Chapter Summaries

Li Qingxu and Jiang Shang left Chaoge with Li Qingxu’s three grand-disciples after the siblings punished a dishonest melon seller. Jiang Shang overcame his fear of flying as Jiu Feng carried them north.

• Li Chan told Li Qingxu that the melon seller used a hidden magnet to cheat customers, and Li Qingxu allowed Li Jiao and Li Jian to teach him a lesson.
• Li Jiao and Li Jian lured the melon seller into his storeroom and beat him until he promised to stop cheating people.
• Li Qingxu said he had important business to attend to and departed Chaoge with Jiang Shang and the three siblings.
• Jiang Shang panicked at the height while riding Jiu Feng, but Li Qingxu calmed him.
• Li Qingxu ordered Jiu Feng to head north, and she flew toward their destination.

Shen Hubao trained his demon disciples to endure hardship and avoid conflict, but Jie Sect Immortals arrived to collect tribute and demanded twice as much next year. Shen Gongbao challenged their demand and faced the leading immortal’s killing intent.

• Shen Hubao taught the Lesser Demons that they needed to cultivate an iron Dao Heart and warned them to avoid karma and conflict.
• When a disciple asked about joining the Interception Sect, Shen Hubao said its disciples blocked outsiders from entering Golden Ao Island.
• Shen Gongbao arrived to tell Shen Hubao that the Jie Sect Immortals had come, and Shen Hubao prepared his disciples to receive them.
• Shen Hubao handed the Jie Sect Immortals their tribute, and their leader demanded twice as many heavenly treasures and earthly materials the following year.
• Shen Gongbao protested that the demons could barely gather the current tribute, and the Jie Sect Immortal pressed him with a fierce killing intent.

Li Qingxu arrived at the lake and stopped Jie Sect Disciples from extorting Shen Hubao and the Lesser Demons. After making them return the stolen treasures, he left them to flee in disgrace.

• Shen Hubao slapped Shen Gongbao for insulting the Jie Sect Immortals and promised to gather twice as many heavenly treasures by next year.
• Li Qingxu rode Jiu Feng into the sky with Jiang Shang and Li Jian's three siblings, startling the Jie Sect Disciples into greeting him as Eldest Senior Brother.
• The leading Jie Sect Disciple claimed the group was avenging the Human Race by taking resources from demons.
• Li Qingxu slapped the leading disciple and argued that the Lesser Demons had no part in the old blood feud between humans and demons.
• Li Qingxu ordered the Jie Sect Disciples to return the treasures to Shen Hubao and warned them not to exploit others in the name of a Saint.
• The Jie Sect Disciples returned the Brocade Pouch and fled on their dark clouds.

Li Qingxu accepted Shen Gongbao as his disciple and prepared to take him to Daluo Mountain, while giving Shen Hubao spirit fruits to support his cultivation. Shen Gongbao left with Li Qingxu and Jiu Feng, resolved to honor his master's kindness.

• Li Qingxu offered to take Shen Gongbao as his disciple, and Shen Gongbao accepted after Li Qingxu assured him his background would not be a problem.
• Li Qingxu noted that Shen Gongbao and Jiang Shang, both with the Appearance of Flying Bear, had joined his school ahead of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
• Shen Hubao approved of his son's decision to leave and pursue the Dao under Li Qingxu.
• Li Qingxu gave Shen Hubao Innate Spirit Fruits to aid his cultivation and ease the family's worries while Shen Gongbao was away.
• Shen Gongbao bid farewell to Shen Hubao, then rode Jiu Feng with Li Qingxu toward Daluo Mountain.

Li Qingxu returned to Daluo Mountain with the three Li siblings, Shen Gongbao, and Jiang Shang, then explained why he had taken Shen Gongbao and Jiang Shang as disciples. He began teaching them the Dao One Golden Chapter, leaving them immersed in his sermon.

• Li Qingxu shared candied hawthorns with the three Li siblings and Shen Gongbao during their journey back to Daluo Mountain.
• Jiu Feng brought the group to Daluo Mountain, where Shen Gongbao and Jiang Shang were astonished by the Blessed Land's spiritual abundance.
• The three Li siblings asked Li Qingxu for permission to visit their parents at Xuanji Hall, and he let them go.
• Li Qingxu told Shen Gongbao and Jiang Shang that they bore the Appearance of Flying Bear and would be key figures in the coming Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
• Li Qingxu explained that he had created the Dao One Golden Chapter for the Human Race and began preaching it to Shen Gongbao and Jiang Shang.

