Recaps

Golden Phoenix revealed that King Zhou had staged Huang Feihu’s apparent rebellion to protect Great Shang’s forces during the Investiture of the Gods tribulation. Huang Feihu left Zhaoge with a Substitute Clay Figurine and his family hidden in a secluded mountain estate.

• Golden Phoenix reunited Huang Feihu with Lady Jia and Consort Huang and explained King Zhou’s plan to make his departure from Zhaoge appear to be a rebellion.
• Golden Phoenix warned Huang Feihu that some of his deputy generals might be disloyal, and Huang Feihu recalled how two officers, including Zhou Ji, had urged him to defect to Xiqi.
• Golden Phoenix gave Huang Feihu a Substitute Clay Figurine so he could deceive the heavens and carry out the staged rebellion.
• Huang Feihu decided to use his apparent defection to identify traitors and gather soldiers loyal to Great Shang, then asked Golden Phoenix to protect his wife and sister.
• Huang Feihu rode out of Zhaoge in feigned panic, while Golden Phoenix sent Lady Jia and Consort Huang to a secluded mountain estate.

Wen Zhong learned that Huang Feihu’s rebellion was part of King Zhou’s secret plan, then left to pursue him while Shen Gongbao remained at court. Shen Gongbao revealed his Chan Sect origins and promised Jie Sect support against Xiqi, leaving King Zhou wary of the schemes behind his arrival.

• King Zhou privately told Wen Zhong that Huang Feihu’s defection was a feigned part of their plan, then publicly ordered Wen Zhong to capture him.
• Wen Zhong left Zhaoge with an army, leaving Shen Gongbao alone before King Zhou.
• King Zhou questioned Shen Gongbao, who first claimed to be a Jie Sect disciple and then admitted that he had formerly served Primordial Heavenly Venerate in the Chan Sect.
• King Zhou suspected that Shen Gongbao’s defection concealed a deeper scheme and decided to ask Immortal Golden Phoenix about it later.
• Shen Gongbao claimed he had come under Niang Niang Yunxiao’s orders and boasted that the Jie Sect’s disciples could help Great Shang defeat Xiqi.

King Zhou appointed Shen Gongbao Imperial Preceptor, while Primordial Heavenly Venerate watched his plan for Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao unfold. Zhunti and Jieyin then proposed joining forces with Yuanshi to send Jie Sect disciples and the Remnants of the Three Clans onto the Investiture of the Gods, provoking his fury.

• King Zhou praised Shen Gongbao and appointed him Imperial Preceptor, and Shen vowed to help Great Shang defeat Jiang Ziya and Xiqi.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate watched from Jade Void Palace and considered Shen Gongbao’s role in restraining Jiang Ziya and advancing the plan to overthrow Great Shang.
• Zhunti and Jieyin left Mount Sumeru and visited Yuanshi at Jade Void Palace to discuss the Investiture of the Gods.
• Zhunti proposed that the Chan Sect and Western Teach join forces to send Jie Sect disciples and the Remnants of the Three Clans onto the Investiture of the Gods.
• Yuanshi condemned the proposal as a shameless scheme against his younger brother Tongtian, while Zhunti and Jieyin defended it as following Heaven’s will.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate agreed to a Heavenly Dao-backed alliance with Zhunti and Jieyin against Jie Sect, while Human Dao observed their scheme. Unaware of the pact, Tongtian welcomed any move that would speed up the God Conferment tribulation and asked Yunxiao to help push events forward.

• Yuanshi acknowledged that Jie Sect's power and defiance of Heavenly Dao threatened the other sects, and agreed to ally with Western Teach to protect the Chan Sect.
• Zhunti presented a contract, and Yuanshi, Zhunti, and Jieyin bound themselves to send Jie Sect disciples onto the Investiture of the Gods and share the resulting benefits.
• Human Dao examined the contract and sensed the Saints' schemes through the Human Dao River.
• Tongtian remained unaware of the alliance and saw the accelerated tribulation as a way for his disciples to escape mortal karma and gain opportunities.
• Tongtian told Yunxiao that the stalled God Conferment tribulation made him restless and asked her to help push it forward.

The Dragon and Kirin Clans struggled to find a legitimate way to join the Investiture of the Gods, while the Phoenix Clan had already placed Kong Xuan and its hidden elites in the war. Lei Li went to Azure Nether Island to seek Xuan Qing’s help, where he found Xuan Qing, Xuan Ming, and You Hui discussing the Kirin Clan’s request.

