Chapter Summaries

Cultivators from across the sects gathered at Thousand Wood Temple for a ceremony honoring Heaven and Earth and the True Lords. Wang Ping began the rites as their central figure, and the chapter ended as he started reciting his prayer.

• Dao Palace officials prepared the altar and placed the True Lords’ divine tablets according to the new rankings.
• Daoist Hua Yun and the Nine Tripod Sect representative revealed that their sects were crafting divine images of Prefect Changqing, while Monk Ming Hui warned them against repeating past sect divisions.
• Shen Xiaozhu announced the ceremony’s beginning, and Wang Ping and Ao Hong arrived before the altar to greetings from the assembled Three Seats.
• Wang Ping led the gathering in an hour of prayer for blessings from Heaven and Earth.
• Wang Ping led the Three Seats in three kneelings and nine kowtows, then accepted incense from Ruan Chunzi and began reciting his prayer.

Wang Ping was formally appointed Prefect Changqing by True Lord Yuanwu and received homage from the Southern Cultivation World. After the ceremony, he resumed his chess game with Ao Hong, who resolved to change his strategy against Third Prince, while Wang Ping received congratulations and notice of a Second Seat meeting.

• True Lord Yuanwu appeared above the altar, bestowed the title of Prefect on Wang Ping, and prompted the gathered cultivators to pay their respects.
• Shen Xiaozhu announced that the ceremony was complete and called sect representatives forward to pay homage to Wang Ping.
• Ao Hong said he hoped to receive a Prefect's title someday, and Wang Ping warned him that defeating Third Prince would require political understanding.
• The sect representatives performed the disciple's rite, and Wang Ping instructed them to guard against arrogance and obey the Dao Palace's order.
• Wang Ping and Ao Hong returned to their chess game, and Ao Hong decided to change his strategy against Third Prince.
• Wang Ping checked his Second Seat Communication Token and learned that Lord Rongyang had congratulated him and scheduled a Second Seat meeting for that night.

Liu Shuang took charge of Thousand Wood Temple’s front hall and heard proposals about trade disputes and the Dao Palace’s future. The chapter ended with Wang Ping reading a letter from Chongxing that began by condemning the previous Second Seats meeting.

• The Southern Cultivation World’s Chief Hosts asked Liu Shuang to approve regional affairs, and Li Miaolin proposed liaison envoys to resolve disputes arising from trade with the Demon Domain.
• Wu Quan and other leaders supported maintaining trade with the Demon Domain, and the group discussed regional coordination and important cases.
• Li Miaolin told Liu Shuang that Chongxing supported every Dao Palace decision and delivered a handwritten letter for Wang Ping.
• Li Miaolin warned Wu Quan not to seek a Fourth Realm advancement slot yet and said Wang Ping would prioritize Zhi Gong because Wanzhi stood behind her.
• Liu Shuang brought Chongxing’s message and letter to Wang Ping, who examined the letter and began reading its criticism of the previous Second Seats meeting.

Wang Ping and Ao Hong discussed how to respond to pressure from the True Lords and then attended the Second Seat’s routine meeting, where Wang Ping became Chief Host. The meeting turned to the Star God Alliance’s demand for more support at the front lines, and Wang Ping asked why no alternative plan had been prepared.

• Wang Ping and Ao Hong agreed that they should prepare for action without taking the lead, and Ao Hong said they would discuss his idea after the meeting.
• Wang Ping and Ao Hong joined the Second Seat’s routine meeting, where members argued over Xiao Shan and Master Kaiyun announced his departure as Chief Host.
• Master Kaiyun named Wang Ping as the next Chief Host, and Wang Ping accepted the position and its duties.
• The Second Seat discussed the Star God Alliance’s request to send more people to the front lines, and a member asked Wang Ping to persuade Chongxing.
• Wang Ping agreed to try to persuade Chongxing but asked why the members had not prepared an alternative plan.

Wang Ping attended a Dao Palace meeting that set plans for the front-line crisis, trade route, Wei Kong’s rebellion, and a lunar inspection. The meeting ended with Lord Liuyun proposing a contest for Earth Cave Sect’s Fourth Realm slot.

