Chapter Summaries

Ding Ling rescued Yuan Tiangang after his failed divination and helped him identify the force possessing Wei Zheng. Yuan Tiangang revealed that North Dipper Star Official Po Jun had used God Descent, while Li Shimin condemned the Heavenly Court and Buddhist School for interfering in Great Tang.

• Ding Ling explained that Wei Zheng was afflicted by a concealed Curse Source and gave Jiao Demon King talismans that could neutralize poison.
• Li Shimin asked Ding Ling to save Yuan Tiangang, who had been badly injured after divining Ding Ling's past.
• Ding Ling used the Spring Autumn Creation Brush to heal Yuan Tiangang and restore his eyes, organs, and spirit.
• At Li Shimin's request, Yuan Tiangang divined Wei Zheng's condition and identified Curse Source No. 3, God Descent, from the Heavenly Path Sequence.
• Yuan Tiangang revealed that North Dipper Star Official Po Jun had descended into Wei Zheng, and Li Shimin denounced the Heavenly Court and Buddhist School for scheming against the human race.

Ding Ling helped Li Shimin expose and treat officials who had undergone God Descent, discovering that their Curse Sources together formed a complete God Descent Curse Source. After absorbing it, Ding Ling learned its function, though the chapter did not reveal what that function was.

• Li Shimin condemned the Buddhist School for allowing the Heavenly Court to infiltrate Great Tang and asked Ding Ling to support the Human Race; Ding Ling agreed to eliminate those who had undergone God Descent.
• At a court assembly, Ding Ling used a Taiji Diagram to strike more than thirty officials, including nine of the Twenty-Four Founding Generals of Lingyan Pavilion.
• Changsun Wuji challenged Li Shimin over the attack, but fell silent after Li Shimin said the officials had undergone God Descent.
• Ding Ling healed the wounded officials and used the Spring Autumn Creation Brush to extract their God Descent Curse Sources.
• Ding Ling absorbed the Curse Sources from all thirty officials, completing Heavenly Path Sequence No. 3 Curse Source: God Descent and understanding its function.

Ding Ling healed officials afflicted by Divine Descent and agreed to aid Great Tang against the Buddhist School and Heavenly Court. After rescuing Wu Zetian, he received intelligence on Buddhist forces in Nanzhan Buzhou and set out to deal with them.

• Ding Ling drew Divine Descent Curse Sources from Fang Xuanling, Qutu Tong, and other officials, then healed them, while Wei Zheng remained a fool because his soul had been damaged.
• Li Shimin and the officials swore their support and asked Ding Ling to help protect the human race; Ding Ling agreed and ordered them to locate Buddhist Arhats, Sangharama, and Vajras.
• Ding Ling went with Li Jing to Wu Zetian's residence and rescued her from Divine Descent, restoring her to her peak condition.
• The officials delivered a report listing Buddhist forces' locations, and Ding Ling left to deal with them, allowing Wu Zetian to accompany him.
• Ding Ling revealed that he could sense nearby Divine Descent Curse Sources and had advanced his own source to Type 2 by suppressing and curing afflicted people around Chang'an.

Ding Ling killed Sitting Deer Arhat and his followers, absorbing their Curse Sources and growing stronger. Ciyun Honored One then confronted him and proposed peace talks.

• Ding Ling realized that incomplete Type 2 Divine Descent Curse Sources could hide within powerful figures, so he kept his Taiji Diagram active for protection.
• Ding Ling brought Wu Zetian and Jiao Demon King to Sitting Deer Temple, where Sitting Deer Arhat prepared to withdraw and leave the conflict to Ciyun Honored One.
• Ding Ling killed Sitting Deer Arhat, dozens of Vajras, and the envoys with the Taiji Diagram, then absorbed their Curse Sources, including Law Umbrella.
• Ding Ling continued across Nanzhan Buzhou, killing Buddhist School figures as Wu Zetian watched in awe.
• Ciyun Honored One intercepted Ding Ling and asked to negotiate peace, prompting Ding Ling to consider how much the Buddhist School and Heavenly Court knew about his actions.

Ding Ling rejected Ciyun Honored One’s false peace offer, defeated him and his ambush, and advanced to Martial Immortal. After learning about Mount Ling Holy Land’s resurrection pond and defenses, Ding Ling continued sweeping temples across Nanzhan Buzhou with Wu Zetian and Jiao Demon King, strengthening himself and the Taiji Diagram.

