Chapter Summaries

After Yin Hong died and the Shang Army lost its morale, Su Hu betrayed Great Shang, killed Yin Hong’s loyal generals, captured Zheng Lun, and surrendered the camp to Xiqi. Zhang Shan refused to surrender and led several thousand loyal troops into a desperate last stand against the encircling Zhou Army.

• Yin Hong died, and the Auspicious Qi and the army’s stabilizing force vanished, plunging the Shang Camp into chaos.
• Su Hu used the disorder to ambush and kill Yin Hong’s loyal subordinate generals, then captured Zheng Lun with secret restrictions and his personal troops.
• Su Hu raised the flag of surrender, opened the camp gates to Xiqi, and led tens of thousands of Shang soldiers to defect to Zhou.
• Zhang Shan rallied several thousand soldiers who refused to surrender and formed a final defensive force for Great Shang.
• Su Hu and the Zhou Army surrounded Zhang Shan’s troops, who fought desperately as Zhang Shan led the charge at the front.

Deng Chanyu’s Five-Colored Flying Stone killed Zhang Shan and wiped out his remaining Shang Army, leaving Shen Gongbao and Winged Immortal to arrive at a devastated battlefield. Winged Immortal attacked Xiqi in rage, but Ran Deng Daoist stopped him and tried to lure him into a trap with enchanted pastries.

• Deng Chanyu struck Zhang Shan with her Five-Colored Flying Stone, gravely wounding him and breaking the Shang Army’s last resistance.
• Xiqi’s forces slaughtered the remaining Shang soldiers, and Zhang Shan died refusing to surrender.
• Shen Gongbao and Winged Immortal arrived too late; Shen Gongbao grieved over the fallen, while Winged Immortal vowed to destroy Xiqi’s camp.
• Winged Immortal unleashed a massive divine palm against Xiqi, but Ran Deng Daoist emerged and met it with his Immortal Seal.
• Ran Deng tried to persuade Winged Immortal to withdraw and offered him one hundred and eight pastries that secretly held binding and trapping techniques.

Ran Deng tricked Winged Immortal into eating pastries containing binding restrictions, but Winged Immortal broke free and devastated Xiqi's camp. As he prepared to attack Ran Deng and the surviving Chan Sect and Buddhist cultivators, Maitreya intervened and urged him to withdraw.

• Ran Deng secretly activated the restrictions in the pastries after Winged Immortal ate them, then bound him atop Xiqi's gate tower.
• Winged Immortal shattered the restrictions and immortal-binding silks, unleashing his mid-stage Quasi-Saint power and destroying much of Xiqi's camp.
• Winged Immortal accused Ran Deng and the Chan Sect of hypocrisy for condemning his violence after their own war had killed countless people.
• Winged Immortal launched another attack on Ran Deng and the surviving cultivators, but Maitreya arrived and stopped the clash with his Buddhist power.
• Maitreya urged Winged Immortal to step back and warned that further slaughter could bring overwhelming karma and cost him his cultivation or freedom.

Winged Immortal rejected Maitreya’s offer to become a Buddhist Dharma Protector beast and chose death over surrender. He detonated his Dao Foundation to destroy his enemies and the Xiqi battlefield, leaving Randeng and Maitreya struggling to contain the blast with their supreme treasures.

• Winged Immortal attacked Maitreya with his Great Dao of Yin Yang and manifested his Golden-Winged Great Peng form.
• Maitreya and Randeng joined forces, overwhelmed Winged Immortal, and left him gravely wounded and unable to resist.
• Maitreya tried to subdue Winged Immortal with Buddhist chants and make him a Dharma Protector beast.
• Winged Immortal refused to submit and ignited his cultivation, Dao Foundation, Phoenix Origin, soul, and blood in a self-destruction.
• Randeng used the Qian Kun Diagram and Maitreya used the Human Seed Bag to contain the blast threatening them and the Xiqi camp.

