Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: The Founding of the Heavenly Court

Key Plot Points and Events

• The establishment of the Heavenly Court under Dijun marks a major turning point in the balance between the Demon Race and the Witch Clan. The Demon Race, formerly dominated by the Witches, now gains a powerful base from which to expand.
• Dijun and Taiyi invite the Three Pure Ones to the Heavenly Court’s founding banquet. Laozi and Yuanshi decide to send their Good Corpses instead of attending personally, while Tongtian chooses to send his disciple, Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen returns to Kunlun Mountain riding a pure-blooded innate White Tiger. He conceals the powerful merit aura surrounding him, fearing Yuanshi’s jealousy.
• Duobao greets Lu Chen and is praised for reaching the peak of the Taiyi Realm. However, he is humbled when he realizes that Lu Chen’s new mount is also at the Taiyi Realm.
• In the Three Pure Ones Palace, Tongtian informs Lu Chen about the Heavenly Court banquet, which will take place in ten thousand years. Lu Chen accepts the mission despite recognizing that the event is connected to the coming Witch-Demon conflict.
• Lu Chen reflects on the approaching Age of Sages, anticipating Nuwa’s creation of humanity and the eventual Sage attainments of Laozi, Yuanshi, and the others.
• Tongtian realizes through Lu Chen’s thoughts that his elder brothers are likely to become Sages. He is relieved and becomes more confident in his own progress along the Sword Dao.
• Back at his cave abode, Lu Chen names his White Tiger mount Bai Geng, after its snow-white body and innate Geng Metal Aura.
• Duobao offers Lu Chen a spatial Treasure Pouch containing the treasures he has gathered, but Lu Chen allows him to keep it.
• Lu Chen reviews the gains from his travels: his Devouring Path reaches 25%, his Thunder and Destruction Laws both reach 15%, and his cultivation advances to the middle stage of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.
• He continues hiding his true strength from the Three Pure Ones, maintaining the appearance of a crippled cultivator whose cultivation cannot progress.
• Lu Chen leaves Kunlun Mountain and heads toward the East Sea, where another major opportunity awaits him.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Becomes significantly stronger through his travels, gaining merit, deeper Dao insights, and substantial progress in the Devouring, Thunder, and Destruction Laws. He also becomes more cautious and strategic, concealing both his merit and cultivation. His awareness of the approaching Sage era and Witch-Demon war gives him a stronger sense of urgency.
• Tongtian: Shows increased confidence in Lu Chen and entrusts him with representing the Jie Sect at the Heavenly Court banquet. His Sword Dao has advanced to the threshold of 80%, and he has reached the late Primordial Golden Immortal realm.
• Duobao: Reaches the peak of the Taiyi Realm, demonstrating steady progress during Lu Chen’s absence. His pride is tempered when he discovers that Bai Geng is equally powerful.
• Bai Geng: Transitions from Lu Chen’s unnamed White Tiger mount into a recognized disciple-like subordinate through the bestowal of a name. His assigned goal is to master the Geng Metal Dao.
• Laozi and Yuanshi: Remain cautious and politically detached from the Heavenly Court banquet, choosing to send incarnations rather than attend personally. They are also surprised by Tongtian’s heightened perception and Lu Chen’s powerful aura.

Significant Themes

• The shifting balance of power: The Heavenly Court gives the Demon Race the foundation needed to challenge the Witch Clan, setting up the future conflict between the two races.
• The coming Age of Sages: The chapter foreshadows a major transformation of the Primordial World, in which Sage-level figures will dominate its future and determine the distribution of power and resources.
• Concealed strength and strategic patience: Lu Chen deliberately hides his true cultivation and merit, understanding that revealing his progress could create conflict or suspicion among the Three Pure Ones.
• Mastery through experience: Lu Chen’s travels expose him to the lives and struggles of countless beings, deepening his understanding of the Dao and strengthening his various laws.
• Mentorship and recognition: Naming Bai Geng and praising Duobao reinforce Lu Chen’s role as a master who guides and develops those under his protection.

Character Interactions

• Tongtian, Laozi, and Yuanshi discuss whether to attend the Heavenly Court banquet, revealing their differing approaches to courtesy, caution, and political involvement.
• Laozi identifies Bai Geng’s origins and comments on Lu Chen’s fortunate acquisition, surprising the other Three Pure Ones with the mount’s quality.
• Duobao eagerly welcomes Lu Chen home, receives praise for his cultivation, and later assists with Bai Geng.
• Tongtian entrusts Lu Chen with the responsibility of representing him at the banquet, strengthening the bond between master and disciple.
• Lu Chen affectionately names Bai Geng and encourages him to cultivate the Geng Metal Dao.
• Duobao presents Lu Chen with his gathered treasures, showing respect and loyalty, while Lu Chen responds by allowing him to retain them.

