Chapter Summaries

Da Yu used the Nine Provinces Barrier to capture Wu Zhiqi after he attacked and tried to flee, then confined him by the Huai River as a warning to others. In the Fire Cloud Cave World, Hong Yun explained how the barrier restricted cultivators and warned his disciples that they would be drawn into the Investiture of the Gods, prompting them to volunteer to fight the Mystic Gate.

• Wu Zhiqi attacked Da Yu, but the Fortune Golden Dragon deflected his strike and wounded his soul with its pressure.
• Da Yu activated the Nine Provinces Barrier, whose chains bound Wu Zhiqi and halted his magic power, and Wu Zhiqi surrendered.
• Hong Yun's disciples discussed how the barrier let Da Yu draw on heaven and earth while limiting the damage cultivators could cause in human territory.
• Hong Yun explained that Wu Zhiqi's calamity had led him to challenge Da Yu and that his capture would serve as a warning to other cultivators.
• Hong Yun told his disciples they would likely be drawn into the Investiture of the Gods, and they offered to fight the Mystic Gate while San Xiao worried about clashing with other Mystic Gate disciples.

Hong Yun reassured San Xiao that the Interception Sect’s ties to him and its influence among humans would help it in the Investiture of the Gods. At Jade Void Palace, Primordial Heavenly Lord warned his disciples about the coming tribulation, while Daoist Ran Deng remained wary and Cihang’s praise of him drew the Saint’s attention; afterward, Ran Deng left relieved.

• Hong Yun told San Xiao that Tong Tian and the Interception Sect’s human followers would stand with them in the coming struggle over the Investiture of the Gods.
• Primordial Heavenly Lord informed the Jade Void Palace disciples that the tribulation had not yet arrived and urged them to strengthen their cultivation so they would not be bound to the Investiture.
• Daoist Ran Deng stayed silent and cautious because he had been cultivating Zhun Ti’s Way and no longer actively served as the Chan Sect’s vice-leader.
• Primordial Heavenly Lord asked Cihang about her cultivation, and she credited Daoist Ran Deng with patiently answering her questions.
• Daoist Ran Deng denied deserving credit, and Primordial Heavenly Lord dismissed the disciples to cultivate on their own.
• Daoist Ran Deng left Jade Void Palace relieved, and Cihang, Juliusun, and his other close associates asked what was wrong.

Hong Yun watched the Xia Dynasty turn to hereditary succession and warned Da Yu that the dynasty’s fortune would eventually run out. As Shang rose to challenge Xia, Hong Yun visited Yuanfeng to tell her that the new dynasty could help the Phoenix Clan flourish and hasten her rebirth.

• Daoist Ran Deng told Chan Sect disciples that the Investiture of the Gods calamity could let their sect flourish, and Primordial Heavenly Lord considered speaking with his eldest brother.
• After Da Yu abdicated, his son Qi defeated Bo Yi and became Human Emperor, beginning hereditary rule and making the Nine Cauldrons the symbol of the Human Emperor.
• Hong Yun reclaimed the Human Dao Seal and told Da Yu that dynasties could not rule forever; later, he sensed Great Xia’s fortune weakening and warned Da Yu it would soon be replaced.
• As Tang of Shang rose against Xia, Hong Yun went to the Undying Volcano and told Yuanfeng that Shang’s rise could help the Phoenix Clan flourish and free her sooner from the Heavenly Dao’s restraints.
• Yuanfeng thanked Hong Yun but doubted she could escape the Heavenly Dao’s restraints, and Hong Yun hinted that she might have something to offer him.

Hong Yun visited Yuanfeng, asked for her future aid, and then attended a Zixiao Palace meeting about the Investiture of the Gods. The group agreed not to choose names in advance, leaving who would be listed to fate.

• Hong Yun told Yuanfeng about the coming calamity and asked her to lend him strength if needed, and she agreed.
• Hong Yun left Yuanfeng after learning that Dao Ancestor Hong Jun had summoned the group to the Zixiao Palace.
• At the meeting, Tong Tian prepared to write down names but handed the Investiture of the Gods to Primordial Heavenly Lord and insisted that the Chan Sect act first.
• Primordial Heavenly Lord asked whether they could leave the list unsigned, and Dao Ancestor Hong Jun agreed.
• Hong Yun supported leaving the list to fate, saying those who died without being listed had no one to blame.

