Chapter Summaries

Hong Yuan defeated the martial world's leaders and discovered Emperor Jiajing's account of the Three-Life Butterfly and the True Martial World. He then considered making Bai Xiuxiu an emperor, while Pei Lingshuang confronted and punished her sister Pei Lingxuan.

• Bai Xiuxiu proclaimed Hong Yuan the Dao Lord of Ten Thousand Tribulations as Dan Fei and the other defeated leaders heard his demand to submit or die.
• Hong Yuan took the Seven Emotions Spirit-Refining Method and Reincarnation Seal, while Dan Fei, Zhu Huang, Xuankong, and Lingming lost most of their cultivation and Zhang Jisheng was spared for his governing ability.
• Hong Yuan read Emperor Jiajing's journal, learning that the Three-Life Butterfly had taken Jiajing in a dream to the True Martial World and that Jiajing later died attempting to shatter the void.
• Hong Yuan asked Pei Lingshuang whether she wanted to become emperor; when she declined, he sent her to fetch Bai Xiuxiu.
• Pei Lingshuang beat Pei Lingxuan until she begged for mercy, then asked Bai Xiuxiu whether she wanted to become emperor.

Hong Yuan witnessed Bai Xiuxiu’s investiture as emperor in the Great Ming world, then returned to his blessed land with new spirit-refining methods. He developed an embryonic Art Possesses a Spirit and tested it by making his tribulation force spread through a clandestine group, though its bestowed will lasted only a day.

• Hong Yuan appeared at the Heaven-Worship Altar, received the crowd’s submission, and touched Bai Xiuxiu’s crown as she was invested as emperor.
• Hong Yuan departed through a heavenly gate, leaving Pei Lingshuang determined to shatter the void and meet him again while Bai Xiuxiu was hailed as emperor.
• Back in his blessed land, Hong Yuan reviewed the Great Ming journey, assessed its gains, and studied its martial methods for uniting body and spirit.
• Hong Yuan manifested a spirit-bearing white tiger while practicing the Tiger-Subduing Sect’s force, reaching an embryonic level of Art Possesses a Spirit.
• Hong Yuan secretly infused a clandestine leader with living tribulation force, which spread to people he met before the man died a day later.

Hong Yuan expanded the Qi-Blood Furnace Method and the Dao Court’s academies while reflecting on his growing influence and the mortality of the women close to him. A year later, he returned to the Longji River with Tao Xiyue, Ou Shuyao, and Xu Qingjing, where people honored the site of his victory.

• Hong Yuan realized that spreading the Qi-Blood Furnace Method could help his tribulation force permeate and connect people across the world, so he urged Li Daoyi to establish academies quickly.
• Hong Yuan spent his twentieth birthday aboard a ship with Ou Shuyao, Tao Xiyue, and Xu Qingjing, and worried that their lives would end while his continued.
• Hong Yuan recalled four void heaven traversals, his improved personal panel, and the academies Li Daoyi had established throughout the realm.
• Hong Yuan returned to the Longji River with the three women and used the Illusion Art to conceal his identity.
• Students sang the Qianyuan Great Dao Song as visitors revered the river where Hong Yuan had defeated his enemies, and Xu Qingjing read an inscription praising his victory.

Xie brought the newly published Tribulation Book to a gathering of Dragon Abyss Academy students, who read its account of the Nether Calamity Era and debated the history of the Yu Emperor and Emperor Taizu of Yin. Hong Yuan visited Yang Lie’s family for his nephew Kang’s first-birthday feast, then shared a farewell drink with his old friends, knowing he would not return.

• Xie arrived late at the academy gathering and presented the students with a copy of the Tribulation Book.
• Gao read aloud the book’s account of the Nether Calamity Era, drawing a crowd and prompting debate over the Yu Emperor and Emperor Taizu of Yin.
• Hong Yuan sailed toward Linjiang Prefecture as Yang Lie celebrated his son Kang’s first birthday with family and friends.
• Hong Yuan arrived at the Yang residence, greeted Yang Erhu, Wu Duxiong, and Yang Lie, and gave Kang a gentle infusion of qi-blood.
• Hong Yuan shared a toast with his old friends, recognized the distance separating them, and resolved not to return.