Chapter Summary: “Nuwa Creates Humans”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen fishes along the Shores of the East Sea while reflecting on how changing small events can gradually alter the greater course of history.
• He notes several changes caused by his influence:
  • Hong Yun avoids his former conflict with Kunpeng and survives the crisis surrounding the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi.
  • The great powers no longer besiege Wuzhuang Temple.
  • Tongtian becomes more decisive, severing the Dao Corpses of the two Western Sect leaders and forcing them to swear oaths to the Heavenly Dao.
• Nuwa appears and questions Lu Chen’s unusual fishing method. Lu Chen reveals that he had been waiting for her, though he claims not to know the nature of the destined opportunity drawing her there.
• Nuwa asks Lu Chen to travel with her. After a thousand years of observing the Primordial World, she remarks that its inhabitants are limited to the Witch and Demon Tribes.
• Lu Chen suggests that Nuwa create a new race. His words trigger her enlightenment: she realizes that creating living beings is her path to the Dao.
• Nuwa first attempts to create life from ordinary mud and seawater, but the figures are too fragile to survive.
• Lu Chen contributes Xi Rang, or Innate Self-Growing Soil, which he had received from Houtu. Nuwa combines it with Three Lights Divine Water, producing sturdier lifeforms.
• After personally shaping a few humans, Nuwa borrows Lu Chen’s Gourd Vine to speed up the process. By dipping it into the divine mud and sweeping it across the ground, she creates thousands of men and women.
• Once three thousand humans have been created, Nuwa attains sudden enlightenment and publicly declares the birth of the Human Race.
• The Heavenly Dao responds with a massive manifestation of merit. The merit is divided between Nuwa and Lu Chen, with a smaller portion entering the Gourd Vine.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates growing confidence in his altered position within the Primordial World. He understands the major trends of history and deliberately nudges events toward outcomes favorable to himself and his allies.
• He also reveals himself as a subtle facilitator of Nuwa’s destiny. Although he pretends to be merely offering minor assistance, he intentionally gives her the crucial idea, Xi Rang, and the Gourd Vine.
• Nuwa progresses from curiosity and suspicion toward enlightenment. She initially investigates Lu Chen’s motives, but gradually recognizes that creating a new race is her destined Dao.
• Her creative attempts show her increasing mastery, and the successful creation of humanity allows her to ascend toward Sainthood.
• Nuwa also becomes protective of Lu Chen, promising to safeguard him if she achieves the Dao.

Significant Themes

• Small changes reshaping destiny: Lu Chen’s belief that minor alterations can transform the “greater tide” is reflected in the chapter’s changed history and in his influence over Nuwa’s enlightenment.
• Destiny and manipulation: Lu Chen claims to be acting by intuition, but his actions suggest he understands or strongly suspects the destined future and is guiding events toward it.
• Creation and transformation: Nuwa’s experiments demonstrate that life requires the proper combination of materials, divine power, and spiritual insight.
• The rise of humanity: The creation of the Human Race marks a major turning point in the Primordial World, ending the dominance of the Witch-Demon Tribes as its only major races.
• Merit and the Dao: Nuwa’s act of creation is recognized by the Heavenly Dao, showing that great contributions to the world can lead directly to enlightenment and power.
• Reciprocity and future consequences: Lu Chen’s gifts appear helpful in the present but are also tied to future developments, especially the Gourd Vine’s transformation into a supreme Human Dao treasure.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Nuwa engage in playful but suspicious dialogue, with Nuwa recognizing that he is concealing more knowledge than he admits.
• Nuwa tests Lu Chen’s intentions by keeping him beside her, while Lu Chen enjoys her company and quietly steers her toward her destined breakthrough.
• Their cooperation becomes essential to the creation of humanity: Lu Chen provides the insight and materials, while Nuwa supplies the creative power and Dao enlightenment.
• Nuwa’s promise to protect Lu Chen suggests that their relationship has developed from wary curiosity into mutual reliance and potential alliance.

Chapter Summary: “Becoming a Sage”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Merit generated from creating the Human Race is distributed unevenly: Lu Chen receives two-tenths, the Gourd Vine receives half a tenth, and Nuwa receives seven and a half tenths.
• Nuwa absorbs her vast Merit and breaks through from the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm to become the second Sage of the Primordial World, after Hongjun. Her ascension produces immense heavenly phenomena and sends shockwaves through every major faction.
• The Three Pure Ones—Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian—are startled by Nuwa’s advancement. Yuanshi is particularly disturbed because he expected Laozi or himself to become a Sage first.
• Styx attempts to imitate Nuwa by creating the Asura Race from the Blood Sea. Although he receives Heavenly Merit, it is far inferior to Nuwa’s. His cultivation only rises from the late Quasi-Saint stage to the peak, and he fails to become a Sage. Other powerful beings abandon the idea of copying his method.
• The Witch Clan worries that Nuwa’s Sagehood will strengthen the Demon Race, but Zhu Jiuyin uses his ability to observe the River of Time and claims that Nuwa will not appear in the future Witch-Demon battlefield. Dijiang is reassured and orders the clan to continue preparing their formation for a future attack on the Demon Race.
• In the Heavenly Court, Dijun wrongly assumes Nuwa’s ascension will allow the Demon Race to crush the Witches and unify the Primordial World. Hongjun immediately destroys this ambition by declaring that Sages must establish Daoist fields in Chaos and cannot freely interfere in Primordial World affairs.
• Hongjun appears before Nuwa to issue this command. His presence is colder and more mechanical than before, leading Lu Chen to wonder whether integrating with the Heavenly Dao has cost Hongjun part of his own identity.
• Hongjun secretly sends Lu Chen a streak of light, the meaning of which is not yet revealed.
• The newly created humans recognize Nuwa as their Holy Mother and Lu Chen as their Holy Father because of his assistance in creating them.
• Through this recognition, Lu Chen receives a share of the Human Race’s Fortune. Nuwa holds seven-tenths, Lu Chen holds two and a half tenths, and the remaining half tenth resides in the Beating Whip.
• The chapter ends with a mysterious accusation or question: someone asks why Lu Chen has concealed himself so thoroughly and whether he does not trust Tongtian.

Character Developments

• Nuwa becomes the second Sage and gains a status above all ordinary Quasi-Saints. Her achievement confirms her immense potential and establishes her as a major force in the Primordial World.
• Lu Chen gains both Merit from assisting in humanity’s creation and a lasting connection to the Human Race through the title of Holy Father. His growing Fortune and improved comprehension make his future cultivation increasingly promising.
• Yuanshi reveals jealousy and frustration at Nuwa surpassing his expectations, while Laozi remains unreadable and Tongtian reacts with serious determination.
• Styx is shown to be opportunistic and imitative, attempting to reproduce Nuwa’s success rather than finding an independent path. His failure demonstrates that merely creating a race is insufficient without the right circumstances and contribution.
• Dijun displays overconfidence, immediately imagining Demon Race supremacy, but his plans are checked by Hongjun’s restrictions.
• Zhu Jiuyin reinforces his role as the Witch Clan’s strategist and prophetic figure, using the River of Time to calm Dijiang’s fears.
• Hongjun appears increasingly detached and emotionless, suggesting that Dao Integration may be eroding his individuality.