After Winged Immortal’s self-detonation devastated the battlefield and crippled Ran Deng and Maitreya, Shen Gongbao fled to Zhaoge and told Yin Jiao of Great Shang’s defeat. Learning that Winged Immortal had died, Yin Jiao burned with fury and went to the palace to meet King Zhou.

• Winged Immortal’s self-detonation destroyed the battlefield, grievously wounded Ran Deng and Maitreya, and left Great Shang’s army collapsing before Xiqi.
• Shen Gongbao escaped toward Zhaoge while Yin Jiao abandoned his attempt to reinforce the lost battle and headed for the capital.
• Shen Gongbao met Yin Jiao outside Zhaoge and recounted the deaths of the Jie Sect’s fighters and Winged Immortal.
• Yin Jiao learned that Winged Immortal was Kong Xuan’s younger brother and condemned the Chan Sect for driving him to his death.
• Yin Jiao entered Zhaoge’s palace to meet King Zhou, intent on revenge.

Yin Jiao received command of the Shang army and shared a private, emotional farewell with King Zhou before setting out against Xiqi. He reorganized the troops and led them west with Shen Gongbao, arriving opposite Xiqi's forces as another great battle loomed.

• Yin Jiao petitioned King Zhou to let him lead the army against Xiqi, and King Zhou granted him full military authority.
• King Zhou privately asked Yin Jiao about his mother and Yin Hong, then learned that Yin Hong had entered the Investiture of the Gods.
• King Zhou told Yin Jiao to fight as he wished, and Yin Jiao swore to defend Great Shang before leaving for the army camp.
• Yin Jiao reorganized the Shang troops, enforced military discipline, and prepared the army to march.
• Yin Jiao and Shen Gongbao led the Shang army west and faced the Xiqi forces across the battlefield.

Yin Jiao used the Human Emperor Banner and Yin Yang Twin Swords to overwhelm Xiqi’s champions and capture Huang Feihu and Huang Tianhua, while driving back Yang Jian and Nezha. Fearing that Daoist Randeng and Venerable Maitreya would join the battle and overwhelm Yin Jiao, Shen Gongbao left for Golden Ao Island to seek support.

• Yin Jiao’s Human Emperor Banner suppressed Xiqi’s immortal arts and kingly fortune, while his Yin Yang Twin Swords wounded and captured Huang Feihu and Huang Tianhua.
• Yang Jian and Nezha attacked Yin Jiao together, but the Human Emperor Banner weakened their powers and his twin swords forced them back.
• Yin Jiao’s victories raised the Shang Army’s morale, while Daoist Randeng and Venerable Maitreya remained on the sidelines.
• Shen Gongbao worried that Yin Jiao could not withstand the Chan Sect’s masters and a prolonged battle.
• Shen Gongbao withdrew from the battlefield and flew toward Golden Ao Island.

Shen Gongbao persuaded Luo Xuan and Liu Huan to join the battle for Great Shang, and Luo Xuan unleashed a devastating fire attack on Xiqi. As the city’s defenders failed to contain the flames, Princess Longji descended from Yaochi under Heaven’s command to stop the calamity.

• Shen Gongbao recounted the Jie Sect’s losses to Luo Xuan and Liu Huan and urged them to aid Yin Jiao and Great Shang.
• Luo Xuan and Liu Huan left Golden Ao Island with Shen Gongbao and raced toward the battlefield.
• Luo Xuan and Liu Huan attacked Xiqi at night, using their fire treasures and powers to set the city ablaze.
• Jiang Ziya, the Golden Immortals, and Ji Fa failed to stop the flames, while Xiqi’s people and soldiers fell into chaos.
• Heaven commanded Princess Longji to descend from Yaochi and counter Luo Xuan’s fire calamity.

Princess Longji used the Mist Universe Net to extinguish Luo Xuan’s flames and save Xiqi City, leaving Luo Xuan and Liu Huan weakened and fleeing. Yang Jian and Nezha then prepared to pursue them because Luo Xuan had attacked innocent civilians.