• Ciyun Honored One offered to recommend Ding Ling as a Buddhist School Honored One, then attacked him with the Purification Buddha Wheel and more than a hundred Vajras and emissaries.
• Ding Ling destroyed the Purification Buddha Wheel, killed Ciyun Honored One, absorbed his Curse Source Power, and broke through to Martial Immortal.
• Ding Ling learned from the fragmented memories that Mount Ling Holy Land’s Eight Treasures Lotus Pond could restore dead Arhats and Honored Ones, and that Buddhist forces were strengthened near the Holy Land.
• Ding Ling taught Wu Zetian Secret Martial Arts and the beginner version of the Martial Dao True Understanding, and she rapidly progressed while Jiao Demon King struggled.
• Ding Ling, Wu Zetian, and Jiao Demon King finished sweeping the temples in Nanzhan Buzhou, while Ding Ling advanced further and refined dozens of Buddhist School Curse Sources into the Taiji Diagram.

After Ding Ling wiped out the Buddhist School’s forces in Nanzhan Buzhou, Black Wind Monster and other demons learned of his attack and hoped it would disrupt the Journey to the West Plan. Tathagata Buddha dispatched Samantabhadra Bodhisattva to stop Ding Ling, leaving the Buddhist School’s counterattack imminent.

• Ding Ling prepared concealment and teleportation formations while teaching Wu Zetian and Jiao Demon King, though Jiao Demon King struggled to understand them.
• Ding Ling’s assault left tens of thousands of Vajras and envoys and dozens of Arhats and Sangharamas dead or wounded, and Ciyun Honored One killed.
• Ling Xuzi told Black Wind Monster and White-Clothed Scholar that a figure named Lu Wenli, also called Ding Ling, had attacked the Buddhist School’s temples in Nanzhan Buzhou.
• Black Wind Monster revealed that he knew of the Journey to the West Plan and hoped Ding Ling’s actions would let him escape his role as one of its tribulations.
• Tathagata Buddha ordered Samantabhadra Bodhisattva to go to Nanzhan Buzhou and prevent Ding Ling from disrupting the Journey to the West Plan.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva hurried to confront Lu Wenli, while Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang waited at Eagle's Sorrow Stream after their horse was eaten. Sun Wukong watched the Buddhist School's response to Ding Ling and saw Samantabhadra arrive at Holding Bowl Temple.

• Samantabhadra Bodhisattva left Vulture Peak to deal with Lu Wenli, abandoning the problem of Madam Bai's disappearance for Guanyin Bodhisattva.
• Samantabhadra passed Five Villages Temple, where Zhenyuan Daxian hoped Ding Ling would embarrass the Buddhist School, then continued toward Great Tang.
• At Eagle's Sorrow Stream, Tang Sanzang worried about traveling without a horse, while Sun Wukong suggested waiting for the Bodhisattva to return.
• Sun Wukong secretly resented serving Tang Sanzang and hoped to see what Ding Ling would do before advancing the Journey to the West.
• Sun Wukong used his Heavenly Eyes Curse Source to see Samantabhadra Bodhisattva standing before Holding Bowl Temple.

Ding Ling cleansed the Great Tang Imperial Palace of hidden Divine Descent Curse Sources, strengthening his own power until he touched the 6-level Threshold. After sensing an approaching crisis and retreating with Jiao Demon King and Wu Zetian, he left Li Shimin to face Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, who questioned his loyalty to the Buddhist School.

• Sun Wukong worried that Ding Ling might face Guanyin and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva alone, but gave up on going to help because the Tightening Hoop Curse Source still restrained him.
• Ding Ling used the Taiji Diagram to find Li Chengqian, extracted his damaged Type-4 Divine Descent Curse Source, and raised his own Curse Source to Type 3.
• Ding Ling searched the Imperial Palace and removed the Divine Descent Curse Sources hidden in Li Shimin's family, while Li Shimin watched in shock and thanked him.
• Ding Ling's Curse Source reached the pinnacle of Type 5, and the Taiji Diagram manifested abilities touching the 6-level Threshold, including a breeze that drained life and a black scythe that threatened Li Shimin, Wu Zetian, and Jiao Demon King.
• Ding Ling sensed a great crisis, warned Li Shimin, and fled with Wu Zetian and Jiao Demon King; Samantabhadra Bodhisattva then appeared before Li Shimin and asked where Lu Wenli was.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva forced Li Shimin to order Ding Ling’s capture, while Ding Ling fled with Wu Zetian and Jiao Demon King and was intercepted by Guanyin Bodhisattva. Ding Ling escaped her using the Infinite Mirror Sea World, and Guanyin resolved to report his power to Buddha as Samantabhadra headed for Great Tang Chang'an.

