Chapter Summaries

Fang Wuchen prepared the Fang Family to join a war in Shu Land, but Ancestor Wujiu’s death interrupted his plans as the Corpse Yin Sect launched an attack. Meanwhile, Fang Qing entered Great Treasury Temple’s scripture repository, uncovered clues about Akasagarbha Bodhisattva’s hidden identity, and began plotting to use Suqing against him.

• Fang Wuchen told Fang Daoling and the Fang Family that they would mobilize for war, and Fang Daoling agreed to put the clan’s forces at his disposal.
• A cultivator reported that Ancestor Wujiu had died, leaving Fang Wuchen shaken.
• Fang Qing, disguised as Sangji, arrived at Great Treasury Temple and learned that Akasagarbha Bodhisattva’s image and true name had been concealed.
• Fang Qing read Great Treasury Temple’s scriptures, found that its many works shared a small number of Divine Abilities, and concluded that Suqing could help him strike at Wood Virtue’s man.
• Fang Wuchen went to Deathless Temple to seek an alliance, but Empty Peacock Tara announced that the Corpse Yin Sect had crossed the Ten Thousand Great Mountains and destroyed two Dao Foundation forces.
• Moonlight White Tara called for the White Clan to be notified and urged Fang Wuchen to unite with them against the attackers.

Fang Qing learned how Great Treasury Temple’s cultivators pursued unorthodox paths, then left to study scriptures at Great Black Heaven Temple while Corpse Yin Sect attacked Xituo Commandery. White Bone Way’s defenders struggled to hold their ground, and Fang Wuchen and Xu Hei prepared for the possibility that the battle would escalate.

• Fang Qing asked Shoucangxuan how Great Treasury Temple cultivators advanced beyond mid-stage Purple Mansion, and learned that their unorthodox paths could lead to Buddhist Child status but blocked their prospects of seeking the Dao.
• Fang Qing sensed that Corpse Yin Sect was attacking Xituo Commandery, but continued toward Great Black Heaven Temple, trusting White Bone Way to retreat into the Esoteric Treasury if necessary.
• The Sect Master of Corpse Yin moved mountains from the Southern Border to reshape Xituo Commandery, while seven Purple Mansion combatants struggled to defend the region against Corpse Yin Sect’s forces.
• Fang Wuchen worried that the defenders could not withstand the Sect Master of Corpse Yin and considered advancing to mid-stage Purple Mansion, but lacked the spirit items needed to cultivate his Divine Ability quickly.
• Xu Hei managed the army’s supplies and prepared to use his strength as a Great True Person to hold off the Sect Master of Corpse Yin if the mandala formation came under attack.

Fang Daoling and Hu Yunshu defeated a Corpse Yin Sect ambusher on the battlefield, while Fang Wuchen and the White Bone Way struggled against the sect’s Purple Mansion True Persons in the Great Void. After Bai Ziye and Liu Junyan wounded True Person Lie Kou, the Corpse Yin Sect’s Purple Mansion consummation Sect Master intervened and drove Bai Ziye back.

• Fang Daoling and Hu Yunshu joined forces to kill a Corpse Yin Sect cultivator disguised among the copper-armored corpses, then claimed his armor and Earth Virtue treasure pearl.
• Hu Yunshu estimated that their military merit and spoils could buy a Winnowing Basket Water pill, and Fang Daoling agreed to try it when they returned.
• Fang Wuchen used his Origin-Refining Cauldron to unleash stored water and fire against True Person Lie Feng while the White Bone Way’s defenders struggled to hold back the Corpse Yin Sect’s four Purple Mansion True Persons.
• True Person Lie Kou broke free of Liu Junyan’s Central Yellow Diagram and attacked him, but Bai Ziye ambushed Lie Kou with the Tiger Demon Secret Incantation as Liu Junyan struck him with Milky River Wood-Edict Mystic Radiance.
• Bai Ziye and Liu Junyan wounded Lie Kou’s Divine Ability, but the Sect Master of Corpse Yin intervened, knocked Bai Ziye back, and brought Lie Kou to his side.