• Princess Longji confronted Luo Xuan and used the Mist Universe Net to extinguish his fire crows, fire dragons, and flaming sword.
• Luo Xuan combined the power of his fire treasures, but Princess Longji’s water treasure suppressed his manifestation and sealed most of his cultivation.
• Princess Longji struck Liu Huan with Yaochi Clear Dew when he tried to help Luo Xuan, driving him back injured.
• The Mist Universe Net extinguished the fires engulfing Xiqi City and stripped Luo Xuan’s treasures of their power.
• Luo Xuan freed himself from the mist, seized Liu Huan, and fled beyond Xiqi.
• Yang Jian and Nezha, who had watched from concealment, resolved to act against Luo Xuan for burning innocent people.

Yang Jian and Nezha ambushed and killed Luo Xuan and Liu Huan after they burned a city and slaughtered its people. As Yin Jiao arrived at Xiqi wielding the Human Emperor Banner, Ran Deng sought a way to counter it without breaking the battlefield’s rules, and Guang Chengzi considered lending the Eastern Green Lotus Treasure Banner.

• Yang Jian and Nezha ambushed Luo Xuan and Liu Huan in a mountain valley, where Nezha killed Liu Huan and the two warriors defeated Luo Xuan.
• Yang Jian condemned Luo Xuan for slaughtering mortals, and he and Nezha destroyed Luo Xuan’s body and suppressed his Primordial Spirit.
• Kong Xuan watched as the Zhou camp learned that Yin Jiao and his Human Emperor Banner had arrived over Xiqi.
• Ran Deng ruled out sending a higher-level cultivator against Yin Jiao and ordered an envoy to request aid from Kunlun.
• Guang Chengzi received Ran Deng’s request and determined that the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner alone could not counter Yin Jiao, so they needed the Eastern Green Lotus Treasure Banner as well.

Guang Chengzi persuaded Grand Master Xuandu to lend the Azure Lotus Treasure Banner after Taishang Laozi explained that it was needed to restore order to the God Conferment. Armed with it and the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, Guang Chengzi arrived at Xiqi to confront Yin Jiao, whose Human Emperor Banner had suppressed the camp.

• Guang Chengzi traveled to the Eight Sceneries Palace and asked Xuandu to lend him the Azure Lotus Treasure Banner for Xiqi.
• Xuandu refused because lending the banner would draw it into the God Conferment and oppose the Human Dao.
• Taishang Laozi summoned Xuandu and explained that Yin Jiao's use of the Human Emperor Banner threatened the balance between the Human and Immortal Daos.
• Xuandu accepted his master's command, retrieved the Azure Lotus Treasure Banner, and lent it to Guang Chengzi with instructions to use it only to check Yin Jiao and return it after the war.
• Guang Chengzi set out for Xiqi carrying the Azure Lotus Treasure Banner and the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner.
• Guang Chengzi arrived at Xiqi, where Jiang Ziya's camp remained stalled under the Human Emperor Banner's suppression.

Guang Chengzi gave Jiang Ziya two Innate Spiritual Banners to counter Yin Jiao’s Human Emperor Banner, allowing the Zhou army to defeat and kill him. Yin Jiao’s soul rose to the Investiture Platform, and his name entered the Investiture of the Gods.

• Guang Chengzi warned Jiang Ziya about the Human Emperor Banner and entrusted him with the Azure Lotus Treasure Banner and the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner.
• Jiang Ziya led the Zhou army out, and Tu Xingsun taunted Yin Jiao into leaving the Shang Camp.
• Yang Jian and Nezha used the two banners to suppress Yin Jiao’s Human Emperor Banner, and the Zhou immortals attacked him.
• Yin Jiao fled to Mount Qi but was surrounded by Yang Jian, Nezha, and the other immortals.
• The Zhou immortals killed Yin Jiao, and the Heavenly Dao sent his name to the Investiture Platform.