After the gods’ positions remained unsigned, Hong Yun warned Tong Tian that the Investiture of the Gods could destroy his sect, but Tong Tian refused to believe his brothers would turn against him. Meanwhile, Yuan Shi sought Taiqing’s support and drew Zhun Ti into discussions by invoking Hong Jun’s promise of prosperity for the West.

• Hong Jun declared that the sect joined by the Son of Calamity would preside over the Investiture of the Gods, and the gathered saints left without signing any names.
• Tong Tian caught up with Hong Yun and asked why he had readily agreed to Yuan Shi’s proposal.
• Hong Yun told Tong Tian that Yuan Shi and Taiqing would help destroy the Interception Sect during the tribulation, but Tong Tian dismissed the warning because they were brothers.
• Hong Yun returned to Fire Cloud Cave, while Tong Tian headed to Golden Ao Island to warn his disciples against becoming entangled in karma.
• Yuan Shi told Taiqing that the Investiture of the Gods concerned a struggle between the Heavenly Dao and Human Dao, then invited Zhun Ti to Jade Void Palace to discuss it.
• Zhun Ti denied having any interest in the Investiture of the Gods, and Yuan Shi confronted him about Hong Jun’s promise of prosperity for the West.

Yuan Shi pressured Zhun Ti into helping with the Investiture of the Gods Calamity and secured Taiqing’s support, while preparing for the calamity’s effects on their disciples. As the calamity approached, Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao reached Kunlun Mountain to seek a master.

• Yuan Shi invited Taiqing to Jade Void Palace and offered Zhun Ti a chance for Buddhism to prosper in a future calamity if he helped with the Investiture of the Gods.
• Yuan Shi warned Zhun Ti not to ally with Hong Yun, and Zhun Ti reluctantly asked about Yuan Shi’s plan.
• Yuan Shi explained to Taiqing that he feared the calamity would draw in their disciples, and Taiqing eventually agreed to his precautions.
• As Calamity Qi obscured Heaven’s secrets, Yuan Shi visited Zixiao Palace and then guided the destined Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao toward Kunlun Mountain.
• Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao arrived safely at Kunlun Mountain and prostrated themselves, asking to become disciples.

Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao joined the Chan Sect, and the Investiture of the Gods descended at Jade Void Palace. Hong Yun chose to stay out of the tribulation while sending Xuanwu to recruit future heroes, then noticed a Saint’s restriction and Buddhist golden light inside Yang Tianyou.

• Primordial Heavenly Lord saw the Flying Bear sign behind Jiang Ziya and the vicious Zhen Bao sign behind Shen Gongbao, but accepted both men as Chan Sect disciples.
• The Investiture of the Gods descended at Jade Void Palace, leading other mighty practitioners to conclude that the person destined to deify the gods had appeared in the Chan Sect.
• Nu Wa and Zhen Yuan Zi questioned Hong Yun about not recruiting Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao, and Hong Yun explained that taking charge of the Investiture would draw them into the tribulation.
• Hong Yun sent Xuanwu to recruit future figures from the human race, especially Yang Jian and Nezha.
• Hong Yun observed Yang Tianyou and found a Saint’s restriction concealing golden light that he suspected was connected to Zhun Ti and Buddhism.

Hao Tian killed Yang Tianyou and Yang Jiao, then tried to kill Yang Jian and Yang Chan and reclaim Fairy Yun Hua’s Innate Origin. Xuanwu and True Person Yu Ding intervened to protect the surviving children, and Hao Tian had to decide how to respond to their claims to take them as disciples.

• Hao Tian descended to the mortal realm, killed Yang Tianyou, and caught the golden light that fled west from his body.
• Hao Tian identified Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, and Yang Chan as exceptionally gifted and said he would kill them to help Fairy Yun Hua reclaim her Innate Origin.
• Hao Tian killed Yang Jiao and extracted the Innate Origin within him despite Fairy Yun Hua’s plea to spare her children.
• Xuanwu arrived and shielded Yang Jian and Yang Chan with his tortoise-shell shield, striking aside True Person Yu Ding’s protective treasure as Yu Ding also intervened.
• Yu Ding and Xuanwu each asked to take Yang Jian and Yang Chan as disciples, and Xuanwu told Hao Tian that his teacher had instructed him to do so.
• Hao Tian nodded slightly to Yu Ding and then asked Xuanwu a question.

