Chapter Summaries

Zhang Qingyuan spent two years studying the Profound Heaven Mirror before the imperial court army unexpectedly besieged the Flying Immortal Alliance. After the alliance prepared to resist, Heavenly Saber Wu Fei challenged Zhang Qingyuan to a fight.

• Zhang Qingyuan studied the Profound Heaven Mirror and avoided touching the blood-stained fierce weapon hidden within its Spatial Secret Realm.
• An army of three million from the capital arrived at Vast Sea Cliffs, catching the Flying Immortal Alliance unprepared.
• The alliance leaders planned ambushes and delays while summoning their scattered cultivators to reinforce the stronghold.
• Zhang Qingyuan offered to help, but the Carefree Old Daoist told him to remain at the stronghold unless needed.
• Heavenly Saber Wu Fei blocked Zhang Qingyuan's path, drew his War Blade, and challenged him to fight.

Wu Fei, convinced Zhang Qingyuan’s reputation unfairly eclipsed his master, seized the chance to challenge him while Carefree Old Daoist was away. Wu Fei launched a powerful saber strike at Zhang Qingyuan, and Carefree Old Daoist realized what was happening as he led the Flying Immortal Alliance elites toward the Imperial Court army.

• Wu Fei dismissed rumors that Zhang Qingyuan could contend with a Heavenly Human Dao Ancestor and believed his master was Qingzhou’s true strongest cultivator.
• Wu Fei recalled that Carefree Martial Uncle had previously stopped him from confronting Zhang Qingyuan, who had remained in seclusion at Vast Sea Cliffs for two years.
• With Carefree Old Daoist leading Flying Immortal Alliance elites away to delay the three million Imperial Court troops, Wu Fei went to challenge Zhang Qingyuan.
• Wu Fei attacked Zhang Qingyuan with a devastating saber strike that sent its Blade Intent across the surrounding region.
• Carefree Old Daoist sensed Wu Fei’s Blade Intent, realized Wu Fei might have challenged Zhang Qingyuan, and reacted with alarm.

Zhang Qingyuan used the Profound Heaven Mirror to reflect Wu Fei’s attack and rebound it against him, defeating him without moving. Wu Fei lay in a crater as Zhang Qingyuan asked whether he still wished to fight, while Carefree Old Daoist and the others watched in disbelief.

• Wu Fei unleashed a devastating blade strike that appeared to destroy Zhang Qingyuan, but he sensed something was wrong.
• Zhang Qingyuan emerged unharmed as the Profound Heaven Mirror distorted the world and reflected Wu Fei’s own strike back at him.
• Wu Fei raised his blade to defend himself, but the rebounded attack sent him crashing through several mountain peaks.
• Zhang Qingyuan explained that the Profound Heaven Mirror could replicate and rebound attacks, then asked Wu Fei if he still wished to fight.
• Carefree Old Daoist and the others stared in disbelief as the battle ended quickly.

Zhang Qingyuan defeated Wu Fei with the Profound Heaven Mirror, leaving the Flying Immortal Alliance’s cultivators stunned by his strength. Carefree Old Daoist revealed that the mirror might let Zhang enter the deadly Land of Divine Ruins Forbidden Area, but the Imperial Court army’s attack interrupted him.

• Zhang Qingyuan defeated Wu Fei with the Profound Heaven Mirror, and Carefree Old Daoist apologized for Wu Fei’s challenge.
• Zhang Qingyuan dismissed the incident, while Carefree Old Daoist promised to make amends after repelling the Imperial Court army.
• Carefree Old Daoist recognized the Profound Heaven Mirror and explained that it could offer a way into the Land of Divine Ruins Forbidden Area, which even Heavenly Human-level cultivators could not cross.
• The Imperial Court army launched its attack, forcing Carefree Old Daoist to leave before he could explain further.
• Zhang Qingyuan created an avatar and sent it to secretly watch over Carefree Old Daoist and prevent an ambush.

The Imperial Court's army fought its way through Vast Sea Cliffs toward the Flying Immortal Alliance's Sect Gate, while Carefree Old Daoist and the alliance's remaining elites risked their lives to delay them. Watching the slaughter, Zhang Qingyuan's avatar realized he had never understood the Flying Immortal Alliance.

