Chapter Summaries

Xuandu returned from Chaos to find that a thousand years had passed and Fuxi and Shennong had taken their places as the Heavenly Emperor and earthly emperor, awakening the Human Dao’s fortune. He reached the East Sea Coast in time to meet two visitors bearing supreme Human Dao merit, while Xuanyuan and the Human Emperor had yet to emerge.

• Xuandu arrived at the Great Wilderness and sensed the newly awakened Human Dao and the flourishing human settlements.
• Xuandu discovered Fuxi ruling in Chen Capital and Shennong ruling at Mount Li, both at Quasi-Saint Peak.
• Xuandu realized a thousand years had passed during his journey and was relieved that Xuanyuan had not yet taken his place.
• Fuxi and Shennong sensed Xuandu’s return and left their palaces to meet him.
• Xuandu waited at the Heavenly Stele as two Quasi-Saint figures approached from the East Sea, carrying supreme Human Dao merit.

Fuxi and Shennong arrived at Heavenly Stele Peak to report their completed merits and ask when they could return to their positions, but Xuandu told them the Human Dao needed a Third Sovereign before it could awaken. He sent them back to pursue their paths, leaving Xuanyuan as the only missing Sovereign before the Three Sovereigns emerged.

• Fuxi and Shennong arrived at the Heavenly Stele and bowed to Xuandu as their master, while the Stele Keepers knelt in reverence.
• Fuxi reported that his Human Emperor merit was complete, and he and Shennong asked Xuandu when they could return to their positions.
• Xuandu explained that the Human Dao remained suppressed and needed Three Sovereigns to awaken, so Fuxi and Shennong had to wait for the missing Sovereign.
• Xuandu told Shennong that his benevolence had to become benevolent governance and the Way of Benevolence for his merit to be complete.
• Fuxi and Shennong left to continue their paths, and Xuandu reflected that only Xuanyuan remained before the Three Sovereigns could emerge.

Xuandu learned from Tongtian that Xuanyuan was the Human Emperor destined by Heavenly Dao, then went to Chen Capital to meet his disciple. After Xuanyuan welcomed him at the Martial Dao Heavenly Stele, Xuandu told him that becoming Human Emperor was still far off.

• Tongtian told Xuandu that Xuanyuan was the son of the Youxiong Clan, a virtuous Quasi-Saint, and the final sage emperor within Heavenly Dao's Predetermined Number.
• Xuandu learned that Xuanyuan ruled from Chen Capital and departed Biyou Palace to find him.
• A messenger reported that Xuandu had appeared at the Martial Dao Heavenly Stele, and Xuanyuan hurried from his palace to meet his master.
• Xuanyuan and several thousand Stele Keepers knelt before Xuandu, who told them to rise.
• Xuanyuan said he had ruled diligently for a thousand years and felt relieved that Xuandu had emerged from seclusion.
• Xuandu warned Xuanyuan that despite his virtue, popular support, and status as Human Race Co-Lord, he remained far from becoming Human Emperor.

Xuandu challenged Xuanyuan to prove himself worthy of the Human Emperor’s position, and Xuanyuan resolved to unify the human race under one dynasty. Back in Chen Capital, Xuanyuan announced his plan to the court and ordered the tribes to submit or face war.

• Xuandu asked Xuanyuan what he would do for the human race, and Xuanyuan declared that he would end tribal division and establish a unified dynasty.
• Xuandu bestowed the Hunyuan Dao, the Martial Dao Method, and his True Meaning of life upon Xuanyuan before sending him back to Chen Capital.
• Xuanyuan told Fenghou and the ministers that unification was the achievement required of him as Human Emperor.
• Fenghou warned Xuanyuan that tribal leaders would resist losing their power and troops, making internal war likely.
• Xuanyuan ordered the major tribe leaders to come to Chen Capital for deliberation, warning that those who refused would be met with arms.

Xuanyuan began unifying the Human Race by demanding that its tribes submit to Chen Capital, using Yinglong to kill a leader who tried to leave. The tribes’ leaders obeyed, and Xuandu and the stele guardians watched as human destiny surged, though Xuandu warned that resistance would continue.

• Xuandu waited for Xuanyuan to begin unification, believing it would awaken the Human Dao and determine Xuanyuan’s fate.
• Xuanyuan declared that the Human Race would have one ruler and one court, and Yinglong killed a Tribe Leader who tried to leave the hall.
• Xuanyuan ordered the tribes to adopt Chen Capital’s laws, place their troops under the court’s command, and keep their leaders in the capital; the officials submitted.
• The Human Race’s destiny surged, and several thousand stele guardians celebrated Xuanyuan’s unification campaign.
• Xuandu told the stele guardians that Tribe Leaders would resist in secret but said Xuanyuan could handle the challenge with Yinglong’s help.

