Chapter Summaries

After the Jie Sect suffered another defeat, Di Xin saw that Great Shang’s court had lost the will to resist Xiqi and left in anger. Alone with Golden Phoenix, he admitted that the lack of loyal ministers and brave generals had made him waver in his original resolve.

• A messenger reported the Jie Sect’s latest defeat, and the officials panicked as they realized Great Shang had lost its immortal support.
• A general urged Di Xin to send troops against Xiqi, but most officials stayed silent and privately considered changing sides.
• Di Xin condemned the ministers’ cowardice and left the Purple-Gold Great Hall in anger.
• In his bedchamber, Di Xin reflected on Great Shang’s failing fortunes as Golden Phoenix calmly prepared tea.
• Di Xin told Golden Phoenix that he had begun to waver in his original heart, and she quietly straightened her robe.

Golden Phoenix restored King Zhou’s resolve and reassured him that Xiqi could not easily overcome Great Shang’s defenses. At Golden Rooster Ridge, the Phoenix Clan appeared above the Shang army, shattering Xiqi’s faith and forcing Jiang Ziya to call on Daoist Ran Deng and Maitreya for aid.

• Golden Phoenix counseled King Zhou to hold fast to his original heart, and he regained his resolve as Human King.
• Golden Phoenix assured King Zhou that Great Shang’s passes and defenses would prevent Xiqi from advancing easily, then vanished.
• Jiang Ziya halted Xiqi’s army at Golden Rooster Ridge and sent immortals to challenge the defending general, but no one answered.
• Countless flame-wreathed Phoenixes appeared over the Shang army, causing Xiqi’s soldiers and leaders to lose faith and morale.
• Jiang Ziya urgently asked Deputy Sect Master Ran Deng and Senior Maitreya to intervene before Xiqi’s army collapsed.
• Daoist Ran Deng and Maitreya rose above the Xiqi formation and advanced toward the Phoenixes with Daoist power and Buddhist chants.

Kong Xuan appeared at Golden Rooster Ridge and crushed Daoist Randeng and Maitreya’s attack with his Five-Colored Divine Light. He confronted Maitreya over trying to sway the Phoenix Clan, leaving Maitreya terrified and apologizing while Randeng stayed silent.

• Maitreya invoked the Heavenly Dao and used Buddhist chants to try to convert the Phoenix Clan to Xiqi.
• Kong Xuan emerged from the sea of fire and struck Daoist Randeng and Maitreya with his Five-Colored Divine Light, driving them back.
• Kong Xuan challenged the two leaders and demanded to know whether they objected to the Phoenix Clan’s actions.
• Kong Xuan accused Maitreya of acting in Buddhism’s name and threatened to bring his parents to Mount Sumeru to confront Saints Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Maitreya admitted he had acted alone and begged Kong Xuan for forgiveness, while Daoist Randeng remained silent.

Kong Xuan ordered Xiqi’s army to withdraw, but Ran Deng proposed a battle to decide whether they could pass Golden Rooster Ridge. As the Phoenix Clan overwhelmed the Chan Sect forces, a colossal Buddhist presence descended and suppressed the battlefield.

• Kong Xuan demanded that Xiqi withdraw, while Jiang Ziya secretly urged Ran Deng and Maitreya to prevent a retreat.
• Ran Deng proposed that the armies fight, with Xiqi withdrawing if it lost, and Kong Xuan accepted.
• Jiang Ziya ordered Xiqi’s forces to attack, and the Phoenix Clan met them in battle.
• The Phoenix Clan routed most of the Chan Sect forces, leaving Jiang Ziya, Ran Deng, and Maitreya facing defeat.
• A Buddhist chant halted the Phoenix Clan’s attacks as a vast Buddhist dharma idol and hosts of Buddhist figures descended onto Golden Rooster Ridge.

Kong Xuan held off the Buddhist reinforcements at Golden Rooster Ridge until Saint Zhunti appeared and invited him to join Buddhism. Kong Xuan rejected the offer and publicly denounced Zhunti, leaving the battlefield frozen in shock.

