Chapter Summaries

Lu Ren learned from Qing Cheng that Hanging Mountain was a peaceful refuge on the seemingly endless Path to Ascension, maintained by three powerful Celestial Immortals. He visited its bustling plaza to gather information and found Celestial Immortals running ordinary market stalls.

• The Jade Emperor was thrown out and fumed outside the shut door.
• Qing Cheng told Lu Ren that Hanging Mountain was an ancient resting place where he, Chang Kong, and Li Shan had curbed the slaughter among Celestial Immortals.
• Lu Ren left Qing Cheng's courtyard wondering how the Supreme One had discovered the secret of the Golden Immortal and reached the end of the Path to Ascension.
• Lu Ren walked through Hanging Mountain and traded teasing remarks with Ao Li after he noticed an alluring passerby.
• Lu Ren reached the mountainside plaza, where Celestial Immortals sold goods and food, and a stallholder asked if he was new.

Lu Ren explored Hanging Mountain, learned about its Spirit Crystal economy and the dangers beneath the Cloud Sea, and met the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor revealed that he and Tathagata had avoided descending into the Cloud Sea because of the threat below.

• Lu Ren met Li Chengfeng, who explained how Celestial Immortals lived on Hanging Mountain and offered him a meat bun for ten Spirit Crystals.
• Lu Ren left without buying food, then studied the plaza’s notice boards for three days to learn about the Path to Ascension and the surrounding region.
• Lu Ren encountered the Jade Emperor and suggested meeting with him and Tathagata at an inn, but the Jade Emperor said he had no Spirit Crystals.
• The Jade Emperor warned Lu Ren about dangerous things beneath the Cloud Sea, and Lu Ren recalled sensing a terrifying presence there before retreating.
• Lu Ren noted that Qing Cheng had seemed unaware of the threat beneath the Cloud Sea.

Lu Ren met with the Jade Emperor and Tathagata, who proposed an alliance and offered to share how the Supreme One obtained the Golden Immortal Secret. Lu Ren refused to trust them and left, while they agreed to wait for a chance to kill him within ten years.

• The Jade Emperor discussed the differences between Lu Ren’s Witch Path and the Immortal Path, and Lu Ren challenged him to exchange moves.
• The Jade Emperor brought Lu Ren to see Tathagata, and the three traded insults before sitting down to talk.
• The Jade Emperor and Tathagata urged Lu Ren to join forces with them on the Path to Ascension, arguing that no one could survive alone.
• The Jade Emperor offered to share how the Supreme One obtained the Golden Immortal Secret, and Lu Ren questioned his source and motives.
• Lu Ren rejected the offer and left, deciding he could wait on Hanging Mountain instead of trusting them.
• Tathagata proposed killing Lu Ren when he descended into the Cloud Sea, but the Jade Emperor insisted they wait for an opportunity and noted they had only ten years.

Lu Ren chose an ancient vacant house on Hanging Mountain, only for it to collapse as soon as he claimed it. Huang Gong offered to take him into the Cloud Sea, and Lu Ren accepted cautiously before Huang Gong revealed he expected payment.

• Lu Ren chose an ancient house overlooking the ancient road despite Huang Gong warning him that it was in disrepair.
• Lu Ren activated the house’s control plaque, and the wooden structure collapsed into ruins after its sustaining power disappeared.
• Huang Gong explained that the house had endured for millions of years and said Lu Ren would need to gather materials in the Cloud Sea to build another.
• Huang Gong invited Lu Ren to hunt a ferocious beast with him, offering to drop him at Yunluo District on the way.
• Lu Ren accepted the invitation while remaining wary, and Huang Gong stopped him to clarify that he would not give Lu Ren a free ride.

Lu Ren joined Huang Gong’s team as they descended beneath Hanging Mountain into the Cloud Sea to gather resources. He withstood the crushing gravity using only his body, surprising Lie Huo as the group continued downward.

• Huang Gong invited Lu Ren to gather building materials during the Cloud Sea’s daily quiet period.
• Huang Gong introduced Lu Ren to his team: Zheng Jie, Cheng Guo, and Lie Huo.
• Cheng Guo explained that the Cloud Sea held Spirit Crystals and other valuable materials, and Huang Gong told Lu Ren to stay close.
• Zheng Jie led the team down through the clouds, where immense gravity pressed on them.
• Lu Ren endured the pressure without a shield, prompting Lie Huo to advise him to cultivate spells and divine abilities.