• Wang Ping suggested adding Vajra Temple’s three idle masters to the contingency plan, but Master Kaiyun cited his temple’s duties and Lord Rongyang challenged his excuse.
• Mansu agreed to accompany Wang Ping on the front-line mission, and Master Kaiyun finalized the plan.
• Master Kaiyun proposed a Third Realm observation group to oversee the blocked West Continent–Central Province trade route, and the attendees approved it.
• Mansu took charge of pursuing Wei Kong, while Wang Ping agreed to send disciples to assist him.
• Ao Hong and Wang Ping agreed to join Bu Qiong for the lunar inspection.
• Lord Liuyun announced that Earth Cave Sect would hold a contest for a Fourth Realm slot and asked whether the meeting wanted to enliven the cultivation world.

Wang Ping negotiated with Lord Liuyun over advancement slots, then went with Ao Hong and Bu Qiong to explore the moon. After crossing the atmosphere, Wang Ping encountered the hazards of outer space and saw vast formations surrounding their planet.

• Lord Liuyun proposed using outside forces to consolidate the Earth Cave Sect and secure more Third Realm slots, and Wang Ping agreed to help as long as he received two slots for Third Realm Taiyan cultivators.
• Wang Ping and Yulian discussed the Dao Palace's role and their desire to see the moon, while Ao Hong explained how the old predecessors used unrest to free up advancement slots.
• Wang Ping contacted Bu Qiong, and he and Ao Hong prepared to ascend with her guidance.
• Bu Qiong met Wang Ping and Ao Hong beneath the atmosphere and warned them about active spirit-body creatures in outer space.
• Wang Ping crossed the atmosphere, endured the sun's heat and space's cold, and used the Wood Spirit to protect himself from discomfort and spirit-body creatures.
• Wang Ping looked back at their planet and saw profound formations spread throughout the region surrounding its atmosphere.

Wang Ping and Ao Hong followed Bu Qiong to the moon, where they met Pang Xu, the chief host of the Moon Outpost, and saw its protected Ecological Zone. As they entered the zone, Wang Ping sensed a Transfer Talisman.

• Wang Ping examined the vast planetary formation as Bu Qiong led him and Ao Hong toward the moon.
• The three passed through the lunar formation and encountered Pang Xu, who identified himself as the Moon Outpost's chief host.
• Pang Xu recognized Ao Hong as the Seventh Prince and greeted Wang Ping, recalling that Wen Yang had spoken highly of him.
• Pang Xu told Wang Ping that Wen Yang was no longer alive, and Wang Ping set the matter aside to proceed with their business.
• Wang Ping inspected the Ecological Zone's monitoring and defensive formations, then sensed a Transfer Talisman as he entered.

Wang Ping and Ao Hong visited a frontier town in the Inspiration World and learned how its transfer passage, defenses, and supply system worked. They began inspecting the town’s facilities at the Daoist Scripture Hall, where Wang Ping noticed a purification formation made by the True Sun Sect.

• Pang Xu and Bu Qiong explained that the transfer passage carried supplies and personnel to the front line, while its vast distance made flying there take years.
• Wang Ping, Ao Hong, and Yulian entered the town, where they saw Qi practitioners laboring and Cultivators gathering to watch dogfights.
• Bu Qiong outlined the inspection procedure, including checks of the garrison logs, arrays, communications relay, monitoring towers, and residents’ memories and souls.
• Pang Xu led the group to the Daoist Scripture Hall, and Bu Qiong criticized him for not changing its plaque.
• Wang Ping examined the hall’s formations and recognized that the True Sun Sect’s purification array burned polluted spiritual energy, making the hall hot.

Wang Ping, Ao Hong, and Bu Qiong inspected the moon base’s records and learned about the forms and dangers of Outer Realm Objects. After choosing to inspect the Luring Array, they reached the corrupted high ground and found it surrounded by Sealing Arrays.

• Pang Xu led Wang Ping, Ao Hong, and Bu Qiong to the archive attic and showed them the latest inspection logs.
• Ao Hong read that an Outer Realm Object was expected to reach the area near Monitoring Device Number Three in six hours and asked whether it could be captured.
• Bu Qiong and Pang Xu explained the four forms of Outer Realm Objects and warned that some could threaten even Fourth Realm cultivators.
• Ao Hong set aside his questions about capturing the object and asked Pang Xu to take them to the Luring Array.
• Pang Xu led them to the pitch-black northern high ground, where Wang Ping sensed corruption and an enormous number of Sealing Arrays.