Xuanyuan ordered the tribal leaders to surrender their authority, then sent Yinglong with a hundred thousand soldiers to subdue Chi You after the Nine Li leader rebelled. Chi You gathered his eighty-one brothers and prepared to meet Yinglong’s army in battle.

• Xuanyuan ordered all tribal leaders to reach Chen Capital within three days and surrender their seals, military tallies, and clan registers in exchange for titles and stipends.
• After the deadline, Fenghou reported that seventeen tribal leaders had not arrived and that Chi You had vowed to restore the old tribal system and campaign against Xuanyuan.
• Xuanyuan appointed Yinglong commander of a hundred thousand troops and ordered him to defeat Jiuli and bring back Chi You’s head.
• Yinglong led the hundred thousand soldiers out of Chen Capital as Xuanyuan watched and declared he would wait for Chi You.
• Chi You dismissed Yinglong’s army as insignificant and ordered his eighty-one brothers and the Nine Li forces to gather for battle.

Xuanyuan left Chen Capital to personally lead the campaign against Nine Li, while Xuandu guarded the rear. Armed with the Xuanyuan Sword and Humanity Merit, Xuanyuan killed Chi You, and Nine Li surrendered to his rule.

• Fenghou relayed Xuandu's warning that Yinglong would struggle against Chi You and said Xuandu would guard Chen Capital, so Xuanyuan led hundreds of thousands of troops toward Nine Li.
• Xuandu appeared in Chen Capital's palace and suppressed the restless Tribe Leaders.
• Chi You and his eighty-one brothers overwhelmed Yinglong, wounding him as their armies faced each other.
• Xuanyuan arrived, wounded Chi You with the Xuanyuan Sword, and declared his authority as Human Emperor.
• Xuanyuan killed Chi You, and the Nine Li army knelt and surrendered.

After Xuanyuan unified the Human Race and ascended as Human Emperor, Xuandu prepared to challenge Hongjun as the Three Sovereigns completed their ranks. He summoned Houtu to restrain the Heavenly Dao, and she launched the Earth Dao’s attack on Hongjun.

• Xuandu witnessed Xuanyuan defeat Chi You and unite the Human Race, while the restless powers in Chen Capital fell silent.
• Fenghou and the officials petitioned Xuanyuan to become Human Emperor, and Xuanyuan accepted before ascending the throne three days later.
• At the enthronement ceremony, Xuanyuan unified the Human Race’s court, laws, institutions, writing, and measures, and his cultivation rose to Quasi-Saint Peak.
• Xuandu sensed the Three Sovereigns’ completion and prepared to confront Hongjun, drawing on the forces within the Chaos Bead.
• Xuandu asked Houtu to restrain the Heavenly Dao, and Houtu unleashed the Earth Dao’s power against Hongjun in Purple Heaven Palace.

Xuandu summoned the Three Sovereigns and Three Human Ancestors to Chen Capital as Houtu’s battle with the Heavenly Dao gave the Human Dao a chance to rise. Using the Kongtong Seal, he awakened the Human Dao, leaving the Human Race transformed and Tongtian relieved that the long-awaited moment had arrived.

• Xuandu sensed Houtu restraining the Heavenly Dao and called Fuxi and Shennong to Chen Capital, where they joined Xuanyuan on the altar.
• Xuandu summoned Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi from the Chaos Bead, and the Three Sovereigns paid their respects to the Three Human Ancestors.
• Xuandu sent the Kongtong Seal to the altar, where its light joined the Humanity Merit surrounding the six figures.
• Xuandu declared that the Human Dao should awaken, and the Human Race across Chen Capital and the Great Wilderness felt its will rise within them.
• Tongtian watched the awakening from Biyou Palace and expressed relief that the Human Dao had finally awakened.

Houtu restrained Hongjun while the Human Dao awakened in Chen Capital, but Hongjun empowered the Five Saints and sent them to hold Houtu back. Houtu fought all five to a standstill, leaving Hongjun free to head toward Chen Capital and stop the Human Dao Revival.

• Houtu bound the Heavenly Dao with the Great Earth Origin and blocked Hongjun’s attack on the awakening Human Dao.
• Hongjun empowered Laozi, Yuanshi, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Nuwa with Heavenly Dao Origin, then sent them to restrain Houtu while he went to Chen Capital.
• The Five Saints confronted Houtu above the Samsara Seal, but her palm strike drove them back despite their combined power.
• The Five Saints attacked again, and Houtu fought them to a deadlock above the Netherworld Underworld.

