Chapter Summaries

Li Changshou learned that the Western Teachings planned to use Incense God Kingdoms and stored mortal souls to gain leverage over the Netherworld, and he began devising a countermeasure. After Youqin Xuanya recovered, he took her to see the Heavenly Court and asked Bian Zhuang to show him Tianya Pavilion, leaving Bian Zhuang terrified.

• Daoist Wen Jing reported that the Western Teachings planned to purge demons with karmic obstruction and exploit souls from the Three Thousand Worlds to establish another reincarnation site.
• Li Changshou revealed that he already knew about the Western Teachings’ Incense God Kingdoms and began planning how to brand them as a calamity and dismantle their scheme.
• Li Changshou left preparations for Yang Jian with True Lord Yu Ding, then secluded himself to analyze the Western Teachings’ plans.
• Youqin Xuanya recovered in the Water God’s Mansion, and Li Changshou took her to the Celestial River before planning to introduce her to the Jade Emperor.
• Li Changshou summoned Bian Zhuang and asked him to take him to Tianya Pavilion, prompting Bian Zhuang to drop to his knees and beg for mercy.

Li Changshou accompanied Bian Zhuang and Qin Tianzhu to Tianya Pavilion while arranging the creation of Lin Tian Hall to counter the Western Teachings in the Three Thousand Worlds. At Tianya Pavilion’s secret realm, Lü Yue recognized Li Changshou’s Paper Daoist and confronted him for visiting behind Yunxiao’s back.

• Li Changshou explained how the Jade Emperor approved Lin Tian Hall and gave him authority to use Heavenly Court resources, while Qin Tianzhu joined Li Changshou and Bian Zhuang on their journey to Tianya Pavilion.
• Bian Zhuang told Li Changshou and Qin Tianzhu about Tianya Pavilion’s origins, its voluntary romantic companions, and the Alliance of Vicious Women founded by his grandmother and her allies.
• Li Changshou recruited Bai Ze, Jiang Lin'er, Venerable Wangqing, and several of Venerable Wangqing’s disciples to help establish Lin Tian Hall.
• Li Changshou, Qin Tianzhu, and Bian Zhuang reached Tianya Pavilion’s secret realm, where guards recognized Bian Zhuang as the Young Pavilion Master and welcomed them inside.
• Lü Yue recognized Li Changshou’s Paper Daoist, identified himself as an expert from Nine Dragon Island, and accused Li Changshou of coming behind Senior Sister Yunxiao’s back.

Li Changshou visited Tianya Pavilion with Qin Tianzhu to recruit its forces for the Heavenly Court’s struggle against the Western Sect in the Three Thousand Worlds. Old Madam Bian agreed to consult the pavilion’s elders, while Li Changshou met Lü Yue and began explaining his plans.

• Li Changshou encountered Lü Yue at Tianya Pavilion, and Lü Yue wrongly accused him of visiting for pleasure while concealing his own frequent visits there.
• Old Madam Bian welcomed Li Changshou and Qin Tianzhu, then listened as Li Changshou explained the dangers facing Tianya Pavilion and asked it to work for the Heavenly Court.
• Old Madam Bian asked for two days to discuss the proposal with Tianya Pavilion’s elders, and Li Changshou asked Bian Zhuang to invite Lü Yue for a private talk.
• Li Changshou challenged Lü Yue to prove his identity, and Lü Yue recited private words Yunxiao had spoken about Li Changshou until Li Changshou apologized.
• Lü Yue agreed to hear Li Changshou’s important business, while Qin Tianzhu failed to get a look at Lü Yue’s cloth book.

Li Changshou questioned Lü Yue about his past and the Western Teachings while drinking with him at Tianya Pavilion, and concluded that Lü Yue was likely no Western spy. When the Western Teachings threatened Tianya Pavilion, Lü Yue chose to defend it, and Li Changshou prepared to help him strike back with a surprise plan.

• Li Changshou drew Lü Yue into conversation by discussing Poison Pills, and Lü Yue described how a pill-furnace explosion once tainted his Primordial Spirit with Evil Qi.
• Lü Yue explained his views on the Western Teachings and criticized several Chan Teaching disciples while praising heroes of the Jie Teaching.
• Qin Tianzhu revealed that Li Changshou wanted Tianya Pavilion to help the Heavenly Court oppose the Western Teachings in the Three Thousand Worlds.
• Bian Zhuang reported that the Western Teachings had threatened Tianya Pavilion and urged it to remain neutral.
• Lü Yue ordered Bian Zhuang to tell the Western Teachings that he would defend Tianya Pavilion, and Li Changshou offered him Treasure Pouches of tools for a surprise attack.