Wang Ping inspected the Black Highland’s Sealing Arrays and defenses, while Yulian destroyed an Outer Realm Object and the inspection uncovered two contaminated Star Gods. The group then gathered to face an approaching wraith, and Bu Qiong warned Ao Hong against asking whether it could be absorbed.

• Wang Ping examined the Black Highland’s Sealing Arrays as Pang Xu explained how Outer Realm Objects were drawn to their own kind and to sources of light.
• Yulian froze and destroyed an Outer Realm Object after Pang Xu gave her permission, and Wang Ping repaired its Sealing Array.
• Wang Ping inspected the monitoring towers, repaired damaged formation runes, and discovered that two Second Realm Star Gods had contaminated memories.
• Wang Ping and Ao Hong stayed at the encampment, and the monitoring devices warned that an Outer Realm Object was approaching the moon.
• Wang Ping sensed the incoming wraith as a mass of negative energy, and Bu Qiong sternly told Ao Hong never to ask whether it could be absorbed.

Bu Qiong explained that Outer Realm energy could rapidly strengthen cultivators but risked driving them mad, and that the Alliance forbade discussing its use with lower-realm cultivators. As the approaching Outer Realm Objects reached the moon’s vicinity, Pang Xu and the cultivators began their defense.

• Bu Qiong sent Pang Xu to organize the battle and warned Ao Hong to review the files before discussing forbidden matters in front of outsiders.
• Bu Qiong told Wang Ping and Ao Hong that Outer Realm energy could be absorbed but could also cause madness, and Wang Ping sensed unstable consciousnesses within the approaching energy.
• Bu Qiong explained that some Fourth Realm Alliance members secretly cultivated with Wandering Soul and Earth Soul energy, while Wei Kong had violated the taboo by revealing the practice to lower-realm cultivators.
• Pang Xu activated a Fire Spirit Formation that engulfed the Outer Realm energies and caused them to split into human-shaped entities.
• More than a hundred Second Realm cultivators advanced in groups of five as two Third Realm cultivators followed behind to support them.

Wang Ping and the Star Gods fought off the Outer Realm Objects, while Ao Hong captured a powerful mutation for study. A hostile probe led Wang Ping, Bu Qiong, and Ao Hong to a Star God from Wei Kong’s battalion, who transformed and attacked as Bu Qiong confronted him.

• One hundred Second Realm Star Gods coordinated a pincer attack and quickly overwhelmed the scattered Outer Realm Objects.
• Wang Ping observed an Outer Realm consciousness create a physical body, and the mutated creature pierced a barrier with an attack near Third Realm strength.
• Ao Hong transformed into an azure dragon, erased the Outer Realm Objects with Water Spirit Qi, and sealed the mutated creature in ice.
• Wang Ping and Bu Qiong sensed a malicious Primordial Spirit probe and flew into outer space with Ao Hong to find its source.
• The group found a Star God marked Yi-Seven-Eight, and Bu Qiong demanded to know Wei Kong’s whereabouts.
• The Star God broke free of Bu Qiong’s shadow technique with black qi, expanded into an attacker, and declared that the world needed to change.

Wang Ping preserved a Star God core after stopping a scout from self-destructing, then learned more about the starry sky and the conflicts within the Star God Alliance. Ao Hong proposed that they prove themselves as Dao Palace vanguards by targeting the Yuqing Sect, leaving Wang Ping to consider the plan.

• Wang Ping used talismans to kill the Star God scout before it could self-destruct, but Bu Qiong found that the scout had erased its memories; she gave Wang Ping its Star God core.
• Wang Ping discovered that the core was a Starry Sky Resonator, a tool that used the universe’s laws to construct spells, and considered using it for a Puppet.
• Bu Qiong reported no other cultivators near the Moon Outpost, then told Wang Ping that their starry sky drew in matter from beyond its boundary and that darkness and distant stars lay beyond it.
• At Wang Ping’s dojo, Ao Hong argued that the True Lords had become obstacles and that the Star God Alliance’s resistance to Outer Realm Objects had deep contradictions; he suspected True Lord Yuanwu was intensifying them.
• Ao Hong told Wang Ping that they had to act as Dao Palace vanguards and quietly suggested starting by taking action against the old predecessors of the Yuqing Sect.

