Chapter Summaries

Xu Hei survived the upheaval caused by the Golden Core True Lords and joined the assault on Great Black Heaven Temple, while Fang Qing watched the larger conflict from the Buddha Lands. As the three Earth Virtue Golden Cores fought beyond the heavens, a sword from Supreme Unity struck the battlefield and revealed that Kitchen Lord was not who the others thought.

• A Buddhist Son and an emissary were sacrificed, prompting Eastern Origin Fate-Commanding Responsive Divine Lord to stabilize Grand Yellow Heaven as Golden Core forces began to clash.
• Fang Qing identified the combatants beyond the heavens as Eastern Origin Fate-Commanding Responsive Divine Lord, Profound Earth Filth-Plague True Lord, and Yin Earth Profound Corpse Ghost Virtue True Lord.
• Xu Hei reached Great Black Heaven Temple and attacked the Purple Palace demon kings and Acacia True Persons, then joined the two Buddhist Sons fighting Calamity Hound's attendant god.
• Fang Qing watched the Golden Core battle and saw dense central yellow qi compress the corpse qi beyond the heavens.
• A sword light from Supreme Unity Arcane Sect and Jiangnan Wu-Yue Sword Pavilion struck the battle, and a wounded fighter accused the attacker of being Supreme Unity rather than Kitchen Lord.

Fang Qing watched Kitchen Lord and the Wuyue Sword Pavilion Sword Lord trap two Devil Path Golden Cores, while learning that Kitchen Lord was the reincarnated body of the Supreme Unity Ancestor. As the Immortal Prison closed around the wounded Devils, Kitchen Lord stirred an inexplicable power in Fang Qing’s Maiden Earth Golden Seat.

• Fang Qing recognized that the Sword Lord Neck Metal had revealed the Shen Metal Immortal-Binding Prison, which held sword cultivators including Li Que for experiments involving the Metal Virtue Year Guardian.
• Yin Earth Profound Corpse Ghost Virtue True Lord revealed that Kitchen Lord was the reincarnated body of the Supreme Unity Ancestor, who had once held Golden Seats in metal, wood, water, and fire before seeking the Year Guardian and dying.
• Kitchen Lord explained that he had prepared a life-saving reincarnation before seeking the Year Guardian, while Fang Qing wondered whether he now intended to seek it again after obtaining earth.
• Kitchen Lord and the Wuyue Sword Pavilion Sword Lord wounded Profound Earth Pestilence True Lord and Yin Earth Profound Corpse Ghost Virtue True Lord, but could not kill them.
• The Sword Lord Neck Metal unfolded the Shen Metal Immortal-Binding Prison around the two fleeing Devil Lords, and Kitchen Lord spoke shamanic words that stirred the power of the Shaman position in Fang Qing’s Maiden Earth Golden Seat.

The Kitchen Lord invoked the Shaman Fruit Seat to manifest the Nether Warden, revive his past self Supreme Unity Ancestor, and strike at the Great Black Heaven Buddha-Land. The chapter ended as the Azure Luan confronted the Great Peng Wisdom King and declared her intention to manifest the Fire Virtue [Year Guardian].

• The Kitchen Lord sacrificed treasures to temporarily manifest the Shaman Fruit Seat and establish the Nether Bureau through the Nether Warden.
• The Kitchen Lord revived his past self, Supreme Unity Ancestor, who wielded a powerful sword and drove away the two Shide Golden Cores.
• The Kitchen Lord sent Supreme Unity Ancestor to strike the Great Black Heaven Buddha-Land, which collapsed and revealed the embodied Great Black Heaven.
• The Great Black Heaven's Encampment Fire imagery appeared as the Azure Luan descended and faced the Great Peng Wisdom King.
• The Azure Luan declared that the Great Yin was empty and that she could manifest the Fire Virtue [Year Guardian].

After mastering the Lord of the Charnel Forest Dharma Manifestation, Fang Qing entered a nameless Grotto-Heaven and rescued Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord from her half-mad state. She learned that Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord had taken control of [Room Sun] and [Wall Water], and was close to Golden Core Perfection.

