Chapter Summaries

Zhu Rong learned that Kui Niu’s supposed enemy may have been his benefactor, leaving Kui Niu’s revenge and death in confusion. After failing to reincarnate, Kui Niu was mysteriously pulled back before reaching the Netherworld.

• Zhu Rong asked Kui Niu about his unfinished business, and Kui Niu recounted how an expert had destroyed his family and crippled him.
• Kui Niu killed himself before naming his enemy, leaving Zhu Rong responsible for his karma; Zhu Rong dismembered the body, but no karma descended.
• Kui Niu’s spirit appeared, and Zhu Rong concluded that the supposed enemy had actually helped or saved him, shocking Kui Niu and Ao Guang.
• Ao Guang and Zhu Rong suggested that Kui Niu reincarnate, and Zhu Rong directed him toward the Netherworld.
• Before Kui Niu could leave the area around Flowing Wave Mountain, an inexplicable force pulled him back.

Zhu Rong brought Kui Niu’s hide and bones back to Li Hao, who helped him plan and create the first Kui Drum, allowing Kui Niu to grow through the drum’s merit. Zhu Rong then headed for the Human Race battlefield and waited at the usual meeting place rather than approaching Xuanyuan’s tent directly.

• Ao Guang suggested Kui Niu might continue to grow if his spirit remained attached to a Magic Treasure, and Zhu Rong decided to use his hide and bones to make one.
• Zhu Rong promised Ao Guang that the Ancestor Witches might help him in a future crisis, then took Kui Niu back toward the Human Race.
• Li Hao teased Zhu Rong and Kui Niu, then explained the shape and size of a Kui Drum and directed Zhu Rong to find materials in the Ancestral Land.
• Zhu Rong made the first Kui Drum of the Primordial Era, and merit washed over it and Kui Niu’s Primordial Spirit.
• Zhu Rong carried the drum and remaining materials toward the Human Race battlefield, stopping at the usual meeting place instead of going directly to Xuanyuan’s tent.

Zhu Rong secretly helped Xuanyuan by delivering a Kui Drum under the name of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, but Xuanyuan exposed the ruse and the story spread through the Witch Clan. Zhu Rong confronted Li Hao over the rumors, while Li Hao insisted he had no idea what had happened.

• Kui Niu suggested that Zhu Rong leave clues pointing to another identity, and Zhu Rong delivered his supplies above Xuanyuan's tent under the name Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden.
• Xuanyuan reproduced the Kui Drum and loudly told the story of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden near Li Hao, who realized Zhu Rong had staged the delivery.
• Zhu Rong returned to the Ancestral Land pleased with his help, but the West Queen Mother mocked him about the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden and Thirteenth Brother's rumors.
• Zhu Rong rushed to Li Hao's residence, grabbed him by the collar, and demanded to know what rumors he had spread.
• The West Queen Mother hurried after Zhu Rong to defend Li Hao, while Li Hao pried Zhu Rong's hands away and asked what had happened.

Zhu Rong learned that his own account of visiting the East Sea had caused the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden rumor, while Xuanyuan defeated Chiyou and proved the Dao as Human Emperor. Xuanyuan’s successors, including Shao Hao and Zhuanxu, carried the Human Emperor lineage forward, and Zhuanxu eventually took the throne after defeating Gong Gong Shi.

• Houtu and the West Queen Mother explained that Zhu Rong had caused the rumor by telling his clan why he was going to the East Sea, and Zhu Rong realized the blame was his.
• Xuanyuan used the Kui Drums to trap Chiyou in an Eight Trigrams formation, then pursued and executed him after Chiyou escaped.
• Xuanyuan proved the Dao, though he was badly injured and received no protection, and then sought a successor to the Human Emperor lineage.
• Xuanyuan rewarded his ministers, while Ying Long remained to protect the Human Race and Nüba returned north to resume her assigned duty.
• Xuanyuan’s sons Shao Hao and Chang Yi became ancestors of later Human Emperors, and Zhuanxu defeated Gong Gong Shi to claim the throne.

