Chapter Summaries

Zhang Guangmu performed a summoning ritual with Jiang Ling and Luo Zhuan, hoping to give the Xuanxian Group the ancestral spirit it needed to defend its power in the God Seat District. The ritual began to work as his blood formed a likeness of him and underworld energy outlined a human figure, but the summoned spirit had not yet appeared.

• Zhang Guangmu stopped Jiang Ling from speculating about summoning mythological figures and joked that he would establish a new Heavenly Court with her and Luo Zhuan.
• Luo Zhuan brought the ritual implements and worried that the Xuanxian Group lacked an ancestral spirit strong enough to protect its territory.
• Jiang Ling explained that the ritual copied the procedure used by Miyamoto Kojiro to summon Miyamoto Musashi, though success was uncertain.
• Zhang Guangmu completed the ritual's final step by dropping his blood onto the ghost-face design.
• The blood formed a likeness of Zhang Guangmu as the Purple Gold Gourds shook and underworld smoke began shaping a human figure.

Zhang Guangmu used his Driving ability to stabilize the summoning ritual and successfully summoned the scholar Ancestor Spirit Zhang Liang. As Zhang Liang met the Xuanxian Group, Jiang Ling’s offer to discuss pill refinement revealed his interest in the subject.

• The unstable humanoid figure began to collapse, so Zhang Guangmu pressed his hand to its chest and used the Book of Acting to raise Driving from 2 to 3.
• Zhang Guangmu’s stronger control stabilized the figure, and golden light filled the room as the summoning succeeded.
• The elegant scholar introduced himself as Zhang Liang, the first Ancestor Spirit of the Xuanxian Group.
• Luo Zhuan recognized Zhang Liang from historical accounts, while Jiang Ling introduced herself and invited him to exchange insights on pill refinement.
• Zhang Guangmu noticed that Zhang Liang seemed interested in Jiang Ling’s offer.

Zhang Guangmu tested the newly summoned Zhang Liang by ordering him to help suppress a rebellion in the God Seat District. At a factory, Ben Langman’s Hannibal Barca slaughtered the rioters, and Zhang Guangmu’s arrival was heralded by a golden sandstorm.

• Zhang Guangmu asked Zhang Liang to assist him, and Zhang Liang agreed.
• Zhang Guangmu ordered Luo Zhuan, Jiang Ling, and the Xuanxian Group to suppress unrest in the God Seat District.
• Ben Langman encouraged Yingzhou rioters at a factory while preparing to use Hannibal Barca and his undead guards.
• Ben Langman dismissed the rioters as useless and ordered Hannibal Barca to execute them.
• Hannibal Barca killed all the rioters, and Ben Langman challenged Zhang Guangmu to come out.
• A fierce wind and golden sandstorm swept through the factory as Zhang Guangmu arrived.

Zhang Guangmu’s Ancestor Spirit, Zhang Liang, fought Ben Langman’s Hannibal Barca and gradually gained the advantage with sand-based ranged attacks and flight. Ben Langman tried to negotiate his escape, but Zhang Guangmu refused him.

• Ben Langman summoned his undead defense squad and questioned the sand-controlling young man, who introduced himself as Zhang Liang.
• Hannibal Barca charged Zhang Liang, but Zhang Liang defended himself with golden sand, healed his wound, and counterattacked.
• Zhang Liang used ranged attacks and sand soldiers to threaten Ben Langman while Zhang Guangmu watched the battle and assessed his Ancestor Spirit.
• As Zhang Liang’s flight and growing skill turned Hannibal Barca into a target, Ben Langman realized he had been misled about the Xuanxian Group’s strength.
• Ben Langman offered to leave the God Seat District and owe Zhang Guangmu a favor, but Zhang Guangmu refused with a raised middle finger.

Ben Langman’s attack on Zhang Guangmu ended in defeat, and Zhang Guangmu captured Hannibal Barca and ordered a search for Carthaginian descendants who could sustain him. After noticing that Zhang Liang’s power had not changed despite gaining many new followers, Zhang Guangmu confronted his ancestor spirit about his true identity.

