Chapter Summaries

Daoist Duobao urged Lord Tongtian to strike the Western Teachings before the great calamity, while Lord Tongtian weighed the dangers and delayed his decision. Li Changshou discussed stability and the coming calamity with the Jade Emperor, then learned that Jie Teaching had decided to prepare for an attack on the Western Teachings and was seeking his advice.

• At Kunlun, the Chan Teaching Immortals watched Bai Jian build the Investiture of the Gods Platform as Guang Chengzi summoned disciples to discuss the looming conflict.
• In Biyou Palace, Duobao argued that Jie Teaching should attack the Western Teachings while the opportunity remained, but Lord Tongtian considered the risks and promised a decision within half a day.
• Li Changshou told the Jade Emperor that his wish was stability, and the two discussed the calamity, its rules, and Longji's involvement.
• After hearing that Duobao planned to ask how to destroy Spirit Mountain, Li Changshou returned his attention to Three Immortal Island, where the eight great Jie Teaching disciples gathered.
• A jade sword bearing a Kill Character arrived, and Duobao ordered disciples to gather at Golden Ao Island while Zhao Gongming and Yunxiao went to seek Li Changshou's advice.

Li Changshou returned from Three Immortal Island and secured Taiqing Lord’s permission to help the Jie Teaching prepare for war against the Western Teachings. He began arranging a covert plan to give the Jie Teaching a pretext to act, then learned that Holy Mother Guiling had come to see him.

• Li Changshou questioned whether the Jie Teaching’s planned strike on Spirit Mountain was part of an outside scheme and urged Zhao Gongming to delay the Dao Discussion Convention while they prepared.
• Li Changshou left Three Immortal Island with Ling'e and told Zhao Gongming not to use a fabricated accusation as an excuse for war.
• Li Changshou asked Taiqing Lord whether he should intervene in the Jie Teaching’s conflict, and Taiqing Lord nodded his approval.
• Li Changshou sent Jin Peng to the Three Thousand Worlds and Ao Yi to the Southern Sea with secret instructions, then sent Longji to deliver gifts to Jade Void Palace.
• A heavenly soldier reported that Holy Mother Guiling was waiting outside the Eastern Heavenly Gate to meet Li Changshou.

Li Changshou persuaded Holy Mother Guiling to support Jie Teaching’s planned attack on Spirit Mountain and orchestrated rumors and evidence to inflame the conflict. Jie Teaching surrounded Spirit Mountain while Chan Teaching hesitated to intervene, and Li Changshou watched as the confrontation began and Guiling continued her assigned role.

• Li Changshou explained to Holy Mother Guiling why Jie Teaching had reason to strike the Western Teachings, then recruited her to carry out a plan that would ease her sect’s guilt.
• A female immortal spread contradictory rumors about alliances among Jie Teaching, Chan Teaching, and the Western Teachings, while Li Changshou escalated the campaign with claims that the Western Teachings planned to convert three thousand Jie Teaching disciples.
• The Dragon Clan debated whether to join the conflict, but the Eastern Sea Dragon King ordered them to stay out of it as Princess Longji’s gift-bearing visit delayed Chan Teaching from sending support to Spirit Mountain.
• After the Immortal Alliance found stone tablets proclaiming that Chan would uphold the Dao and Jie would be destroyed, furious Jie Teaching immortals gathered on Golden Ao Island and marched on Spirit Mountain.
• Holy Mother Jinling led Jie Teaching’s forces in surrounding Spirit Mountain, while Li Changshou, the Great Mage, and Kong Xuan watched; Zhao Gongming prepared to confront Chan Teaching, and Guiling remained immersed in her role.

Holy Mother Guiling followed Li Changshou’s plan and pretended to defend the Western Teachings during the Jie Teaching’s confrontation at Spirit Mountain. Her act intensified the accusations against the Western Teachings, and the chapter ended as a Saint revealed himself to silence the crowd.

• Holy Mother Guiling recalled Li Changshou’s instructions as the Jie Teaching surrounded Spirit Mountain and waited for the Western Teachings’ response.
• Qiongxiao and Yunxiao accused the Western Teachings of plotting against the Jie Teaching, and Qiongxiao forced a Vice Sect Master to admit that a disciple had made the stone steles.
• The Western Teachings handed over a wounded Golden Immortal Realm Daoist and killed him, prompting Jin Ling to prepare to attack as a Saint’s Dao Charm filled the area.
• Holy Mother Guiling stepped forward and questioned whether the Jie Teaching had been too aggressive, while Yunxiao and Jin Ling challenged her reasoning.
• Yunxiao and the Jie Teaching immortals denounced the Western Teachings’ broader deeds, and a Saint’s sigh silenced the crowd as the Western Teachings’ Saints revealed themselves.

