Chapter Summaries

Li Changshou prepared a Heavenly Court confrontation with Spirit Mountain and coached Bian Zhuang to stage an injury as leverage. After Jin Peng demanded that Maitreya answer for attacking a Heavenly General, Li Changshou requested an audience with the Western Saints, and Jieyin finally invited him inside.

• Wen Jing received Li Changshou’s instruction to remain calm and prioritize her own safety during the Heavenly Court’s move against Spirit Mountain.
• Li Changshou met Zhao Gongming and Bian Zhuang, reviewed Bian Zhuang’s staged-injury act, and brought Zhao Gongming along as a specially invited Heavenly Court guest official.
• Li Changshou led Jin Peng, Bian Zhuang, Zhao Gongming, and several dozen Heavenly Generals to Spirit Mountain to demand that Maitreya answer for secretly injuring a Deputy Commander of the Celestial River Navy.
• Jin Peng challenged Spirit Mountain’s disciples to produce Maitreya, while Li Changshou asked to meet the Western Saints and urged them to investigate their disciples’ misconduct.
• When Spirit Mountain’s disciples refused to pass along Li Changshou’s request, Bian Zhuang spat blood and Zhao Gongming denounced them for shielding criminals.
• Jieyin appeared in Spirit Mountain’s main hall and invited Li Changshou inside for a discussion.

Li Changshou persuaded Saint Jieyin to let Heavenly Court search Spirit Mountain for Maitreya and its hidden beasts, using the Dao Ancestor’s presumed approval to secure permission. As the search uncovered vicious beasts, Daoist Wen Jing was discovered and requested an audience with Li Changshou.

• Li Changshou entered Spirit Mountain alone, broadcast his visit to Heavenly Court, and showed Saint Jieyin evidence linking Maitreya to Kunpeng and the attack on Heavenly Court.
• Saint Jieyin said Maitreya was away and agreed to a search of Spirit Mountain after Li Changshou invoked the Dao Ancestor’s presumed intent.
• Li Changshou ordered the Eight Divisions Heavenly Generals and six thousand soldiers to search Spirit Mountain without damaging its grounds.
• Heavenly Court’s forces found and subdued several hidden vicious beasts, while Daoist Wen Jing sheltered some fleeing beasts in her cave.
• Golden Roc Bird’s troops discovered Wen Jing’s cave and identified her as a Blood Sea Fierce Mosquito, and Li Changshou agreed to meet her after she requested an audience.

Li Changshou confronted Saint Jieyin and Daoist Wen Jing over the Western Teachings’ protection of fiendish beasts, securing a face-saving agreement while the Heavenly Court captured the creatures. As the Western Teachings faced losses, Flower-Fruit Mountain appeared on the Eastern Continent, where a spiritual stone began to stir.

• Li Changshou kept Daoist Wen Jing waiting outside Spirit Mountain’s hall while Jin Peng led the Heavenly Generals in capturing fiendish beasts and demons.
• The Jade Emperor asked the Wood Duke to investigate Daoist Wen Jing’s marriage fate and praised Li Changshou’s careful handling of the confrontation.
• Saint Jieyin released Daoist Wen Jing’s restraints, and she defended the Western Teachings’ doctrine of guiding the wicked toward goodness.
• Li Changshou challenged Wen Jing over whether the Western Teachings would shelter a vicious criminal and proposed reporting the capture as aid to Spirit Mountain; Jieyin remained silent and later told Wen Jing to move her cave dwelling up the mountain.
• Nuwa watched the confrontation, then heard a gray shadow say that the West had suffered losses and the opportunity for it to flourish had arrived.
• Flower-Fruit Mountain appeared in mist along the coast between the Eastern Divine Continent and the Southern Continent, and a man-tall spirit stone began to stir with Spiritual Thought.

After leading the Heavenly Court’s campaign against Spirit Mountain and expanding its influence across the Three Thousand Worlds, Li Changshou discovered that his Merit Golden Body was stuck at ninety-eight percent. He spent much of his accumulated merit to forge an evasion treasure for Ling'e, only for a sudden pillar of Heavenly Dao merit to descend upon him.