• Fang Qing watched Phoenix, Great Sun Dragon-Phoenix Fuyu Primordial Sovereign, and Great Sun Tathagata act amid the battle around the Secret Treasury, then decided to pursue his own objective.
• Fang Qing used the battle’s blood sacrifice and his Golden Core power to enter the nameless Grotto-Heaven where Profound Void Subtle True Lord was imprisoned.
• Fang Qing released a strange bird from the Grotto-Heaven and found Profound Void Subtle True Lord in the form of a vast, pregnant figure.
• Fang Qing’s Lord of the Charnel Forest Dharma Manifestation subdued the Unfixed Bi Wind and transformed the lake-filled Grotto-Heaven, allowing Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord to recover.
• Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord told Fang Qing that Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord controlled [Room Sun] and [Wall Water], had begun reviving the Lunar Yin [Year Guardian], and needed only [Encampment Fire] to reach Golden Core Perfection.

Fang Qing learned that the Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord had reclaimed major authorities by killing the Azure Luan and seizing the [Encampment Fire] position, advancing her pursuit of the [Year Guardian] Dao Path. Dharma King Vilu warned that Lunar Yin was drawing near and a great upheaval would come within three to ten years, leaving Fang Qing to face a rapidly shrinking window of time.

• Fang Qing realized the Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord had concealed her intentions while pursuing the [Year Guardian] Dao Path with Great Sun Tathagata.
• Dharma King Vilu refused the Great Peng Wisdom King's request to destroy the weakened Great Sun Dragon-Phoenix Fuyu Primordial Sovereign, saying the Temple of the Source of All Dharmas had been severed.
• The Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord confronted the Azure Luan at Great Black Heaven Temple, revealed immense Lunar Yin power, and caused the Azure Luan to fall.
• Fang Qing sensed the Azure Luan's death and concluded that the Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord had reclaimed [Encampment Fire] and weakened the Blazing-Plume Harmonizing-Heaven Great Sage.
• Dharma King Vilu told Fang Qing that Great Sun Tathagata expected the Kitchen Lord to struggle to attain completion and urged Fang Qing to visit Great Snow Mountain when the destined dharma arrived.
• Fang Qing learned that a great upheaval was expected within three to ten years and worried that the Breath-Nourishing Dao had left him little time.

Fang Qing weighed his options for seeking a Golden Core and a viable [Year Guardian] path, then explored the realm beyond heaven and discovered that the [Lady] Secondary Position began to reject him there. He returned safely and considered how his true body’s cultivation might approach Golden Core without possessing the [Lady] position.

• Fang Qing compared pursuing [Profound Thunder] with seeking the [Winnowing Basket Water] Vacant Position and concluded that the available [Year Guardian] paths were largely blocked.
• Fang Qing considered seeking guidance from Lunar Yin or Great Sun Tathagata, then studied how the [Lady] Golden Nature and Esoteric Treasury support could strengthen him beyond Golden Core.
• Fang Qing used the [Lady] Secondary Position to open a passage beyond heaven, where he found that traveling farther caused the Breath-Nourishing Dao world and his position to grow hazy.
• Fang Qing returned to the Great Void and speculated that only the Dao-Born Pearl might let someone find their way back after becoming lost beyond heaven.
• Fang Qing assessed his Dao attainments and proposed that his true body might reach a realm close to Golden Core, which he tentatively called a 'False Core' before considering other names.

Fang Daoling received Heaven-One Generates Water from a Cloud-Touching Cliff True Person as compensation, then learned that his family descended from the master of [Winnowing Basket Water]. The White Deer Attendant Deity bestowed Purple Mansion on the spirit bird formed from Wuchenzi’s remnant, leaving Fang Daoling comforted but uncertain whether his grand-uncle still remained himself.