Li Changshou recruited Lü Yue to help defend Tianya Pavilion, teaching him covert poison tactics and persuading him to prepare an ambush against the Western Teachings. After Tianya Pavilion agreed to cooperate, the Western Teachings threatened to visit in three days, and Qin Tianzhu authorized Li Changshou and Lü Yue to strike back.

• Li Changshou impressed Lü Yue with covert methods for deploying poison, and Lü Yue gave him Golden Immortal poison pill formulas, Precious Medicine, and Poison Scriptures.
• Li Changshou and Lü Yue devised poison tactics, adopted disguises, and called themselves Harmonious Balance as they prepared to ambush Western Sect experts threatening Tianya Pavilion.
• Li Changshou persuaded Tianya Pavilion's elderly women to support the Heavenly Court and warned Old Madam Bian to watch two or three suspicious members.
• The Western Teachings threatened to visit Tianya Pavilion in three days, and Qin Tianzhu became angry while Li Changshou said he would find a way to resolve the crisis.
• Qin Tianzhu authorized Li Changshou and Lü Yue to use poison against their enemies and promised to shield them from karmic sin, while Li Changshou said more incarnations would arrive before the confrontation.

Li Changshou and Lü Yue ambushed the force gathered outside Heaven's End Secret Realm, using poison and Bian Zhuang's Nine-Tooth Rake to wipe out most of the invaders. The young Western Teachings expert escaped after Li Changshou struck him, and Tianya Pavilion prepared to deal with the remaining enemies.

• Li Changshou and Qin Tianzhu discussed the great tribulation and the strength of the Heavenly Court as enemy forces approached Tianya Pavilion.
• Li Changshou and Lü Yue hid near the enemy formation and secretly poisoned its experts while Bian Zhuang went out to confront them.
• Bian Zhuang claimed his Nine-Tooth Rake could ignite the karmic burden of hostile foes, and three Golden Immortals died as the enemy mocked him.
• Li Changshou and Lü Yue unleashed their poisons, incapacitating thousands of cultivators and killing the enemy's Golden Immortals.
• Li Changshou struck the young Daoist as he tried to escape, while another strike killed the old Daoist; the young Daoist nevertheless fled.
• Old Madam Bian ordered Tianya Pavilion to dispose of the remaining invaders and spread word that the pavilion would not tolerate trouble.

Li Changshou expanded his plans against the Western Teachings while recruiting Ling'e to help review the Anti-Western Immortal Dao Alliance. He then brought Lingzhu Zi to the Netherworld to introduce him to friends and submit a reform plan to the Yama Kings.

• Bian Zhuang's Nine-Tooth Rake became famous, while Li Changshou stayed in Heaven's End Secret Realm to build the Anti-Western Immortal Dao Alliance with Lü Yue as its first Vice Alliance Leader.
• The Western Teachings pulled back from Heaven's End Secret Realm and expanded elsewhere, giving Li Changshou more opportunities to recruit Three Thousand Worlds forces for the Heavenly Court.
• Li Changshou continued promoting the Heavenly Court and developing Lin Tian Hall as Youqin Xuanya advanced in the Thunder Department and Bai Ze's group contacted potential allies.
• Ling'e asked to help Li Changshou with his plans, and he assigned her to review faction information; she identified inconsistencies and suspicious ties to Western Teachings forces.
• Li Changshou took Lingzhu Zi to the Netherworld to introduce him to friends and submit the Jade Emperor-approved reform plan to the Yama Kings.

Li Changshou brought Lingzhu Zi to the Netherworld to learn the Wu Tribe’s masculine spirit while arranging for the Netherworld to join the Heavenly Court. Just as the Heavenly Dao granted merit for the reform, it postponed Li Changshou’s Merit Golden Body, leaving him to accept the delay.

• Li Changshou introduced Lingzhu Zi to Ox-Head and Horse-Face, asking them to help him become more masculine.
• Lingzhu Zi trained by brawling with Wu Tribe battle witches at A Slit of Sky, and Li Changshou left him with a Paper Daoist and spirit pills.
• Li Changshou gave the Netherworld Courage House plans to the Yama Kings and accompanied them to the Heavenly Court to submit a memorial placing the Netherworld under its authority.
• The Heavenly Dao recognized the reform by creating the Hall of the Five Sacred Mountains and granting merit to the ten Yama Kings and the hall’s divine seat.
• A purple bolt of lightning told Li Changshou that his Merit Golden Body was owed for now, and he accepted the postponement.

