Chapter Summaries

After cultivating ten experts, Ding Ling sent them to help build the Nine Provinces Divine Sect and selected Wanwan, Shi Feixuan, Zhuge Liang, Huai Kong, and Nameless for further cultivation. His choices stirred excitement and envy among the people gathered at the construction site.

• Ding Ling’s disciples reached new cultivation realms, bringing Task 1 progress to 56%, and he ordered them to assist Zhuge Liang and Zhuge Wolong with construction.
• Guihai Yidao and the others left the Scroll World and told the Zhuge Prime Ministers how Ding Ling had helped them advance, leaving the gathered people eager to be chosen.
• Ding Ling selected Wanwan and Shi Feixuan, who both reacted with excitement, while Wanwan resented Shi Feixuan’s composed display of gratitude.
• Ding Ling called Zhuge Liang, but Zhuge Liang chose to finish the construction project before cultivating, and Zhuge Wolong followed his lead.
• Ding Ling selected Huai Kong and Nameless, prompting the two recent arrivals to feel grateful and somewhat embarrassed as the others looked on enviously.

Ding Ling expanded the Nine Provinces Divine Sect by training more high-level experts and lecturing over a million disciples in the Heavenly Evasion Swordplay. The sect’s middle ranks grew and Task 1 reached 85%, but further progress would require strengthening its lower ranks.

• Ding Ling cultivated forty more experts over ten years in the Scroll World, including ten who reached Tribulation Transcendence, while Task 1 stalled at 70%.
• Ding Ling transferred more than a million disciples into the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram and set cultivation thresholds for their sect ranks before lecturing them on the Heavenly Evasion Swordplay.
• Sima Liao condensed a Grade Eight Sword Embryo during the lecture and continued listening to Ding Ling.
• Ding Ling ended the ten-month lecture, assigned the disciples to report to Prime Minister Zhuge, and surveyed the completed Nine Provinces Divine Sect.
• Ding Ling saw Task 1 rise to 85% as the sect’s middle ranks expanded and concluded that growing its lower ranks would be necessary for further progress.

The Nine Provinces Divine Sect established its mortal-world headquarters at the former Kunlun Sect after its disciples completed construction of the territory. Players gathered there hoping Ding Ling would choose them for advancement, while Sima Liao patrolled the mountain, proud of the status his selection had brought him.

• Shi Zhixuan, Zhu Yuyan, and the other Ten Disciples spread through the mortal world recruiting and teaching disciples according to their methods.
• Ding Ling ordered the Ten Disciples to bring their recruits to the Nine Provinces Divine Sect on the Kunlun Heavenly Tree, and An Ru gave up the former Kunlun Sect site for its branch.
• The Zhuge Prime Ministers and the sect's Grand Elders, elders, and Core Disciples completed construction across the Kunlun small world and the surrounding territory.
• Players admired the new headquarters and discussed how Ding Ling's chosen disciples, especially Sima Liao and the other thirty-five players, had gained strength and status.
• Some players tried to attract Li Xunhuan, Shangguan Haitang, Lu Bu, and others in hopes of being chosen, while Sima Liao overheard them during his patrol and continued on proudly.

Ding Ling reviewed the martial arts and scriptures collected by his disciples, mastered the Longevity Formula and other techniques, and established ranks and cultivation rules for the Nine Provinces Divine Sect. As the sect’s disciples rapidly advanced in the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram, Ding Ling prepared to rely on them in future worlds.

• Sima Liao became an even more devoted fan of Ding Ling and vowed to defend his idol against anyone who insulted him.
• Ding Ling read the sect’s growing collection in the Jade Clarity Palace, maxed out the Longevity Formula and Little Li Flying Dagger, and advanced Martial Dao True Understanding 3.0.
• Ding Ling summoned Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Wolong, Yan Chixia, and the Ten Disciples, then set ranks and regulations for the Nine Provinces Divine Sect.
• Ding Ling announced that qualified disciples could cultivate in the Heavenly Court’s Mountains and Rivers State Diagram, where the Map Spirit had recorded his lectures.
• As the sect grew, Inner Sect Disciples advanced into higher ranks after cultivating in the Diagram, including Ascenders such as You Ruo, Mingyue, and Consort Yu.