Lu Ren explored the Yunluo District beneath the Cloud Sea, killed a ferocious beast, and harvested ironwood to strengthen his Inner World Universe. The chapter left him defending his vast gathering of trees to a sword-bearing man who questioned his behavior.

• Huang Gong showed Lu Ren the Yunluo District and advised him to stay within its safer region.
• Lu Ren descended toward the Ironwood Forest and killed a swordfish that tried to strike him, gaining Witch Path proficiency.
• Lu Ren tested the ironwood, then used his Heaven Splitting Giant Axe and Witch God Physique to gather and transplant over a thousand trees into his Inner World Universe.
• A sword-bearing man confronted Lu Ren about clearing the forest, and Lu Ren argued that he had taken only a small portion.

Lu Ren entered the Sunken Sea Zone to investigate its Spirit Crystals and was swallowed by a giant serpent. He broke free and fought the Celestial Immortal-level beast as Huang Gong’s group sensed the battle nearby.

• Lu Ren explored the Cloudfall Zone and saw a sword-bearing man secretly dig for Spirit Crystals.
• Lu Ren descended into the Sunken Sea Zone, where crushing pressure forced him to unleash the Witch God Physique.
• A giant serpent engulfed Lu Ren, but he held open its jaws and escaped.
• Lu Ren manifested the Witch God Physique’s dharma form and grappled with the giant serpent.
• Huang Gong’s group sensed the serpent’s aura, and Cheng Guo and Zheng Jiemi discussed going to investigate.

Lu Ren fought the giant Ba Snake in the Sunken Sea Zone and killed it by crushing its head with his Two Hundredfold Zhou Tian Body Spirit Fist. He stored the serpent’s remains in his Inner World Universe and left the area, while other cultivators continued pursuing their mission nearby.

• Lie Huo and the others discussed the battle between a giant serpent and an unknown cultivator, then continued deeper into the Sunken Sea Zone to pursue their mission.
• Lu Ren endured the Ba Snake’s attack and awakened the revered gods within his Acupoints, unleashing his Two Hundredfold Zhou Tian Body Spirit Fist.
• Lu Ren crushed and severed the Ba Snake’s head, causing its blood to flood the surrounding ravines and valleys.
• Lu Ren sealed the serpent’s wound, stored its body and head in his Inner World Universe, and left to avoid attracting attention.
• Lu Ren received three Skill Points for killing the peak Celestial Immortal-level Ba Snake.

After killing the Ba Snake, Lu Ren watched other Celestial Immortals collect its blood and learned that his victory earned him only 3 Skill Points. Back in his Inner World, Ao Li questioned how he had killed the beast, then attacked him after he discovered what she had been doing in private.

• Celestial Immortals arrived at the sea of blood, collected the Ba Snake's essence blood, and captured the beasts that had drunk it.
• Lu Ren watched from hiding, regretted losing the blood, and checked the system notification that awarded him 3 Skill Points but no Destiny Points.
• Lu Ren returned to his Inner World, where Ao Li expressed disbelief that he had killed a peak Celestial Immortal Ba Snake.
• Ao Li explained the Ba Snake's history of enmity with the Dragon Clan and asked how Lu Ren had defeated it.
• Lu Ren used his authority over the Inner World to see Ao Li's private actions, prompting her to attack him.
• Lu Ren caught Ao Li's fist and dragged her into the house to teach her a lesson.

Lu Ren discovered Spirit Crystals deep beneath a mountain ravine and began mining them with the Pangu Axe, finding that their energy replenished his True Energy and improved his Witch Path proficiency. After nearly a month, Huang Gong and Cheng Guo returned to Hanging Mountain and wondered where Lu Ren had gone.

• Lu Ren searched the ravines near Hanging Mountain and used Hyperdimensional Perception to locate a strange fluctuation deep underground.
• Lu Ren dug through the mountain with the Pangu Axe and uncovered a Spirit Crystal that rapidly replenished his True Energy and increased his Witch Path proficiency.
• Lu Ren decided to mine the entire mountain range and spent nearly a month doing so.
• Huang Gong returned to Hanging Mountain, found Lu Ren's house still in ruins, and guessed that Lu Ren might still be in Yunluo District.
• Cheng Guo said she wanted to get to know Lu Ren, and Huang Gong had to calm himself after reacting to her suggestive expression.

Huang Gong and Cheng Guo discussed Lu Ren’s strength and Cheng Guo’s interest in him, while Jade Emperor and Tathagata considered whether Lu Ren had defeated Ba Snake. Jade Emperor hinted that he might have a plan to create an opportunity for them.