Li Hao discovered that the Chakira Macaque, one of the Four Monkeys of Chaos, had disrupted Yu’s flood control and sent Liu'er to find him. Liu'er was eager to meet another brother but hesitated when he learned the monkey was obstructing the Human Race’s development.

• Yu controlled the floods, founded the Xia Dynasty, and was followed by his son Qi, beginning hereditary rule among the Human Emperors.
• The Xia Dynasty weakened under Kong Jia as the Shang Clan rose to prominence.
• Li Hao identified the monkey that had troubled Yu as the Chakira Macaque, one of the Four Monkeys of Chaos.
• Li Hao told Liu'er that another brother had appeared but was obstructing Yu’s flood control.
• Liu'er became disheartened because he would not act against the Witch Tribe’s development policies.

Liu'er set out to deal with the trouble at the Huai River, taught the Seven Monsters of Mount Mei's white ape a version of the Nine Revolutions Technique along the way, and arrived as Ying Long confronted the river monkey. Ying Long drained the Huai River, but the Chakira Macaque struck him from behind, leaving Ying Long surprised that his opponent had an ally.

• Li Hao told Liu'er to persuade the troublemaker at the Huai River, and Liu'er put on the magic treasure garment Xuanming had made before setting out.
• Liu'er crossed a mountain range and met seven aspiring cultivators led by a white ape, whom he recognized as sharing a connection with him.
• Liu'er taught the white ape a summarized version of the Nine Revolutions Technique and hurried on toward the Huai River.
• Ying Long arrived after Da Yu called for his help and used his water-type divine power to drain the Huai River.
• The Chakira Macaque struck Ying Long from behind, and Ying Long realized the river monkey had an ally.

The Six-Eared Macaque arrived during Ying Long’s fight with Wuzhiqi and the Chakira Macaque, then revealed his strength while ordering the Chakira Macaque to come with him. After slapping the Chakira Macaque away, he easily stopped his counterattack and took hold of his weapon.

• Ying Long fought Wuzhiqi and the Chakira Macaque, but neither side could gain the upper hand.
• The Six-Eared Macaque appeared and asked Ying Long to end the conflict, then identified himself as an emissary sent by the Ancestor Witches to find the Chakira Macaque.
• When the Chakira Macaque refused to leave his position as mountain lord, the Six-Eared Macaque slapped him hundreds of thousands of miles away.
• The Chakira Macaque charged back with his Companion Treasure, but the Six-Eared Macaque blocked his staff strikes and made him drop it.
• The Six-Eared Macaque examined the weapon and asked the Chakira Macaque what it was called and whether it was his Companion Treasure.

Six-Eared Macaque revealed that Chakira Macaque was his younger brother and took him and Wuzhiqi away, while Ying Long concealed their departure from Da Yu. Later, Hongjun summoned the Saints to approve establishing the Heavenly Court, and the Three Pure Ones began preparing to protect the Human Emperor’s way and counter the Buddhist Sect.

• Six-Eared Macaque repeatedly slapped Chakira Macaque until he revealed that his Innate Spiritual Treasure was the West Sea Bintie Rod, then returned it and showed off his own Suixin Iron Rod.
• Six-Eared Macaque told Chakira Macaque that they were brothers, and Chakira Macaque agreed to leave with him but asked to bring Wuzhiqi along.
• Six-Eared Macaque took Chakira Macaque and Wuzhiqi with him, while Ying Long staged a battle at the Huai River and told Da Yu that he had subdued the demon.
• Da Yu confirmed the apparent battle, controlled the floods, inherited the title of Human Emperor, and eventually established the Xia Dynasty.
• Hongjun summoned the Saints to Chaos Purple Cloud Palace, where they approved establishing the Heavenly Court under Haotian and Yaochi.
• The Three Pure Ones prepared to help restore the Human Emperor’s way and scheme against the Buddhist Sect, while Jieyin and Zhunti anticipated major developments.

