Chapter Summaries

Xiang Yu and the Jiangdong forces joined Han Xin’s expedition after Xiang Yu gained permission to cultivate the Battle Immortal Art, and they swept through the southern lands while searching for Yi Xiaochuan. In Xianyang, former Qin nobles read about Great Ming’s expanding conquests and new technologies, while Hu Hai resolved to learn martial arts; Great Ming’s powerful ministers and generals continued consolidating the empire.

• Xiang Liang and Xiang Zhuang admitted defeat and joined Han Xin, and Xiang Yu began cultivating the Battle Immortal Art with remarkable speed.
• Xiang Yu and the expeditionary army used their martial arts and Ding Ling’s North Dipper Defense Talisman to conquer the poisonous southern region and its small countries.
• Xiang Yu asked about Yi Xiaochuan, ordered Xiang Zhuang to seek news through Gao Yao, and said Yi should be captured if he opposed Ding Ling.
• Xiang Yu set out to finish conquering the southern countries before crossing the sea to attack the land where kangaroos lived.
• Fusu, Li Si, Meng Tian, and Hu Hai read reports of Great Ming’s worldwide victories and discussed its rapid changes, while Hu Hai insisted that he would learn martial arts.
• Han Xin ruled Great Ming as emperor, Zhang Liang served as Prime Minister, and Xiang Yu and other renowned generals and ministers helped secure the expanding empire.

Great Ming expanded its power and technology while foreign rulers sought first-class citizenship and access to its martial arts. Years after disappearing, Yi Xiaochuan returned to Xianyang, where Xiao Yue told Gao Yao that he had come looking for him, and Yi Xiaochuan prepared to witness Ding Ling’s announced ascension.

• Han Xin refused the Eastern Ocean King's tearful request to make Japanese people first-class citizens, and the Goguryeo King resolved to pursue the same status.
• Great Ming's academies and Nine Provinces Divine Sect trained many powerful officials, while foreign rulers bribed students for basic breathing methods and hoped to win Ding Ling's favor.
• Yi Xiaochuan traveled to Xianyang after reading that Ding Ling would soon ascend there, hoping to learn the truth about the changed world.
• Yi Xiaochuan mistook Xiao Yue for Gao Lan, but she corrected him and said she had come from the palace.
• Xiao Yue told Gao Yao that Yi Xiaochuan was waiting, and Gao Yao excitedly called him a friend who had been missing for seven or eight years.

Yi Xiaochuan reunited with Gao Yao at the prosperous Gao Family Restaurant after years of wandering and hardship. He learned that Xiao Yue, who looked exactly like Gao Lan, had agreed to marry Xiang Yu, and Xiang Yu’s remarkable achievements deepened Yi Xiaochuan’s regret over rejecting Ding Ling.

• Xiao Yue recognized Yi Xiaochuan and welcomed him into the Gao Family Restaurant, where he reflected on the hardships of his years on the road.
• Xiao Yue served Yi Xiaochuan tea, and their conversation reminded him of the twenty-first century before Gao Yao arrived and embraced him.
• Gao Yao offered Yi Xiaochuan half the restaurant’s earnings and explained that he had once hoped to betroth Xiao Yue to him.
• Gao Yao told Yi Xiaochuan that Xiao Yue had agreed to marry Xiang Yu, who had impressed the court with his extraordinary martial prowess.
• Xiao Yue described Xiang Yu’s conquests and Shattered Realm strength, leaving Yi Xiaochuan regretting that he had rejected Ding Ling and the opportunities he once had.

Yi Xiaochuan learned more about Ding Ling’s power and settled into work at Gao Yao’s restaurant while struggling with his feelings for Xiao Yue. As Xiao Yue married Xiang Yu and the day of Ding Ling’s ascension approached, Yi Xiaochuan attended the wedding and faced the distance between himself and his old acquaintances.

• Yi Xiaochuan asked Xiao Yue about Ding Ling and heard stories of famous generals whose abilities differed from those in the history he knew.
• Gao Yao and Xiao Yue shared food and wine with Yi Xiaochuan, and Gao Yao told him he planned to marry the Li Family’s daughter next month.
• As more rulers arrived in Xianyang ahead of Ding Ling’s ascension, Yi Xiaochuan began working at the Gao Family Restaurant and accepted half the earnings to help build a new life.
• Gao Yao brought Yi Xiaochuan to Xiao Yue’s wedding, where Yi Xiaochuan saw Xiang Yu and his old acquaintances again.
• Xiang Liang, Fan Zeng, and Xiang Zhuang kept their distance from Yi Xiaochuan because of his opposition to Ding Ling, while Xiang Yu felt some pity for his frail sworn brother.

