Chapter Summaries

Yuanshi summoned Jieyin and Zhunti to help Taiqing break Tongtian’s Zhu Xian Sword Formation, and the four Saints gathered at Jiepai Pass to discuss the Dao. As their teachings began to influence the assembled disciples and weaken the formation’s baleful aura, Tongtian recognized their effort to undermine his forces and vowed that the Interception Sect would not yield.

• Yuanshi condemned Tongtian’s formation as a threat to the Primordial World and announced that Jieyin and Zhunti would travel east to help break it.
• Jieyin and Zhunti agreed to answer Yuanshi’s summons, seeing a chance to advance the Western Teachings by breaking the formation.
• Jieyin and Zhunti arrived at Jiepai Pass and joined Yuanshi and Taiqing while their disciples welcomed them.
• Yuanshi ordered the disciples to wait as the four Saints sat above the pass and expounded their respective Daoist and Buddhist teachings.
• The Saints’ interwoven Dao rhythms began influencing the disciples and dismantling the formation’s baleful aura, while Tongtian accused them of weakening his army and spying on the Formation Eye.

The Four Saints attacked Tongtian’s Zhu Xian Sword Formation, but the formation resisted their combined power. From Ziwei Imperial Palace, Lu Yuan secretly absorbed its calamity power to refine his Dao, creating an opening that Primordial Heavenly Venerate exploited at the Slaughter Immortal Sword Gate.

• The Four Saints agreed to break the Zhu Xian Sword Formation after Tongtian’s sword aura disrupted their discussion.
• Tongtian activated the full formation and drove its four swords against the Four Saints, who each attacked a different sword gate.
• The Four Saints struggled against the formation and suffered setbacks as Tongtian and the Interception Sect Disciples resisted them.
• Lu Yuan secretly drew calamity power and slaughter from the formation into his three strands of Primordial Violet Qi, accelerating the fusion of his Nine Dao Fruits.
• Lu Yuan’s absorption weakened the Slaughter Immortal Sword Gate, and Primordial Heavenly Venerate struck the opening with the Three-Jeweled Jade Ruyi, forcing the blood river back and dimming the ancient sword.

As the Four Saints broke the Zhu Xian Sword Formation and seized its four swords, Lu Yuan proved the Dao in the Ziwei Imperial Palace, becoming a Hunyuan Saint through the Profound Yellow Great Dao. He survived the Heavenly Dao’s tribulation by letting his Profound Yellow Gate devour its power and transform into an Innate Supreme Treasure, leaving the Four Saints and the Great Desolation’s factions to reckon with his rise.

• The Four Saints overcame the Zhu Xian Sword Formation, sealed its four swords, and left Sect Master Tongtian and the Jie Sect disciples gravely injured.
• Lu Yuan’s Profound Yellow Dao phenomenon spread across the Great Desolation, and figures including Haotian Shangdi, Zhenyuanzi, Ancestor Minghe, the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Lord, and the Three Sovereigns reacted to his impending rise.
• Lu Yuan proclaimed that his Dao was complete, attained the Hunyuan Saintly Dao, and faced a tribulation of chains forged from the power of the myriad Daos.
• Lu Yuan summoned the true form of his Profound Yellow Gate and made it devour the tribulation’s destructive power, using the punishment to refine the treasure.
• The Profound Yellow Gate became an Innate Supreme Treasure, and Lu Yuan’s Hunyuan Third Heaven might swept across the world as countless beings bowed and praised Saint Ziwei Qingxuan.

Lu Yuan attained Hunyuan Sainthood, securing Biyou Palace’s future and overturning Primordial Heavenly Venerate and the Western Sages’ plans. After exchanging greetings with the Sages, he witnessed Tongtian reject Yuanshi’s offer to end the conflict, and Taiqing and Yuanshi left Jiepai Pass.

