Chapter Summaries

Lu Ya discovered that Di Jun’s final contingency was an ancient Interception Sect token and a letter, then used the token to reach Golden Ao Island. He headed toward a waiting figure, while the Interception Sect’s immortals wondered why he possessed such a high-status token.

• Lu Ya opened the brocade pouch and found an Interception Sect token and a letter instead of a powerful weapon.
• Lu Ya read the letter, burned it in anger, then told the demons to wait while he left alone.
• Lu Ya arrived at Golden Ao Island, where Grand Unity Golden Immortals challenged him and recognized his original Interception Sect token.
• The immortals let Lu Ya pass, while Daoist Duobao, the other Personal Disciples, and the Elite Outer Disciples watched with surprise and admiration.
• Lu Ya followed the token’s guidance across Golden Ao Island and saw a figure waiting ahead.

Lu Ya arrived north of Golden Ao Island and asked Qingyuan to accept him as a disciple. After Qingyuan removed hidden shackles from Lu Ya’s cultivation, he warned that Lu Ya’s karma and grudges stood in the way of sainthood, leaving Lu Ya eager to learn how to become a Saint.

• Liu Yuan guided Lu Ya through the dangerous forbidden lands and Great Thousand Worlds north of Golden Ao Island.
• Lu Ya met Qingyuan by the shore, remembered their past, and formally asked him to become his master.
• Qingyuan accepted Lu Ya as a disciple, and his system awarded him Daoxing, treasures, laws, and pills.
• Qingyuan gave Lu Ya a bead of Great Dao Laws that removed his hidden shackles and loosened his stalled cultivation.
• Qingyuan warned Lu Ya that his karma, tribulations, and grudges would hinder his path to sainthood, and Lu Ya asked him to teach the method.

Lu Ya became Qingyuan’s second-generation personal disciple and accepted the task of helping Great Shang resist and destroy West Qi in exchange for a chance at Sainthood. He returned to the demons and revealed his new status, leaving them surprised and hopeful that the Interception Sect would protect them.

• Qingyuan promised Lu Ya a chance to become a Saint if he helped Great Shang defeat West Qi, and bestowed protective treasures upon him.
• Liu Yuan escorted Lu Ya from Golden Ao Island, while Lu Ya recognized that many of its Great Thousand Worlds had been formed from Innate Spiritual Treasures.
• Liu Yuan reported Lu Ya’s departure to Qingyuan, who criticized Liu Yuan’s cultivation progress before returning to fishing.
• Lu Ya returned to the demons at the East Sea Coast and reassured them that he was unharmed.
• Lu Ya told the demons he had joined the Interception Sect as Qingyuan’s personal disciple and a second-generation disciple of Jie Sect.

Lu Ya defended his decision to become Qingyuan’s disciple and rallied the Demon Race to attack the Zhou Dynasty, hoping to earn a chance at sainthood. After seeing Qingyuan’s lavish gifts and rewarding his loyal followers with pills that made them Primordial Golden Immortals, Lu Ya led the demons toward Great Shang to destroy West Qi.

• Lu Ya told the Demon Gods that he had chosen Qingyuan as his master and explained that destroying West Qi could earn him a chance to become a Saint.
• Lu Ya showed the demons Qingyuan’s gifts, including spiritual treasures, Black Gold Cards, rare materials, pills, and a drop of blood, astonishing everyone present.
• Lu Ya summoned Canlong, Ghost Mountain, and Taoche and gave each a Dragon-Eye Elixir, restoring their potential and advancing them to Primordial Golden Immortals.
• Lu Ya promised the other demons that he still had eight pills to award to those who rendered merit, stirring their competitive spirit.
• Lu Ya declared that the demons would join Great Shang and destroy West Qi.

Lu Ya and Taoci traveled to Chaoge after Lu Ya decided to seek an alliance with Great Shang, while Di Xin received a system task to recruit a powerful faction against Western Zhou. When Di Xin sensed the pair approaching, he recognized their potential to satisfy the task and summoned court.

• Lu Ya sent Canlong, Ghost Mountain, and the other Demon Gods into hiding while he and Taoci set out for Chaoge.
• Di Xin dismissed Daji and his other consorts after receiving a system prompt that Western Zhou was about to invade.
• Di Xin learned that the system required an allied faction with ten Quasi-Saints or two Primordial Golden Immortals and two hundred Grand Unity Golden Immortals to earn its rewards.
• Di Xin sensed Lu Ya and Taoci approaching, judged that they might meet the system's requirements, and ordered court to assemble.

Lu Ya and Taoci arrived in Chaoge to seek an alliance with Great Shang against Western Zhou, but the ministers fiercely opposed trusting the demons. Di Xin silenced them and began questioning Lu Ya about the proposed cooperation, leaving his response pending.

