Recaps

Emperor Venerate reopened the Heavenly Court’s recruitment and sought capable officials among the Interception Sect’s disciples. Tongtian approved the selection, but refused Duobao’s request to join, saying his path to Sainthood lay elsewhere.

• Emperor Venerate issued a recruitment order across the Primordial World, drawing countless cultivators toward the Heavenly Realm for assessment by the Lord of Stars.
• Emperor Venerate visited Penglai Immortal Island and asked Saint Tongtian to provide Interception Sect disciples to serve in the Heavenly Court.
• Tongtian agreed to let Emperor Venerate select disciples for official posts according to their abilities.
• Duobao volunteered to join the Heavenly Court, hoping its Fortune would help him attain Sainthood, but Tongtian refused and told him to wait for his own destiny.
• Tongtian summoned the Interception Sect’s disciples to Penglai Immortal Island so Emperor Venerate could choose the Heavenly Court’s officials.

Qin Mu appointed Interception Sect disciples to the Heavenly Court while rejecting disciples sent by the other Saints. Yuanshi, Taishang, Jieyin, and Zhunti were left to accept that Qin Mu controlled appointments.

• Emperor Venerate selected many Interception Sect disciples for Heavenly Court positions, while Duobao wondered why Qin Mu had not invited him.
• Venerable Yuanshi summoned Guangchengzi and the other Chan Teachings disciples, ordering them to join the Heavenly Court.
• Taishang Saint sent Xuandu to serve in the Heavenly Court, and Jieyin and Zhunti sent Western Teachings disciples as well.
• Emperor Venerate rejected all the Saint-led sects' disciples, saying there were no vacancies, despite appointing Free Cultivators.
• Venerable Yuanshi raged at Qin Mu, Taishang accepted the rejection, and Jieyin and Zhunti complained that Qin Mu favored the Interception Sect.

Emperor Venerate traveled to West Kunlun to invite the Queen Mother of the West and the Yaochi lineage to join the Heavenly Court. The Queen Mother of the West heard his proposal but had not yet answered.

• Zhunti recalled Qin Mu's victory over Venerable Yuanshi and feared his strength, while Zhenyuanzi asked Huang Tian whether the Human Race would send anyone to the Heavenly Court.
• After selecting Interception Sect disciples for the Heavenly Court, Emperor Venerate traveled to Yaochi in West Kunlun.
• The Queen Mother of the West sent the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden to welcome Emperor Venerate and escort him to Qionghua Hall.
• The Queen Mother of the West asked why Emperor Venerate had come, and he invited her and the Yaochi lineage to join the Heavenly Court.

Emperor Venerate tried to persuade Queen Mother of the West to join the Heavenly Court by offering her a path to Sagehood. He revealed a wisp of Primordial Violet Qi, leaving her stunned and wondering why he would give it away and what path he planned to take instead.

• Queen Mother of the West refused Emperor Venerate’s invitation, explaining that she wanted to remain in seclusion and avoid worldly struggles.
• Emperor Venerate offered to help Queen Mother of the West attain Sagehood if she joined the Heavenly Court.
• Queen Mother of the West and Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden doubted his claim, noting that the Heavenly Court’s authority could not overcome the Heavenly Dao’s restrictions.
• Emperor Venerate revealed a wisp of Primordial Violet Qi, and Queen Mother of the West recognized it as the foundation for attaining Sagehood.
• Queen Mother of the West asked why Emperor Venerate would not use the Primordial Violet Qi himself, and he said Sagehood through it was not the path he intended to take.
• Queen Mother of the West wondered whether Emperor Venerate planned to follow Qin Mu and attain Primordial Grand Unity.

The Queen Mother of the West accepted Emperor Venerate’s offer of Primordial Violet Qi and led the Yaochi lineage into the Heavenly Court, angering several Saints. Years later, Xuanyuan had grown into a gifted and beloved human leader under Guangchengzi’s tutelage, and Guangchengzi appeared before him.