Zhang Shenxiao and the Dao Court’s allies stopped a Calamity Ash Society attack before Yun Chengzhao’s Grand Sacrifice summoned a response from Yu’s world. Granny Meng revealed that the Dao Lord had allowed the sacrifice, while two travelers from beyond the Mist Sea discovered an inscription saying Ten Thousand Tribulations had been there.

• Yu Yinghua, Feng Qingge, and Mo Yinwu killed Calamity Ash Society agents near the Yang residence, and Zhang Shenxiao said the society’s movements were under the Chief Astrologer Bureau’s watch.
• Hong Yuan rewarded Zhang Shenxiao and the others with permission to request the fourth revolution of the blood-and-qi method.
• Yun Chengzhao and the Calamity Ash Society sacrificed their hearts and twenty-two fragments of the Yu Emperor’s body at Golden Summit Peak, and a voice from the gray mist answered, “I have heard!”
• Feng Nanyan, Jiemie, Pianzhao, and other Dao Court experts confronted the society, but Granny Meng killed the fleeing Evil God Cult leaders and told Yun Chengzhao that the Dao Lord had approved the sacrifice.
• Cloud Wanderer and the man surnamed Shi emerged from the Mist Sea and found an inscription in Great Yu Divine Dynasty script reading, “Journey to Where Heaven and Earth’s Waters End! Ten Thousand Tribulations was here!”

Cloud Wanderer and Shi entered the world beyond the mist and learned of its ties to Heavenly Star Island and the Dao Court. After testing the strength of the Spirit Eagle Gate's leader, they judged the local cultivation path inferior and headed toward the Heavenly Capital to seize control.

• Cloud Wanderer and Shi left the frozen land and discovered that it had once belonged to the same whole as Heavenly Star Island.
• Cloud Wanderer and Shi learned that the Dao Court had unified the world under Myriad Calamities Daoist, and they discussed the Yu Emperor's remains and the threat he posed.
• Cloud Wanderer and Shi disguised themselves and defeated Tie Guiya and Jiao at the Spirit Eagle Gate to assess the world's martial strength.
• Cloud Wanderer and Shi concluded that the world's cultivation arts were inferior to their own and set out for the Heavenly Capital to take the world.

Blood Dove massacred officials in Yongning and found the Qi-Blood Furnace Method, while Bai Yunsheng arrived in the realm seeking the Myriad Calamities Daoist. Elsewhere, Bai Ye seized a mysterious figure emerging from the Mist Sea, and Feng Nanyan attacked Cloud Wanderer and the man surnamed Shi when they infiltrated the Chief Astrologer Bureau.

• Blood Dove killed street thugs and slaughtered the Grandmasters at Yongning Academy, then made Blood Origin Pills from their drained flesh and blood.
• Blood Dove found the Qi-Blood Furnace Method on the academy head and resolved to use it to strengthen himself before confronting the Myriad Calamities Daoist.
• Bai Yunsheng recognized the realm as part of the Qi Origin Ancient Land and flew toward the Heavenly Capital to meet its master.
• Bai Ye spotted a gap in the Mist Sea and caught a slender figure that emerged from it.
• Cloud Wanderer and the man surnamed Shi infiltrated the Chief Astrologer Bureau to take the Yu Emperor's remains, but Granny Meng discovered them.
• The man surnamed Shi attacked, and Feng Nanyan struck him with his Heart Sword technique, beginning a clash of forces.

Feng Nanyan and Granny Meng subdued two strange fighters, while Hong Yuan waited for a powerful visitor from beyond their world. Bai Yunsheng of the Star-Picking Pavilion challenged Hong Yuan to submit, but his first attack failed, and Hong Yuan flicked a finger toward his brow.

• Feng Nanyan fought the man surnamed Shi until Granny Meng intervened, overpowering him and Cloud Wanderer and knocking them unconscious.
• Granny Meng told Feng Nanyan that the strange fighters might have come from beyond the heavens, and Hong Yuan chose to wait for their other guest.
• Bai Yunsheng arrived above the Heavenly Capital, while a jade-crowned young man on the street feared that Bai Yunsheng might take control of the Dao Court and block his access to the Qi-Blood Furnace Method.
• Bai Yunsheng explained that the mist sealing the world would eventually disperse and urged Hong Yuan to serve under the Star-Picking Pavilion.
• Bai Yunsheng attacked Hong Yuan with a restrained palm strike, but Hong Yuan absorbed its force and raised a finger to flick toward Bai Yunsheng's brow.