• Ben Langman urged Hannibal Barca to devise a way to survive, but Hannibal focused on fighting Zhang Liang and gave no answer.
• Ben Langman sent the Carthaginian Undead Special Defense Squad toward Zhang Guangmu, but the Xuanxian Group’s gunfire broke through its defenses and killed him.
• With his summoner dead, Hannibal Barca was pinned down by Zhang Liang’s sand swords and taken prisoner.
• Zhang Guangmu ordered Luo Zhuan to search God Seat District for people with Carthaginian blood so they could support Hannibal Barca.
• Zhang Guangmu noted that Zhang Liang’s strength had not changed despite gaining many knowers and worshippers, then demanded that he reveal who he really was.

Zhang Jiao revealed his true identity to Zhang Guangmu and evolved, gaining the power to control lightning. Zhang Guangmu ordered preparations for a full-scale war against Chonghuang District, and Zhang Jiao pledged to fight for him.

• Zhang Jiao dropped his Zhang Liang disguise and swore loyalty to Zhang Guangmu as Great Sage, Teacher of the Virtuous Zhang Jiao.
• Zhang Jiao's Ancestor Spirit form evolved amid black mist and golden lightning, while his book changed into the Essential Art of Great Peace.
• Zhang Guangmu recognized Zhang Jiao as the figure who began the Three Kingdoms era and wondered what had triggered his evolution.
• Zhang Guangmu ordered Luo Zhuan to suppress unrest in God Seat District and prepare for a full-scale war with Chonghuang District.
• Zhang Jiao apologized for hiding his origins and promised to use his new lightning power to fight for Zhang Guangmu.

Zhang Guangmu learned that Zhang Jiao’s recognition and fulfilled obsession had helped him evolve, then Luo Zhuan summoned Luo Cheng and reported that Chonghuang District was preparing a full-scale attack. With the enemy’s forces approaching within three days and outnumbering his own, Zhang Guangmu prepared to make use of Xuanxian Group’s advance preparations and create an opening.

• Zhang Guangmu reassured Zhang Jiao and explained that the publicity team would turn their story into an anecdote to promote Zhang Jiao’s reputation.
• Zhang Jiao explained that fulfilling an Ancestor Spirit’s obsession and earning its recognition could lead to evolution, and Zhang Guangmu connected this to Zhang Jiao’s new power to wield thunder.
• Luo Zhuan returned with his newly summoned Ancestor Spirit, Luo Cheng, and warned Zhang Guangmu that Yang Chi had unified Chonghuang District and planned an attack within three days.
• Zhang Guangmu assessed Chonghuang’s four Ancestor Spirits and realized his side lacked enough top-level fighters to match them.
• Zhang Guangmu decided to rely on Xuanxian Group’s preparations and create an opening against the attacking forces.

Zhang Guangmu learned that Zhang Jiao and Jiang Ling had developed a Blood Covering Pill that could help a Carthaginian descendant become Hannibal Barca’s Summoner. He met their chosen test subject, who revealed her parents had been killed by the New Hino Group during the Yingzhou Underworld Transformation.

• Zhang Jiao told Zhang Guangmu that the Blood Covering Pill had worked briefly on a macaque, and Jiang Ling said it could likely help a Carthaginian sign a contract with Hannibal Barca.
• Jiang Ling reported that nineteen Carthaginian descendants in God Seat District had volunteered as test subjects, and her team had selected a young woman for the trial.
• The young woman showed intense admiration for Zhang Guangmu and declared that she wanted to become a hero like him and kill bad people for him.
• Zhang Guangmu warned the young woman that the Xuanxian Group was seen as evil and asked whether she would still kill for him.
• The young woman said that reserve members of the New Hino Group had killed her parents during the Yingzhou Underworld Transformation.

Shaliya endured the Blood Covering Pill’s transformation and became the Xuanxian Group’s third summoner, able to command Hannibal Barca. At the God Seat–Chonghuang border, Ying Zheng and Yang Chi assessed Zhang Guangmu as the allied forces prepared to attack.