• Emperor Venerate offered the Queen Mother of the West Primordial Violet Qi and a prepared Yaochi Celestial Realm in exchange for joining the Heavenly Court.
• The Queen Mother of the West accepted, took the Violet Qi, and agreed to lead the Yaochi lineage into the Heavenly Court.
• The Queen Mother of the West, Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, and the female immortals moved to the Heavenly Court, prompting shock across the Primordial Wilderness and anger from Venerable Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti.
• Jieyin explained that Qin Mu was choosing allies he trusted to keep control of the Heavenly Court from the Saints.
• Years passed as Xuanyuan grew up under Guangchengzi’s tutelage, learning cultivation and governance and earning the Human Race’s affection.
• Guangchengzi appeared beside Xuanyuan after he finished cultivating, and Xuanyuan bowed to greet his master.

Guangchengzi gave Xuanyuan the Xuanyuan Sword, and Xuanyuan vowed to unite the Human Race and defeat the Jiuli Tribe. Xuanyuan began bringing the scattered tribes under his banner, winning battles as Guangchengzi watched and anticipated the Merit he would gain.

• Guangchengzi bestowed the Xuanyuan Sword on Xuanyuan and urged him to protect the Human Race and bring peace.
• Xuanyuan told Guangchengzi that the Human Race needed unity to overcome its divided tribes and the threat of the Jiuli Tribe.
• Guangchengzi praised Xuanyuan's plans and encouraged him to pursue the Human Emperor's position.
• Xuanyuan gathered his tribe, declared his intention to unite the Human Race, and inspired the warriors to support him.
• Xuanyuan led his army against neighboring tribes, won successive battles, and brought many tribes under his banner.
• Guangchengzi watched Xuanyuan's progress and looked forward to receiving Merit when his disciple united the Human Race.

Jieyin and Zhunti created Yan from a blood egg using Golden Crow essence and the faith of Human followers, intending to compete for the Human Sovereign’s Merit. Yan accepted their mission and declared that he would become the Human Sovereign.

• Jieyin and Zhunti decided to create a Western Human Sovereign to gain more Merit for the Western Teachings.
• Jieyin channeled the faith gathered from Human converts into the blood egg, which cracked open amid Solar True Fire.
• Yan emerged with Golden Crow power and a Buddhist mark, recognized Jieyin and Zhunti, and accepted the name Yan.
• Zhunti gave Yan the Great Sun Golden Wheel, which merged into Yan’s right hand as a mark.
• Jieyin reminded Yan of his mission, and Yan promised to become the Human Sovereign of the Primordial World.

Yan used the Great Sun Golden Wheel to win over the Lieshan Tribe and rapidly expand his influence, drawing half of the Human Race’s fortune away from Xuanyuan. The chapter ended with Jieyin and Zhunti celebrating Yan’s rise while Guangchengzi was shocked and questioned who Yan was.

• Yan arrived at the Lieshan Tribe, declared himself destined to be the Human Emperor, and defeated its chief, Xiong Lie, with a single strike.
• Yan taught the Lieshan Tribe improved smelting and forging techniques and used Solar True Fire to clear its cold miasma, earning the people’s allegiance.
• Yan made the Lieshan Tribe his base, expanded his influence, and united dozens of tribes until his power rivaled Xuanyuan’s.
• The Human Race’s fortune split in two, with about half flowing from Xuanyuan to Yan.
• Jieyin and Zhunti celebrated Yan’s success, while Guangchengzi was stunned by the change and wondered where Yan had come from.

Guangchengzi reported Yan’s rise to Venerable Yuanshi, who gave him the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon to strengthen Xuanyuan. Guangchengzi reached Xuanyuan, who asked for help defeating Yan after losing to him twice.