As Jie Teaching besieged Spirit Mountain, Saint Jieyin drew Lord Tongtian into battle outside the heavens, leaving Duobao and the assembled disciples to face Saint Zhunti and Spirit Mountain’s hidden experts. Grand Master Xuandu then joined the confrontation, and Yunxiao prepared to break Spirit Mountain’s grand formation with the Origin Spiritual Energy Crossbow.

• Guiling exposed the Western Teachings’ plans and helped turn the confrontation at Spirit Mountain against them.
• Saint Jieyin appeared first, then Lord Tongtian confronted him and both Sages departed to fight outside the heavens.
• Duobao emerged with the Chaos Bell as Saint Zhunti summoned more than fourteen previously unseen disciples to Spirit Mountain.
• Grand Master Xuandu arrived to support Jie Teaching, while Zhao Gongming watched Jade Void Palace and Chan Teaching remained inactive.
• Yunxiao enlarged a jade statue of herself and aimed the Origin Spiritual Energy Crossbow at Spirit Mountain’s grand formation.

The Jie Teaching attacked Spirit Mountain, and Grand Master Xuandu and Daoist Duobao took Saint Zhunti away while Li Changshou guarded Yunxiao and monitored the battle. As the Chan Teaching hurried to intervene, Zhao Gongming blocked their route and pretended to suffer a severe Dao Injury.

• A jade statue's beam pierced Spirit Mountain's defenses, and the Jie Teaching launched an assault after Zhunti's Dharma body lost an arm stopping it.
• Grand Master Xuandu and Daoist Duobao used the Chaos Bell and Taiji Diagram to remove Zhunti and themselves from the battlefield, leaving the Jie Teaching and Western Teachings to fight without a Saint present.
• Li Changshou disguised himself as an insect beside Yunxiao, guided her away from danger, and watched for Wen Jing's ambush and Maitreya's possible arrival.
• Wen Jing led Primordial Chaos Fierce Beasts in a surprise attack on the Jie Teaching's rear as the Chan Teaching began advancing toward Spirit Mountain.
• At Jade Void Palace, Longji kept Daoist Cihang occupied while the Chan Teaching prepared to depart, but Zhao Gongming blocked their road with the Twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.
• When True Lord Taiyi approached him, Zhao Gongming pretended to be delirious from a Dao Injury and claimed he could not return.

At Spirit Mountain, the Jie Teaching devastated the Western Teachings while the Chan Teaching arrived to stop them. Li Changshou seized Ksitigarbha under Heavenly Dao authority, then urged the Western Teachings to swear off hostility toward the Dao Sect, killing an old Daoist who defied him.

• Zhao Gongming feigned severe injuries and kept True Lord Taiyi, True Person Huang Long, and True Lord Yu Ding occupied while the Chan Teaching rushed to Spirit Mountain.
• The Jie Teaching forces, led by Holy Mother Jinling, battered Spirit Mountain until the Western Teachings’ remaining disciples retreated into a hall protected by Ksitigarbha.
• Guang Chengzi pleaded with Holy Mother Jinling to spare the Western Teachings, arguing that their surviving disciples could serve as leverage against their Saints.
• Li Changshou arrived in his Grand White Gold Star disguise, declared that he had come on Heavenly Court business, and seized Ksitigarbha for abandoning his Netherworld duties.
• Li Changshou called for the Western Teachings to make a Heavenly Dao Oath not to oppose the Dao Sect, and the Heart-Piercing Lock killed an old Daoist who cursed him.

Li Changshou forced the Western Teachings survivors at Spirit Mountain to swear a Great Dao Oath and then left with Truth Listener as the Dao Sect factions departed. Later, he met Ksitigarbha at the Reincarnation Pagoda, where they discussed the Heavenly Dao’s role in the coming conflict before Li Changshou turned the conversation into a joke.