Fang Qing empowered Xu Hei with Lou Metal Divine Abilities and took control of him to confront the Corpse Yin Sect’s Sect Master in the Great Void. Their battle began with Fang Qing’s sword strike, which wounded the Sect Master but left his fate unresolved.

• Fang Qing withdrew his attention from Sangji and bestowed Divine Abilities on Xu Hei, choosing the Lou Metal lineage for him.
• Xu Hei killed a Corpse Yin Sect True Disciple, then Fang Qing took control of his body and entered the Great Void as a masked Great Sword Immortal.
• The Corpse Yin Sect’s Sect Master recognized Fang Qing as a possible Wuyue Sword Pavilion cultivator and was drawn into the Sunset Sword Mound realm created by Mutual Slaughter.
• Fang Qing revealed the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Sword and struck the Sect Master with a powerful sword slash.
• The Sect Master retreated a hundred steps with a deep wound across his face, while Maiden Earth radiance suppressed the wound’s strange, grasping black hands.

Fang Qing killed the Sect Master of Corpse Yin, escaped through the Great Void, and encountered True Person Suqing, who wanted help refining Heaven-One Generates Water. He returned to Deathless Temple and revealed that the Corpse Yin Sect’s leader had been slain.

• Fang Qing defeated and killed the Sect Master of Corpse Yin, then took his Yin head and a pitch-black jade stone.
• Fang Wuchen, Bai Ziye, and the others withdrew through the Great Void while Fang Qing remained behind.
• Fang Qing encountered True Person Suqing, who planned to travel to the Esoteric Treasury and refine her Heaven-One Generates Water.
• Fang Qing offered to cooperate as a master alchemist and left Suqing a communication token.
• Fang Qing returned to Deathless Temple and told the gathered Dumu and True Persons that the Sect Master of Corpse Yin had lost his head.

Fang Wuchen brought his family to the Secret Treasury Domain to escape the fighting in Xituo Commandery, where he reunited with Suqing. Fang Qing then refined five Great Chun Pills for Suqing, but drove her out when she offered him two as payment.

• Fang Qing told Bai Ziye and the Taras that the conflict with the Corpse Yin Sect would remain at the Purple Mansion level, and they prepared to move Dao Foundation clans into the Esoteric Treasury if the situation worsened.
• Fang Qing told Fang Wuchen that Suqing was safe and heading for the Esoteric Treasury.
• Fang Wuchen arrived at Horse-Head Vajra Temple with Hu Yunshu and several descendants, intending to establish a branch of his family there.
• Fang Wuchen reunited with Suqing, who planned to refine pills at Horse-Head Vajra Temple.
• Fang Qing spent forty-nine days refining Suqing’s ingredients and produced five Great Chun Pills.
• Suqing offered Fang Qing two pills as payment, but he refused and drove her out with all five pills.

Fang Qing reflected on how refining the Great Chun Pill had strengthened his cultivation, then Old Daoist Sanmu completed his fourth Divine Ability and discovered a method for seeking the Golden Core Great Dao. Great True Person Demon Moon confronted him, and he escaped her attack only by abandoning a severed hand.

• Fang Qing returned to the pill chamber and considered how refining the Great Chun Pill had refined Xu Hei's Dao Foundation and benefited his own cultivation.
• Old Daoist Sanmu completed Gathering Flourishing Shadows on a Desolate Island and realized the pills he had received had accelerated his progress through Human Pill blood-qi.
• Old Daoist Sanmu combined the Essentials of the Fourfold Azure Willow Art with the Gold-Seeking Method and derived the Lesser Yin Comet Moon Method for seeking the Golden Core Great Dao.
• Great True Person Demon Moon attacked Old Daoist Sanmu on the island, and he recognized her Divine Ability and attempted to flee through the Great Void.
• Great True Person Demon Moon used a Lunar Yin dharma treasure to strike Old Daoist Sanmu, who escaped while leaving behind a severed, withered hand.