Xuandu confronted Hongjun as Hongjun tried to suppress the awakening Human Dao at Chen Capital. Xuandu revealed that his goal was to hold Hongjun back and buy time, then opened the Chaos Bead World and called for someone to emerge.

• Hongjun struck at the altar, and Fuxi, Shennong, Xuanyuan, Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi joined their merit to block his palm, though all six were gravely wounded.
• As Hongjun prepared a stronger second strike, Xuandu appeared and challenged him, then used the Five Treasure Banners to meet Hongjun's attack with the Innate Five Elements Great Formation.
• Xuandu told Hongjun that he had come not to defeat him but to keep him occupied while the Human Dao awakened.
• Xuandu unleashed the Chaos Bead and opened its world, revealing the Human Race's foundation, then called for someone to come out.

Xuandu revealed the Human Race’s immense hidden forces as Humanity began to awaken, bringing him and Hongjun to the brink of battle. Hongjun launched a decisive strike against the altar and cultivators, and Xuandu moved to respond.

• Ten million Human Race cultivators emerged, including fifty thousand Daluo Golden Immortals, shocking Hongjun and inspiring the people of Chen Capital.
• Xuanyuan called on the cultivators to fight alongside him and protect Human Dao, the Human Race, and Xuandu.
• The Three Sovereigns’ Humanity Merit surged as the altar rose and the Human Dao began to awaken.
• Xuandu and the Human Race combined Humanity Merit, Martial Dao Blood Qi, and Jie Sect’s Fortune into an attack against Hongjun.
• Hongjun unleashed a powerful palm strike to destroy the altar and suppress the Human Race, and Xuandu moved to meet it.

Xuandu blocked Hongjun’s full-powered palm strike, but Hongjun drew on Heavenly Dao Origin and rose to Half-step Heavenly Dao. Xuandu revealed five powerful beings from his Chaos Bead World as reinforcements, while Hongjun realized the Human Dao was nearing full awakening and that he had little time to stop it.

• Xuandu blocked Hongjun’s full-powered palm strike, though the collision sent him flying and left him shaken.
• Hongjun summoned the Jade Disk of Fortune and used Heavenly Dao Origin to become a Half-step Heavenly Dao, crushing the cultivators and the Three Sovereigns and Three Ancestors with his pressure.
• Xuandu revealed a gate to his Chaos Bead World and summoned Chaos, Qiongqi, two beings both named Taotie, and a Chaos Silver Python, all powerful Primordial Great Golden Immortals.
• Hongjun recognized Xuandu’s preparations, including the Jie Sect, the Human Race, and the Chaos Bead World, while Xuandu explained that he had acted to counter Hongjun’s suppression of the Interception Sect and Human Dao.
• Hongjun saw the Human Dao nearing full awakening and realized that if it succeeded, Heaven Earth Human Three Daos Balance would end his sole rule over the Great Wilderness.

Xuandu revealed that Hongjun had overlooked the Interception Sect’s true strength: the Chaos Bead concealed a fortune dozens of times greater than it appeared, boosted by the Four Fierce Beasts and five Zenith Heavens. As Hongjun questioned whether this could overturn the Heavenly Dao’s Predetermined Number, he realized he had also neglected the Human Race’s fortune.

• Xuandu calmly told Hongjun that his visible forces were not all he had and reminded him that Hongjun had forgotten something.
• Hongjun searched the Great Wilderness with his Spiritual Sense and discovered that the Chaos Bead concealed most of the Interception Sect’s fortune on Golden Ao Island.
• Hongjun realized the Four Fierce Beasts and five Zenith Heavens had greatly increased the Interception Sect’s fortune, while Xuandu had kept that growth hidden.
• Hongjun asked whether Xuandu’s strength could overturn the Heavenly Dao’s Predetermined Number, but Xuandu remained calm before him.
• Hongjun remembered that the Human Race’s fortune was connected to the Interception Sect’s and his expression changed as he considered what that meant.

Xuandu’s scheme culminated in the Human Dao awakening, and Hongjun admitted he could no longer suppress it or stop the shift toward balance among the Heaven, Earth, and Human Daos. With Hongjun gone and the Human Race celebrating, Xuandu called on six figures to return to their positions.

• Hongjun sensed Human Race Fortune soaring beyond his ability to calculate and concluded that the Human Dao’s awakening could no longer be stopped.
• Hongjun told Xuandu, “You won,” while Fuxi, Shennong, Xuanyuan, Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi reacted with relief and joy.
• Tongtian praised Xuandu, while Houtu, Laozi, Yuanshi, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Nuwa watched from the Netherworld and confronted the news of his victory.
• Hongjun said the era of Heavenly Dao Supremacy had ended and withdrew to Purple Heaven Palace.
• Xuandu turned to the altar and asked the six figures when they would return to their positions.