Significant Themes

• Merit and destiny: Great achievements are rewarded according to the depth of one’s contribution, with Nuwa receiving the overwhelming majority for creating humanity.
• The difficulty of becoming a Sage: Nuwa’s success cannot be easily replicated. Styx’s failure shows that Merit, technique, and timing all matter.
• Power and political balance: Nuwa’s ascension immediately changes the strategic calculations of the Witch and Demon Clans, even though her new obligations prevent her from freely acting in the Primordial World.
• Loss of identity through transcendence: Hongjun’s coldness raises questions about whether merging with the Heavenly Dao grants power at the cost of personal will and humanity.
• The future importance of humanity: Although weak at present, the Human Race possesses enormous future potential. Its Fortune will eventually become valuable enough for Sages to compete and scheme over.
• Trust and concealment: Lu Chen’s hidden identity, abilities, and alliances become increasingly significant, especially in relation to Tongtian and the other major powers.

Important Character Interactions

• Nuwa and Lu Chen: Nuwa acknowledges Lu Chen as the Human Race’s Holy Father, allowing him to receive Human Fortune and strengthening their partnership.
• Hongjun and Nuwa: Hongjun commands Nuwa to establish a Daoist field in Chaos and limit her interference in Primordial World affairs. Nuwa accepts respectfully as his disciple.
• Hongjun and Lu Chen: Hongjun notices Lu Chen, freezes him with a glance, and secretly implants an unknown message or power into his brow.
• Dijun and the Demon Race: Dijun interprets Nuwa’s Sagehood as a weapon for Demon Race domination, but his expectations are immediately invalidated by Hongjun’s decree.
• Dijiang and Zhu Jiuyin: Dijiang voices concern about Nuwa, while Zhu Jiuyin reassures him through his vision of the future.
• The Human Race, Nuwa, and Lu Chen: The humans honor Nuwa as their mother and Lu Chen as their father, formally linking both figures to humanity’s destiny.

Summary: The Human Race’s Plea

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen realizes that Nuwa has seen through the concealment of his cultivation, though she reassures him that even she can no longer detect his true strength after the Dao Ancestor intervened.
• Nuwa hints that Lu Chen’s twelve-petaled flower manifestation makes him an unparalleled genius in the Primordial World and may explain why he previously attracted the Heaven-Sundering Divine Thunder.
• Before leaving, Nuwa gives Lu Chen a black bracelet formed from a strand of her hair. It allows him to summon her by silently reciting her name.
• Accepting his role as the Human Race’s Holy Father, Lu Chen decides to remain by the East Sea for three thousand years to protect and guide humanity.
• He names the first two humans, giving them the surnames Gu: Gu Chen and Gu Xi. The remaining humans are allowed to choose their own names.
• After a thousand years, the original three thousand humans multiply into tens of thousands, but they remain physically weak and vulnerable to demon beasts.
• Gu Chen and Gu Xi lead the Human Race in pleading with Lu Chen for a cultivation method, explaining that many humans are being killed and eaten because they lack strength.
• Lu Chen recognizes that the Human Race’s future will involve severe catastrophes, including the Demon Race’s later slaughter of humans to create the Witch-Slaying Sword.
• Rather than teach the humans an unsuitable immortal cultivation method, Lu Chen considers creating a Martial Dao focused on strengthening the body, qi, blood, and innate potential.
• He decides to use cultivation principles resembling the “Sea of Bitterness” realms from another world as a foundation and begins examining Gu Chen and Gu Xi’s bodies to determine whether they can serve as suitable test subjects.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Becomes more firmly committed to his responsibility as the Human Race’s Holy Father. Although he initially intended only to gain merit, he now feels genuine concern for humanity and is willing to develop a new cultivation system for them. His strategic caution also remains evident as he worries about revealing his hidden cultivation and future dangers.
• Nuwa: Displays composure, playfulness, and growing interest in Lu Chen. She protects him by concealing his cultivation from other Sages and gives him a means of contacting her, establishing her as a powerful supporter.
• Gu Chen and Gu Xi: Emerge as leaders and representatives of the Human Race. They show loyalty and initiative by directly asking Lu Chen for help, becoming the first candidates for his experimentation and instruction.
• The Human Race: Develops rapidly in population but remains weak and defenseless, marking the beginning of its struggle for survival and eventual rise in the Primordial World.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and compassion: Lu Chen’s role evolves from a pursuit of merit into a genuine obligation toward the humans who revere him.
• Humanity’s struggle for survival: The humans’ vulnerability to demon beasts highlights their inferior starting position compared with the Witch and Demon Races.
• The creation of a unique path: Lu Chen seeks to establish Martial Dao rather than force humanity into an unsuitable immortal system, emphasizing adaptation and self-reliance.
• Fate and future conflict: Lu Chen understands that the Human Race’s current hardships are only the beginning of much greater disasters.
• Hidden strength and political caution: Concealing his cultivation protects Lu Chen from unwanted attention while his alliances with Nuwa and the Dao Ancestor provide crucial security.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Nuwa exchange veiled, playful remarks about his hidden cultivation and his relationship with the Three Pure Ones.
• Nuwa reassures Lu Chen that his secret is safe and grants him a protective means of contacting her before departing.
• Lu Chen formally establishes his relationship with the Human Race by naming Gu Chen and Gu Xi and addressing all three thousand humans as their Holy Father.
• Gu Chen and Gu Xi later approach Lu Chen on behalf of the entire Human Race, humbly pleading for a method to protect themselves.
• Lu Chen responds by inviting the two leaders into his hut and examining their bodies, beginning the process of developing a cultivation method suited to humanity.

