Chapter Summaries

Venerable Yuanshi used the Primordial Heavenly Demon’s token to persuade Demon Ancestor Luohu to cooperate against Qin Mu, and Luohu gave him a crystal that could open a passage for his demon army into the Primordial Wilderness. After leaving Chaos Outer Heaven, Venerable Yuanshi destroyed the Saints’ spying divine senses and kept his agreement secret.

• Luohu recognized the Heavenly Devil Token and agreed to help Venerable Yuanshi after learning it came from the Primordial Heavenly Demon.
• Luohu gave Venerable Yuanshi a black crystal that could open a passage between Beyond Heaven and the Primordial Wilderness for the demon army.
• Venerable Yuanshi accepted the crystal and left, eager to use Luohu’s forces against Qin Mu.
• Luohu reflected that the Primordial Heavenly Demon had targeted Venerable Yuanshi and predicted his fate would be miserable.
• The Saints detected Venerable Yuanshi’s return to the Chaos Void and probed him with their divine senses.
• Venerable Yuanshi angrily shattered the Saints’ divine senses, stopping them from monitoring him.

Qin Mu suspected Venerable Yuanshi was plotting against him and resolved to grow stronger before the Great Desolation faced another upheaval. On his way to the lower realm, Venerable Yuanshi encountered Haotian and began probing his feelings about his current position.

• Qin Mu realized Venerable Yuanshi had not gone to meet Dao Ancestor Hongjun and wondered whether he was seeking a way to deal with him.
• Qin Mu decided to improve his strength quickly because hidden beings from other eras might soon bring upheaval to the Great Desolation World.
• Venerable Yuanshi encountered Haotian, who explained that he had left his attendant duties at Zixiao Palace and now served in the Heavenly Court.
• Venerable Yuanshi recalled that Qin Mu had been appointed ruler of the Heavenly Court instead of one of Dao Ancestor Hongjun's attendants, and suspected Haotian resented Qin Mu.
• Haotian said he was going to Zixiao Palace to ask Dao Ancestor Hongjun for cultivation guidance, but Venerable Yuanshi stopped him and asked whether he was satisfied with his current status.

Venerable Yuanshi exploited Haotian’s resentment over Qin Mu becoming Lord of the Heavenly Court, arguing that Haotian had been the better choice. Haotian recognized his own dissatisfaction but remained wary of Venerable Yuanshi’s motives.

• Venerable Yuanshi reminded Haotian that Dao Ancestor Hongjun had chosen Qin Mu to lead the Heavenly Court instead of the candidates recommended by the Saints.
• Venerable Yuanshi claimed that Qin Mu had favored the Interception Sect when Emperor Venerate recruited disciples for the reopened Heavenly Court.
• Haotian acknowledged that the Heavenly Court’s structure was already established, while privately feeling wary because Venerable Yuanshi and Qin Mu were enemies.
• Venerable Yuanshi asked whether Haotian was content to remain beneath Emperor Venerate and asserted that Haotian should have been Lord of the Heavenly Court.
• Haotian admitted to himself that he resented being a figurehead and believed he had been the most suitable choice for the position.

Venerable Yuanshi tried to recruit Haotian to overthrow Emperor Venerate, but Haotian refused because Qin Mu was too powerful. Venerable Yuanshi revealed that he had made a deal with Demon Ancestor Luohu and planned to use the Demon Race’s invasion to create an opportunity.

• Haotian told Venerable Yuanshi that Emperor Venerate ruled the Heavenly Court as a Saint with Qin Mu’s backing.
• Venerable Yuanshi offered Haotian the chance to become the next ruler of the Heavenly Court if they joined forces against Emperor Venerate.
• Haotian refused, arguing that neither he nor Venerable Yuanshi could defeat Qin Mu and Emperor Venerate.
• Venerable Yuanshi opened a passage to Chaos Outer Heaven, alarming Haotian with the demonic realm beyond it.
• Venerable Yuanshi revealed that he had made a deal with Demon Ancestor Luohu and that the Demon Race would soon invade the Primordial Wilderness.

Venerable Yuanshi forced Haotian to join his secret alliance with Demon Ancestor Luohu and ordered him to seize the Heavenly Court's Fortune from within. Yuanshi then went to Mount Sumeru to meet Jieyin and Zhunti, who asked why he had come.

• Venerable Yuanshi persuaded Haotian to cooperate by threatening him and revealed his alliance with Demon Ancestor Luohu.
• Haotian agreed to secretly gain control of the Heavenly Court's Fortune and promised to keep the alliance secret.
• After leaving, Haotian changed course and returned to the Heavenly Court rather than visit Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
• Venerable Yuanshi went to Mount Sumeru, where Jieyin and Zhunti welcomed him and asked what he wanted.