After decades of instruction, Shen Gongbao and Jiang Shang reached the Human Immortal Realm and received powerful treasures from Li Qingxu. Meanwhile, Di Xin led a vast procession to Nuwa Temple for Empress Nuwa’s birthday, resolved to destroy the aristocratic clans exploiting Great Shang, and arrived at the lavish temple.

• Shen Gongbao and Jiang Shang broke through to the Human Immortal Realm after decades of listening to Li Qingxu’s teachings.
• Li Qingxu gave Shen Gongbao the Purple Lightning Hammer and Jiang Shang the Jieyin Treasure Banner, both high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
• Di Xin led Great Shang’s officials and Imperial Guard through Chaoge on the annual procession to honor Empress Nuwa’s birthday.
• Di Xin saw the aristocratic clans’ wealth and the hardship of ordinary people, then vowed to eradicate the corrupt parasites draining the realm.
• Di Xin’s procession left Zhaoge and reached the magnificent Nuwa Temple in the suburbs.

During Nuwa’s birthday ceremony, an unseen divine power clouded Di Xin’s mind and drove him to carve an obscene poem beneath Nuwa’s statue. Li Qingxu watched from hiding and suspected a Saint was manipulating the Human Emperor, though he could not determine whether the culprit was Zhunti, Jieyin, or Nuwa herself.

• Di Xin completed the offerings and Libation Ritual at Nuwa Temple while Li Qingxu secretly observed from the void.
• A subtle divine power pierced Di Xin’s brow, leaving him vacant and causing him to leer at Nuwa’s statue.
• Di Xin kicked aside the Minister of Rites and carved an obscene poem into the stone beneath the statue.
• The officials panicked at Di Xin’s blasphemous poem, while Li Qingxu recognized the incident from his past-life memories.
• Li Qingxu considered the Saints’ possible motives and wondered whether Zhunti, Jieyin, or Nuwa had arranged the scheme.

Li Qingxu decided to strengthen himself before the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation reached its final stages and returned to Daluo Mountain to cultivate. After breaking through, he entered the mid-Quasi-Saint stage.

• Li Qingxu resolved to enter seclusion and watched Di Xin recover, deciding to see how he handled the Three Demons of Xuanyuan Tomb.
• Di Xin realized that a Saint had briefly controlled his mind, erased the verses he had carved beneath Nuwa's statue, and ordered the officials to keep the incident secret.
• Li Qingxu returned to Daluo Mountain, sealed himself inside Qingxu Hall, and used the Chaos Bell to protect his breakthrough.
• Li Qingxu shattered the barrier holding him back and officially reached the mid-Quasi-Saint stage.

Saint Nuwa summoned the Three Demons of Xuanyuan Tomb and ordered them to infiltrate the royal city and bring down Great Shang by bewitching Di Xin. Months later, the Thousand-Year Fox Spirit possessed Su Daji on her journey to Zhaoge, leaving the fox spirit in control of her body.

• Nuwa summoned the demons of Xuanyuan Tomb, dismissed all but the Thousand-Year Fox Spirit, the Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit, and the Jade Pipa Spirit, and gave them her task.
• The Three Demons worried that Li Qingxu would punish them, but Nuwa assured them he would not interfere, and they accepted her order.
• Months later, Su Hu escorted Daji toward Zhaoge and stopped at Enzhou Post Station for the night.
• The Thousand-Year Fox Spirit entered Daji's room, devoured her Nascent Soul, and took over her body.
• The fox spirit concealed her demonic aura and imitated Daji's timid manner.

Di Xin examined reports revealing the aristocratic clans’ control of the Court and the four great lords’ growing defiance. When Su Daji visited him late at night and tried to seduce him, his imperial aura repelled her and he sensed demonic energy, leaving him suspicious of her identity.

• Di Xin read flattering official memorials and reviewed secret reports about the aristocratic families, the four great lords’ troops, and declining tax revenue.
• Di Xin hid the sensitive documents when he learned that Su Daji, daughter of Su Hu, had requested an audience.
• Su Daji entered the Imperial Study, behaved seductively, and approached Di Xin despite his questions about her late-night visit.
• Di Xin’s imperial aura drove away Su Daji’s fragrance when she touched his robe, and he detected demonic energy on her.