Hongjun assigned disciples to serve in the Heavenly Court, and the Three Pure Ones submitted a roster that astonished him. After Jieyin and Zhunti accused their disciples of creating karmic obstacles, the Three Pure Ones began explaining that their disciples had actually been helping the weak, albeit in an unusual manner.

• Hongjun asked the saints to nominate disciples for the Heavenly Court, and Taishang persuaded Yuanshi and Tongtian to participate alongside Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Jieyin and Zhunti tried to evade the appointment, but Hongjun finalized the decision before they could object.
• The Three Pure Ones submitted a roster that included many of Yuanshi's powerful disciples, while Jieyin and Zhunti offered only five obscure candidates and complained about the Three Pure Ones' disciples.
• Hongjun summoned the Three Pure Ones after Jieyin and Zhunti accused their disciples of causing harm and accumulating karmic obstacles.
• The Three Pure Ones knelt and explained that their disciples helped the weak rather than creating killing karma, though they did so in a cold and unusual way.

After the Three Pure Ones cleared themselves of the karmic blame before Hongjun, he issued the Investiture of the Gods and ordered the Saints to prepare for the calamity. Jieyin and Zhunti returned to the Western Lands and told their disciples to recruit Human Race followers who could bear their killing karma, while the Three Pure Ones quietly recognized that Li Hao’s predictions were coming true.

• Laozi pleaded with Hongjun, arguing that the Three Pure Ones’ disciples had not caused the karmic obstacles, and the Chaos Purple Cloud Palace fell silent.
• Hongjun declared the calamity unavoidable, presented the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, and ordered the Saints to find someone with the Auspicious Sign of the Flying Bear among the Human Race.
• Jieyin and Zhunti hurried back to the Western Lands, while the Three Pure Ones exchanged glances and realized Li Hao had accurately predicted the coming East-West conflict.
• Jieyin summoned the Buddhist Sect’s disciples and announced that the calamity would soon arrive and that they needed a way to protect themselves.
• Jieyin and Zhunti explained that their disciples could transfer their killing karma to their own followers, and Zhunti urged them to recruit Human Race disciples who could not be converted by the Eastern sects.

Jieyin and Zhunti sent Buddhist disciples east to recruit followers and planned to stir up the Human Race and involve Nuwa in the coming calamity, while the Three Pure Ones kept their disciples hidden. The Witch Tribe allied with the Human Race and took in Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao, but Li Hao discovered that both were poor cultivators despite their unusual talents.

• Jieyin and Zhunti sent their disciples into the Eastern Lands to recruit followers and seek someone bearing the Auspicious Sign of the Flying Bear, then plotted to confuse the Shang ruler and provoke Nuwa.
• The Three Pure Ones learned from Li Hao to keep their heads down, so they ordered their disciples into closed-door cultivation and lent them heavenly treasures.
• The Witch Tribe gave resources to the Human Race and took Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao as disciples, arranging for them to study with the Three Pure Ones.
• Li Hao backed the alliance to strengthen the Human Race and help it escape its fate as a pawn in the coming calamity.
• Li Hao found that Jiang Ziya excelled at advising others but struggled to cultivate, while Shen Gongbao also made little progress despite working hard.

Emperor Yi sent his five-year-old son Zi Shou to Li Hao so the Ancestor Witch could train him, hoping to secure the Shang Dynasty’s future. The chapter ended with Wen Zhong carrying Zi Shou away while Emperor Yi looked ahead to a renewed prosperity for the dynasty.