• Fang Daoling encountered Great True Person Wujian, who gave him Heaven-One Generates Water as an apology from Cloud-Touching Cliff and asked him to speak kindly of the True Person to the lord of [Winnowing Basket Water].
• Fang Daoling returned to the Fang estate and learned from Hu Yunshu that an earth-yellow spirit bird and a flock of li-birds had begun circling overhead.
• Liu Junyan arrived and told Fang Daoling that his grand-uncle Wuchenzi had died and that the Fang Family was among the bloodline branches of the master of [Winnowing Basket Water].
• Liu Junyan told Fang Daoling that the renewed power of [Winnowing Basket Water] made his breakthrough to Purple Mansion highly promising.
• The White Deer Attendant Deity appeared and bestowed Purple Mansion on the spirit bird, which Liu Junyan and Fang Daoling recognized as a remnant of Wuchenzi.

Fang Qing met the Great Sun Tathagata, who revealed the history of Primordial Antiquity and proposed that Fang Qing inherit Great Sun’s Causality while he pursued [Year Guardian] through the immortal method of Reduction to Emptiness. The Tathagata vanished before Fang Qing could ask why so many True Lords fell asleep at the end of High Antiquity.

• Wan Yan used Sangji’s account to climb Great Snow Mountain and met Dharma King Vilu at the Golden Summit.
• The Great Sun Tathagata revealed that he had manifested the [Tathagata] Fruit Seat through emptiness and reached Golden Core Perfection.
• The Great Sun Tathagata explained that the Great Sun [Year Guardian] had devoured the other [Year Guardians] while seeking a higher realm, but ultimately failed and left behind the Primordial Masterwork and Primordial Beginning Heaven.
• The Great Sun Tathagata told Fang Qing that Lunar Yin was about to attain [Year Earl] and proposed that Fang Qing inherit Great Sun’s Causality while he pursued [Year Guardian] through Reduction to Emptiness.
• Fang Qing questioned the purpose of the Dao-Born Pearl and the Great Sun Tathagata’s intentions, then asked why many True Lords had fallen asleep at the end of High Antiquity.
• The Great Sun Tathagata’s golden light vanished, leaving Dharma King Vilu to greet Fang Qing as the Buddha Venerable.

Fang Qing weighed the Great Sun Tathagata’s offer and the danger of becoming a pawn in a Year Guardian’s resurrection, then traveled through the Secret Treasury Domain. He advised Fang Daoling to seek seclusion in Grand Yellow Heaven, and Fang Daoling agreed to follow his instructions.

• Fang Qing suspected the Great Sun Tathagata’s offer concealed a trap and considered the risks of taking the Great Sun Dao Path.
• Fang Qing surveyed the damaged Secret Treasury Domain and visited Fang Daoling’s estate.
• Fang Daoling and Liu Junyan encountered Fang Qing, whose overwhelming presence caused Liu Junyan to fall to his knees.
• Fang Qing warned Fang Daoling that the changing Spirit Atmosphere made breaking through to Purple Mansion dangerous outside a Grotto-Heaven.
• Fang Qing recommended that Fang Daoling enter seclusion in Grand Yellow Heaven, and Fang Daoling agreed.

Fang Qing visited Grand Yellow Heaven, where Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord recognized him and gave him Winnowing Basket Water Golden Nature in repayment for saving her. She revealed that the end of High Antiquity followed a Year Guardian’s awakening, though she did not know which one.

• Fang Qing entered Grand Yellow Heaven with Liu Junyan and Fang Daoling, while the White Deer Attendant Deity led them inside.
• The White Deer Attendant Deity sent Liu Junyan to Central Yellow Palace and arranged for Fang Daoling to enter seclusion at a cave abode.
• Fang Qing met Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord, who revealed she knew his identity and presented him with Winnowing Basket Water Golden Nature.
• Fang Qing asked whether the Kitchen Lord could become a Year Guardian, but Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord avoided answering directly.
• Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord said a Year Guardian had awakened before the end of High Antiquity, after which heaven and earth changed and Golden Cores were gravely injured or fell asleep.