• Buddhist reinforcements led by Ran Deng and Maitreya halted the Phoenix Clan’s advance and restored Xiqi’s collapsing lines.
• Kong Xuan called out Zhunti, who dissolved his golden manifestation and descended to face him in person.
• Zhunti praised Kong Xuan and offered to take him west to join Buddhism and avoid the Investiture Killing Tribulation.
• Kong Xuan shattered Zhunti’s beguiling Buddhist influence, shouted for him to get lost, and accused him of coveting others’ Dao Fruits.
• The battle at Golden Rooster Ridge fell silent as the immortals, Buddhas, soldiers, and Phoenix Clan cultivators watched Kong Xuan confront Zhunti.

Zhunti tried to seize Kong Xuan and forcibly convert him, but Kong Xuan revealed that he had reached the early stage of Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal and stopped Zhunti’s attack. Zhunti recognized Kong Xuan’s new breakthrough but decided his own greater power would still let him suppress him.

• Zhunti ignored Kong Xuan’s rebuke, manifested his golden Dharma Image, and sent a giant hand to seize him.
• Kong Xuan scorned Zhunti’s scheming and revealed his Peacock Dharma Image and Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal aura, halting the golden hand.
• Zhunti and the battlefield’s immortals and Buddhas reacted with shock at Kong Xuan’s breakthrough.
• Zhunti sensed Kong Xuan’s shallow foundation and realized he had only recently entered the realm.
• Zhunti recovered his composure, declared Kong Xuan’s early-stage power insufficient, and prepared to press the attack.

Kong Xuan used his Five-Colored Divine Light to withstand Zhunti’s first two Saintly attacks and then shattered Zhunti’s third attack. He drove Zhunti back seven steps, leaving the Saint’s pressure over Golden Rooster Ridge greatly weakened.

• Zhunti unleashed his full Saintly might, forcing Kong Xuan down, but Kong Xuan steadied himself and resolved to fight for the Phoenix Clan’s honor.
• Kong Xuan formed a Five Elements Dao Domain that dismantled Zhunti’s first Bodhi Saint Technique.
• Kong Xuan’s Five-Colored Divine Light caught and dissipated Zhunti’s second Buddha palm.
• Zhunti unleashed a Nirvana Sword as his third attack, and Kong Xuan poured all his Dao power into a counterstrike.
• Kong Xuan shattered the Nirvana Sword and drove Zhunti backward seven steps, disrupting the Western Heaven’s Dao Resonance.

Zhunti used the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree to badly wound Kong Xuan and tried to capture him for the Western Teach. Qing Qiong arrived in time to save his disciple and confronted Zhunti, leaving their clash poised to continue.

• Zhunti summoned the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and shattered Kong Xuan’s Five-Colored Divine Light, leaving him gravely wounded and unable to fight back.
• Zhunti attacked Kong Xuan again, intending to capture and convert him to the Western Teach.
• A powerful azure claw struck Zhunti and sent him staggering back a thousand miles.
• Qing Qiong emerged from a tear in the sky, caught Kong Xuan, and stabilized his Dao foundation and soul.
• Kong Xuan thanked his master, and Qing Qiong condemned Zhunti for bullying a junior and attacking without restraint.

Qing Qiong confronted Zhunti for attacking Kong Xuan and forced him to negotiate over the battle at Golden Rooster Ridge. Zhunti agreed that Kong Xuan would withdraw and Buddhism would not interfere, under threat of Qing Qiong visiting Mount Sumeru.

• Qing Qiong appeared before Zhunti and revealed that Kong Xuan was his disciple, making Zhunti withdraw his attack and apologize.
• Zhunti tried to use Azure Nether Island's promise to avoid worldly affairs to force Qing Qiong to abandon Kong Xuan.
• Qing Qiong argued that the Phoenix Clan was destined to take part in the Investiture of the Gods Calamity and warned that he could take them all to Azure Nether Island.
• Zhunti realized that pursuing Kong Xuan risked Qing Qiong's wrath and could force Western Teach disciples to fill the Phoenix Clan's places in the calamity.
• Qing Qiong proposed that Kong Xuan withdraw from the battle and Buddhism leave Golden Rooster Ridge alone, and Zhunti reluctantly agreed.