Li Changshou worried that the Heavenly Dao was withholding his Merit Golden Body and received counsel from the Yama Kings about keeping his Dao independent of merit. He later discovered that Lin Tian Hall had chosen Jiu Jiu as its Saintess, leaving him doubtful about the organization’s direction.

• Li Changshou considered why the Heavenly Dao had delayed his Merit Golden Body, then worshiped the Taiqing Portrait and received the message to rest easy.
• The Jade Emperor appointed the ten Yama Kings as Orthodox Gods, and Li Changshou arranged for them to return to the Netherworld with an escort.
• King Qin Guang explained the Heavenly Dao’s origins and transformations, then advised Li Changshou not to let merit taint his Dao.
• Li Changshou saw Lingzhu Zi feasting with Ox-Head and Horse-Face and noticed that the Netherworld House was being built near Fengdu City.
• Li Changshou observed Bai Ze lead a Lin Tian Hall gathering where members voted between Jiu Yiyi and Jiu Shi for Saintess.
• Jiu Jiu said she could choose neither, but the crowd rallied behind her, and Bai Ze and Venerable Wangqing accepted her as Lin Tian Hall’s Saintess.

Li Changshou corrected Lin Tian Hall’s recruitment methods, organized the Anti-Western Immortal Dao Alliance, and transformed the Netherworld’s Hall of Courage Testing into a haunted training ground for Lingzhu Zi. A sudden sensation connected to the Blood Sea led him to mobilize troops, while the Grand Pure Sage sent him several powerful treasures, including the Taiji Diagram.

• Li Changshou reprimanded Bai Ze for using the Soul-Refining Curse Technique to recruit cultivators and urged Lin Tian Hall to build its foundation in a way the Heavenly Dao would recognize.
• Li Changshou set the first gathering of the Anti-Western Immortal Dao Alliance and then traveled to the Netherworld to inspect the Hall of Courage Testing.
• Li Changshou remade the hall with layered arrays, eerie sounds, and Wu Tribe performers; King Chu Jiang tested it and was frightened despite his status as a Yama King.
• Li Changshou saw Lingzhu Zi practicing Witch Race Combat Techniques, then sensed a major event connected to the Blood Sea and ordered King Chu Jiang to mobilize troops for battle.
• The Grand Pure Sage sent Li Changshou the Xuanhuang Pagoda, the Universe Ruler, the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner, and the Taiji Diagram, while a Great Mage in Xuandu City wondered where the diagram had gone.

Li Changshou gathered powerful allies in the Netherworld after learning that the Western Teachings planned to disrupt reincarnation and establish a second Reincarnation Hall. He proposed concealing the group’s tracks inside the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk, while True Lord Yu Ding immobilized the reluctant True Lord Taiyi to bring him along.

• Li Changshou secured Ling'e’s safety at Du Xian Sect and hurried to the Netherworld after sensing an unusual disturbance in the Blood Sea.
• Li Changshou summoned True Person Huang Long, True Lord Taiyi, Duobao, Zhao Gongming, Yunxiao, Kong Xuan, and others to Fengdu City.
• Li Changshou told the gathered experts that the Western Teachings planned to release trapped souls, obstruct the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and create a second reincarnation in the Blood Sea.
• Duobao entered Li Changshou’s Courage Trial Hall and emerged frightened but impressed, then urged the others to try it.
• Li Changshou proposed using the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk to conceal the group’s tracks before striking the Western Teachings’ scheme.
• True Lord Taiyi refused to enter the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk, so True Lord Yu Ding immobilized him and prepared to take him along.

Li Changshou persuaded Houtu to reject the Western Teachings’ second reincarnation and prepared to investigate their scheme in the Blood Sea. He left disguised as a lizard, backed by a group of experts and several safeguards against a possible Saint’s ambush.

• Houtu told Li Changshou and the gathered experts that a Saint had shifted the Great Dao of Reincarnation and that the Western Teachings appeared to be building another reincarnation cycle.
• Li Changshou showed the experts the Western Teachings’ Incense God Kingdoms and explained how their influence over mortal believers and accumulated souls threatened the living and the Dao Sect.
• Li Changshou proposed rescuing the souls before the Western Teachings could release them, and Houtu agreed to reject the second reincarnation and lent him her Grass Ring.
• Li Changshou put the experts, including Kong Xuan, inside his Glazed Pagoda and disguised himself with Daoist Lu Ya’s appearance and aura before asking Houtu to send him outside Fengdu City.
• Li Changshou transformed into an Asura girl and then a tiny, invisible lizard, entering the Blood Sea while relying on the gathered experts and his safeguards to delay any Saint’s attack until his own Saint could arrive.

