Chapter Summaries

After Ling'e ascended to immortality and entered Dao comprehension, Li Changshou secretly followed a black leopard who seemed to be Shen Gongbao, acting under a command from the Grand Pure Sage. He confirmed the leopard’s disastrous blessing and followed him to a hidden treasure trove, where incoming Demon Race experts threatened the couple.

• Ling'e ascended, questioned what her own Dao was, and entered secluded cultivation at Lesser Qiong Peak while Li Changshou received visitors and healed.
• Li Changshou sensed Heavenly Dao protection on a black leopard and pursued him after receiving the Sage’s command to go.
• Li Changshou met the leopard and his wife, Miaomiao, gave them treasures, and learned that the leopard called himself A'bao and remembered parts of a past life.
• Li Changshou tested the leopard’s ability and found that his unintended words caused misfortune for others while healing Li Changshou’s injuries.
• Li Changshou followed A'bao and Miaomiao to a hidden trove of treasure, where several Demon Race experts arrived as the couple celebrated their find.

Li Changshou rescued the Black Panther Spirit, then left Paper Daoists to watch over him as he considered how the demon might serve the Heavenly Court’s future plans. Back on Lesser Qiong Peak, Li Changshou escaped Jiang Lin'er’s attempt to tie him up and deliver him to Ling'e, before sensing a familiar young man at the Sea God Temple.

• Li Changshou incapacitated the demons threatening the Black Panther Spirit and Miaomiao, warned the couple to cultivate peacefully, and gave them pills.
• Li Changshou introduced himself as Daoist Lu Ya, left two Paper Daoists to monitor the Black Panther Spirit, and considered using him as a future agent among the Demon Race.
• Li Changshou reflected on the Heavenly Court’s lack of strength to cleanse the demons and kept his plans for the Black Panther Spirit cautious.
• Jiang Lin'er, Venerable Wangqing, and Jiu Wu visited Li Changshou to discuss Ling'e, then revealed Jiang Lin'er intended to tie him up and put him in Ling'e’s room.
• Li Changshou escaped into his formation, gave Jiu Wu strengthening pills, and used Heart Fire Burn to send Jiang Lin'er and Venerable Wangqing back to Sky-Breaking Peak.
• Li Changshou sensed a familiar young man at the Sea God Temple in Anshui City and reacted with surprise.

Li Changshou accompanied the Jade Emperor on a disguised cruise through the Western Sea, where they inspected the Dragon Clan and discussed how to strengthen the Heavenly Court. Their visit to a gathering of Dragon Princes ended with the Six-winged Golden Cicada confronting Li Changshou.

• The Jade Emperor visited the rebuilt Great Sea God Temple, and Li Changshou welcomed him and described the Asura Race’s attack.
• The Jade Emperor asked Li Changshou to take him on an inspection tour of the Four Seas, and they set out by boat with Dong Mugong joining them as a guard.
• Li Changshou advised the Jade Emperor to delay the Queen Mother’s Immortal Peach Banquet until the Heavenly Court had raised its prestige by conferring titles on the Dragon Clan.
• The Jade Emperor sensed Dragon Princes feasting in the Western Sea and disguised himself and Dong Mugong so they could observe them.
• At the gathering, the Six-winged Golden Cicada recognized Li Changshou and called out to speak with him.

Li Changshou confronted Golden Cicada’s plot against the Dragon Clan while accompanying the Jade Emperor, and the Dragon Clan’s intervention briefly cornered the Western Teachings expert. Golden Cicada escaped with help from a mysterious woman after the Jade Emperor revealed his power, leaving Li Changshou to wonder about the Jade Emperor’s reaction.

• Li Changshou warned the Jade Emperor that Golden Cicada was scheming against the Dragon Clan, then secretly summoned Ao Yi and contacted Daoist Wen Jing for support.
• Ao Jia realized Golden Cicada had set him up and flew to Li Changshou, while three Ancient War Dragons appeared and surrounded Golden Cicada.
• Golden Cicada took the North, West, and Southern Sea Dragon Princes hostage, forcing the Ancient War Dragons to stop their attack as Li Changshou challenged him.
• Li Changshou provoked Golden Cicada over his conduct and ties to the Western Teachings, but Golden Cicada vanished and launched six blades at the Jade Emperor.
• The Jade Emperor shielded Li Changshou’s Paper Daoist and struck Golden Cicada with a beam of light, but a mysterious woman helped Golden Cicada escape.