Fuxi, Shennong, Xuanyuan, Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi took their places on the altar and surged toward Sagedom as the Human Dao awakened. The Human Dao Gate appeared above Chen Capital, and the six prepared to reclaim their rightful status.

• Xuandu called the Three Sovereigns and Three Ancestors to take their places, and Fuxi, Shennong, Xuanyuan, Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi sat upon the altar.
• The six auras resonated with the Human Dao, the Kongtong Seal, and the will of the Human Race, while people in Chen Capital sensed their transformation.
• Tongtian welcomed the rise of six Humanity Sages, Houtu declared the Heaven Earth Human Three Daos Balance achieved, and Hongjun acknowledged that he could no longer suppress the Human Dao.
• Humanity Merit broke the six figures’ Quasi-Saint Peak bottleneck, and their deeds manifested in colored pillars of light that joined the Human Dao’s power.
• A vast Human Dao Gate appeared above the Sky Dome, and Fuxi, Shennong, Xuanyuan, Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi recognized its opening.

Fuxi, Shennong, Xuanyuan, Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi entered the gate of light and became Humanity Sages, bringing the Heaven, Earth, and Human Daos into balance. Xuandu returned the Kongtong Seal to Fuxi and sent the six new sages and the cultivators into seclusion, leaving the Human Race looking to him with faith.

• Xuandu used the Kongtong Seal to summon the six figures, who entered the gate of light and broke through to become Humanity Sages.
• The Human Race knelt to honor the six sages, and Fuxi declared that he had finally returned after hundreds of millions of epochs.
• Xuandu returned the Kongtong Seal to Fuxi, while Tongtian withdrew into Biyou Palace and Houtu acknowledged Xuandu across the distance.
• Xuandu ordered the six sages to consolidate their realms beneath the Martial Dao Heavenly Stele and sent the cultivators back into the Chaos Bead to await the Investiture of the Gods.
• The gate of light closed, and Xuandu told the Human Race to rise as they looked to him with gratitude and faith.

After establishing the Human Dao’s awakening, Xuandu returned to Tongtian and said he would wait for the Investiture of the Gods and Hongjun’s intervention. In the Netherworld, Houtu received Zhen Yuanzi and Nether River, who waited anxiously for the Earth Dao Sage Fruit Position.

• Xuandu announced that the Human Dao had awakened and that the human race had a Saint, and the people of Chen Capital knelt to thank him.
• Xuandu returned to Biyou Palace, where Tongtian praised his deeds and agreed to wait for him to challenge Hongjun.
• Xuandu went to Lingyun Peak and anticipated the coming Investiture of the Gods Tribulation and Hongjun’s next move.
• In the Netherworld, Houtu met with Zhen Yuanzi and Nether River as the awakened Human Dao strengthened the balance among the Three Daos.
• Zhen Yuanzi and Nether River, having witnessed the rise of the Human Dao Sages, waited for the Earth Dao Sage Fruit Position they had long sought.

Houtu told Zhen Yuanzi and Nether River that the Earth Dao Sage positions could now descend, and sent them to connect with the Earth Dao beneath the Samsara Seal. As they prepared to attain the Dao together, they recognized that Xuandu’s plans had made the opportunity possible.

• Zhen Yuanzi asked Houtu when he and Nether River would attain the Dao, and she said the time had come because the Human Dao had awakened and the Three Daos were balancing.
• Houtu judged that Zhen Yuanzi and Nether River had accumulated enough merit, fortune, and foundation, then directed them to seek the Earth Dao beneath the Samsara Seal.
• Zhen Yuanzi and Nether River left Houtu Hall and ascended through the void to stand beneath the Samsara Seal.
• Nether River reflected on how he and Zhen Yuanzi had contended for countless yuanhui before reaching the chance to attain the Dao together.
• Zhen Yuanzi credited Xuandu with bringing the Earth Dao to perfection, freeing Houtu, and awakening the Human Dao, while Nether River recalled Xuandu’s promise to secure him an Earth Dao Sage position.

Beneath the Samsara Seal, Zhen Yuanzi and Nether River each received an Earth Dao Sage Fruit Position and rose from Quasi-Saint Peak to Second Heaven Early Stage. They acknowledged their debt to Xuandu as they looked toward Golden Ao Island.

• Zhen Yuanzi and Nether River meditated together and sensed the awakened Great Earth Origin.
• The Earth Dao Sage Fruit Position descended into Zhen Yuanzi, raising him to Second Heaven Early Stage.
• Another Fruit Position descended into Nether River, also raising him to Second Heaven Early Stage.
• Zhen Yuanzi and Nether River celebrated becoming Sages and credited Xuandu for their advancement.