• Li Changshou ordered the Heavenly Soldiers to withdraw from Spirit Mountain with the captured fiend beasts and demon beasts, while Saints Jieyin and Zhunti chose not to intervene.
• Yunxiao learned that Li Changshou had returned safely, and she resolved to endure the great tribulation before seeking freedom from their restraints.
• The Heavenly Court executed the captives, expanded its campaigns across the Five Continents and Three Thousand Worlds, and strengthened its influence while secretly supporting Lin Tian Hall.
• After decades of work and cultivation, Li Changshou confirmed that his Merit Golden Body had stalled at ninety-eight percent because the Dao Ancestor had withheld merit.
• Li Changshou used much of his stored merit to refine a supreme-grade Merit Evasion Treasure for Ling'e and gave it to her.
• A golden pillar of Heavenly Dao merit suddenly descended upon Li Changshou, while words in his heart declared, “This time, for sure.”

Li Changshou received the merit owed to him and spent decades forging a powerful set of defensive battle treasures for Yunxiao. He presented her with a giant jade incarnation armed with a main cannon and hundreds of smaller weapons, and Yunxiao accepted it tenderly.

• Li Changshou received merit from the Dao Ancestor, then complained privately about the restrictions on his plans and considered what treasure to forge for Yunxiao.
• Li Changshou designed and built a Hundredfold Spirit Energy Cannon, tested its power, and infused it with merit, while the Heavenly Court worked to contain the ongoing wars and monitor the Dragon Clan's growing problems.
• After deciding Yunxiao needed more than a cannon, Li Changshou spent another century assembling a complete set of battle treasures into a giant jade incarnation modeled after her.
• Li Changshou visited Three Immortal Island and showed Yunxiao the jade incarnation, which drew in spiritual energy, activated protective arrays, and wielded a powerful cannon with hundreds of smaller openings.
• Yunxiao accepted the gift after seeing the inscription dedicated to her, while True Person Huang Long sneezed in Magu Cave.

Li Changshou and Yunxiao visited Jie Teaching’s Daoist grounds, where he met Wen Zhong and began considering preparations for the Investiture of the Gods calamity. As he investigated a rumored demon-occupied immortal mountain, Longji reported that Bian Zhuang had barged into the Moon Palace and was being attacked by the Chang'es.

• Qiongxiao and Bixiao admired Yunxiao’s jade statue and wondered what Li Changshou did in Heavenly Court.
• Li Changshou and Yunxiao visited Biyou Palace, where he met Wen Zhong and Yu Yuan and gave gifts to Wen Zhong and Yu Hua.
• Li Changshou and Yunxiao toured several Jie Teaching islands before parting, and Li Changshou decided to consult the Jade Emperor before visiting Bai Jian.
• Near the Eastern Heavenly Gate, Li Changshou overheard heavenly generals discussing a demon-occupied immortal mountain and sent Paper Daoists to investigate it.
• Longji hurried to Taibai Palace and told Li Changshou that Bian Zhuang had entered the Moon Palace and that its Chang'es were about to beat him to death.

Li Changshou held an inquiry after Bian Zhuang was found inside the Moon Palace’s forbidden Moonlight Pool and faced pressure to punish him to protect the Heavenly Court’s reputation. Fairy Heng'e revealed evidence that Bian Zhuang had been framed, and Li Changshou ordered the case brought before the Jade Emperor.

• Moon Palace fairies accused Bian Zhuang of entering the Moonlight Pool, so Li Changshou convened an inquiry with Wood Duke and Matchmaker.
• Bian Zhuang said he could not remember how he had reached the pool, while Matchmaker demanded his execution and Wood Duke urged the inquiry to hear him out.
• Li Changshou ordered an investigation, warned others not to interfere, and questioned witnesses who recalled Bian Zhuang drunkenly boasting about his access to the Moon Palace.
• Ao Yi defended Bian Zhuang, but Li Changshou maintained that the Heavenly Court’s authority required a strict judgment if the accusations proved true.
• Bian Zhuang denied that he would ever spy on the fairies, but Li Changshou asked him to admit or deny his guilt under the heavenly laws.
• Fairy Heng'e arrived and used a Cloud Mirror to show that the Moonlight Pool’s formations had not been breached, indicating that Bian Zhuang had been placed there to frame him; Li Changshou ordered everyone except Heng'e to appear before the Jade Emperor.