Chapter Summary: Spreading the Dao Among the Human Race, the Awakening of Human Dao

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen begins teaching Gu Chen and Gu Xi a new cultivation system based on the “Fleshly Secret Realm” concept from his past life. He hopes to create a cultivation path suited to the Human Race, though he is unsure whether it will work in the Primordial World.
• Nuwa senses the Human Race’s Fortune increasing and realizes Lu Chen is spreading a Dao beyond the established Immortal Dao. Curious and impressed, she travels to the thatched cottage.
• Seeing Lu Chen using the shattered Jade Disc of Creation, Nuwa touches his brow and joins the process of comprehending the Dao.
• Gu Chen successfully comprehends the first stage of the new system and names it Martial Dao. He swears before Human Dao, declaring that he has opened the first path of Martial Dao for the Human Race.
• The declaration causes the Primordial World to tremble and alerts countless cultivators, who question the existence of Human Dao and expect the Heavenly Dao to punish the Human Race.
• Instead, Merit descends from Heaven, proving that Human Dao has responded. The Merit is distributed among the participants:
  • Lu Chen: one-tenth
  • Gu Xi: half a tenth
  • Nuwa: two-tenths
  • Gu Chen: six and a half tenths
• Gu Chen is acknowledged as the Martial Ancestor of the Human Race. Human Dao manifests through a mysterious voice and grants him a golden cloak marked with the character “Martial.”
• Nuwa questions Lu Chen about his knowledge of Human Dao. He explains that the Primordial World contains the Three Daos—Heavenly, Earthly, and Human—but only the Heavenly Dao has awakened. His goal was to use Martial Dao to awaken Human Dao and strengthen the Human Race.
• In Zixiao Palace, Hongjun senses the change and reacts with conflicting emotions, suggesting that Lu Chen’s actions may have created a significant anomaly in the Heavenly Dao’s plans.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen moves beyond simply protecting the Human Race. He deliberately begins shaping its destiny by creating an independent cultivation path and awakening Human Dao. He understands that the Human Race’s Fortune may become protection against future catastrophes.
• Gu Chen becomes the first successful inheritor of Martial Dao and is elevated from an ordinary Human Race member to the revered Martial Ancestor. His oath establishes him as the founder of the Human Race’s first martial path.
• Gu Xi participates in the experiment but has not yet achieved the same breakthrough as Gu Chen, receiving less Merit as a result.
• Nuwa shifts from observer to participant by entering Lu Chen’s Dao-comprehension process. She is impressed by his knowledge, envies his access to the Jade Disc of Creation, and begins to recognize the larger political and cosmic consequences of his actions.
• Hongjun is revealed to be troubled by Lu Chen’s success. His anger and regret imply that the awakening of Human Dao disrupts plans associated with Heavenly Dao dominance.

Significant Themes

• The rise of Human Dao: The Human Race is no longer merely a creation dependent on the Heavenly Dao or Nuwa. Its own Dao has begun to awaken, giving it a distinct source of authority and destiny.
• Balance among the Three Daos: Lu Chen believes the Primordial World must maintain a balance between the Heavenly, Earthly, and Human Daos. Heavenly Dao’s excessive dominance could lead to future disasters.
• Innovation and experimentation: Martial Dao is created through trial and uncertainty rather than inherited tradition. Lu Chen must gamble on an untested idea to give humanity a means of self-improvement.
• Fate versus free will: Lu Chen’s actions challenge the established course of history, including the future suppression of Human Dao and the Heavenly Dao’s manipulation of major tribulations.
• Power and cosmic authority: The chapter suggests that the Heavenly Dao, Human Dao, and Hongjun are engaged in a concealed struggle for influence over the Primordial World.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen teaches Gu Chen and Gu Xi directly, guiding them through the difficult process of Dao comprehension.
• Nuwa enters their meditation and assists in the establishment of Martial Dao, making the breakthrough possible. Her later conversation with Lu Chen is both questioning and cautionary.
• Gu Chen publicly honors Lu Chen as the “Sacred Father” and credits his teachings for the creation of Martial Dao.
• The Human Race responds collectively by kneeling before Gu Chen and acknowledging him as Martial Ancestor.
• Nuwa warns Lu Chen that awakening Human Dao may draw the Heavenly Dao’s hostility, while Lu Chen calmly argues that restoring cosmic balance is worth the risk.
• Hongjun’s private reaction reveals that Lu Chen’s actions have attracted the attention—and possibly the opposition—of the highest powers in the Primordial World.