• E Lai escorted Lu Ya and Taoci through Chaoge, where Lu Ya sensed powerful Immortals, Quasi-Saints, and the city’s formidable National Fortune.
• Lu Ya and Taoci entered Di Xin’s hall and saluted the Human Emperor, whom Lu Ya suspected was a powerful cultivator with hidden backing.
• Lu Ya proposed cooperating with Great Shang to attack Western Zhou and uphold the Human Dao.
• The ministers condemned Lu Ya’s Demon Race origins and urged Di Xin to reject the alliance.
• Di Xin rebuked the ministers into silence, then asked Lu Ya whether he wanted to cooperate and began, “But...”

Di Xin challenged Lu Ya’s claim of seeking cooperation and let the court debate whether Great Shang should accept him. Lu Ya offered a Primordial Nine-Turn Elixir as proof of goodwill, leaving the court stunned by its value.

• Di Xin accused Lu Ya and Taoci of treating Great Shang as a second choice and had the court and Imperial Guards suppress them.
• Lu Ya insisted he wanted to join forces against the Western Zhou, while Shen Gongbao urged Di Xin to reject him as a dangerous opportunist.
• The ministers argued against accepting the demons until Di Xin quieted them by throwing grapes and asking whether they had finished speaking.
• Di Xin asked Lu Ya what benefits he had brought, and Lu Ya presented a Primordial Nine-Turn Elixir that could raise a mortal to the Primordial Golden Immortal realm.

Di Xin accepted Lu Ya’s defection after bargaining for a huge payment, then ordered his ministers to prioritize defeating West Qi and warned them not to undermine his strategy. The court split into two factions over whether Great Shang should use Lu Ya as a disposable vanguard or treat defectors more fairly.

• Lu Ya offered Di Xin a divine elixir and negotiated up to fifty billion Immortal Crystals, spiritual treasures, and other riches in exchange for a chance to serve Great Shang.
• Di Xin dismissed Lu Ya to rest while he consulted his ministers, and the court celebrated the wealth gained from the bargain.
• Di Xin warned the ministers that West Qi and the Chan Sect threatened Great Shang, and ordered them to use any useful allies while obeying him in both word and deed.
• Wen Zhong proposed sending Lu Ya’s forces against West Qi as expendable troops, while Shen Gongbao argued that Great Shang must not betray those who defected to serve it.
• Wen Zhong and Shen Gongbao argued over Lu Ya’s treatment, and their supporters formed two opposing factions at court.

Di Xin halted a fierce court dispute between Wen Zhong and Shen Gongbao, then left the ministers to decide Lu Ya’s post. Lu Ya and Taoci privately celebrated securing a foothold in Great Shang and planned to use it to advance their campaign against West Qi and Lu Ya’s path to sainthood.

• Wen Zhong and Shen Gongbao’s factions argued heatedly until Di Xin smashed a wine cup and rebuked the court officials.
• Di Xin condemned the ministers for quarrelling among themselves and left the hall, silencing the court.
• Wen Zhong and Shen Gongbao regretted the confrontation and began discussing what official position Lu Ya should receive.
• Taoci congratulated Lu Ya on gaining Great Shang’s recognition and discussed Qingyuan’s suspected power and their plans against West Qi.
• Lu Ya reasoned that Di Xin must have had information behind his decision to accept them, and hoped to secure his position and pursue sainthood.

Great Shang prepared a grand ceremony to appoint Lu Ya as its Protector of the Nation and vanguard commander, while the Chan Sect Disciples raged over his choice and other Primordial Wilderness powers condemned their treatment of him. As Di Xin began conferring Lu Ya’s titles at the altar, a sudden upheaval interrupted the ceremony.

• Di Xin summoned officials from across Great Shang to Chaoge for Lu Ya’s investiture ceremony.
• News of Lu Ya joining Great Shang angered the Chan Sect Disciples and led Western Zhou and other powers to question their conduct.
• Countless factions turned their attention toward Chaoge to witness Lu Ya’s investiture and judge the Chan Sect Disciples.
• Lu Ya’s Demon Race followers watched the ceremony with grief and mixed feelings as they recalled their former glory.
• Di Xin began granting Lu Ya his titles and seal, but an upheaval suddenly erupted.

During Lu Ya’s investiture ceremony in Chaoge, the Chan Sect Disciples unveiled West Qi’s vast new coalition of Beast Clan forces, shaking the Primordial Wilderness and disrupting Great Shang’s display of strength. Di Xin completed Lu Ya’s appointment but, angered by West Qi’s growing power, called a court meeting to plan its destruction.