Venerable Yuanshi offered Jieyin and Zhunti a way to spread Western Buddhist teachings in the Eastern Lands in exchange for their help killing Qin Mu. Jieyin refused the plan and asked Yuanshi to leave, while Zhunti had seen the proposal as an opportunity.

• Venerable Yuanshi asked Jieyin and Zhunti whether they wanted to spread Buddhism in the Eastern Lands and said he could help them do it.
• Jieyin and Zhunti secretly questioned Yuanshi's motives, then asked what he expected in return.
• Venerable Yuanshi demanded that the brothers join him in killing Qin Mu when the time came.
• Zhunti recalled his grudge against Qin Mu and hoped Jieyin would accept the offer.
• Jieyin refused to help kill Qin Mu and told Venerable Yuanshi to leave.

Jieyin refused Venerable Yuanshi’s proposal to join forces against Qin Mu, judging that their allies and strength were not enough to defeat him. As the Primordial World remained uneasy, Da Yu passed the throne to Qi, beginning the Xia Dynasty and hereditary rule.

• Jieyin rejected Venerable Yuanshi’s alliance proposal, and Venerable Yuanshi left for Kunlun Mountain in anger.
• Jieyin explained to Zhunti that Qin Mu’s power and ties to other Saints made an attack too dangerous, so the Western Teachings would wait and let Venerable Yuanshi fight first.
• Venerable Yuanshi considered seeking Demon Ancestor Luohu’s help against Qin Mu.
• The Primordial World stayed quiet, while Haotian watched Emperor Venerate with a strange glint and the Western Teachings kept their distance.
• Da Yu controlled the floods, cast the Nine Tripods, and established the Nine Provinces before passing the throne to his son, Qi.
• Qi centralized the Human Race’s rule, strengthened the throne’s authority, and began the Xia Dynasty and hereditary succession.

As Xia Jie’s tyranny drove the Xia Dynasty toward collapse, Shang Tang and eight other lords rose in rebellion, drawing the attention of powerful figures across the Three Realms. Taishang Saint and the Western Saints planned to aid a lord, while Venerable Yuanshi recognized the coming change and considered its rewards.

• Xia Jie’s lavish palace, wine lake, and indulgence of Mo Xi impoverished the people and provoked widespread rebellion.
• Nine lords rebelled against Xia Jie, with Shang Tang gaining strength and popular support as he seized Xia territory.
• Powerful beings across the Three Realms recognized that the Xia Dynasty’s Fortune was nearly spent and discussed the succession.
• Taishang Saint ordered Xuandu to send a disciple to assist one of the nine lords.
• Jieyin and Zhunti agreed to send Western Teachings disciples to support a rebel lord.
• Venerable Yuanshi sensed the Xia Dynasty’s decline and realized the coming transition could bring Merit and Fortune.

As the Xia Dynasty’s fortune waned, the Saints sent disciples to support rival feudal lords, while Zhunti proposed undermining Qin Mu by targeting the Heavenly Court. Jieyin agreed that Haotian might resent Qin Mu and could be exploited, leaving their plan at its first opening.

• Venerable Yuanshi ordered Guangchengzi to send disciples to aid the feudal lords resisting Xia Jie.
• Tongtian instructed Daoist Duobao to choose an Interception Sect disciple to support a feudal lord, but refused Duobao’s request to go himself.
• Nuwa and Zhenyuanzi also sent subordinates to support favored feudal lords, stirring undercurrents in the Xia Dynasty.
• Zhunti urged Jieyin to accept Venerable Yuanshi’s alliance proposal and weaken Qin Mu indirectly by dismantling the Heavenly Court.
• Zhunti suggested Haotian might resent Qin Mu, and Jieyin agreed that Haotian could be a useful target.

Jieyin and Zhunti sought to recruit Haotian into a scheme against Qin Mu’s Heavenly Court, proposing that he establish a Western Heavenly Court of his own. Haotian was tempted by the idea but concealed his interest, claiming he did not understand and warning that starting over would put him in danger.

• Jieyin agreed with Zhunti that they should act against the Heavenly Court’s interests and went with him to find Haotian.
• Haotian reflected on Venerable Yuanshi’s request that he secretly scheme for the Heavenly Court’s Fortune after learning of Yuanshi’s alliance with Demon Ancestor Luohu.
• Jieyin and Zhunti appeared in Haotian’s palace and criticized his idle position beneath Qin Mu’s Clone, Emperor Venerate.
• Jieyin urged Haotian to establish a Western Heavenly Court, and the idea deeply shook Haotian.
• Haotian hid his reaction and told the two Saints that he did not understand their proposal and that starting from scratch would put him in danger.