• Candle Dragon and the Dragon Clan elders lamented that their clan had no natural reason to enter the human war, while Lei Xing and the Kirin elders feared both staying out of the tribulation and forcing their way in.
• Lei Xing asked Lei Li to seek help from Xuan Qing, and Lei Li reluctantly agreed to ask the Dao Venerable once on the Kirin Clan’s behalf.
• Lei Li arrived at Azure Nether Island, where the Qing Ya Sisters told him that Xuan Qing had been waiting for him.
• Lei Li watched Xuan Qing, Xuan Ming, and You Hui play a chess game that revealed visions of the Great Dao and the Measure Tribulation.
• Xuan Qing recognized that Lei Li had come to ask about the Kirin Clan entering the tribulation, while Xuan Ming said their chance at sainthood would be preferable to it going to Yuanshi and Zhunti.

Xuan Qing and Nuwa advised Lei Li on how the Kirin Clan could enter the Investiture of the Gods Calamity without disrupting the balance between Shang and Xiqi. After learning that the Dragon Clan had already arranged its own involvement, Lei Li returned to mobilize the Kirin Clan.

• Xuan Qing told Lei Li to seek Nuwa’s help and warned that the Kirin Clan’s direct support for either side could throw the war out of balance.
• Xuan Qing teleported Nuwa and her new disciple, Su Daji, from Nuwa Palace to Qingming, where Su Daji realized Nuwa regarded Xuan Qing as her teacher.
• Nuwa advised the Kirin Clan to stay between Shang and Xiqi and enter the war under the pretext of auspicious signs and restoring peace.
• Nuwa explained that the Dragon Clan had already tied its mortal branch to Nezha and Li Jing while keeping room to change its support.
• Lei Li returned to the Kirin Creation Divine Continent and ordered elite cultivators to prepare to enter the mortal world and join the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

Nuwa brought Su Daji to Azure Nether Island, where Xuan Qing, Xuan Ming, and You Hui bestowed treasures and powers to help her cultivate and protect her family. After Nuwa and Su Daji departed, Xuan Qing reported that Yang Mei had found thousands of Chaos Dao Realms, though none could become Origin Dao Realms.

• Nuwa asked Xuan Qing to give Su Daji a formal gift, and he bestowed the Qingning Disaster-Relieving Fan to help her stabilize her Dao Heart and cultivate.
• Xuan Ming gave Su Daji a Golden Thread of Destiny that could alter fate on a small scale, while You Hui gave her a Purple Thread of Reincarnation that could offer opportunities for the dead in the Underworld.
• Su Daji resolved to use the gifts to protect her father and family in Jizhou, and Nuwa took her away from Azure Nether Island.
• Xuan Ming asked Xuan Qing whether Yang Mei had found World Origin in Chaos, and Xuan Qing contacted Qin through the River of Great Dao for an update.
• Xuan Qing reported that Yang Mei had found thousands of Chaos Dao Realms, including several with abundant origins, but their incomplete laws prevented them from becoming Origin Dao Realms.
• Xuan Ming and You Hui welcomed the news, believing continued accumulation of World Origin could eventually advance the Primordial World.

Su Daji learned about her Grandmaster’s supreme status and the dangers of the divine threads, then discovered that Empress Houtu was one of her martial uncles. Nuwa left Daji with Yang Chan on Creation Divine Continent before returning to the mortal world and the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

• Su Daji asked Nuwa about her Grandmaster, and Nuwa explained that he was the Primordial’s strongest ancient being whom even Dao Ancestor Hongjun treated with respect.
• Nuwa warned Daji not to rely on her powerful background or use the Golden Thread of Destiny and Purple Thread of Reincarnation carelessly.
• Nuwa told Daji that Empress Houtu and another mighty figure were her martial uncles, while withholding details about three others.
• Su Daji grew secretly pleased at the thought of her connections, but Nuwa told her to cultivate before expecting to meet or rely on her martial uncles.
• Nuwa took Daji to Creation Divine Continent and entrusted her to Yang Chan, then returned to the mortal world to join the Shang-Zhou conflict and Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

Lei Li persuaded the Kirin Clan to enter the Investiture of the Gods conflict as neutral Auspicious Signs, while Huang Feihu escaped Wen Zhong’s pursuit and passed through Lintong Pass with Xiao Yin’s help. Huang Feihu and his party fled westward beyond Great Shang territory.