• Shaliya declared her loyalty to Zhang Guangmu, swallowed the Blood Covering Pill, and survived the painful bloodline-replacement process.
• Shaliya contracted with Hannibal Barca and proved she could command him to fight, though he remained unwilling to think for himself.
• Zhang Guangmu considered the Xuanxian Group’s combat strength and ordered Shaliya to rest before the allied forces arrived.
• At the border, Ying Zheng asked Yang Chi what he thought of Xuanxian, and Yang Chi described Zhang Guangmu as an arrogant gambler whose willingness to risk everything made him dangerous.
• Three other Ancestor Spirits from Chonghuang District and their summoners arrived, and the allies declared their intent to eliminate Xuanxian, kill Zhang Guangmu, and divide God Seat District.

Yang Chi and the other Chonghuang leaders prepared to face Zhang Guangmu’s Xuanxian Group, but Ying Zheng recognized that their disciplined army posed a serious threat. Zhang Guangmu walked into the battlefield under Hannibal’s powerful protection, and Takeda Sasuke’s attack failed to draw the Chonghuang forces into battle.

• Sanada Shirou, Takeda Sasuke, and Yagyu Yuzo joined Yang Chi and Ying Zheng, and the leaders discussed the Xuanxian Group’s strength and their plan to attack.
• Yang Chi urged the Chonghuang factions to crush the Xuanxian Group, while Ying Zheng warned that its rapid response and disciplined formations made the battle dangerous.
• Ying Zheng intimidated Sanada Shirou, who apologized and pledged to unite the factions against Zhang Guangmu.
• Zhang Guangmu entered the battlefield with masked Xuanxian members and Hannibal’s Carthaginian Undead Special Defense Squad protecting him.
• Takeda Sasuke fired at Zhang Guangmu and called for an attack, but he did not advance; Chonghuang soldiers who charged were shot down, and the Little White Balls mocked Sasuke for backing down.

Zhang Guangmu summoned Zhang Jiao and used Yagyu Yuzo’s hatred of netherforce-corrupted monsters to expose his secret agreement with Yang Chi. The Chonghuang coalition’s leaders became wary of one another, while Yang Chi realized Zhang Guangmu aimed to conquer Chonghuang and ultimately rule the Netherworld without a costly battle.

• Takeda Sasuke’s gunfire failed to penetrate the Carthaginian Undead Special Defense Squad’s shields, and Zhang Guangmu summoned Zhang Jiao to even the Ancestor Spirit numbers.
• Zhang Guangmu asked Yagyu Yuzo why he had attacked the God Seat District, and Yagyu Yuzo declared that he wanted to control netherforce and destroy mutated monsters.
• Zhang Guangmu accused Yagyu Yuzo of secretly planning to serve under Yang Chi, causing the Chonghuang leaders to distrust one another.
• Yang Chi recognized that Zhang Jiao wielded genuine supernatural powers and that Zhang Guangmu wanted a decisive victory with minimal casualties.
• Yang Chi concluded that Zhang Guangmu intended to absorb Chonghuang, subdue Long Xiaofan’s Dongye, and become the Uncrowned King of the Netherworld, while Ying Zheng told him to do his best.

Zhang Guangmu used the threat of battle and the promise of Ancestor Spirit evolution and awakening to sow distrust among Chonghuang District’s temporary allies. As Sanada Shirou and others reconsidered their loyalties, Yang Chi recognized the psychological trap but could not stop Zhang Guangmu from exploiting it.

• Zhang Guangmu’s arguments made Sanada Shirou and Sanada Yukimura decide to fight cautiously and preserve their strength rather than let the other factions seize victory.
• Zhang Guangmu offered the opposing generals intelligence about Ancestor Spirit Evolution and Ancestor Spirit Awakening, tempting Sanada Shirou and Takeda Sasuke.
• Yagyu Yuzo looked to Yang Chi, who questioned Zhang Guangmu about evolution and awakening while suspecting he was hiding powerful Ancestor Spirits.
• Zhang Guangmu asked whether First Emperor’s Deterrence of Humanity was merely deterrence, and Yang Chi realized he was using an information gap and psychological warfare to divide the alliance.

