Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning arrived in Five Peaks Prefecture with Zhong Ling and learned that the Yellow Heaven Cult threatened Celestial City with an army led by two Heavenly Kings. He agreed to help Zhou Sheng defend the prefecture and healed Zhong Yue's injury, leaving the group ready to face the coming threat.

• Zhou Sheng and Zhong Yue worried that Five Peaks Prefecture could not withstand the Yellow Heaven Cult's approaching army.
• Jiang Ning brought Zhong Ling to Zhou Sheng's manor, where she reunited with Zhong Yue.
• Zhou Sheng explained that the Mountain-Subduing Heavenly King and Sea-Covering Heavenly King had conquered four cities and were advancing on Celestial City.
• Zhou Sheng and Zhong Yue asked Jiang Ning to help defend Five Peaks Prefecture, and Jiang Ning agreed.
• Jiang Ning removed the lingering alien energy from Zhong Yue's body, and Zhong Yue quickly recovered most of his strength.

Jiang Ning went to Broken Dragon Ridge and forced the Yellow Heaven Cult's two Heavenly Kings to withdraw their army from Five Peaks Prefecture. He then traveled to West Sand Commandery to meet Yellow Heaven Daoist, where he found five other accomplished figures gathered in the valley.

• Zhou Sheng told Jiang Ning that fifty thousand Yellow Heaven Cult troops were stationed outside Celestial City under the Mountain-Subduing Heavenly King and Sea-Covering Heavenly King.
• Jiang Ning used the Rainbow-Transformation Technique to reach Broken Dragon Ridge, where his overwhelming presence stunned the two Heavenly Kings.
• Jiang Ning offered the Heavenly Kings the choice to withdraw from Five Peaks Prefecture or die, and the Sea-Covering Heavenly King agreed to withdraw their troops.
• Jiang Ning announced that he would meet Yellow Heaven Daoist, then flew to West Sand Commandery and found him in a valley with five other figures.
• Yellow Heaven Daoist recognized Jiang Ning as a threat to his plans, while Jiang Ning studied the five figures gathered on the cushions.

Jiang Ning confronted Yellow Heaven Daoist in a mountain valley and argued that overthrowing Great Xia would bring devastating war, while Yellow Heaven Daoist insisted that revolution was necessary to create a fairer dynasty. Unable to change the cult leader’s mind, Jiang Ning challenged him, and their Primordial Spirit powers collided as the five Heavenly Kings watched from above the valley.

• Jiang Ning met Yellow Heaven Daoist in a valley whose formation gave the cult leader confidence that he could withstand the Martial Saint.
• Jiang Ning warned that war would unleash violence and ruin ordinary people’s lives, while Yellow Heaven Daoist argued that Great Xia’s suffering required a new dynasty.
• Jiang Ning accused Yellow Heaven Daoist of helping cause the realm’s turmoil, and Yellow Heaven Daoist admitted that he had hastened Great Xia’s decline to force a new era.
• Jiang Ning gave up trying to persuade Yellow Heaven Daoist and challenged him to prove he could overthrow Great Xia.
• Jiang Ning and Yellow Heaven Daoist unleashed their powers and clashed, shaking the valley and injuring the retreating Heavenly Kings.
• One Heavenly King explained that the displayed power was only a fraction of a true immortal’s might.

Jiang Ning clashed with the Yellow Heaven Daoist in West Sand Commandery and left after they proved nearly evenly matched. The Yellow Heaven Daoist ordered his forces to withdraw from Five Peaks Prefecture, while Jiang Ning decided to grow stronger before confronting him again and departed for Celestial City.

• Jiang Ning and the Yellow Heaven Daoist exchanged primordial spirit attacks for nearly a cup of tea, matching each other despite the devastation around them.
• Jiang Ning warned the Yellow Heaven Daoist against the Yellow Heaven Cult’s plans, then flew away without appearing injured.
• The Yellow Heaven Daoist confirmed to the five Heavenly Kings that Jiang Ning had not been disadvantaged and admitted that he could not see through Jiang Ning’s strength.
• The Yellow Heaven Daoist explained that the advance into Five Peaks Prefecture had only been a probe and ordered the Mountain Suppressor and Sea Overturner to withdraw.
• Jiang Ning reflected that the Yellow Heaven Daoist’s strength and the valley’s great formation made attacking him too risky, then flew toward Celestial City.