Li Changshou accompanied the Jade Emperor to the West Sea, where the Jade Emperor saw the Western Teachings’ influence among the Dragon Clan and resolved to strengthen the Heavenly Court and confront the dragons. Afterward, Li Changshou began revising his plans for bringing the Dragon Clan into the Heavenly Court before the Jade Emperor’s Immortal Peach Banquet in twelve years.

• Daoist Wen Jing saved the wounded Golden Cicada, warned him against taking too much credit, and revealed that she had already taken a wisp of his Primordial Spirit.
• At the West Sea Dragon Palace, the Jade Emperor learned that many powerful Dragon Clan members were controlled by the Western Teachings, while Li Changshou smoothly dealt with them and praised Ao Yi’s foresight.
• The Jade Emperor ordered the creation of a Heavenly Court Navy under Li Changshou and raised his divine rank and stipend.
• The Jade Emperor told Li Changshou to stop handling the Dragon Clan for now, then declared that the dragons must submit at an Immortal Peach Banquet in twelve years or face heavenly punishment.
• Li Changshou burned most of his old Dragon Clan strategy scrolls and began preparing a revised plan for the twelve years ahead.

Grand Master Xuandu visited Lesser Qiong Peak, then told Li Changshou that Taiqing had ordered them to try to kill the Six-winged Golden Cicada. Li Changshou devised a plan to strike at the Golden Cicada and left with the Great Mage for Anshui City to meet Ao Yi.

• Grand Master Xuandu received visions of the Golden Cicada attacking Li Changshou and of a monk riding west, then understood Taiqing’s command as an order to try to kill the spirit.
• Grand Master Xuandu toured Lesser Qiong Peak, discovered Li Changshou hiding in a tiny room inside a scroll, and flicked him on the forehead after Li Changshou revealed his real body.
• Li Changshou told Grand Master Xuandu about Daoist Lu Ya and recognized the monk in the vision as Tang Sanzang beginning the scripture journey.
• Li Changshou realized the future could be changed and proposed killing the Golden Cicada in a sudden strike before the Western Saints could intervene.
• Grand Master Xuandu revealed a Small Pagoda to help ensure the strike’s success, and Li Changshou asked him to take him to Anshui City to meet Ao Yi and deliver a scripture.

Li Changshou briefed Ao Yi on the Heavenly Court’s planned Immortal Peach Banquet and coordinated with the Great Mage on a cautious plan to deal with Golden Cicada. He arranged for Daoist Wen Jing to meet the Great Mage, but her overwhelming admiration left the meeting stalled at the doorway.

• Ao Yi arrived at the Great Sea God Temple, where Li Changshou gave him a blank scripture and told him about the Jade Emperor’s planned Immortal Peach Banquet for the Four Seas Dragon Kings twelve years later.
• Li Changshou hinted that Ao Yi should help settle the karma from Golden Cicada’s attack on his incarnation, and Ao Yi departed for the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace.
• Li Changshou and the Great Mage spent hours devising an operation against Golden Cicada, emphasizing escape plans and contingencies before deciding to consult Daoist Wen Jing about the Six-winged Golden Cicada’s weaknesses.
• Daoist Wen Jing carefully disguised herself and traveled to Anshui City to meet the Great Mage, but she became so captivated by his presence that Li Changshou had to call her in.
• Daoist Wen Jing told Li Changshou that she could not stop drooling upon seeing the Great Mage, leaving him speechless.

Li Changshou and Grand Master Xuandu questioned Daoist Wen Jing about Jin Chan and prepared to move against him, while Xuandu explained the history and relative strength of the Saints. The chapter ended with Ao Yi discovering an anonymous scroll titled the Steady Character Scripture.

• Li Changshou introduced Jin Chan as the target of their plans, and Daoist Wen Jing gave them what she knew, including a strand of Jin Chan’s Primordial Spirit.
• Daoist Wen Jing left after sharing her information, and Grand Master Xuandu warned Li Changshou that the Western Saints might intervene if they attacked Jin Chan.
• Grand Master Xuandu explained the origins, debts, and relative power of the Saints, and advised Li Changshou to stop if a Saint Lord’s Dao aura appeared.
• Ao Yi returned to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, opened an anonymous scroll, and began reading the Steady Character Scripture.