After the Phoenix Clan fell at Golden Rooster Ridge, Jiang Ziya led the Zhou army east to Jiameng Pass, where Hu Sheng favored surrender but Hu Lei prepared to resist. Hu Lei summoned aid from his Jie Sect lineage, and Holy Mother of Fire Spirit set out with three thousand Wind-Fire Divine Soldiers as battle began outside the pass.

• Kong Xuan and Zhunti withdrew from Golden Rooster Ridge, leaving the Phoenix Clan disciples exposed to the Chan Sect and Buddhist forces.
• Daoist Ran Deng, Buddha Maitreya, and the Chan Sect immortals defeated the Phoenix Clan defenders, captured them in the Investiture of the Gods, and broke the pass.
• Jiang Ziya gathered the Zhou army and marched east, while Yin Shang defenders along the route surrendered and the army advanced to Jiameng Pass.
• Hu Sheng urged the generals to surrender, but Hu Lei rejected the proposal and prepared to defend the pass.
• Hu Lei sent a plea for help to Biyou Palace, and Holy Mother of Fire Spirit led three thousand Wind-Fire Divine Soldiers toward Jiameng Pass.
• The fighting outside Jiameng Pass began before Holy Mother of Fire Spirit arrived.

After Hu Lei died defending Jiameng Pass, the Holy Mother of Fire Spirit arrived with three thousand Wind-Fire Divine Soldiers and routed the Zhou Army, killing Hong Ren. Jiang Ziya’s three-route encirclement failed to break her formation, leaving the eastern campaign stalled as Daoist Ran Deng summoned Guang Chengzi for aid.

• Hu Lei fought the Zhou Army until his Daoist arts broke, and he died in battle as his True Spirit flew to the Investiture of the Gods.
• The Holy Mother of Fire Spirit arrived at Jiameng Pass with three thousand Wind-Fire Divine Soldiers and attacked the Zhou Army to avenge Hu Lei.
• The Holy Mother of Fire Spirit burned Hong Ren to death, and the Zhou Army retreated as her Wind-Fire Great Formation overwhelmed its troops.
• Jiang Ziya divided the Zhou forces into three routes to restrain the Holy Mother of Fire Spirit, seal Jiameng Pass, and lay down restrictions, but neither side could break the stalemate.
• Daoist Ran Deng urged Jiang Ziya to summon Guang Chengzi, then sent a Jade Void Imperial Edict inviting him to descend and assist the Zhou Army.

Guang Chengzi defeated Holy Mother of Fire Spirit at Jiameng Pass, enabling Jiang Ziya to take the pass and advance toward Zhaoge. When Guang Chengzi brought her Golden Glow Crown to Biyou Palace to seek forgiveness, Master Tongtian restrained his disciples, but their anger at the Chan Sect erupted and the sects’ conflict escalated.

• Guang Chengzi used the Seal of Heaven-Turning to destroy Holy Mother of Fire Spirit’s Wind-Fire Great Formation and kill her, sending her soul to the Investiture of the Gods.
• Hu Sheng surrendered Jiameng Pass to Xiqi, and Jiang Ziya secured the pass before leading the army onward toward Zhaoge.
• Guang Chengzi took Holy Mother of Fire Spirit’s Golden Glow Crown to Biyou Palace and asked Master Tongtian to forgive him for killing her.
• Master Tongtian said Holy Mother of Fire Spirit had met her destined tribulation and told Guang Chengzi he could leave without seeking forgiveness.
• Holy Mother Jin Ling and the Interception Sect disciples accused the Chan Sect of killing their fellow disciples and moved to attack Guang Chengzi.
• Master Tongtian suppressed his disciples’ fury, and Guang Chengzi hurried out of Biyou Palace as the conflict between the sects intensified.

Tongtian and Yunxiao revealed that the Chan Sect’s apology was a ploy to provoke Jie Sect disciples into the tribulation, and they let the scheme proceed while keeping their own plan hidden. At Azure Dragon Pass, Chen Qi captured Deng Jiugong, and Qiu Yin and Chen Qi joined forces against Huang Feihu.