You Ruo, Mingyue, Consort Yu, and the other ascenders pursued merit missions to keep cultivating in the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram. Outside Lanruo Temple, the Human Realm’s forces grew stronger as they fought the Black Mountain Old Demon’s forces, while he remained wary of Ding Ling and the rising experts.

• You Ruo left the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram after ten years of cultivation and resolved to earn merits so she could return to train.
• Mingyue, Consort Yu, and the others followed You Ruo to complete missions, with Consort Yu eager to work alongside Xiang Yu.
• Several years later, the Ten Disciples, Prime Minister Zhuge, players, and Ascenders had built fortified cities near Lanruo Temple and gathered there to fight demons from the Yin-Yang Road.
• The Black Mountain Old Demon watched the Human Realm’s strength snowball and grew alarmed as more Tribulation Transcendence-stage experts appeared.
• The Black Mountain Old Demon failed to lure Ding Ling into his trap, but he killed Hou Xibai, provoking Shi Zhixuan to swear revenge.

Black Mountain Old Demon worried that Pandora's Box was weakening and that Ding Ling had become too powerful to confront, so he tried to use Nie Xiaoqian and Xi Shi as envoys to seek peace. When they refused, he chose Hou Xibai to deliver his message instead.

• Black Mountain Old Demon ordered an invasion of the Human Realm to stir up chaos and replenish Pandora's Box with Emotional Power.
• Black Mountain Old Demon sent a carefully cultivated incarnation through the Underworld Yin-Yang Road, but a thunderbolt destroyed it before it left Lanruo Temple's territory.
• Black Mountain Old Demon suspected Ding Ling had killed his incarnation and feared that Ding Ling could defeat him with ease.
• Black Mountain Old Demon asked Nie Xiaoqian and Xi Shi to negotiate peace with Ding Ling, but Xi Shi refused and Nie Xiaoqian stayed silent.
• Black Mountain Old Demon abandoned his attempt to persuade the women and sent Hou Xibai's soul as an envoy instead.

Hou Xibai escaped Black Mountain Old Demon's threat and sought Ding Ling's help removing the forbidden curse. Ding Ling cured him and offered him a path to cultivate or reincarnate, while the others prepared to destroy Black Mountain Old Demon and his evil forces.

• Black Mountain Old Demon cursed Hou Xibai and forced him to leave the Netherworld Yin-Yang Road to carry out his demand.
• Yan Chixia recognized Hou Xibai among the Sword Cultivators and brought him to the formation, where Hou Xibai explained what had happened.
• Shi Zhixuan took Hou Xibai to the Imperial Palace, where Ding Ling used Qi Luck to remove Pandora's Box's curse and stabilized his soul with true qi.
• Ding Ling gave Hou Xibai a Ghost Qi refining method and told him he could cultivate or reincarnate after Black Mountain Old Demon and the other evil forces were destroyed.
• Shi Zhixuan and Hou Xibai thanked Ding Ling, while Wanwan and Shi Feixuan recalled that a Jade Clarity Immortal Lightning had killed Black Mountain Old Demon's clone outside Lanruo Temple.

Ding Ling mastered the Great Country Temple’s Buddhist Golden Body technique and forged a faith-powered Golden Body to wear away the spirit inside Pandora’s Box. As he focused on strengthening it and advancing Mission 1 by extending the Divine Sect into the Underworld, another year passed with Wanwan and Shi Feixuan still standing guard.

• Ding Ling concluded that Mission 1 remained incomplete because the Nine Provinces Divine Sect had not yet established its power in the Underworld.
• Ding Ling mastered the Great Country Temple’s techniques, bringing Martial Dao True Understanding 3.0 to 95% progress and improving his control over the Luck Golden Dragon.
• Ding Ling mastered the Buddhist Golden Body technique and used faith from the Moon and Human Realm to forge a Golden Body without placing his soul inside it.
• Ding Ling tested the Golden Body against Pandora’s Box’s lid and found that it rapidly wore down the spirit but nearly collapsed after five breaths.
• Ding Ling withdrew the weakening Golden Body and decided to strengthen it toward Great Perfection while continuing to use the Luck Golden Dragon against the spirit.
• Another year passed as Wanwan and Shi Feixuan continued standing guard without complaint.