Fairy Yun Hua chose Xuanwu to teach Yang Jian and Yang Chan, and Hao Tian punished her by confining her beneath Peach Mountain. Xuanwu explained that Hao Tian intended the punishment to protect her and let her cultivate, and Yang Jian accepted Xuanwu as his master.

• Fairy Yun Hua asked Xuanwu to teach Yang Jian and Yang Chan, so True Person Yu Ding departed without taking them as disciples.
• Hao Tian sent Fairy Yun Hua beneath Peach Mountain to reflect, returned her Innate Origin, and assigned Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to watch over her.
• Yang Jian asked Xuanwu to save his mother, and Xuanwu explained that Hao Tian's punishment also protected Fairy Yun Hua and gave her a chance to cultivate.
• Yang Jian and Yang Chan bowed to Xuanwu and accepted him as their master, waking Yang Chan, who began to cry.

Xuanwu took Yang Jian and Yang Chan to Fire Cloud Cave to meet his teacher, while True Person Yu Ding struggled with losing the chance to take Yang Jian as his disciple. At Plum Mountain, Yuan Hong asked Yu Ding to accept him, and Yu Ding offered him the Eight-Nine Arcane Technique while postponing any decision about making him a disciple.

• Xuanwu carried Yang Jian and Yang Chan to Fire Cloud Cave, where Yang Jian would meet Xuanwu’s teacher and formally join them.
• True Person Yu Ding wandered to Plum Mountain, lamenting that Yang Jian had slipped from his grasp and worrying about the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.
• Yuan Hong prostrated himself before True Person Yu Ding and begged to become his disciple.
• True Person Yu Ding considered Yuan Hong’s talent but rejected the idea of taking him as a disciple because he believed the Primordial Heavenly Lord would not accept a demon.
• True Person Yu Ding gave Yuan Hong a jade slip containing the Eight-Nine Arcane Technique and told him to study it, leaving open the possibility of seeking his teacher’s approval later.

True Person Yu Ding reported losing Yang Jian to the Black Tortoise and asked to take Yuan Hong as his disciple; Primordial Heavenly Lord agreed to consider it after the Investiture of the Gods Calamity. At Fire Cloud Cave, Wu Tian wanted Yang Chan as her disciple, but Hong Yun arrived and said her path of cultivation did not suit Yang Chan.

• Yuan Hong received the Eight-Nine Arcane Technique from True Person Yu Ding, who then returned to Kunlun Mountain to report to Primordial Heavenly Lord.
• Primordial Heavenly Lord learned that Yang Jian had become the Black Tortoise's disciple, then allowed Yuan Hong to join the Chan Sect after the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.
• The Black Tortoise brought Yang Jian and Yang Chan to Fire Cloud Cave, where Wu Tian had recovered and reached the Quasi-Saint realm.
• Wu Tian asked to take Yang Chan as her disciple, and the Black Tortoise hesitated when Yang Jian pleaded for his sister to stay with him.
• Hong Yun arrived with Nu Wa and told Wu Tian that her cultivation path did not suit Yang Chan.

Nu Wa arranged for Spirit Pearl Child to be reborn among humans and asked Wu Tian to guide him as a disciple, while she promised to protect Yang Chan by giving her a place at Empress Wa's Palace. Years later, Wu Tian sensed Spirit Pearl Child's reincarnation at Chentang Pass, where Li Jing's wife had been pregnant with their third child for an unusually long time.

• Nu Wa offered Spirit Pearl Child to Wu Tian as a future disciple, and he eagerly agreed to teach him.
• Nu Wa told the Black Tortoise to teach Yang Chan and promised that Yang Chan could tend her lamp at Empress Wa's Palace when she grew up.
• The Black Tortoise taught Yang Jian martial cultivation, finding him talented and well suited to the path.
• Emperor Yi died in his thirtieth year, and his third son succeeded him as Di Xin, King Zhou.
• In King Zhou's second year, Wu Tian sensed Spirit Pearl Child's reincarnation at Chentang Pass and went there to find him.
• Spirit Pearl Child had been reborn as Li Jing and Lady Yin's third son, but Lady Yin's pregnancy had lasted beyond the usual ten months.