• Carefree Old Daoist led the Flying Immortal Alliance's forces in ambushes that slowed the Imperial Court's advance, while Zeng Lingkai's formation cannon fire provoked a storm that destroyed three vanguard warships.
• As the Imperial Court's army pressed toward the Sect Gate, Carefree Old Daoist and the alliance's cultivators launched increasingly desperate attacks to protect their undermanned base.
• Carefree Old Daoist destroyed a warship, then confronted Hong Tiantong, who wounded him with a blood-colored spear and fought him in a clash that forced nearby troops to retreat.
• Both armies suffered heavy losses as warships exploded, cultivators perished, and the battlefield's cliffs and peaks collapsed beneath the shockwaves.
• Zhang Qingyuan's avatar watched Flying Immortal Alliance cultivators sacrifice themselves against the Imperial Court's forces and wondered why they fought with such hatred.
• Zhang Qingyuan realized that he had never truly understood the Flying Immortal Alliance.

As the imperial court army invaded the Flying Immortal Alliance, Zhang Qingyuan witnessed the Alliance’s fierce resistance and watched Hong Tiantong mercilessly attack the Carefree Old Daoist. Hong Tiantong pressed his advantage, while the wounded Carefree Old Daoist condemned his disregard for human life.

• Zhang Qingyuan saw the Flying Immortal Alliance cultivators fight with desperate resolve and decided to bring his main body into the conflict.
• Hong Tiantong struck the Carefree Old Daoist with a blood-colored spear, then crushed more than a thousand imperial court soldiers and forced the Carefree Old Daoist to rescue nearby Alliance cultivators.
• Hong Tiantong criticized the Carefree Old Daoist for his womanly benevolence and attacked again, destroying a warship and blasting apart the Carefree Old Daoist’s shoulder.
• The Carefree Old Daoist escaped at the cost of an arm and questioned Hong Tiantong’s treatment of human lives.
• Hong Tiantong dismissed the soldiers as lowly citizens and mocked the Carefree Old Daoist’s humble origins.

The Carefree Old Daoist remembered how Hong Tiantong had slaughtered his family and hometown, and unleashed his full power by burning his origin. As Wu Fei rushed to reach him, a jade-white hand stopped the Carefree Old Daoist just before he sacrificed his life.

• Hong Tiantong looked down on the Carefree Old Daoist and revealed the cruelty he had inflicted on commoners, including the destruction of the Carefree Old Daoist’s family and hometown.
• The Carefree Old Daoist confronted Hong Tiantong, revealing that his kindly persona had been a mask concealing his hatred and desire for vengeance.
• The Carefree Old Daoist burned his origin imprint and unleashed Utmost Sublimation, preparing to spend his life and Divine Soul to fight Hong Tiantong.
• Wu Fei broke through his opponents and raced toward the Carefree Old Daoist, but could not reach him in time.
• A jade-white palm rested on the Carefree Old Daoist’s shoulder and told him that it was enough.

Zhang Qingyuan stopped Carefree Old Daoist from sacrificing himself, then stepped into the battle and demanded that it end. When Hong Tiantong refused, Zhang Qingyuan shattered the court army’s million-strong formation with one palm, leaving the battlefield in ruins.

• Zhang Qingyuan suppressed Carefree Old Daoist’s burning power and told him to leave the fight to him.
• Zhang Qingyuan entered the battlefield and asked both sides to end the war, while the court army regrouped behind Hong Tiantong.
• Hong Tiantong rallied his soldiers and challenged Zhang Qingyuan to fight.
• Zhang Qingyuan struck the court army’s Military Formation with one palm, overturning it and destroying the million-strong army.

Zhang Qingyuan shattered the Great Zhou army’s formation with one palm, but the soldiers died and their bodies became a Blood Sea that trapped the surviving cultivators. Hong Tiantong and the Yin Yang Division revealed that the mass sacrifice had unleashed a weapon meant to kill Zhang Qingyuan, leaving its power looming over him.