• Lu Yuan’s Sage manifestation healed the shattered world, and Tongtian celebrated his disciple’s attainment of the Primordial Dao Fruit.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate and the Western Sages realized Lu Yuan’s ascension had ruined their plans to destroy the Interception Sect and expand the Western Teachings.
• Lu Yuan contemplated the Profound Yellow Gate, his Destiny Treasure and the vessel through which he had proved the Dao.
• Lu Yuan appeared before Jiepai Pass, bowed to Tongtian, and exchanged respectful greetings with Taiqing, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Jieyin, and Zhunti.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate urged Tongtian to accept Heaven’s Will and have his disciples sign the Investiture of the Gods Scroll, but Tongtian refused and vowed to fight for his disciples.
• Taiqing departed Jiepai Pass, and Yuanshi followed after realizing he could not subdue Tongtian with Lu Yuan present.

After Lu Yuan became Saint Qingxuan, the Yuxu Palace and Western Teachings immortals withdrew from the mortal campaign while Jiang Ziya’s army captured Jiepai Pass and advanced toward Zhaoge. Back at Golden Ao Island, Lu Yuan and Sect Master Tongtian created a new Myriad Immortals Formation and ordered the Interception Sect to prepare for a decisive battle.

• Daoist Randeng and Guangchengzi agreed to leave Jiang Ziya and the Third Generation Disciples in charge of the campaign while the senior Yuxu Palace and Western Teachings immortals returned to their sanctuaries.
• Jiang Ziya led the West Qi army through the ruined Jiepai Pass with little resistance and captured several more passes on the advance toward Zhaoge.
• At Biyou Palace, the myriad immortals congratulated Lu Yuan on becoming Saint Qingxuan, and Lu Yuan gave a three-thousand-year lecture that strengthened the sect.
• Sect Master Tongtian proposed a new Myriad Immortals Formation to answer the defeat at Jiepai Pass, and Lu Yuan joined him in designing it around two poles of Yin and Yang.
• Lu Yuan issued a Saint’s decree ordering the Interception Sect to practice the completed formation, and the immortals assembled at the training grounds under Daoist Duobao, Saint Mother Jin Ling, Saint Mother Wudang, and Saint Mother Guiling.

The Jie Sect’s Myriad Immortals Formation was completed and deployed outside Tongguan, where it forced the Xi Qi army to retreat. Jiang Ziya’s plea reached the Primordial Heavenly Venerate, who summoned Chan Sect’s immortals and declared that the coming battle would decide the fate of Yuxu Palace and the Investiture of the Gods.

• Lu Yuan praised the completed formation, and Tongtian ordered Duobao and Saint Mother Jin Ling to lead the Jie Sect host to Tongguan.
• Duobao and Saint Mother Jin Ling established the Myriad Immortals Formation outside Tongguan and waited for the Xi Qi army.
• Jiang Ziya inspected the formation with Yang Jian, judged it impossible for ordinary immortals to break, and ordered the Xi Qi army to withdraw.
• Ji Fa and Jiang Ziya led Xi Qi’s officials and immortals in prayer, asking the Primordial Heavenly Venerate to come break the formation.
• The Primordial Heavenly Venerate assessed the formation, summoned Chan Sect’s immortals with the Jade Void Golden Bell, and announced he would seek Taiqing, Jieyin, and Zhunti’s help.
• The Primordial Heavenly Venerate warned that defeat would scatter Yuxu Palace’s lineage and bind many of its disciples to the Heavenly Court, stirring them to fight desperately.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate rallied Yuxu Palace’s immortals and brought them to Tong Pass, where they joined the Western Teachings against the Interception Sect’s formidable Myriad Immortals Formation. After a tense standoff, all six Hunyuan Sages arrived, and a decisive Saint War stood on the verge of beginning.

