Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Southern Feudal Lords Coalition debates whether to ally with the Demon Race. Most feudal lords strongly reject the idea because of the ancient blood feud between humans and demons, fear of betraying their ancestors, and concern over how the demons would be treated afterward.
• E Shun is conflicted. He needs the feudal lords’ support to maintain his 500,000-man army, but he also dislikes the Demon Race and fears the alliance would permanently damage his family’s reputation.
• Suddenly, many feudal lords begin suffering horrific, seemingly random deaths—vomiting blood, bleeding from every orifice, rotting, being skinned, or dying violently. Both opponents and some neutral parties are affected, creating widespread panic.
• Akasagarbha claims that Jiang Ziya is using a curse technique to kill the southern feudal lords one by one. He says that once the lords die, the coalition’s army will collapse.
• Akasagarbha insists that only a Saint can stop Jiang Ziya. He swears an oath before the Heavenly Dao that the five Demon Race Saints have entered Empress Nuwa’s tutelage, convincing the frightened lords that cooperation with the demons may be legitimate.
• He tells E Shun that he must personally and sincerely seek a Saint’s help. E Shun appoints Gao Chong to guard the camp with authority over life and death, then follows Akasagarbha through a portal created by 108 prayer beads.
• The scene shifts to the Great Wu Demon Kingdom in the north, where Demon Saint Ying Zhao governs dozens of demon-inhabited Great Thousand Worlds. Though the kingdoms publicly honor Lu Ya, Ying Zhao and the other Demon Saints are effectively using Lu Ya’s name to build independent power bases.
• Ying Zhao spends most of his time cultivating as a Hunyuan Saint, projecting his Saintly aura and Dao into the surrounding worlds to strengthen the Demon Race. His kingdoms are protected by weak or artificially matured Demon Gods.
• The chapter ends when the void tears open and two mysterious figures appear in Ying Zhao’s territory, provoking the Demon Gods and the surrounding demons.

Character Developments

• E Shun: His indecision and political vulnerability become clear. Although he dislikes the Demon Race, fear for his army and coalition forces him to consider an alliance and humble himself by seeking outside help.
• Akasagarbha: He maintains a calm, seemingly compassionate demeanor while manipulating the crisis. His staged oath and insistence that E Shun beg for aid increase the others’ trust in him, suggesting calculated psychological control.
• Jiang Ziya: He remains offstage but becomes a major threat through the alleged curse killing the southern feudal lords.
• Gao Chong: He is entrusted with protecting the main camp and given unrestricted authority, indicating E Shun’s reliance on him during the emergency.
• Ying Zhao: His status as a Hunyuan Saint has transformed him from a warrior into a remote spiritual leader. He is expanding his own influence while nominally serving Lu Ya and supporting the Demon Race across multiple worlds.

Significant Themes

• Fear as a tool of political coercion: The unexplained deaths force the feudal lords to reconsider beliefs they previously defended firmly.
• Manipulation and false appearances: Akasagarbha presents himself as a helpless mediator while carefully guiding E Shun toward cooperation with the Demon Race.
• Old hatred versus immediate survival: The humans must choose between preserving ancestral enmity and accepting demonic assistance to survive Jiang Ziya’s attack.
• Power hierarchy: The chapter emphasizes that ordinary leaders are powerless before Saints and must petition them rather than command them.
• Political legitimacy and reputation: E Shun fears that joining the demons will stain his family’s name, while Ying Zhao’s Demon Kingdoms use Lu Ya’s reputation as a public symbol despite pursuing their own agendas.

Character Interactions

• The feudal lords openly challenge E Shun over cooperation with the Demon Race, placing him under intense political pressure.
• Akasagarbha exploits the lords’ fear by explaining the deaths as Jiang Ziya’s curse and offering the possibility of salvation through a Saint.
• E Shun repeatedly turns to Akasagarbha for guidance, gradually surrendering control of the situation to him.
• E Shun appoints Gao Chong as camp commander before leaving, demonstrating both trust and the seriousness of the threat.
• At the end, Ying Zhao’s forces confront the two newly arrived figures, setting up the next conflict.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

Akasagarbha brings Southern Marquis E Shun into Ying Zhao’s Great Wu Demon Kingdom in the Northern Primordial Wilderness. They are immediately surrounded by numerous powerful Demon Gods, who threaten to kill and eat E Shun for the cultivation benefits of consuming humans. One Demon God attacks, but Akasagarbha easily immobilizes him with the Pure Six-Root Bamboo, demonstrating that the visitors are not defenseless.
Akasagarbha announces that he has come on behalf of the Two Shakyas to offer Ying Zhao a method for pursuing transcendence and the Hunyuan Great Dao. Ying Zhao, angered by Akasagarbha’s lack of deference, forcibly brings both visitors into his dojo for a private discussion. Akasagarbha explains that King Zhou of Great Shang is tyrannical and that E Shun’s revolt could overthrow him. If Ying Zhao assists E Shun, he could gain Human Race Destiny, Human Dao authority, and the continuing Fortune Blessing of national prosperity—strengthening his unstable foundation as a newly established Demon Saint.
Ying Zhao is strongly tempted by the offer and senses an unusual premonition urging him to accept, but he remains cautious. He says he will not undertake the plan alone and wants to bring a trusted companion into the scheme. Akasagarbha agrees to this condition.

Character developments

• Akasagarbha displays confidence, composure, and strategic intelligence. Though only a Golden Immortal, he stands up to Ying Zhao and uses the promise of transcendence and Human Dao power to persuade him.
• E Shun is overwhelmed by the terrifying strength of the true Demon Race. His assumptions that demons are weak compared with humans are shattered, emphasizing his vulnerability and lack of experience with the broader world.
• Ying Zhao is shown as proud, easily offended, and politically wary. Despite his anger toward Akasagarbha, the proposed benefits appeal deeply to his insecurity about his unstable foundation. He does not accept blindly, instead seeking additional support before committing.

Significant themes

• Power and hidden strength: The Demon Race is revealed to be vastly more formidable than E Shun—and perhaps humanity—realizes.
• Manipulation through opportunity: Akasagarbha uses the promise of transcendence, authority, and protection to exploit Ying Zhao’s desire for greater power.
• Political and religious strategy: The rebellion against King Zhou is presented not merely as a human conflict but as a means for demons and Buddhist forces to gain influence over Human Dao and Destiny.
• Pride versus pragmatism: Ying Zhao’s anger over Akasagarbha’s disrespect conflicts with his practical desire to strengthen himself and secure his position among the Saints.
• Humanity as a source of power: Human fortune, recognition, and national destiny are portrayed as resources that powerful immortals and demons can compete to control.

Character interactions

• The Demon Gods collectively intimidate and threaten E Shun, exposing the gulf between human and demonic power.
• Akasagarbha neutralizes a Demon God’s attack and establishes himself as a serious representative of the Two Shakyas.
• Ying Zhao and Akasagarbha clash over status and etiquette, with Ying Zhao offended that Akasagarbha refuses to show him sufficient respect.
• During their private discussion, Akasagarbha acts as a persuasive negotiator while Ying Zhao evaluates the proposal, ultimately agreeing only if he can involve another ally.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ying Zhao is tempted by the Western Teachings’ proposal to help E Shun’s Southern Lords Alliance overthrow Great Shang. He believes the opportunity could bring him and the Demon Race significant Human Race Destiny and National Fortune.
• He secretly consults Lu Wu. Although Lu Wu initially worries that the Western Teachings are manipulating them, Ying Zhao convinces him that they can retreat if Heavenly Dao Saints intervene and that Empress Nuwa will protect them as members of her faction.
• Akasagarbha presents the plan to the two Demon Saints. When he speaks arrogantly, Lu Wu crushes him with overwhelming force, warning the Western Teachings not to underestimate Hunyuan Saints. Ying Zhao also punishes Akasagarbha before restoring him.
• Ying Zhao and Lu Wu bring their Demon Gods and Great Demons to the outskirts of Three Mountains Pass, where they meet E Shun and the Southern Lords Alliance.
• E Shun announces that the two Hunyuan Saints have come to aid the alliance. He promises that, if the alliance succeeds, they will worship the Demon Saints and nourish them with National Fortune.
• Ying Zhao questions whether capturing Three Mountains Pass will truly allow them to reach Chaoge, noting the many cities and civilians beyond the pass. E Shun insists that the pass is the key to invading Great Shang.
• The Demon Saints send one of Ying Zhao’s artificially strengthened Demon Gods—a Late Grand Unity Golden Immortal—to challenge the defenders.
• E Shun formally demands an Immortal duel. When the defenders realize that the Southern Lords Alliance has brought in a member of the Demon Race, Three Mountains Pass erupts in outrage.

Character Developments

• Ying Zhao: Becomes increasingly ambitious and opportunistic. He is willing to risk conflict with the Heavenly Dao Saints for the chance to gain Destiny and strengthen the Demon Race, though he remains cautious and plans to surrender if necessary.
• Lu Wu: Shows greater decisiveness and aggression than Ying Zhao. He distrusts the Western Teachings but ultimately accepts the opportunity, relying on brute strength and Nuwa’s protection. His treatment of Akasagarbha demonstrates his pride and unwillingness to tolerate disrespect.
• Akasagarbha: Initially acts superior because of his Western Teachings background, but Lu Wu’s overwhelming attack humiliates and frightens him. He becomes much more submissive afterward.
• E Shun: Presents himself as a determined military leader who believes that capturing Three Mountains Pass will open the road to Chaoge. He attempts to secure the Demon Saints’ loyalty by promising them National Fortune.
• The Southern Lords: Remain uneasy about the Demon Race and seem to cooperate mainly because they need powerful allies and fear further setbacks.