• Kasyapa challenged the Dao Sect’s actions, but Li Changshou pressed the Western Teachings survivors to swear an oath not to attack the Dao Sect.
• The Western Teachings swore the Great Dao Oath, and Li Changshou declared he would no longer scheme against them if they honored it.
• Li Changshou warned Guang Chengzi and Jin Ling that he could not favor either the Chan Teaching or the Jie Teaching in the Great Cataclysm.
• The immortals departed, and blue-green true flames consumed the remaining corpses at Spirit Mountain.
• At the Reincarnation Pagoda, Li Changshou spared Ksitigarbha punishment and discussed how the Heavenly Dao would pit the Dao Sect against itself.
• Li Changshou began chatting with Yun, then teased Truth Listener by telling it to shapeshift and dance.

After the Western Teachings were devastated, Li Changshou guarded Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Zhao Gongming and awaited the return of the missing Saints and senior disciples. The Great Mage and Duobao returned from the Chaos Sea, but as Li Changshou withdrew to plan, the Chaos Bell arrived outside Lesser Qiong Peak.

• Li Changshou met Yunxiao and Qiongxiao at the Sea God Temple, warned them to stay cautious during the coming cataclysm, and secretly escorted them and Zhao Gongming toward Golden Ao Island.
• Jieyin, Lord Tongtian, and Zhunti returned to the Primordial Wilderness; Jieyin and Zhunti found Spirit Mountain devastated and sealed it off.
• Daoist Duobao and the Great Mage returned, and the Great Mage told Li Changshou how he and Duobao had held Zhunti back in the Chaos Sea.
• Li Changshou recounted the Western Teachings' losses to the Great Mage, then withdrew to the Thatched Cottage to plan.
• The Chaos Bell appeared outside the Lesser Qiong Peak Grand Array and bombarded it with Spiritual Sense.

The Chaos Bell arrived at Lesser Qiong Peak and persuaded Li Changshou to let it stay, though he refused to wield its power. After the Great Mage left, Li Changshou learned that Huo Ling had come to see him at the South Heaven Gate, possibly about the Southern Continent of Buzhou.

• The Chaos Bell’s spirit asked to join Li Changshou, and he questioned her motives before agreeing to let her stay at Lesser Qiong Peak.
• Li Changshou swore not to activate the Chaos Bell’s power and arranged for Ling'e to attend to it.
• After half a year of rest, the Great Mage discussed the coming Chan-Jie Conflict with Li Changshou and returned to Xuandu City with Kong Xuan.
• Li Changshou escorted the Great Mage and Kong Xuan to the Eastern Heavenly Gate and gave his senior brother several Treasure Pouches.
• A heavenly general reported that Huo Ling was waiting outside the South Heaven Gate, and Li Changshou ordered her brought to the Immortal Welcoming Hall.

Li Changshou arranged a lesson on Shang Kingdom’s mortal government for disciples of the Jie and Chan Teachings, with the Jade Emperor’s approval. Meanwhile, Li Jing searched the capital for the female general he had fallen in love with and rushed toward Lord Star Lord when he sensed him nearby.

• Holy Mother Huoling asked Li Changshou for guidance on the Investiture of the Gods calamity and how the Jie Teaching could establish influence in Shang Kingdom.
• Li Changshou proposed a fair lecture for two disciples each from the Jie and Chan Teachings, then received the Jade Emperor’s approval to proceed.
• Three days later, Li Changshou descended to Shang Kingdom’s capital with Marshal Quan Tong, Longji, and Youqin Xuanya, where Holy Mother Huoling, Wen Zhong, Yang Jian, and a Jade Void Palace immortal joined them.
• Li Changshou introduced the group and began explaining Shang Kingdom’s government and the history of mortal rule.
• Li Jing recalled falling in love with a female general and searching for her for more than half a year before reaching the capital.
• Li Jing sensed Lord Star Lord nearby, rushed toward the western city gate, and resolved to show him what he had learned.

Li Changshou led a group of immortals through Shang State’s capital while explaining its history and political structure. Li Jing mistook Li Changshou’s guidance for a sign that he wanted a son, and the chapter ended with rumors spreading and Li Jing repeatedly acquiring valuable treasures by chance.

• Li Changshou explained the Shang Kingdom’s vassal system and the forces that restrained the King of Shang as he led the immortals through the capital.
• Li Jing interpreted Li Changshou’s guidance and fatherhood booklets as an invitation to become his son, then knelt and called him Father.
• Quan Tong suggested that Li Jing call Li Changshou his Adoptive Father, and Li Changshou accepted after Taiqing Dao Charm urged him to do so.
• Rumors spread that Li Jing might be Li Changshou’s biological son, and Zheng Lun told True Lord Du'e that Li Changshou had secretly arranged Li Jing’s upbringing.
• Yunxiao questioned Qiongxiao and Bixiao about the rumors while Li Changshou checked the Book of Life and Death and saw Li Jing repeatedly receiving Postnatal Merit Spirit Treasures.