The Steady Character Scripture recounted the downfalls of powerful figures and clans and advised cultivators to avoid enemies, karmic entanglements, and unnecessary risks. It ended by urging those who had heard the Dao to keep the scripture by their side.

• That Red fellow of old was plotted against, and a Demon Master disguised himself as an iron pot after being knocked senseless.
• The Water and Fire Gods encountered provocation, the Heaven Pillar fell, and Old Xuan Turtle suffered an unexpected calamity.
• Kuafu perished, and Yi shot the suns before both fell after the tribulation.
• The old Witch Ancestors met a sorrowful end, and the Demon Emperor of old found nowhere to hide.
• The Dragon Phoenix Clan fought for destiny and ended in desolation, while the Witches and Demons divided Heaven and Earth before being provoked into ruin.
• Supreme Beings rose, the Sages lent their aid, and immortal cultivators grew numerous.

Li Changshou prepared an ambush for Jin Chan with the Great Mage’s formations and the Heaven and Earth Exquisite Xuanhuang Pagoda, then baited Jin Chan by provoking him through the West Sea Dragon Palace. Jin Chan followed Li Changshou toward Spirit Mountain and was poised to attack as Pagoda Grandpa urged Li Changshou to fight.

• The Great Mage arranged two formations and lent Li Changshou the Heaven and Earth Exquisite Xuanhuang Pagoda, whose spirit began chattering to him.
• Li Changshou visited the West Sea Dragon Palace and asked the West Sea Dragon King for information about Jin Chan, but learned the Dragon Palace had found no trace of him.
• Li Changshou left the Dragon Palace with three Heavenly Generals and searched the site of his earlier encounter with Jin Chan, drawing Jin Chan after them in secret.
• Li Changshou announced that he would go to Spirit Mountain and accuse the Western Teachings of keeping Jin Chan, provoking Jin Chan into following them to stop the visit.
• Jin Chan decided to attack before Li Changshou could reach Spirit Mountain, while Pagoda Grandpa urged Li Changshou to turn around and fight.

Li Changshou lured Golden Cicada into a carefully prepared trap and unleashed his strongest spirit-explosion attack, but Golden Cicada survived by returning to his shed shell. Grand Master Xuandu and a Saint intervened to claim Golden Cicada, leaving Li Changshou unable to finish him off.

• Li Changshou used the Water Spirit Pearl and his Water Evasion Method to evade Golden Cicada’s attacks and draw him toward the array prepared by three Heavenly General Paper Daoists.
• Golden Cicada destroyed the visible array and used his Grand Universe Technique to freeze the battlefield, then cut down the three Paper Daoists and cornered Li Changshou.
• Li Changshou revealed the hidden formations, restrained Golden Cicada, and detonated seventy-two Paper Daoists in a massive Earth Fiend Spirit Explosion.
• Golden Cicada survived by using Golden Cicada's Shell Return, and Li Changshou recognized that the Primordial Chaos Fierce Beast had escaped death at the cost of much of his cultivation and memories.
• A Saint declared Golden Cicada fated to the West, and Grand Master Xuandu appeared to collect the shed shell while Li Changshou urged him to kill Golden Cicada.

After Saint Zhunti protected Jin Chan from the Great Mage, Li Changshou accepted a new evasion technique and began plotting to ruin Jin Chan’s prospects with the Western Teachings. He left the chapter preparing a propaganda campaign and wondering whether he had helped spread the rumor about Tang Sanzang’s flesh granting immortality.

• The Great Mage regretted letting Saint Zhunti take Jin Chan away, while Li Changshou proposed asking what the West intended to do with him.
• The Great Mage questioned Zhunti, who revealed that Jin Chan would be taken to Spirit Mountain and suppressed in the Merit Treasure Pool to have his soul guided anew.
• The Great Mage gave Li Changshou the Heaven and Earth Evasion technique and reassured him that the West would not directly attack him.
• Li Changshou proposed using the Dragon Clan to spread claims that Jin Chan’s cast-off shell could be refined into pills that granted longevity and improved cultivation.
• Li Changshou examined the Treasure-Dropping Copper Coins, learned that using them consumed merit, and stored them away.
• Li Changshou began planning a propaganda campaign against Jin Chan and wondered whether the rumor about Tang Sanzang’s flesh had originated with him.

Li Changshou persuaded Ao Yi to help guide the Dragon Clan toward pledging loyalty to Heavenly Court before the Immortal Peach Banquet, then resumed his preparations at Lesser Qiong Peak. While investigating a Karmic Obstruction Heavenly Demon that had afflicted Old Daoist Qi Yuan, he traced it to Youqin Xuanya.