• Samantabhadra Bodhisattva threatened Li Shimin and ordered him to have Ding Ling captured and killed within a month.
• Ding Ling brought Wu Zetian and Jiao Demon King toward the South Sea, but Jiao Demon King and Wu Zetian insisted on staying with him.
• Ding Ling repeatedly collided with Guanyin Bodhisattva, who demanded he come with her to the South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove.
• Guanyin Bodhisattva attacked Ding Ling with her Pure Vase and willow branch, but Ding Ling trapped her in the Infinite Mirror Sea World and escaped.
• Guanyin Bodhisattva failed to divine Ding Ling’s whereabouts and decided to report his strength to Buddha as Samantabhadra Bodhisattva headed toward Great Tang Chang'an.

Ding Ling escaped Guanyin Bodhisattva by using the Taiji Diagram and the Distant Fragrance Curse Source, then traveled to Dongsheng Shenzhou to grow stronger alongside Wu Zetian and Jiao Demon King. After the three settled in Ling City, an armored stranger suddenly arrived before them.

• Guanyin Bodhisattva realized Ding Ling had destroyed her tracking Curse Source and went to inform Tathagata Buddha.
• South Sea Dragon King Ao Qin learned that Ding Ling had fought Guanyin Bodhisattva and ordered his people to search for him, while Sun Wukong heard the news and admired Ding Ling.
• Ding Ling used the Taiji Diagram to absorb Distant Fragrance Curse Sources, trap Guanyin Bodhisattva in the Infinite Mirror Sea World, and teleport away to Dongsheng Shenzhou.
• Ding Ling hunted monsters and strengthened his Curse Sources, while Wu Zetian rapidly advanced under his guidance and Jiao Demon King remained unable to learn the Secret Martial Art.
• Ding Ling, Wu Zetian, and Jiao Demon King settled in Ling City after Jiao Demon King killed the butcher who had poisoned them.
• An armored young man approached the group at astonishing speed and appeared before Jiao Demon King.

Wen Qu Star Lord Dou Rong descended to capture or recruit Ding Ling, but after Ding Ling defeated him, Dou Rong tried to flee and was killed. Ding Ling absorbed Dou Rong’s accumulated Curse Source Power and gained seven or eight Heavenly Path Sequence Curse Sources.

• Wen Qu Star Lord Dou Rong attacked Jiao Demon King and Wu Zetian, but Ding Ling intervened and drove him back.
• Dou Rong introduced himself as a North Dipper Star Official and invited Ding Ling to take an official position in the Heavenly Court.
• Ding Ling questioned Dou Rong about how the Heavenly Court tracked him, and Dou Rong revealed that star envoys monitored the world with their Star Lords’ authority.
• When Ding Ling pressed him for more secrets, Dou Rong activated his Tier 6 Star Light Walk Curse Source and tried to escape.
• Ding Ling overtook Dou Rong and used multiple Tier 6 Curse Sources to immobilize and kill him.
• Ding Ling absorbed Dou Rong’s Curse Source Power and obtained seven or eight Heavenly Path Sequence Curse Sources.

Ding Ling killed Wen Qu Star Lord, absorbed his many Curse Sources, and escaped with Jiao Demon King and Wu Zetian to a hidden mountain cave. The Heavenly Court learned that its most powerful Star Lord had been slain and began to fear Ding Ling.

• Ding Ling absorbed Wen Qu Star Lord's Curse Sources, raising Star Light Walk to level 6 and gaining several other abilities.
• Ding Ling returned to Ling City, confirmed Wen Qu Star Lord's death to Jiao Demon King and Wu Zetian, then took them away using Chaotic Space.
• Ding Ling hid with his companions in a mountain cave, tamed its wild beasts, and studied Wen Qu Star Lord's fragmented memories while explaining the Dao.
• Ding Ling concluded that the Myriad Heavenly Star Envoys would struggle to find him in the vast world and decided to stay hidden until he grew stronger.
• The Myriad Heavenly Star Envoys reported Wen Qu Star Lord's death, and the Heavenly Court's officials were shaken by Ding Ling's overwhelming power.

