Chapter Summaries

Zhu Yu encountered a Dao Fruit Realm envoy and a group of plague-ridden Poison Corpses, then collected a sample of Plague Qi and advanced his Skin Tempering. Meanwhile, Lu Wanrong and two others received Divine Seeds at Cloud Mountain Stronghold, where Dong Cheng'en revealed that Outworlders could gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

• Special Envoy Mei questioned Zhu Yu about why Helmsman Wu had arranged for him to stay in the mountains, then left without learning the reason.
• Zhu Yu absorbed Plague Qi from a crowd of Poison Corpses, gave the Ghosts some rabbits, and took an arm from one of the plague carriers for study.
• Zhu Yu sealed the arm in a stone box, gave the deer to the old couple to prepare, and paid Old Man Li fifty taels to buy refined rice.
• Zhu Yu completed Skin Tempering, reaching 99% progress, and began working toward Flesh Refining.
• At Cloud Mountain Stronghold, Lu Wanrong received the Starving talent, while the other two received Tree Climbing and Water Entering.
• Dong Cheng'en told White Tofu that the Manager valued the Outworlders because they could gather spiritual energy from heaven and earth.

The Four Ghosts of Min Mountain poisoned Cloud Mountain Stronghold, and Yang Zhi identified them as the threat while Meng Qi and Lady Shi searched for a way to protect the bandits. Lu Wanrong began investigating the plague, while Zhu Yu entered the stronghold and realized the Four Ghosts were connected to Wu Yong’s group.

• Earth Ghost sent Poison Corpses plunging from the cliffs onto Cloud Mountain Stronghold, and the falling bodies alerted the patrols to an attack.
• Yang Zhi identified the Four Ghosts of Min Mountain as poison experts, and Meng Qi and Lady Shi discovered that poison had already entered their bodies.
• Yang Zhi explained that Earth Ghost’s plague poison was infecting the stronghold, and several patrol bandits soon collapsed with symptoms.
• Lady Shi proposed asking Mi Ya'er for help, while Yang Zhi urged the leaders to lure out the Four Ghosts by bringing out the Outworlders; Meng Qi and Lady Shi agreed.
• Lu Wanrong sensed the plague in the square and began examining the sick bandits, while Dong Cheng'en and White Tofu watched over her.
• Zhu Yu entered Cloud Mountain Stronghold, sensed the Plague Qi, and realized the poisoners were connected to Wu Yong before heading toward a large courtyard.

Zhu Yu escaped Cloud Mountain Stronghold with a Variegated Tiger as the Great Moon Cataclysm filled the world with strange spiritual energy that could awaken Divine Seeds and empower God Words. As bandits, Outworlders, and the Four Ghosts reacted to the change, Wind Ghost stole an Outworlder and escaped Meng Qi’s attack.

• Zhu Yu freed the Variegated Tiger from its steel Beast Pen and fled Cloud Mountain Stronghold, then injured Water Ghost with his Divine Sense when Water Ghost confronted him.
• The Great Moon flooded the area with spiritual energy, and Zhu Yu used it to awaken the Variegated Tiger’s Divine Seed and strengthen its body at the cost of one year of lifespan.
• Earth Ghost, Fire Ghost, and Water Ghost decided to report Zhu Yu to Special Envoy Mei and investigate the Great Moon Cataclysm.
• Lu Wanrong and the other Outworlders absorbed the new spiritual energy, while Lady Shi consumed the gathered Human Hope through her God Words and carried two Outworlders away.
• Earth Ghost connected the Cataclysm to the Outworlders and fired a signal; Wind Ghost then stole an Outworlder from Meng Qi, escaped with the God Word Wind Walk, and left Meng Qi furiously smashing the ground.

Lady Shi gathered spiritual energy to absorb Human Hope, while the Four Ghosts plotted against Cloud Mountain Stronghold and Special Envoy Mei carried off an Outworlder. Zhu Yu returned to the ruined village with a Variegated Tiger, used its blood in medicine to strengthen himself, and was left facing Old Man Li and his family kneeling before him.

• Lady Shi directed Lu Wanrong and four Yinming cultivators to gather spiritual energy, absorbed the Human Hope they collected, and ordered Lu Wanrong to watch the others.
• The Four Ghosts discussed Meng Qi’s strength and their poisoned victims before Special Envoy Mei arrived, took their Outworlder, and gave them three days to obtain another.
• Zhu Yu returned to the ruined village with a Variegated Tiger, startling Old Man Li, his wife, and Young Master Wu.
• Zhu Yu drew a bowl of blood from the Variegated Tiger and told Old Man Li’s family to add it to his medicine.
• Zhu Yu tempered his flesh, drank the tiger-blood medicine, and ate a large meal before Old Man Li and his family knelt before him.