• Li Hao arranged for Wen Zhong to bring Emperor Yi’s youngest son, Zi Shou, to him for personal training.
• Wen Zhong told Emperor Yi that Li Hao wanted to take Zi Shou as a disciple, and Emperor Yi eagerly agreed.
• Emperor Yi asked Wen Zhong to pass along that Li Hao should discipline Zi Shou as needed, as long as the boy survived.
• Wen Zhong departed with Zi Shou on his Ink Qilin, while Emperor Yi reflected on his hopes for the Shang Dynasty.

Wen Zhong brought the young Zi Shou to Li Hao, who took him as a disciple and began training him. Zi Shou eagerly accepted the chance to learn from an Ancestor Witch, but his first grueling physical training session left him vomiting as Li Hao urged him to keep running.

• Zi Shou cried during the journey with Wen Zhong to the Witch Clan Ancestral Land, fearing that his father had abandoned him.
• Li Hao sent Wen Zhong away and frightened Zi Shou into stopping his sobbing before telling him he would cultivate with him.
• Zi Shou questioned why he had been chosen, and Li Hao explained that strength would let him control his own fate.
• Li Hao revealed that he was an Ancestor Witch and had previously trained Fuxi, leaving Zi Shou thrilled to become his disciple.
• Zi Shou collapsed over a boulder and vomited during training while Li Hao urged him to keep running and promised Ginseng Fruit if he completed the task.

After nearly fifteen years of brutal training under Li Hao and the Chakira Macaque, Zi Shou became strong enough to begin practicing a weakened Nine Revolutions Technique. Li Hao then told him that Human Emperor Yi was dying, sent him back to inherit the throne, and gave him a protective banner to keep with him.

• The Chakira Macaque mocked Zi Shou, who rose in anger and completed his cultivation to defend Li Hao’s reputation.
• Over the next five years, Zi Shou became strong enough to practice the castrated Nine Revolutions Technique, then grew stronger through nearly ten more years of training.
• Li Hao interrupted Zi Shou’s training and told him that his father, Human Emperor Yi, was near death and that he must return to take the throne.
• Li Hao gave Zi Shou a banner from the Five Directions Banners and ordered him to keep it on his person at all times.

Emperor Xin prepared for the coming great tribulation as Jieyin and Zhunti came to Chao Ge and tried to manipulate him during the Holy Mother Festival. Li Hao’s protective banner blocked Jieyin’s Mind-Capturing Spell, leaving Emperor Xin unharmed.

• After suppressing unrest in Chao Ge, Emperor Xin drilled his troops and stockpiled grain as the great tribulation approached.
• Jieyin and Zhunti disguised themselves and went to Chao Ge, hoping to find a way to involve Nuwa in their schemes.
• The two learned that Chao Ge was celebrating the Holy Mother Festival and saw Emperor Xin arrive at the Wa Huang Palace.
• As Emperor Xin stood before Nuwa’s statue, Jieyin cast the Mind-Capturing Spell at him while Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao watched in alarm.
• Emperor Xin signaled Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao not to interfere, and Li Hao’s small banner absorbed the spell before it could affect him.

During Emperor Xin’s worship ceremony, Jieyin and Zhunti’s stronger attempt to influence him failed when the Five Directions Banners restored his mind, and his aura drove the saints away. Jieyin and Zhunti decided not to involve Hongjun or interfere further, but acknowledged that their dispatched disciples were already entangled in the tribulation as they prepared to leave the East.

• Jieyin and Zhunti sent two streams of divine power at Emperor Xin, but the Five Directions Banners cleared his mind.
• Emperor Xin released the combined aura of the Human Emperor, heaven and earth’s fortune, and the Witch Tribe, alarming Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Jieyin and Zhunti withdrew from Chao Ge and considered what the Witch Tribe’s apparent connection to Emperor Xin meant.
• Zhunti proposed reporting the matter to Hongjun, but Jieyin warned that provoking the Witch Tribe could bring them greater trouble.
• Jieyin and Zhunti agreed not to meddle further, though their disciples had already been dispatched and tainted by calamity power.
• Jieyin and Zhunti prepared to leave the East.