Fang Qing learned from Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord about the Year Guardians, the possibility of escaping beyond Heaven, and the cost of abandoning a Golden Seat. He then traveled east to investigate the Golden Core lineages and arrived at Wuyue Sword Pavilion, where its Sword Lord’s attendant said his master was in seclusion.

• Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord warned Fang Qing to be cautious of the Great Sun Tathagata and explained that True Lords could venture beyond Heaven by abandoning their Golden Seats.
• Fang Qing left the Grand Yellow Heaven with a Golden Nature of Winnowing Basket Water, and Wuke True Person died after slandering him.
• Fang Qing traveled east, saw that the Harmonious Bliss Sect had been deserted, and passed through Southern Yue and Asking Sword Mountain.
• Fang Qing reached Wuyue Sword Pavilion and released his Maiden Earth aura to announce his arrival.
• A white-gold sword pill transformed into a child attendant, who told Fang Qing that the Sword Lord was in seclusion and had ordered him not to receive guests.

After being turned away by the Eastern Supreme Unity Arcane Sect and the Flood-Dragon Palace, Fang Qing gained a Divine Elixir through the Maiden Earth position and prepared to seize Mystic Thunder by force. He ended the chapter unleashing a vast Divine Elixir manifestation that shook Bloodfiend Island and aided earth-element cultivators across the Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm.

• Fang Qing visited True Lord Guangmu, who warned him that the Heaven-Dawn Spirit Abyss Dragon Lord had attained a position beneath Three Stars Water and was hostile toward humans.
• Fang Qing's true body found that the Flood-Dragon Palace refused to receive Sangji, then used the Dao-Born Pearl and Omnipresence to reverse empowerment and gain a Maiden Earth Divine Elixir.
• Fang Qing realized that pursuing Maiden Earth or Winnowing Basket Water in the Breath-Nourishing Dao world could bring him into conflict with Sangji and expose him to powerful enemies.
• Fang Qing chose to pursue Mystic Thunder within the cave heaven by force, using objects linked to the Thunder Palace to raise his position rank.
• Fang Qing's Divine Elixir dharma image rose above Bloodfiend Island, and its power helped earth-element cultivators across the Eastern Sea overcome bottlenecks while calming yin souls and ghosts.

Fang Qing entered the Thunder Palace and confronted its ownerless Profound Thunder power, while strange changes in heaven and earth disrupted tribulations and drove Feng Xi toward breaking his seal. The chapter ended with Zhan Hongxiu witnessing a Core Formation tribulation vanish and wondering whether immortals had acted.

• Fang Qing used his enhanced powers to locate and tear open the Thunder Palace hidden in the Great Void, then attacked it with his Divine Elixir Dharma Idol and Maiden Earth power.
• Earth Trigram Old Freak began his Nascent Soul tribulation, but a jade-white lightning bolt destroyed his umbrella and killed him; Dark Profound Adept fled.
• Feng Xi tore several chains binding him as earth-element spiritual power flourished, then fought off a maddened swarm of thunderbirds and sensed that killing them strengthened him.
• Zhan Hongxiu watched a disciple's Core Formation tribulation vanish, and Turtle Elder said that earth-element power and lightning tribulations had become unpredictable.

Fang Qing shattered the Thunder Palace’s seal and used the Dao-Born Pearl to freeze the awakening [Profound Thunder] Golden Seat, gaining its power and merit. He mastered its four divine abilities and discovered he could wield the Golden Seat while keeping it sealed, leaving him stronger than Sangji and poised to pursue the other Golden Seats.

• Fang Qing entered the Thunder Palace and realized that its destruction had awakened the [Profound Thunder] Fruit Seat and was about to give birth to a Thunder God.
• Fang Qing touched the lightning egg and used the Dao-Born Pearl to swallow and permanently freeze it before the Thunder God could be born.
• Fang Qing received merit for subduing [Profound Thunder], returned to Bloodfiend Island, and ordered a banquet and pills for his cultivators after announcing that thunder tribulations had vanished.
• Fang Qing secluded himself, extracted [Profound Thunder] Golden Nature, and perfected its four divine abilities: Primordial Thunder Palace, Primordial Birth-Transformation, and Divine Thunder Oath.
• Fang Qing summoned the sealed Golden Seat’s power, fashioned a thunder robe and crown, and concluded that he was now stronger than Sangji.