• Primordial Heavenly Venerate promised his disciples great fortune and advancement after the tribulation, then sent them to Tong Pass to join Jiang Shang.
• Jiang Ziya prepared a reed hall outside Tong Pass, where Guangchengzi, Randeng, and Yuxu Palace’s immortals gathered.
• Maitreya Buddha, Pharmacist Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, Great Strength Bodhisattva, and other Western Teachings figures arrived to reinforce the allied side.
• Daoist Duobao challenged the newcomers to assess the Myriad Immortals Formation, whose power alarmed Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Randeng, and the Western leaders.
• The forces at Tong Pass waited through a month-long standoff as both sides prepared for the Sages’ arrival.
• Taiqing, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Jieyin, Zhunti, Sect Master Tongtian, and Sage Qingxuan Lu Yuan appeared above Tong Pass, bringing the Saint War to the brink.

The Four Saints’ forces attacked the Myriad Immortals Formation, and the Interception Sect’s defenders fought back fiercely. Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, and True Person Taiyi fell, while Daoist Randeng and the Western Teachings damaged a key formation node; Saint Mother Guiling remained under heavy attack.

• Primordial Heavenly Venerate ordered the Yuxu and Western Teachings disciples to break the formation by attacking its outer formations and nodes, and Sect Master Tongtian and Lu Yuan challenged them to enter.
• Guangchengzi fought Daoist Duobao in the Shangqing Heaven-Severing Formation, but Duobao shattered the Heaven-Overturning Seal and killed him.
• Saint Mother Jin Ling overwhelmed Daoist Randeng, but Randeng joined Maitreya Buddha and Pharmacist Buddha to damage a key node of her formation.
• Lady Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao defeated Chijingzi and True Person Taiyi in the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation, sending both their true spirits to the Investiture Scroll.
• Saint Mother Guiling held her position against Great Strength Bodhisattva and True Person Yuding as her Sun Moon Pearl and Mysterious Turtle Dharma Aspect weakened.

Saint Mother Guiling fell in the Myriad Immortals Formation, driving Sect Master Tongtian and Primordial Heavenly Venerate to unleash their full power as Lu Yuan fought beside Tongtian. Their clash shattered the weakened Primordial World, leaving Tong Pass and both armies swallowed by destruction.

• Juliusun bound Saint Mother Guiling with the Immortal Binding Rope, and True Person Yuding and Great Strength Bodhisattva killed her, sending her true spirit to the Investiture of the Gods Scroll.
• Wuyunxian, Immortal Lingya, Jinguang Immortal, Immortal Qiushou, and other Interception Sect fighters battled their opponents as casualties mounted throughout the Myriad Immortals Formation.
• Lu Yuan used the Profound Yellow Gate to support Sect Master Tongtian against the Four Saints and assessed the strengths of Zhunti, Jieyin, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, and Sage Taiqing.
• After Saint Mother Guiling fell, Sect Master Tongtian unleashed his full power and attacked Primordial Heavenly Venerate, who answered with the full force of Heavenly Dao Order; Daoist Zhunti also struck at Lu Yuan.
• The power of Tongtian, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, and Zhunti broke the weakened Primordial World despite Nuwa, Houtu, Taiqing, and Jieyin trying to contain the destruction.
• A vast wave of destruction erased Tong Pass, the West Qi Camp, and the Interception Sect's camp, while Jiang Ziya, Randeng, Duobao, Jin Ling, and other survivors escaped under protection.

Heavenly Dao punished Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Sect Master Tongtian, and Daoist Zhunti for unleashing their full power, while karmic sin struck the lineages of Lu Yuan, Sage Taiqing, and Daoist Jieyin. Enraged, the three punished Sages tried to destroy the Primordial World and reforge Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind, leaving its collapse close to irreversible despite the others’ efforts to stop them.