Zhu Yu agreed to teach Li Gousheng and discovered that the changing Great Moon brought denser spiritual energy to Yi's Spirit Ruins. He helped Li Gousheng condense a Divine Seed and sensed that doing so had made his own seed more complete.

• Zhu Yu read Old Man Li and Li Gousheng's thoughts, then agreed to teach Li Gousheng despite Old Man Li's panicked pleas for mercy.
• Zhu Yu's surging emotions caused the Variegated Tiger to weaken before he stopped his Dao Foundation to avoid alerting the will of Yi's Spirit Ruins.
• Zhu Yu waited until midnight, when the Great Moon grew larger and brighter across the Nine Provinces and upheaval began among its powerful factions.
• Zhu Yu gathered the denser spiritual energy and passed it through his own Divine Seed before sending it into Li Gousheng.
• Zhu Yu watched an illusory Divine Seed form in Li Gousheng's heart and sensed he could reclaim it, while his own Divine Seed seemed to grow more complete.

Zhu Yu discovered that his emerging God Word could create Seeds of Human Desire and control those who received them, then began cultivating to awaken another seed. Meanwhile, Yang Zhi pursued the Five Ghosts at Cloud Stronghold Mountain, but Water Ghost escaped and Meng Qi left with one of the captured Outworlders.

• Zhu Yu examined Li Gousheng, recruited him into the Heavenly Principle Sect, and used Soul Snatching to pass him martial arts methods and medicinal formulas.
• Zhu Yu realized that his God Word could create Divine Seeds that made others obey him and let their desires nourish the Heavenly Principle, then began cultivating.
• Li Gousheng returned to the kitchen and fell asleep, while Old Man Li decided that Young Master Wu must have forbidden him from talking about what he had learned.
• Yang Zhi pursued a fleeing figure at Cloud Stronghold Mountain, but Water Ghost revealed himself, deflected Yang Zhi's attack, and escaped into the darkness.
• Yang Zhi found Meng Qi treating an Outworlder who had lost half his body; Meng Qi took the survivor away, and Yang Zhi vowed that the Five Ghosts would pay if he caught them.

The Four Ghosts fled after Fire Ghost was gravely wounded, while Special Envoy Mei discovered that Cloud Mountain Stronghold concealed a presence in the Martial God Realm and was killed by a sword light. Later, Zhu Yu subdued the Four Ghosts with Soul Summoning, planted Seeds of Desire in them, and absorbed the Human Hope stored in their stolen treasure.

• Earth Ghost convinced Fire Ghost, Wind Ghost, and Water Ghost to stop pursuing the stronghold and hide from Special Envoy Mei using scent-masking powder made from beast droppings and herbs.
• Seven days later, Special Envoy Mei sensed the Martial God Realm presence within Cloud Mountain Stronghold, fled in his paper sedan, and was killed along with the four Black-Haired Rats by a miniature sword light.
• A Grey-Haired Wild Donkey carrying an unresponsive man recognized the presence in the mountains as a real dragon and ran away.
• Earth Ghost, Fire Ghost, Wind Ghost, and Water Ghost entered Li Gousheng’s courtyard to seize him and the Divine Seed-bearing Variegated Tiger, but Zhu Yu asked them to join the Heavenly Principle Sect.
• Zhu Yu used Soul Summoning to incapacitate the Four Ghosts and the Yinming Mansion disciple, then planted Seeds of Desire in the four ghosts, manifesting their God Words.
• Zhu Yu opened the chest of gold, silver, and jade artifacts and absorbed the Human Hope within it.

After advancing to God Word, Zhu Yu discovered that Heavenly Principle let him borrow the God Word abilities of those marked by his Seed of Desire. He left the village with the Variegated Tiger and made the Four Ghosts his protectors, then asked them about the organization they had joined.

• Zhu Yu manifested the God Word Heavenly Principle and learned he could borrow the abilities of people marked by his Seed of Desire, including Frying in Flaming Oil and Earth Entry.
• Zhu Yu stored the remaining valuables in his Dao Foundation and left the courtyard with the Variegated Tiger as Li Gousheng watched.
• Old Man Li found a silver cake in the secret chamber, collapsed, and was revived by Li Gousheng, who realized his father was near death.
• The old woman in the kitchen fell to the ground and stopped moving.
• Zhu Yu encountered the Four Ghosts of Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water with the Yinming cultivators on the road and named them the four great protectors of the Heavenly Principle Sect.
• Zhu Yu ordered the Four Ghosts to tell him about the organization they had joined.