True Person Taiyi arrived at Li Jing and Lady Yin’s home to claim their unborn son as his disciple, but Wu Tian appeared and challenged his claim, saying Empress Nu Wa had appointed her to teach Spirit Pearl Child. The couple recognized Wu Tian’s connection to Fire Cloud Cave and accepted her authority, while Taiyi was left unable to press his claim.

• True Person Taiyi reassured Li Jing and Lady Yin that their son would soon be born and said the Chan Sect’s Primordial Heavenly Lord had sent him to take the child as his disciple.
• Wu Tian appeared, threatened True Person Taiyi with the God-Slaying Spear’s killing intent, and questioned whether Empress Nu Wa had approved his claim.
• True Person Taiyi defended his claim by citing his Saint master, but Wu Tian said Empress Nu Wa had personally promised Spirit Pearl Child to her as a disciple.
• Li Jing initially leaned toward True Person Taiyi, but Lady Yin asked Wu Tian where she came from after hearing her mention Empress Nu Wa.
• Wu Tian identified herself as being from Fire Cloud Cave, and Li Jing and Lady Yin recognized her connection to Hong Yun’s holy land and bowed to her.
• Wu Tian explained that she had come to take Spirit Pearl Child as her disciple and turned toward True Person Taiyi with a knowing smile.

Wu Tian stopped True Person Taiyi from taking the Spirit Pearl Child as his disciple, but Lady Yin went into labor before he could punish him. Nezha was born, chose Wu Tian as his master, and received his name from him, while True Person Taiyi remained trapped in the courtyard.

• Wu Tian confronted True Person Taiyi for trying to take the Spirit Pearl Child and blocked his escape with killing intent.
• Lady Yin went into labor, forcing Wu Tian and True Person Taiyi to wait while Li Jing attended the birth.
• Li Jing split the unusual ball of flesh with his sword, and Nezha emerged and ran to Wu Tian, calling him master.
• Wu Tian named the child Nezha after Li Jing proposed Shui Zha.
• Nezha recognized True Person Taiyi as the would-be kidnapper, while Wu Tian noticed Nezha's Hun Tian Ling and Qian Kun Quan.

Wu Tian took Nezha’s magical treasures from True Person Taiyi, enhanced them with the God-Slaying Spear, and settled in Chentang Pass to raise his new disciple. Nezha began training under Wu Tian’s permissive but principled guidance, while Li Jing regained the authority to discipline him.

• Wu Tian told True Person Taiyi that his arrival had caused Nezha to be born prematurely and demanded compensation, so Taiyi handed over the Fire-Tipped Spear and Wind Fire Wheels.
• Wu Tian infused both treasures with the God-Slaying Spear’s black aura, and Nezha happily tested them in the sky.
• Hong Yun and Nu Wa watched Wu Tian and Nezha, and Nu Wa accepted Hong Yun’s explanation that Nezha’s devilish nature was still part of his nature.
• Wu Tian stayed with Nezha in Chentang Pass instead of taking him away from his parents to cultivate.
• Wu Tian let Nezha act freely but taught him right from wrong and left Li Jing and his wife to discipline him when he misbehaved.

Zhun Ti failed to bewitch Di Xin at Nuwa Temple because the Fortune Golden Dragon and the strengthened Nine Provinces Barrier repelled his attack. Hong Yun and Nu Wa let him escape for now, while Zhun Ti realized Yuan Shi had schemed against him over Buddhism's future.

• Di Xin visited Nuwa Temple with his officials to offer incense, but Zhun Ti tried to bewitch him.
• The Fortune Golden Dragon roared and revealed Zhun Ti's robe, breaking his attack and forcing him to flee.
• Hong Yun and Nu Wa watched from hiding, and Hong Yun refused to pursue Zhun Ti before the calamity was ready.
• Hong Yun warned that Zhun Ti's attack on the Human Emperor would bring retribution upon Buddhism.
• As Zhun Ti fled, he sensed Yuan Shi had schemed against him despite promising not to hinder Buddhism's flourishing in the next calamity.