Hong Yuan defeated Bai Yunsheng, captured Blood Dove, and took in Green Vine Woman as a servant of the Dao Court. From the outsiders, he learned that Heavenly Star Island and the Dao Court World were remnants of the Source World, torn apart in a war with the Great Yu Divine Dynasty three thousand years earlier.

• Hong Yuan shattered Bai Yunsheng’s sword with one finger, struck him down, and collected a drop of his unusual blood.
• Blood Dove considered confronting Bai Yunsheng to protect his chance of learning the Qi-Blood Furnace Method, but Hong Yuan appeared and captured him unnoticed.
• Hong Yuan withdrew Bai Ye’s thought and questioned Green Vine Woman, then assigned her to serve in the Chief Astrologer Bureau.
• Hong Yuan learned that five outsiders, including Bai Yunsheng and Blood Dove, came from Heavenly Star Island and that more might be hiding in the Dao Court World.
• Hong Yuan learned that the Dao Court World and Heavenly Star Island had split from the Source World after its war with the Great Yu Divine Dynasty three thousand years ago.
• Hong Yuan learned that Heavenly Star Island’s cultivation path combined nine ranks of body refinement with refining, culminating in the Human Dao and the status of Qi Refiner.

Hong Yuan studied the body-refining arts of the outsiders, reached perfected first-rank blood exchange, and failed to extract the Star-Picking Pavilion’s true art from Bai Yunsheng’s protected memories. He kept Bai Yunsheng in Dao Court custody and sent Bai Ye to find a path through the Mist Sea; three months later, Bai Ye entered a newly formed vortex.

• Hong Yuan used the outsiders’ cultivation manuals to attain perfected first-rank blood exchange, then compared Bai Yunsheng’s strength and collected some of his golden heart’s blood for research.
• Hong Yuan tried to penetrate Bai Yunsheng’s memories to obtain the Star-Picking Pavilion’s true art, but a Refiner’s protection resisted his spiritual awareness.
• Hong Yuan asked Bai Yunsheng to serve the Dao Court and allowed him to move around under restraint, while Blood Dove remained in the Chief Astrologer Bureau’s laboratory.
• Hong Yuan sent Bai Ye to search the Mist Sea for a route to Heavenly Star Island, and Bai Ye kept watch in the western desert for three months.
• Bai Ye spotted a vortex forming in the mist and plunged into it.

Hong Yuan arrived on Redscale Island and intervened in a battle between the Blood Shadow Sect and a military supply convoy. After revealing his overwhelming strength, he learned that Changlin Commandery had fallen and discovered that Bai Hongfei was Bai Yunsheng’s uncle.

• Hong Yuan traveled through the Void Path and reasoned that Heavenly Star Island was gradually rejoining the other worlds, then resolved to seek Refiner methods by challenging the great powers.
• Hong Yuan arrived on Redscale Island and watched the Blood Shadow Sect ambush a supply convoy until Bai Hongfei and his men intervened.
• Bai Hongfei’s forces defeated the attackers, and he told the wounded commander that Changlin Commandery had fallen.
• Bai Hongfei mistook Hong Yuan for an enemy and attacked him, but Hong Yuan shattered his spear with one finger and forced him to submit.
• Bai Hongfei explained that Pingcang Kingdom had lost another commandery and revealed that Bai Yunsheng was his nephew and a disciple of the Star-Picking Pavilion.

Hong Yuan learned how the Blood Alliance had captured Changlin Commandery and assessed the strength of the factions on Redscale Island. He set out with Bai Hongfei to reclaim the commandery, asking to study White Egret Manor’s martial arts along the way.

• Bai Hongfei told Hong Yuan how Bai Yunsheng’s disappearance had left White Egret Manor vulnerable, leading to the Blood Alliance’s capture of Changlin Commandery and the manor’s destruction.
• Hong Yuan assessed his divided body’s strength and learned about the kingdoms, the Blood Alliance, and the human-dao currents that fueled qi cultivation.
• After the battle, Bai Hongfei identified Black Wind, Wu Lin, and Ghost Elder as key Blood Alliance figures involved in the siege.
• Hong Yuan asked Bai Hongfei if he wanted revenge, then ordered him to lead the way back to Changlin Commandery.
• As they traveled, Hong Yuan asked to examine White Egret Manor’s martial arts, and Bai Hongfei agreed; they then saw the ruined commandery seat.