Significant Themes

• Ambition versus caution: The Demon Saints recognize the dangers of interfering in the conflict but fear falling behind their rivals more than they fear possible punishment.
• Power and hierarchy: The chapter repeatedly emphasizes that strength determines status. Lu Wu’s instant domination of Akasagarbha reinforces the idea that Hunyuan Saints stand far above ordinary cultivators.
• Political manipulation: The Western Teachings avoid direct involvement in Eastern affairs by using the Demon Saints as proxies, while E Shun attempts to bind them through promises of National Fortune.
• Risk and opportunism: Ying Zhao and Lu Wu rationalize their participation by believing they can withdraw if stronger Saints appear.
• Conflict between humans and demons: The Southern Lords’ discomfort and the defenders’ outrage reveal the deep distrust surrounding the Demon Race.

Character Interactions

• Ying Zhao and Lu Wu debate whether accepting the Western Teachings’ offer is worthwhile, with Lu Wu expressing suspicion and Ying Zhao emphasizing the potential rewards.
• Lu Wu and Ying Zhao jointly intimidate Akasagarbha, forcing him to abandon his arrogance.
• E Shun welcomes the Demon Saints as allies and promises them worship and access to National Fortune.
• Ying Zhao questions E Shun’s military strategy, while E Shun insists that Three Mountains Pass is the decisive gateway to Great Shang.
• E Shun challenges the defenders to an Immortal duel, but the appearance of the Demon Race causes immediate hostility and signals that the battle for Three Mountains Pass is about to begin.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Southern Lords Alliance arrives outside Three Mountains Pass with reinforcements that include numerous demons and monsters. The defenders react angrily, condemning E Shun and the alliance for involving the Demon Race in a human conflict.
• Coffins are brought before the pass, accompanied by grieving family members who accuse Jiang Ziya of cursing eighteen lords—including E Chongyu—to death in a single night.
• E Shun publicly vows revenge for his father and declares that he will not rest until Jiang Ziya is dead. He rallies the soldiers by portraying Jiang Ziya as a cowardly murderer who relies on sinister schemes rather than open combat.
• Jiang Ziya is completely bewildered. He has spent the entire time inside Three Mountains Pass and insists that he did not kill or curse anyone. Deng Jiugong, Deng Chanyu, and Kong Xuan can confirm that he never carried out such attacks.
• Jiang Ziya reasons that killing eighteen lords within a massive army without causing any disturbance would be impossible, and that such a major accomplishment would certainly have been reported to King Zhou.
• E Shun challenges Jiang Ziya to a one-on-one duel outside the pass. Jiang Ziya senses E Shun’s dangerous killing intent and quietly retreats, causing some of the defenders to view him with contempt.
• Jiang Ziya suggests that the accusations may be part of an enemy plot. Akasagarbha then steps forward and challenges the defenders to send out an Immortal to fight, threatening that the pass will otherwise be surrendered without unnecessary slaughter.
• Deng Jiugong refuses to be intimidated and asks Kong Xuan whether someone should be sent to confront the enemy.
• Kong Xuan notices more than fifty Demon Gods among the opposing forces but remains unconcerned. Instead, he proposes that the Plum Mountain Six Freaks go out and gain combat experience, promising to protect them.
• Trusting Kong Xuan, the Plum Mountain Six Freaks accept the challenge and prepare to enter the fray.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ziya: Becomes the target of widespread hatred despite being innocent of the alleged murders. His confusion and defensiveness reveal that he has no idea who is manipulating events. His reluctance to duel E Shun also damages his image among the soldiers.
• E Shun: Presents himself as a grieving and righteous son seeking revenge for his father. However, his accusations and alliance with the Demon Race make him appear increasingly ruthless and politically manipulative.
• Deng Jiugong and Deng Chanyu: Initially astonished by the accusations, they largely believe Jiang Ziya’s denial and support the defense of Three Mountains Pass.
• Kong Xuan: Displays complete confidence in his own strength and calmly identifies the enemy’s hidden Demon Gods. He uses the situation to give the Plum Mountain Six Freaks valuable battlefield experience.
• Akasagarbha: Acts as the enemy’s representative and provokes the defenders with an arrogant challenge, relying on concealment techniques that hide his true nature from the Interception Sect.
• Plum Mountain Six Freaks: Move from observers to active participants, accepting the opportunity to fight under Kong Xuan’s protection.

Significant Themes

• False accusations and manipulated truth: Jiang Ziya is blamed for deaths he did not cause, suggesting that the enemy is deliberately manufacturing outrage to justify escalation.
• Propaganda and emotional warfare: E Shun uses the coffins, grieving relatives, and accusations against Jiang Ziya to inflame the soldiers and strengthen support for the alliance.
• Honor versus deception: The alliance claims to demand honorable battlefield deaths while simultaneously using demons and alleged curse techniques, exposing the hypocrisy behind its rhetoric.
• Power and confidence: Kong Xuan’s calm response to the enemy’s overwhelming demonic forces contrasts with the alliance’s theatrical anger and threats.
• The burden of reputation: Jiang Ziya’s innocence does not prevent others from judging him. His hesitation before E Shun’s challenge further demonstrates how public perception can be shaped by appearances rather than facts.

Character Interactions

• E Shun and the grieving families publicly confront and condemn Jiang Ziya.
• Jiang Ziya argues with E Shun from within the pass, denying responsibility and refusing to accept the accusations.
• Deng Jiugong questions Jiang Ziya about the alleged killings, while Jiang explains why they could not have been his work.
• Akasagarbha challenges the defenders and mocks their unwillingness to send out an Immortal.
• Deng Jiugong turns to Kong Xuan for a response, and Kong Xuan assigns the Plum Mountain Six Freaks to fight the enemy.

Chapter Summary

• The former Plum Mountain Seven Freaks had become the Plum Mountain Six Freaks after Yuan Hong joined Qingyuan, the Interception Sect’s First Disciple, as a personal disciple. The remaining six—Jin Dasheng, Dai Li, Zhu Zizhen, and their companions—harbored no resentment and instead celebrated Yuan Hong’s rise.
• The Six Freaks came to Great Shang because of its alliance with the Interception Sect and because they sought breakthroughs in cultivation. After accompanying Kong Xuan to Three Mountains Pass and benefiting from Human Race Destiny and the Tribulation Qi, their strength increased significantly.
• When a demon faction proposed an immortal duel, Jin Dasheng provocatively challenged the black-robed Akasagarbha. Zhu Bi, a Late Grand Unity Golden Immortal Demon God with Vermilion Bird bloodline, accepted the challenge on the demon side.
• Jin Dasheng and Zhu Bi fought fiercely. After revealing their true forms, Jin Dasheng used his mastery of water and the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique to tear Zhu Bi apart and consume his flesh and Primordial Spirit.
• Enraged demons attacked Jin Dasheng together, violating the rules of the agreed one-on-one duel. The other five Plum Mountain Freaks came to his aid, and the six fought dozens of Demon Gods and their accompanying Great Demons. Their coordinated formations and powerful cultivation allowed them not only to resist the overwhelming numbers but also to kill several enemies.
• More Interception Sect immortals stationed at Three Mountains Pass joined the battle when they saw their allies being surrounded. A massive war erupted between the two sides, causing heavy casualties and shaking the heavens and earth.
• Seeing the conflict escalate, Kong Xuan released a terrifying sword technique capable of killing even Quasi-Saints. Before the sword qi could strike the demons, Ying Zhao—an ancient Demon Race expert and Saint—swallowed the attack into a vortex, neutralizing it effortlessly.
• Kong Xuan confronted Ying Zhao directly, warning him that the declining Demon Race had no business interfering in the Human Race’s struggle. Ying Zhao demanded that Kong Xuan kneel and show respect to a Saint, but Kong Xuan coldly declared that Ying Zhao did not truly count as a Saint and threatened to kill him if he did not leave.
• Ying Zhao, enraged by Kong Xuan’s defiance and disrespect, accepted the challenge. Immediately after he finished speaking, his head was severed and fell to the ground, leaving everyone present stunned.

Character Developments and Interactions

• The Plum Mountain Six Freaks demonstrate strong brotherly loyalty, immediately supporting Jin Dasheng and fighting as a unified group despite being heavily outnumbered.
• Jin Dasheng displays both confidence and ferocity, defeating Zhu Bi and consuming him. His taunts also reveal his contempt for the surviving Demon Race remnants.
• Kong Xuan is portrayed as fearless and exceptionally proud. He refuses to submit even to a Saint, openly defending the Interception Sect, the Human Race, and Three Mountains Pass.
• Ying Zhao embodies the arrogance of an ancient Demon Race powerhouse. He believes his Saint status entitles him to absolute respect and is enraged when Kong Xuan treats him as an obsolete remnant rather than an invincible authority.
• The confrontation between Kong Xuan and Ying Zhao shifts the chapter from a large-scale battle to a direct clash between overwhelming pride and mysterious, decisive power.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and brotherhood: The Plum Mountain Freaks instinctively protect one another and fight as a coordinated unit.
• Decline of the old order: The surviving Demon Race considers itself descended from former rulers of the Primordial Wilderness, but the Interception Sect immortals mock them as weakened remnants of a bygone era.
• Strength over status: Kong Xuan rejects Ying Zhao’s demand for respect based solely on his title as a Saint, emphasizing that true authority must be demonstrated through power.
• Defiance against overwhelming authority: Kong Xuan’s refusal to kneel highlights the chapter’s theme of challenging established hierarchies.
• Escalation during calamity: Tribulation Qi intensifies hostility, turning a supposedly regulated immortal duel into a chaotic war involving hundreds of powerful cultivators.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Kong Xuan reveals the Qingping Sword and instantly beheads Ying Zhao, a newly ascended Hunyuan Saint. Ying Zhao’s Primordial Spirit, Dao Laws, and True Spirit are completely destroyed.
• Lu Wu is terrified and flees, abandoning his subordinate. The Southern Lords Alliance and surrounding experts are left stunned.
• The Primordial Wilderness realizes that Sect Master Tongtian of the Interception Sect likely launched the attack through Kong Xuan’s Qingping Sword to protect his disciples.
• Ying Zhao’s death causes widespread shock. Though Heavenly Dao Saints cannot be placed on the Investiture of the Gods, the fall of a Hunyuan Saint still produces blood rain and Heaven-and-Earth-wide grief.
• The Hunyuan Saints become fearful and avoid entering the conflict, recognizing that the Tribulation of Calamity can ensnare anyone and grow more dangerous if suppressed.
• Kong Xuan wipes out the remaining Demon Gods and Great Demons at Three Mountains Pass with overwhelming sword qi. Their True Spirits escape toward the Investiture of the Gods.
• He orders Deng Jiugong and Jiang Ziya to mobilize the troops. With the demon reinforcements destroyed and their leaders dead, the rebel army’s morale collapses.
• The five hundred thousand troops of the Feudal Lords Alliance scatter. Deng Jiugong leads the Great Shang forces in a decisive counterattack, completely routing the rebellion.
• Afterward, Deng Jiugong gathers the commanders, prepares a report for the imperial court, and begins distributing credit and rewards.
• Kong Xuan, the Plum Mountain Six Friends, Deng Chanyu, and numerous generals receive recognition for defending Three Mountains Pass and defeating the rebels.
• Jiang Ziya becomes a problem for the merit assessment. Deng Jiugong cannot determine what contribution to credit him with, since Jiang Ziya appeared largely inactive despite claims that he killed Southern Marquis E Chongyu and other lords.