After a year in seclusion, Ding Ling completed his Buddhist Golden Body and used it to wear down Pandora's Box, weakening Black Mountain Old Demon. Black Mountain sent a disguised Ghost General toward the capital amid a massive battle with the Human Realm forces.

• Ding Ling's Buddhist Golden Body reached Great Perfection and the Tribulation Transcendence stage after a year of cultivation.
• Ding Ling used the Faith Golden Body to grind down Pandora's Box, weakening it and its spirit over half a month.
• Black Mountain Old Demon realized Ding Ling was likely behind the damage and decided to send a spy to the capital.
• Black Mountain Old Demon hid a sliver of his consciousness in a Ghost General disguised as a ghost soldier.
• Black Mountain Old Demon sent a million Ghost Soldiers into battle against the Human Realm's Sword Cultivators, who gained the advantage with Yan Chixia, Zhi Qiu Yiye, five of the Ten Disciples, and others fighting alongside them.

You Ruo, Fu Yuechi, Consort Yu, and Mingyue helped destroy Black Mountain Old Demon's million-strong ghost army, and Mingyue killed the Ghost General carrying his consciousness fragment. After his escape attempts failed, Black Mountain Old Demon recruited and cursed the newly ascended player Tian Yan, promising him power in exchange for cooperation.

• You Ruo, Fu Yuechi, Consort Yu, and Mingyue cut down Ghost Soldiers and Ghost Generals, and Mingyue beheaded the Ghost General carrying Black Mountain Old Demon's consciousness fragment.
• Black Mountain Old Demon sent more than a hundred consciousness fragments out through the army, but every escape attempt failed and he recalled the remnants of his forces.
• Black Mountain Old Demon lost nearly all of his million Ghost Soldiers and realized he would have to wait for new ghosts to gather strength.
• Seven days later, Black Mountain Old Demon's forces captured Tian Yan, a newly ascended player, and he threatened and cursed him into accepting a mission.
• Black Mountain Old Demon offered Tian Yan peerless techniques and promised to make him an immortal demon god, leaving Tian Yan stunned by the prospect of immortality.

Tian Yan escaped from Lanruo Temple after cooperating with Black Mountain Old Demon, then spent months trying to learn what Ding Ling had been doing in seclusion. He discovered that Ding Ling had destroyed Black Mountain Old Demon and swept through the Underworld, leaving Tian Yan to seek advice on joining the Nine Provinces Divine Sect.

• Tian Yan escaped Fortress Dungeon with help from other players and fled far from Guobei County.
• Tian Yan discussed the Nine Provinces Divine Sect with players, then chose to finish Black Mountain Old Demon's task before pursuing a place in the sect.
• Tian Yan waited months near the Imperial Palace, where he learned that Ding Ling had spent nearly two years wearing down a peerless treasure or great demon king's soul.
• Tian Yan returned to Lanruo Temple and learned from the forums that Ding Ling had killed Black Mountain Old Demon's second incarnation, shattered the City of Wrongful Deaths, and rescued heroes from the Eighteen Levels of Hell Tower.
• Tian Yan lamented losing his promised reward and posted online asking how he could quickly join the Nine Provinces Divine Sect.

After destroying the spirit inside Pandora’s Box, Ding Ling entered the Underworld to clear out its evil ghosts and restore order. He killed the second-generation Black Mountain Old Demon with one slap and arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion.

• Ding Ling destroyed Pandora’s Box’s spirit at the cost of a Buddhist Golden Body and half the Luck Golden Dragon’s Fortune Power.
• Ding Ling left the Imperial Study with Wanwan and Shi Feixuan and flew to Lanruo Temple.
• Ding Ling ordered his disciples and allies to clear the Underworld of evil ghosts and demons, then entered through the Netherworld Yin-Yang Road.
• Ding Ling reached the City of Wrongful Deaths and killed the second-generation Black Mountain Old Demon with one slap.
• Ding Ling received a B-Rank Achievement Medal for overwhelming the second-generation Black Mountain Old Demon and went to the City Lord’s Mansion.