• Tongtian explained to Yunxiao that Yuanshi had sent Guang Chengzi to provoke Jie Sect disciples into leaving Biyou Palace and joining the war.
• Yunxiao and Tongtian said the Jie Sect disciples’ anger was feigned and that they were letting Jade Void’s plan play out.
• The Zhou Army reached Azure Dragon Pass, where Qiu Yin and Chen Qi led the Flying Tiger Soldiers to face them.
• Chen Qi defeated Deng Jiugong with his yin fiend and had the Flying Tiger Soldiers capture him alive.
• Huang Feihu charged out to rescue Deng Jiugong, but Qiu Yin and Chen Qi teamed up to pin him down.

Zheng Lun returned to the Zhou camp and countered Chen Qi’s yellow qi with his Pure White Baleful Qi, leaving the two generals evenly matched. Jiang Ziya then used a feigned retreat to lure Yin Shang’s troops into an ambush, where Zheng Lun and Huang Feihu helped kill Qiu Yin.

• After Qiu Yin and Chen Qi defeated Huang Feihu, the Zhou Army held its camp while the battle at Azure Dragon Pass stalled.
• Zheng Lun returned with the provisions, learned of Chen Qi’s strange art, and rode out to challenge him.
• Zheng Lun’s Pure White Baleful Qi neutralized Chen Qi’s yellow qi, and the two fought to a draw before developing mutual respect.
• Jiang Ziya devised a plan to lure Yin Shang’s army into an ambush by having Zheng Lun feign defeat.
• Qiu Yin led his troops in pursuit of Zheng Lun and fell into the Zhou Army’s ambush.
• Zheng Lun struck Qiu Yin with Pure White Baleful Qi, and Huang Feihu and the generals attacked and beheaded him.

After the Zhou Army captured Sishui Pass, the Chan Sect Golden Immortals sent Guang Chengzi to Biyou Palace to provoke Master Tongtian and force the remaining Interception Sect disciples into battle. Guang Chengzi accused the sect of disrupting the God Conferment, and the furious disciples looked to Tongtian.

• Chen Qi surrendered after Qiu Yin's death and the fall of Azure Dragon Pass.
• At Sishui Pass, Yu Hua wounded the Zhou forces with the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade, but Yang Jian stole its antidote from Yu Yuan and helped the wounded recover.
• The Zhou immortals killed Yu Hua, while Yu Yuan captured Tu Xingsun before Daoist Randeng defeated and captured Yu Yuan.
• With its defenders gone, Sishui Pass fell to the Zhou Army, leaving Zhaoge exposed.
• The Chan Sect Golden Immortals sent Guang Chengzi to Biyou Palace to provoke Master Tongtian into bringing the remaining Interception Sect disciples into the conflict.
• Guang Chengzi accused the Interception Sect of defying Heaven's decree, and its disciples turned angrily toward Tongtian.

Tongtian, provoked by Guang Chengzi, descended to the Xiqi battlefield and laid out the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, blocking the Zhou Army’s advance. He challenged Laozi, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Jieyin, and Zhunti to break it, demanding they abandon the campaign against Shang if they failed.

• Guang Chengzi mocked Tongtian and the Jie Sect, prompting Tongtian to order his disciples to prepare for battle.
• Tongtian left Biyou Palace and established the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation outside Xiqi, sealing the Zhou Army’s route forward.
• Jiang Ziya, Daoist Ran Deng, Buddha Maitreya, and the Chan Sect immortals were stunned and fearful upon seeing the formation.
• Yang Jian and Nezha privately criticized the Chan Sect immortals’ double standards, then withdrew from the command tent.
• Tongtian called out Laozi, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Jieyin, and Zhunti, challenging them to break his formation or end their campaign against Shang and stop targeting the Jie Sect.

Laozi, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Jieyin, and Zhunti agreed to join forces to break Master Tongtian’s Immortal Slaying Sword Formation. Tongtian prepared the Six Soul Banner and ordered Yunxiao and Holy Mother Jin Ling to lead the Jie Sect immortals in establishing the Myriad Immortals Great Formation, leaving a two-formation battle on the horizon.