• Zhang Qingyuan broke apart the million-strong army’s formation, then realized the soldiers were dying despite his intention not to kill them.
• The dead soldiers’ bodies exploded and formed a Blood Sea whose pressure immobilized the surviving cultivators and threatened Zhang Qingyuan.
• Hong Tiantong revealed that the army’s deployment had been a planned sacrifice prepared to counter Zhang Qingyuan.
• An elder of the Yin Yang Division explained that the Blood Sea weapon was derived from an object from Divine Emperor Your Majesty and could reach the level of the Void Sky.

The Great Zhou Dynasty sacrificed millions of capital troops to unleash a power beyond the Heavenly Human level, and Zhang Qingyuan recognized it as Void Sky-level. He summoned the Profound Heaven Mirror to confront a blood-red hand descending over him and the Flying Immortal Alliance, and their collision plunged the world into silence.

• The Great Zhou Dynasty revealed its trump card by turning millions of capital troops into a blood sacrifice.
• The Blood Sea’s pressure immobilized the battlefield, and the Carefree Old Daoist wondered how the rebels could ever defeat the Zhou Imperial Court.
• Zhang Qingyuan recognized the power as Void Sky-level and recalled the three stages beyond ordinary Heavenly Being cultivation: Dao Integration, Void Sky, and The One That Escaped.
• Zhang Qingyuan summoned the Profound Heaven Mirror and poured his full strength into resisting the blood-red hand.
• The blood-red hand struck toward Zhang Qingyuan and the Flying Immortal Alliance stronghold, and the collision plunged the world into silent annihilation.

A world-shaking attack devastated Vast Sea Cliffs, alarming powers across Qingzhou and leaving the Divine Emperor concerned that Zhang Qingyuan had survived. Zhang Qingyuan endured the Void Sky-level strike at great cost, then restored his body while remaining seriously injured.

• A catastrophic collision destroyed Vast Sea Cliffs and shattered the Flying Immortal Alliance’s Mountain Protecting Formation, prompting powers across Qingzhou to suspect the imperial court had attacked.
• The Divine Emperor sensed that Zhang Qingyuan was still alive and worried that the plan had failed to kill him.
• After the energy storm subsided, Flying Immortal Alliance cultivators emerged from their nearly ruined Sect Gate and saw that the surrounding land had become a vast void.
• Zhang Qingyuan revealed that he had survived the Void Sky-level attack by sacrificing the Profound Heaven Mirror and relying on his Immaculate Golden Body.
• Zhang Qingyuan restored his body, vowed not to underestimate powerful enemies again, and remained visibly pale from his injuries.

After Zhang Qingyuan survived the Great Zhou army’s devastating sacrifice attack, the remaining court forces fled and the Flying Immortal Alliance survived with Supreme Venerable Qi Tiandao’s help. Zhang accepted the Alliance’s aid to recover, then reflected that he had underestimated the Great Zhou Divine Emperor and the power he had accumulated.

• Hong Tiantong and the surviving court members fled after sensing Zhang Qingyuan was still alive, ending the battle.
• Qi Tiandao revealed himself as the Flying Immortal Alliance’s Heavenly Human Realm leader and explained that he had saved the alliance members and protected the sect gate.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Qi Tiandao exchanged thanks, and Qi Tiandao took Zhang into the alliance’s richest Cave Heaven Secret Realm and supplied him with healing treasures.
• Zhang Qingyuan accepted the alliance’s aid and estimated that its Nine Yang Sacred Pills could help him recover within one or two years.
• Zhang Qingyuan reviewed his actions and admitted that past victories had made him arrogant and that he had underestimated the Great Zhou Divine Emperor’s accumulated power.

After surviving the Great Zhou capital troops’ Void Heaven-level strike, Zhang Qingyuan reflected on his arrogance, recovered from his wounds, and reforged his golden body. News of the battle spread through Qingzhou, while Lin Hao heard of his master’s strength; Zhang Qingyuan ultimately reached the Immaculate Golden Body realm.