Nezha was ordered to lead Heavenly troops to capture Ding Ling, but he avoided searching for him and discovered that all ten thousand troops had been killed. Po Jun identified Ding Ling as the likely culprit, leaving Nezha to face the consequences of the army’s destruction.

• The gods blamed Li Jing for urging the Jade Emperor to target Ding Ling, while Nezha wondered whether Ding Ling was another figure like Sun Wukong.
• Wen Zhong and the other gods pushed Li Jing to take responsibility for the failed campaign, but Li Jing redirected the assignment to Nezha, whom the Jade Emperor ordered to lead ten thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals.
• After Zi Wei Great Emperor failed to divine Ding Ling, Nezha went to Dongsheng Shenzhou, stationed his troops in Ling City, and spent three days avoiding the search.
• Nezha returned to Ling City and found that his ten thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals had vanished.
• Po Jun told Nezha that all ten thousand troops were dead and that Ding Ling had likely killed them without being detected.

After the Jade Emperor ordered Li Jing to ask Tathagata Buddha to handle Ding Ling, Ding Ling ambushed Li Jing on the way to Mount Ling Holy Land, took his Linglong Pagoda, and killed him. Ding Ling absorbed Li Jing’s and his escort’s Curse Sources and learned from their memories that Li Jing had helped provoke the Heavenly Court against him.

• Nezha reported his defeat to the Jade Emperor, and Wen Zhong and Su Hu argued that Li Jing should take responsibility for the campaign against Ding Ling.
• Li Jing denied blame and accused Su Hu of slandering him, but the Jade Emperor ordered Li Jing to invite Tathagata Buddha to resolve the matter at Mount Ling Holy Land.
• Li Jing set out with his trusted heavenly generals after Nezha was ordered to continue searching the Lower Realm for Ding Ling.
• Ding Ling ambushed Li Jing near the former site of Five Elements Mountain, used the King Kong Bracelet to seize the Linglong Pagoda, and refined it into his divine treasures.
• Ding Ling killed Li Jing and his escort, absorbed their Curse Sources, and extracted fragmented memories revealing Li Jing’s role in urging the Heavenly Court to confront him.

Sun Wukong reflected on Ding Ling’s strength after he killed Li Jing, while the Buddhist leaders debated how to deal with him and ordered four powerful figures to hunt him down. Burning Lamp Buddha abandoned the mission, and Guanyin Bodhisattva and Manjushri Bodhisattva continued toward Nanzhan Buzhou as Tang Sanzang’s journey resumed.

• Sun Wukong concluded that Ding Ling was stronger than himself and considered cooperating with him after seeing him escape the Bodhisattvas and kill Li Jing.
• Burning Lamp Buddha reported Li Jing’s death to Tathagata Buddha, who ordered Burning Lamp Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva to find and kill Ding Ling.
• Burning Lamp Buddha suggested that the group split up, then left the others during their journey despite Manjushri Bodhisattva’s objections.
• Guanyin Bodhisattva and Manjushri Bodhisattva reached Eagle’s Sorrow Stream, where Guanyin transformed its dragon into a white horse for Tang Sanzang.
• Tang Sanzang mounted the dragon horse and continued west with Sun Wukong, while Guanyin Bodhisattva and Manjushri Bodhisattva discussed Sun Wukong’s renewed pride.

Sun Wukong searched Nanzhan Buzhou for Ding Ling while Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra plotted to draw him out by attacking the Dragon Clan. After they massacred most of the North Sea Dragon Clan without provoking Ding Ling, he took Jiao Demon King and another companion to Beiju Luzhou to find Macaca King.

• Sun Wukong left Tang Sanzang and secretly searched Nanzhan Buzhou for Ding Ling, hoping to offer him places with fortuitous encounters, but found no trace of him.
• Guanyin told Manjushri that Sun Wukong's Merit Curse Source made him impossible to kill, and the Bodhisattvas agreed to keep the secret from him.
• Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra decided to pressure Ding Ling by targeting the North Sea Dragon Clan.
• The three Bodhisattvas captured most of the North Sea Dragon Clan, and Manjushri killed eighty percent of them, but Ding Ling did not appear.
• Ding Ling learned of the massacre, comforted Jiao Demon King, and took him and another companion to Beiju Luzhou to find Macaca King.