Jiang Ning returned from meeting the Heavenly Kings and the Yellow Heaven Daoist, securing a temporary reprieve for Five Peaks Prefecture before setting out for the Royal Capital. He reunited with Zhong Ling, promised to visit her, and arrived in the capital as Ji Minghao waited to meet him.

• Jiang Ning told Zhou Sheng and Zhong Yue that the Heavenly Kings had agreed to withdraw from Five Peaks Prefecture and that the Yellow Heaven Cult would make no major moves soon.
• Jiang Ning explained that he had met the Yellow Heaven Daoist, whose defenses made resolving the cult’s threat difficult in the short term.
• Jiang Ning said farewell to Zhou Sheng and walked through Celestial City with Zhong Ling, promising to return within three months.
• Jiang Ning discussed the dangers facing Great Xia with Zhong Ling and said he acted to protect people within his power, not out of lofty ideals.
• Jiang Ning flew to the Royal Capital, where Ji Minghao was relieved to see his return and expected him to visit Lishui Palace.

Jiang Ning returned to the capital after helping Five Peaks Prefecture and confronting Yellow Heaven Daoist, then met Ji Minghao at Lishui Palace. Ji Minghao thanked him for saving the prefecture and revealed he had hoped Jiang Ning would help address the crisis; the Yellow Heaven Cult remained a threat, alongside another force known to the emperor.

• An imperial guard told Jiang Ning that Ji Minghao had waited for him at Lishui Palace, and Jiang Ning briefly returned to Marquis Dongling's Residence before setting out.
• Jiang Ning reached Lishui Palace and reflected that after absorbing the two celestial soldiers, he had become strong enough to face them even at their peak.
• Ji Minghao welcomed Jiang Ning and learned that he had helped Zhou Sheng repel the Yellow Heaven Cult's forces in Five Peaks Prefecture, then fought Yellow Heaven Daoist in West Sand Commandery.
• Jiang Ning explained that Yellow Heaven Daoist's Eight Trigrams formation gave him a decisive advantage, and Ji Minghao took comfort in Jiang Ning's confidence and strength.
• Ji Minghao revealed that he had intended to ask Jiang Ning to help Five Peaks Prefecture and invite him to court, then thanked him for preventing the prefecture from falling to the Yellow Heaven Cult.

Ji Minghao confided in Jiang Ning about his loveless marriage and his isolation as emperor, then asked him to attend court the next day. Jiang Ning agreed, cultivated the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method on Lishui Palace's ruined island, and later visited Lin Qingyi.

• Ji Minghao told Jiang Ning that he had married Shen Mengyun for General Shen Xiao's support and had few allies at court.
• Jiang Ning reassured Ji Minghao that ruling Great Xia required difficult choices, and Ji Minghao asked him to attend the next day's court assembly.
• Jiang Ning surveyed the battle-damaged island and used 200 Source Points to cultivate the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method.
• Jiang Ning raised the method's experience to 36773/80000 before leaving Lishui Palace after moonrise.
• Jiang Ning returned to Marquis Dongling's Residence and went to Lin Qingyi's room, where they became intimate.

Ji Minghao prepared for his first court session as emperor while Jiang Ning traveled to the palace and took his place at the head of the assembled officials. When Shen Xiao offered to relieve Five Peaks Prefecture, Ji Minghao revealed that Jiang Ning had already driven off the Yellow Heaven Cult’s armies without losing a soldier.

• Shen Mengyun brought Ji Minghao supper, and he burned the booklet From Luoshui County to Top Scholar after recalling Jiang Ning’s visit and his imperial guard’s report.
• Jiang Ning left Marquis Dongling’s Residence before dawn and rode the palace carriage to Supreme Ultimate Hall, where officials made way for him as the Luo River King.
• Ji Minghao opened his first court session as emperor, seated Jiang Ning and other senior officials, and heard an appeal for aid from Five Peaks Prefecture.
• Shen Xiao volunteered to lead ten thousand troops to Five Peaks Prefecture, but Ji Minghao said Jiang Ning had already made the Yellow Heaven Cult’s two Heavenly Kings withdraw without a fight.
• Jiang Ning confirmed Ji Minghao’s claim with a nod, leaving Shen Xiao astonished and conflicted.