Chapter Summary: “The Demon Race’s Calculations”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Heavenly Court, Dijun, Taiyi, and White Marsh discuss the sudden rise of the Human Race after Gu Chen’s actions stirred both the Heavenly Dao and the newly revealed Human Dao.
• Dijun views the Human Race as a future threat, ranking it below only the Witch Clan despite its current weakness.
• Taiyi proposes making the Human Race a vassal of the Demon Race and using them as expendable soldiers in the war against the Witch Clan. This would suppress the Human Race while absorbing its fortune into the Demon Race.
• Because Nuwa created the Human Race, Taiyi decides to seek her approval, believing she will support the Demon Race’s protection and plans.
• In Pangu Hall, the Witch Clan discusses the Human Race. Houtu recommends befriending them because they live near her territory and possess Sage backing. Dijiang agrees and entrusts Houtu with handling relations, revealing the Witch Clan’s more direct and less suspicious approach.
• In the Three Pure Ones Hall, Yuanshi and Tongtian continue cultivating while Laozi prepares to travel because his cultivation has reached a bottleneck.
• Gu Chen completes a cultivation method for the Human Race with the assistance of the Human Dao. The method, based on developing the body’s hidden potential, can lead to the Great Luo realm and is imprinted into every human’s Spirit Platform.
• Gu Chen becomes known as the Human Race’s “Martial Ancestor,” in addition to “Ancestor Chen.”
• The cultivation system includes the Fleshly Secret Realm—Body Tempering, Bone Tempering, Blood Refining, Marrow Cleansing, and Aperture Opening—followed by the Heaven-Seizing and Divine Ability Secret Realms.
• Lu Chen and Gu Chen acknowledge that the Human Race must eventually develop its own higher cultivation path rather than relying completely on outside guidance.
• Lu Chen urges Gu Chen and Gu Xi to lead the Human Race themselves and warns them about the dangers of the Primordial World and the need for steady, independent cultivation.
• Lu Chen and Nuwa discuss the Human Dao and whether the predetermined “greater tide” of history can be changed. Lu Chen argues that while the greater tide cannot be directly altered, enough changes to smaller events might influence it.
• Inspired by this idea, Nuwa resolves to act rather than passively accept fate.
• Before Nuwa leaves, Lu Chen confronts her about whether she values the Human Race or the Demon Race more. Nuwa struggles to answer, realizing that her attachment to the Demon Race is largely connected to her brother Fuxi.

Character Developments

• Dijun becomes openly wary of the Human Race and begins viewing it as a strategic threat rather than an insignificant new species.
• Taiyi demonstrates the Demon Race’s calculating and ruthless nature by proposing to exploit the Human Race as vassals and battlefield sacrifices.
• White Marsh acts as a practical strategist, cautioning against directly provoking the Human Race because of Nuwa’s connection to them.
• Dijiang shows confidence in the Witch Clan’s strength and adopts a straightforward policy of friendship. He does not appear threatened by the Human Race’s potential.
• Houtu emerges as the Witch Clan’s likely intermediary with the Human Race, motivated by proximity and the presence of Sage protection.
• Gu Chen completes his transformation into an important leader and teacher of humanity by creating a cultivation system and earning the title Martial Ancestor.
• Lu Chen continues to act as both guide and protector of the Human Race, though his advice is partly shaped by his own fear of future catastrophe and desire to preserve his chances of survival.
• Nuwa is shown to be emotionally conflicted. She is burdened by her knowledge of fate and the struggles among the Three Daos, while her concern for Fuxi makes her loyalty to the Demon Race uncertain. Lu Chen’s words push her toward taking active control of smaller events.

Significant Themes

• The rise of humanity and the struggle for influence: The Human Race’s spiritual importance attracts the attention of both major powers despite its current military weakness.
• Political manipulation versus genuine alliance: The Demon Race seeks to control and exploit humanity, while the Witch Clan offers friendship more directly.
• Fate and free will: Nuwa and Lu Chen debate whether the established course of history can be changed. The chapter suggests that large destinies may be influenced through many smaller decisions.
• Independence and self-reliance: Lu Chen insists that humanity must ultimately create and walk its own path rather than depend permanently on Sages or external resources.
• Personal attachments amid larger conflicts: Nuwa’s dilemma shows how individual bonds—especially her relationship with Fuxi—can conflict with broader cosmic and political interests.
• Preparation for future catastrophe: Lu Chen’s actions are motivated not only by humanity’s future but also by his fear of the coming Investiture Catastrophe and the need to secure every possible advantage.