• Zhang Qingyuan realized that his earlier caution had saved him from dying if he had attacked Shenjing before obtaining the Profound Heaven Mirror, and he reflected for three days and nights on the need to remain humble.
• Over the next three years, the battle at the Flying Immortal Alliance became known across Qingzhou, shocking the cultivation world with the Great Zhou Court’s sacrifice of three million troops and Zhang Qingyuan’s strength.
• Zhou Zhengbin heard news of Zhang Qingyuan and recalled their friendship, while Lin Hao quietly wondered when he could catch up to his master.
• After three years of secluded healing, Zhang Qingyuan recovered fully and reached the Immaculate Golden Body realm.

After three years recovering, Zhang Qingyuan emerged with an Immaculate Golden Body, greatly strengthening his physical power but still leaving him wary of the Great Zhou Divine Emperor and void sky-level Heavenly Beings. He attended the Flying Immortal Alliance’s celebration and resolved to ask the Carefree Old Daoist how to reach the Land of Divine Ruins Forbidden Area with the damaged Profound Heaven Mirror.

• Zhang Qingyuan refined the lingering World Law power from his injury and advanced to the Immaculate Golden Body, which he judged strong enough to face ordinary Dao Integration Heavenly Beings.
• Zhang Qingyuan considered the Great Zhou Divine Emperor’s possible strength and his own stalled progress in comprehending the Five Elements Immortal Scripture.
• Zhang Qingyuan emerged from seclusion to find the Flying Immortal Alliance restored, though its leaders still disputed whether to move the damaged Sect Gate.
• The Flying Immortal Alliance welcomed and thanked Zhang Qingyuan with a three-day feast, while Carefree Old Daoist told him Qi Tiandao had left to resume his cultivation.
• Zhang Qingyuan wondered whether the injured Profound Heaven Mirror could still help him enter the Land of Divine Ruins Forbidden Area and decided to seek more information from the Carefree Old Daoist.

At a banquet, Zhang Qingyuan found the Carefree Old Daoist alone on the rear mountain and reflected on the passage of time and the friends he might have lost. The Carefree Old Daoist explained that many in the Flying Immortal Alliance had suffered under the Zhou Dynasty, while Zhang Qingyuan concluded that he could neither change human nature nor end the world's cycle of suffering.

• Zhang Qingyuan left the great hall and found the Carefree Old Daoist standing alone on the rear mountain.
• Zhang Qingyuan said he was unused to banquets and remembered the friends he had made centuries earlier, wondering whether they had survived.
• The Carefree Old Daoist told Zhang Qingyuan that many Flying Immortal Alliance members had endured atrocities committed by nobles and officials before the alliance took them in.
• The Carefree Old Daoist said the alliance members considered it their home and shared an enduring desire to overthrow the Zhou Dynasty.
• Zhang Qingyuan reflected that replacing the imperial court would only begin another cycle of privilege and suffering, and that he could only seek his own transcendence.

Carefree Old Daoist warned Zhang Qingyuan that his rapid cultivation and detachment from the mortal world were eroding his humanity and could lead him to become a puppet of the Heavenly Dao. Zhang Qingyuan recognized the truth in the warning and was left shaken by how far he had drifted from his former self.

• Carefree Old Daoist told Zhang Qingyuan that he had grown indifferent to ordinary people and viewed the world from the Heavenly Dao's perspective.
• Zhang Qingyuan argued that detachment was natural for cultivators who reached the Myriad Transformations Realm.
• Carefree Old Daoist explained that Zhang Qingyuan's talent had carried him to the peak before he had experienced life's bonds and losses, leaving him isolated from the world.
• Carefree Old Daoist warned that Zhang Qingyuan might undergo Daoization and become a Heavenly Dao puppet devoted only to cultivation.
• Zhang Qingyuan realized his humanity was slipping away and recalled that he now needed a Heavenly Dao-based excuse to save someone like Lin Hao.

After six months of reflection, Zhang Qingyuan perfected his Five Elements Great Dao and grew closer to fully comprehending the Five Elements Immortal Scripture. He joined the Carefree Old Daoist and a small team bound for Shenjing to rescue the captured Qi Tiandao, despite the Carefree Old Daoist warning that the mission could end in death.