2. Character Developments

• Kong Xuan demonstrates overwhelming authority and ruthlessness. He acts decisively after Ying Zhao’s involvement in the conflict and proves that the Interception Sect will not tolerate threats to its allies or disciples.
• Ying Zhao goes from newly elevated Hunyuan Saint to the first major casualty of the calamity, showing how dangerous and unpredictable the Investiture of the Gods has become.
• Lu Wu is exposed as fearful and self-preserving, fleeing immediately rather than defending Ying Zhao or his own forces.
• Tongtian is portrayed as fiercely protective of the Interception Sect. His willingness to kill a Hunyuan Saint sends a warning to the entire Primordial Wilderness.
• Deng Jiugong acts as a capable military commander, exploiting the enemy’s collapse and ensuring that his troops receive proper recognition.
• Jiang Ziya remains mysterious and seemingly unproductive on the battlefield. Although rumors credit him with killing important rebel leaders, his actual role is uncertain, leaving others suspicious and confused.
• The Hunyuan Saints become noticeably more cautious, retreating from direct involvement after witnessing Ying Zhao’s effortless death.

3. Significant Themes

• The terrifying power of calamity: The Tribulation of Calamity can kill even Hunyuan Saints and make no distinction between powerful cultivators and ordinary forces.
• Consequences of political schemes: Ying Zhao becomes expendable cannon fodder in the Western Lands Teachings’ broader plan.
• Sect loyalty and protection: Tongtian’s intervention emphasizes the Interception Sect’s willingness to defend its members at any cost.
• Morale and momentum in warfare: Once the enemy’s strongest fighters are destroyed, the rebel army collapses psychologically before being defeated militarily.
• Fate, merit, and the Investiture of the Gods: The escape of the fallen warriors’ True Spirits suggests that death in this conflict may lead to their placement on the Investiture list rather than complete oblivion.
• The uncertainty of appearances: Jiang Ziya looks useless on the surface, yet reports indicate he may have played a far more important role than anyone realizes.

4. Character Interactions

• Kong Xuan’s use of the Qingping Sword represents Tongtian’s indirect interaction with the battlefield and frightens every major faction.
• Lu Wu’s abandonment of Ying Zhao highlights the breakdown of loyalty under overwhelming danger.
• Kong Xuan commands Deng Jiugong and Jiang Ziya to deploy the troops, placing them in supporting roles after he settles the decisive supernatural threat.
• Deng Jiugong relies on Jiang Ziya and the other commanders to assist in the counterattack, but later struggles to justify Jiang Ziya’s reward.
• The final exchange of attention centers on Deng Jiugong’s doubt: if Jiang Ziya truly killed E Chongyu and the other feudal lords, he deserves merit—but no one can confirm that he actually did so.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Key Events

• Jiang Shang (Jiang Ziya) is appointed Grand Marshal of the Southern Campaign and sent to Three Mountains Pass, where rebel E Chongyu commands roughly 500,000 troops.
• Although Jiang Ziya has no time to study the battlefield or formulate a strategy, the Southern Feudal Lords Alliance is defeated almost immediately. The victory is largely caused by the rebels’ reckless alliance with the Demon Race and intervention by the Sect of Interception—not by Jiang Ziya’s military planning.
• Jiang Ziya’s army returns to Chaoge after only a few days, wasting more resources on travel than the campaign itself. Despite this, the court treats the outcome as a major success.
• Loyal officials resent Jiang Ziya for receiving credit for an effortless victory, while treacherous ministers Fei Zhong and You Hun fear that his growing influence will threaten their positions.
• Di Xin rewards Jiang Ziya lavishly, making him Minister Grandee in charge of sacrifices and religious affairs and granting him a residence in Chaoge. Di Xin values the result—victory without casualties or financial loss—over the actual process.
• Jiang Ziya repeatedly follows Di Xin in an awkward attempt to express gratitude. During a private conversation, he warns Di Xin that the “demoness” at his side—the Nine-Tailed Fox—is consuming his vitality and offers to eliminate her.
• Di Xin dismisses the concern, confident in his own strength and unusual cultivation method, while privately thinking that the Nine-Tailed Fox is no threat.
• Di Xin then asks Jiang Ziya how to strengthen Great Shang and offers him broad authority. Jiang Ziya admits that he feels useless after the Three Mountains Pass incident.
• Di Xin suddenly asks whether Jiang Ziya possesses the Investiture List. Jiang Ziya panics, denies knowing anything about it, and reveals through his reaction that the list and his mission are indeed connected to him. The chapter ends with Di Xin whispering “Boundless Heavenly Venerate” in his ear.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ziya: Gains immense status despite contributing little to the military victory. His gratitude toward Di Xin becomes almost excessive, and his attempt to repay the king leads him to expose his hidden connection to the Investiture List. He also begins doubting his own abilities.
• Di Xin: Demonstrates political confidence and a pragmatic, results-oriented approach. He protects Jiang Ziya from criticism, rewards him generously, and deliberately probes his secrets. He remains unconcerned about the Nine-Tailed Fox and appears far more powerful and informed than Jiang Ziya realizes.
• Fei Zhong and You Hun: Recognize Jiang Ziya as a political threat, contrasting with the loyal ministers who simply resent his undeserved success.
• The Nine-Tailed Fox: Though not directly present, she is central to Jiang Ziya’s concern and Di Xin’s dismissive response.

Significant Themes

• Results versus process: Di Xin argues that an effortless victory is more valuable than a costly display of military heroism, emphasizing outcomes over conventional merit.
• Luck and undeserved success: Jiang Ziya receives credit for a victory largely achieved by outside forces, raising questions about whether luck itself can be considered strength.
• Political power and court rivalry: Jiang Ziya’s sudden promotion unsettles both honest officials and corrupt ministers, showing how quickly court dynamics can shift.
• Hidden identities and destiny: The Investiture List introduces Jiang Ziya’s concealed divine mission and suggests that Di Xin may know far more about the supernatural power struggle than expected.
• Comedic inversion of expectations: The supposedly important military commander accomplishes little, while the king’s overwhelming strength and unconventional methods undermine traditional assumptions about danger and authority.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Ziya and Di Xin have an awkward but increasingly significant relationship: Jiang Ziya views Di Xin as a benefactor and tries desperately to repay him, while Di Xin treats him with amused patience and strategic curiosity.
• Jiang Ziya warns Di Xin against the Nine-Tailed Fox, but Di Xin rejects the advice and keeps his true confidence hidden.
• Their final exchange becomes a turning point when Di Xin confronts Jiang Ziya about the Investiture List, causing Jiang Ziya to panic and suggesting that the king is testing or exposing him.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Di Xin privately reveals to Jiang Ziya that he was enlightened by a Saint and understands the true purpose of Jiang Ziya’s mission, including the Investiture List, Divine Whip, Investiture Altar, and the plan to confer divine titles.
• He accurately recounts secrets that Jiang Ziya had never shared, convincing Jiang that Di Xin may truly be an enlightened ruler and possibly connected to the Chan Sect or Jiang Ziya’s Saint teacher.
• Di Xin asks Jiang Ziya to hand over the Investiture List and Divine Whip so he can study them and construct the Investiture Altar.
• He appoints Jiang Ziya to lead Great Shang’s immortals, officials, and armies as grand marshal, carrying out the Investiture of the Gods while pacifying the realm.
• Trusting Di Xin, Jiang Ziya personally gives him the Investiture List.
• Di Xin privately reflects on the List’s role in his previous life, when Great Shang became a battlefield for the Immortals and he was humiliatingly assigned a minor divine title.
• Meanwhile, Baize, Lu Wu, Shang Yang, Kunpeng, and the other Demon Race Saints go to Empress Nuwa to complain about the Interception Sect.
• They accuse Kong Xuan of killing Ying Zhao over a verbal dispute and beg Nuwa to protect them from further attacks.
• Their fear stems from the unprecedented early death of a Hunyuan Saint during the Tribulation of Calamity. They now realize that even Saints may be killed and that only a Heavenly Dao Saint can safeguard them.
• When Wa Huang Heaven opens, the Demon Saints enter humbly, abandoning their former arrogance in their desperation for Nuwa’s protection.