• Heaven and Earth suffered catastrophic destruction, and Heavenly Dao struck Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Sect Master Tongtian, and Daoist Zhunti with Heavenly Punishment.
• Karmic sin tainted Lu Yuan’s Interception Sect, Sage Taiqing’s Human Sect, and Daoist Jieyin’s Western Teachings.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Sect Master Tongtian, and Daoist Zhunti vowed to destroy the Primordial World and reforge Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind.
• Lu Yuan, Sage Taiqing, Daoist Jieyin, Empress Nuwa, and Empress Houtu tried to hold the world together, but the three Sages’ attacks broke through its barriers.
• The Pangu Banner, Qingping Sword, and Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree tore open the Primordial World, unleashing a Chaos Storm as the defenders’ treasures and defenses faltered.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun stopped the battle, reshaped the Primordial World into a new Three Realms, and exiled the Hunyuan Sages to Chaos. As Lu Yuan was sent away, he realized Hongjun had gathered the world’s force of variables into Earth Star.

• Hongjun froze the Primordial World and suppressed Yuanshi, Tongtian, and Zhunti, ending their fight.
• Hongjun remade the Primordial World into four continents, the Myriad Worlds, the Heavenly Realm, and the Netherworld Realm, while sealing the force of variables within Earth Star.
• Hongjun decreed that Hunyuan Sages must establish sacred grounds in Chaos and could not enter the Three Realms in their true bodies unless an Immeasurable Tribulation threatened the world.
• Zhenyuanzi, Ancestor Minghe, Grandmaster Kunpeng, Daoist Randeng, and other powerful beings welcomed the Sages’ departure as a chance to pursue greater influence and Dao Attainment.
• Hongjun sent Taiqing, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Tongtian, and Lu Yuan into Chaos, leaving the transformed Three Realms behind.

After the Sages were exiled to Chaos, the surviving factions withdrew from Tong Pass, leaving the mortal war between Shang and Western Qi to continue without their direct support. Powerful ancient beings prepared to compete for the world’s destiny, while Primordial Heavenly Venerate and Sect Master Tongtian brooded in exile.

• Daoist Duobao, Daoist Randeng, and Maitreya Buddha led their battered factions away from Tong Pass rather than risk another battle.
• Zhenyuanzi sensed the settled earth veins and resolved to govern the Earth Immortals and claim influence in the new age.
• Ancestor Minghe, Demon Master Kunpeng, and other hidden great powers recognized the Sages’ retreat as an opportunity to seize destiny and pursue greater power.
• Huang Feihu vowed to defend Great Shang, while Jiang Ziya ordered Western Qi’s army to rest, build siege engines, and prepare to attack Tong Pass.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate resented his exile and the losses of Yuxu Palace, while Sect Master Tongtian grieved for his fallen disciples and could no longer intervene in the Primordial World.

After the Sages were exiled into chaos, the struggle between Shang and Zhou became a human war, and Ji Fa rallied eight hundred feudal lords at Mianchi. Zhou defeated Di Xin’s army at Muye after Shang’s conscripted slaves rebelled, leaving Zhaoge surrounded and Shang’s fall imminent.

• Lu Yuan pondered Dao Ancestor Hongjun’s remade world and the sealed Earth Star while the Sages remained stranded in chaos.
• Jiang Ziya reported that the lords of the four corners and Zhang Kui and Deng Jiugong had submitted to Zhou, and Ji Fa ordered an alliance at Mianchi.
• Ji Fa proclaimed Di Xin’s crimes before eight hundred feudal lords, who swore allegiance and marched toward Zhaoge.
• Di Xin led Shang’s remaining forces into battle at Muye against Ji Fa’s allied army.
• As Zhou broke Shang’s ranks, the conscripted slaves rebelled against their commanders, and Shang’s army collapsed.
• Zhou routed the Shang forces and surrounded Zhaoge, while Yang Jian, Lei Zhenzi, and the other Third Generation Disciples of Yuxu Palace pursued Shang’s cultivators.

After Chaoge fell, Di Xin entrusted Shen Gongbao with preserving the Shang royal bloodline and burned himself alive at Lutai. Ji Fa entered the city as its conqueror, while Jiang Ziya sensed a powerful spirit stirring in the flames.