• Lei Li reported Xuan Qing and Nuwa’s instructions to Ancestor Kirin and proposed that the Kirin Clan descend to halt the fighting between Great Shang and Xiqi.
• Ancestor Kirin worried that interfering would anger the Chan and Jie sects, but Lei Li reassured him that the clan could act without taking sides.
• Wen Zhong’s forces trapped Huang Feihu and his party at White Deer Forest, but True Lord Qingxu Daode teleported them to safety and misled Wen Zhong into returning to Zhaoge.
• Huang Feihu reached Lintong Pass, where Zhang Feng failed to defeat him and later ordered Xiao Yin to launch a night raid on his camp.
• Xiao Yin killed Zhang Feng, revealed the scheme to Huang Feihu, and opened Lintong Pass so Huang Feihu and his party could escape westward.

Huang Feihu escaped Chen Tong’s Fire Dragon Dart by using a Substitute Clay Figurine, then traveled toward Zhaoge with Wen Zhong while his apparent corpse remained at Tong Pass. When Huang Tianhua revived that body, Huang Feihu began experiencing both bodies’ lives at once, leaving him with two parallel threads in the struggle ahead.

• Chen Tong killed the apparent Huang Feihu and Zhou Ji with his Fire Dragon Dart, but Huang Feihu secretly escaped using a Substitute Clay Figurine.
• Wen Zhong revealed that he had broken free of True Lord Qingxu Daode’s spell and had followed Huang Feihu to help him return safely to Zhaoge.
• True Lord Qingxu Daode sent Huang Tianhua to Tong Pass with the Immortal Flower Basket and Moye Treasure Sword, ordering him to save Huang Feihu and kill Chen Tong.
• Huang Tianhua used immortal medicine to revive the apparent Huang Feihu and Zhou Ji at Tong Pass.
• As the real Huang Feihu traveled with Wen Zhong, he suddenly experienced the Tong Pass body’s awakening as well and realized he seemed to be in two places at once.
• Wen Zhong reassured Huang Feihu that the two bodies were a safeguard arranged by King Zhou, and that he would need to learn to manage both lives.

Wen Zhong taught Huang Feihu a secret technique to control his twin bodies, but clarified it would not make him a Jie Sect disciple. After Zhou Ji revealed the Huang family’s tragedy to Huang Tianhua, the youth awoke consumed by grief and hatred and urged his father to return to Zhaoge and avenge their family.

• Wen Zhong taught Huang Feihu the Concentration and Body Control Secret Technique and told him it carried no Jie Sect lineage or disciple status.
• Huang Feihu adapted to his perfected clay-embryo body and reunited with Huang Tianhua at Tong Pass.
• Huang Feihu concealed the family’s tragedies from his son, but Zhou Ji recounted the deaths of Lady Jia and Consort Huang and the ruin of the Huang household.
• Huang Tianhua collapsed from grief, and Huang Feihu blamed Zhou Ji for disrupting his plans and silently vowed to make him pay.
• After waking, Huang Tianhua rejected returning to Green Peak Mountain and urged Huang Feihu to raise troops, kill King Zhou, and avenge their family.

Huang Tianhua killed Chen Tong and captured Tong Pass, then parted from Huang Feihu, who led his group toward Xiqi. At Cloud Piercing Pass, Chen Wu welcomed Huang Feihu’s exhausted party with a banquet and got them all drunk, leaving them defenseless.

• Huang Feihu left his tent to confront Chen Tong, while Huang Tianhua urged his father to avenge his death.
• An Immortal Basket caught Chen Tong’s Fire Dragon Dart, and Huang Tianhua killed Chen Tong with the Moye Treasure Sword.
• Huang Tianhua broke through the defenses and captured Tong Pass, then said farewell to Huang Feihu and promised they would meet again in Xiqi.
• Huang Feihu and his party reached Cloud Piercing Pass, where Chen Wu pretended not to know of their rebellion and welcomed them inside.
• Chen Wu hosted a lavish banquet and repeatedly urged the group to drink until Huang Feihu’s soldiers were all dead drunk and the camp lay undefended.

Huang Feihu escaped Chen Wu’s burning attack at Cloud Piercing Pass and killed him before leading his surviving soldiers toward Xiqi. At Jiepai Pass, the burning of the garrison’s provisions broke Huang Gun’s resolve, and he chose to join his son in abandoning Shang.