After reuniting with Xiang Yu, Yi Xiaochuan began cultivating and learned that Ding Ling would soon ascend to the Martial Arts World. He asked whether he could return to his original world, and Xiang Yu relayed the answer that only an expert able to cross worlds and time might manage it.

• At Gao Yao's restaurant the morning after the wedding, Xiang Yu reconciled with Yi Xiaochuan and offered to teach him a Breathing Method.
• Xiang Yu trained Yi Xiaochuan, who quickly reached the level of a Third-Rate Military General and learned to wield a halberd.
• Xiang Yu told Yi Xiaochuan that Ding Ling would ascend in two days and explained the Nine Provinces Divine Sect and the Upper Realm.
• Yi Xiaochuan asked Xiang Yu to find out whether Ding Ling had brought him to this world and whether he could return to his original world; he revealed that he believed he came from a parallel world.
• Xiang Yu returned the next day with Ding Ling's answer: Yi Xiaochuan could return only if he became powerful enough to overcome the barriers between worlds and time.
• Xiang Yu encouraged Yi Xiaochuan to keep cultivating, and Yi Xiaochuan asked him to become a god and take him home.

After eight years of seclusion, Ding Ling completed an Earth Immortal Perfection Divine Body and mastered more of the Myth World’s Heavenly Dao laws. Before his planned ascension, he took several followers on a journey through space toward the Milky Way’s mysterious central fist imprint.

• Yi Xiaochuan asked Xiang Yu whether Ding Ling had brought him to this world, and Xiang Yu said Ding Ling denied it and would reveal more when Yi Xiaochuan’s cultivation was strong enough.
• Ding Ling stored his perfected Divine Body, reviewed the laws and martial arts he had mastered, and prepared to ascend the next morning.
• Ding Ling chose Zhang Liang, Han Xin, Peng Yue, Zhou Bo, Xiao He, Cao Can, and Ying Bu to accompany him on a final tour of the world.
• Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan saw Ding Ling’s cloud pass overhead, but Xiang Yu realized too late that he had missed the chance to join him.
• Ding Ling carried his followers beyond Earth and the Solar System into the Milky Way, then flew toward the fist imprint at its center.

Ding Ling discovered a dimensional Fist Imprint consuming the Milky Way and used its Baleful Qi and Calamity Qi to strengthen his Divine Body and cultivate Han Xin, Zhang Liang, and the others. After returning to Earth, the group revealed their breakthroughs to the Nine Provinces Divine Sect, leaving Xiang Yu and the others astonished and envious.

• Ding Ling used the Eye of Heavenly Punishment to inspect the Fist Imprint and recognized its dangerous decay power, then sent his Divine Body into its dimensional space to absorb the Baleful Qi and Calamity Qi.
• Ding Ling brought Xiao He, Han Xin, Zhang Liang, and the others into the dimensional space, where they cultivated to their limits as the Divine Body tempered itself and explained the Dao.
• After the Divine Body reached the Paragon Earth Immortal realm, Ding Ling stopped its cultivation, returned the group to the Auspicious Cloud, and heard what seemed to be the Heavenly Dao Consciousness thanking him.
• Ding Ling brought Han Xin and the others back to Earth, where they returned to the Nine Provinces Divine Sect far stronger than before.
• Zhou Bo revealed that Han Xin and Zhang Liang had reached the Martial Golden Core realm, and Xiao He explained their journey to the astonished and envious Xiang Yu, Fan Zeng, and the others.

As Ding Ling ascended to the Upper Realm, people across the Great Ming Empire witnessed the Sky Ladder and began deciding whether to follow him. Lü Zhi and Lü Su eventually ascended after their father died, while Fusu agreed to seek a path beyond his imprisoned life.