Li Changshou investigated the plot against Bian Zhuang, which began as a frame-up by several Chang'e and led to a claim that Yunxiao was being targeted. He ordered the matter pursued to its end and secretly sent Jin Peng to investigate and rescue the family held hostage.

• Li Changshou and Heng'e discussed Bian Zhuang's case, and Heng'e confirmed that he had been brought to Moonlight Pool from within the array.
• The Jade Emperor punished Bian Zhuang by barring him from marriage arrangements for a thousand years, while Li Changshou stripped him of his deputy command and confined him for a hundred years.
• Li Changshou waited at the Moon Palace while Lingzhu Zi and Jade Rabbit watched the Chang'e, then summoned several suspicious fairies for questioning.
• One Chang'e confessed that four fairies had plotted to frame Bian Zhuang, but she then revealed that her sister's family had been taken hostage and that the plotters sought to drive a wedge between Li Changshou and Heng'e to protect Yunxiao's marriage affinity.
• Li Changshou ordered the case sent to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and declared that it must be investigated to the end, then directed Jin Peng to secretly investigate the hostage family and rescue them if possible.

Li Changshou and the Jade Emperor turned the plot against Bian Zhuang and Yunxiao into a public crisis for the Heavenly Court, while Li Changshou mobilized the Jie Teaching to help investigate. After Jin Peng reported that he had rescued some souls and captured hired killers but lost their trail, Li Changshou revealed that he already knew who was behind the scheme and ordered Jin Peng to spread a false claim that the Heavenly Dao had revealed a lead.

• Li Changshou told the Jade Emperor that he wanted to make the plot against him and Yunxiao a major matter, and the Jade Emperor agreed to help him retaliate without alerting the Dao Ancestor.
• The Jade Emperor publicly condemned the plot in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, ordered a Heavenly Court investigation, and sent gifts and an apology to Yunxiao on Three Immortal Island.
• Li Changshou spread news of the Heavenly Court's response while his forces searched for the plotters, but the Chang'e's relatives were killed before they could be rescued.
• Li Changshou drew the Jie Teaching into the investigation by involving Yunxiao, Zhao Gongming, and the Jade Emperor's warning about the coming Killing Calamity.
• After returning from Taiqing Temple, Li Changshou heard Jin Peng had saved more than half the relatives' souls and captured several hired Celestial Immortals, though their trail had gone cold.
• Li Changshou told Jin Peng to make a conspicuous return and claim that the Heavenly Dao had revealed a lead, saying he already knew the schemer's identity and wanted them to suffer.

Li Changshou uncovered Chan Teaching’s role in the plot against Chang'e and mobilized Jie Teaching to confront the suspected culprits. After first heading west, his group changed course for Jade Void Palace, where Holy Mother Jinling demanded that Ju Liusun come out.

• Li Changshou told Bai Ze that the investigators had erased the clues and said he would continue pursuing the mastermind while Bai Ze returned to the Heavenly Court.
• At Jade Void Palace, Guang Chengzi told Chi Jingzi to stop covering for the plotters, prepare to receive Li Changshou, and watch Randeng and Ju Liusun.
• Jin Peng returned with new findings, and the Heavenly Court sealed the Five Continents as Li Changshou prepared to act.
• Li Changshou and Bai Ze arrived above Golden Ao Island, where Bai Ze read the three teachings’ fortunes as showing minor misfortune; Li Changshou asked Jie Teaching representatives to accompany him as witnesses.
• Zhao Gongming, Holy Mother Jinling, Holy Mother Guiling, Qiongxiao, and other Jie Teaching experts joined Li Changshou, who turned the group away from Spirit Mountain and toward Jade Void Palace.
• Holy Mother Jinling arrived at Jade Void Palace and called for Ju Liusun to come out.