Zhang Guangmu exposed the likely cause of Ying Zheng’s power and sowed distrust among Chonghuang’s allied forces. Yang Chi recognized Zhang as a major threat, but Zhang launched the attack before Yang Chi could respond, leaving the two forces locked in battle.

• Zhang Guangmu told Sanada Shirou and Takeda Sasuke that Ying Zheng’s strength suggested he had evolved, and questioned why they trusted Yang Chi.
• Yang Chi’s soldiers celebrated Ying Zheng’s evolution, while Sanada Shirou and Takeda Sasuke’s troops grew uneasy and the Chonghuang alliance began to fracture.
• Yang Chi realized Ying Zheng’s evolution had granted him greater mobility and that Zhang Guangmu had used the revelation to undermine his allies.
• Yang Chi reconsidered his plans and identified Zhang Guangmu as his most dangerous enemy.
• Zhang Guangmu ordered Hannibal Barca to capture or kill Yagyu Muneyoshi, then led his forces into the attack.
• Both sides opened fire, and the Xuanxian Group advanced as the disorganized Chonghuang forces hurried to meet them.

The battle between the God Seat District and the Chonghuang Alliance turned fierce as Yang Chi tried to prevent Zhang Jiao from gaining strength through battlefield fame. Zhang Guangmu joined the fighting directly, leaving the Chonghuang Alliance at a disadvantage as he cut through its ranks.

• Yang Chi suspected Zhang Guangmu had created a way to seize and brainwash enemy Ancestor Spirits, then loudly revealed the Xuanxian Secret Record to distract the Chonghuang Alliance's fighters.
• Yuzo and Yagyu Muneyoshi charged Zhang Guangmu and Zhang Jiao, while Yagyu Muneyoshi used Moonshadow sword waves to restrict Zhang Jiao and support Ying Zheng.
• Yang Chi warned the Chonghuang Alliance that Zhang Guangmu, not Zhang Jiao, was responsible for Hannibal Barca's surrender, hoping to prevent Zhang Jiao's fame and strength from growing.
• Ying Zheng incapacitated enemy soldiers across a wide area, while Zhang Guangmu charged into the Chonghuang Alliance's formation and began a bloody assault.

Zhang Guangmu fought through the Chonghuang Allied Forces and killed Yagyu Yuzo, while Zhang Jiao killed Yagyu Muneyoshi. With the Chonghuang forces faltering, their commanders Sanada Shirou and Takeda Sasuke decided to flee.

• Zhang Guangmu cut down Chonghuang soldiers as Ying Zheng knocked Xuanxian soldiers unconscious, drawing more of them into the fight.
• Yagyu Yuzo challenged Zhang Guangmu using Substitute Master's Armor, but Zhang Guangmu overwhelmed his swordsmanship in two strikes.
• Yagyu Yuzo used his modified Floating Boat ultimate technique, but Zhang Guangmu evaded its path and beheaded him.
• Zhang Guangmu displayed Yagyu Yuzo's severed head and warned the Chonghuang forces to stop resisting.
• Zhang Jiao struck Yagyu Muneyoshi with a golden thunderbolt while Ying Zheng was distracted, killing him.
• Sanada Shirou and Takeda Sasuke saw the Chonghuang forces losing and decided to flee.

Zhang Guangmu slaughtered the Chonghuang Alliance forces despite his weapon breaking and a bullet wound, embracing the battle with unnerving delight. He routed the enemy army, leaving the battlefield in disarray.

• Zhang Guangmu learned from the Little White Balls that the enemy’s morale was collapsing, then discarded his nearly ruined saber and fought barehanded.
• Zhang Guangmu took a bullet in the shoulder, expelled it with precise control of his muscles and nether energy, and continued fighting.
• Zhang Guangmu laughed as he killed enemy soldiers, introduced himself as God Seat Unrivaled, and intensified the fear and fascination of the troops watching him.
• Zhang Guangmu slammed two Chonghuang soldiers headfirst into the ground with a move he called Farmer’s Enthusiast, then planted more soldiers across the battlefield.
• The Chonghuang Alliance soldiers panicked and fled, and their forces broke into an indisputable rout.