After Yin Jiao fell at Mount Qi, General Kong reassured Queen Jiang that her sons had gained enduring divine positions, and she renewed her resolve to defend Great Shang. On the battlefield, Jiang Ziya claimed Yin Jiao’s Yin Yang Sword, but the Human Emperor Banner resisted the immortals and Buddhas, so they summoned Ji Fa to try to claim it.

• General Kong sensed Yin Jiao’s death and told Queen Jiang that her sons’ places on the Investiture of the Gods would free them from mortal death.
• Queen Jiang resumed cultivation and vowed to use her strength to aid the King of Shang and protect Great Shang’s Human Dao.
• Jiang Ziya took Yin Jiao’s unguarded Yin Yang Sword after the Golden Immortals suppressed it.
• The immortals and Buddhas failed to control the Human Emperor Banner and realized that only a rightful Human Emperor could wield it.
• The immortals and Buddhas summoned Ji Fa, who eagerly imagined using the banner to unite the realm.

Ji Fa discovered that the supposed Human Emperor Banner was actually Yin Jiao’s evil Myriad Soul Banner, and Maitreya saved him from being devoured. After Yin Jiao’s death, the Shang Army rallied under Hong Jin and met Jiang Ziya’s renewed assault with fierce resistance.

• Ji Fa touched the Human Emperor Banner, revealing its true form as a soul-devouring Myriad Soul Banner that began draining his life and spirit.
• Maitreya used Buddhist power to pull Ji Fa away from the banner, and the immortals exposed Yin Jiao’s deception and comforted the shaken Martial King.
• Jiang Ziya reorganized the Zhou Army and led it back to the Shang camp, expecting to defeat the leaderless enemy and rescue Huang Feihu and Huang Tianhua.
• The Shang soldiers rallied in grief and rage over Yin Jiao’s death, while Hong Jin took command and steadied their defense.
• Jiang Ziya’s forces charged the Shang camp, and Yang Jian attacked Hong Jin, but Hong Jin blocked his blows with Mysterious Gate Evasion Arts.

Hong Jin and the Shang Army halted Xiqi’s advance, forcing Jiang Ziya to withdraw while the two sides remained locked in a costly stalemate. In the Heavenly Court, Yuehe Elder visited Princess Longji to discuss secret heavenly matters.

• Hong Jin used the Mysterious Gate Flag Gate to evade Yang Jian’s attacks while Shang soldiers driven by vengeance repelled Xiqi’s charges.
• Jiang Ziya ordered Xiqi to retreat ten thousand li after the fighting turned into a costly deadlock.
• Yang Jian, Nezha, Lei Zhenzi, and the other Xiqi Immortal Generals discussed their inability to overcome Great Shang’s mortal army and the limits on immortals harming mortals.
• Yuehe Elder arrived at Princess Longji’s residence and requested a private audience to discuss matters concerning hidden heavenly secrets.
• Princess Longji welcomed Yuehe Elder, dismissed her attendants, and sealed the palace hall against outside sounds and prying.

Yuehe Elder told Princess Longji that her destined mortal marriage was with Hong Jin and urged her to use it to persuade him to abandon Shang and join Zhou. After weighing the risks of offending Saint Tongtian, Longji understood that the Heavenly Dao’s protections made the descent a rare opportunity, though she had not yet acted.

• Yuehe Elder revealed that Princess Longji’s fate chart had gained a destined marriage in the Mortal World.
• Longji resisted the match, fearing that immortal-mortal entanglements would bring censure and damage her standing.
• Yuehe Elder identified Hong Jin, a Jie Sect general fighting for Great Shang, as Longji’s destined partner and urged her to persuade him to join Zhou.
• Longji warned that turning Hong Jin against the Jie Sect could offend Saint Tongtian and entangle her in the Chan-Jie conflict.
• Yuehe Elder argued that Hong Jin’s return to Zhou was already decreed by the Heavenly Dao and that Haotian, the Heavenly Court, Nuwa’s rules, and the Chan Sect would protect Longji.
• Longji considered the gains and risks and recognized the descent as an opportunity to gain merit and advance her Dao.