Li Changshou infiltrated the Blood Sea and found Asura experts guarding a ruined city whose formations carried a Saint’s Dao Charm. He used the Seven Emotions Incarnations to drive the Asuras into chaos, then lured one toward the trapped central hall, triggering its killing formations.

• Li Changshou searched the Blood Sea and overheard Asura experts warning each other that the Water God had intervened and that their race was fighting for its survival.
• Yunxiao and Holy Mother Jinling used the Cloud Mirror Technique to reveal the Asuras guarding a ruined city, while Daoist Duobao translated their conversation.
• Li Changshou used the Taiji Diagram to cross the city’s outer formations, discovered that a Saint’s formation blocked his way, and determined that the city’s traps all focused on the central hall.
• Li Changshou released the Seven Emotions Grass Ring’s Incarnations of Sorrow and Anger, causing the Asuras to despair, turn violent, and attack one another.
• Li Changshou persuaded an unstable Asura to charge into the central hall, drawing dozens of Asuras after it and triggering the city’s killing formations.

Li Changshou infiltrated the Western Teachings’ hidden Reincarnation Pagoda and used the Taiji Diagram to expose and disrupt their scheme. Saint Zhunti confronted him, but Yunxiao and the other experts emerged from Li Changshou’s sleeve to face the Saint, leaving the standoff unresolved.

• Li Changshou discovered a concealed Mustard Seed Heaven and Earth beneath the ruined Asura city and realized it hid the Western Teachings’ Reincarnation Pagoda.
• Li Changshou slipped through the layered formations, overheard Ksitigarbha discussing the Western Teachings’ plan, and reached the seventh formation with the Taiji Diagram.
• Li Changshou and the Taiji Diagram shattered the hidden world’s balance, exposing the pagoda and forcing Saint Zhunti to intervene.
• Li Changshou emerged before more than one hundred and sixty Western Sect experts and denounced their plan to use reincarnation to control living beings and extract merit.
• Saint Zhunti manifested and threatened to suppress Li Changshou beneath Spirit Mountain for a thousand years.
• Yunxiao, Zhao Gongming, Daoist Duobao, True Person Huang Long, Holy Mother Jinling, Kong Xuan, True Lord Yu Ding, and True Lord Taiyi emerged from Li Changshou’s sleeve, and Taiyi’s remark left the confrontation in awkward silence.

Li Changshou confronted Zhunti and the Western Teachings over their plan to establish a second reincarnation cycle, using Heavenly Dao oaths and accusations to pressure them into negotiation. Lord Tongtian then arrived and urged Li Changshou to continue, leaving him ready to discuss the Incense God Kingdom.

• True Lord Taiyi's blunt remark enraged Zhunti and disrupted Li Changshou's carefully planned confrontation, so Yu Ding sealed Taiyi's mouth.
• Li Changshou challenged Ksitigarbha and the Western Teachings to swear oaths, accused their disciples of misconduct, and invoked Heavenly Dao's deferred merit as proof of its support.
• Zhunti asked whether Li Changshou had said enough, signaling that he was prepared to negotiate over the reincarnation cycle.
• Lord Tongtian appeared, told Li Changshou to keep denouncing the Western Teachings, and joked about approving Li Changshou's marriage to Yunxiao.
• After Yunxiao objected to Tongtian deciding her marriage for her, Li Changshou turned the discussion toward the Incense God Kingdom.

Li Changshou led the Dao Sect in confronting the Western Teachings over the Incense God Kingdom after Lord Tongtian severed the Reincarnation Pagoda’s connection to Heavenly Dao. His public debate exposed the harm done to mortals, and the chapter ended with Lord Tongtian challenging Saint Zhunti to battle outside the heavens.

• Lord Tongtian used the Qingping Sword to sever the Reincarnation Pagoda’s connection to Heavenly Dao, while the Dao Sect prepared to debate the Western Teachings over the Incense God Kingdom.
• Zhao Gongming, True Lord Yuding, and True Person Huang Long broadcast the gathering to the Heavenly Court, where Li Changshou explained the planned debate and introduced Lord Tongtian.
• Li Changshou accused the Western Teachings of exploiting mortals for Incense Merit and showed evidence of famine, neglect, and deaths in their god kingdoms.
• Ksitigarbha challenged Li Changshou over his own past as a Wild God, but Li Changshou defended his authority and insisted that Western disciples were responsible for deceiving others and harming mortals.
• Saint Zhunti tried to end the confrontation, but Lord Tongtian rejected that proposal and challenged him to battle outside the heavens; True Lord Taiyi prepared to step forward.