Character Developments

• Di Xin: Demonstrates manipulation, confidence, and strategic foresight. He uses knowledge of Jiang Ziya’s mission to gain control of the Investiture List while concealing his personal hatred of it and his awareness of its disastrous historical consequences.
• Jiang Ziya: Initially distrustful and stunned, he gradually becomes convinced that Di Xin is a legitimate enlightened ruler. His faith leads him to surrender the most important artifact connected to his mission.
• Demon Race Saints: Their confidence collapses after witnessing Ying Zhao’s death. They become fearful and dependent on Nuwa, recognizing their vulnerability despite their Saint status.
• Empress Nuwa: Though she has not yet acted, she is established as the Demon Race Saints’ last source of security and authority.

Significant Themes

• Trust and manipulation: Di Xin gains Jiang Ziya’s trust by revealing carefully selected secrets, possibly steering him into surrendering a crucial artifact.
• Fate and chess pieces: The chapter raises the possibility that Di Xin himself is being used as a Saint’s pawn—or is manipulating the supposed heavenly arrangement for his own purposes.
• Power and legitimacy: Di Xin’s status as Human Emperor allows him to stand alongside powerful cultivators, while Jiang Ziya must decide whether his authority is genuine.
• The fragility of immortality: The death of a Hunyuan Saint proves that even supreme beings are vulnerable during the calamity.
• Historical repetition and reversal: Di Xin remembers Great Shang’s former fate and the humiliation of being made a minor heavenly star, suggesting he intends to overturn the original course of events.

Important Character Interactions

• Di Xin and Jiang Ziya: Their private conversation is the chapter’s central interaction. Di Xin reveals secrets, pressures Jiang’s doubts, and persuades him to surrender the Investiture List.
• Demon Saints and Empress Nuwa: The Demon Race Saints appeal to Nuwa as frightened dependents rather than proud equals, seeking justice and protection after Ying Zhao’s death.
• Kong Xuan and Ying Zhao: Though Kong Xuan does not appear directly, his killing of Ying Zhao drives the Demon Saints’ fear and complaint against the Interception Sect.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• In Wa Huang Hall, Empress Nuwa reprimands the four surviving Demon Saints for entering the Tribulation of Calamity and nearly losing their lives.
• Lu Wu explains that Ying Zhao had lured him and the other Demon Saints to the East Sea Coast by claiming there was a great opportunity. The Demon Saints realize they were manipulated by the Western Lands Teachings.
• The Saints conclude that the Western Lands secretly weakened rival factions while pretending not to interfere in Eastern affairs. Ying Zhao died because Tribulation Qi clouded his judgment, while Lu Wu escaped.
• Nuwa reveals that the Western Lands have also been damaging her influence in the Human Realm by destroying her temples and diminishing her Fortune Aura.
• She warns the Demon Saints not to interfere recklessly in the Investiture of the Gods, especially after Tongtian decisively killed Ying Zhao. She plans to report Tongtian to the Dao Ancestor, though she privately recognizes that the Interception Sect may have acted defensively.
• Nuwa orders the Demon Saints to reunite with Lu Ya, unify the Demon Kingdoms, consolidate their Fortune Aura, and remain together to resist the corrupting influence of Tribulation Qi.
• After dismissing them, Nuwa confronts Jieyin and Zhunti outside the Ultimate Bliss World, accusing them of orchestrating Ying Zhao’s death.
• The Two Shakya deny the accusation and mock Nuwa for lacking evidence. Unable to win the argument, Nuwa attacks them in anger, battles them outside their realm, and shatters the Ultimate Bliss World before departing.

2. Character Developments

• Empress Nuwa: Demonstrates authority and political awareness, recognizing the danger of the calamity and the Western Lands’ covert schemes. Although she blames the Western Lands for manipulating the Demon Race, she also understands why Tongtian took extreme action against the Demon Saints. Her anger and concern for her subordinates eventually drive her to attack the Western Lands.
• Lu Wu: Admits that he was influenced by Tribulation Qi and manipulated into joining the conflict. His survival distinguishes him from Ying Zhao, but he is shown to be vulnerable and politically naïve.
• Ying Zhao: His death becomes proof of the dangers of Tribulation Qi and the ruthlessness of the Interception Sect.
• The other Demon Saints: Initially defensive and resentful, they become frightened and humbled after hearing Nuwa’s warnings. They agree to reunite and seek protection rather than act independently.
• Jieyin and Zhunti: Are portrayed as calculating, evasive, and shameless. They deny involvement because all evidence and Karma have been erased, using technicalities to avoid responsibility. Zhunti provokes Nuwa while Jieyin supports him with cutting remarks.
• Tongtian: Though absent, he is characterized as decisive and terrifyingly powerful. His destruction of Ying Zhao demonstrates that the Interception Sect will respond mercilessly when threatened.

3. Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of calamity: Tribulation Qi distorts judgment, turns minor disputes into deadly conflicts, and pushes powerful figures into actions they might otherwise avoid.
• Political manipulation and hidden agendas: The Western Lands Teachings exploit other factions while maintaining plausible deniability, allowing them to benefit from the chaos without openly entering the conflict.
• The dangers of acting independently: The Demon Saints’ decision to pursue fortune separately leaves them exposed. Nuwa emphasizes unity and caution as necessary for survival.
• Power, responsibility, and retaliation: Nuwa must balance defending her subordinates, preserving her reputation, and avoiding unnecessary involvement in the larger calamity.
• Justice versus evidence: Although Nuwa is convinced of the Western Lands’ guilt, she cannot prove it. The chapter highlights how powerful figures evade punishment through erased Karma and lack of direct evidence.

4. Character Interactions

• Nuwa sternly lectures the Demon Saints, then listens to Lu Wu’s explanation and reassesses the incident as part of a Western Lands conspiracy.
• The Demon Saints show respect and dependence toward Nuwa, asking her for guidance and even offering to serve under her directly.
• Nuwa refuses to shelter them permanently but gives them strategic instructions to reunify the Demon Race.
• Nuwa confronts Jieyin and Zhunti in an openly hostile exchange. Zhunti taunts her, while both deny responsibility for Ying Zhao’s death.
• The dispute escalates into combat, with Nuwa destroying the Ultimate Bliss World before withdrawing, marking a direct and dramatic confrontation between the Demon Race and the Western Lands Teachings.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Western Pure Land, the Daoist brothers Jieyin and Zhunti survey the damage to the Ultimate Bliss World and lament the West’s weakness.
• Jieyin reveals that he has foreseen an opportunity for the Western Teachings to rise during the current calamity. Their plan is to exploit conflict within the Mystic Gate and seize its foundation, resources, and powerful figures for the West.
• Zhunti worries that Tongtian’s recent killing of the Hunyuan Saint Ying Zhao may lead him to destroy the Interception Sect—and perhaps attack the Western Teachings afterward. Jieyin rejects the idea of immediately complaining to their Teacher, arguing that doing so would be dangerous and politically unjustified.
• Instead, Jieyin intends to secretly intensify the Mystic Gate’s internal divisions while the Western brothers wait for the right moment to intervene.
• Jieyin identifies Randeng, the Chan Sect’s Vice Sect Leader, as a likely future Buddhist elder because Randeng’s cultivation of the Law of Annihilation aligns with the Western Teachings’ doctrines. He plans to recruit or convert him once circumstances become favorable.
• Jieyin reasons that if the Mystic Gate falls into open conflict, Taiqing and Yuqing may lack enough allies to break Tongtian’s Immortal Slaying Sword Formation. The Hunyuan Saints are too weak or frightened to help, Haotian is hostile to the Chan Sect, and Nuwa generally avoids interfering in worldly conflicts. This would leave Jieyin and Zhunti in a powerful bargaining position.
• Jieyin orders Zhunti to travel to Chentang Pass and manipulate Li Jing’s family. Ling Zhuzi, a Chan Sect figure, has reincarnated as the child in Lady Yin’s unusually long pregnancy. Zhunti is to disguise himself as a wandering Daoist, gain Li Jing’s trust, and suggest that the unborn child has been possessed or corrupted.
• The brothers intend to use the child, the East Sea Dragon Palace, and the rivalry between the Chan and Interception Sects to provoke direct conflict between those factions.
• Zhunti is also instructed to spread rumors that King Zhou is a foolish ruler, encourage the regional lords to attack Great Shang, and promote the belief that Shang’s mandate has ended.
• At the end of the chapter, Zhunti raises another mystery: Taiqing has reincarnated Ji Fengming, the grandson of his disciple Xuandu, as Zhang Youren in East Victory State, where he currently serves only as the leader of a mountain stronghold. Zhunti cannot understand how this remote placement could affect the struggle over Great Shang.

Character Developments

• Jieyin is portrayed as calculating, patient, and politically ambitious. Rather than acting openly, he prefers indirect manipulation, factional conflict, and strategic bargaining to build the Western Teachings’ power.
• Zhunti remains more anxious and reactive than Jieyin, worrying about Tongtian’s violence and the danger of provoking Yuanshi. However, he enthusiastically accepts Jieyin’s plans and is willing to carry out extensive covert operations.
• Tongtian is presented indirectly as an increasingly dangerous and bloodthirsty figure after killing Ying Zhao, causing the other factions to fear further escalation.
• Randeng is identified as a valuable potential convert whose cultivation and doctrines make him especially suitable for the Western Teachings.
• Li Jing is characterized as eager for immortality and therefore vulnerable to Zhunti’s manipulation.
• Ling Zhuzi, reincarnated as Li Jing’s unborn child, becomes a central pawn in the brothers’ plan to inflame conflict between the Chan and Interception Sects.
• Taiqing appears mysterious and strategic through his decision to reincarnate Ji Fengming as Zhang Youren in distant East Victory State.