Important Character Interactions

• Dijun, Taiyi, and White Marsh: Their discussion establishes the Demon Race’s plan to control humanity, with Taiyi pushing the idea of using humans as vassals and soldiers.
• Dijiang and Houtu: Dijiang trusts Houtu to manage relations with humanity, contrasting the Witch Clan’s directness with the Demon Race’s schemes.
• Lu Chen and Gu Chen/Gu Xi: Lu Chen sends them out to lead the Human Race, emphasizing responsibility, caution, and independent development.
• Lu Chen and Nuwa: Their philosophical discussion about fate gives Nuwa renewed determination. Their final confrontation becomes more personal, forcing Nuwa to confront whether her loyalty lies with humanity or the Demon Race through Fuxi.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen stops questioning Nuwa about whom she will support and begins cultivating the Sword Dao with the aid of the Creation Jade Disc. After a thousand years, his Sword Dao comprehension reaches five percent.
• Nuwa, frustrated by Lu Chen’s reaction, returns to Wa Sovereign Palace, where Dijun and Fuxi arrive to discuss the newly created Human Race.
• Fuxi proposes that the Human Race be incorporated into the Demon Race, allowing it to share in the Demon Race’s Fortune and receive protection.
• Nuwa recognizes Dijun’s scheme: he intends to claim the Human Race without contributing anything, likely taking advantage of the turmoil surrounding Lu Chen.
• Nuwa firmly rejects the proposal, declaring that humans and demons are separate and that the Human Race already has her protection as its creator and Holy Mother.
• Dijun is forced to accept her refusal, though he is furious. Nuwa then unexpectedly orders Fuxi to leave the Demon Race and relinquish his position as the Xi Sovereign.
• Dijun formally acknowledges the decree, and Fuxi’s Fortune separates from the Demon Race’s Fortune. Fuxi is left enraged and devastated.
• After Dijun departs, Nuwa releases Fuxi and explains that she acted to protect him from his doomed fate. Fuxi realizes that returning to the Heavenly Court is no longer possible because of the rift created between him and Dijun.
• Nuwa advises Fuxi to visit the Human Race. He agrees, though the relationship between the siblings has become more distant.
• Nuwa immediately suffers Heavenly Dao backlash for forcibly removing Fuxi from a tribulation that is destined to end in his death. She questions whether fate can truly be changed.
• Meanwhile, on the East Sea, the Human Race practices a form of cultivation that uses spiritual energy to strengthen qi, blood, and the physical body.
• An elderly man riding a green ox observes the Human Race’s Martial Dao and recognizes similarities to the Witch Clan’s body-tempering path. He decides to seek out the Martial Ancestor.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Becomes increasingly detached from Nuwa’s internal conflict, focusing instead on cultivating the Sword Dao. His progress suggests he is preparing for future struggles.
• Nuwa: Makes a decisive choice to protect the Human Race from Demon Race control and saves Fuxi from his destined death. Her actions show both political resolve and deep familial concern, though they damage her relationship with Fuxi and provoke punishment from the Heavenly Dao.
• Fuxi: Loses his identity and status as the Demon Race’s Xi Sovereign. Although angry at Nuwa for forcing him away, he understands that her intentions are protective. He faces an uncertain future and can no longer simply return to the Heavenly Court.
• Dijun: Attempts to absorb the Human Race into the Demon Race but is decisively rejected. He obeys Nuwa publicly while concealing his anger and resentment.
• The elderly observer: Correctly identifies the Human Race’s cultivation system as a distinct Martial Dao related to Witch Clan techniques and becomes interested in meeting its founder.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus free will: Nuwa challenges the Heavenly Dao’s predetermined fate by removing Fuxi from the Demon Race and attempting to save him, though the resulting backlash suggests fate cannot be defied without a price.
• Protection and sacrifice: Nuwa sacrifices her political alliance with the Demon Race, her closeness with Fuxi, and even suffers Heavenly Dao punishment to protect both the Human Race and her brother.
• Political power and manipulation: Dijun’s attempt to claim the Human Race exposes the Demon Race’s desire to control new sources of Fortune under the guise of protection.
• Identity and belonging: Fuxi’s loss of his title and affiliation leaves him without a clear place in the Primordial World.
• The rise of humanity: The Human Race is beginning to develop its own cultivation path, establishing independence rather than relying on the protection or Fortune of older powers.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Nuwa: Lu Chen’s refusal to pursue her answer frustrates Nuwa, creating emotional tension between them.
• Nuwa, Dijun, and Fuxi: Nuwa rejects Dijun’s proposal in front of Fuxi and then strips Fuxi of his Demon Race status, turning a political negotiation into a decisive break.
• Nuwa and Fuxi: Their sibling bond is strained by Nuwa’s intervention, but Fuxi recognizes that she acted out of concern for his survival.
• Fuxi and the Human Race: At Nuwa’s urging, Fuxi goes to observe the new race, potentially marking the beginning of his new path.
• The elderly cultivator and the Martial Dao: His observation of human cultivation sets up a forthcoming meeting with the Martial Ancestor and suggests that the Human Race’s development will attract powerful figures.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Chen receives a visit from an apparently ordinary but extremely powerful old man, later identified by Lu Chen as Laozi.
• Laozi criticizes the Human Race’s reliance on Martial Dao and offers to spread Immortal Dao among them. Gu Chen politely refuses to endorse it, explaining that the Human Race is already committed to Martial Dao.
• Laozi is angered by the rejection but refrains from forcefully imposing his teachings because Nuwa protects the Human Race. He instead asks Gu Chen about Fuxi, believing Fuxi to be the Human Race’s mysterious Holy Father. Gu Chen honestly admits that he does not know who Fuxi is.
• Gu Chen reports the encounter to Lu Chen. Lu Chen correctly infers Laozi’s identity and concludes that Laozi’s attempt to spread Immortal Dao offers no real benefit to the Human Race.
• Lu Chen tells Gu Chen not to interfere, accepting that Laozi’s eventual Sainthood is part of the world’s broader destiny and cannot truly be prevented.
• Lu Chen hurries back to Kunlun Mountain because Laozi’s approach to Sainthood means Tongtian must advance quickly as well. He plans to lend Tongtian the Jade Disc of Creation so that Tongtian can complete his understanding of Sword Dao and prove the Grand Primordial Luo.
• Tongtian greets Lu Chen and reveals that he has already taken “half a step” toward proving the Dao, though he jokingly exaggerates his achievement.
• Lu Chen presents the Jade Disc of Creation to Tongtian. In exchange, Tongtian offers him several powerful innate spiritual treasures.
• Lu Chen chooses and receives the Purple-Electric Hammer, a top-grade offensive treasure suited to his fighting style.
• Tongtian accepts the Jade Disc of Creation and enters secluded cultivation. Lu Chen remains on Kunlun Mountain to cultivate rather than returning to the Human Race.
• The chapter ends with the sky suddenly trembling, setting up a major impending event.

2. Character Developments

• Gu Chen: Demonstrates caution, humility, and political awareness when dealing with Laozi. Though offended by Laozi’s arrogance, he avoids provoking a powerful outsider and follows Lu Chen’s instructions.
• Lu Chen: Shows strategic maturity and a willingness to tolerate Laozi’s future Sainthood for the sake of the larger balance of power. He also actively supports Tongtian’s advancement, proving his loyalty to his master.
• Laozi: Is portrayed as proud and dismissive of Martial Dao. His confidence is shaken by the Human Race’s complete rejection of Immortal Dao, but he remains calculating enough not to attack them openly.
• Tongtian: Has grown dramatically stronger in Sword Dao and is close to a major breakthrough. His excitement over the Jade Disc reveals how deeply he desires to prove the Dao and achieve Sainthood.

