Chapter Summaries

Gu Yuan descended into the Demon Race’s world as a brick and destroyed several cities before a Nine Tribulations expert stopped him. After Gu Yuan returned, Wang Chi appeared in the Demon Race’s world, killed a second-stage Nine Tribulations expert, and fled after sensing a ninth-stage expert.

• Gu Yuan used Captain Wang’s spirit blood on a brick to descend into Agula’s space, then smashed Agula to death.
• Gu Yuan traveled through a teleportation array to the Demon Race’s world and destroyed cities, killing demons and more than a dozen great completion Void Shattering experts.
• A Nine Tribulations expert intervened, and Gu Yuan’s brick shattered against the expert’s hand when his time ran out.
• Gu Yuan woke in the library and reflected on what he had learned about the Demon Race and the realm above Void Shattering.
• Wang Chi arrived in the Demon Race’s world, killed a second-stage Nine Tribulations expert with a finger, then vanished after sensing a ninth-stage Nine Tribulations expert.

Wang Chi told Gu Yuan about encountering a Ninth Tribulation ninth-stage powerhouse in the Demon Race world, while Gu Yuan stayed unconcerned. Meanwhile, Zhao Ruiming brought Bai Meng to the Salvation Sect, where Bai Meng discovered Jian Huawei was already there.

• Wang Chi returned after killing a Ninth Tribulation first-stage powerhouse and fleeing from a ninth-stage cultivator, then asked Gu Yuan to help kill the latter.
• Gu Yuan examined Wang Chi and found that he had reached the Ninth Tribulation seventh stage, but declined to act immediately.
• The Demon Race suffered heavy losses, while the Human Race's Speaker failed to meet Agula and Song Shanhe's report about university president candidates remained pending.
• Zhao Ruiming brought Bai Meng to the Salvation Sect and told him they had come to join it, prompting Bai Meng to question his friend's motives.
• Zhao Ruiming led Bai Meng into an office, where Bai Meng found Jian Huawei sitting on a sofa.

Over the month, Zhao Ruiming and Bai Meng expanded the Salvation Sect, while Jiang Yang cultivated under lockdown. Gu Yuan watched Ratlike build a ferocious-beast force, which launched its first attack on a Demon Race stronghold and framed humans for it.

• Zhao Ruiming recruited the fugitive Sun Wei into the Salvation Sect and left him to establish a branch in United Great City.
• The Salvation Sect infiltrated the five great cities, their City Lord’s Mansions, and all five schools using Bai Meng’s Heart-Questioning Formation to screen members.
• Jiang Yang remained confined at Third Cultivation University and broke through to the late Qi Refining stage.
• Ratlike spread the Qi Refining Formula, expanded its territory across nearly half the forests, and recruited Golden Core ferocious beasts to help it.
• Ratlike ordered an attack on Demon Race gathering points in the northern forest and told its subordinates to leave traces implicating humans.
• Ferocious beasts attacked a Demon Race stronghold in the northern forest, starting a bloody conflict.

A new Demon Race Inspector took over after Agula's death, beat Song Shanhe, and ordered a purge of powerful humans in First Great City. Gu Yuan urged Wang Chi to deal with the Inspector, and Wang Chi vanished after agreeing to go.

• Song Shanhe met the new Inspector, who declared humans to be Demon Race slaves and demanded that all human affairs be submitted for his review.
• The Inspector learned that humans had attacked Demon Race territory and took his anger out on Song Shanhe.
• Song Shanhe ordered the United Standing Council Guard Headquarters to kill Earth Rank humans in First Great City who might be colluding with demons.
• Gu Yuan told Wang Chi that the Inspector was responsible for the worsening conditions and troubles at the library.
• Wang Chi realized Gu Yuan wanted him to deal with the Inspector, then vanished after saying he would go.

