demon Core.

• Pudu Cihang seized the two players who reported Ding Ling and forced them to guide him to the western city gate.
• Pudu Cihang unleashed the Soul-Reaping Sanskrit, killing the two players, but Ding Ling immobilized him and attacked with lightning, fire, and the Divine Whip.
• Ding Ling destroyed Pudu Cihang's human shell, revealed his demonic body, shattered his soul, and moved the corpse to the National Preceptor's residence.
• Zhuge Liang, Zhi Qiu Yiye, and the others recognized that a great demon had controlled the imperial court, while An Ru grew more fearful of Ding Ling.
• Ding Ling extracted memories and a golden Demon Core from the Centipede Spirit's corpse, then refined its energy to strengthen his Martial Nascent Soul.

Ding Ling refined Pudu Cihang’s Demon Core, then entered the Imperial Palace and discovered that the court officials and emperor had been replaced by Centipede Spirits. He appointed Zhuge Liang and others to rebuild the government and unify the Nine Provinces, while the empire’s corrupted qi luck revealed itself as a hundred-legged centipede that he planned to devour.

• Ding Ling mastered dozens of techniques, refined Pudu Cihang’s Demon Core, and raised his true force to 662 points.
• Ding Ling found Centipede Spirits inside the hollowed-out bodies of the imperial officials and destroyed them with Jade Clarity Immortal Lightning.
• Ding Ling appointed Zhuge Liang as Prime Minister, An Ru as Minister of War, and Zhi Qiu Yiye as Minister of Revenue, ordering them to unify the Nine Provinces within a year.
• Ding Ling saw the empire’s qi luck dragon dissolve and expose a hundred-legged centipede that tried to attack him but recoiled from his protective energies.
• Ding Ling resolved to establish a new imperial court, win the people’s recognition, and devour the qi luck centipede.

Ding Ling returned to Guobei County to bring Chief Zuo, Fu Qingfeng, Fu Yuechi, and the others to the capital, while sensing the growing threat of the gods’ Emotional Power. He resisted its colored lines and reached the inn, where Fu Qingfeng and Fu Yuechi welcomed him.

• Ding Ling decided to retrieve Chief Zuo, Fu Qingfeng, and the others from Guobei County and set out from the capital.
• Ding Ling saw that the gods’ Emotional Power was intensifying over Guobei County and spotted a hidden white dot, but chose not to investigate it.
• When Ding Ling entered the county, the colored lines attacked him but were repelled by his Merit Golden Light and the Library.
• Ding Ling reached the inn, where the Qilin Horses recognized him and Fu Qingfeng and Fu Yuechi waved to him from a second-floor window.

Ding Ling returned to Guobei County, bringing hope to Fu Tianchou, Chief Zuo, Fu Yuechi, and Fu Qingfeng amid the demonic crisis. He discovered Ning Caichen had begun cultivating the Heavenly Evasion Swordplay and told the group to prepare to travel with him to Lanruo Temple before returning to the capital.

• Ding Ling appeared in Guobei County, and Fu Yuechi, Fu Qingfeng, Fu Tianchou, and Chief Zuo rejoiced at his return.
• Ning Caichen recognized Ding Ling and revealed that Chen Jinnan had accepted him as a disciple and taught him cultivation.
• Ding Ling identified Ning Caichen's technique as the Heavenly Evasion Swordplay and learned that Chen Jinnan had disappeared above Guobei County.
• Ding Ling told Fu Qingfeng and the others to prepare to go to Lanruo Temple and then return to the capital.
• Chief Zuo asked whether they would restore order in the imperial court and the world.

Ding Ling left Guobei County with Fu Tianchou, Fu Qingfeng, and the others to move against the imperial court, while warning Ning Caichen that the county was affecting his mind. After players and Ascenders fled Guobei County, Ning Caichen realized Ding Ling had no reason to deceive him and began packing to leave as well.

• Ning Caichen stayed behind because he had promised Chen Jinnan he would wait, though he hoped to pursue an official career and reunite with Xiaoqian.
• Fu Yuechi told Ning Caichen they could meet again in the capital if he studied and passed the imperial examinations, and Ning Caichen wished Ding Ling success.
• Ding Ling noticed that Colored Threads had eroded Ning Caichen's mind and warned him to leave Guobei County if he felt restless or unlike himself.
• Ding Ling used the Ground Shrinking Step to head for Lanruo Temple, and Fu Tianchou, Fu Qingfeng, Fu Yuechi, and the others followed on Qilin Horses.
• Players realized Guobei County was influencing their emotions, and players and Ascenders began fleeing the county.
• After seeing the inn and streets empty out, Ning Caichen remembered his strange jealousy of Ding Ling and hurried to pack so he could leave.