3. Significant Themes

• Martial Dao versus Immortal Dao: The Human Race’s preference for Martial Dao reflects its suitability to their physical nature and current circumstances, challenging the assumption that Immortal Dao is universally superior.
• Humility and survival: Gu Chen and Lu Chen understand that the weak must sometimes act modestly and avoid unnecessary conflict while building strength for the future.
• Dao lineage and competition: The approaching Sainthood of Laozi and the other major powers makes advancement a matter of strategic survival, not merely personal cultivation.
• Loyalty and gratitude: Lu Chen cannot bring himself to sabotage Laozi because Laozi once taught and helped him, even though he distrusts Laozi’s character.
• Civilization and merit: The inventions of Fire-Driller, Nest-Builder, and Life-Knower improve Human civilization, earn merit, and strengthen the Human Race’s fortune.

4. Character Interactions

• Gu Chen and Laozi: Their exchange is outwardly polite but tense. Gu Chen responds to Laozi’s arrogance with diplomatic humility while refusing to support the spread of Immortal Dao.
• Gu Chen and Lu Chen: Gu Chen seeks Lu Chen’s judgment after the encounter, showing his trust in Lu Chen’s leadership and insight.
• Lu Chen and Tongtian: Their master-disciple relationship combines genuine loyalty with playful internal teasing. Lu Chen brings Tongtian a crucial opportunity, while Tongtian rewards him with the Purple-Electric Hammer.
• Laozi and the Human Race: Laozi expects his teachings to be welcomed but is rejected even by ordinary human children, damaging his pride and forcing him to seek another route toward the Human Race’s fortune.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Laozi establishes the Dao Sect, using the Taiji Diagram to suppress its fortune. He receives the greatest share of merit and becomes a Sage after supplementing it with his World-Opening Merit.
• Yuanshi realizes that merit is the path to Sainthood and establishes the Chan Sect, using the Pangu Banner. His World-Opening Merit allows him to become a Sage as well.
• Jieyin and Zhunti establish the Western Sect, but their merit is insufficient. To obtain more, they make forty-eight great vows, including a promise to restore the Western earth veins. Their vows provide enough merit for both to become Sages.
• Thus, four Sages ascend in a single day: Laozi, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti.
• Lu Chen reflects on Laozi’s choice to establish the Dao Sect rather than the Human Cult, suspecting that Laozi encountered difficulties among the Human Race.
• Tongtian rejects the conventional merit-based path. He establishes the Jie Sect, declaring that all beings may enter if they pass his trials, regardless of species or status.
• Instead of absorbing the merit into himself, Tongtian places it into the Green Duckweed Sword and seeks to attain the Dao through his own sword and comprehension.
• Tongtian achieves Primordial Unity, surpassing ordinary Sages. His breakthrough manifests as a sword-shaped figure crossing beyond the river of Heavenly Dao.
• Tongtian assigns Lu Chen responsibility for accepting future disciples while he enters seclusion to study the Dao of Three Corpses Severance.
• He discusses cultivation paths with Lu Chen and Duobao. Lu Chen chooses Primordial Unity, while Duobao chooses the Dao of Three Corpses Severance.
• Lu Chen discovers that the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase can refine merit and treasures into droplets that strengthen the origin of the Devouring Demon God and deepen his insight into the Devouring Path.
• After a thousand years, Lu Chen hosts the Jie Sect’s disciple-acceptance ceremony on Tongtian’s behalf. Laozi and Yuanshi also attend to accept disciples for their own sects.
• Yuanshi establishes trials based on origins, blessings, and comprehension. Lu Chen creates the Inquiry-Heart Formation to test temperament and loyalty, especially to prevent future betrayal.
• Most applicants favor the Jie Sect because of Tongtian’s doctrine of teaching without discrimination. The first successful Jie Sect candidate reaches the summit and introduces himself as Jin Ling.

2. Character Developments

• Laozi becomes the first Sage through sect-establishing merit and is revealed to be more perceptive than before, recognizing Lu Chen’s hidden identity as the Human Race’s Holy Father.
• Yuanshi follows the merit-based route to Sainthood. He initially feels relieved when Tongtian appears to choose the same path, but becomes jealous and resentful when Tongtian surpasses him by attaining Primordial Unity.
• Jieyin and Zhunti reveal their desperation and hatred toward Tongtian. They are willing to make costly vows and sacrifice the Western earth veins’ future restoration in order to become Sages.
• Tongtian undergoes the chapter’s greatest transformation. He abandons dependence on Heavenly Dao insights and the Jade Disc of Creation, choosing absolute trust in his sword and himself. This sincerity clarifies his Swordheart and allows him to transcend ordinary Sainthood.
• Lu Chen becomes more strategically influential. He helps shape the Jie Sect’s recruitment system, considers multiple routes to attaining the Dao, and discovers a new method of strengthening his origin through refined merit.
• Duobao struggles over his cultivation direction but ultimately chooses Three Corpses Severance after Tongtian reassures him that he will help solve its limitations.
• Jin Ling is introduced as the first successful Jie Sect disciple.

3. Significant Themes

• Self-reliance versus dependence: Tongtian’s breakthrough emphasizes that true attainment requires personal insight rather than constant reliance on external treasures, Heavenly Dao, or inherited wisdom.
• Different paths to transcendence: The chapter contrasts merit-based Sainthood, Three Corpses Severance, and Primordial Unity, showing that cultivation paths vary in difficulty, strength, and suitability.
• The cost of power: Jieyin and Zhunti gain Sainthood through vows that may damage the Western lands, highlighting the sacrifices and compromises behind ambition.
• Teaching without discrimination: Tongtian’s Jie Sect welcomes all beings who can pass its trials, opposing rigid judgments based on race, origin, or past bloodshed.
• Character and loyalty: Lu Chen’s Inquiry-Heart Formation stresses that temperament and faithfulness matter more than talent or fortune. The fear of betrayal foreshadows the future danger posed by traitors such as Long-Eared Dingguang Xian.
• Jealousy and hierarchy: Yuanshi’s resentment shows how personal pride can be threatened when a younger sibling surpasses him, even when both possess great power.
• Potential through cultivation: Lu Chen’s discovery suggests that even tiny improvements in origin can lead to greater comprehension and perhaps create an entirely new route toward Dao attainment.