Di Xin recognized Su Daji as a demon sent by Nuwa but pretended to fall under her spell to keep the Saint from escalating her schemes. The next morning, he brought Su Daji to court and declared her his beloved consort, leaving his ministers and her father stunned.

• Di Xin connected Su Daji's concealed demonic aura to Nuwa and decided to feign being bewitched rather than kill her.
• Di Xin embraced Su Daji and took her to his bedchamber, telling attendants he would see no one that night.
• Su Daji accompanied Di Xin to morning court and sat on his lap before the assembled officials.
• Shang Rong and other ministers protested that Su Daji's presence on the Dragon Throne violated court decorum.
• Di Xin declared Su Daji his beloved consort and said he would bring her to court, while Su Hu looked at his daughter with unease.

Di Xin publicly defended Su Daji and promised to build the Star-Plucking Tower she requested, while secretly planning to deal with corrupt officials and frustrate the Saints' scheme. Su Daji found that only a few elderly laborers had begun the construction, digging slowly and taking frequent breaks.

• Shang Rong, Bi Gan, Mei Bo, and other ministers begged Di Xin to rescind his decree allowing Su Daji to sit beside him, but he refused.
• Fei Zhong and You Hun praised Di Xin's decision, while Di Xin privately regarded the corrupt officials as useful accomplices for his act.
• Su Daji proposed building a tower to reach the stars, and Di Xin promised to issue an edict for the Star-Plucking Tower the next morning.
• Su Daji visited the construction site expecting mass labor, but found only a few elderly workers digging leisurely and enjoying meals provided by the court.
• After seeing the same slow progress over several days, Su Daji grew furious that the Star-Plucking Tower would take far too long to build.

Di Xin persuaded Su Daji to return to Su Mansion, then secretly ordered Su Hu to keep her there while he considered how to stop the Four Great Vassals’ growing power. He decided to summon the vassals to Chaoge, using their response as the opening move in a plan to neutralize them.

• Su Daji complained that Star-Plucking Tower was barely being built, but Di Xin explained that few people had volunteered for the work.
• Di Xin suggested that Su Daji visit her parents at Su Mansion, and she agreed rather than risk arousing his suspicions.
• After Su Daji left, Di Xin secretly wrote to Su Hu, instructing him to keep her at his residence and not question her.
• Di Xin read a memorial describing the Four Great Vassals’ huge armies and secret alliance with hundreds of minor vassals.
• Di Xin decided to summon the Four Great Vassals to Chaoge, planning to use either their refusal or their arrival to his advantage.

Ji Chang received Di Xin’s royal summons ordering the four great lords to Zhaoge and recognized it as a trap that put West Qi in danger whether he obeyed or refused. He gathered Bo Yikao, Ji Fa, and Tai Si to discuss the crisis, but the chapter ended before they chose a course of action.

• San Yisheng informed Ji Chang that an envoy from Zhaoge had arrived with Di Xin’s royal edict summoning the four great lords to the capital.
• Ji Chang read the edict and realized Di Xin had likely discovered West Qi’s plans, while San Yisheng warned that obedience could leave him at Di Xin’s mercy and refusal could justify an attack.
• Ji Chang ordered San Yisheng to summon Bo Yikao, Ji Fa, and Tai Si before he set out.
• Bo Yikao and Ji Fa read the edict, and both recognized that obeying or refusing Di Xin’s summons would leave West Qi in a perilous position.

Ji Chang explained why West Qi could not openly rebel against Di Xin and agreed to travel to Zhaoge while keeping up appearances. On the journey, he found the infant Lei Zhenzi after a thunderstorm and entrusted him to Yun Zhongzi, then continued toward Zhaoge.

• Ji Chang told Bo Yikao and Ji Fa that West Qi needed a just cause to rebel and that Wen Zhong made a direct clash with Great Shang too dangerous.
• Ji Chang departed for Zhaoge, leaving Bo Yikao in charge of the court and Ji Fa to assist with military affairs.
• When a storm struck in Yan Mountain, Ji Chang divined that a great general would appear and ordered his attendants to search after the rain stopped.
• Ji Chang found a baby beneath a lightning-scorched pine and recognized the discovery as an auspicious sign for West Qi.
• Yun Zhongzi asked to take the child as his disciple, named him Lei Zhenzi, and carried him to Zhongnan Mountain.
• Ji Chang returned to his carriage and ordered the procession to continue toward Zhaoge.