Zhu Yu led the Four Ghosts into Dangyang County to meet Luo Sect members, explaining that the Heavenly Principle Sect shared the White Lotus Sect’s roots but claimed its mission was to save the people rather than rebel. There, he encountered Xiao Hong, a Luo Sect Scripture Head, subdued him with Soul Summoning, and planted a Seed in him.

• Zhu Yu told the Four Ghosts that the Heavenly Principle Sect was a White Lotus Sect branch devoted to the Unborn Venerable Mother and the Vacuum Other-Hometown, then set out to find Luo Sect members in Dangyang County.
• Zhu Yu and the Four Ghosts entered Dangyang County, where Xiao Hong explained that the county had already been occupied.
• Earth Ghost identified Xiao Hong as the Luo Sect’s Scripture Head and said he and the Account Head had manifested God Word.
• Xiao Hong sensed an Outworlder among the group, but Zhu Yu used Soul Summoning to subdue him in an instant.
• Zhu Yu planted a Seed in Xiao Hong, whose God Word was [Traceless] and whose Desire to Survive leaned toward evade.

Zhu Yu strengthened Xiao Hong with a Divine Seed, then led the Four Ghosts and a captive Yinming Mansion disciple toward Mizhi Prefecture. He ordered the Four Ghosts to spread the Unborn Venerable Mother's influence among the suffering people there.

• Zhu Yu refused to kill Xiao Hong, empowered his God Word with a Divine Seed, and invited him to seek greater strength; Xiao Hong returned to the Luo Sect base and sent a carrier pigeon.
• Zhu Yu rebuked Earth Ghost for suggesting they kill Xiao Hong and assigned a junior disciple's Split Spirit to provide cultivation for the Four Ghosts.
• Zhu Yu set out with the Four Ghosts and the silent Yinming Mansion disciple, riding a Variegated Tiger toward his chosen destination.
• At Cloud Mountain Stronghold, the Second and Fourth Leaders nearly fought after news about the Great Moon and the Outworlder spread, and the bandits later departed for Dangyang County.
• Zhu Yu reached Qinghe County in Mizhi Prefecture, saw its abandoned farmland and deserted homes, and placed ten Seeds of Desire in each of the Four Ghosts before sending them to spread the Unborn Venerable Mother's radiance.

Zhu Yu built the Heavenly Principle Sect in Mizhi Prefecture by aiding survivors and teaching Body Refining, while he waited for wider changes. Back in the Immortal Grave Spirit Ruins, he set aside a risky Mass Grave cultivation method, strengthened two Green-Backed Ape Corpse Puppets, and checked on Feng.

• The Four Ghosts agreed to Zhu Yu’s plans and scattered after he warned that the Seed of Desire could determine life and death but could not control people’s hearts.
• Zhu Yu and the Four Ghosts traveled through rebel-ravaged areas, recruiting survivors into the Heavenly Principle Sect, giving them aid, and teaching Body Refining methods.
• The Heavenly Principle Sect gained renown for helping ordinary people, and its followers’ saying that the Venerable Mother cherished all people spread beyond Mizhi Prefecture.
• Zhu Yu realized that cultivating the Mass Grave Dharma Seed required a ritual and one hundred thousand Contribution Points, so he postponed it while his Dao Foundation remained in the Yi Spirit Ruins.
• Zhu Yu found that two Green-Backed Ape Corpse Puppets had begun absorbing Armor-Casting Spirit Qi and redirected more of it toward them, giving them a chance to become Iron-Armored Corpses.
• Zhu Yu opened the jade jar and saw that Feng had awakened.

As the Storm Nest and Huasha Fishmen began an all-out war, Zhu Yu cultivated in the Forest of Lin and successfully advanced to the second stage. He tested the power of his new Storm Thunder Halberd and realized it could easily destroy his former self.