Fang Qing reached Perfection in both the Purple Mansion Divine Abilities and Nascent Soul cultivation, then considered the Breath-Nourishing Dao’s dangers and the changing balance of power in the Eastern Sea. After learning that a great beast tide was forming, he saw an opportunity to gather materials for his Qi Refinement Way breakthrough to Spirit Transformation.

• Fang Qing achieved Divine Ability Perfection and Nascent Soul Perfection, and decided to pursue Spirit Transformation through the Qi Refinement Way before revising his Gold-Seeking Method.
• Fang Qing reflected on the hidden struggles of the Year-Seizing Game and resolved to observe the Breath-Nourishing Dao without entering it with his original body.
• Fang Qing reviewed the Eastern Sea’s weakened powers and the rise of the Myriad Stars Alliance after the deaths of the Water-Moon Palace Grand Palace Master and Dragon Tree Holy Monk.
• Big One and Second One brought Fang Qing a fourth-rank demon beast’s inner core, and Heavenfiend Old Monster reported that outer-sea demon beasts were gathering into a possible great beast tide.
• Fang Qing concluded that upper-grade demon beasts could provide materials for his Spirit Transformation pills and secret techniques, and chose to watch the beast tide while following the Year-Seizing Game.

Fang Qing tested how the Dao-Born Pearl could aid cultivators across different systems while Zhan Hongxiu escaped Divine Ray Palace with a stolen Myriad-Year Peng Blood Fruit and defeated her pursuers. She planned to use the coming beast tide to advance and settle her scores with Water-Moon Palace and Thunderclap Temple.

• Zhong Lingxiu broke through to late Core Formation after Fang Qing sent him matching ice-attribute mana, and Fang Qing reflected on the limits of using the Dao-Born Pearl to empower cultivators of other systems.
• Zhan Hongxiu and Turtle Elder fled Divine Ray Palace after stealing the Myriad-Year Peng Blood Fruit and were pursued by two mid fourth-rank demons.
• Zhan Hongxiu stopped fleeing, trapped the demons in a golden cage, poisoned one with the Azure Emperor Wood Sovereign Nail, and killed both.
• Zhan Hongxiu took the demons’ essence souls and great cores, while Turtle Elder discussed the Five Sacred Origin Pill, the coming beast tide, and her path toward Spirit Transformation.
• Zhan Hongxiu agreed to use the beast tide to grow stronger and eventually destroy Water-Moon Palace and Thunderclap Temple for their resources.

Sangji cultivated the Death-Terror Aspect and became a late Purple Mansion Great Dharma King before Fang Qing took over his body to pursue Great True Person Demon Moon. Fang Qing used Suqing’s lingering resentment toward Demon Moon to draw her into the hunt, then revealed his identity as Buddha’s Son and compelled her to accompany him.

• Sangji completed the Sky Burial ritual, cultivated his third Divine Ability, and received intelligence that Sanmu had vanished into the Sinking Moon Sea while fleeing Great True Person Demon Moon.
• Fang Qing concluded that Great Snow Mountain wanted him to pursue Demon Moon and considered using his lingering Causality with her to track her down.
• True Person Suqing visited the Temple of All Living Beings Without Form, where Fang Qing, occupying Sangji’s body, learned that her resentment toward Demon Moon was hindering her cultivation.
• Fang Qing urged Suqing to pursue Demon Moon to resolve her resentment, and she tried to leave when she realized he was serious.
• Fang Qing revealed his Buddha’s Son status, summoned his bone regalia, and ordered Suqing to accompany him.

Fang Qing and True Person Suqing found Demon Moon Great True Person on Skyfeather Island, where her power had transformed the islanders into Featherfolk. Fang Qing defeated her, then accused her of seeking a Lunar Yin Corpse Release Immortal.