At court, Ji Minghao faced news that the Northern Barbarians had besieged Heavenly Gate City under the Wheel-Turning King, who carried the aura of the god on Big Snow Mountain. Chancellor Li argued that only Jiang Ning or a few other top experts could answer the threat, leaving Jiang Ning under pressure to act as he recognized that Ji Minghao had maneuvered him into the role.

• Xiang Yuan and other officials urged Ji Minghao to reward Jiang Ning for resolving the crisis in Five Peaks Prefecture, and Ji Minghao said he had already arranged a reward.
• A military official reported that the Northern Barbarians had massed at the border and that the Wheel-Turning King had arrived outside Heavenly Gate City seeking reinforcements for the defenders.
• Jiang Ning recalled that the Northern Barbarians drew power and independence from a god confined to Big Snow Mountain, whom even the Martial Saint had once confronted.
• Ji Minghao struggled to quiet the noisy court until Chancellor Li silenced the officials and presented three urgent memorials describing the threatened fall of Heavenly Gate City.
• After the officials read the memorials, Chancellor Li said the Wheel-Turning King was likely seeking a confrontation with Jiang Ning or Ji Xuan and called on one of them to intervene.
• Jiang Ning realized Ji Minghao had prepared this request in advance and felt displeased at being maneuvered, though he remembered Ji Minghao's past support and knew he could not bear to let the city be massacred.

Jiang Ning accepted the emperor’s request to go alone to Heavenly Gate City and departed by the Rainbow-Transformation Technique. After he left, Ji Minghao rewarded Jiang Ning’s family with unprecedented titles and honors, while privately sensing unease.

• Jiang Ning agreed to confront the Northern Barbarians’ Wheel-Turning King and refused Shen Xiao’s offer of thirty thousand soldiers.
• Ji Minghao gave Jiang Ning an imperial decree granting him broad authority in the north, and Jiang Ning set off for Heavenly Gate City in a black-and-white rainbow.
• Ji Minghao ordered Jiang Ning’s brother, Jiang Li, promoted to Third-Rank Loyal and Brave General, and granted titles and honors to Lady Liu, Jiang Yiming, and Jiang Yuanyuan.
• The ministers unanimously supported Ji Minghao’s rewards, and the emperor ordered the edicts drafted and delivered.
• After the court dispersed, ministers discussed the unprecedented rewards, while Ji Minghao wondered why no one had objected and felt increasingly uneasy.

After the court session, Chancellor Li warned Xiao Wuque that the Wheel-Turning King’s power might signal the god of Big Snow Mountain had begun acting in the mortal world. Jiang Ning reached Heavenly Gate City and appeared before the Northern Azure King and Northern Pacifying King, as they debated whether they could hold the city.

• Xiang Yuan celebrated Jiang Ning’s northern campaign with the military officers, while Chancellor Li told Xiao Wuque he feared the god of Big Snow Mountain was granting the Wheel-Turning King power.
• Jiang Ning arrived above Heavenly Gate City, sensed the Northern Azure King and the Wheel-Turning King, and located the Wheel-Turning King among the vast Northern Barbarian forces outside the city.
• The Wheel-Turning King sensed Jiang Ning’s presence, but Jiang Ning had already vanished from the sky.
• The Northern Azure King urged the Northern Pacifying King, Xu Zhen, to abandon Heavenly Gate City because they could not stop the Wheel-Turning King, while Xu Zhen feared the consequences of retreat.
• Jiang Ning appeared unannounced in the council hall, and the Northern Azure King identified him as the Luo River King.

Jiang Ning arrived in Heavenly Gate City with an imperial edict authorizing him to handle the crisis and proved his overwhelming strength to the Northern Pacifying King. After confirming the Northern Barbarians’ danger, he questioned why their state preceptor had granted the city a fifteen-day deadline.

• Jiang Ning presented Ji Minghao’s edict, and the Northern Pacifying King and Northern Azure King accepted his identity and authority.
• Xu Zhen reported that the Northern Barbarians had brought at least a hundred thousand troops, including eight thousand Snow Dragon Colts, and that the Wheel-Turning King had defeated him in one exchange.
• The Northern Pacifying King asked to test Jiang Ning’s strength, and Jiang Ning pinned him down with one hand without moving as the king unleashed his full bodily strength.
• The Northern Pacifying King admitted the vast gulf between them and said Jiang Ning could resolve Heavenly Gate City’s crisis.
• Jiang Ning asked why the Wheel-Turning King had granted a fifteen-day deadline despite being able to breach the city, and Xu Zhen suggested the state preceptor feared the living Martial Saint’s wrath.