• Zhang Qingyuan reflected on the Carefree Old Daoist's warning and realized his cultivation had risked eroding his humanity and making him a Puppet of the Heavenly Dao.
• Zhang Qingyuan perfected his Five Elements Great Dao, advanced his understanding of the Five Elements Immortal Scripture beyond ninety percent, and saw his strength surge.
• The Great Zhou Imperial Court announced that Qi Tiandao had been captured, and the Flying Immortal Alliance confirmed he was imprisoned in the Black Prison Heavenly Prison in Shenjing.
• The Carefree Old Daoist organized a rescue team of Wu Fei, Song Yuan, three veteran cultivators, and Zhang Qingyuan to infiltrate Shenjing.
• The Carefree Old Daoist warned Zhang Qingyuan that the Great Zhou Divine Emperor possessed void sky level power, but Zhang Qingyuan refused to withdraw and the Carefree Old Daoist resolved to help him escape if the mission failed.

The Flying Immortal Alliance party reached the Black Prison Heavenly Prison to rescue their imprisoned Alliance Leader, despite the threat posed by its warden, Chen Lei. Zhang Qingyuan joined the assault, and Carefree Old Daoist ordered the group to attack directly.

• The Flying Immortal Alliance party crossed the Soul Mountain Range after three days of travel and reached the Black Prison Heavenly Prison.
• Carefree Old Daoist warned the group that Chen Lei might wield Heavenly Human-level power inside the prison and that the Alliance Leader was being held there.
• Song Yuan agreed that infiltrating would likely alert Chen Lei, so the group planned a direct assault using their knowledge of the prison's layout.
• Carefree Old Daoist asked Zhang Qingyuan to help confront Chen Lei, and Zhang Qingyuan said Chen Lei would not stop them.
• Carefree Old Daoist ordered the group forward, and the figures charged toward the Black Prison Heavenly Prison.

Wang Dazhuang witnessed the Flying Immortal Alliance break into the Black Prison Heavenly Prison and descend to its ninth level. Zhang Qingyuan found Dao Venerable Xuan Su and Old Ancestor Dan Yang imprisoned there.

• Wang Dazhuang reflected on the chaos outside and worried that he might be assigned to patrol the prison’s dangerous inner levels.
• Zhang Qingyuan and the Flying Immortal Alliance shattered the living spirit guarding the gate and stormed into the Black Prison Heavenly Prison.
• Wang Dazhuang escaped the rubble and rang the alarm as the intruders rushed down through the prison levels.
• A powerful figure in the prison tower sensed the invasion and set out to stop the intruders.
• Zhang Qingyuan and the others defeated the ninth level’s deputy warden and reached the cells holding major Myriad Transformations Realm criminals.
• Zhang Qingyuan recognized Dao Venerable Xuan Su and Old Ancestor Dan Yang chained inside the ninth level.

Zhang Qingyuan discovered Dao Venerable Xuan Su and Old Ancestor Dan Yang imprisoned and drained in a hidden prison, and learned that the Great Zhou Divine Emperor had captured them. As a destructive force descended from above, Zhang Qingyuan confronted it while the Flying Immortal Alliance began freeing the other prisoners and searching for its imprisoned Alliance Leader.

• Zhang Qingyuan recognized Dao Venerable Xuan Su and Old Ancestor Dan Yang in a prison cell, their bodies pierced by chains that drained their strength.
• Zhang Qingyuan broke the cell bars and chains with his Sword Momentum and Sword Pellet, then used his life force to treat the two men.
• Dao Venerable Xuan Su explained that the Eight Regions Governor's Office had ambushed them after they visited the Zhou Dynasty, and Old Ancestor Dan Yang identified the Great Zhou Divine Emperor as their attacker.
• The Flying Immortal Alliance recognized many other imprisoned Myriad Transformations Realm cultivators, including famous figures who had vanished from the Cultivation World.
• Zhang Qingyuan flew toward the sky as a vast destructive force descended, while the Flying Immortal Alliance used his Sword Pellet to free prisoners and headed toward their imprisoned Alliance Leader.