• Guangchengzi suspected Yan’s sudden rise threatened Xuanyuan’s path to becoming Human Emperor and went to Yuxu Palace.
• Guangchengzi sensed a frightening change in Venerable Yuanshi’s aura and told him that Yan was uniting Human Tribe settlements against Xuanyuan.
• Venerable Yuanshi gave Guangchengzi the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon and ordered him to deliver it to Xuanyuan so Xuanyuan could defeat Yan.
• Guangchengzi examined the Canon, then left Kunlun for the lands of the Human Race.
• Xuanyuan told Guangchengzi that Yan had matched his strength and that the Xuanyuan Sword had not helped him win their two fights.

Guangchengzi told Xuanyuan that the Dao Ancestor’s decree barred outsiders from interfering in Human Race affairs, but gave him the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon to strengthen himself against Yan. Xuanyuan accepted the dual-cultivation method as necessary for the Human Race and began practicing it with selected women in a ritual overseen by Guangchengzi.

• Guangchengzi refused Xuanyuan’s request to suppress Yan, citing the Dao Ancestor’s decree, but gave him the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon bestowed by Venerable Yuanshi.
• Xuanyuan hesitated when he learned the manual used dual cultivation, but Guangchengzi urged him to use it for the sake of the Human Race and warned that someone might be backing Yan.
• Xuanyuan agreed and ordered virtuous, unmarried women from the Human Tribe settlements to be sent to him, prompting both objections and willing offers from the tribes.
• Guangchengzi prepared the women with instruction and Spiritual Medicine, then arranged the Grand Array of Yin-Yang Return to Origin and cautioned Xuanyuan not to harm their foundations.
• Xuanyuan entered the array and cultivated for three days and nights as Taiyin energy and Human Race fortune gathered around him, while Guangchengzi guarded the array and felt his aura grow stronger.

Guangchengzi’s shortcut cultivation method helped Xuanyuan reach the late stage of the Great Principle Golden Immortal realm, and Xuanyuan challenged the Yan Emperor to a decisive battle. Xuanyuan defeated him and demanded his submission, leaving the Yan Emperor to reconsider after receiving a mysterious voice transmission.

• Guangchengzi accepted the cost to Xuanyuan’s Dao foundation because he cared only about the Merit Xuanyuan would gain by unifying the Human Race.
• Xuanyuan emerged from the formation with greatly increased cultivation and ordered a decisive battle against the Yan Emperor in three days.
• Xuanyuan and the Yan Emperor led their armies into battle, and the Yan Emperor accused Xuanyuan of using an evil technique to grow stronger.
• Xuanyuan overpowered the Yan Emperor, cracked the Great Sun Golden Wheel, and sent the Yan Emperor’s forces into retreat.
• Xuanyuan held his sword to the fallen Yan Emperor’s throat and demanded that he submit or die.
• The Yan Emperor received a voice transmission telling him to submit for now.

Xuanyuan defeated the Yan Emperor, reunited the Human Race, and was honored as the Yellow Emperor, but Heaven did not bestow Merit or recognize him as a Human Emperor. The chapter left Guangchengzi and the Primordial Wilderness powers wondering whether Xuanyuan was truly destined by Heaven.

• Jieyin and Zhunti lamented that Xuanyuan's sudden strength had thwarted their plans for the Yan Emperor.
• Huang Tian and Zhenyuanzi suspected the Yan Emperor had been backed by the Western Realm to seize the Human Emperor's opportunity.
• The Yan Emperor surrendered to Xuanyuan, and his army knelt as well.
• Xuanyuan held a Heaven-worshipping ceremony, became the Yellow Emperor, and reunited the Human Race as its Human Sovereign.
• The Human Race's Fortune flowed back, but no Merit descended, leaving Guangchengzi and the watching powers confused about Xuanyuan's status.

The Saints were shocked that Xuanyuan failed to attain the Human Emperor’s position, while Qin Mu suspected Yan’s unresolved allegiance had kept Heaven from recognizing him. Yuanshi erupted in fury at Yuxu Palace, and Daoist Randeng feared he was about to turn to the demonic path.