Ji Chang learned that Di Xin’s supposedly abusive forced labor for the Star-Plucking Tower paid workers generously, while the four great lords prepared to resist any attempt to strip them of their military authority. Di Xin summoned them to the Imperial Garden, and they entered the palace wary of a trap.

• Ji Chang ordered his informants in Chaoge to investigate the city before Di Xin summoned him.
• Ji Chang learned that laborers building the Star-Plucking Tower received three meals, late-night snacks, two taels of silver a day, and regular raises and bonuses.
• The four great lords met secretly and agreed to feign compliance unless Di Xin tried to seize their armies or detain them.
• Di Xin summoned the four great lords to the Imperial Garden, where they feared an ambush.
• The four lords set out for the Imperial Garden, agreeing to act according to the situation.

Di Xin hosted the four regional marquises at a moonlit banquet and confronted them about their declining taxes and tributes. The marquises claimed disasters and military costs had left them unable to pay, as their accounts of prosperous fiefs collapsed into a list of hardships.

• Di Xin welcomed Ji Chang, Jiang Huanchu, E Chongyu, and Chong Houhu to a private banquet in the Imperial Garden.
• Ji Chang tested the wine by asking Di Xin to drink first, and Di Xin drank and ate to reassure the marquises.
• Chong Houhu asked why Di Xin had summoned them, and Di Xin said he wanted to ask about conditions in their fiefs.
• Di Xin pointed out that the four marquises' taxes and annual tributes had fallen year after year despite their claims of prosperity.
• Chong Houhu, Ji Chang, and E Chongyu blamed frost, floods, famine relief, and military expenses for their reduced payments.

Di Xin confronted the four lords over their secret armies and gave them a chance to confess, but Ji Chang and the others openly declared their intent to seize the Human Emperor's throne. Di Xin revealed that a Shadow Recording Stone had captured their treason, though the lords dismissed it as a bluff.

• Di Xin questioned the four lords about how they had amassed hundreds of millions of troops while claiming their fiefdoms were impoverished and vulnerable to barbarians.
• Di Xin appealed to their shared history and warned that war would bring suffering to the common people, but Ji Chang angrily rejected his appeal and challenged the Shang family's right to rule.
• Ji Chang and the other three lords threatened rebellion, declared their ambition to claim the throne, and demanded that Di Xin surrender his authority and Great Shang's military power.
• Di Xin revealed that a Shadow Recording Stone from the Human Master had recorded their words and actions.
• Jiang Huanchu accused Di Xin of bluffing, and the other lords regained their composure and agreed with him.

Di Xin exposed the Four Great Vassals’ treason with a Shadow Recording Stone and rejected their pleas for mercy. He sealed their powers and had them stripped of their status and taken to the Water Prison.

• Di Xin activated the Shadow Recording Stone, revealing the Four Great Vassals plotting against him and insulting the common people.
• The Four Great Vassals abandoned their plans to seize the stone and knelt to beg Di Xin for forgiveness.
• Di Xin dismissed their apologies as fear-driven and sealed their magical powers.
• Di Xin ordered the Imperial Guards to strip the four marquises and take them to the Water Prison under strict guard.

Di Xin publicly exposed the Four Great Vassals’ contempt for the people and their plans to seize power, turning Chaoge against them. When powerful clans tried to undermine the evidence with rumors, Di Xin ordered their arrest, leaving his purge of the conspirators underway.

• The Imperial Guard projected a recording of Ji Chang and the other vassals plotting against Di Xin and dismissing the people as ants, and the crowd demanded their deaths.
• News of the vassals’ imprisonment spread through Chaoge, while powerful families that had backed them panicked as Di Xin’s soldiers sealed off their homes.
• The powerful families sent agents to spread claims that Di Xin had fabricated the recording, hoping to rescue the vassals held in the Water Prison.
• Di Xin told a senior minister he had expected the clans to reveal themselves and summoned the commander of the Imperial Guard.
• Di Xin ordered the commander to use planted spies to identify and arrest every clan involved in spreading rumors, sending their households to the death cells.