Significant Themes

• Exploitation of calamity: The Western brothers view the Tribulation of Calamity not merely as a disaster but as a rare opportunity to expand their influence.
• Political manipulation and indirect warfare: Rather than confronting powerful enemies directly, Jieyin plans to spread rumors, corrupt relationships, incite factional conflict, and recruit disaffected experts.
• The struggle for religious foundations: The chapter emphasizes that sects need powerful disciples, fortune, territory, and accumulated foundations to prosper.
• Strength and survival: Jieyin repeatedly argues that weakness invites invasion, while power ensures security and freedom from interference.
• Prophecy and hidden strategy: Many characters make arrangements whose purposes are unclear, particularly Taiqing’s reincarnation of Ji Fengming, suggesting that the wider conflict involves plans hidden even from other Saints.
• Moral ambiguity: The Western Teachings’ ambition is presented through schemes involving deception, slander, and the deliberate manipulation of families and sects.

Character Interactions

• Jieyin and Zhunti operate as cooperative but unequal partners: Jieyin formulates the broader strategy, while Zhunti expresses concerns and carries out the practical missions.
• Zhunti’s worry about Tongtian prompts Jieyin to explain why covert escalation is safer than appealing to their Teacher.
• Their discussion of Randeng reveals the brothers’ shared goal of absorbing influential Mystic Gate figures into the West.
• Jieyin assigns Zhunti the Chentang Pass operation, demonstrating his trust in Zhunti as an infiltrator and manipulator.
• Their final exchange about Zhang Youren shows Zhunti’s confusion regarding Taiqing’s plans and hints that the reincarnation may have a larger purpose not yet revealed.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jieyin and Zhunti discuss Taiqing’s mysterious arrangements and Ji Fengming’s presence in East Victory State. Fearing the consequences of interfering—especially angering Taiqing—they decide that the Western Teachings should avoid involvement there.
• Zhunti departs for the East Sea, while Jieyin worries that the West’s schemes may eventually be exposed and bring disaster.
• On Golden Ao Island, Qingyuan is summoned to Biyou Palace and harshly reprimanded by Sect Master Tongtian for killing Ying Zhao, a newly ascended Hunyuan Saint, without permission and under the Interception Sect’s name.
• Tongtian fears Ying Zhao’s death has offended Nuwa and could cause the Interception Sect to become the enemy of every Saint. He is particularly concerned about the powerful figures and mysterious experts supporting the newly ascended Saints.
• Qingyuan argues that retreating would not save the Interception Sect. If they remained passive, their disciples would still be attacked and the sect eventually destroyed. He insists that killing Ying Zhao was necessary to intimidate their enemies.
• Qingyuan confidently promises that he has a way to break the stalemate and asks Tongtian only to secure Golden Ao Island while he handles matters outside. To demonstrate his composure, he suggests they play chess while observing developments in the Human Realm.
• The scene shifts to Chentang Pass, a strategically vital Great Shang stronghold that protects against northern feudal lords, sea demons, and the East Sea Abyss.
• Its commander, Li Jing, is a respected military official and cultivator. He studied under Du’e on Kunlun Mountain, married Lady Yin of the Yin Shang royal line, and gained prestige through his two accomplished sons, who became disciples of Chan Sect experts Manjushri Guangfa and Puxian.
• During a banquet for local cultivators, Li Jing invites a wandering Daoist inside after the stranger asks only for a bowl of tea.
• The Daoist accepts the tea, then declares that he will repay Li Jing’s kindness with a warning: the guests present may be “hollow pretenders,” while true experts remain hidden in the wilderness. He advises Li Jing not to let incompetent people influence him and damage important affairs.
• The guests are insulted by the Daoist’s contemptuous remarks, and several arrogant cultivators move to attack him.

Character Developments

• Qingyuan is shown as increasingly confident, decisive, and willing to confront Saints directly. He believes bold action is the only way to protect the Interception Sect and clearly trusts his own undisclosed plan.
• Sect Master Tongtian remains cautious and politically aware. Though he supports Qingyuan, he fears the consequences of antagonizing Nuwa and the other Saints, revealing the immense pressure surrounding the Interception Sect.
• Jieyin and Zhunti demonstrate their preference for caution and indirect manipulation. They recognize Taiqing’s overwhelming power and choose noninterference to avoid further damaging the Western Teachings.
• Li Jing is portrayed as a respected but somewhat complacent commander. His enjoyment of gatherings with cultivators resembles a hobby, and he is receptive to unusual figures who may possess genuine ability.
• The wandering Daoist appears mysterious, self-assured, and perceptive. His refusal to seek favor contrasts sharply with the vanity of the assembled cultivators.

Significant Themes

• Courage versus caution: Qingyuan favors decisive violence, while Tongtian and the Western Sages emphasize the danger of provoking stronger powers.
• Political consequences of power: Killing Ying Zhao may have been tactically useful, but it risks drawing Nuwa and other Saints into conflict with the Interception Sect.
• Hidden strength versus outward reputation: The wandering Daoist challenges the assumption that famous or socially prominent cultivators are truly capable.
• Strategic patience and manipulation: Several factions operate indirectly, attempting to avoid open conflict while positioning themselves for the larger tribulation.
• The burden of leadership: Tongtian must protect an entire sect while facing enemies backed by forces potentially stronger than himself.

Character Interactions

• Jieyin and Zhunti discuss whether to interfere in East Victory State, ultimately choosing restraint.
• Tongtian confronts Qingyuan over Ying Zhao’s death, but Qingyuan calmly defends his decision and reassures his master that the sect will survive.
• Qingyuan and Tongtian shift from tense argument to a symbolic chess match, reflecting their strategic contest and their decision to watch events unfold.
• Li Jing welcomes the wandering Daoist out of curiosity and hospitality, but the Daoist’s warning provokes the banquet guests, setting up a likely confrontation.

Chapter Summary

• Banquet confrontation: A mysterious wandering Daoist insults Li Jing’s cultivated guests, calling them incompetent flatterers and warning Li Jing to distance himself from mediocre people. Angered, several cultivators attack him with spells and magical treasures.
• Demonstration of power: The Daoist effortlessly reflects every attack, severely injuring the attackers—including several Earth Immortals. The other cultivators immediately leave after apologizing to Li Jing, recognizing the Daoist’s overwhelming strength.
• Li Jing seeks guidance: Impressed, Li Jing tries to retain the Daoist and asks about his own prospects for becoming an Immortal. The Daoist reads his fate, saying Li Jing possesses great potential but must wait for the right time. He foretells that Li Jing will eventually attain the Dao, gain authority, and become a major figure.
• Prophecy about Li Jing’s sons: The Daoist reveals that Li Jing will have three sons. His eldest and second sons will become disciples of powerful Golden Immortals from Kunlun and gain tremendous opportunities. This shocks Li Jing because he has never publicly disclosed that his first two sons are disciples of the Chan Sect.
• Mystery of the third son: The Daoist refuses to explain the fate of the third son, instead pointing out that Li Jing’s wife has been pregnant for more than ten months—already over a year—suggesting that the unborn child is unusual. Li Jing dismisses the possibility that the child could be a demon, but the Daoist leaves without clarifying matters.
• The Daoist disappears: Li Jing spends several days searching for the stranger but cannot discover his identity or whereabouts.
• Jin Zha returns: Li Jing’s eldest son, Jin Zha, returns from Kunlun and hears the story. He agrees that his mother’s unusually long pregnancy is suspicious and wonders whether the child might be supernatural. Li Jing rebukes him for suggesting that their unborn sibling could be a demon.
• Plan to consult a master: Jin Zha proposes asking his master, Manjushri Guangfa—one of the Twelve Golden Immortals—to investigate both the wandering Daoist’s identity and the nature of the unborn child.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Li Jing shifts from resentment toward the wandering Daoist to admiration and reverence after witnessing his power and accurate revelations. His desire for immortality and concern for his family become more pronounced.
• The wandering Daoist is established as an enigmatic, immensely powerful prophet who knows hidden details about Li Jing’s family and deliberately avoids altering Li Jing’s destiny.
• Jin Zha appears respectful of his father but more suspicious and pragmatic, recognizing that the prolonged pregnancy may indicate something extraordinary.
• Li Jing and Jin Zha clash briefly over the implication that the unborn child could be demonic, revealing Li Jing’s protectiveness and faith in his wife and family.

Significant Themes

• Strength determines authority: The injured Earth Immortals and the fleeing cultivators demonstrate the cultivation world’s rule that the strongest commands respect.
• True ability versus empty flattery: The Daoist criticizes Li Jing’s companions for currying favor rather than possessing genuine skill.
• Destiny and noninterference: The Daoist claims Li Jing has a destined rise but refuses to interfere, emphasizing the danger of changing fate.
• Hidden identity and supernatural birth: The Daoist’s knowledge and the prolonged pregnancy foreshadow the extraordinary nature of Li Jing’s third son.
• Family, suspicion, and reputation: Li Jing’s defense of his unborn child contrasts with Jin Zha’s rational concern, setting up further investigation.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Jin Zha summons his master, Venerable Manjushri Guangfa, to investigate the mysterious wandering Daoist who previously visited Li Jing’s household and predicted events concerning Li Jing and Lady Yin’s unborn child.
• Manjushri performs an elaborate but ultimately unsuccessful divination. He admits that the Heavenly Secrets are obscured and that he cannot determine the Daoist’s identity or location.
• He concludes that the wandering Daoist is likely a capable but ordinary cultivator who formed a karmic connection with Li Jing after receiving tea from him. Manjushri advises Li Jing not to worry about the unborn child and to let fate unfold naturally.
• Manjushri reassures Li Jing that the Daoist is unlikely to harm him because Li Jing is protected by the Human Realm’s National Fortune and has ties to the Chan Sect. He arrogantly declares that few people would dare offend the Chan Sect.
• Jin Zha spends a month with his family before returning to the Chan Sect, while Li Jing resumes training troops and maintaining order at Chentang Pass.
• Li Jing begins experiencing a recurring dream in which someone trapped beneath a blood moon begs him for help. The dream reveals the existence of a dangerous Sea Eye beyond Chentang Pass.
• Investigating the matter, Li Jing discovers the Sea Eye, where demonic qi and monsters are rampant. He uses his authority and commander’s seal to issue a proclamation ordering the creatures to leave.
• The monsters flee, allowing the wandering Daoist—who had been suppressing the Sea Eye—to emerge safely. In gratitude, the Daoist vows to serve Li Jing for twenty years.