Zhun Ti realized his scheme against Di Xin had burdened Buddhism with Human Way backlash, while the Primordial Heavenly Lord sought Hong Jun’s help to set the Investiture of the Gods calamity in motion. Hong Jun gave him a cultivation method that could draw on dynastic fortune, leaving Di Xin as its intended practitioner.

• Zhun Ti confronted the Primordial Heavenly Lord at Kunlun Mountain, realized he could not abandon Buddhism’s rise, and went to seek Daoist Ran Deng.
• The Primordial Heavenly Lord worried that Di Xin’s rule might restore Great Shang’s fortune and traveled to Purple Cloud Palace to consult Dao Ancestor Hong Jun.
• Hong Jun said the Investiture of the Gods calamity was the Heavenly Dao’s will and gave the Primordial Heavenly Lord a method for cultivating with dynastic fortune.
• The Primordial Heavenly Lord understood that Di Xin, with access to Great Shang’s fortune and no other cultivation path, was the person suited to the method.
• Hong Jun explained that humanity had chosen Human Emperors from among its own ranks rather than rulers guided by gods and immortals.

After a mysterious attack left him feeling powerless, Di Xin sought a way to cultivate and gain strength despite the ancestral prohibition against the Human Emperor cultivating. He remained determined to find a suitable method after learning that the options suggested by his ministers would not help him.

• The Primordial Heavenly Lord explained that Di Xin’s cultivation could consume Great Shang’s fortune and provoke a backlash from the fortune of humanity, then returned to the Jade Void Palace with the cultivation technique.
• Di Xin ordered his officials to investigate the attacker, but they admitted they could not trace someone who had resisted the Nine Provinces Barrier; he agreed to seek help from Fire Cloud Cave.
• Di Xin asked Bi Gan for cultivation methods, but Bi Gan urged him to follow the ancestral precept and focus on governing the people.
• Di Xin secretly asked several ministers about cultivation, but they all objected to him strengthening himself.
• Di Xin summoned Fei Zhong and You Hun, dismissed their suggestions about Grand Tutor Wen and other warriors, and demanded a method suited to him.
• Di Xin recalled that Huang Fei Hu’s martial strength came from decades of training and decided it was not a practical way for him to become stronger.

Di Xin sought a cultivation method, while Fei Zhong and You Hun searched for one to win his favor. In Jade Void Palace, Primordial Heavenly Lord and Zhun Ti plotted to use Dao Ancestor Hong Jun’s method to disrupt Great Shang’s fortune, but had not yet decided how to put their plan into action.

• Di Xin dismissed Fei Zhong and You Hun after they failed to find a cultivation method, then grew displeased with ministers who urged him to focus on state affairs.
• Fei Zhong and You Hun searched for immortals and discussed whether a dual-cultivation method might suit Di Xin, but You Hun rejected the idea.
• Fei Zhong and You Hun separately reported that they had found something to resolve Di Xin’s concerns, and Di Xin eagerly ordered them summoned.
• Primordial Heavenly Lord decided against simply giving Di Xin Dao Ancestor Hong Jun’s cultivation method because Di Xin might become a Quasi-Saint.
• Primordial Heavenly Lord summoned Zhun Ti, showed him the method, and proposed using it to throw Great Shang’s fortune into chaos.
• Zhun Ti agreed that the method could cause turmoil but asked how they could disrupt Great Shang’s fortune without giving it to Di Xin.

Zhun Ti and the Primordial Heavenly Lord arranged for Di Xin to receive two dual cultivation techniques, hoping their use would damage Great Shang’s fortune. After the scrolls merged and Di Xin memorized their incantation, he spent the night with Empress Jiang and awoke with a transformed aura.

• Zhun Ti proposed giving Di Xin a Western dual cultivation technique that went against the Heavenly Dao, and the Primordial Heavenly Lord agreed to the plan.
• You Hun presented Di Xin with a golden scroll containing a dual cultivation technique, and Fei Zhong brought him a similar method on an ancient jade slip.
• Di Xin sent Fei Zhong and You Hun away and studied both techniques, which began glowing and melted together into a single scroll.
• Di Xin memorized the merged technique’s incantation as its golden writing and jade slip vanished.
• Di Xin summoned Empress Jiang to spend the night with him, and he awoke the next morning with a greatly changed aura.