• Yang Jian, Lei Zhenzi, Jin Zha, Mu Zha, and Wei Hu caught and killed Daji, the Nine-headed Pheasant, and the Jade Pipa Spirit as they fled Chaoge.
• Shen Gongbao urged Di Xin to flee to Golden Ao Island, but Di Xin refused and entrusted him with the Dark Bird Jade Pendant and the task of saving the royal bloodline.
• Shen Gongbao accepted Di Xin's command and slipped away to find surviving members of the Shang royal house.
• The Zhou army captured Chaoge, and Lu Renjie killed himself as the last Shang defenses fell; Viscount Wei Qi presented the Dark Bird Imperial Seal to Ji Fa.
• Di Xin set fire to the ancestral tablets at Lutai and burned himself alive, declaring that Cheng Tang's bloodline would endure.
• Ji Fa watched Di Xin's self-immolation, while Jiang Ziya sensed an immense primordial spirit within the flames.

Ji Fa established Zhou rule by pacifying Shang’s nobles, declaring himself Son of Heaven, and enfeoffing loyal officials. In Haojing, Duke of Zhou Ji Dan created a system of rites and music that spread the Chan Sect Great Dao and strengthened Yuxu Palace’s influence over the human realm.

• Ji Fa punished Shang’s treacherous ministers, confined Viscount Wei Qi, rewarded Bi Gan Yan, and enfeoffed Wu Geng as King of Yin to continue Shang’s sacrifices.
• Ji Fa performed the ceremony at the Nine Tripods, declared himself Son of Heaven, and received the submission of the assembled nobles and lords.
• Haotian Shangdi saw the Heavenly Dao Order restored as Ji Fa’s declaration secured the Heavenly Court’s authority in the mortal realm.
• Ji Fa enfeoffed Jiang Ziya as Marquis of Qi, Duke of Zhou Dan as Duke of Lu, Duke of Shao Shi as Marquis of Yan, and other officials with vassal states.
• Ji Fa moved the capital to Haojing and entrusted Duke of Zhou Ji Dan with creating rites and music to govern the new dynasty.
• Duke of Zhou Dan compiled the Rites of Zhou, and the system spread through Haojing’s court, villages, and Biyong as Yuxu Palace’s fortune grew and Primordial Heavenly Venerate sensed Human Dao being brought under its order.

The Chan Sect’s rites and music spread through Zhou, drawing Human Dao into Primordial Heavenly Venerate’s Heavenly Dao order as Lu Yuan, Taiqing, and Nuwa watched and withdrew. On Mount Qi, Jiang Ziya opened the Investiture of the Gods Scroll, and the fallen immortals’ true spirits began entering it, leaving Golden Ao Island in grief.

• Primordial Heavenly Venerate sent a Chan Sect rune into Zhou, where rites and music spread through Haojing and the countryside.
• Lu Yuan saw the Chan Sect’s order as a cage for Human Dao, while Taiqing withdrew from its fortunes and Nuwa drew in her Qi of Creation.
• Jiang Ziya climbed the Investiture Platform on Mount Qi and announced the completion of the tribulation and the repayment of its karma.
• Jiang Ziya raised the God-Beating Whip, causing the Investiture of the Gods Scroll to appear and summon the fallen true spirits.
• The true spirits of Saint Mother Guiling, Zhao Gongming, Wuyunxian, and others entered the scroll as the Jie Sect Disciples on Golden Ao Island mourned.

Jiang Ziya completed the investiture of the gods, ending the calamity and bringing the Heavenly Dao’s creation to the surviving sects. Primordial Heavenly Venerate used the Chan Sect’s overwhelming share to reach Hunyuan Seventh Heaven, while Zhunti resented the Western Teachings’ meager reward.

• The fallen disciples’ true spirits entered the Investiture of the Gods Scroll as the tribulation’s baleful energy began to fade.
• Jiang Ziya proclaimed the investiture and summoned Bai Jian from the Netherworld to serve as the Pure Fortune God, then assigned divine offices to the other gods.
• The Heavenly Dao completed the new order, ended the seven-hundred-and-twenty-thousand-year calamity, and bestowed creation upon the surviving beings and sects.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate absorbed the largest share of creation at Yuxu Palace and broke through to Hunyuan Seventh Heaven.
• The Sage Taiqing absorbed the creation received at Eight Sceneries Palace, while Daoist Jieyin advanced slightly and mourned the Western Teachings’ losses.
• Daoist Zhunti grew furious at the Western Teachings’ small share of creation, though it stabilized him at Hunyuan Third Heaven.