2. Character Developments

• Li Jing remains cautious and responsible, seeking reassurance about the wandering Daoist and his family’s safety. His strong righteous qi and official authority become important sources of power.
• Jin Zha continues to respect and rely on Manjushri, becoming excited when told that his future will be extraordinary. He eventually returns to the Chan Sect to continue his cultivation.
• Manjushri Guangfa is portrayed as proud and confident in the Chan Sect’s status. Although his divination fails, he conceals the full truth about Lady Yin’s unborn child to protect his plans.
• The wandering Daoist is revealed to be genuinely capable and benevolent rather than malicious. He had been suppressing the Sea Eye to protect nearby civilians and becomes indebted to Li Jing.
• Lady Yin’s unborn child is subtly identified as a figure connected to the coming tribulation and destined to bring great slaughter, though this information remains hidden from Li Jing.

3. Significant Themes

• Arrogance and sectarian power: Manjushri’s confidence in the Chan Sect reflects its influence, but his failed deduction hints that its understanding and control are not absolute.
• Karma and reciprocity: A simple bowl of tea creates a karmic bond between Li Jing and the wandering Daoist, eventually leading to the Daoist’s rescue and twenty years of service.
• Fate versus uncertainty: Even powerful immortals cannot fully read the future when the Heavenly Secrets are obscured. The unborn child’s destiny and the Daoist’s origins remain uncertain.
• Righteous authority: Li Jing’s official position and righteous qi allow him to command supernatural beings, showing how Human Realm authority can rival spiritual power.
• Hidden danger and destiny: The recurring dream and Sea Eye suggest that larger supernatural conflicts are approaching, while the child in Lady Yin’s womb is connected to an impending calamity.

4. Character Interactions

• Jin Zha and Manjushri: Jin Zha respectfully reports the Daoist’s visit and accepts his master’s guidance without question.
• Li Jing and Manjushri: Li Jing seeks reassurance, while Manjushri explains the situation and boasts that the Chan Sect protects him.
• Li Jing and the wandering Daoist: Their relationship develops through karma. Li Jing saves the Daoist from the Sea Eye, and the Daoist repays him by pledging twenty years of service.
• Li Jing and the sea demons: Li Jing does not defeat them through direct combat; instead, his official proclamation and the authority of the Great Shang compel them to flee.

Chapter Summary

• Li Jing rescues the Wood Daoist: In the East Sea, Li Jing saves a mysterious Daoist who has been suppressing the Sea Eye. In gratitude, the Daoist agrees to serve Li Jing for twenty years and reveals that he is called the Wood Daoist.
• Wood Daoist becomes Li Jing’s trusted adviser: Wood Daoist teaches Li Jing the Eight-Origin Return-to-Sense Spirit-Nurturing Method, giving him hope of achieving Immortality. He also instructs Li Jing in cultivation, divine abilities, artifact refinement, formations, alchemy, astrology, governance, military strategy, and other disciplines.
• Li Jing’s power and reputation grow: Wood Daoist repeatedly helps Li Jing defeat sea demons and saves his life several times. With Wood Daoist’s guidance, Li Jing hunts monsters, refines their Demon Cores into Spirit Elixirs, breaks through cultivation bottlenecks, strengthens his subordinates, earns imperial rewards, and wins the people’s admiration.
• Li Jing’s trust becomes excessive: Because Li Jing personally rescued Wood Daoist and then benefited greatly from his teachings, he comes to regard him as a close confidant rather than merely a retainer. He entrusts Wood Daoist with important affairs and even grows more attached to him than to his wife, Lady Yin.
• Concern over Lady Yin’s pregnancy: Lady Yin has remained pregnant for more than three years without giving birth. Rumors spread that she may have been harmed or possessed by a monster. Li Jing has repeatedly tried to question Wood Daoist, but the Daoist previously refused to interfere in the family’s Karma.
• The shocking revelation: When Li Jing finally presses him for an answer, Wood Daoist warns that discussing the matter could provoke a powerful cultivator and cost him his life. He then suggests that such an unnatural pregnancy may mean a great Divine Ability practitioner has secretly possessed the unborn child in Lady Yin’s womb.
• Cliffhanger: Wood Daoist’s claim leaves Li Jing stunned and terrified, as though struck by thunder.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Li Jing develops from an ambitious commander seeking Immortality into a powerful, celebrated figure, but his dependence on Wood Daoist also makes him vulnerable to manipulation and fear.
• Wood Daoist presents himself as humble, knowledgeable, self-sacrificing, and grateful, using his apparent righteousness and repeated assistance to gain Li Jing’s complete trust.
• Li Jing’s subordinate remains skeptical of Wood Daoist’s limited twenty-year commitment, but Li Jing repeatedly silences him and defends the Daoist.
• Li Jing and Lady Yin’s relationship becomes strained as Li Jing spends more time with Wood Daoist and grows increasingly anxious about her prolonged pregnancy.

Significant Themes

• Trust and manipulation: Gratitude and apparent selflessness allow Wood Daoist to enter Li Jing’s inner circle.
• Ambition and cultivation: Li Jing’s desire for Immortality drives him to accept Wood Daoist’s teachings and methods without questioning them deeply.
• Karma and interference: Wood Daoist repeatedly invokes Karma and the danger of meddling in others’ affairs, creating an image of caution while controlling how much he reveals.
• Fear of the unknown: The unexplained pregnancy transforms Li Jing’s hopes for his family into suspicion that a supernatural power has invaded it.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Jing is horrified when Wood Daoist reveals that his unborn third child has been possessed by a powerful divine figure. The child is being used as a piece in a larger cosmic struggle during the beginning of a calamity.
• Wood Daoist warns that the possessing figure may later be portrayed as the child’s reincarnation, bringing glory to the Li family, but insists that this is actually the theft of the child’s life and identity.
• Speaking openly about such powerful beings violates forbidden laws. Wood Daoist begins vomiting blood and declares that his body and Dao will soon be destroyed.
• Out of gratitude for Li Jing once saving his life, Wood Daoist offers his life essence and cultivation to help Li Jing advance toward the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. He urges Li Jing not to oppose the powerful figures controlling the situation.
• Before Wood Daoist can finish, the River of Time appears and completely devours him. Powerful forces then begin erasing Li Jing’s memories of the encounter.
• Li Jing struggles inwardly against the injustice, furious that ordinary people are treated as pawns by beings of immense power. However, his consciousness is forcibly suppressed, and he forgets what happened.
• After returning to reality, Li Jing vaguely remembers the events and cautiously asks Lady Yin whether she recalls Wood Daoist. She has no memory of him and assumes Li Jing is confused from exhaustion.
• Lady Yin also claims that the campaign against the sea demons is merely a longstanding custom, contradicting Li Jing’s memories of Wood Daoist’s involvement.
• Alarmed, Li Jing leaves the residence and rushes to the army, determined to find evidence that Wood Daoist ever existed.

Character Developments

• Li Jing: Changes from disbelief and panic to rage, despair, and defiance after learning the truth about his unborn son. Although his memories are erased, traces of suspicion and resistance remain. His determination to search for Wood Daoist shows that he instinctively refuses to accept the manipulation of his family and fate.
• Wood Daoist: Reveals himself as a tragic but loyal figure willing to sacrifice his life for Li Jing. Despite fearing the powerful divine beings, he chooses to expose the truth and repay Li Jing’s past kindness.
• Lady Yin: Remains unaware of the supernatural plot surrounding her pregnancy. Her calm concern for Li Jing contrasts sharply with his fear and confusion, emphasizing how completely reality and memory have been altered.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus free will: The unborn child’s life is being commandeered by a powerful figure, raising questions about whether identity and destiny can be stolen.
• The powerless as pawns: The Human Realm and ordinary people are portrayed as pieces in a game played by cosmic beings.
• Memory and reality: The erasure of Wood Daoist from everyone’s recollection demonstrates how easily truth can be suppressed.
• Sacrifice and loyalty: Wood Daoist accepts death and gives up his cultivation to repay Li Jing’s past kindness.
• Resistance against injustice: Li Jing’s refusal to accept the manipulation of his family becomes a central emotional conflict, even though the higher powers attempt to erase his awareness.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Jing aggressively questions Wood Daoist, desperate for reassurance that his child has not been possessed.
• Wood Daoist explains the child’s situation and warns Li Jing about the consequences of opposing the powerful divine figure.
• After Wood Daoist disappears, Li Jing carefully questions Lady Yin, testing whether she remembers him or the origins of the sea-demon campaign.
• Lady Yin’s complete lack of recognition confirms that the supernatural forces have altered or erased the truth, prompting Li Jing to investigate the army.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Jing returns to the military camp in a near-hysterical state and questions his trusted deputy, Liu Xun, about Wood Daoist and several events connected to him.
• Liu Xun remembers none of these matters. He believes Li Jing’s cultivation, the sea-demon pill-refining method, and the previous year’s plague were all explained by other causes—especially Lady Shi Ji—not Wood Daoist.
• Li Jing questions many others, including his son Jin Zha, but no one remembers Wood Daoist. He realizes that Wood Daoist’s existence has been completely erased from the River of Time.
• Overwhelmed by grief and isolation, Li Jing blames himself for Wood Daoist’s fate. He believes Wood Daoist sacrificed himself because Li Jing had insisted on investigating the strange child in Lady Yin’s womb.
• Li Jing becomes increasingly suspicious of the unborn child, who has remained in the womb for three years and six months. He concludes that such an abnormal pregnancy cannot be natural and that the child may be a demon or may have been possessed by a powerful being.
• Li Jing calls Jin Zha and asks him to consult his teacher, Manjushri Guangfa.
• Manjushri dismisses Li Jing’s concerns, assuring him that the child will bring good fortune to the Li family. He refuses to explain further and rudely ends the call, prioritizing his cultivation.
• Manjushri reprimands Jin Zha for interrupting his secluded cultivation, and Jin Zha immediately returns to cultivate.
• Back in Chentang Pass, Li Jing interprets Manjushri’s evasiveness as proof that the Chan Sect knows the child is being used as a vessel for a powerful figure—possibly Wood Daoist or another great immortal.
• Furious at being treated as a pawn, Li Jing crushes his phone, laughs bitterly, and takes up the Xuanyuan Sword. He sets out toward Lady Yin, apparently intending to confront the situation and possibly kill or remove the unborn child.