Li Changshou confronted the Chan Teaching over the plot against the Heavenly Court, publicly reported his actions to the Saint, and captured Ju Liusun for trial. He left Jade Void Palace with Yang Jian ordered to escort the prisoner to the Heavenly Court.

• Holy Mother Jinling attacked Jade Void Palace, but Yun Zhongzi stopped her sword before Zhao Gongming explained that the Jie Teaching had come to witness the investigation into the framing of a Heavenly Court general.
• Li Changshou revealed his true body, knelt to report the matter to Second Martial Uncle, and declared that he would act against the culprit to defend the Heavenly Court.
• Li Changshou demanded that Ju Liusun come to the Heavenly Court for trial, then used his Great Dao of Balance and Heart-Piercing Lock to suppress and capture him.
• Guang Chengzi tried to keep Ju Liusun at Jade Void Palace, but the immortals persuaded both sides to avoid a fight and let the Chan Teaching escort Ju Liusun to the Heavenly Court.
• Li Changshou ordered Yang Jian to arrest Ju Liusun, handed him the Heart-Piercing Lock, and departed for the Heavenly Court on Bai Ze.

Li Changshou and Bai Ze weighed the political fallout after Yang Jian brought Ju Liusun to the Heavenly Court, while Li Changshou explained that Guang Chengzi’s overplayed defense of Chan Teaching had left them little room to avoid a confrontation over Randeng. As Li Changshou reaffirmed his plan to retire after the Investiture of the Gods, the Heavenly Emperor arrived at Jade Void Palace with a vast army.

• Li Changshou ordered Yang Jian to take Ju Liusun to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for a thorough interrogation, then returned to Taibai Palace with Bai Ze.
• Li Changshou told Quan Tong and Bai Ze that Guang Chengzi’s invocation of the Dao Sect’s Pact of Non-Aggression had made it difficult to capture Randeng without forcing Chan Teaching into open conflict with the Heavenly Court and Jie Teaching.
• Li Changshou explained that he intended to withdraw from the Heavenly Court after the Investiture of the Gods so the Jade Emperor could establish his own authority, though he would remain available when summoned.
• At Yuxu Peak, Guang Chengzi and the other Chan Teaching immortals discussed the incident until Yuding warned that Ju Liusun might expose the person behind his scheme and provoke the Heavenly Court to demand that person’s handover.
• The Jade Emperor arrived above Jade Void Palace with Heavenly Court ministers and hundreds of thousands of heavenly soldiers.

Li Changshou arranged for the Jade Emperor to confront Chan Teaching over Randeng’s plot against Bian Zhuang, forcing Venerable Celestial of Primordial Beginning to hand Randeng over for Heavenly Court questioning. A vision then revealed that Guang Chengzi had helped devise the scheme, and Li Changshou proposed inviting Chan and Jie Teaching disciples to witness the trial.

• Ju Liusun confessed that Randeng had ordered him to frame Jie Teaching by targeting Bian Zhuang, and the Jade Emperor brought the confession to the Jade Void Palace.
• Guang Chengzi challenged the Heavenly Court’s right to seize Randeng without further evidence, prompting the Jade Emperor to summon his imperial authority and address Venerable Celestial of Primordial Beginning.
• Venerable Celestial of Primordial Beginning ordered Randeng to cooperate, and Randeng sealed his Primordial Spirit and went with the Heavenly Court soldiers.
• The Jade Emperor instructed Li Changshou to handle Randeng and Ju Liusun fairly while accounting for Chan Teaching’s reputation, and Li Changshou accepted.
• A vision showed Guang Chengzi discussing the plan to target Bian Zhuang with Ju Liusun, while Guang Chengzi later told the other disciples that Randeng had been led astray by tribulation fortune.
• Li Changshou proposed inviting three disciples each from Chan and Jie Teaching to observe the Heavenly Court trial, and the Jade Emperor approved.

Li Changshou arranged a public Heavenly Court trial for Randeng and Ju Liusun, inviting senior disciples from Chan and Jie Teachings to observe. The proceedings began in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where Randeng and Ju Liusun were brought before the court.