• Chen Wu set fire to Huang Feihu’s camp, but Huang Feihu woke his men and led them out of the flames.
• Huang Feihu killed Chen Wu with his spear and continued west toward Jiepai Pass.
• Huang Gun ordered his soldiers to capture Huang Feihu, who submitted without resisting.
• Zhou Ji, Huang Ming, Long Huan, and Wu Qian distracted the defenders while one of them burned Jiepai Pass’s grain and fodder.
• Zhou Ji urged Huang Gun to follow Huang Feihu and join Zhou, and Huang Gun abandoned Shang and chose to go with his son to Xiqi.

At Sishui Pass, Han Rong and Yu Hua captured Huang Feihu’s group, prompting True Man Taiyi to send Nezha to rescue them. Nezha set out for the pass while Ao Bing returned to the East Sea Dragon Palace, where Ao Guang revealed that the Dragon Clan had already made secret plans for the tribulation and ordered him to await instructions.

• Yu Hua used the Soul-Slaughtering Banner to capture Huang Feihu, Huang Gun, Zhou Ji, and the other soldiers at Sishui Pass, while Huang Feihu concealed his strength and pretended to be captured.
• Huang Gun begged Han Rong to spare his son and their followers, but Han Rong ordered the captives imprisoned and sent to Zhaoge for judgment and execution.
• True Man Taiyi foresaw Huang Feihu’s danger and sent Nezha to rescue the group and guide them safely to Xiqi.
• Nezha packed his Magic Treasures, told Ao Bing he was entering the Investiture Tribulation, and flew toward Sishui Pass on his Wind-Fire Wheels.
• Ao Bing returned to the East Sea Dragon Palace and urged Ao Guang to act, but Ao Guang explained that the Dragon Clan’s ancient leaders had already prepared for the tribulation and instructed him to await their decree.

Nezha broke Sishui Pass and rescued Huang Feihu and his companions, then escorted them to Xiqi, where Huang Feihu pledged his clan to Zhou. After Nezha greeted Jiang Ziya, the chancellor began considering how to recruit Nezha’s father, Li Jing.

• Nezha stormed Sishui Pass, defeated Yu Hua and Han Rong, and freed Huang Feihu, Huang Gun, Zhou Ji, and the others.
• Nezha saw that Huang Feihu’s body contained only a divided spirit linked to his true self in Zhaoge, but kept the discovery to himself.
• Nezha escorted Huang Feihu’s party to Xiqi, where Huang Feihu formally joined Zhou and offered his clan to Jiang Ziya.
• Nezha greeted Jiang Ziya as his martial uncle, and Jiang Ziya considered using him to persuade Li Jing to defect from Great Shang.
• Nezha recognized that Jiang Ziya was probing him for a way to recruit Li Jing.

Nezha reluctantly obeyed True Man Taiyi’s order to remain in Xiqi and help Jiang Ziya, despite his loyalty to Yin Shang. Meanwhile, Wen Zhong secretly helped Huang Feihu hide his true body, then sent Chao Lei’s army against Xiqi, where Nangong Kuo defeated and captured Chao Lei.

• True Man Taiyi ordered Nezha to stay in Xiqi and assist Jiang Ziya, and Nezha accepted despite resisting the command in his heart.
• Huang Feihu told Wen Zhong that his true body had to remain hidden while his clay-bodied avatar continued posing as a defector in Xiqi.
• Wen Zhong staged a campaign against Huang Feihu and secretly escorted Huang Feihu’s true body to an isolated estate outside Zhaoge.
• Wen Zhong sent Chao Lei with twenty thousand Shang troops toward Xiqi, where Jiang Ziya dispatched Nangong Kuo with five thousand soldiers to meet them.
• Chao Lei and Nangong Kuo fought outside Xiqi, and Nangong Kuo dragged Chao Lei from his horse and had him bound.

After Chao Lei surrendered to Xiqi, he tried to persuade his brother Chao Tian to do the same, while Wen Zhong learned that King Zhou had secretly planned the defections as a deception. Chao Tian pretended to surrender and plotted an ambush, but Jiang Ziya anticipated him and had him captured.