Ding Ling met Macaca King, who revealed that Kunpeng Demon Master had joined Bull Demon King in attacking Beiju Luzhou’s great monsters. When Kunpeng arrived and unleashed his powerful Balanced Flying Flow, Ding Ling teleported into Kunpeng’s mouth and jumped down his throat.

• Macaca King initially distrusted Jiao Demon King but lowered his guard after learning that Ding Ling was Senior Lu Wenli.
• Macaca King told Ding Ling and the others that Kunpeng Demon Master was helping Bull Demon King hunt Beiju Luzhou’s great monsters and then agreed to follow Ding Ling.
• Kunpeng Demon Master arrived and froze the land with multiple Curse Sources before attacking with his Balanced Flying Flow.
• Ding Ling’s Taiji Diagram resisted the attack, and Ding Ling teleported into Kunpeng’s mouth and jumped into his throat, shocking Macaca King.

Ding Ling and his companions were trapped in Kunpeng Demon Master's Sea of Suffering, but Ding Ling protected them while absorbing and refining the acid to strengthen himself. Kunpeng tried to force them out and used curses against the Taiji Ball, unaware that he was feeding Ding Ling more power.

• Ding Ling led Wu Zetian, Jiao Demon King, and Macaca King into Kunpeng's stomach, where Macaca King explained that its Sea of Suffering contained nearly thirty Pain Sequence Curse Sources.
• Ding Ling used the Taiji Diagram, Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, King Kong Bracelet, and Exquisite Pagoda to withstand the acid and absorb it for refinement.
• Ding Ling gained the Suffocation, Extreme Cold, and Heart-Devouring Curse Sources and fused their powers into the Taiji Diagram.
• After three days of surviving the waves and growing stronger, Ding Ling earned Macaca King's increasing reverence while Kunpeng Demon Master demanded that they come out.
• Kunpeng tried to drive the Taiji Ball out and attacked it with the Extreme Cold Curse Source, which Ding Ling absorbed and refined; Kunpeng then used the Ghost Eye and saw scenes that shocked him.

Ding Ling’s Taiji Ball resisted the Kunpeng Demon Master’s ghost techniques while absorbing the Sea of Suffering and strengthening Ding Ling. As the Kunpeng Demon Master’s inner defenses increasingly treated Ding Ling as their king, Ding Ling discovered the Kunpeng Demon Master’s Ghost Body Curse Source.

• The Kunpeng Demon Master used his Rank 6 Ghost Body Curse Source to spy on Ding Ling and was astonished by the Taiji Ball’s ability to resist and absorb the Sea of Suffering.
• The Kunpeng Demon Master attacked with Ghost Eye Gaze, but the Taiji Ball blocked and rebounded it while Ding Ling sensed the hidden assault.
• Ding Ling strengthened the Taiji Ball and used the Exquisite Pagoda to absorb and refine the acid water and Curse Sources, frustrating the Kunpeng Demon Master’s repeated ghost techniques.
• The Kunpeng Demon Master begged Ding Ling to stop, offering freedom, territory, and resources, but Ding Ling continued absorbing the Sea of Suffering.
• Ding Ling’s strength and Pain Sequence Curse Sources advanced, and the Sea of Suffering began treating him as its king, allowing him to sense the Kunpeng Demon Master’s Ghost Body Curse Source.

Ding Ling absorbed the Sea of Suffering’s Curse Source Power while the Kunpeng Demon Master unleashed the Death Sea Divine Army against him. Ding Ling broke through to a higher realm, and the Kunpeng Demon Master feared that he would drain the sea and defeat him.

• Ding Ling used the three divine treasures to absorb the acidic water and Curse Source Power from the Sea of Suffering, rapidly increasing his strength.
• The Kunpeng Demon Master summoned the Death Sea Divine Army, whose millions of skeletons and countless evil spirits attacked Ding Ling’s Taiji Ball.
• Ding Ling broke through a realm and strengthened the Taiji Ball, which withstood the army’s repeated attacks without breaking.
• Macaca King and Jiao Demon King became more devoted to Ding Ling, while Wu Zetian watched him with admiration.
• Ding Ling’s absorption accelerated until the Sea of Suffering was reduced to one-third, severely injuring the Kunpeng Demon Master.
• The Kunpeng Demon Master demanded that Ding Ling stop and threatened to die with him, while Macaca King wondered whether the Demon Master was about to lose.