Jiang Yang simulated the Five-School Grand Competition, first dying in a demonic invasion and then surviving after warning the organizers and helping defeat the demons. He gained fame, received a Perfect Marrow-Cleansing Pill, and Gu Yuan recognized that the simulation’s honors might put Jiang Yang in danger of demonic retaliation.

• Jiang Yang drew another golden Luck at Work talent and simulated the Five-School Grand Competition, where contaminated food caused the competitors to collapse and demons later invaded.
• In his first simulation, Jiang Yang fought the demons alone and died, earning a spirit sword as a reward.
• Jiang Yang used another simulation to report the contaminated food and warn the schools about a possible demonic invasion, then performed well in the competition and helped kill many demons while surviving.
• Jiang Yang gained recognition from the United Great City Conference and received a Perfect Marrow-Cleansing Pill, which improved his spiritual-energy absorption after a painful purification.
• Gu Yuan watched Jiang Yang’s simulation and realized that the honor of slaying demons could expose Jiang Yang to retaliation.

Song Shanhe gathered the standing council members to discuss a Demon Race order forcing Ou Yuanqin to ascend, while Ou Yuanqin and Bai Changdu privately lamented the Human Race’s corruption and helplessness. They ended by considering whether to watch the quietly growing Salvation Sect.

• Song Shanhe learned that the Demon Race wanted Ou Yuanqin to ascend and summoned the standing council members, excluding Ou Yuanqin and Bai Changdu.
• Gu Yuan realized the Demon Race likely wanted ascended Human Race powerhouses for its own purposes.
• Song Shanhe told the council members that their task was to make Ou Yuanqin ascend.
• Ou Yuanqin received news of the meeting and called Bai Changdu to join him in private.
• Ou Yuanqin and Bai Changdu discussed the Human Race’s dire state, their constrained efforts to protect it, and the deaths caused by the corrupt upper echelon.
• Ou Yuanqin suggested that he and Bai Changdu keep watch on the developing Salvation Sect.

Jiang Yang and the students from Third Cultivation University arrived at Fourth Cultivation University for the Five-School Grand Competition, where an old man’s intervention exposed a problem with the catering company. As the arena battles began, Gu Yuan watched Wang Chi roam the venue invisibly.

• Vice Principal Zhang led Jiang Yang and the other Third Cultivation University students to the competition, while Gu Yuan told Wang Chi where it was being held.
• Wang Chi went to Fourth Great City searching for human-demons, then caused a commotion at the cafeteria that revealed the catering company’s food was unsafe.
• Jiang Yang saw a familiar old man disappear and learned from Principal Zhang that the people responsible for the food had been arrested.
• The Five-School Grand Competition opened with arena battles after Fourth Cultivation University's principal delivered a long speech.
• Gu Yuan spotted Wang Chi wandering invisibly around the venue and watching people’s pants.

During the Human Sacred Tower competition, Jiang Yang surged ahead while the unknown Wu Yan kept pace, drawing Gu Yuan’s interest. Gu Yuan gave Wu Yan a cultivation technique, and Wu Yan climbed to second place as Jiang Yang broke the tower record.

• The Human Sacred Tower opened, and Jiang Yang quickly reached the twentieth floor ahead of the other students.
• The crowd noticed Wu Yan following Jiang Yang, and Gu Yuan recognized him as a system owner cultivating a complete cultivation method.
• Gu Yuan sent the Qi-Blood Refining Formula into Wu Yan’s mind, and Wu Yan’s system announced that he could cultivate.
• The Heaven-Permeating Great Emperor observed that humanity was blessed by the heavens while he continued approaching the ninth-rank breakthrough.
• Jiang Yang reached the sixty-fifth floor and broke the previous record, while Wu Yan entered the overall rankings in second place.

Jiang Yang climbed to the ninety-fifth floor of the Human Sacred Tower, placing fifth on the overall rankings, while Song Shanhe learned that a mysterious Demon Race figure was watching him. Jiang Yang emerged to widespread acclaim but regretted falling short of the ninety-eighth floor.