• The Chan Sect Disciples revealed that West Qi had gathered Beast Clan clans and secluded elders, including nearly a hundred Quasi-Saints and many other powerful Immortals.
• The eruption of West Qi’s forces interrupted Lu Ya’s ceremony and prompted factions across the Primordial Wilderness to reassess the struggle between Great Shang and Great Zhou.
• Di Xin conferred Lu Ya’s grand official title, and Lu Ya felt the authority and benefits that came with his position.
• Di Xin also arranged official and honorary posts for the Primordial Golden Immortals and Grand Unity Golden Immortals who had joined Lu Ya.
• Di Xin noticed West Qi had drawn heavily on the Human Dao Origin through the Human Dao Seal, then summoned his court officials to plan a forceful campaign against West Qi.

Guangchengzi consolidated his control over the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty and reprimanded his Chan Sect junior brothers, then questioned Qilin Old Ancestor about Lu Ya’s defection. He left Qilin Old Ancestor to realize that Guangchengzi was pointing toward Wa Huang Heaven as the source of the problem.

• Guangchengzi used his recruits and growing Divine Dynasty to dominate the Chan Sect, while Chijingzi and the other Personal Disciples remained without appointments.
• At the altar, Guangchengzi spoke over Ji Chang and urged the assembled Immortals to join him in overthrowing King Zhou.
• After the ceremony, Guangchengzi summoned Qilin Old Ancestor, the Personal Disciples, and other leaders, then silenced his junior brothers when they praised him.
• Guangchengzi asked Qilin Old Ancestor what to do about Lu Ya defecting to King Zhou, and Qilin Old Ancestor awkwardly agreed that Lu Ya should be treated as a traitor.
• Guangchengzi asked where Lu Ya had originally cultivated, and Qilin Old Ancestor answered, “Wa Huang Heaven.”

Guangchengzi forced the Qilin Old Ancestor to take him to Wa Huang Heaven, claiming he wanted the Demon Sect to join the campaign against Shang Zhou in Empress Nuwa’s name. He broke into the dojo and demanded the inhabitants choose sides, leaving them wary and unwilling to answer.

• The Qilin Old Ancestor warned Guangchengzi that invading Empress Nuwa’s dojo was inappropriate, but Guangchengzi argued that opposing King Zhou would fulfill Nuwa’s wishes.
• Guangchengzi pressured the Qilin Old Ancestor into opening a passage to Wa Huang Heaven and ordered Immortal Elder Nanji to summon the Grand Unity Golden Immortals and above.
• Guangchengzi entered Wa Huang Heaven through the torn sky as Jin Ning and the other Registered Disciples cursed him, while Bifang, Taotie, and Kaiming stayed silent.
• Guangchengzi claimed the Chan Sect wanted to uphold Empress Nuwa’s dignity and invited the Demon Sect to help destroy Shang Zhou.
• Jin Ning and the other Registered Disciples hesitated because they knew the campaign concealed dangerous schemes, and Guangchengzi demanded that they respond.

Guangchengzi tried to force Wa Huang Heaven’s Registered Disciples to join the Chan Sect’s campaign against King Zhou, then used a trick question to blame them for Lu Ya’s actions. When Jin Ning and the others refused to take responsibility, Guangchengzi summoned a vast force to compel them.

• Guangchengzi demanded that Wa Huang Heaven’s Registered Disciples join the campaign against King Zhou, but Jin Ning and the others refused.
• Guangchengzi apologized for his presumptuous behavior, and Jin Ning accepted his apology and asked him to leave.
• Guangchengzi asked whether Lu Ya had come from Wa Huang Heaven, and Jin Ning answered yes under his subtle influence.
• Guangchengzi accused Wa Huang Heaven of enabling Lu Ya’s support for King Zhou and demanded that they resolve the matter.
• Jin Ning and the others refused to take responsibility for Lu Ya, so Guangchengzi summoned nearly a hundred Quasi-Saints and a vast host of Grand Unity Golden Immortals into Wa Huang Heaven.

Guangchengzi forced Wa Huang Heaven’s leaders to join the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty and claimed Bifang’s life after Bifang challenged him. He then hinted to Jin Ning that he could help the declining Phoenix Clan rise again, asking her to introduce him to its Old Ancestor.

• Guangchengzi demanded that Wa Huang Heaven help deal with Lu Ya, while Jin Ning and Bifang rejected his pressure.
• Bifang accused Guangchengzi of imitating the First Disciple of Interception Sect and mocked him as a pathetic imitation.
• Guangchengzi struck Bifang with the Fan Tian Seal, killing him and destroying his body and Primordial Spirit.
• Guangchengzi accused Bifang of colluding with Lu Ya, then pressured Jin Ning and the other leaders into joining the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty.
• Guangchengzi offered to help the Phoenix Clan rise and asked Jin Ning to introduce him to its current Old Ancestor.