• On the way back to Heavenly Court, Li Changshou decided to use the trial to target Randeng and obtain his Universe Ruler, while also making Guang Chengzi attend as an observer.
• Guang Chengzi brought Taiyi, True Lord Yu Ding, and True Person Huang Long; Qiongxiao secretly summoned Yunxiao by claiming someone was plotting against Li Changshou.
• Li Changshou asked the Chan and Jie Teaching representatives whether Randeng or Ju Liusun should bear the greater blame, and Holy Mother Jinling urged him to focus on Randeng.
• Ao Yi and Lingzhu Zi escorted the seven immortals through Heavenly Court, where officials and soldiers prepared a grand public courtroom before the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
• Dong Mugong announced the trial, Li Changshou took the chief judge's seat beside Heng'e, and Yang Jian and Jin Peng brought Randeng and Ju Liusun before the court.

Li Changshou turned Randeng’s attempt to challenge the Heavenly Court’s authority into a declaration of its principles, then sentenced Randeng and Ju Liusun for their roles in the Chang’e case. Just as the hearing ended, Youqin Xuanya and the Shang Kingdom’s Human Emperor accused Randeng of destroying the Youqin Kingdom, prompting Li Changshou to request a new trial with the Jade Emperor as chief judge.

• Randeng questioned the Heavenly Court’s right to try Innate beings, and Li Changshou responded by proclaiming rules of fairness and justice for all beings.
• Bian Zhuang, Chang’e Su Qing’er, witnesses, and rescued souls testified, and Ju Liusun admitted hiring Rogue Cultivators to kill Chang’e’s family and frame Bian Zhuang.
• Li Changshou sentenced Su Qing’er and the other accomplices, then sealed Ju Liusun’s Dao advancement and merits and imposed the same punishment on Randeng after Guang Chengzi guaranteed Chan Teaching’s responsibility.
• Longji arranged for Yunxiao to enter the Heavenly Court and welcomed her with Queen Mother’s permission while Li Changshou continued the hearing.
• Youqin Xuanya accused Randeng of ordering the destruction of the Youqin Kingdom, and the Shang Kingdom’s Human Emperor also accused him through dream messages.
• Li Changshou revealed that he had witnessed Randeng issue the order and asked the Jade Emperor to preside over an immediate investigation.

Li Changshou turned the hearings against Randeng into a broader effort to hold him accountable for destroying the Youqin Kingdom, while preparing for possible intervention from Chan Teaching and the Western Teachings. Venerable Celestial of Primordial Beginning learned of Li Changshou’s plans and sent Immortal Nanjixian to the Heavenly Court, leaving Randeng’s fate unresolved.

• Li Changshou arranged for the Current Human Emperor to accuse Randeng of destroying the Youqin Kingdom, and True Lord Yu Ding warned him that Venerable Celestial of Primordial Beginning might intervene.
• Li Changshou told True Lord Yu Ding that Randeng’s fate depended on who arrived first to save him, then asked him to restrain True Lord Taiyi to prevent a Saint war.
• The Jade Emperor opened a Heavenly Dao investigation into Randeng’s actions and sent the Golden Roc Bird to bring Daoist Wei Zi to the Heavenly Court as a witness.
• Chi Jingzi escorted Daoist Wei Zi from the Jade Void Palace, while Daoist Wei Zi decided to seek Guang Chengzi’s advice before testifying.
• Venerable Celestial of Primordial Beginning acknowledged that Li Changshou’s actions might disrupt his plans and sent Immortal Nanjixian to the Heavenly Court to try to save Randeng.

At Randeng’s trial, witnesses and recorded evidence established his role in the Youqin Clan massacre, and he confessed after Li Changshou pressed for judgment. Immortal Nanjixian then delivered the Primordial Beginning Saint’s argument for leniency, prompting Li Changshou to challenge Randeng to a personal duel as the chapter ended.