• Zhu Yu recalled the Rings controlling the three young Six-Armed Nagas, who were nearing the breakthrough needed to become Storm Thunder Nagas.
• Gregor Storm Helstota deployed the Storm Nest’s forces to the Hel Trench, where they clashed with Roland Helstota’s Nagas and the Huasha Fishmen.
• The Huasha Fishmen revealed growing ranks of elite and leader-class fighters, including a second-order Huasha Merman King, and the two powers began an all-out war in the fifty-seventh Year of Miracles.
• Zhu Yu cultivated inside the Forest of Lin as a wind-and-thunder tornado formed around him and drew in spiritual energy.
• Zhu Yu reached the second stage, summoned a powerful Storm Thunder Halberd, and marveled at his advancement.

Zhu Yu completed her breakthrough to early second-order, gaining a Storm Thunder Naga bloodline, an Elemental Spirit Body, and a new Innate Divine Ability. After considering the threat posed by Otto Goebel and wondering whether to warn Gregor and Roland, she returned toward the Storm Nest with Yali.

• Zhu Yu examined her renewed status and found that her lifespan, physique, and cultivation had increased after advancing to second-order.
• Zhu Yu realized that her Elemental Spirit Body and Storm Thunder Divine Ability let her body embody and gather wind and thunder Spiritual Power.
• Zhu Yu suspected that Otto Goebel possessed Divine Abilities tied to reproduction and population, and considered urging Gregor and Roland to avoid confronting him.
• Zhu Yu sensed the blurry outline of an Innate Divine Ability that was still being nurtured but could not identify it.
• Yali entered and celebrated Zhu Yu's breakthrough, then helped her dress in royal clothing before Zhu Yu set off for the Storm Nest.

Long Yan gathered powerful allies to retrieve a piece of Naga Bone from the Storm Nest while Zhu Yu joined the defense against the Huasha Fisher. After old Gregor set out to attack Otto Goebel, Zhu Yu was left restrained with an ancient box whose purpose was unknown.

• Long Yan persuaded the Sword Appraisal Pavilion group to enter the Storm Nest and retrieve a piece of Naga Bone in exchange for Spirit Ruins Origin.
• Zhu Yu chose to join the battle at the Hel Trench, sent Yali and the attendants back to the Forest of Lin, and warned them to prepare to leave the Eternal Falling Sea.
• Zhu Yu arrived at the Storm Nest’s front lines and met old Gregor, Roland, and the other clan chiefs in a fortress hall.
• Wall reported that Otto Goebel was likely hiding in a Cave Abyss beyond the Hel Trench, and old Gregor led the chiefs to attack him.
• Old Gregor stopped Zhu Yu from following and left an ancient box with her, bearing the carving of a horned serpent biting its own tail.

Zhu Yu escaped the Hel Trench after unleashing Storm Thunder against the Huasha Mermen, then met a mysterious white-haired man in a sea abyss and received Spirit Ruins Origins and a rusted Bronze Box. Back in the Immortal Grave Spirit Ruins, Zhu Yu blocked nearly a hundred hidden marks and learned the man had been a Golden Core True Lord who had survived for ten million years.

• Old Gregor left Zhu Yu the Helstota Family’s Third-Order Naga Horn and told him to flee if his grandfather and elder brother did not return.
• Zhu Yu transformed into Storm Thunder and killed nearly a million Huasha Mermen before two Huasha Merman Kings rallied the horde and he withdrew.
• Zhu Yu followed a bloodline resonance into a sea abyss, where he found Old Gregor, little Roland, and the chieftains frozen beside a white-haired man.
• The white-haired man gave Zhu Yu tea containing twenty Spirit Ruins Origins, questioned him about the Heavenly Dao Sect, and presented him with a rust-covered Bronze Box.
• Zhu Yu returned to the Immortal Grave Spirit Ruins, blocked nearly a hundred unfamiliar marks, and learned the white-haired man had been a Golden Core True Lord preserved for ten million years.

Zhu Yu learned that his fellow disciples’ Split Spirits were in danger and arranged for Wind Ghost and Fang Yuan to retrieve Liang Kuan’s Split Spirit, Zhang Dadan, from the Ma Family Army. Meanwhile, the Heavenly Principle Sect continued to grow under Zhu Yu’s leadership, and he left to visit the People-Soothing Guard’s training grounds.

• Zhu Yu heard that Xiang Sui, Bai Meng, and Liang Kuan’s Split Spirits had been badly hurt, then offered to trade for Liang Kuan’s Split Spirit, Zhang Dadan.
• Zhu Yu learned that Zhang Dadan was with the Ma Family Army in Mizhi Prefecture and ordered Wind Ghost and Fang Yuan to retrieve him, by force if necessary.
• Zhu Yu reflected on the Four Ghosts’ work building the Heavenly Principle Sect, while Wind Ghost’s ambitions for the sect grew.
• Zhu Yu walked through Baiya County, greeted the people who recognized him, and visited the People-Soothing Guard’s training plaza.
• Zhu Yu instructed Li Yu to offer trade training to recruits who were progressing too slowly, then rode Little Yellow toward Little Green Mountain.