Fang Qing considered the [Profound Thunder] Golden Seat’s power and planned how to leave Primordial Beginning Heaven without being seized. While Zhan Hongxiu waited outside his cave as he refined a pill, she was drawn into a vision of an entire water realm that Fang Qing ultimately refined into a pill, leaving her and his other observers stunned.

• Fang Qing realized [Profound Thunder] could balance yin and yang to counter opposing techniques, and he resolved not to become a pawn in a conflict between Great Sun Tathagata and Lunar Yin.
• Fang Qing considered escaping beyond heaven but recognized that first he needed a safe opportunity to leave Primordial Beginning Heaven and return to the world of the Breath-Nourishing Dao.
• Zhan Hongxiu arrived at Bloodfiend Island seeking guidance about changes to lightning and found that Fang Qing was refining pills in seclusion.
• Zhan Hongxiu watched lightning descend into Fang Qing’s pill chamber, then was caught in a vision where she lived as a crimson carp Divine Ray and became Redcloud Dao Ancestor in the Heavenly Water Realm.
• A lightning-wreathed hand destroyed the Heavenly Water Realm and gathered its inhabitants and treasures into a pill, after which Zhan Hongxiu awoke to find Fang Qing emerging with the finished pill.
• Bright Moon and Heavenfiend Adept arrived beside Zhan Hongxiu and stared in disbelief at Fang Qing’s pill.

Fang Qing used a great [Winnowing Basket Water] pill to temper the cultivators on Bloodfiend Island and conceal his preparations to pursue the [Winnowing Basket Water] Vacant Position before leaving heaven and earth. After helping Zhan Hongxiu advance to Nascent Soul Late Stage, he gave her ascension-node coordinates and told her he was preparing to become an immortal.

• Fang Qing explained that his pill had given the island’s cultivators insights and eased their future Heart Demon Tribulations, then promised Nascent Infant Pills to those seeking advancement.
• Zhan Hongxiu told Fang Qing that the disappearance of lightning tribulations had weakened lightning cultivators and lightning-related resources, and Fang Qing declared that lightning would no longer exist in heaven and earth.
• Fang Qing resolved to pursue the [Winnowing Basket Water] Vacant Position, using the great pill to hasten his preparations and hiding his plan to leave beyond the heavens.
• Fang Qing used his status to help Zhan Hongxiu break through to Nascent Soul Late Stage and warned that her Longevity Tortoise might hinder her path to Spirit Transformation.
• Fang Qing gave Zhan Hongxiu ascension-node coordinates ahead of their agreement, named her the new authority over the East Sea, and confirmed that he was preparing to ascend and become an immortal.

Fang Qing forged [Winnowing Basket Water] Golden Nature, claimed the Vacant Position as Profound Abyss Moistening Salvation True Lord, and fled beyond heaven when Great Sun Tathagata attacked. Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord blocked the attack, but Phoenix pursued Fang Qing into the depths beyond heaven.

• Fang Qing used his four perfected [Winnowing Basket Water] Divine Escapes to forge [Winnowing Basket Water] Golden Nature in the Land of Ancient Shu.
• The [Winnowing Basket Water] Golden Seat favored Fang Qing, and he certified the Vacant Position, taking the title Profound Abyss Moistening Salvation True Lord.
• Great Sun Tathagata attacked Fang Qing as he stepped beyond heaven, but Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord blocked its divine palm.
• Fang Qing fled deeper beyond heaven, seeking to escape the reach of the Golden Seat and his pursuers.
• Phoenix appeared and pursued Fang Qing, leaving him to wonder whether Great Sun Tathagata and Lunar Yin had joined forces.