Character Developments

• Li Jing: His confusion turns into despair, guilt, suspicion, and finally open rage. The erasure of Wood Daoist causes him to feel completely isolated, while Manjushri’s dismissive response convinces him that the Immortals have manipulated his family. He resolves to resist them.
• Liu Xun and Jin Zha: Both serve as evidence that Wood Daoist has been erased from history. Neither remembers him, though Jin Zha notices his father’s disturbed state and tries to help.
• Manjushri Guangfa: He is shown as arrogant and pragmatic. He knows or suspects the truth about the unborn child but refuses to explain it, treating Li Jing’s family as tools in a larger plan. His cultivation takes priority over Li Jing’s fears.
• Wood Daoist: Though absent, his influence dominates the chapter. His sacrifice and complete erasure from memory deepen Li Jing’s guilt and drive his anger toward the child and the Chan Sect.
• Lady Yin: She does not appear directly, but her prolonged pregnancy places her and the unborn child at the center of Li Jing’s growing crisis.

Significant Themes

• Erasure and loneliness: Wood Daoist has been removed not only from history but from everyone’s memories, leaving Li Jing alone with the truth.
• Manipulation by higher powers: The Immortals appear to treat mortals and their families as pieces in a larger scheme.
• Parental fear and suspicion: Li Jing’s concern for his family transforms into hostility toward the unborn child when he realizes the pregnancy is unnatural.
• Free will versus fate: Li Jing rejects the idea that the Li family must passively accept the role assigned to it by powerful Immortals.
• Grief becoming rage: Li Jing’s sorrow over Wood Daoist’s sacrifice ultimately becomes a desire for violent action.

Character Interactions

• Li Jing repeatedly questions Liu Xun, using his forgotten memories to confirm that Wood Daoist has been erased from reality.
• Li Jing contacts Jin Zha, who respectfully brings the matter to Manjushri.
• Manjushri dismisses Li Jing’s fears and tells him to await the family’s future fortune, while simultaneously scolding Jin Zha for interrupting his cultivation.
• After the call, Li Jing interprets Manjushri’s words and attitude as confirmation of a conspiracy, prompting him to arm himself and confront Lady Yin.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Jing, convinced that his unborn child has been possessed by a powerful “wielder of Divine Abilities,” decides to kill it despite the possible consequences for his family and reputation.
• He takes the Xuanyuan Sword, a sacred Li Family treasure infused with Human Race Destiny. The sword is normally reserved for defeating demons and protecting Chentang Pass.
• Li Jing discovers that Lady Yin has gone into labor at a midwife’s home. When he arrives, the townspeople are panicking and calling the newborn a monster, blaming Li Jing and suggesting that the child is divine punishment.
• Inside, Lady Yin is unconscious, the midwives are terrified, and a fleshy ball is bouncing around while calling Li Jing “Father.”
• Believing the creature to be a demon impersonating his child, Li Jing begs the Xuanyuan Sword to respond, offering his Fortune Aura and even his own blood essence as payment.
• The sword allows itself to be drawn. Li Jing attacks the fleshy ball, eventually slicing it open with the sword.
• A five- or six-year-old child emerges, already carrying the Universe Ring and wearing the Hunyuan Silk. This child is revealed to be Nezha, a Child of Fortune associated with the Slaughter Tribulation.
• Rather than accepting Nezha as his son, Li Jing takes his appearance, magical treasures, and unusual birth as proof that his real child was possessed or killed before birth.
• Convinced that Wood Daoist’s warnings were correct, Li Jing attacks Nezha again. Nezha, enraged and defiant, prepares to retaliate with the Universe Ring.

2. Character Developments

• Li Jing: His fear and suspicion harden into fanatic certainty. He values the honor of the Li Family and his own reputation, but his grief over the supposed loss of his true child drives him to attack the newborn. His trust in Wood Daoist’s claims completely overrides his paternal instincts.
• Nezha: Introduced as an extraordinarily powerful and unusual child, born already equipped with magical treasures. Although confused and hurt by Li Jing’s hostility, his innate rebelliousness quickly emerges, and he responds to the attack with anger.
• Lady Yin: She gives birth but remains unconscious, leaving her unable to intervene or explain the situation.
• Wood Daoist: Though absent, he strongly influences the conflict. Li Jing regards him as a loyal friend who was erased for exposing the alleged possession conspiracy.
• The townspeople: Their fear and gossip reveal how quickly public opinion turns against Li Jing and his family when confronted with something they consider monstrous.

3. Significant Themes

• Parental love distorted by fear: Li Jing believes he is avenging his murdered child, but his grief prevents him from recognizing the child before him.
• Appearance versus identity: Nezha’s monstrous birth form, rapid growth, and magical equipment make him appear inhuman, even though he insists that he is Li Jing’s son.
• Rumor and reputation: The townspeople’s suspicion deeply wounds Li Jing, showing how dependent he is on public respect and how easily fear can destroy a heroic reputation.
• Fate and manipulation: The chapter suggests that Nezha’s birth is tied to larger forces, including the Slaughter Tribulation and possible schemes involving powerful beings.
• Misunderstanding and tragic irony: Readers can see that Li Jing is likely attacking his actual son, while Li Jing believes he is fighting a demon. The scene combines intense conflict with absurdity, especially Nezha’s childlike complaint that his father attacked him immediately after their first meeting.

4. Character Interactions

• The townspeople publicly discuss and condemn Li Jing’s family, forcing him to confront the collapse of his respected image.
• Li Jing and the fleshy newborn have a brief, one-sided parent-child exchange: Nezha joyfully calls him “Father,” while Li Jing rejects him as a demon.
• Li Jing invokes the Xuanyuan Sword and sacrifices his own strength to attack Nezha.
• After emerging from the fleshy shell, Nezha questions Li Jing’s hostility, but Li Jing instead declares him a demon and renews the attack.
• The chapter ends with father and son poised for a violent clash, Li Jing wielding the Xuanyuan Sword and Nezha preparing to strike with the Universe Ring.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The newly born child attacks Li Jing with the Universe Ring, but Li Jing’s Xuanyuan Sword automatically protects him.
• The child then uses the Hunyuan Silk to bind Li Jing, overpowering him through the combined strength of two sentient Innate Spiritual Treasures.
• Li Jing condemns the child as a demon and claims the child seized his son’s body. The child angrily counters that Li Jing tried to kill him immediately after birth.
• Their confrontation is interrupted when Lady Yin awakens and begs the child not to disrespect his father. The child immediately drops his weapon and rushes to his mother.
• True Person Taiyi watches from above, intending to descend and claim the child as his disciple. Before he can act, Yun Zhongzi blocks him.
• Yun Zhongzi argues that Taiyi’s supposed “destined opportunity” is only a lesser destiny that can be changed. He accuses Taiyi of wanting to use the child as a shield against the coming Slaughter Tribulation rather than genuinely guiding him.
• Taiyi threatens Yun Zhongzi, but Yun Zhongzi calmly implies that a fight would end their relationship and that Taiyi would likely lose. Intimidated by Yun Zhongzi’s killing intent and unable to rely fully on the Jade Pure Divine Talisman, Taiyi retreats to Kunlun Mountains.
• Yun Zhongzi descends, separates Li Jing and the child, and uses spiritual energy to dispel the irrational anger affecting both of them.
• Li Jing recognizes Yun Zhongzi as an Ancestor of Humanity and respectfully asks why he has come. After hearing Li Jing’s account, he asks Yun Zhongzi to subdue the child, whom he still insists is a demon.

Character Developments

• The child: Demonstrates powerful combat ability and the instincts of a sentient treasure wielder, but also shows strong emotions and filial affection. Despite his violent beginning, he immediately obeys Lady Yin and shows that he is not purely malicious.
• Li Jing: Remains suspicious, frightened, and hostile toward the child, believing he is a demon who has taken over his son’s body. Yun Zhongzi’s calming energy makes him realize that his anger may have been excessive, but he still refuses to accept the child.
• Lady Yin: Acts as the emotional bridge between father and child. Her plea is enough to stop the child’s attack and reveals the family bond that still influences him.
• True Person Taiyi: Is revealed to have selfish motives. His desire to take the child as a disciple is connected to using him in the Slaughter Tribulation. Though arrogant and resentful toward the Intercepting Sect, he ultimately retreats because he fears Yun Zhongzi’s strength.
• Yun Zhongzi: Establishes himself as calm, politically perceptive, and extremely dangerous beneath his gentle appearance. He opposes Taiyi’s plan and appears determined to protect the child from being exploited.

Significant Themes

• Destiny versus choice: Yun Zhongzi argues that the child’s master and future are not fixed by Heaven, emphasizing that lesser destinies can be altered.
• Exploitation versus true guidance: Taiyi wants to use the child as a tool to survive calamity, while Yun Zhongzi believes the child deserves proper moral guidance.
• Misunderstanding and prejudice: Li Jing judges the child as a demon because of his unusual birth and violent reaction, while ignoring that he attacked first.
• Family bonds: Despite the conflict, Lady Yin’s intervention awakens the child’s affection and prevents further bloodshed.
• Power and political rivalry: The confrontation reflects the continuing tension between the Chan Sect and the Sect of Interception, with opportunities and disciples treated as points of competition.
• Humanity’s forgotten history: Yun Zhongzi and other Intercepting Sect disciples were once honored for protecting humanity, but the passage of time has caused most people to forget them.