Ding Ling freed the spirits imprisoned in the City of Wrongful Deaths after killing the second-generation Black Mountain Old Demon, then destroyed the city. He gained the demon’s techniques and memories, bringing Martial Dao True Understanding 3.0 to 96%.

• Ding Ling reunited with Xi Shi and Nie Xiaoqian, comforted them, and asked Yan Chixia and the others to help them recover.
• Ding Ling shattered the barrier imprisoning the spirits and freed them from the City of Wrongful Deaths.
• Ding Ling destroyed the City of Wrongful Deaths with one palm strike, and the freed spirits recognized him as Your Majesty and thanked him.
• The five great disciples saw the city’s destruction and praised Ding Ling for resolving the Underworld’s troubles so quickly.
• Ding Ling extracted the second-generation Black Mountain Old Demon’s memories and techniques, raised them all to full level, and advanced Martial Dao True Understanding 3.0 to 96%.
• Ding Ling gathered the Underworld’s Ghost Qi into Ghost Pearls for future use.

Ding Ling rescued Ning Caichen from the River of Oblivion and discovered that he had lost his Fushi Spirit, so he used the Soul Summoning Art to seek the missing soul. After defeating the Three-Headed Hellhound, Ding Ling entered the Eighteen Levels of Hell Tower with his companions, where Zhi Qiu Yiye charged at the demons tormenting human ancestors.

• Ding Ling pulled Ning Caichen from the River of Oblivion and learned from Zhi Qiu Yiye that Ning Caichen had lost his Fushi Spirit.
• Nie Xiaoqian embraced Ning Caichen, calming his cries, and begged Ding Ling to restore his lost soul.
• Ding Ling used Ning Caichen's spiritual soul energy to cast the Soul Summoning Art and followed the soul's trace deeper into the Underworld.
• Ding Ling killed the Three-Headed Hellhound guarding the Eighteen Levels of Hell Tower, learned its Mental Secret Art and Blood Refinement Art, and took its Demon Core.
• Ding Ling entered the Tongue-Pulling Hell and saw demons tormenting human ancestors, so Zhi Qiu Yiye rushed forward to attack them.

Ding Ling and his companions rescued Bao Zheng and other human sages from the Hell Tower, and they pledged themselves to the Human Sovereign. They continued to the Scissors Hell, where Yue Fei and other Southern Song figures were also freed.

• Zhi Qiu Yiye killed the demons guarding Bao Zheng and the other sages while Yan Chixia and the others rescued them.
• Bao Zheng learned that Ding Ling had restored human rule, then introduced himself and pledged to serve the Human Sovereign alongside the other sages.
• Ding Ling accepted Bao Zheng and the sages, and the group continued deeper into the Hell Tower as Nie Xiaoqian waited anxiously beside Ning Caichen.
• Ding Ling approved Zhi Qiu Yiye's pursuit of the fleeing demons while Yan Chixia and the others rescued the sages in the Scissors Hell.
• Bao Zheng recognized Yue Fei, who brought Yue Yun, Zhang Xian, and other Southern Song sages to greet Ding Ling.

Ding Ling rescued famous Tang generals and sages from the lower levels of the Eighteen Levels of Hell Tower, while Zhi Qiu Yiye recovered Ning Caichen’s seventh soul. After the sages revealed that they were not their true selves and planned to reincarnate in this world, Ding Ling accompanied them toward the path of reincarnation.

• Ding Ling rescued Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong, Yuchi Gong, and other Tang generals from the third level, then continued downward.
• Ding Ling rescued Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, and other famous Tang figures from the fourth level, and they bowed to him after learning he was the Human Sovereign.
• Zhi Qiu Yiye gave Ding Ling Ning Caichen’s seventh soul, and Ding Ling used the Soul Summoning Secret Art to restore Ning Caichen, who joyfully reunited with Nie Xiaoqian.
• Ding Ling met Confucius, Mencius, Mozi, and other sages, who praised him and explained that they were not their true selves and knew little about the Upper Realm.
• The sages said they would reincarnate in this world, and Ding Ling accompanied them toward the path of reincarnation.