Haotian accepted Jieyin and Zhunti’s offer to help him establish a Western Heavenly Court and began secretly recruiting dissatisfied immortal officials. Di Zun learned of Haotian’s moves through a spy and dismissed him as no threat.

• Jieyin and Zhunti urged Haotian to oppose Qin Mu by founding a Western Heavenly Court, promising the Western Teachings’ support.
• Haotian agreed to the alliance, reasoning that the two Saints could help him seize a share of the Heavenly Court’s fortune and protect him if exposed.
• After Jieyin and Zhunti left Tongming Palace, Haotian resolved to see his plan through and began recruiting dissatisfied immortal officials in secret.
• A spy Qin Mu had placed in the Heavenly Court noticed Haotian’s actions and reported them to Di Zun.
• Di Zun heard the report and scoffed that he could destroy Haotian with a single slap.

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors agreed to support Shang Tang in replacing Xia Jie, with Huang Tian and Zhenyuanzi approving their plan. Meanwhile, Jieyin and Zhunti visited Venerable Yuanshi at Kunlun Mountain, where they greeted him, leaving their purpose unspoken.

• Fuxi, Shennong, Xuanyuan, Yao, Shun, Zhuanxu, Di Ku, and Da Yu agreed that Shang Tang should replace Xia Jie as ruler.
• Fuxi and the other Sovereigns and Emperors consulted Huang Tian and Zhenyuanzi, who raised no objections.
• The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors arranged for people to assist Shang Tang.
• Jieyin and Zhunti arrived at Kunlun Mountain and asked Guangchengzi to lead them to Venerable Yuanshi.
• Venerable Yuanshi received Jieyin and Zhunti in Yuxu Palace, where they greeted him.

Venerable Yuanshi agreed to ally with Jieyin and Zhunti to weaken Qin Mu’s Heavenly Court, though he remained wary of the Western Saints’ motives. Jieyin and Zhunti asked him to help the Western Teachings spread in the East.

• Venerable Yuanshi recalled that Jieyin had previously rejected his proposal to join forces against Qin Mu.
• Jieyin and Zhunti offered to form an alliance with Venerable Yuanshi and revealed that they had urged Haotian to establish a Western Heavenly Court and divert the Heavenly Court’s Fortune.
• Venerable Yuanshi realized Jieyin and Zhunti shared his plan to undermine Qin Mu’s Heavenly Court, but doubted they would risk fighting Qin Mu directly.
• Venerable Yuanshi agreed to ally with Jieyin and Zhunti to dismantle Qin Mu’s Heavenly Court.
• Jieyin asked Venerable Yuanshi to help the Western Teachings spread their teachings in the East.

Venerable Yuanshi agreed to an alliance with Jieyin and Zhunti, though he warned them not to betray him and remained suspicious of their motives. Meanwhile, Shang Tang toppled Xia Jie, defeated the other lords, unified the Human Race, and founded the Shang state.

• Venerable Yuanshi agreed to join Jieyin and Zhunti in bringing down the Heavenly Court, then threatened them against making moves behind his back.
• After leaving Kunlun Mountain, Zhunti questioned Venerable Yuanshi's strange aura, while Jieyin urged him to focus on secretly helping Haotian.
• As Xia Jie's rule collapsed and the nine lords fought among themselves, Shang Tang quietly gathered soldiers, grain, and allies.
• Shang Tang attacked the Xia capital, captured Xia Jie, and killed Meixi, bringing down the Xia Dynasty.
• Shang Tang defeated the weakened eight lords, unified the Human Race, and proclaimed the Shang state.

Shang Tang founded the Shang Dynasty and received Merit, while Qin Mu recognized that the Investiture of the Gods Calamity and a greater struggle over an Immortal Seed were approaching. In the Heavenly Court, Haotian began recruiting idle officials into a scheme to gain real power.

• Shang Tang renamed Xia's capital Bo, pacified the Human Race, and received Merit that strengthened his Dao foundation and the Nine Cauldrons.
• Mighty figures and Saints lamented that their disciples had backed other vassal lords, while the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' support had helped Shang Tang prevail.
• Qin Mu recognized that the Shang Dynasty's rise brought the Investiture of the Gods Calamity closer and resolved to focus on cultivation amid the looming struggle for the Immortal Seed.
• Haotian invited idle Heavenly Court officials to Tongming Palace and challenged them to seek power instead of settling for their minor posts.

Haotian persuaded idle Heavenly Court officials to join his plan to establish a Western Heavenly Court, then began seeking more powerful allies. More than five hundred years later, as Emperor Yi’s consort prepared to give birth in Chaoge, a flock of birds and a vast stream of Violet Qi appeared over the city.