Wang Ping considered Ao Hong’s proposal to stir conflict within the Yuqing Sect while reviewing the Fourth Realm cultivators and the missing Star Gods. He decided to show his commitment to his duties, sent for information about Wei Kong, and used a puppet to attend a meeting in Capital City.

• Ao Hong proposed that he and Wang Ping secretly fuel divisions in the Yuqing Sect, and Wang Ping kept his response guarded.
• Wang Ping reviewed Dao Palace records showing the sects’ Fourth Realm cultivators and learned that seven Star Gods were missing and Wei Kong had rebelled.
• Wang Ping copied the files of the eight missing or rebellious Star Gods and read Wei Kong’s history, while Mansu asked him to search for Wei Kong and visit Daoist Chongxing.
• Yulian suggested sending Leng Kezhen and Qingjiang to search for Wei Kong, and Wang Ping agreed that Leng Kezhen was a suitable choice.
• Wang Ping destroyed Daoist Chongxing’s meeting letter, connected to a puppet in Capital City through the Cave Heaven Mirror, and sent it out from Pingwang Inn.

Wang Ping met Daoist Chongxing through a Puppet and learned about a Fourth Realm Taiyan True Spirit, a Dharma artifact, and the old man's resolve to preserve the Taiyan Sect's inheritance. After returning to Thousand Wood Temple, Wang Ping arranged a visit to Daoist Chongxing's Daoist Grounds and summoned Leng Kezhen and Qingjiang, who arrived at his Mountain Top Dojo.

• Wang Ping's consciousness, attached to Qin Wang's Puppet, met Daoist Chongxing at Wangyue Teahouse and listened as he discussed the Second Seat meeting's decision to send him to the front lines.
• Daoist Chongxing told Wang Ping that True Monarch Huishan had refined a Fourth Realm True Spirit into a Dharma artifact, and promised to give Wang Ping the artifact and its marked locations for other True Spirits.
• Wang Ping returned to his cavern, reflected on Daoist Chongxing's devotion to the Taiyan Sect, and meditated through the night.
• Wang Ping told Mansu he would send personnel to the Moon Outpost to search for Wei Kong, set September 26 for visiting Daoist Chongxing's Daoist Grounds, and asked Liu Shuang to summon Leng Kezhen and Qingjiang.
• Liu Shuang summoned Leng Kezhen and Qingjiang, who flew to Thousand Wood Mountain and followed a Foundation Establishment disciple to Wang Ping's courtyard.
• Leng Kezhen and Qingjiang arrived before Prefect Changqing, and Leng Kezhen greeted Wang Ping.

Wang Ping assigned Leng Kezhen and Qingjiang to help investigate traitors near the moon after showing them the Star God Alliance’s struggle against Outer Realm Demonic Creatures. After the temple assembly, his disciples came to pay respects, and news of absent and deceased disciples left him reflecting on how his position had changed their relationships.

• Wang Ping questioned Leng Kezhen and Qingjiang about the Star God Alliance, showed them its fight against Outer Realm Demonic Creatures, and ordered them to recruit one hundred Second Realm cultivators to search for the Rebels under Daoist Mansu’s command.
• Wang Ping sent Leng Kezhen and Qingjiang to Fuming Road to find Daoist Hua Yun, with puppet 'Two' accompanying them.
• Yuan Zheng and Ruan Chunzi saw off the assembly’s guests, then discussed Wang Ping’s rise and awaited his meeting with his disciples.
• Liu Shuang gathered the disciples to pay respects to Wang Ping, while Shen Xiaozhu reported that Xuan Ling was unconscious in Secluded Cultivation and his puppets had lost their vitality.
• Liu Shuang told Wang Ping that Su Hai and Ling'er were in Secluded Cultivation, Yu'er remained missing, Wang Yang had died in meditation, and Song Qu had not been found.
• Wang Ping learned that Guangxuan had entered death-seclusion without contacting him, urged his disciples to cultivate, and asked what plans they had.

After advancing to the Fourth Realm, Wang Ping received visitors at Thousand Wood Temple, arranged support for their requests, and prepared to travel to East Continent with Mansu. The chapter ended as Wang Ping and Yulian reached the edge of East Continent on their way to visit Daoist Chongxing.