• Zhunti and Jieyin were astonished by Xuanyuan’s failure, and Zhunti saw it as a possible opportunity for Western Teachings.
• Taishang, Nuwa, and Tongtian each investigated or reacted to Xuanyuan’s failure, but none could determine why he had not received Heaven’s recognition.
• Qin Mu recalled that he had arranged for the Sky-Supporting Black Tortoise to reincarnate as Xuanyuan and suspected Yan’s apparent Western Teachings ties had left hidden dangers unresolved.
• Yuanshi unleashed a furious burst of power at Yuxu Palace, and black energy began to mingle with his Jade Pure Immortal Light.
• Daoist Randeng sensed Yuanshi’s aura and warned that he seemed close to turning to the demonic path.

Yuanshi’s anger awakened the Primordial Heavenly Demon hidden beneath Yuxu Palace, who took on Yuanshi’s appearance and began nurturing his demonic body. Meanwhile, Chi You led his eighty-one sworn brothers and the Witch Clan army out of Demon God Valley to invade Human Race territory, leaving powerful beings across the Primordial Wilderness astonished by the Witch Clan’s return.

• Randeng sensed demonic energy in Yuanshi’s aura and worried about the danger to himself and the Chan Teachings.
• Yuanshi’s anger sent demonic energy into a black rune beneath Yuxu Palace, shattering it and awakening the Primordial Heavenly Demon, who looked exactly like Yuanshi.
• The Primordial Heavenly Demon decided to guide and nurture Yuanshi’s demonic body until it became compatible with him.
• Chi You gathered his eighty-one sworn brothers and the Witch Clan army in Demon God Valley, then led them out to reclaim Human Race territory.
• Chi You and the Witch Clan seized large areas of Human Race territory, shocking powerful beings who saw the resurrected Great Witches fighting alongside him.

Saints and Human Race leaders noticed Chi You had renewed his war against the Human Race with eighty-one Great Witches, while Xuanyuan struggled to understand the turmoil delaying his Sovereign's Dao Fruit. Qin Mu remained confident that events were following his plan, and Yuanshi Tianzun's anger produced black qi beneath Yuxu Palace.

• Taishang Saint refused Xuandu's request to intervene, saying the Human Race's third Sovereign had not yet been acknowledged and others were more anxious to act.
• Tongtian and Nuwa Saint wondered where Chi You's eighty-one Great Witches had come from, and Tongtian suspected his disciple might be responsible.
• Inside the Human Emperor Realm, Fuxi and Zhenyuanzi urged the leaders not to intervene yet, while Huang Tian agreed to wait and see what the Chan Teachings would do.
• Qin Mu calmly discussed Chi You's renewed attack with Yin Tianzi, confident that events were unfolding according to his plan.
• Yuanshi Tianzun angrily condemned Chi You as black qi began gathering beneath Yuxu Palace.
• Xuanyuan lamented the return of Witch Chaos, and Guangchengzi appeared before him as his master.

Xuanyuan’s forces suffered a crushing defeat against Chiyou’s Witch Clan army, and his alliance with Yan Emperor failed to turn the tide. As Xuanyuan and Yan Emperor retreated wounded, Xuanyuan feared the Human Race might be doomed.

• Guangchengzi left Xuanyuan to seek reinforcements at Kunlun Mountain, while Xuanyuan led the Human Race army against Chiyou and was quickly routed.
• Chiyou refrained from pursuing Xuanyuan, aware that the Saints and their sects might intervene if he tried to destroy the Human Race.
• Jieyin and Zhunti concluded that Xuanyuan had to resolve the Witch Chaos as well as deal with Yan Emperor to become Human Emperor.
• Xuanyuan asked Yan Emperor to join him against Chiyou, and Yan Emperor agreed to defend the Human Race.
• Xuanyuan and Yan Emperor led the Human Race army into a ten-day battle against the Witch Clan, but suffered heavy losses and withdrew badly wounded.

Emperor Venerate appointed Queen Mother of the West to rule alongside him in the Heavenly Court, then sought Fuxi’s help to restore the Zhou Tian Star Dou Great Formation. Fuxi agreed and went to the Heavenly Realm, where Emperor Venerate summoned the Lord of Stars to begin preparations.