Princess Longji agreed to descend and help Xiqi break the stalemate by defeating Hong Jin, whose name was fixed on the Investiture list and who was bound to her by a heavenly marriage. She faced Hong Jin on the battlefield and challenged his Flag Gate Evasion Arts, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Yuehe Elder persuaded Princess Longji to accept her heavenly opportunity and descend to settle her mortal-world karma.
• Yuehe Elder and Princess Longji appeared in Xiqi's command tent and explained that Longji would break Hong Jin's evasion arts, capture him, and persuade him to join Zhou.
• Jiang Ziya accepted the plan and opened camp to challenge Hong Jin, while Yuehe Elder observed from the clouds.
• Hong Jin answered the challenge and rode out to face Princess Longji, who declared that they were bound by heavenly fate and that she had come to break his arts.
• Hong Jin dismissed Longji's words, unfurled his black-and-white flags, and enveloped the battlefield in his Mysterious Gate Flag Gate Evasion.

Princess Longji broke Hong Jin’s flag-gate evasion and captured him alive, after which Elder Yuehe revealed that their marriage was a Heavenly Dao opportunity that could free Hong Jin from his mortal battles and killing karma. Hong Jin accepted the destined bond, and their wedding began in the Xiqi camp.

• Princess Longji used orthodox Immortal Light to dispel Hong Jin’s flag-gate illusions, bind him, and capture him alive.
• Elder Yuehe appeared and told Hong Jin that his bond with Princess Longji was destined and offered him a path away from battlefield slaughter and toward immortal cultivation.
• Hong Jin let go of his resentment toward Xiqi and accepted the marriage opportunity after looking to Princess Longji.
• Elder Yuehe declared that Hong Jin and Princess Longji would wed, while Jiang Ziya and the gathered Xiqi generals and Chan Sect immortals observed the Heavenly Dao ceremony.

Hong Jin and Princess Longji completed their Heavenly Dao marriage and joined Xiqi, while Kong Xuan judged the union a scheme that would bring heavy karmic consequences upon Xiqi and the Chan Sect. From Sanshan Pass, he turned his attention to the dormant phoenix-cry Clear Qi hidden throughout the pass.

• Elder Yuehe presided over Hong Jin and Princess Longji's marriage, and the Heavenly Dao Seal bound them as Dao Companions.
• Hong Jin pledged to submit to Zhou, and Longji vowed to advance with him on the immortal path.
• Kong Xuan watched Xiqi's wedding from Sanshan Pass and compared it to the earlier marriage of Deng Chanyu and Tu Xingsun.
• Kong Xuan condemned Xiqi's marriage strategy, reasoning that it had offended the Human Emperor and Saint Tongtian and would invite karmic retribution.
• Kong Xuan warned that Xiqi's apparent success would end in future ruin when the Investiture tribulation ended and its debts were settled.
• Kong Xuan looked down over Sanshan Pass and saw dormant streams of phoenix-cry Clear Qi hidden in its mountains and forests.

Ji Fa launched Xiqi’s eastern expedition and appointed Jiang Ziya to lead a three-route campaign against Yin Shang. In response to the Jie Sect’s losses and Xiqi’s advance, Master Tongtian lifted Biyou Palace’s ban on descending the mountain, unleashing its ten thousand immortals into the conflict.

• Ji Fa performed the Golden Terrace ceremony and appointed Jiang Ziya Grand Marshal of the Eastern Expedition.
• Jiang Ziya reorganized Xiqi’s forces, assigned generals to their commands, and planned three routes to attack Yin Shang’s passes.
• Jie Sect disciples appealed to Master Tongtian to let them descend the mountain and aid Shang against Zhou.
• Master Tongtian permitted Biyou Palace’s disciples to descend the mountain, avenge their fallen fellow disciples, and protect their orthodoxy.
• The Jie Sect’s ten thousand immortals poured out from Golden Ao Island, alarming nearby beings and hidden reclusive powers.