• Fang Qing and True Person Suqing arrived at Skyfeather Island and learned that a mysterious True Person had changed the islanders into Featherfolk.
• Hua Tianfeng led Fang Qing and Suqing through the silver-decorated palace built for Demon Moon Great True Person.
• Fang Qing and Suqing found Demon Moon seated in the hall, wielding four Divine Abilities and a Lunar Yin dharma treasure zither.
• Demon Moon attacked with her zither and Divine Abilities, while Suqing used Shattering Edge to cut away the illusory infant forming inside her.
• Fang Qing shattered the Silver Moon Palace and defeated Demon Moon, then accused her of seeking gold and a Lunar Yin Corpse Release Immortal.

Fang Qing and True Person Suqing discovered that Demon Moon Great True Person had built the palace as a tomb to undergo Lunar Yin Corpse Release, but her Gold-Seeking attempt also served a larger plan to add Lunar Yin qi to the Outer Sea’s Water Virtue spirit atmosphere. As dawn approached, Demon Moon’s newly formed body had yet to awaken, and Fang Qing judged that her breakthrough was in danger.

• Fang Qing deduced that Demon Moon Great True Person intended to use his hand to undergo Corpse Release, and he refused to kill her or help her succeed.
• Demon Moon began seeking Gold on her own, with her body decaying as her Divine Abilities formed Lunar Chains; Fang Qing and True Person Suqing withdrew from the hall.
• The Featherfolk transformed into demonic birds, while Heaven-Eroding Rain and All Things Beget Life spread around the palace as Lunar Yin qi filled Skyfeather Island.
• Fang Qing deduced that Demon Moon was an expendable pawn whose breakthrough would add Lunar Yin meaning to the Water Virtue spirit atmosphere, improving the conditions for True Person Sanmu to seek Gold.
• A new body formed within the Lunar Yin pillar, but it had not opened its eyes, and Fang Qing warned that the approaching dawn would make Demon Moon’s Corpse Release difficult.

Old Daoist Sanmu attained the [Dipper Wood] Vacant Position as Lesser-Yin Dark-Hao True Lord, changing the world’s Spirit Atmosphere and clearing the rain. Xia Yuanqi began his Golden Attainment, while Yuan Tired Envoy opened White Radiance Heaven to prepare a Metal Virtue True Lord’s revival.

• Old Daoist Sanmu used the Lesser Yin Comet Moon Method at Sinking Moon Sea and attained the [Dipper Wood] Vacant Position as Lesser-Yin Dark-Hao True Lord.
• Sanmu’s attainment changed the Spirit Atmosphere, and the rain clouds over Later Xia receded, prompting an old farmer to thank him.
• Xia Yuanqi began seeking Golden Attainment at Nine-Heavens Fire Manor after the Grotto-Heaven ordered him to act following Sanmu’s success.
• Yuan Tired Envoy opened White Radiance Heaven with a command token and had the Mysterious Vault World-Tempering Nether-Suppressing Manifestation Yin Celestial Emperor swallow [Ghost Metal] Golden Nature.

Daoist Sanmu and Xia Yuanqi each advanced toward a Golden Seat, drawing the attention of powerful beings and changing the spirit atmosphere. As Lesser-Yin Dark-Hao True Lord faced a terrifying Wood Virtue True Lord, Fang Qing watched from Skyfeather Island and saw Sanmu’s form turn illusory.

• Daoist Sanmu became Lesser-Yin Dark-Hao True Lord, but a colossal Wood Virtue True Lord attacked him with a Horn Wood Flood Dragon.
• Xia Yuanqi completed the Wings Fire Secondary Position ritual as an Azure Luan incarnation descended and led him into the Great Void.
• Fang Qing recognized that the changing spirit atmosphere suited his Winnowing Basket Water path, but chose to delay seeking gold because he still had doubts about the Golden Seat.
• As the Great Sun rose, the spirit atmosphere shifted from Water Virtue to Wood Virtue, and Suqing learned that Sanmu had become a True Lord.
• Suqing was blinded when she looked upon the enormous True Lord Dharma Forms, while Fang Qing watched as a Horn Wood Flood Dragon coiled around Lesser-Yin Dark-Hao True Lord and made his form turn illusory.