• Huang Gong and Cheng Guo concluded that Lu Ren’s apparent cultivation level made it unlikely he had fought Ba Snake, though Huang Gong recognized the battle’s aura as coming from an extreme realm.
• Huang Gong worried about his dwindling lifespan and missing Golden Pill ingredient, while Cheng Guo said she wanted to rely on herself and explained her interest in Lu Ren.
• Huang Gong criticized Cheng Guo’s lack of shame, then recited the Heart Sutra after her departure stirred his blood and qi.
• Jade Emperor and Tathagata discussed the possibility that Lu Ren had killed Ba Snake and weighed the advantages of his shamanic cultivation.
• Tathagata said he planned to spend ten years recovering at Hanging Mountain, while he and Jade Emperor reflected on their dwindling lifespans and difficult path to the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit.
• Jade Emperor suggested there might still be an opportunity for him and Tathagata, prompting Tathagata to ask whether he had a plan.

After gathering a vast supply of Spirit Crystals and returning to Hanging Mountain, Lu Ren built a home and repaid Huang Gong with Ironwood. Huang Gong then asked whether Lu Ren had a dao companion and offered to introduce him to a female Celestial Immortal who planned to leave for the Path to Ascension.

• The Jade Emperor and Tathagata discussed using interest in Lu Ren's cultivation method to attract people seeking to enter beneath the Cloud Sea.
• Lu Ren spent nearly three months mining Spirit Crystals and amassed a mountain of them in his Inner World Universe.
• Lu Ren returned to Hanging Mountain with Ironwood and hunted beasts, then filled Huang Gong's house with Ironwood to complete their transaction.
• Lu Ren began building a home on Hanging Mountain, and Huang Gong visited after returning.
• Huang Gong asked whether Lu Ren had a dao companion, then offered to introduce him to a female Celestial Immortal seeking a temporary partner before she entered the Path to Ascension.

Lu Ren discussed Cheng Guo and his cultivation path with Huang Gong, then offered to exchange cultivation methods. After reading Lu Ren’s Shamanic Path, Huang Gong objected to its restrictions, and Lu Ren questioned Huang Gong’s reliance on wine for every breakthrough.

• Lu Ren guessed that Huang Gong wanted to introduce him to Cheng Guo, and Huang Gong explained why she hoped to leave without regrets.
• Huang Gong described how Lu Ren had reached the Celestial Immortal Realm through inner transformation rather than resonance with the greater universe.
• Lu Ren offered to exchange his self-sustaining Shamanic Path cultivation method for Huang Gong’s method.
• Huang Gong read the Shamanic Path and complained that its bloodline requirements made it too restrictive.
• Lu Ren asked how Huang Gong had reached the Celestial Immortal Realm while relying on wines as catalysts for his breakthroughs.

Lu Ren built a house on Hanging Mountain while Huang Gong pondered the unusual cultivation method they had discussed. Cheng Guo approached Lu Ren and explained that his powerful physique and what she perceived as his indulgent nature made her want him as a Dao companion.

• Lu Ren questioned Huang Gong about whether he had passed down his Celestial Wine Formula, and Huang Gong admitted his disciple had received a different method.
• Huang Gong considered how Lu Ren's technique of destroying and rebuilding an Inner World might work for a Celestial Immortal.
• Lu Ren built a two-story ironwood house and activated its basic protective formations.
• Cheng Guo appeared behind Lu Ren, and he asked why she wanted to become Dao companions with him.
• Cheng Guo said she was a succubus who could sense men's quality and claimed Lu Ren's physique and aura showed he was unusually suited to her desires.

Lu Ren entertained Cheng Guo in his newly built house, where they discussed how technology could support cultivation. Cheng Guo argued that an integrated technological cultivation system might advance quickly but struggle to produce Celestial Immortals, and Lu Ren asked what led her to that conclusion.

• Cheng Guo challenged Lu Ren’s claim that he was pure and upright by asking whether he wanted to try being with her.
• Lu Ren invited Cheng Guo into his house, and she noticed that it was still unfurnished.
• Lu Ren brought out modern furnishings from his Inner World Universe, and Cheng Guo said she preferred technological civilization’s way of life.
• Cheng Guo agreed that technology could accelerate cultivation but argued that such a system would have difficulty producing Celestial Immortals.
• Lu Ren considered the difficulty of reaching the Celestial Immortal Realm and asked Cheng Guo why she thought technological cultivation would fall short.