• Jiang Yang defeated his opponents with ease and advanced through the Human Sacred Tower, shocking spectators as he reached the eightieth floor and beyond.
• Wang Chi dismissed Jiang Yang's achievement as the result of a cheat system while others watched in astonishment.
• Jiang Yang climbed past the eighty-fifth floor as Song Shanhe watched the broadcast and received a warning from a mysterious voice to let nature take its course.
• Jiang Yang reached the ninety-first floor and beyond, while Wu Yan fell from the tower after reaching the eighty-ninth floor and twentieth place overall.
• Jiang Yang collapsed from exhaustion on the ninety-fifth floor, earning fifth place overall and praise from the vice principal of Third Cultivation University.

Jiang Yang warned Meng Wenqing that demons had infiltrated Fourth Cultivation University, but the demons attacked during the Willpower Grand Competition anyway. As students and staff fought for their lives, Jiang Yang killed several demons while Wu Yan noticed something strange about the staff’s slowed reactions.

• Jiang Yang told Meng Wenqing that he had sensed demonic aura and feared an attack during the Willpower Grand Competition, and Meng Wenqing promised to make arrangements.
• Gu Yuan overheard Meng Wenqing privately wondering whether the demons had been exposed, while Gu Yuan trusted that the Heaven-Permeating Great Emperor would keep Jiang Yang from fatal danger.
• At the start of the competition, demons attacked the gathered students, and Jiang Yang killed two attackers with his sword.
• Meng Wenqing and several dozen staff members fought the demonic powerhouses, while Wu Yan noticed that people facing him seemed to move more slowly.
• Jiang Yang killed wave after wave of demons, including an early-stage Mystic-tier demon, as the battle left the university in chaos and most students dead.

After the demons’ attack on Fourth Cultivation University left many dead and the city under lockdown, Jiang Yang received the title of Human Race Guardian and one million contribution points. The recognition and the strength Wu Yan displayed pushed Jiang Yang to resume cultivating as the Human Race Prodigy Grand Competition approached.

• Wang Chi returned to the library disappointed that he had not found anyone interesting, and Gu Yuan distracted him with a video of beautiful women.
• The City Lord’s Manor arrived half an hour after the battle and announced a citywide lockdown and investigation.
• Song Shanhe issued Jiang Yang a commendation order on the Inspector General’s instructions, awarding him the title of Human Race Guardian and one million contribution points.
• During the three-day lockdown, Jiang Yang reflected on the deaths while students discussed his and Wu Yan’s performance in the demon attack.
• A United Standing Council guard delivered Jiang Yang’s commendation, prompting a wave of forum posts and complaints from some top-university prodigies.
• Jiang Yang recognized Wu Yan’s strength, felt pressure ahead of the Human Race Prodigy Grand Competition, and began cultivating.

Zhao Ruiming and Bai Meng discussed Salvation Sect’s plans and Jiang Yang, while Ratlike decided to capture human experts to improve the beasts’ cultivation. Ratlike abducted formation master Zhou Xiaoyi, who mistook the beast’s intentions for a demonic plot and vowed not to betray humanity.

• Zhao Ruiming and Bai Meng discussed Salvation Sect’s efforts to secure the garrison general position in First Great City and avoid exposing the sect.
• Zhao Ruiming concluded that Jiang Yang was likely not a demon or monster because the United Standing Council had honored him as Defender of Humanity.
• Ratlike struggled to teach ferocious beasts the Qi Refining Formula and decided to capture humans who could provide pills or set up formations.
• Zhou Xiaoyi left his wife in Second Great City to attend a formation conference in First Great City.
• Ratlike attacked Zhou Xiaoyi’s train, abducted him, and tied him to a tree after learning he was a formation master.
• Zhou Xiaoyi mistook Ratlike for a demon and declared that he would never betray humanity.