Guangchengzi persuaded Jin Ning to introduce him to Phoenix Ancestor, then convinced Phoenix Ancestor to bring the Phoenix Clan into the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty. He left the meeting by asking whether the two ancestors could connect him with someone in Four Extremities Heaven.

• Guangchengzi urged Jin Ning to help him reach Phoenix Ancestor, promising her a suitable position and benefits for the Phoenix Clan.
• Jin Ning agreed to make an introduction but said she could not guarantee what would happen afterward.
• Jin Ning arranged for Qilin Old Ancestor to accompany Guangchengzi into the Phoenix Realm, where Phoenix Ancestor received him privately.
• Guangchengzi offered Phoenix Ancestor a chance to advance by joining the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty, and she eventually agreed to lead the Phoenix Clan into it.
• Guangchengzi asked Phoenix Ancestor and Qilin Old Ancestor to introduce him to their connections in Four Extremities Heaven.

Guangchengzi pressured Qilin Old Ancestor and Phoenix Ancestor to seek help from the Four Extremities Heaven and commit fully to the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty’s campaign. Phoenix Ancestor ultimately agreed and led the Phoenix Clan into the dynasty.

• Guangchengzi explained that the Four Extremities Heaven’s four divine beasts could lend their power and warned the ancestors that they had much to lose if the campaign failed.
• He reminded Qilin Old Ancestor and Phoenix Ancestor that Kong Xuan had killed a Demon Race Saint with methods left by Tongtian, then argued they needed every possible ally.
• Guangchengzi urged them to ask their connections in the Four Extremities Heaven for help, but Phoenix Ancestor worried the divine beasts would answer to the Dao Ancestor for interfering.
• Guangchengzi rebuked Phoenix Ancestor and threatened to find someone else in her clan to do the task, leaving her too embarrassed to object.
• On an auspicious day, Phoenix Ancestor led the Phoenix Clan and some allied Flying Bird races into the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty.

West Qi’s rise and a campaign of leaked accusations weakened the Interception Sect as Great Zhou expanded and launched an undeclared war against Great Shang. Di Xin prepared the defenses, but Wen Zhong failed to secure meaningful aid from the Interception Sect, while Ji Chang’s allied feudal lords pressed him to attack.

• Guangchengzi oversaw an investiture ceremony that brought the Phoenix Clan and other flying beings into Great Zhou, adding powerful allies and strengthening its Divine Dynasty.
• Exposed accusations of Interception Sect disciples’ abuses spread across the Primordial Wilderness, while Great Zhou presented itself as a just alternative and attracted more followers.
• West Qi conquered more than a hundred surrounding feudal states and launched an undeclared war, prompting Di Xin to mobilize troops and reinforce Jiameng Pass and other border passes.
• Wen Zhong repeatedly sought help from Golden Spirit Holy Mother and other Interception Sect disciples, but most refused to risk themselves for Great Shang.
• Hundreds of feudal lords proclaimed Ji Chang their leader and urged him to attack Great Shang, but he had little authority and asked Guangchengzi for permission to deploy troops.

Ji Chang urged Guangchengzi to destroy Shang Zhou before it gained allies, but Guangchengzi focused instead on Jiang Ziya's stalled construction of the Investiture Altar. He left Ji Chang with an ultimatum: restore Jiang Ziya to the task or risk losing the right to rule Great Zhou.

• Ji Chang argued that Great Zhou should attack Shang Zhou while Wen Zhong had failed to recruit help from the Interception Sect.
• Guangchengzi dismissed Ji Chang's intelligence and showed little interest in rushing to destroy Shang Zhou.
• Guangchengzi asked how Jiang Ziya's construction of the Investiture Altar was progressing, and Ji Chang realized he had neglected the matter.
• Guangchengzi rebuked Ji Chang for delaying the altar, which he called essential to the Chan Sect's plans and Great Zhou's future.
• Guangchengzi warned that if Ji Chang did not reinstate Jiang Ziya and handle the altar properly, someone else could rule Great Zhou.

Ji Chang sought advice on how to win over Jiang Ziya and reclaim influence from the overbearing Guangchengzi. He found Jiang Ziya fishing at Coiled Stream and agreed to pull his carriage, though the reason for doing so remained unclear.

• Guangchengzi rebuked Ji Chang for neglecting his duties and warned that Great Zhou could replace him as ruler.
• Ji Chang consulted an informant by phone, who advised him to elevate Jiang Ziya to Grand Preceptor and chancellor and to pull his carriage a long distance.
• Ji Chang learned that Jiang Ziya had been fishing at Coiled Stream with a straight hook, then divined an omen identifying him as a minister who could aid a grand enterprise.
• Ji Chang went to Nourishing Spring, apologized to Jiang Ziya, and offered him high office to persuade him to assist Great Zhou.
• Jiang Ziya demanded that Ji Chang pull his carriage while he rode in it, and Ji Chang agreed.