Fang Qing watched True Lords and their allies clash over Wood, Fire, and Metal Virtues, while the shifting Spirit Atmosphere threw the world into chaos. As Great True Person Demon Moon broke apart on Skyfeather Island, she revealed that the Bi Yue Crow Great Sage had disrupted the resurrection of multiple Year Guardians and might have tampered with the Golden Seats.

• Fang Qing realized that Kui Zang Xianqing had used regency over a Horn Wood flood dragon to control Horn Wood's secondary position and advance to Late Golden Core.
• Xia Yuanqi appeared as the Ashen-Sky Burning-Wood Great Sage and attacked Kui Zang Xianqing amid support from the Phoenix and a Tail Fire True Lord.
• A Metal Virtue True Lord emerged as metal and fire joined the attack, and their clashing imagery changed the Spirit Atmosphere and caused chaos throughout the world.
• Fang Qing saw Great True Person Demon Moon's body shatter on Skyfeather Island, then heard her reveal that the Bi Yue Crow Great Sage had interrupted the resurrection preparations of the Lunar Yin, Metal Virtue, and Fire Virtue Year Guardians.
• Demon Moon suggested that the Bi Yue Crow might have tampered with the Golden Seats, and Fang Qing realized it had swallowed Neck Metal and devoured Tail Fire.

Fang Qing watched True Lord Kui Zang Xianqing defeat his attackers and approach Golden Core Perfection, only to be ensnared by his supposed ally on [Rooftop Moon]. As True Person Suqing awakened, Fang Qing realized the planned sword strike was meant to save Kui Zang Xianqing, not kill him.

• A blood moon disrupted the battle, stripping the Ashen-Sky Burning-Wood Great Sage of support from the [Tail Fire] and [Neck Metal] cultivators.
• True Lord Kui Zang Xianqing concealed himself with [Kui Wood], overcame his opponents, and moved toward Golden Core Perfection while suppressing Lesser-Yin Dark-Hao True Lord.
• After Lesser-Yin Dark-Hao True Lord vanished, Kui Zang Xianqing's dharma manifestation split open as the blood moon and moonlight began to engulf him.
• Fang Qing deduced that the [Rooftop Moon] True Lord had used Sanmu and the Sinking Moon method to influence Kui Zang Xianqing, and feared he had also been targeted.
• True Person Suqing awakened, and Fang Qing realized the sword strike planned for her was meant to save Kui Zang Xianqing.

Fang Qing used True Person Suqing’s [Horn Wood] Golden Nature to restore the world’s memory of Guangmu, breaking True Lord Kui Zang Xianqing’s concealment and weakening him. As the conflict over [Rooftop Moon] continued, the Secret Treasury Origin manifested a vast Buddhist domain and unleashed a blinding radiance.

• The Heaven-Dawn Spirit Abyss Dragon Lord, True Person Suqing, the Azure Luan, and other True Lords attacked True Lord Kui Zang Xianqing and the Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord, giving Kui Zang Xianqing time to escape with the [Horn Wood] Flood Dragon.
• Fang Qing realized that restoring Guangmu’s forgotten name could sever one of Kui Zang Xianqing’s foundations, and he awakened Suqing’s [Horn Wood] Golden Nature.
• Fang Qing invoked the Eastern Pole Year Guardian Azure Root True Lord’s name, causing the world to remember Guangmu and revealing the hidden Sky Horn Sect in the Outer Sea.
• Guangmu awoke inside the Flood Dragon and attacked Kui Zang Xianqing, forcing his realm to fall from Golden Core Perfection to Late Golden Core.
• Fang Qing and Suqing retreated as the Secret Treasury Origin appeared with a vast Buddhist domain and a radiant Great Sun that burned out Fang Qing’s eyes.