Zhou Xiaoyi was forced to serve as the demons’ formation master while Gu Yuan watched from the library. After new principal Zhou Bai berated Gu Yuan and ordered him dismissed, Gu Yuan sent Wang Chi to kill her, and Wang Chi destroyed the plaza with a fabricated meteor strike.

• Ratlike knocked Zhou Xiaoyi unconscious, took him to a forest house, and ordered him to work as the demons’ chief formation master.
• Gu Yuan learned that Zhou Bai, the new principal of Third Cultivation University, was a demon spy and watched her arrive at the library.
• Zhou Bai criticized Gu Yuan for doing no work and ordered him dismissed from the school.
• Gu Yuan told Wang Chi to kill Zhou Bai, and Wang Chi followed the procession and made a meteor crash into the plaza.
• Wang Chi saw the plaza destroyed and remarked that he had used too much force.

A meteorite killed Third Cultivation University's leadership, and the City Lord's Manor sealed the school while Gu Yuan and Wang Chi discussed the destruction. At the United Standing Council, Song Shanhe pressed Ou Yuanqin to ascend, then secretly plotted to force him after Ou refused.

• A meteorite crushed Third Cultivation University's leaders, and students recognized their belongings among the wreckage and reported the deaths.
• The City Lord's Manor investigated the scene, confirmed the leaders had been killed, and sealed the university.
• Gu Yuan watched the aftermath from the library as Wang Chi admitted to causing the commotion.
• The United Standing Council classified the deaths as a natural disaster, while Song Shanhe urged Ou Yuanqin to ascend for humanity's sake.
• Ou Yuanqin refused to commit to ascending, and Song Shanhe secretly resolved to make it happen for the Demon Race.
• Ou Yuanqin told Bai Changdu that Song Shanhe would scheme to trigger his ascension and lamented that he lacked a Saint-level successor.

After Zhao Ruiming broke through to Spirit Transformation, the Standing Council appointed him Enforcement Hall Master instead of admitting him as a councilor. Ou Yuanqin offered to ascend in exchange for a vacant council seat, but Song Shanhe refused, and Ou Yuanqin threatened to delay his ascension by entering seclusion.

• Zhao Ruiming broke through to Spirit Transformation and, after consulting Bai Meng, made his new strength public.
• The Standing Council announced Zhao Ruiming’s breakthrough, drawing widespread attention across the human race.
• The councilors rejected Zhao Ruiming’s admission to the Standing Council and appointed him Enforcement Hall Master instead.
• Gu Yuan sent the Qi Refining Formula into Ou Yuanqin and Bai Changdu’s minds during the council meeting.
• Ou Yuanqin offered to ascend and asked to leave a vacant seat behind, but Song Shanhe said the exchange was not enough.
• Ou Yuanqin said he would enter seclusion for more than a decade rather than ascend soon.

After learning that Ou Yuanqin would ascend in two days, Zhao Ruiming traveled to United Great City to take up his new role, while Gu Yuan agreed to attend the ceremony. Ou Yuanqin discovered that ascension meant death, but chose to face it without hesitation as he continued practicing the Human Race Qi Refining Formula.

• The United Standing Council announced Zhao Ruiming’s appointments and Ou Yuanqin’s ascension, prompting Gu Yuan to agree to watch and ask Wang Chi to arrange his entry.
• Zhao Ruiming said farewell to Bai Meng and traveled to United Great City for the handover with Ou Yuanqin.
• Ou Yuanqin and Zhao Ruiming spent a day and night discussing matters privately, and Ou Yuanqin gave Zhao Ruiming the resources he had accumulated.
• Ou Yuanqin practiced the Human Race Qi Refining Formula and found that it greatly purified his spiritual energy and increased his strength.
• A screen of light revealed to Ou Yuanqin that ascension meant death and the Demon Race’s supremacy, and he resolved to face his fate boldly.

At Ou Yuanqin’s lavish ascension ceremony, Gu Yuan watched the Sacred Institute’s leaders and discovered how many were demon spies. Ou Yuanqin broke through the Saint level as the crowd proclaimed “Humanity Eternal,” leaving his fate beyond the ceremony unresolved.