• Wang Ping welcomed Ruan Chunzi and Yuan Zheng, then arranged for Ruan Chunzi to help Hua Yun manage Star God Alliance logistics and tasked Yuan Zheng with gathering intelligence discreetly.
• Wang Ping sent Dong Can away with encouragement and agreed to raise Wu Fu's request to advance to the Fourth Realm at the Star God Alliance's Second Seat meeting; Wu Fu entrusted Wang Ping with a crystal to destroy his consciousness if he went mad.
• Wang Ping asked Yulian to find Yuanzheng and refine life-extending pills for Xiaozhu and Zhao Mingming.
• The next day, Wang Ping met Mansu at Shang'an Port and traveled with him toward Cloud Sparrow Mountain to visit Daoist Chongxing.
• After Mansu explained the spatial barrier limiting Fourth Realm battles, Wang Ping rode Yulian across the sea, and they reached the outline of East Continent that afternoon.

Wang Ping and Mansu traveled to East Continent to meet Daoist Chongxing, who agreed to leave his mountain and support the campaign on the moon. Afterward, Wang Ping encountered Daoist Gong Wu and discovered that recording Chongxing’s choice had advanced the Sky-Veiling Talisman’s fusion.

• Wang Ping, Mansu, and Yulian arrived above River Country territory, where Yulian froze a hostile cultivator and Mansu subdued the others.
• Wang Ping and Mansu reached Cloud Sparrow Mountain and met Daoist Chongxing, who welcomed them to his cave abode.
• Daoist Chongxing gave Wang Ping a Taiyan Sect artifact and agreed to reach the moon within half a month, while requesting personnel and supplies.
• Mansu took responsibility for the remaining arrangements, and Wang Ping promised to secure the Star God Alliance’s supplies.
• Wang Ping encountered Daoist Gong Wu on the western coast and then flew toward Central Continent.
• Wang Ping saw the Sky-Veiling Talisman’s fusion progress rise by two points after he recorded Daoist Chongxing’s choice.

Liu Shuang helped settle the Third Seat dispute over trade-route patrols, then learned of an Earth Cave Sect cultivator’s death and backed Wen Hai’s bid for a Third Realm position. Meanwhile, Wang Ping arranged investigations into a missing Star God and proposed sending Daoist Cang Yue to the front lines; the chapter ended with the Star God Alliance agreeing to Wu Fu’s advancement only if he served it for five hundred years.

• Liu Shuang and Hong Ze helped secure agreement that the Nine Tripod Sect and Earth Cave Sect would jointly provide trade-route patrol representatives after several factions withdrew.
• Liu Shuang received a report that a Third Realm Earth Cave Sect cultivator had died in his cave residence and later instructed Yuan Zheng to support Wen Hai’s bid for a Third Realm position.
• Wang Ping ordered Guan Qi to send internal affairs Disciples to West Continent and reopen the case of the missing Star God Wei Zun.
• Wang Ping decided to put Daoist Cang Yue forward for front-line duty, gained Lord Rongyang’s support, and circulated the proposal to the Second Seat members.
• The Star God Alliance agreed to Wu Fu’s advancement on the condition that he serve the Alliance for five hundred years.

Wang Ping discovered that changing events connected to his Sky-Veiling Talisman could increase its fusion progress, and he helped arrange for the Star God Alliance to assist Wu Fu's advancement. A crimson phenomenon then drew Wang Ping and other powers to the Northern Continent, where the Sun Sect prepared to confront them as two Fourth Realm Fire Spirits descended.

• Wang Ping used the Fortune Array to determine that Wu Fu would fail to advance under his current plan, then found a theoretical method involving the sun's Evil Fire.
• Bu Qiong took Wu Fu on behalf of the Star God Alliance, and Wang Ping's Sky-Veiling Talisman's fusion progress increased after their plans changed.
• Wang Ping sensed a crimson disturbance in the Inspiration World and traveled north, where Prefect Rongyang, Lord Liuyun, and Seventh Prince Ao Hong gathered.
• Xu Chun and Xu Yang maintained the Sun Sect's True Fire Banner formation and discussed the threat posed by Lieyang.
• Two Fourth Realm Fire Spirits approached the Northern Continent as Wang Ping and the others headed into outer space, and Xu Yang urged the Sun Sect to fight and seize one.