Hong Yuan and Bai Hongfei entered Changlin Commandery, now held by the Blood Alliance, and found the masters who had driven Bai Hongfei away. Hong Yuan subdued them with a single finger and left them alive because they could still be useful.

• Hong Yuan carried Bai Hongfei over Changlin Commandery's walls before Li Qing could stop them, prompting Li Qing to sound the war drums.
• Hong Yuan used his spiritual awareness and Other-Force Net to locate a residence, then dropped Bai Hongfei into its courtyard.
• Bai Hongfei clashed with the Ghost Elder and Wu Lin, who accused him of returning after escaping them before.
• The Ghost Elder, Wu Lin, and the other martial artists noticed Hong Yuan hovering overhead and tried to confront him.
• Hong Yuan's single-finger strike immobilized and hurled the gathered masters through the residence, leaving them weakened but alive.

Hong Yuan routed the Blood Alliance in Changlin Commandery, gathered information about the Celestial Star Sea, and rejected a post in the Bright Mirror Office. Meanwhile, a battle erupted in Wenshan Commandery, where Guo Changming confronted a mysterious first-rank Blood Alliance fighter.

• Hong Yuan left Bai Hongfei to deal with the captured Blood Alliance experts and agreed to release Bai Hongfei's imprisoned friends only if they repaid him.
• Hong Yuan read the Sky Star Gazetteer and learned about the Celestial Star Sea's regions, major powers, and the influential Infinite Devil Palace.
• Bai Hongfei extracted martial manuals from the captives and reported that the Bright Mirror Office had sent envoys to meet Hong Yuan.
• Hong Yuan rejected the offer to become Chief Mirror Envoy but said he would visit Li Qingqiu to seek pointers.
• Mirror Six and Mirror Fifteen departed to report Hong Yuan's refusal, while Mirror Six also set out to investigate Blood Alliance forces gathering in Wenshan Commandery.
• Guo Changming killed several Blood Alliance fighters and challenged a concealed first-rank expert who attacked him with a curved saber.

Black Wind revealed himself as a Human Dao Grandmaster after killing Wu Changming, then went to Changlin Commandery to hunt the outsider who had defeated the Blood Alliance. He attacked Hong Yuan, but Hong Yuan shattered the apparent wound and countered with a devastating palm strike.

• Black Wind killed Wu Changming with his Bloodfiend Demon Saber and revealed that he led the Infinite Devil Palace's Baleful Division.
• Black Wind and the man surnamed Li discussed luring out Li Qingqiu and learned that an unknown outsider had defeated the Blood Alliance in Changlin Commandery.
• Black Wind decided to avenge the Black Wind Bandits and set out for Changlin Commandery to find the outsider.
• Hong Yuan sensed Black Wind's approach and waited for him on the city wall.
• Black Wind's Humanity Qi cage failed to restrain Hong Yuan, who recognized the energy and struck back.
• Black Wind stabbed Hong Yuan from behind, but Hong Yuan's body shattered like a mirror and a powerful palm strike descended on Black Wind.

Hong Yuan fought Black Wind and a mysterious man surnamed Li, defeating both Qi Refiners and taking them captive. After leaving Bai Hongfei to handle Changlin Commandery, Hong Yuan returned to his residence and began probing Black Wind’s sea of consciousness.

• Black Wind attacked Hong Yuan, while the man surnamed Li arrived and struck from behind with a blood arrow.
• Black Wind and Li joined forces against Hong Yuan, who combined the power of his nine spirit apertures to strengthen his astral qi.
• Hong Yuan unleashed a devastating attack that overwhelmed both opponents and left them unconscious.
• Hong Yuan appeared on a rooftop carrying Black Wind and Li, then ordered Bai Hongfei to handle the commandery’s aftermath.
• Hong Yuan returned to his residence, put the captives in a secluded room, and sent his consciousness into Black Wind’s sea of consciousness.