Li Changshou contained the rumors about Li Jing, then advised him on protecting Chentang Town and pursuing Miss Yin. The chapter ended with the Great Mage and Kong Xuan joking about fatherhood in Xuandu City.

• Li Changshou and Yunxiao discussed Li Jing’s mistaken belief that Li Changshou was his birth father, and Li Changshou investigated how the misunderstanding began.
• The Jade Emperor asked Li Changshou how to handle the rumors, and Li Changshou arranged a campaign that ended with the Heavenly Court clarifying Li Jing’s origins and Li Changshou formally accepting him as an adopted son.
• Li Changshou met Li Jing near the Capital City of Shang State, warned him to be careful, and advised him to gather nearby people, establish Chentang Pass, and seek the King of Shang’s protection.
• Li Changshou gave Li Jing information about Miss Yin and warned him not to force her with Immortal methods.
• The Great Mage laughed at Li Changshou’s reaction when Li Jing called him father, and Kong Xuan teased the Great Mage about becoming a father.

Li Changshou quietly built a position in the Shang Kingdom’s court while the war and his plans against the Western Teachings continued to develop. He encountered Wen Zhong in Great Yin City, and Guang Chengzi began investigating the succession to the Shang throne.

• Li Changshou reflected on the Heavenly Court’s growing strength and learned that Wen Jing had become Vice Sect Master of the weakened Western Teachings, where she awaited a future order from Taiqing Lord.
• Li Changshou attended the Shang court as a Grand Historian and found Wen Zhong serving as a rotating record keeper, then reminded him to record the council proceedings correctly.
• Wen Zhong learned that Li Changshou had risen from a scholar to one of the Shang Kingdom’s Six Ministers in only three years.
• At Jade Void Palace, Guang Chengzi asked about the current King of Shang’s remaining years and learned that Zi Xian was expected to succeed him, with Xu Yu and Bi Gan as his brothers.

Li Changshou watched Chan Teaching’s attempt to make Bi Gan king fail, then helped secure Zi Shou’s succession through Shang court precedent and a staged divination. Years later, Black Panther left seclusion to seek company, unaware that someone had noticed his departure.

• Li Changshou observed Daoist Cihang grant Bi Gan the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart, then watched Bi Gan’s supporters fail to prevent Zi Xian from ascending the throne.
• Li Changshou’s Paper Daoist argued that Zi Shou was the eldest legitimate son, and a female priest’s divination confirmed him as heir.
• Li Changshou revealed to Daoist Cihang that the divination had been prepared by human schemes and warned her to tell Guang Chengzi that mortal affairs differed from immortal calculations.
• Several years later, lonely Black Panther left his cave to seek companionship, while an unseen observer watched him depart.

Li Changshou befriended the lonely Black Panther, who abandoned his old identity and renamed himself Shen Bao, while planning to guide his future role in the Investiture of the Gods. He then pursued Xu Bodhi to the edge of the Primordial Wilderness, where Xu Bodhi fled into the Chaos Sea rather than surrender the Seven Arrows Book of Nail Heads.

• Li Changshou used a Paper Daoist to meet Black Panther after Black Panther left Golden Ao Island, and the two bonded over their past-life memories and loneliness.
• Black Panther gave up the name Yuan Ze, renamed himself Shen Bao, and set out toward the Western Ox Continent after drinking with Li Changshou for sixteen days.
• Li Changshou continued arranging pieces for the Investiture of the Gods and considered the competing feudal states that might replace the Shang Kingdom.
• Li Changshou, Bai Ze, and Jin Peng cornered Xu Bodhi near the boundary of the Three Thousand Worlds and blocked his escape into the Chaos Sea with a curtain of lightning.
• Li Changshou demanded the Seven Arrows Book of Nail Heads, but Xu Bodhi denied having it and fled through the lightning curtain into the Chaos Sea.

Li Changshou reflected on Xu Bodhi’s likely possession of the Seven Arrows Book of Nail Heads and prepared for the coming Investiture of the Gods calamity. As the mortal world’s events unfolded according to his arrangements, Shen Bao triggered a Golden Immortal Tribulation and recognized its ominous rank.