The Heavenly Dao Creation restored the surviving powers and established the Heavenly Court, while Dao Ancestor Hongjun barred the Saints from entering the Primordial World. Forced to open Chaos dojos, Laozi, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, and Sect Master Tongtian each created a world shaped by their respective Daos.

• Sect Master Tongtian received Heavenly Dao Creation but grieved for his fallen disciples and vowed to re-establish the Interception Sect and settle the score with Yuanshi.
• Heavenly Dao Creation strengthened the surviving Interception and Western Teachings disciples, advanced Lu Yuan’s cultivation, and stabilized Jiang Ziya, the newly invested gods, and the Heavenly Court.
• Dao Ancestor Hongjun prohibited the Saints from entering the Primordial World, forcing them to establish dojos in Chaos.
• Laozi used the Taiji Diagram to create Great Scarlet Heaven, a world ruled by Yin-Yang Non-Action.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate used the Pangu Banner to create Qingwei Heaven, a world governed by Yuqing Order.
• Sect Master Tongtian created Yu Yu Heaven through his Sword Dao and named it after accepting that he could not return to Biyou Palace.

Jieyin and Zhunti established the Pure Land while Lu Yuan opened Profound Yellow Heaven, completing the Sages’ Chaos sanctuaries. As Randeng and three Yuxu disciples joined the Western Teachings, Cihang challenged Randeng’s ascension to the Lotus Throne, explaining that the Buddha rank might distance him from suffering beings.

• Jieyin and Zhunti struggled against Chaos to establish the Western Pure Land, making the Dharma of Salvation Through Extinction and Nirvana its supreme Great Dao.
• Lu Yuan opened the Profound Yellow Gate and created Profound Yellow Heaven, where the Profound Yellow Great Dao embraced and nurtured myriad Daos.
• Hongjun’s decree confined the Sages’ power to their Chaos sanctuaries, beginning a new era for powerful figures within the Primordial World.
• Randeng, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang left Kunlun Mountain for Spirit Mountain, and their departure caused Yuxu Palace’s destiny to crack and dim.
• Jieyin and Zhunti welcomed Randeng, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra into the Western Teachings, provoking resentment from Maitreya and Pharmacist Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata.
• Cihang stopped Randeng from taking the highest Lotus Throne and said that the honored Buddha rank might keep him from drawing close to suffering beings.

Cihang rejected Buddhahood to become Guanyin Bodhisattva, while Lu Yuan and Primordial Heavenly Venerate considered the schemes behind the Western Teachings’ new leadership. Three thousand years after Ji Fa made himself the Son of Heaven, Human Dao backlash killed him and sparked the Rebellion of the Three Guards, as Primordial Heavenly Venerate recognized the Human Sect’s growing influence within Zhou’s order.

• Cihang vowed to follow the Bodhisattva Path, and Jieyin granted her the title Guanyin Bodhisattva of Great Compassion.
• Randeng declared himself Western Sect Master and took the title Buddha Randeng.
• Lu Yuan deduced that Primordial Heavenly Venerate had sent former Yuxu disciples west to divide the Western Teachings and preserve Chan Sect influence.
• After three thousand years as Zhou Son of Heaven, Ji Fa suffered Human Dao backlash and died suddenly on his throne.
• Guan Xian, Cai Du, and Huo Chu rebelled against the Zhou court, launching the Rebellion of the Three Guards and marching toward Haojing.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate saw that Taiqing’s Human Sect had been spreading its teachings through Zhou’s order and recognized that the Chan and Human Sects would eventually clash.