The Chonghuang Alliance collapsed into a rout as the Sanada and Takeda factions fled, and Zhang Guangmu caught and killed Sanada Shirou. Takeda Sasuke surrendered on his knees, leaving his fate and the Takeda Army’s survivors in question.

• Sanada Shirou and Takeda Sasuke ordered their forces to retreat, while the Chonghuang soldiers panicked and began turning on one another.
• Zhang Guangmu’s warriors pursued the fleeing alliance as Yang Chi recognized that the battle was beyond saving.
• Zhang Guangmu caught Sanada Shirou and crushed his skull, while the white-robed young general and Hannibal Barca killed Sanada Yukimura.
• Takeda Sasuke stopped fleeing, knelt before Zhang Guangmu, and begged for mercy, drawing mixed reactions from the spectators.

Zhang Guangmu crushed Takeda Sasuke after he surrendered, captured Takeda Shingen, and led God Seat to victory over Chonghuang. As the spoils were being claimed, Zhang Guangmu sensed that his Usable Ability Points had arrived.

• Takeda Sasuke begged for mercy, but Zhang Guangmu crushed his head before his third kowtow, while Takeda Shingen surrendered and offered his Command Soldiers ability.
• Zhang Guangmu ordered Takeda Shingen captured after the other Ancestor Spirits were killed or subdued.
• Ying Zheng rescued Yang Chi with Immortal Transformation and escaped Zhang Jiao, while God Seat won the battle against Chonghuang.
• Zhang Guangmu left Luo Zhuan, Shaliya, and the others to claim the spoils, then sensed his Usable Ability Points arriving.

After destroying the Chonghuang Alliance, Zhang Guangmu gained a Usable Ability Point and advanced to Imperial Body Forging Technique 21, Nurturing Bright Soul. Ten days later, he remained uneasy about the future and received word that Zhang Jiao had something important to report, as strange golden sands swept across the sea.

• Zhang Guangmu recovered from battle with food and bitter tea while the Little White Balls watched him read Records of the Three Kingdoms in the bulletproof car.
• Zhang Guangmu inspected his gains, saw an image of himself standing over the defeated Chonghuang Alliance, and used the Usable Ability Point to advance his Imperial Body Forging Technique.
• Zhang Guangmu named the new stage Nurturing Bright Soul and realized his comprehension had improved enough to reveal flaws in the Xuanxian Secret Record.
• Zhang Guangmu experienced a scene ten days later, where his Xuanxian Group had become the largest force in Netherworld Yingzhou but he still felt uneasy about the Sleeping Lion King and Long Xiaofan.
• Zhang Jiao sent word that he had something important to report, and Zhang Guangmu saw yellow sand roll across the sea beneath a golden sky.

Zhang Jiao told Zhang Guangmu that he and Jiang Ling had developed a summoning ritual that broke bloodline and surname restrictions by using radiation and a special pill. The chapter ended with Zhang Jiao offering Zhang Guangmu the Jiang Bloodline Pill and proposing a Radiation Summon that could potentially call sages such as Laozi, Confucius, Mozi, and Zhuangzi.

• Zhang Jiao arrived at Zhang Guangmu’s villa and announced that he and Jiang Ling had made a breakthrough in summoning research.
• Zhang Jiao explained that their improved ritual could summon ancestor spirits without bloodline or surname restrictions, though Takeda Shingen had lost his Command Soldiers ability during testing.
• Zhang Jiao’s assistants brought in ritual items stored in Lead Crates, including a Luminous Pearl and a heat-emitting red jade that Zhang Guangmu recognized as radiation sources.
• Zhang Jiao explained that Jiang Ling’s Jiang Bloodline Pill could suppress radiation’s harmful effects and enable a summoner to sacrifice lifespan to perform a Radiation Summon.
• Zhang Jiao offered Zhang Guangmu the pill and said the new ritual might allow people without sage ancestry to summon Laozi, Confucius, Mozi, and Zhuangzi.