• Li Changshou told Bai Ze that Xu Bodhi likely carried the Seven Arrows Book of Nail Heads back to Spirit Mountain, and discussed preserving the Dao Sect through the coming war.
• Li Changshou asked Bai Ze to tell Martial Uncle Jiu that he planned to retire to the Chaos Sea after the calamity, while Bai Ze and Jin Peng voiced their willingness to accompany or support him.
• Li Changshou destroyed his plans and monitored events across the Primordial Wilderness as the Investiture of the Gods countdown advanced, observing Shen Bao, King Zhou, Wen Zhong, Li Jing, and the Dragon Clan.
• The Eastern Sea Dragon King placed an egg in the empty Dragon Nest and told two ancient dragons that the Dragon Clan could only trust Taibai Star Lord.
• Shen Bao drew down a Golden Immortal Tribulation, recognized it as the seventeenth-ranked Eight Desolations and Eight Calls Heart Fiend Tribulation, and lamented that he was doomed.

Shen Bao survived his irregular heavenly tribulation and was taken back to Kunlun Mountains, while Jiang Shang left his mortal household to join Immortal Nanjixian at Jade Void Palace. Li Changshou then learned that Jin Zha was about to be born and hurried to play his part as a household servant.

• Shen Bao endured a bizarre series of heavenly tribulation bolts before White Crane Boy rescued him and carried him back to Kunlun Mountains.
• Li Changshou realized Shen Bao might become Jiang Shang's senior brother and watched Immortal Nanjixian invite Jiang Shang to Jade Void Palace.
• Jiang Shang hesitated to leave his wives and concubines, but they accepted their shares of the family fortune and let him go.
• Li Changshou and the Holy Mother Palace Fairy discussed Jiang Shang's departure, and Jiang Shang traveled with Immortal Nanjixian toward Kunlun Mountains.
• Li Changshou sensed that Jin Zha was about to be born and went out to deliver the news as a household servant.

Li Changshou monitored Li Jing’s household as Madam Yin gave birth to a son named Zha, then advised Wen Zhong on how Zi Shou should handle unrest in the Shang army. The chapter left Wen Zhong considering Li Changshou’s warning not to become entangled in mortal affairs.

• On Lesser Qiong Peak, Ling'e, Longji, Xiong Lingli, Youqin Xuanya, and Bell Spirit played cards and discussed Li Changshou’s role in the Great Cataclysm.
• In Chentang Pass, Li Changshou’s Paper Daoist told Li Jing that Madam Yin had safely given birth to a boy, and Li Jing explained the meaning behind the name Zha.
• Li Changshou considered why Jie Teaching immortals had not appeared around Li Jing and resolved to remind them to seize opportunities in the cataclysm.
• Wen Zhong told Li Changshou that Zi Shou had punished generals for taking civilians as prisoners of war, risking political opposition in Chaoge City.
• Li Changshou advised Wen Zhong to have Zi Shou report the generals’ disobedience, avoid further controversy, and secretly seek Li Changshou’s counsel.
• Li Changshou warned Wen Zhong, a Jie Teaching disciple, not to become entangled in mortal affairs, leaving Wen Zhong momentarily stunned.

Li Changshou advised Prince Zi Shou and Wen Zhong on handling a military scandal and pursuing gradual reforms to strengthen Shang. Zi Shou left considering whether he would have to kill his elder brothers to secure the throne, while Youqin Xuanya continued losing spirit stones to Six Bamboo.

• Li Changshou hosted Wen Zhong and Prince Zi Shou in Chaoge, where Zi Shou explained that he had killed a general for violating orders against seizing commoners as prisoners.
• Li Changshou warned that abolishing slavery and reforming Shang too abruptly would provoke nobles, vassal lords, and other interests.
• Li Changshou advised Zi Shou to build support, secure military authority, and use alliances among vassal lords while pursuing gradual reforms.
• Li Changshou urged Zi Shou to present the general's execution as an act of benevolence and martial virtue, while concealing his broader ambitions until he gained power.
• Zi Shou asked whether he had to kill his elder brothers to claim the throne, and Li Changshou told him to follow his heart and remember Shang's ancestors.
• Youqin Xuanya continued playing Six Bamboo and nearly lost half the spirit stones she had earned at the Heavenly Court.