Fang Qing used the Dao-Born Pearl to survive the Golden Core tribulation caused by his vacant [Winnowing Basket Water] position while fleeing the Blazing-Plume Harmonizing-Heaven Great Sage. He stabilized his rank at Mid Golden Core, then dragged the Phoenix deeper beyond the heavens, where her [Wings Fire] position began to falter.

• Hu Yunshu learned that Fang Qing of Three-Water Hollow had attained [Winnowing Basket Water] and ordered the manor’s defenses activated as the Secret Treasury Domain trembled.
• Fang Qing realized that proving [Winnowing Basket Water] directly exposed him to its vast divine influence, and that he could use the Dao-Born Pearl to seal the position and suppress the impact.
• The Blazing-Plume Harmonizing-Heaven Great Sage trapped Fang Qing with a scarlet banner and Red Comet Stars, but Fang Qing broke through with [Profound Thunder] and sealed [Winnowing Basket Water] inside the Dao-Born Pearl.
• Fang Qing bestowed the vacant [Winnowing Basket Water] position upon himself again, eliminating the tribulation of holding position and reaching Mid Golden Core.
• Fang Qing imprisoned the Phoenix in a Primordial Thunder Palace and carried her deeper beyond the heavens, where her [Wings Fire] position began to falter.

Fang Qing defeated the Phoenix beyond the heavens and seized its [Wings Fire] Principal Position, but combining several Golden Seats nearly drove him into qi deviation. He returned through Sangji’s body to the Eight Cold Forest Buddha Lands and struggled to unleash Golden Core Perfection strength while Great Sun Tathagata and Lunar Yin still battled.

• Fang Qing trapped the Phoenix beyond the heavens, drowned its [Wings Fire] with water lightning, and seized the [Wings Fire] Principal Position with the Dao-Born Pearl.
• Fang Qing’s attempt to draw on the [Wings Fire] caused his body to explode, so he used the Dao-Born Pearl to suppress the power and restore himself.
• Fang Qing descended into Sangji’s body and saw that Great Sun Tathagata and Lunar Yin were still fighting as sun and moon shone together.
• The Phoenix’s fall and the sealing of [Wings Fire] caused Fallen Phoenix Mountain to collapse and damaged cultivators and techniques tied to that Principal Position.
• Fang Qing tried to combine [Maiden Earth], [Winnowing Basket Water], [Wings Fire], and [Profound Thunder] through Sangji, but the conflicting powers threatened qi deviation.
• Fang Qing persisted in trying to unleash Golden Core Perfection strength, deciding to gamble before Great Sun Tathagata could destroy Sangji and reclaim the Position Seal.

The Great Sun [Year Guardian] revealed itself as the force behind the Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord and fought the Great Sun Tathagata, the Kitchen Lord, and Fang Qing’s forces. Fang Qing was left beyond the heavens as the Breath-Nourishing Dao suffered Sun-Moon Decline, with the battle’s survivors and the world gravely weakened.

• The Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord suppressed the Great Sun Tathagata, but the Esoteric Treasury Origin strengthened him and he reclaimed control of the heavens.
• The pure-white sun entered the moon’s vacant [Room Sun] position, and Mystic Void Subtle Origin Lord recognized that the Moon-Palace Embryo-Forming Origin Lord was actually the Great Sun [Year Guardian].
• The Great Sun [Year Guardian] halted time across the Breath-Nourishing Dao and attacked with the [Star Sun], [High Sun], [Emptiness Sun], and [Tathagata] Golden Seats.
• The Kitchen Lord entered the battle, while Fang Qing used the Dao-Born Pearl to combine his four Golden Seats and unleash thunderfire against the Great Sun [Year Guardian].
• Fang Qing’s strike severed his connection to his true body, and Sangji was gravely wounded and fell asleep as moonlight eroded his Golden Nature.
• Fang Qing observed that the Great Sun and Lunar Yin had grown dim and concluded that the battle had ended in mutual ruin, leaving the Breath-Nourishing Dao in Sun-Moon Decline.