• Nangong Kuo defeated Chao Lei, and Jiang Ziya and Huang Feihu persuaded the captive general to surrender to Xiqi.
• Chao Lei volunteered to bring his brother Chao Tian over to Xiqi, while Huang Feihu privately questioned his loyalty to Yin Shang.
• Wen Zhong received King Zhou's secret letter and learned that the apparent defections and defeats were part of a plan to mislead Xiqi and the immortals.
• Chao Lei rode to the border and persuaded Chao Tian to surrender, but Chao Tian secretly prepared an ambush against Xiqi.
• Jiang Ziya anticipated Chao Tian's treachery and sent Xin Jia and Nangong Kuo to lie in wait for him.
• Xin Jia and Nangong Kuo surrounded Chao Tian's troops, captured him after a failed attempt to break through, and accepted the surrender of his soldiers.

Jiang Ziya maneuvered Chao Lei’s family into Xiqi while Wen Zhong used the situation to launch a Shang campaign led by Zhang Guifang. After Zhang Guifang routed Xiqi’s generals with his name-calling magic, Nezha entered the battle, defeated him, and forced the Shang army to retreat.

• Jiang Ziya sent Chao Lei back to Zhaoge to bring his family to Xiqi, while keeping Chao Tian detained as a hostage.
• Wen Zhong let Chao Lei’s family leave the capital, then ordered Zhang Guifang to lead thirty thousand troops against Xiqi.
• Feng Lin killed Ji Shugan, and Zhang Guifang used his Name-Calling Dismount Technique to capture Nangong Kuo and Huang Feihu.
• True Man Taiyi ordered Nezha to assist Xiqi, and Nezha rode out to face the Shang army.
• Nezha burned away Feng Lin’s Crimson Bead, resisted Zhang Guifang’s magic, and drove him and the Shang army back to camp.

Jiang Ziya returned to Kunlun Mountain to ask the Primordial Heavenly Venerate for help against Great Shang’s hidden forces. He received treasures and instructions for Xiqi, then left with a warning not to answer anyone who called his name before he reached home.

• Jiang Ziya traveled from Xiqi to Kunlun Mountain and was escorted to the Jade Void Palace by the sorrowful White Crane Boy.
• Jiang Ziya told the Primordial Heavenly Venerate that Xiqi lacked the strength and allies to face Great Shang’s hidden immortals.
• The Primordial Heavenly Venerate revealed that the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip were Jiang Ziya’s chance to enter the immortal path and ordered him to build the Investiture Platform in Xiqi.
• The Primordial Heavenly Venerate gave Jiang Ziya the defensive Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner and assured him that destined helpers would join Xiqi.
• The Primordial Heavenly Venerate warned Jiang Ziya not to answer or turn around if anyone called his name before he reached Xiqi, and Jiang Ziya promised to obey.

Jiang Ziya met Shen Gongbao on his way back to Xiqi and broke Primordial Heavenly Venerate’s warning by answering him. Shen Gongbao’s offer to help concealed a desire for Jiang Ziya’s treasures, but the treasures’ Jade Purity power repelled him when he tried to touch them.

• Shen Gongbao called out to Jiang Ziya, who ignored his master’s warning and answered him.
• Shen Gongbao offered to descend to Xiqi and help Jiang Ziya fight the Great Shang forces.
• Jiang Ziya welcomed Shen Gongbao’s offer and prepared to take him to Xiqi.
• Shen Gongbao asked to inspect the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, and Jiang Ziya brought them out while his judgment was clouded by Killing Intent.
• Shen Gongbao reached for the treasures, but their Jade Purity power struck him back and suppressed his greed.

Shen Gongbao tried to seize Jiang Ziya’s supreme treasures, then attacked him when his scheme was exposed. White Crane Boy rescued Jiang Ziya, but azure spiritual light tied to Fairy Yunxiao helped Shen Gongbao escape, leaving Jiang Ziya to depart Kunlun with unanswered questions.

• Shen Gongbao revealed his greed for Jiang Ziya’s treasures, threatened Xiqi, and attacked him with his sword.
• Jiang Ziya used the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner to defend himself, but Shen Gongbao’s relentless techniques began to overwhelm him.
• White Crane Boy arrived and struck at Shen Gongbao, who escaped through the Immortal-Mortal Passage with help from azure spiritual light.
• White Crane Boy recognized the light as Fairy Yunxiao’s method and concluded that Shen Gongbao had secretly allied with the Jie Sect.
• Jiang Ziya thanked White Crane Boy and asked why Shen Gongbao had changed, but White Crane Boy said Shen Gongbao was no longer a Chan Sect disciple.
• Jiang Ziya put away the supreme treasure and left Yuxu Immortal Domain alone, still confused by Shen Gongbao’s betrayal.