• Lü Zhi reunited with Yi Xiaochuan in Xianyang and realized she no longer admired him, while Lü Su revealed she had reached the Martial Grandmaster level.
• Ding Ling arrived in Xianyang, commanded the crowd to rise, and ascended to the Upper Realm on the Sky Ladder.
• Lü Zhi and Lü Su discussed following Ding Ling but chose to remain for the time being because their father was still alive.
• After learning that Ding Ling had ascended, Hu Hai demanded a chance to cultivate, and Fusu agreed to write to Han Xin and stop resisting.
• Xiahou Ying, Guan Ying, Ying Bu, Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, and Zhou Bo ascended one after another; after Lord Lü died and three years of mourning passed, Lü Zhi and Lü Su followed.

Yi Xiaochuan struggled with being left behind as Xiang Yu and Xiao Yue ascended, then encountered Hu Hai in Xianyang. Ding Ling entered The Smiling, Proud Wanderer world and stopped the Imperial Court’s attack on the Nine Provinces Divine Sect, leaving the emperor rushing to Mount Hua to face him.

• Xiang Yu and Xiao Yue ascended, and Yi Xiaochuan worried that he was still too weak to ascend after twenty years of training.
• Gao Yao encouraged Yi Xiaochuan to keep going, explaining that he had a wife and children he could not leave behind to ascend.
• Yi Xiaochuan bumped into Hu Hai in Xianyang, but Hu Hai never returned after going to seek help from Fusu.
• Ding Ling chose The Smiling, Proud Wanderer world and discovered that Yue Buqun and the Nine Provinces Divine Sect were still there.
• Ding Ling appeared as cannonballs were about to strike the God Sect and made them vanish, prompting its disciples and Yue Buqun to kneel.
• The Imperial Court sent Ding Ling an apology, while the emperor hurried by steam train to Mount Hua.

Ding Ling compelled the Imperial Court to obey the law and support the Nine Provinces Divine Sect, then met Yilin and discovered a powerful Buddha soul awakening within her. After leaving Mount Heng, he chose to enter Return of the Condor Heroes, while Players in the Real World continued to struggle without him.

• Ding Ling made the emperor agree to enforce the law equally and help the Nine Provinces Divine Sect cultivate talent, and the emperor later sent his children to study there.
• Yue Buqun told Yue Lingshan and the others that Ding Ling's power had grown so immense that he seemed like a god to mortals.
• Ding Ling visited Yilin at Mount Heng, sensed a Buddha soul awakening inside her, and stopped examining her when his force threatened her Sea of Consciousness.
• Ding Ling left Yilin strengthened by a beam of immortal spirit light, and Yilin decided she should leave the mountain to repay him.
• Ding Ling reviewed reports that Players had been defeated in the New Legend of Madame White Snake World and entered the Return of the Condor Heroes path to see Guo Xiang.

Ding Ling entered the world of Return of the Condor Heroes and intervened when Linghu Geng’s soldiers attacked Unfeeling Valley. After effortlessly defeating them, he learned that Linghu Geng was Linghu Chong and Guo Fu’s son.

• Ding Ling entered the world of Return of the Condor Heroes and used the Divine Meditation Technique to inspect the world and locate its origin.
• Ding Ling arrived at Unfeeling Valley, where Linghu Geng’s soldiers were burning homes, killing residents, and capturing women.
• Gongsun Girl tried to fight Linghu Geng, but he subdued her and threatened her family and the valley.
• Ding Ling sent Linghu Geng’s soldiers flying and knocked Linghu Geng from his horse when they tried to arrest him.
• Linghu Geng identified himself as the son of Linghu Chong and Guo Fu, and Ding Ling sensed that Linghu Chong and Guo Fu were living near the capital with their twins.

Ding Ling killed Linghu Geng, accepted Gongsun Ningbing after her mother Gongsun Lve'e died, and brought her to the capital to train. There, Guo Fu attacked Ningbing over Linghu Geng's death, but Guo Xiang intervened before the strike landed.

• Ding Ling killed Linghu Geng and learned from his memories about his crimes and the current state of the world.
• Gongsun Lve'e refused Ding Ling's offer to revive her and asked him to take in her daughter, Gongsun Ningbing, before she died.
• Ding Ling completed Gongsun Lve'e's funeral, took Gongsun Ningbing to the capital, and taught her the Martial Dao True Understanding until she reached the Innate Realm.
• Guo Fu asked Guo Xiang to help destroy Unfeeling Valley, and Guo Xiang agreed to investigate Linghu Geng's death.
• Gongsun Ningbing delivered a calling card to Guo Xiang, but Guo Fu recognized her and attacked her; Guo Xiang pulled Ningbing away from Guo Fu's sword.