• Gu Yuan and Wang Chi arrived at the Sacred Institute, where Gu Yuan identified many prominent officials as demon spies.
• The nine councilors mocked Ou Yuanqin’s impending ascension and the fate awaiting him in Demon Race territory.
• Ou Yuanqin entered the garden, exchanged pointed remarks with Song Shanhe, and later joined the councilors as they went to greet the guests.
• The chairman praised Ou Yuanqin and proposed a statue, while Gu Yuan watched from the shade.
• Ou Yuanqin looked toward ordinary humans beyond the ceremony and declared, “Humanity Eternal,” as the crowd echoed him.
• At the end of the countdown, Ou Yuanqin’s cultivation broke through from the peak of the Saint level into a new realm.

Gu Yuan took control of Ou Yuanqin during his ascension and fought the Heaven-Permeating Great Emperor, who sought to use Ou Yuanqin’s many law powers to advance his own cultivation. As Gu Yuan’s time ran out, he fused the laws into Ou Yuanqin’s body, and Ou Yuanqin exploded.

• A rosy ascension light appeared, but Gu Yuan fell asleep and took control of Ou Yuanqin’s body as it rose toward the sky.
• Gu Yuan broke through to Great Perfection of Shattering the Void, then turned Ou Yuanqin around and attacked the officials below before heading for the Heaven-Permeating Great Emperor.
• Gu Yuan discovered that his Nine Tribulations strength let him wield many law powers, astonishing the Heaven-Permeating Great Emperor, who fought him for the laws.
• The battle shattered the ascension passage and moved into the Demon Race world, where the Heaven-Permeating Great Emperor summoned a giant palm and cauldron to seize Ou Yuanqin.
• As his time ran out, Gu Yuan fused the different law powers into Ou Yuanqin’s body, causing Ou Yuanqin to explode.

After Ou Yuanqin’s self-destruction failed to kill Heaven-Permeating Great Emperor, Gu Yuan returned to Third Cultivation University and asked Wang Chi about the Nine Tribulations realm. Wang Chi shared old names for the Myriad Laws Realm, including Immortal Venerable and Heavenly Immortal, and revealed that there had been two Great Cataclysms.

• Heaven-Permeating Great Emperor survived Ou Yuanqin’s self-destruction, mourned the Demon Race’s losses, and vanished.
• Gu Yuan returned to the human world, where Ou Yuanqin’s remaining sword strike had killed several people, then had Wang Chi transfer him back to Third Cultivation University.
• Gu Yuan learned that Wang Chi had comprehended the Law of Metal and was still facing the eighth tribulation.
• Wang Chi explained that cultivators in the Nine Tribulations realm comprehended laws and generally underwent a tribulation every ten thousand years, though talented cultivators could advance the timing.
• Wang Chi said that before the ancient Great Cataclysm the Myriad Laws Realm had been called Immortal Venerable, and that before an earlier Great Cataclysm it had been called Heavenly Immortal.

Gu Yuan watched Ratlike expand his operation by abducting an alchemist, while Song Shanhe used Ou Yuanqin’s apparent ascension to brand him a traitor and consolidate power in the United Council. Song Shanhe then targeted Bai Changdu and began wondering why the Inspector General had not appeared.

• Wang Chi questioned Gu Yuan about his law and whether he was using an external incarnation, but Gu Yuan refused to explain.
• Ratlike whipped Zhou Xiaoyi as he worked on cultivation chambers, while Huang Yutian unsuccessfully tried to escape and was captured again.
• Ratlike learned Huang Yutian’s master was an alchemical grandmaster in Second Great City, then abducted the master as well.
• Song Shanhe ordered Ou Yuanqin stripped of his honors and publicly denounced as a traitor after three Saint-rank experts died.
• Song Shanhe ordered Bai Changdu removed from the United Council, then wondered where the absent Inspector General had gone.