Li Changshou waited beneath the Blood Sea while Lord Tongtian and Saint Zhunti fought beyond the heavens, then prepared the Daoist experts to seize the Reincarnation Pagoda when the Western Teachings released a flood of souls into the Netherworld. The attack began above Fengdu City, and Li Changshou ordered everyone to seize the pagoda.

• True Lord Taiyi’s sarcastic challenge forced Saint Zhunti to accept Lord Tongtian’s invitation to fight beyond the heavens.
• Lord Tongtian and Saint Zhunti vanished and began a battle that shook the Blood Sea, while Yunxiao and the other experts protected Li Changshou.
• Li Changshou ended his bronze-mirror broadcast, then explained to his allies that defeating the Western Teachings alone would not avert the great tribulation.
• Li Changshou told the Daoist experts to wait for the Western Teachings to release mortal souls and then seize the Reincarnation Pagoda.
• Li Changshou saw souls pour through Heaven and Earth Gaps toward Fengdu City and the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk, then ordered the experts to seize the pagoda.

Li Changshou’s group attacked the Western Teachings and nearly seized the Reincarnation Pagoda, but Saint Jieyin arrived and stopped the battle. Li Changshou gave Zhao Gongming a Chaos Green Lotus leaf to replace the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl Jieyin had taken.

• Li Changshou and the Dao Sect experts attacked the Western Teachings disciples guarding the Reincarnation Pagoda, while Kong Xuan was trapped in an array.
• Zhao Gongming used the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls to suppress the pagoda as Li Changshou sealed the Green Lotus Treasure Banner and blocked the Western Teachings’ attacks.
• Li Changshou’s Balance of All Things feint let him reach the pagoda, while Taiyi’s insult enraged the Western Teachings disciples and sent them chasing him.
• Jieyin appeared, seized one Sea-Calming Divine Pearl, and ended the fighting with a command to stop.
• Li Changshou greeted Jieyin and gave Zhao Gongming a Chaos Green Lotus leaf after Jieyin kept the pearl.

Li Changshou confronted Saint Jieyin and Ksitigarbha over the Western Teachings’ Reincarnation Pagoda and the souls displaced into the Blood Sea, forcing the sect to admit wrongdoing and negotiate with the Heavenly Court. After the Saints departed, a Western Teachings Daoist tried to destroy the pagoda, triggering a sudden disaster.

• Saint Jieyin arrived at the Reincarnation Pagoda as Kong Xuan escaped and the Daoist Sect and Western Teachings faced off over their dead and the damaged pagoda.
• Venerable Celestial of Primordial Beginning appeared, supported Li Changshou, and told him to answer Jieyin’s questions.
• Li Changshou challenged Ksitigarbha over the wandering souls and produced evidence linking them to Western Teachings’ Incense God Kingdoms; Ksitigarbha admitted the sect had caused the tragedy and promised an investigation.
• Jieyin returned Zhao Gongming’s Sea-Calming Divine Pearl and agreed to let the Heavenly Court take over the pagoda in exchange for compensation and help for six slain Western Teachings disciples.
• After Jieyin and Venerable Celestial of Primordial Beginning departed, Holy Mother Jinling attacked the pagoda, and a resentful Western Teachings Daoist struck its base, causing a pearl atop the pagoda to shatter as Ashes Qi appeared on his brow.

Li Changshou organized a massive effort to save the souls trapped above the Blood Sea, building the River of Three Crossings while Ksitigarbha repaired the Reincarnation Pagoda at great personal cost. The souls were rescued, and Ksitigarbha remained as the pagoda’s guardian with Truth Listener at his side.

• Li Changshou gathered the immortals to devise ways to preserve the fragile souls, and he brought Emperor Da Yu from Huoyun Cave to help increase reincarnation capacity.
• Li Changshou directed the construction of the River of Three Crossings, while Heavenly Soldiers, Netherworld officials, and other allies dug channels and prepared Living Spirit Water.
• The first souls passed through the river, and Li Changshou adjusted its flow after some souls shattered; the completed system was expected to save a quarter of those in danger.
• Ksitigarbha arrived, swore that the Reincarnation Pagoda would answer only to Empress Houtu, and sacrificed himself to restore it and merge it into reincarnation.
• Five days later, the River of Three Crossings was complete, and Ksitigarbha watched over the pagoda as Truth Listener returned to keep him company.