Guo Xiang recognized that Gongsun Ningbing's sect master was her own teacher, Ding Ling, whom Guo Fu suspected of killing Linghu Geng. Guo Jing stopped Guo Fu from seeking revenge by having her confined to the Cold Palace, while Huang Rong learned the details and feared the consequences of Geng's behavior.

• Guo Fu attacked Gongsun Ningbing, but Guo Xiang intervened; Gongsun Ningbing and Guo Fu then fought using Sword God Art.
• Gongsun Ningbing revealed that her sect master had taught her Martial Dao True Understanding and Nine Swords of Dugu, and Guo Xiang recognized the invitation's writing as her Master's.
• Guo Fu insisted on confronting Ding Ling over Linghu Geng's death, so Guo Xiang sent word to Guo Jing and continued toward her Master with Gongsun Ningbing.
• Guo Jing caught up with them, slapped Guo Fu, and ordered the Imperial Guards to confine her in the Cold Palace for eight years.
• Guo Xiang explained the events to Guo Jing and Huang Rong, and Huang Rong realized Linghu Geng's actions had led to the feared outcome.

After Linghu Geng’s death, Guo Jing abdicated in favor of Cao Pi, while Guo Xiang remained with her family instead of following Ding Ling. Ding Ling killed Guo Fu and Linghu Chong when they blocked his way, then ascended to the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils world.

• Huang Rong argued with Guo Jing over Linghu Geng’s death, but Guo Jing insisted that Linghu Geng had brought his fate upon himself.
• Guo Jing and Huang Rong visited Ding Ling, and Guo Jing asked to abdicate; Ding Ling approved and selected Cao Pi as the next emperor.
• Guo Jing abdicated in favor of Cao Pi, and Ding Ling left the world with Gongsun Ningbing after advising Guo Xiang, who chose to stay with her family.
• Guo Fu and Linghu Chong confronted Ding Ling at the ascension Sky Ladder and denounced him for Linghu Geng’s death and Guo Jing’s abdication.
• Ding Ling annihilated Guo Fu, Linghu Chong, and the others blocking the path, then entered the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils world.

Ding Ling reunited with Lin Pingzhi, healed Lin Xinxin, and learned how Lin Pingzhi had married Wanyan Ping and settled in the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils world. He took the family to Chang'an to meet Zhong Ling and the others, where a group of women gathered to welcome him.

• Ding Ling healed Lin Xinxin after she collided with him and discovered that her Root Bone was close to the Dragon Seed level.
• Lin Pingzhi recognized Ding Ling as his master and explained how he had ascended to the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils world, where Wanyan Ping had saved him and later married him.
• Ding Ling met Wanyan Ping and learned that she and Lin Pingzhi had a daughter, Lin Xinxin, whom he offered to cultivate.
• Wanyan Ping told Ding Ling that Xiao Shanhai's domain covered most of the Central Plains and that Chang'an had many Shattering Realm experts and several Golden Core experts.
• Ding Ling decided to visit Xiao Shanhai and took Lin Pingzhi, Wanyan Ping, and Lin Xinxin to Chang'an with Heaven and Earth Shift.
• A green-haired girl and more than a dozen women appeared before Ding Ling, all excited to see him.

Ding Ling reunited with Little Dragon Girl and the others in Chang'an, then helped them cultivate until they reached the Tribulation Transcendence stage. Li Canghai sought his guidance and advanced rapidly, while Duan Zhengchun and Qin Hongmian hoped he would help their family too.

• Xiao Shanhai and Little Dragon Girl welcomed Ding Ling back, and he brought them and his companions to a secluded cultivation refuge in Chang'an.
• Ding Ling taught Little Dragon Girl and the others the 3.0 version of the Martial Dao True Understanding and cultivated with them, helping them reach the Tribulation Transcendence stage within a few months.
• Li Canghai, startled by their rapid progress, asked Ding Ling to guide her, and he began expounding the Dao to her.
• Duan Zhengchun and Qin Hongmian visited and learned that Mu Wanqing had reached the Tribulation Transcendence stage; they asked her to seek Ding Ling's help for Duan Yu and the family.
• Little Dragon Girl went to explain the situation to Qin Hongmian, while Li Canghai continued receiving Ding Ling's guidance and eventually reached the Martial Dharma Image realm.