• Haotian told the assembled celestial officials that two Saints from the Western Teachings supported his plan and promised them power and resources if they joined him.
• The idle officials agreed to follow Haotian, who celebrated with them and then resolved to recruit influential Immortals and Gods.
• More than five hundred years passed, and Emperor Yi’s diligent rule restored the fortunes of the Shang Dynasty.
• As Emperor Yi’s consort prepared to give birth, countless birds circled above Chaoge, astonishing the emperor, his ministers, and the people.
• A three-thousand-li stream of Violet Qi descended into the consort’s chambers, and the ministers declared the spectacle an auspicious sign for Great Shang.

Violet qi appeared over Chaoge, signaling the birth of a new Human Emperor, Di Xin, and raising questions among the Primordial Wilderness’s powerful figures and Saints. Qin Mu recognized that Di Xin’s birth meant the Investiture of the Gods Calamity was near, while the chapter ended with Jieyin calling the birth strange.

• Venerable Yuanshi noticed the Human Emperor’s aura, wondered why Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao had made no announcement, then resumed refining demonic qi and considered meeting Haotian about dismantling the Heavenly Court.
• Taishang Saint divined that the new Human Emperor’s arrival heralded chaos and a coming calamity rather than prosperity.
• Tongtian sensed the Human Emperor’s arrival but could not divine its cause, so he suspected his eldest disciple Qin Mu knew more.
• Qin Mu recognized the Human Emperor as Di Xin, understood that the Investiture of the Gods Calamity was about to begin, and continued cultivating to prepare.
• Zhunti asked Jieyin about the new Human Emperor, and Jieyin said the birth was strange.

Jieyin and Zhunti chose not to interfere with the coming Human Emperor, while Nuwa sensed his arrival but could not uncover the truth. Huang Tian refused to send aid to Di Xin, and Haotian continued recruiting Heavenly Court officials for the Western Heavenly Court before reporting his progress to Venerable Yuanshi.

• Jieyin and Zhunti discussed the unexplained arrival of a new Human Emperor and the growing aura of calamity, then decided to focus on helping Haotian undermine the Heavenly Court.
• Nuwa sensed that a new Human Emperor was about to be born and felt a connection to him, but the Heavenly Dao blocked her calculations.
• Zhenyuanzi and Cangjie proposed assisting the coming Human Emperor, but Huang Tian refused, saying the Human Emperor had his own destiny.
• Haotian recruited more Heavenly Court officials, including Duer Star Lord, for his planned Western Heavenly Court while Emperor Venerate remained in seclusion.
• Venerable Yuanshi arrived at Tongming Palace, warded the area against eavesdroppers, and heard Haotian report that the recruitment was proceeding according to plan.

Venerable Yuanshi urged Haotian to announce the Western Heavenly Court, promising that he and the Two Saints of the Western Teachings would support him. After Emperor Venerate returned from seclusion, Ling Weizi exposed Haotian’s efforts to recruit Heavenly Court officials and revealed that many had secretly agreed to rebel.

• Haotian admitted to Venerable Yuanshi that the Two Saints of the Western Teachings had asked him to establish the Western Heavenly Court.
• Venerable Yuanshi told Haotian to announce the Western Heavenly Court when preparations were complete and promised the support of himself and the Two Saints.
• Years later, Emperor Venerate summoned the Heavenly Court’s Immortals and Gods to Lingxiao Treasure Hall after emerging from seclusion.
• Ling Weizi reported that Haotian had been spreading rumors and recruiting officials to join the Western Heavenly Court.
• Ling Weizi revealed that many officials had secretly agreed to rebel, while Emperor Venerate’s Saint pressure weighed on Haotian.

Ling Weizi exposed Haotian’s secret plan to establish a Western Heavenly Court, and Haotian defended his rebellion by accusing Emperor Venerate of unfairly taking the Jade Emperor’s throne and favoring the Interception Sect. Emperor Venerate asked what Haotian intended to do, leaving Haotian to face the consequences of his exposed scheme.

• Ling Weizi revealed Haotian’s plan to establish a Western Heavenly Court, alarming the Immortals and Gods who had secretly agreed to join him.
• Yaochi, Lord of Stars, and Chi You reacted with shock and anger as Emperor Venerate confronted Haotian.
• Haotian claimed the Jade Emperor’s throne should have been his because of his service to Dao Ancestor and accused Emperor Venerate of favoring the Interception Sect and the Underworld.
• Emperor Venerate did not deny Haotian’s accusation that he had recruited Interception Sect disciples while excluding people from other traditions.
• Emperor Venerate asked Haotian what he intended to do, while Haotian recognized that his secret efforts to recruit allies could no longer continue.