• Li Changshou told Ao Yi that the Jade Emperor had discovered the Dragon Clan's tacit acceptance of Western Sect influence in the West Sea Dragon Palace and urged him to help the clan act before the Immortal Peach Banquet.
• Li Changshou recounted how the Sea God Cult had brought him into contact with the Dragon Clan, Heavenly Court, and the Great Mage, and Ao Yi pledged his life to helping him save the Dragon Clan.
• Li Changshou stored two Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs, searched for spirit trees, and brought a dozen old trees back to Lesser Qiong Peak.
• Jiang Lin'er and Jiu Jiu woke from the Game Room after gaining enlightenment and went into seclusion, while Li Changshou arranged for Xiong Lingli and a Paper Daoist to care for Jiu Yushi.
• Li Changshou found a Karmic Obstruction Heavenly Demon afflicting Old Daoist Qi Yuan and traced its path to Youqin Xuanya's cave abode on Sky-Breaking Peak.

Li Changshou entered Youqin Xuanya’s heart demon and guided her into defeating it by making her reject an improper version of him. After returning to his preparations for the Heavenly Court, he met Bian Zhuang, the newly appointed deputy commander of the Celestial River Navy.

• Li Changshou examined Youqin Xuanya’s mind and found her trapped in a severe heart demon rooted in her memories and feelings for him.
• Li Changshou guided Youqin Xuanya through her imagined battlefield and helped her escape the cliff and its monstrous Ink Kirin.
• Li Changshou disrupted Youqin Xuanya’s imagined happy life with him by acting improperly, prompting her to recognize the heart demon and defeat it.
• Youqin Xuanya awoke, scolded herself for her lingering thoughts, and resumed cultivation while Li Changshou quietly returned to his pill chamber.
• Li Changshou waited for Dong Mugong, then went with him to the Celestial River and met Bian Zhuang, appointed deputy commander of the hundred thousand soldiers.

Li Changshou took command of the Celestial River Navy and used its new role to advance his plan to bring the Dragon Clan under the Heavenly Court. The Jade Emperor authorized him to travel through the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa and establish water-god positions, granting him Da Yu’s Flood Control Map and the Heavenly Emperor Demon Slaying Sword.

• Bian Zhuang panicked at the prospect of serving under Li Changshou, then rushed to greet him and pledged his loyalty.
• Li Changshou took command of the hundred thousand Celestial River Navy soldiers, promoted two additional Deputy Commanders, and punished Bian Zhuang for offering him a bribe.
• Li Changshou ordered the navy to drill in the Southern and Eastern Seas and sent Bian Zhuang to visit three Dragon Palaces to promote the Heavenly Court, warning him not to mistreat sea maidens or dragon maidens.
• Li Changshou told the Jade Emperor that he planned to win the Dragon Clan’s submission by offering water-god positions across the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa.
• The Jade Emperor granted Li Changshou a handwritten letter, Immortal Peaches, merit, and an order to carry Da Yu’s Flood Control Map and the Heavenly Emperor Demon Slaying Sword while establishing water-god positions.

Li Changshou prepared gifts for his visits to Chan and Jie Teachings and helped Youqin Xuanya make sense of her feelings after a heart demon. Dong Mugong arrived with Immortal Peaches and asked Li Changshou to take Princess Longji as a disciple, leaving Li ready to meet her.

• Li Changshou returned to the Sea God Mansion, placed the Heavenly Emperor Demon Slaying Sword on display, and waited for Dong Mugong and the Immortal Peaches.
• Li Changshou met Youqin Xuanya, who admitted she might have feelings for him beyond those she would have for a Dao companion, and he reassured her that such feelings were normal.
• Youqin Xuanya asked Li Changshou to explain how mortals conceived children, but he redirected her to ask her master or senior sisters.
• Dong Mugong brought three hundred Immortal Peaches, including a hundred for Human Teaching, and told Li Changshou that the Queen Mother had chosen the gifts.
• Dong Mugong asked whether Li Changshou would take Princess Longji as a disciple; learning that the Jade Emperor had arranged it, Li Changshou agreed to meet her.

Li Changshou brought Princess Longji along as he delivered the Heavenly Court’s Immortal Peaches to the Three Teachings, giving her a chance to observe his dealings with powerful immortals. After Daoist Duobao invited him to bring peaches to Three Immortal Island, the chapter ended with the Great Mage asking Taiqing what he thought of his suggestion.