Nuwa sent Spirit Pearl to disrupt the Human Race’s tribulation in hopes of drawing Fuxi out, while the Three Pure Ones struggled to understand her unexpected move. Spirit Pearl entered Lady Yin’s womb in Li Jing’s household, and after a prolonged pregnancy, she began to go into labor.

• Nuwa told the saints that Emperor Xin had disrespected her and that she had sent Spirit Pearl to the Human Race, though her real aim was to provoke Fuxi by troubling the people he cared about.
• Jieyin and Zhunti returned to the Western Lands, while the Three Pure Ones worried over Nuwa’s interference and could not intervene openly.
• Spirit Pearl chose Li Jing’s loyal household and entered Lady Yin’s womb, replacing her stillborn fetus and intending to help carry out Nuwa’s plan.
• Lady Yin’s pregnancy lasted over two years, fueling debate in Chen Tang Pass over whether she carried a sage or a demonic monstrosity.
• In the third year of her pregnancy, Lady Yin felt sharp abdominal pain and recognized that she was about to give birth.

Lady Yin gave birth to a ball of flesh that split open to reveal Nezha, while Li Jing named him before fleeing the bewildering scene. Years later, Nezha drew the Xuanyuan Bow and accidentally unleashed an arrow whose destination he could not see.

• Li Jing slashed at the ball of flesh, which split open in red and golden light to reveal a child who ran to Lady Yin.
• Li Jing named the child Nezha, and Lady Yin accepted the name despite Nezha's silent objections.
• Nezha grew up rebellious and, after learning about the Shang Dynasty, began causing trouble while pursuing his mission to throw it into turmoil.
• Unable to sleep after escaping a beating, Nezha sneaked to the city wall to inspect the Xuanyuan Bow.
• Nezha drew the bow, causing its aura to surge from Houtian Spiritual Treasure to near Chaos Spiritual Treasure, then nocked an arrow and fired it into the distance.

Nezha was caught after firing the Xuanyuan Bow at Shi Ji, who brought him to Li Jing’s home to answer for it. There, Shi Ji reunited with Li Jing and Lady Yin, then revealed she had come on her Master’s orders to garrison Chen Tang Pass.

• Nezha tried to deny ambushing Shi Ji and argued that he had only been curious about the Xuanyuan Bow.
• Shi Ji restrained Nezha and took him to Li Jing’s residence, where Li Jing apologized before recognizing his senior sister.
• Lady Yin rushed out, embraced Shi Ji, and urged Li Jing to invite her inside while Nezha feared his mother would not protect him.
• Li Jing asked Shi Ji to release Nezha so he could make amends, but Lady Yin said Nezha should remain bound and be punished.
• Shi Ji told Lady Yin that Nezha had not truly offended her and that she had come under orders from her Master to garrison the area.

Shi Ji became Nezha’s mentor, and Nezha discovered that he was one of thousands of door nails from Ancestor Witch Hall, shattering his understanding of his origins. Meanwhile, Li Hao went to meet Yang Tianyou and his family after they reached the Witch Clan Ancestral Land.

• Shi Ji told Li Jing and Lady Yin that she had come to guard Chen Tang Pass and take Nezha as her disciple, explaining that her teacher hoped she could guide him away from his intended role in disrupting the Shang Dynasty.
• Nezha accepted Shi Ji as his mentor and secretly planned to pretend to submit until he could assess his opponents.
• During a visit to the Witch Tribe, Nezha learned that he was one of 3,000 door nails from Ancestor Witch Hall and that Nuwa had accidentally taken him after he fell loose.
• Shi Ji worried about Nezha, but Li Hao reassured her and arranged for a clansman to watch over him.
• Li Hao visited Yang Tianyou, Yun Hua, and their child at their lodging, reassured them that they were safe, and received Yang Tianyou’s respectful greeting.