Character Interactions

• Li Jing and the child: Their relationship is immediately adversarial, with both blaming the other for initiating the violence. Their argument exposes the child’s resentment and Li Jing’s fear.
• The child and Lady Yin: Lady Yin’s words instantly restrain the child, revealing his emotional connection to his mother.
• Taiyi and Yun Zhongzi: Their confrontation is restrained but intensely hostile. Taiyi threatens Yun Zhongzi, while Yun Zhongzi counters with quiet menace and forces him to withdraw.
• Yun Zhongzi and Li Jing: Li Jing treats Yun Zhongzi with reverence because of his status as an Ancestor of Humanity. Yun Zhongzi remains polite but carefully avoids revealing his true purpose.
• Yun Zhongzi and the child: Yun Zhongzi has not yet formally taken the child as a disciple, but his intervention indicates that he intends to prevent the child from becoming Taiyi’s sacrificial tool.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Jing furiously condemns his newborn son as a monster, blaming him for remaining in the womb for three years and six months and for attacking Li Jing with a demonic treasure immediately after birth.
• The child, Nezha—actually the reincarnation of Ling Zhuzi—argues that he only defended himself after Li Jing tried to kill him. His reasoning leaves Li Jing temporarily speechless.
• Li Jing explains that he believes his real son was replaced or possessed before birth. He bases this suspicion on information from Wood Daoist and Manjushri Guangfa, interpreting their vague statements as proof that a powerful being stole his child’s body.
• Yun Zhongzi attempts to correct Li Jing’s misunderstanding. He explains that the child is not a demon who possessed Li Jing’s son, but Ling Zhuzi reincarnated into the Li family because of a karmic connection with Li Jing.
• Yun Zhongzi clarifies that Ling Zhuzi’s delayed birth resulted from the spiritual fetus requiring nourishment from Heaven-and-Earth Origin Qi, not from possession or demonic interference.
• Li Jing hears Yun Zhongzi’s explanation but focuses only on the details that confirm his suspicions: Ling Zhuzi’s identity as a spiritual being, his connection to a Saint, and his reincarnation for a tribulation. He concludes that Nezha truly is an outsider who replaced his son.
• Yun Zhongzi asks Li Jing for permission to take the child as his disciple. Nezha eagerly accepts, performs the formal ritual, and becomes Yun Zhongzi’s disciple.
• Li Jing interprets the exchange as further evidence of a conspiracy between Yun Zhongzi and the child. He leaves coldly, pretending to have other matters to attend to.
• Yun Zhongzi suspects that someone has manipulated Li Jing’s mind, but his examination of Li Jing’s fate reveals only an apparently normal, “corrected” version of his past, leaving the mystery unresolved.

Character Developments

• Li Jing: His grief over Wood Daoist’s death and fear that his biological son was stolen have transformed into obsessive suspicion. He refuses to accept rational explanations and interprets every event as part of a plot. His attitude toward Yun Zhongzi changes from respect and warmth to distrust and hostility.
• Nezha/Ling Zhuzi: Despite being newly born, he demonstrates intelligence, emotional awareness, and strong argumentative ability. He defends himself against Li Jing’s accusations and readily accepts Yun Zhongzi as his master.
• Yun Zhongzi: Acts as the voice of reason, patiently explaining reincarnation and trying to resolve the conflict. He recognizes that Li Jing’s beliefs are irrationally entrenched and begins to suspect outside manipulation.
• Zhunti Daoist: Though not directly present, his influence is revealed as the underlying cause of Li Jing’s distorted beliefs. He has planted a suspicion so deeply that even direct evidence may no longer be able to overturn it.
• Wood Daoist and Manjushri Guangfa: Their earlier words, whether deliberately misleading or misunderstood, contribute to Li Jing’s conviction that his child has been replaced.

Significant Themes

• Prejudice and misinterpretation: Li Jing judges Nezha as evil based on unusual circumstances rather than his actual behavior.
• The power of planted doubt: Once Li Jing accepts the idea that his son was possessed, all later explanations are reinterpreted as confirmation of the conspiracy.
• Parental grief and obsession: Li Jing’s mourning for his imagined “real” son overwhelms his ability to recognize the child standing before him.
• Reincarnation versus possession: The chapter emphasizes the difference between a legitimate rebirth and the theft of another person’s body.
• Manipulation and unreliable perception: The truth is available, but Li Jing’s emotions and external influence prevent him from seeing it.
• Fate and karmic relationships: Ling Zhuzi’s reincarnation into the Li family is presented as the result of karmic ties and a larger tribulation.

Character Interactions

• Li Jing and Nezha: Their first encounter becomes a hostile father-son argument. Nezha seeks recognition and defends his actions, while Li Jing rejects him as an impostor and monster.
• Li Jing and Yun Zhongzi: Yun Zhongzi tries to mediate and explain the truth, but Li Jing’s suspicion causes him to view even Yun Zhongzi’s help as part of a conspiracy.
• Yun Zhongzi and Nezha: They quickly develop mutual trust. Yun Zhongzi recognizes Nezha’s spiritual origin and accepts him as a disciple, while Nezha gratefully submits to him.
• Yun Zhongzi and Li Jing’s hidden manipulator: Yun Zhongzi begins investigating the unseen cause of Li Jing’s irrational behavior, but the altered appearance of Li Jing’s fate prevents him from identifying the source.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yun Zhongzi realizes that Li Jing’s hostility is rooted in deep-seated stubbornness, though he fails to recognize that Li Jing’s mind has been tampered with. He concludes that only time might change Li Jing’s prejudices.
• Yun Zhongzi teaches the newly born child that, even if others reject him, his master and the Interception Sect will always support him. However, he cautions the child not to interfere recklessly in others’ karma and grudges.
• The child asks for a name. Since his older brothers are Jin Zha and Muzha, Yun Zhongzi names him Nezha, predicting that he will become an extraordinary figure but warning him to act cautiously and avoid unnecessary karma.
• Nezha joyfully embraces his new identity and announces his name to his mother, Lady Yin. Shortly afterward, Lady Yin collapses from exhaustion and the strain of the day’s events.
• At Nezha’s desperate request, Yun Zhongzi gives Lady Yin a powerful elixir, restoring her health. She expresses gratitude and promises to repay Yun Zhongzi’s kindness.
• Lady Yin explains Nezha’s unusual birth and Yun Zhongzi’s acceptance of him as a disciple to the people of Chentang Pass, using her authority as the wife of the city’s commander to suppress public suspicion and gossip.
• Nezha begins training under Yun Zhongzi, receiving the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique, powerful divine abilities, and numerous magical treasures.
• Within one year, Nezha reaches the Earth Immortal Realm and masters techniques including Mountain-Moving Sea-Overturning, Three Heads Six Arms, True Samadhi Fire, Manifestation of Heaven and Earth, and Earth-Crossing Golden Light. His strength becomes sufficient to challenge even a Mystic Immortal.
• Li Jing refuses to acknowledge Nezha’s existence or accomplishments, ignoring his greetings and behaving as though his son is invisible. This cold treatment deeply hurts Nezha.
• Nezha is sustained by Yun Zhongzi’s protection and Lady Yin’s affection. With Yun Zhongzi stationed at Chentang Pass, the region remains peaceful—until West Qi begins preparing to cause trouble.

Character Developments

• Nezha: Begins life as an innocent, highly gifted child. He gains a name, a master, a powerful foundation in cultivation, and strong emotional bonds with Yun Zhongzi and Lady Yin. His filial devotion is immediately apparent, especially in his desperate efforts to save his mother. However, Li Jing’s rejection leaves him emotionally wounded.
• Yun Zhongzi: Acts as Nezha’s mentor, protector, and ideological guide. He encourages courage and loyalty while warning Nezha against rash involvement in karma. He also sees Nezha as an “uncut jade” whose future depends on careful upbringing.
• Lady Yin: Demonstrates love and acceptance toward Nezha despite his strange birth. She publicly defends his legitimacy and becomes deeply grateful to Yun Zhongzi after he saves her life.
• Li Jing: Remains cold, distant, and apparently indifferent toward Nezha. His refusal to recognize his son creates a painful family divide.
• West Qi: Is introduced as an emerging external threat, signaling that the peaceful period at Chentang Pass is about to end.

Significant Themes

• Nature versus cultivation: Yun Zhongzi believes that while innate tendencies may be difficult to change, proper guidance can shape a person’s character and destiny.
• Family beyond blood: Although Li Jing rejects Nezha, Yun Zhongzi and the Interception Sect provide him with protection, belonging, and emotional support.
• The danger of karma: Yun Zhongzi stresses that intervening in the affairs of others can create dangerous consequences, encouraging Nezha to protect himself rather than act impulsively.
• Filial devotion: Nezha’s immediate concern for his mother reveals his compassionate and loyal nature.
• Prejudice and rejection: Li Jing’s unexplained hostility and the public’s suspicion toward Nezha show how fear and fixed beliefs can isolate individuals.
• Destiny and potential: Nezha’s auspicious birth, extraordinary talent, and rapid cultivation establish him as a figure destined for greatness—and likely future conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Yun Zhongzi comforts and instructs Nezha, establishing a close master-disciple relationship.
• Nezha asks Yun Zhongzi to name him, and the naming of “Nezha” becomes a joyful moment of identity and belonging.
• Nezha appeals to Yun Zhongzi when Lady Yin collapses, demonstrating trust in his master and love for his mother.
• Yun Zhongzi heals Lady Yin, strengthening the bond between him and the Li family—except for Li Jing.
• Lady Yin protects Nezha’s reputation before the people of Chentang Pass.
• Nezha repeatedly seeks contact with Li Jing, but Li Jing ignores him, causing emotional pain.
• The chapter ends by contrasting Nezha’s growing power and support network with the approaching threat from West Qi.