Jiang Ning explained that Wheel-Turning King was using the Northern Barbarian invasion to draw out Great Xia’s strongest fighters, then asked the Northern Pacifying King and Northern Azure King to gather treasures so he could strengthen himself before confronting him. They agreed, and Jiang Ning kept his arrival secret while anticipating a large supply of cultivation materials.

• Jiang Ning told Xu Zhen and the Northern Azure King that Wheel-Turning King had gained power from the deity of Big Snow Mountain and was likely seeking a clash with one of Great Xia’s top experts.
• Jiang Ning learned that the two kings had discussed abandoning Heavenly Gate City, and they assured him they would defend it and follow his command.
• Jiang Ning admitted he was not certain he could defeat Wheel-Turning King and said he needed heavenly treasures to break through his cultivation bottleneck.
• Xu Zhen and the Northern Azure King agreed to collect ordinary spirit herbs, fruits, and other treasures from their residences and across the city.
• Jiang Ning ordered the two kings to keep his arrival secret until the Northern Barbarian army could no longer hold back, then looked forward to gaining source points from the gathered treasures.

Jiang Ning prepared to face the Wheel-Turning King and the deity of Big Snow Mountain by gathering Source Points in Heavenly Gate City. After refining the Northern Pacifying King's heavenly treasures, he arranged to collect more resources from the city and left Xu Zhen with instructions to give people a chance to cooperate.

• Jiang Ning considered the threat posed by the Wheel-Turning King and the deity of Big Snow Mountain, then resolved to improve his strength before the Northern Barbarians' deadline.
• Xu Zhen brought four chests of heavenly treasures from his residence to Jiang Ning in the council hall.
• Jiang Ning swallowed and refined the contents of all four chests, gaining thirty-six Source Points and astonishing Xu Zhen with his methods.
• Jiang Ning asked Xu Zhen to gather heavenly treasures from the city's clans, merchant associations, and military officers to strengthen his preparations.
• Jiang Ning explained that Heavenly Gate City's people could trade resources for their lives if the city fell, and Xu Zhen agreed to enforce cooperation while giving them a chance to comply.

Jiang Ning refined natural treasures and cultivated, revealing a realm that awed the Northern Azure King. After supplying Jiang Ning with more treasures, the king learned that Jiang Ning had not killed his heir and suspected the Divine Might King, Li-Tian-Wen, had delivered the fatal blow.

• Jiang Ning used the medicinal power from four chests of treasures to advance the Black Dragon Swallowing Whale Technique, then began cultivating the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method.
• The Northern Azure King witnessed the spiritual radiance around Jiang Ning and realized the depth of his power as the Second Under Heaven.
• The Northern Azure King brought five chests of natural treasures, which Jiang Ning devoured to gain Source Points and raise his total to 443.8.
• Jiang Ning asked whether the Northern Azure King hated him, and the king admitted that Jiang Ning had killed his son.
• Jiang Ning denied killing the heir, reasoning that he would have killed the Northern Azure King too if he had taken the fatal blow.
• The Northern Azure King accepted Jiang Ning's claim and named Li-Tian-Wen, the Divine Might King, as the likely killer.

Jiang Ning accepted the Northern Azure King's loyalty and devoured the heavenly treasures gathered by the city's rulers and merchants. After cultivating through the night, he completed both techniques, advanced the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method to its eighth breakthrough, and upgraded several traits; he ended the chapter with 217.3 source points and resumed cultivation.

• The Northern Azure King admitted he had suspected the truth about his son's death, pledged loyalty to Jiang Ning, and went to requisition heavenly treasures.
• The Northern Pacifying King delivered carts of medicinal treasures, which Jiang Ning devoured to gain source points and fuel his cultivation.
• The Northern Pacifying King and Northern Azure King brought Jiang Ning further batches of resources throughout the night as he alternated between cultivating his two techniques.
• By dawn, Jiang Ning had completed the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method and the Black Dragon Swallowing Whale Technique, then spent 200 source points to break through to the method's eighth level.
• Jiang Ning saw a future vision of the Wheel-Turning King and Big Snow Mountain, and his spiritual wisdom trait advanced to pale gold.
• Jiang Ning spent another 200 source points to upgrade Insight into the True Spirit and First perception, then returned to cultivation with 217.3 source points remaining.