After uncovering the Infinite Devil Palace’s role in Redscale Island’s unrest, Hong Yuan met Li Qingqiu and Li Cang, who sought his help against the Devil Palace. He agreed to join them in exchange for access to cultivation manuals, then invited them to his residence.

• News spread that the Blood Alliance had destroyed the Eastern Ning Kingdom, while Hong Yuan learned that the Infinite Devil Palace was orchestrating the island’s turmoil.
• Hong Yuan extracted cultivation methods and secrets from Black Wind and Li Wuhen, discovered their identities as Heavenly Demon Generals, and considered how to advance his own cultivation.
• Hong Yuan encountered Li Qingqiu and Li Cang at a tavern, learned they had come to seek him, and confirmed that the two captured Refiners had died.
• Li Qingqiu invited Hong Yuan to join forces against the Devil Palace, and Li Cang offered access to the Pingcang Kingdom’s secret teachings.
• Hong Yuan agreed to cooperate after Li Qingqiu offered him the Wondrous Classic of Arms and Armor, then invited both men to his residence.

Hong Yuan studied the Li Family’s secret techniques before joining the rulers and hidden experts of the three kingdoms to plan a campaign against the Blood Alliance and the Infinite Devil Palace. The chapter ended with the Heavenly Baleful Demon King challenging Pingcang to a battle at Red Dragon Ridge, drawing martial artists from across Redscale Island.

• Hong Yuan studied the Li Family’s martial arts and the Wondrous Classic of Arms and Armor in the secret archive.
• Li Cang brought Hong Yuan to a gathering where the Count of Pingcang introduced Li Hong, Lei Heng, Han Songshi, and Yan Shanyue.
• Lei Heng confirmed that the Heavenly Baleful Demon King had not reached the third stage of the Human Dao, while Li Qingqiu estimated the Devil Palace had sent no more than three other first-stage Qi Refiners to Redscale Island.
• Han Songshi and Li Hong proposed attacking the Blood Alliance in Eastern Ning to force Heavenly Baleful to intervene, and the group began planning their operation.
• Li Cang delivered Heavenly Baleful’s challenge to fight Pingcang at Red Dragon Ridge in three days.
• News of the challenge spread across Redscale Island, and martial artists flocked to Red Dragon Ridge.

At Red Dragon Ridge, the Heavenly Baleful Demon King confronted the gathered Refiners and revealed that he had killed the Duke of Red Dawn. Hong Yuan arrived and rejected Heavenly Baleful’s offer to join the Infinite Devil Palace, then attacked him.

• Tang Nu and Old Zhou watched the gathered factions prepare for Heavenly Baleful’s challenge to the Pingcang Kingdom.
• Han Songshi, Lei Heng, Li Hong, and Yan Shanyue attacked Heavenly Baleful as he emerged from his destroyed carriage.
• Heavenly Baleful revealed the Duke of Red Dawn’s severed head, and Yan Shanyue vowed to fight alongside her brother before turning his remains into energy.
• Hong Yuan arrived, refused Heavenly Baleful’s invitation to join the Infinite Devil Palace, and launched three Blood Shadow Clone attacks.
• Heavenly Baleful dispelled the clones and met Hong Yuan’s descending palm with his own, driving himself into the ground as the earth heaved around them.

Hong Yuan and the five Qi Refiners fought the Heavenly Baleful Demon King at Red Dragon Ridge, but the Demon King revealed he had reached the third stage of the Human Dao and overwhelmed them. As he attacked Li Qingqiu, an unseen force seized him, and its owner intervened to protect Li Qingqiu.

• Hong Yuan survived the Heavenly Baleful Demon King's slashes while Li Qingqiu bound the Demon King and joined Li Hong, Han Songshi, Lei Heng, and Yan Shanyue in a killing formation.
• The Heavenly Baleful Demon King broke the formation with Fivefold Annihilation Demon Qi and revealed he had advanced to the third stage of the Human Dao.
• The Demon King killed Lei Heng, absorbed his heart's energy, shattered Han Songshi's sword, and wounded him as the others fled.
• The Demon King trapped Li Qingqiu, Yan Shanyue, Li Hong, and Han Songshi with a powerful force and charged at Li Qingqiu.
• An unseen force contracted around the Demon King and restrained him as its owner declared he would not let him kill Li Qingqiu.