Fang Qing reviewed the Year-Seizing Game’s damage, removed the Moon in the Well Divine Ability to escape Lunar Yin’s influence, and decided to remain on the Qi Refinement Way. Meanwhile, the Great Sun Tathagata’s manifestation changed the Spirit Atmosphere, the invaders withdrew from Xituo Commandery, and Sangji and Suqing returned from the Golden Core conflict to witness Later Xia’s collapse.

• Fang Qing healed his Dao Transformation injuries with the Dao-Born Pearl and concluded that the Great Sun Tathagata’s Great Transformation Origin could surpass Golden Core Perfection.
• Fang Qing identified Moon in the Well and the Winnowing Basket Water Gold-Seeking Method as traps set by Rooftop Moon, then used the Dao-Born Pearl to remove Moon in the Well.
• Fang Qing assessed the losses suffered by the True Lords and their factions and resolved to await the beast tide on the Qi Refinement Way before seeking Spirit Transformation.
• Fang Wuchen witnessed the Great Sun Tathagata manifest and teach in the Secret Treasury Domain, changing the Spirit Atmosphere to Sun Patrols the Heavens.
• Empty Peacock Tara told Fang Wuchen that the Corpse Yin Sect, the Demon Race, Cloud-Rubbing Cliff, and the Gale Tribe had withdrawn from Xituo Commandery.
• Sangji and Suqing returned to the Temple of All Living Beings Without Form after the Golden Core conflict, and Sangji lamented Later Xia’s collapse following Xia Yuanqi’s death.

True Person Suqing recovered memories of her past life and left for Sky Horn Sect, while Sangji and Fang Qing continued investigating the surviving True Lords. Fang Wuchen considered returning to a dangerous secret place for a Purple Mansion opportunity, and Sangji learned that Great Treasury Temple had received a new divine ability from Akasagarbha Bodhisattva, prompting suspicions about True Lord Kui Zang Xianqing’s plans.

• Sangji told True Person Suqing that her past-life ties led to Sky Horn Sect, and she immediately departed for the Outer Sea.
• Fang Wuchen learned of the Outer Sea’s devastation, praised Fang Daoling’s Mountain-Reclaiming Pearl, and considered revisiting a secret place to seek a Purple Mansion opportunity for him.
• Shoucangxuan summoned Sangji to Great Treasury Temple on the Living Buddha’s orders.
• Sangji found five images of Akasagarbha Bodhisattva in the temple and learned that the Bodhisattva had bestowed the Earth-Hiding Body divine ability.
• Fang Qing inferred that True Lord Kui Zang Xianqing’s public ascension had been intended to draw Great Sun Tathagata’s protection and wondered whether Kui Zang Xianqing had planned it from the start.

Fang Qing learned that the Three-Treasuries Site concealed something significant, while Fang Wuchen entered it and was pulled into a Grotto-Heaven after hearing a Golden Core True Lord cry for help. Fang Qing later reached the site himself, uncovered its hidden chambers, and heard the same plea near the mysterious black stele, but could not find the Grotto-Heaven’s entrance.

• Shoucangxuan gave Sangji a scroll naming suspected sites of corruption, including the hidden Three-Treasuries Site, and Sangji recognized its importance.
• Fang Qing realized the site was where Suqing had obtained Heaven-One Generates Water and decided to investigate it after Sangji returned.
• Fang Wuchen explored the site, collected a Nine-Aperture Origin Stone, and discovered the black stele as a woman cried for help.
• Fang Wuchen lost consciousness and awoke on a vast lake inside a Grotto-Heaven connected to the secret site.
• Fang Qing entered the site as Sangji, exposed its hidden passages and treasures, and heard a True Lord pleading for help near the black stele.
• Fang Qing searched around the stele but failed to find the Grotto-Heaven’s entrance.