Zhu Yu inspected the excavation at Little Green Mountain and used a handleless flying dagger to carve through the mountain far faster than Zhong Li’s workers could. After clearing the hill, he prepared to test the array beneath it, leaving the outcome uncertain.

• Zhong Li told Zhu Yu that the trenches were complete but breaking through the hard rock would take more than half a month.
• Zhu Yu revealed his strength by moving instantly to a cave entrance, then used Divine Sense to examine the Array Patterns inside Little Green Mountain.
• Zhu Yu used a handleless flying dagger, empowered by Blood Qi, to cut through the rock and remove stone strips while Zhong Li organized rebel bandits to carry them out.
• By evening, Zhu Yu emerged from a round opening at the hilltop and sent the Holy Guards and rebel bandits down the mountain.
• Zhu Yu looked toward the Great Moon and prepared to find out whether his plan would succeed.

Zhu Yu activated a Spirit Gathering Array on Little Green Mountain and gave Zhong Li a Circulatory Aperture Map to help him cultivate. Meanwhile, Wind Ghost, Fang Yuan, and the Outworlder reached a fortified city gate.

• Zhu Yu gathered Ling over Little Green Mountain and activated the Spirit Gathering Array with the divine weapon Willow Leaf as its suppressing object.
• Zhong Li climbed the mountain, where Zhu Yu gave him a stone tablet showing the Circulatory Aperture Map and told him to use the abundant Ling to open Apertures.
• Zhong Li manifested the God Word [Weapon Mastery] and absorbed the dense Human Hope as it began shifting toward ink-green.
• Zhu Yu rode the Variegated Tiger back toward Baiya County while Wind Ghost, Fang Yuan, and the middle-aged Outworlder approached a fortified city.
• Fang Yuan suggested sending a calling card or hiding the Outworlder, but the group reached the gate and was challenged by a guard.

Immortal Liu arrived at the Ma Family City under the Green Envoy’s orders to find the Heavenly Principle Sect’s Cult Leader, and Wind Ghost fled with Fang Yuan and a Yinming Mansion disciple when she confronted him. Wind Ghost activated the Mark in his heart during the chase, while Zhu Yu sensed it from Ya County and continued opening an Aperture, declaring that it was time to break through.

• Immortal Liu told Ma Yingxiong that the Green Envoy wanted the Ma Family to find the Heavenly Principle Sect’s Cult Leader.
• Wind Ghost arrived at the manor and recognized Immortal Liu, who said the Green Envoy wanted to meet the Cult Leader.
• Immortal Liu confronted Wind Ghost and demanded that he come with her, but Wind Ghost grabbed Fang Yuan and a Yinming Mansion disciple and fled.
• Immortal Liu chased Wind Ghost through the city as Ma Yingwu, Ma Yingqiong, and the Little Daoist Nun followed.
• Wind Ghost activated the Mark in his heart while racing toward the city wall, and Zhu Yu sensed it in Ya County but continued opening an Aperture.
• Zhu Yu finished opening an Aperture and said it was time to break through.

Zhu Yu broke through to the Dao Fruit Realm and formed a Martial Dao Golden Body, then set out with Little Yellow to pursue Wind Ghost. Wind Ghost struggled to evade Immortal Liu, who was following him toward the Heavenly Principle Sect’s base, and eventually reached a hill with Fang Yuan.

• Zhu Yu refined his Blood Qi into Blood Qi True Essence and formed a golden thread within his Divine Seed, transforming his body as lightning struck his courtyard.
• Li Yu and the other People-Soothing Guard leaders recognized Zhu Yu’s breakthrough and glimpsed his golden body as the guardian beast carried him away.
• Riding Little Yellow toward Ma Family City, Zhu Yu sensed his enhanced abilities and suspected someone was using Wind Ghost as bait.
• Zhu Yu used [Heavenly Principle] and several God Words to conceal himself and Little Yellow as they pursued Wind Ghost.
• Wind Ghost burned his God Word Origin to escape Immortal Liu, while Fang Yuan remained unable to hide them from her.
• Wind Ghost eventually brought Fang Yuan beneath a hill.