• Emperor Venerate welcomed Queen Mother of the West and her Yaochi lineage to the Heavenly Realm and established the Peach Garden for them.
• Emperor Venerate appointed Queen Mother of the West as Queen Mother of the Heavenly Court, with rank equal to his own.
• Emperor Venerate visited Huang Tian and Zhenyuanzi in the Human Emperor Realm and asked them to let Fuxi help reforge the Zhou Tian Star Dou Great Formation.
• Huang Tian summoned Fuxi, who agreed to accompany Emperor Venerate to the Heavenly Realm.
• Emperor Venerate returned with Fuxi and summoned the Lord of Stars, whom Qin Mu had previously subdued.

Guangchengzi returned to Kunlun to report that Chi You had resumed his war against the Human Race, and Venerable Yuanshi sent Randeng and Chan Teaching disciples to aid Xuanyuan. Randeng sensed Yuanshi’s growing demonic energy as the Human forces continued to retreat before Chi You’s army.

• Guangchengzi waited outside Yuxu Palace for Venerable Yuanshi, then reported that Chi You had returned with eighty-one Demon Generals and was driving the Human Race back.
• Venerable Yuanshi grew furious, and concealed demonic energy streamed from him as he ordered Randeng to help Xuanyuan defeat Chi You and the Witch Clan.
• Randeng sensed that Yuanshi’s demonic energy had intensified and worried that the Saint was turning demonic.
• Randeng gathered Guangchengzi and the Chan Teaching disciples, then led them toward the Human Race to join the battle.
• Xuanyuan and the Yan Emperor retreated with their remaining troops to an open plain after losing two battles against Chi You’s stronger army.

Xuanyuan welcomed Daoist Randeng and the Chan Teachings disciples, who joined the Human Race army to fight Chi You. As the armies clashed, Randeng attacked Chi You, but Chi You showed he had grown far stronger than before and charged straight at him.

• Xuanyuan worried about the Human Race army until Daoist Randeng arrived with Guangchengzi and the Chan Teachings disciples.
• Randeng told Xuanyuan to rally the army for a decisive battle against Chi You the next day.
• Xuanyuan led the Human Race army to Chi You’s encampment, where the two armies confronted each other.
• Chi You ordered his warriors to attack, and Randeng led the Human Race army into battle.
• Randeng used the Glazed Lamp to trap Chi You, but Chi You tore through its barrier with the Tiger Soul Fierce Weapon.
• Randeng attacked with the Universe Ruler, but Chi You’s Tiger Soul swallowed its force, and Chi You charged at Randeng.

Chi You defeated Daoist Randeng and overwhelmed the Chan Teaching disciples and Human Race army with his Eighty-one Demon Generals. Randeng fled, leaving Xuanyuan and Yan Emperor to retreat with the surviving troops.

• Chi You broke free of Randeng's Golden Exquisite Pagoda and sent his purple-gold alms bowl flying with a single strike.
• The Eighty-one Demon Generals formed the Eighty-one Du Tian Formation, summoning a Chaos Demon God phantom that drove back the Chan Teaching disciples and wounded Guangchengzi.
• The Demon God phantom knocked Xuanyuan away, while Chi You's forces suppressed the Human Race army and caused heavy casualties.
• Chi You drove Randeng back, and Randeng ordered a retreat before fleeing on his sika deer.
• Guangchengzi and the other Chan Teaching disciples retreated, while Xuanyuan and Yan Emperor led the surviving Human Race troops in a panicked rout.

After the Human Race and Chan Teachings were defeated by Chi You, the Saints and Qin Mu considered what would happen next. Emperor Venerate then asked Queen Mother of the West to send Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden down to aid Xuanyuan.