Ning Caichen’s Master Chen Jinnan returned in a violent, uncontrolled state, and Ning Caichen turned to Ding Ling for help. At Lanruo Temple, Yan Chixia mistook Ding Ling for the monster impersonating him until Ding Ling proved his identity, and the group welcomed him.

• Ning Caichen left a letter for Chen Jinnan with the innkeeper, who threw it away, so Chen Jinnan killed him and a shop assistant before suddenly fleeing after recognizing Ning Caichen.
• Ning Caichen found the inn full of victims and headed back to Lanruo Temple to seek Ding Ling’s help.
• Yan Chixia attacked Ding Ling, mistaking him for the fake Ding Ling, then tried to flee with the female ghosts in his paper umbrella.
• Ding Ling demonstrated his sword techniques, Thunder Magic, and Merit Golden Light to prove he was genuine.
• Yan Chixia and the female ghosts recognized Ding Ling and rejoiced that he was alive.

Ding Ling reunited with Yan Chixia and the others, who explained how a monster disguised as him had attacked them. When a mysterious eight-foot-tall swordsman appeared and fought Ding Ling, the battle escalated as the swordsman unleashed a giant sword and a torrent of blades.

• Yan Chixia and the beauties told Ding Ling that a convincing fake had ambushed them at Lanruo Temple, and Diao Chan had exposed it before it could kill Yan Chixia.
• Ding Ling learned that Nie Xiaoqian and Xi Shi were still in the Underworld and agreed to wait for the fake Ding Ling.
• Chief Zuo arrived on horseback but was knocked down by Sword Qi, and Ding Ling appeared beside him and shattered the attack.
• An eight-foot-tall man with a Heavenly Eye attacked Ding Ling, who blocked his strike and immobilized him with the Immobilization Spell.
• The swordsman’s Primordial Spirit entered his divine sword, transforming it into a hundred-zhang giant sword that unleashed a torrent of blades at Ding Ling.

Ding Ling repeatedly fought the divided spirits of Chen Jinnan, whose righteous souls sacrificed themselves to weaken the evil spirit. Before destroying his remaining soul, Chen Jinnan asked Ding Ling to look after his disciple Ning Caichen, leaving the evil spirit barely holding together.

• Ding Ling split the enemy spirit with the Divine Whip, and Chen Jinnan’s righteous spirit sacrificed itself to blast a hole through the evil spirit.
• Ding Ling struck again, causing another righteous spirit to destroy itself and weaken the evil spirit further.
• Chen Jinnan revealed his identity and admitted that he had lost most of his soul and spirits, while Yan Chixia and Chief Zuo challenged his claim that the chaotic spirit represented all living beings.
• Chen Jinnan asked Ding Ling to care for his disciple Ning Caichen, then sacrificed his remaining soul to wound the evil spirit again.
• Ding Ling lashed the weakened evil spirit twice more with the Divine Whip.

Ding Ling extracted the ancient lid from the iridescent mist, but Chen Jinnan’s remaining souls dispersed and he died. After learning the circumstances, Ding Ling examined Chen Jinnan’s lingering memories and discovered that he had entered the white-dot space near Guobei County.

• Ding Ling repeatedly struck the iridescent mist with the Divine Whip, extracted Chen Jinnan’s remaining souls, and pulled an ancient lid from the mist.
• Ding Ling stored the struggling lid, and the iridescent mist shattered into colored threads as Chen Jinnan’s remaining souls began to disperse.
• Ning Caichen arrived, saw Chen Jinnan’s soul disappearing, and accused Ding Ling before Yan Chixia explained that Chen Jinnan had been possessed and was a danger to others.
• Ning Caichen learned what had happened between Ding Ling and Chen Jinnan, then stood grieving and ashamed over his master’s death.
• Ding Ling used his Sword Domain to examine Chen Jinnan’s lingering memories and learned that he had entered the white-dot space near Guobei County.