• Princess Longji joined Li Changshou as his attendant Daoist child, and he agreed to teach her through observation during his visits to eminent figures.
• Li Changshou left thirty-six Immortal Peaches at Tushita Palace for the Great Mage, then took Longji toward Golden Ao Island.
• Daoist Duobao welcomed Li Changshou, accepted the Heavenly Court’s peaches, and set aside nine for him to bring to the Three Xiao Sisters.
• Li Changshou and Daoist Duobao visited Three Immortal Island, where Yunxiao personally offered Li Changshou an Immortal Peach and Longji recorded her astonishment.
• In Great Red Heaven, the Great Mage asked Taiqing what he thought of the suggestion he had just made.

The Great Mage wondered when his teacher would accept Li Changshou as a disciple while Li Changshou secured support from Jie Teaching and Chan Teaching for the Dragon Clan’s affairs. At the end, Western Teaching disciples planned revenge against the Sea God, and Daoist Wen Jing relayed their scheme to Li Changshou’s Paper Daoist.

• The Great Mage failed to deduce what moment his teacher awaited, then saw Li Changshou visiting Three Immortal Island and wondered whether he was building merit.
• Li Changshou discussed the Dragon Clan’s affairs and the costs of karma with Yunxiao, then left with Longji for Kunlun.
• True Person Huang Long brought Li Changshou to Jade Void Palace, where Guang Chengzi wrote the characters “trapped” and “ascending” to represent Chan Teaching’s support.
• At Spirit Mountain, Western Teaching disciples sank the wounded Golden Cicada into a precious pool and discussed how to retaliate against the Sea God.
• Daoist Wen Jing secretly sent the disciples’ revenge plan to Li Changshou’s Paper Daoist.

Li Changshou prepared the Sea God Cult and Bear Stockade for the Western Teachings’ threatened attack while bringing Longji to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace to persuade the Dragon Clan to serve the Heavenly Court. He presented the Dragon Clan with benefits, endorsements, and a blank Heavenly Court decree, then asked whether they would trust the Jade Emperor once their guarantees were written and sealed.

• Li Changshou ordered Bear Stockade relocated, withdrew True Dragon Protectors, gathered Divine Emissaries, and sent a Paper Daoist and emissaries to the Netherworld to seek Wu Tribe protection.
• Li Changshou and Longji reached the Eastern Sea, where Ao Jiao welcomed them and Li Changshou exchanged cheerful pleasantries before continuing to the Crystal Palace.
• Li Changshou met the Eastern Sea Dragon King and summoned the Dragon Palace’s elders, royals, and generals to hear his proposal for the Dragon Clan to enter Heavenly Court service.
• Li Changshou explained that rotating Heavenly Court positions could help the Dragon Clan address its karmic burdens and presented Da Yu’s Flood Control Map as evidence that dragons could become water gods across the Southern Continent.
• Li Changshou showed the Dragon Clan calligraphy from Duobao and Guang Chengzi endorsing its rise to Heaven, and Longji assured them that the Jade Emperor would treat them well.
• Li Changshou unfurled a blank Heavenly Court decree and asked the Dragon King and elders to state their concerns so he could write the court’s guarantees and obtain the Jade Emperor’s seal.

Li Changshou inspected the Southern Continent’s waterways with Longji and the Dragon Clan while preparing the Sea God Temple for an attack by the Western Teachings. After recruiting Wu Tribe fighters to help defend the temple, he spotted a disguised demon in a market and challenged the vendor over a melon.

• Li Changshou enlisted the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan’s support, then began a careful survey of Southern Continent waterways with Longji, Ao Yi, and three Ancient Dragon Clan elders.
• Li Changshou sent Ao Yi back to oversee Dragon Clan cooperation with the Heavenly Court’s naval troops and suggested a prank for Bian Zhuang.
• Li Changshou drew nearly fifty members of the Wu Tribe from the Netherworld to help guard the Great Sea God Temple against the Western Teachings.
• Li Changshou detected several hundred demons near Anshui City and arranged with Ox-Head and Horse-Face to lure them into a battlefield outside the city.
• Li Changshou disguised a Golden Immortal Paper Daoist as a divine emissary, approached a demon disguised as a melon vendor, and asked whether the melon was guaranteed ripe.