Ding Ling rebuilt the Underworld by appointing historical generals and ministers to govern it, while several companions reincarnated in the Human Realm. After months of restoring order and gathering faith, he completed Task 1 and planned to ascend to the Upper Realm.

• Confucius, Mencius, and the other sages reincarnated in the Human Realm, while Ding Ling asked Bao Zheng, Yue Fei, and the other generals to manage the Underworld.
• Bao Zheng and the other Famous Generals joined the Nine Provinces Divine Sect, trained with the Netherworld Qi Refining Technique, and took up posts among the Underworld’s rulers and officials.
• Ding Ling let Ning Caichen, Nie Xiaoqian, Xi Shi, Hou Xibai, and the others reincarnate in the Human Realm after they pledged to serve him in their next lives.
• As the Ten Yama Kings and their allies restored the Underworld, Task 1’s progress rose steadily, and Ding Ling returned to the imperial court to gather Faith Power.
• Months later, Ding Ling completed Task 1, found his qi luck comparable to that of a Sage, and decided to finish his work in this realm before ascending to the Upper Realm.

Ding Ling advanced his Martial Dao True Understanding and raised his two Qilin Horses to Primordial Spirit Great Perfection. After hearing that the reincarnations of sages and other notable figures had been born, he returned to the capital and arranged for them to be raised as disciples.

• Ding Ling read the books and techniques preserved by Yue Fei and others, bringing his Martial Dao True Understanding to 97%.
• Ding Ling used Demon Cores and other pills to help his Qilin Horses evolve and cultivate to Primordial Spirit Great Perfection.
• Ding Ling rode to the capital, where Prime Minister Zhuge and the others briefed him on the reincarnated children.
• Ding Ling discovered that the children, including the reincarnations of Confucius, Mencius, Nie Xiaoqian, and Xi Shi, possessed exceptional innate talent.
• Ding Ling approved the disciples’ requests to take the children as students, and they chose their disciples while Ding Ling reassured the children’s parents.

Ding Ling arranged for the reincarnated Sages and prodigies to be raised by their parents and disciples, then prepared a vast group of followers to ascend with him. Before leaving, he appointed Zhuge Wolong emperor and handed over the affairs of the peaceful Three Realms.

• Li Xunhuan, Feng Qingyang, Yan Chixia, and the others took the reincarnated Sages as disciples, while Ding Ling allowed their parents to accompany them.
• Ding Ling anticipated that the prodigies would eventually join his Nine Provinces Divine Sect and help him in other worlds.
• Ding Ling selected one thousand core disciples and had each choose one hundred followers, preparing one hundred thousand people to ascend with him.
• Ding Ling gave the imperial throne to Zhuge Wolong and told him to seek help from Vice Sect Leader Zhou Chu if trouble arose.
• Zhuge Liang, Xiang Yu, and the others handed over their duties as Ding Ling prepared to ascend.
• Ding Ling's strict laws and punishments had made the Three Realms peaceful, and unruly Ascenders learned to change their violent ways after being imprisoned.

Ding Ling prepared to ascend by arranging the transfer of the world’s population and clearing the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram, then traveled to Ten Mile Pavilion outside Chang'an. There, he encountered Cheng Shifei and Yunluo and asked why they had not joined the Nine Provinces Divine Sect.

• The Zhuge Prime Ministers and Ding Ling agreed to send cultivators to the Upper Realm regularly as the peaceful world’s opportunities to earn merit dwindled.
• Ding Ling emptied the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram onto the moon so he could take the diagram with him when he ascended, and he explained the decision to Zhou Chu.
• Ding Ling encouraged Zhou Chu to choose a successor as Vice Sect Leader so Zhou Chu could eventually ascend too.
• Ding Ling rode a Qilin Horse to Ten Mile Pavilion outside Chang'an, where Cheng Shifei and Yunluo greeted him and asked whether he had come to open the Sky Ladder.
• Ding Ling recognized Cheng Shifei and Yunluo as characters from World's Finest and asked why they had not joined the Nine Provinces Divine Sect.