Cheng Guo explained how scientific thinking could hinder cultivators’ spiritual insight, then revealed why she had sought Lu Ren as a potential Dao companion. Lu Ren learned that her succubus abilities could drain other cultivators’ Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and asked why she had not chosen a body cultivator among the Celestial Immortals on Hanging Mountain.

• Cheng Guo discussed the conflict between technology’s rational explanations and the unknown inspiration cultivators needed to reach the Celestial Immortal realm.
• Lu Ren spent a day and night discussing the Dao with Cheng Guo, who guessed that he was less than ten thousand years old.
• Cheng Guo invited Lu Ren to try out the large bed upstairs, and he nervously wondered why she was making such a direct advance.
• Cheng Guo explained that her succubus nature passively absorbed Essence, Qi, and Spirit from partners, and that the effect intensified with cultivation.
• Lu Ren explained that his powerful physique and fused Essence, Qi, and Spirit had eased his concern about being close to Cheng Guo, then asked why she had not chosen a body cultivator on Hanging Mountain.

Lu Ren gained a major boost to his Shamanic Path cultivation after spending ten days with Cheng Guo, though the experience left him completely exhausted. After Huang Gong’s medicinal wine restored him, Huang Gong tried to sell him some and asked whether he had Spirit Crystals.

• Cheng Guo explained that Lu Ren’s powerful physique and unique aura had drawn her to him, then led him upstairs.
• After ten days with Cheng Guo, Lu Ren was exhausted, while their union had greatly nourished them both and nearly advanced him to the middle stage of Heavenly Immortal.
• Lu Ren thanked Cheng Guo for the cultivation gains but said he needed to rest before they continued.
• Huang Gong teased Lu Ren about his unsteady steps and offered him medicinal wine made with an old turtle from the Sunken Sea Zone.
• Lu Ren drank the wine, praised it, and asked its price, so Huang Gong asked whether he had any money.

Lu Ren bought Huang Gong’s spirit-affecting Drunken Immortal wine and learned that the gourds Huang Gong gave to customers were linked to his own treasure. Several Celestial Immortals arrived, and a blue-skinned man confronted Lu Ren about his cultivation technique.

• Lu Ren bought ten Spirit Crystals’ worth of wine from Huang Gong after testing its effects.
• Lu Ren discovered the wine caused lasting spiritual intoxication, which Huang Gong said required an Innate Spiritual Treasure to dispel.
• Huang Gong explained that the wine gourds he gave customers were Descendant Gourds of his own treasure.
• Several Celestial Immortals arrived, and a blue-skinned man stopped within three meters of Lu Ren after sensing a deadly threat.
• The blue-skinned man asked Lu Ren whether his cultivation technique let him sustain himself on the Path to Ascension without drawing in external vital energy.

Lu Ren gathered Huang Gong and several Celestial Immortals to exchange cultivation arts at Hanging Mountain, and their discussion revealed the Shamanic Path’s principles and the Purple Robed Daoist’s mechanical ascension. The exchange ended with the blue-skinned man praising the mechanical immortal path and the Purple Robed Daoist offering to teach it.

• Lu Ren enthusiastically invited the blue-skinned man and the other Celestial Immortals to exchange cultivation insights with Huang Gong.
• The cultivators gathered at Huang Gong's home and spent half a month sharing their cultivation arts and true formulas.
• A four-armed red-haired woman praised the Shamanic Path for breaking through the limits that had stopped other cultivation paths.
• The Purple Robed Daoist explained that technology supported the resource-intensive Shamanic Path and revealed that he followed the Mechanical Dao.
• The blue-skinned man praised the Purple Robed Daoist's mechanical immortal path, and the Purple Robed Daoist offered to teach him.

After the Heavenly Immortals departed, Lu Ren returned to his Inner World and found Ao Li amusing herself alone. He punished her, then offered to seek help restoring her True Dragon body, but Ao Li refused because freeing her would endanger him on the Path to Ascension.

• Original Earth Daoist asked Lu Ren about his miniature universe, and Lu Ren explained that it might take hundreds of millions of years to become a true universe.
• Lu Ren and the others drank and talked for another day before parting, and Morosie flirted with Lu Ren as she left.
• Lu Ren returned to his room hoping to see Cheng Guo, but found her gone and read her message saying she needed time to recover from his vigorous primal yang energy.
• Lu Ren entered his Inner World, found Ao Li using a toy, and rebuked and punished her for indulging herself.
• Lu Ren offered to consult a Heavenly Immortal skilled in life and creation to restore Ao Li's True Dragon body, but Ao Li refused because releasing her would put Lu Ren in danger on the Path to Ascension.