• Daoist Wei Zi admitted that Randeng arranged the attack on the Hong Lin Kingdom, while the Jade Emperor invoked the Heavenly Dao to test his testimony.
• The Daoist Wei Immortal Sect’s leaders testified that Randeng ordered them to control neighboring tribes and described how they carried out his plans.
• Li Changshou presented an Image Recording Orb showing Zhao Gongming trapping Randeng, and Randeng eventually acknowledged responsibility for the massacre.
• As the Heavenly Court moved to arrest Randeng, Immortal Nanjixian arrived with a Saint’s Edict urging swift judgment and arguing that Randeng deserved leniency because the Heavenly Rules had not yet been established.
• Li Changshou rejected the implication that Randeng should escape punishment and challenged him to settle their old feud in a duel, while their allies prepared to intervene.

Li Changshou challenged Daoist Randeng to settle their personal grudge in the Heavenly Court, then exposed Randeng’s crimes and fought him while waiting to see whether the Western Teachings would intervene. With the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, Li Changshou extinguished Randeng’s Spirit Lamp and defeated him, leaving the ancient body inside the Stone Coffin sealed in ice and taking the lamp.

• Li Changshou declared his intent to kill Randeng over their personal enmity, and Guang Chengzi and Immortal Nanjixian ultimately did not oppose the duel.
• Zhao Gongming kept Huang Long from intervening while True Lord Taiyi and True Lord Yu Ding pretended to fall asleep, and Li Changshou ambushed Randeng with the God-Slaying Spear.
• Randeng used a Stone Coffin to recover from repeated attacks, and Li Changshou used the Heavenly Eye to reveal that Randeng had refined several Great Thousand Worlds for vitality.
• Li Changshou balanced Randeng’s Dao realm and attacked him, then used the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls to pour water into the Stone Coffin and extinguish Randeng’s Spirit Lamp.
• An ancient Daoist emerged from the Stone Coffin and explained that Randeng had been a thought born from his corpse; after the Daoist returned to the coffin, Li Changshou took the Spirit Lamp and sealed the frozen coffin with the Taiji Diagram.

Li Changshou defeated Randeng, exposed his crimes, and contained the ancient stone coffin beneath the Reincarnation Pagoda while shaping the fallout across the Three Realms. After returning to Heaven and proposing a Heavenly Court position for Immortal Nanjixian, he spotted a graceful figure waiting outside Taibai Hall; elsewhere in the Chaos Sea, a young Daoist examined a group of imposing figures.

• Li Changshou sealed Randeng’s Spirit Lamp, received congratulations from the assembled immortals, and attended the Jade Emperor’s audience about Randeng.
• Li Changshou steered public rumors toward Randeng’s crimes and the Heavenly Court’s fairness, while Chan Teaching and the Western Teachings reacted with alarm.
• Li Changshou had the stone coffin buried beneath the Reincarnation Pagoda in Fengdu City and spoke with Ksitigarbha about power, the Heavenly Court, and Heavenly Dao.
• Li Changshou escorted Guang Chengzi and Immortal Nanjixian to the Middle Heavenly Gate, then invited Nanjixian to become a Heavenly Court god of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity.
• Li Changshou returned to Taibai Palace and noticed a graceful figure pacing outside Taibai Hall, while a young Daoist in the Chaos Sea examined a group of imposing figures.

Li Changshou welcomed Youqin Xuanya to a banquet on Lesser Qiong Peak after returning from placing the stone coffin with Ksitigarbha, and the gathered immortals discussed Randeng’s defeat and the approaching Great Calamity. After the guests departed, Li Changshou privately gave Zhao Gongming Randeng’s Universe Ruler, revealing a way to advance the Twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.

• Li Changshou brought Youqin Xuanya to Lesser Qiong Peak, where Ling'e and the gathered immortals welcomed her.
• Li Changshou told the immortals that the stone coffin had been placed with Ksitigarbha, and they discussed Randeng’s death, their hidden trump cards, and the Great Calamity.
• The immortals feasted for three days before departing, while Li Changshou stayed behind to consult his teacher about the corpse in the stone coffin.
• Zhao Gongming returned to meet Li Changshou privately, and they discussed strengthening his body and the limits of the Twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.
• Li Changshou gave Zhao Gongming Randeng’s Universe Ruler, which Zhao Gongming recognized as the catalyst that could help him turn the pearls’ illusory worlds into real ones.