• Zhunti invited Primordial Heavenly Venerate to join the four Saints in breaking Tongtian’s formation, and Yuanshi accepted out of necessity.
• Laozi agreed that the Western Two Saints’ help was needed, and the four Saints formed an alliance before returning to their Dao Fields to prepare.
• Tongtian inscribed the four Saints’ names on the Six Soul Banner and explained that it could wound even a Saint’s Primordial Spirit.
• Immortal Dingguang accepted the Six Soul Banner from Tongtian and pledged to use it against their enemies.
• Tongtian ordered Yunxiao and Holy Mother Jin Ling to lead the Jie Sect immortals into the Immortal Execution formation domain and establish the Myriad Immortals Great Formation.

Jieyin and Zhunti learned that Tongtian had layered the Myriad Immortals Great Formation over the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, forcing the Four Saints to reconsider their plan. Laozi decided to seek out Ancestor Kirin, while Zhunti agreed to unleash Buddhism’s full hidden strength for the decisive battle.

• Yunxiao and Holy Mother Jin Ling led Jie Sect’s immortals to form the Myriad Immortals Great Formation within the Immortal Slaying Formation domain.
• Jieyin and Zhunti received word of Tongtian’s two stacked formations and abandoned their journey to the battlefield.
• Jieyin and Zhunti gathered with Laozi and Yuanshi at Jade Void Palace and warned them that the formations made victory unlikely with only four saints.
• Laozi recalled the Myriad Immortals Great Formation’s power and decided to travel to the East Sea to investigate Ancestor Kirin, Zu Long, and Ancestor Phoenix.
• Zhunti agreed that Buddhism would mobilize its hidden forces and commit its full strength against Jie Sect.

Taiqing Laozi sought Ancestor Kirin’s help in breaking Tongtian’s formations, but Ancestor Kirin explained that joining the Four Saints could draw Zu Long and Ancestor Phoenix into the conflict on Tongtian’s side. Laozi was left confronting the risk that his appeal would change nothing and make the stalemate even more dangerous.

• Ancestor Kirin watched over the East Sea until Taiqing Laozi arrived and described the stalemate in the God Conferment war.
• Taiqing Laozi argued that the Investiture of the Gods Calamity had already ensnared the Kirin Clan despite Ancestor Kirin’s detachment.
• Laozi asked Ancestor Kirin to help the Four Saints break Tongtian’s Immortal Slaying Sword Formation.
• Ancestor Kirin warned that Zu Long would join Tongtian if he joined the Four Saints, leaving the formations unbroken while the two Primordial Sovereigns fought.
• Ancestor Kirin reminded Laozi that Zhunti had made an enemy of Ancestor Phoenix by suppressing Kong Xuan, and predicted that Ancestor Phoenix would also aid Tongtian.

Taiqing Laozi realized Zhunti’s actions could draw Zu Long and Ancestor Phoenix into the war on Jie Sect’s side, so he asked Ancestor Kirin to break the deadlock. Ancestor Kirin instead invoked the Three Clans’ covenant to keep all three sovereigns out of the conflict, then urged Laozi to visit Haotian at the Heavenly Court.

• Taiqing Laozi realized Zhunti’s mistreatment of Kong Xuan could lead Zu Long and Ancestor Phoenix to aid Jie Sect, leaving the four-saint alliance at a severe disadvantage.
• Laozi promised that the Daoist Sect, Chan Sect, and Western Two Saints would owe Ancestor Kirin a great favor if he helped them break the formations.
• Ancestor Kirin agreed to keep Zu Long and Ancestor Phoenix from interfering by invoking a covenant that barred all three clans’ sovereigns from the Investiture of the Gods conflict.
• Laozi regretted giving up the favor because the Three Clans would remain untouched while the four saints returned to facing Tongtian alone.
• Ancestor Kirin told Laozi to visit Haotian at the Heavenly Court, arguing that Haotian was benefiting from the war without paying its price.