After Heavenly Gate City’s natural treasures ran out, Jiang Ning spent 500 source points to break through the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method, greatly strengthening his spiritual perception. He sensed mysterious shadows beyond flesh and spirit that might reveal the body’s great secret, while the red-robed State Preceptor ordered an ultimatum declaring that Heavenly Gate City would fall the next morning.

• The Northern Pacifying King and the Northern Azure King delivered Heavenly Gate City’s final supplies, bringing Jiang Ning’s source points to 933.3.
• Jiang Ning spent 500 source points to advance the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method to its ninth limit-breaking and strengthen his First perception trait to deep gold.
• Jiang Ning’s breakthrough released a radiant spiritual presence that affected the Northern Pacifying King and spread through Heavenly Gate City, prompting some residents to bow and proclaim their faith.
• The red-robed lama learned that Heavenly Gate City had received powerful reinforcements and ordered a final ultimatum, threatening to take the city the next morning.
• Jiang Ning perceived tens of thousands of scenes across the world, then sensed indistinct shadows throughout his body and suspected they were part of the body’s deeper secret and a new realm.

Jiang Ning cultivated the Indestructible Vajra Body and agreed to face the Northern Barbarian army after learning it would attack Heavenly Gate City at dawn. As the Wheel-Turning King approached the city and overwhelmed its defenders, Jiang Ning answered his challenge with a display of spiritual force.

• Jiang Ning inspected his cultivation progress, then began training the Indestructible Vajra Body as Northern Azure King and Northern Pacifying King Xu Zhen left the manor.
• Northern Azure King learned that the Northern Barbarian camp had announced an attack on Heavenly Gate City at dawn, and he and Xu Zhen asked Jiang Ning what he intended to do.
• Jiang Ning said he had seventy to eighty percent confidence in victory and told the two kings to watch from the city walls while he continued cultivating through the night.
• At dawn, the Wheel-Turning King walked through the air toward Heavenly Gate City, causing the defenders to drop their weapons and kneel under his pressure.
• The Wheel-Turning King challenged the hidden arrival, and Jiang Ning answered by releasing spiritual force that cleared the air and restored the soldiers' senses.

Jiang Ning faced the Wheel-Turning King’s Buddhist Pure Land and shattered it with the Heavenly Eye on his brow. The Wheel-Turning King admitted Jiang Ning’s mental strength was superior, then challenged him to a contest of Martial Dao.

• Jiang Ning appeared atop Heavenly Gate City’s walls and spoke with the Wheel-Turning King, who explained that he had waited to test Great Xia’s strength.
• The Wheel-Turning King summoned a Buddhist Pure Land, using its overwhelming spiritual pressure to make Heavenly Gate City’s citizens and soldiers kneel.
• Jiang Ning resisted the Wheel-Turning King’s command to bow before the Buddha and opened the Heavenly Eye on his brow.
• Jiang Ning’s Heavenly Eye dispelled the Buddhist visions and freed the people of Heavenly Gate City from the Wheel-Turning King’s influence.
• The Wheel-Turning King recognized Jiang Ning’s power and acknowledged his defeat in their clash of minds.
• The Wheel-Turning King stepped forward and challenged Jiang Ning to fight for supremacy in the Martial Dao.

Wheel-Turning King summoned an eight-armed Buddha Dharma Aspect and attacked Jiang Ning with its divine treasures. Jiang Ning’s Six-Foot Golden Body withstood several attacks, but the Dharma Aspect’s conch and treasure vase left his spirit shaken as it began to draw him in.

• Wheel-Turning King used power borrowed from the deity of Big Snow Mountain to summon an eight-zhang-tall, eight-armed Buddha Dharma Aspect.
• Jiang Ning manifested his Six-Foot Golden Body and crossed the distance to confront Wheel-Turning King.
• Jiang Ning caught the demon-subduing sword and shattered the vajra pestle with his fist, then evaded the demon-subduing hook.
• Wheel-Turning King used the precious parasol to suppress Jiang Ning, but Jiang Ning activated Heart Tribulation Fire and broke free.
• Jiang Ning destroyed the lotus and precious parasol with a punch, then endured the Dharma conch’s spiritual attack as Wheel-Turning King’s treasure vase began pulling him inside.