Jiang Ziya recruited Bai Jian to guard the newly built Investiture Platform outside Xiqi, establishing a place to receive the souls of the coming war. Meanwhile, Wen Zhong brought the Four Sages of Nine Dragon Island to aid the Shang camp, where they healed Zhang Guifang and Feng Lin.

• Jiang Ziya encountered Bai Jian, an ancient Yellow Emperor-era commander whose remnant soul guarded the Blood Abyss, and invited him to protect the Investiture Platform.
• Bai Jian agreed, and Jiang Ziya brought him to Xiqi and asked the Martial King to authorize construction of the platform.
• Jiang Ziya selected a blessed site outside Xiqi, and workers built the Investiture Platform in ten days.
• Jiang Ziya appointed Bai Jian to guard the completed platform and receive the fallen souls of the Three Realms.
• Wen Zhong sought aid from the Four Sages of Nine Dragon Island, who returned to the Shang camp with him.
• The Four Sages healed Zhang Guifang and Feng Lin, restoring their strength and lifting the Shang soldiers' morale.

The Four Sages of Nine Dragon Island routed the Zhou Army with their dragon-blooded beasts and demanded Xiqi submit to Great Shang, but Jinzha arrived to help Jiang Ziya and persuaded Nezha to fight. The Zhou forces returned to battle, where Nezha and Jinzha engaged three of the Four Sages while Wang Mo faced Jiang Ziya.

• The Four Sages of Nine Dragon Island used the fierce presence of their mounts to make the Zhou Army's horses collapse and scatter its troops, while Nezha and Huang Feihu remained unmoved.
• Wang Mo demanded that Xiqi submit to Great Shang, provide supplies, and hand over Huang Feihu; Jiang Ziya stalled for time and withdrew the army into Xiqi City.
• Jiang Ziya pleaded with Nezha to fight, but Nezha refused until Jinzha arrived, announced Manjusri Guangfa Tianzun had sent him, and persuaded Nezha to help defend Xiqi.
• Jiang Ziya reorganized the troops and led them out of the city to face the Four Sages again.
• Nezha fought Yang Sen and Gao Yougan, Jinzha engaged Li Xingba, and Wang Mo confronted Jiang Ziya.

Wenshu rescued Jiang Ziya from Wang Mo and restrained him so Jinzha could kill him, forcing the Shang Army to retreat. After the Four Sages sought revenge, Jiang Ziya and Nezha killed three more of them, leaving Li Xingba to flee for reinforcements.

• Wang Mo struck Jiang Ziya with the Heaven-Opening Pearl and chased him until Wenshu arrived and froze the attack.
• Wenshu ordered Jinzha to execute Wang Mo, and Jinzha killed him with the Dragon-Escaping Stake.
• The remaining sages and the Shang Army retreated, while Jiang Ziya thanked Wenshu and asked him to help Xiqi; Wenshu refused and vanished.
• The surviving Four Sages regrouped and demanded battle, so Jiang Ziya led Jinzha, Nezha, and Huang Tianxiang out to meet them.
• Jiang Ziya killed Gao Yougan with the God-Beating Whip, and Nezha killed Yang Sen and Feng Lin.
• Li Xingba fled to Zhang Guifang's camp to seek reinforcements.

After Zhang Guifang and the remaining Shang generals fell, Wen Zhong sent Lu Xiong, Fei Zhong, and You Hun against Xiqi, while Jiang Ziya devised a way to avoid a costly frontal battle. Jiang Ziya performed a ritual on Qi Mountain that brought summer snow and froze the battlefield, leaving the armies facing an unnatural winter.

• Zhang Guifang refused Jiang Ziya’s offer to surrender and killed himself, while Muzha caught and killed the fleeing Li Xingba.
• Wen Zhong learned that the Four Sages and the other Shang generals had died, then appointed Lu Xiong commander and Fei Zhong and You Hun as deputies for another campaign.
• Fei Zhong and You Hun tried to flee the camp, but Wen Zhong’s guards stopped them and confined them to their tent.
• Lu Xiong led fifty thousand Shang troops to Qi Mountain Pass, where Jiang Ziya weighed the risks of a direct battle and devised a plan.
• Jiang Ziya performed a ritual on Qi Mountain, summoning black clouds, snow, and freezing winds that covered the battlefield in ice.