• Zhunti celebrated the Human Race and Chan Teachings' defeat, while Jieyin warned that the conflict was not over.
• Taishang Saint considered intervening if Chi You threatened the Human Race, and Tongtian praised his own disciples as Nuwa wondered whether Qin Mu had influenced events.
• Qin Mu revealed that he had given Chi You eighty-one drops of Great Witch Quintessential Blood and expected his clone, Emperor Venerate, to act soon.
• Venerable Yuanshi grew furious over the defeat, and Primordial Heavenly Demon absorbed the demonic energy produced by his rage.
• Emperor Venerate asked Queen Mother of the West to send Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden to help Xuanyuan, shocking her.

Emperor Venerate persuaded the Queen Mother to send the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden to aid Xuanyuan by teaching him formations and becoming his cultivation partner. After she agreed and descended to the lower realm, Xuanyuan was left furious over Chi You’s overwhelming strength.

• Emperor Venerate told the Queen Mother that the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden could teach Xuanyuan battle formations and help him reach the Quasi-Saint realm through their union.
• The Queen Mother summoned the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden and explained Emperor Venerate’s request, including the proposed dual cultivation with Xuanyuan.
• The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden agreed to help Xuanyuan defeat Chi You and uphold the Heavenly Court’s righteous path.
• The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden met Emperor Venerate, received his instructions, and descended to the lower realm.
• After Chi You’s army defeated the Human Race’s forces and retreated to a tribe, Xuanyuan angrily lamented Chi You and his eighty-one Demon Generals’ strength.

After repeated defeats against Chi You, Xuanyuan accepted the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden as his Dao companion so she could help him advance his cultivation. She warned him that his foundation was already unstable from his earlier cultivation shortcut.

• Xuanyuan asked Guangchengzi whether they should seek help from the Human Ancestral Land after Chi You's army defeated them again.
• Guangchengzi refused because he feared Xuanyuan would have to share the Merit of becoming Human Emperor if others helped defeat Chi You.
• The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden arrived under the Heavenly Emperor and Queen Mother's decree to help quell the demonic chaos.
• Guangchengzi urged Xuanyuan to cultivate with the Mystic Maiden and left for Kunlun Mountain to seek a supreme treasure, while Daoist Randeng departed to prepare for Chi You's attack.
• Xuanyuan agreed to become Dao companions with the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, who warned him that absorbing the primordial yin of Human Race women had destabilized his foundation.

The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden cultivated with Xuanyuan, passing on her insights into Heaven’s laws and battle formations. Xuanyuan broke through to the Quasi-Saint Realm, while Guangchengzi returned to Kunlun Mountain and faced Yuanshi’s question.

• The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden proposed dual cultivation to help Xuanyuan break through and master battle formations, and Xuanyuan agreed.
• Xuanyuan and the Mystic Maiden cultivated together for several days, merging their energies and transferring her insights to him.
• Xuanyuan broke through from the Late Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal stage to the Quasi-Saint Realm, and the Mystic Maiden’s cultivation also advanced.
• The Human Race cheered Xuanyuan’s breakthrough, while Daoist Randeng and the Chan Teachings disciples awaited Guangchengzi’s return.
• At Yuxu Palace, Guangchengzi felt inexplicable fear before Yuanshi, who asked why he had returned.

Guangchengzi returned to Kunlun Mountain and received the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud from Venerable Yuanshi to help Xuanyuan defeat Chi You. As the armies prepared for their decisive battle at Zhuolu, Venerable Yuanshi suspected Qin Mu was interfering, while Primordial Heavenly Demon absorbed his anger.

• Guangchengzi told Venerable Yuanshi that Chi You had regained his strength and that the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden had offered to help Xuanyuan, then asked to borrow a supreme treasure.
• Venerable Yuanshi gave Guangchengzi the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud and warned him not to fail again.
• Venerable Yuanshi suspected Qin Mu was trying to take Chan Teachings' merit, and Primordial Heavenly Demon absorbed the demonic energy released by his resentment.
• The Human Race challenged Chi You to fight at the Plains of Zhuolu in three days, and Chi You confidently ordered his army to march there.
• Guangchengzi returned to the Human Race camp with the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud, and the Chan Teachings disciples celebrated their chances against Chi You.