Ding Ling learned that Chen Jinnan had been ensnared by the Iron Coffin lid’s Colored Threads and mastered several techniques, including the methods for refining and activating the Heavenly Eye. After gaining the ability to see the hidden Ethereal Gate near Guobei County, Ding Ling promised to protect Ning Caichen and prepared to return to the capital.

• Ding Ling concluded that the Divine Domain in Chen Jinnan’s memories was a small space connected to the Iron Coffin lid near Guobei County.
• Ding Ling fully mastered the Heavenly Evasion Swordplay and added three points of Mana to his Middle Dantian, then mastered several other techniques.
• Ding Ling refined Chen Jinnan’s Heavenly Eye, installed it on his forehead, and used it to see through the formations surrounding the Ethereal Gate.
• Ding Ling told Yan Chixia and Ning Caichen that he had obtained Chen Jinnan’s Heavenly Eye and promised to protect Ning Caichen and help him gain the ability to defend himself.
• Ding Ling decided to return to the capital, have the Guobei County magistrate post warnings, and investigate the City of Wrongful Deaths after the Nine Provinces were unified.

Ding Ling traveled toward the capital with Yan Chixia, Ning Caichen, and Fu Qingfeng’s group, avoiding Yin-Yang Road for now. Along the way, he accepted Wanwan and Shi Feixuan as disciples, then assigned the former enemies to guard his door after they reached the capital.

• Ding Ling decided not to enter Yin-Yang Road because he could not resist the Iron Coffin deity’s Emotional Power, and planned to investigate the City of Wrongful Deaths through players later.
• Ding Ling set out for the capital with his companions, using Ground Shrinking Step while slowing down at times to keep pace with Chief Zuo and the others.
• Wanwan met Ding Ling on the road and asked to become his disciple, and Ding Ling accepted her after recognizing her as a Dragon Seed-level genius.
• Shi Feixuan objected to Wanwan’s recruitment, then asked Ding Ling to accept her too, and Ding Ling granted her request.
• After reaching the capital, Ding Ling did not summon Wanwan or Shi Feixuan and instead assigned the two longtime enemies to guard his door.

Ding Ling established a new Imperial Court and began restoring order, while Zhuge Wolong left prison to see whether the stories about the new emperor were true. After hearing praise for the capital’s transformation, Zhuge Wolong remained impressed by what he found.

• Chief Zuo and Fu Tianchou learned that Pudu Cihang had killed the former emperor, then agreed with Zhuge Liang’s proposal that Ding Ling become emperor.
• Ding Ling announced that imperial examinations would be held in three months and that players, natives, and Ascenders could all compete for official posts.
• A player persuaded Zhuge Wolong to leave the southern dungeon and travel to the capital to meet Ding Ling.
• Zhuge Wolong saw the capital’s crowds and prosperity, then heard an old woman praise the new Imperial Court for suppressing criminals and improving people’s lives.
• Zhuge Wolong questioned elderly people around the capital and heard widespread approval of the current Imperial Court.

Zhuge Wolong saw how Emperor Ding Ling had restored order to the capital and traveled to the Prime Minister's Residence, where many powerful Ascenders had gathered to seek the Emperor's favor. He learned that Ding Ling planned to select disciples for the Nine Provinces Divine Sect and began to suspect that the player's claims about the Emperor had been true.

• Zhuge Wolong listened as elders praised the Imperial Court's swift restoration of order and the promising posts their relatives had received.
• Zhuge Wolong arrived at the Prime Minister's Residence and resolved to serve under the Emperor and Prime Minister Zhuge after seeing what they had accomplished.
• Zhuge Wolong found many formidable Ascenders waiting to pay their respects, including Guihai Yidao, Shangguan Haitang, Zhu Wushi, Shi Zhixuan, Zhu Yuyan, and Li Xunhuan.
• Zhu Wushi revealed that the Emperor would choose talented Ascenders as the first disciples of the Nine Provinces Divine Sect, giving them priority in cultivating immortal arts and True Arts.
• Shi Zhixuan explained that he had witnessed Ding Ling kill Pudu Cihang and that the Emperor's reputation from the Lower Realm had drawn the Ascenders to seek his favor.
• Zhuge Wolong wondered what title Ding Ling had held in the Lower Realm and began to doubt his earlier disbelief in the player's stories.