Ding Ling left the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils world with many companions, while Xiao Feng and Xiao Yuanshan ascended separately and Duan Yu followed Wang Yuyan onto the Sky Ladder. In the Wind and Cloud world, Ding Ling reunited with Nüba and gave her nine strands of Immortal Qi and Immortal techniques, leaving Xiong Ba envious.

• Ding Ling prepared to leave the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils world and advised Little Dragon Girl and the others to cultivate carefully in richer worlds after ascending.
• Little Dragon Girl, Xiao Shanhai, Mu Wanqing, Li Canghai, and others ascended with Ding Ling, while Xiao Feng and Xiao Yuanshan climbed the Sky Ladder after them.
• Duan Yu decided to ascend after learning Wang Yuyan was leaving, and Dao Baifeng followed him despite Duan Zhengchun's protests.
• Wang Yuyan took the sword Mu Wanqing had given her and headed for the Sky Ladder, convinced she needed to ascend to continue advancing.
• Ding Ling arrived in the Wind and Cloud world, found Nüba in her Alternate Dimension, and gave her nine strands of Immortal Qi along with several Immortal techniques.
• After Ding Ling spent time teaching Nüba in the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram, Xiong Ba grew jealous and tried to curry favor with her.

Ding Ling left Xiao Zhao in the Wind and Cloud world and entered the Painting Wall world, where he reunited with Zhang Fei, now the Nine Provinces Divine Sect’s branch leader. He began exploring the new world and planned to read its books before traveling with Zhang Fei.

• Ding Ling helped Xiao Zhao advance her cultivation, then ascended after she and the officials escorted him to the Sky Ladder.
• Ding Ling chose the Painting Wall world over Painted Skin and A Chinese Ghost Story, arriving on its vast continent and finding the Nine Provinces Divine Sect in Yan Country.
• Ding Ling surprised Zhang Fei during his seclusion, and Zhang Fei eagerly welcomed him as the sect’s true leader.
• Zhang Fei told Ding Ling about the sect’s development and offered him the books collected in its Book Vault.
• Ding Ling promised to take Zhang Fei along after reading and sightseeing, while Zhang Fei explained that Buddhist sects dominated the world and often blockaded the Nine Provinces Divine Sect.

Ding Ling mastered the God Sect’s library techniques in a day, then traveled with Zhang Fei to confront the Mingwang Buddhist Sect on Heavenly Fierce Mountain. After Ding Ling killed a monk who attacked them, Master Liao Yun emerged to subdue him.

• Zhang Fei told Ding Ling that the Mingwang Buddhist Sect extorted offerings from other sects and had destroyed a powerful rival.
• Ding Ling read the God Sect’s books, instantly mastering its arts and increasing his attributes, while Zhang Fei watched in amazement.
• Ding Ling instructed Zhang Fei and selected disciples, then teleported with Zhang Fei to the Mingwang Buddhist Sect’s territory.
• A monk attacked Ding Ling and Zhang Fei with the Mountain Word Seal, but Ding Ling turned the conjured mountain against him and killed him.
• The monks reacted to Zen Master Konghui’s death, and Master Liao Yun emerged from seclusion as they called on him to subdue Ding Ling.

Ding Ling destroyed the Mingwang Buddhist Sect’s formations and annihilated its elders, forcing the Buddha to appear and lead a stronger defense. The Buddha’s Ten Directions formation also fell to Ding Ling’s attack, leaving the sect and its followers stunned.

• Master Liao Yun summoned eighteen ancient Buddhas, and they attacked Ding Ling and Zhang Fei with the Two Realms Four Universes Vajra Garbha Grand Formation.
• Ding Ling’s Fiery Inferno Fist burned through the golden dragons and annihilated Master Liao Yun and the eighteen ancient Buddhas.
• The Buddha appeared, summoned more than a hundred elders and Grand Elders, and formed the Two Realms Ten Directions Vajra Garbha Grand Formation.
• Ding Ling used Sinking Thunder Strike to shatter the formation, leaving the Buddha, the sect’s forces, and the watching crowd speechless.