4. Character Interactions

• Laozi’s disciple, Xuandu, respectfully identifies Lu Chen as the Human Race’s Holy Father, prompting Laozi to recognize Lu Chen’s true status.
• Yuanshi and Lu Chen cooperate in organizing the disciple-selection ceremony, though Yuanshi remains hostile toward applicants who attempt to cheat.
• Tongtian guides Lu Chen and Duobao on their respective cultivation paths, encouraging each to choose according to their strengths.
• Tongtian entrusts Lu Chen with accepting disciples, demonstrating his confidence in Lu Chen’s judgment.
• Lu Chen and Duobao congratulate Tongtian after his breakthrough and discuss whether he can successfully attain Primordial Unity.
• The ceremony reveals a contrast between Yuanshi’s formal, merit-and-talent-based selection and Lu Chen’s focus on inner character.
• Jin Ling becomes the first successful recruit to address Lu Chen as Senior Brother, marking the beginning of the Jie Sect’s new generation.

Chapter Summary: Lu Chen Accepts Disciples on His Master’s Behalf

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen assigns Duobao to help Jin Ling, the newly accepted female disciple, find a suitable cave dwelling on Kunlun Mountain.
• Duobao explains that he has spent the past millennium mapping out the mountain’s best cultivation locations, anticipating disputes among the Jie, Chan, and Human sects.
• Jin Ling learns that Lu Chen had already reached the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm when Duobao first entered the Taiyi realm, leaving her astonished by his cultivation.
• More future Jie Sect leaders arrive, including Wudang, Guiling, the Three Xiao Sisters, Zhao Gongming, Luo Xuan, Wuyun Immortal, the Four Saints of Kowloon Island, the Ten Heavenly Lords, and Winged Immortal.
• Nearly a thousand cultivators pass the mountain trial and gather behind Lu Chen, while Yuanshi has only thirteen disciples, including Ran Deng and the Twelve Golden Immortals.
• Yuanshi announces that he will preach the Dao at Yuqing Palace in one hundred years before leaving. Laozi has already departed with Xuandu.
• Lu Chen formally recognizes the gathered cultivators as disciples of the Jie Sect. He warns them not to misuse the sect’s name to bully others or kill without cause, threatening to purge anyone who violates this rule.
• He also promises that the Jie Sect will protect its disciples: they should avoid needless escalation but report serious conflicts to him so he can defend their honor.
• After the disciples disperse to establish their dwellings, Duobao urgently summons Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen discovers that Ran Deng is attempting to seize Jin Ling’s cave dwelling by force because it possesses exceptionally dense spiritual energy. Duobao intervened before Ran Deng could take it.

Character Development

• Lu Chen demonstrates authority, foresight, and responsibility as Tongtian’s representative. He manages the disciples’ settlement, establishes strict ethical standards, and balances discipline with strong protection of his followers.
• Duobao is shown to be dependable and highly organized. His long-term preparation in mapping cave locations allows him to assist the incoming disciples, and he actively protects Jin Ling from Ran Deng.
• Jin Ling begins as a respectful but inexperienced new disciple. She is deeply impressed by Lu Chen’s cultivation and gradually recognizes the strength and security provided by the Jie Sect.
• Ran Deng is portrayed as ambitious and opportunistic. Despite being a Great Luo cultivator, he uses his seniority and strength to pressure a much weaker newcomer for a superior cave dwelling.
• Yuanshi appears concerned with status and sect prestige, visibly displeased by the large number of disciples gathered under Lu Chen compared with his own smaller group.
• The future Jie Sect disciples begin to see Lu Chen not merely as a senior brother but as a powerful protector and leader.

Significant Themes

• Leadership and responsibility: Lu Chen’s role extends beyond accepting disciples; he must organize, discipline, and protect a large new sect.
• Strength tempered by morality: The Jie Sect is powerful, but Lu Chen insists that its members must not abuse that power or act violently without cause.
• Sect loyalty and mutual protection: Lu Chen emphasizes that disciples may rely on the Jie Sect when threatened, creating a strong sense of belonging and solidarity.
• Competition for resources: The dispute over cave dwellings reflects the broader rivalry between sects and the scarcity of high-quality cultivation grounds.
• Hidden destinies and factional divisions: Ran Deng’s association with the Chan Sect hints at his future connection with the West, while Lu Chen deliberately avoids interfering with the choices that will eventually divide the Three Pure Ones.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Duobao: Lu Chen trusts Duobao with practical responsibilities, while Duobao responds as a loyal and capable subordinate.
• Duobao and Jin Ling: Duobao guides Jin Ling to her dwelling and answers her questions about Lu Chen and the senior disciples.
• Lu Chen and the new disciples: Lu Chen first intimidates them with his cultivation pressure, then reassures them with a promise of protection, earning their respect and emotional loyalty.
• Lu Chen and the other sect leaders: His public declaration is also heard by Ran Deng and the Twelve Golden Immortals, establishing the Jie Sect’s confidence and strength in contrast to the Chan Sect.
• Duobao, Jin Ling, and Ran Deng: Their confrontation introduces the chapter’s immediate conflict, as Ran Deng attempts to exploit Jin Ling’s inexperience and seize her superior cave dwelling.

Summary: “Confrontation with Ran Deng”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ran Deng attempts to forcibly take Jin Ling’s excellent cave abode on Kunlun Mountain, arguing that a mere Mysterious Immortal is unworthy of such a location.
• He insults Lu Chen by invoking his seniority and claiming that Lu Chen’s shattered Dao Flowers have left him without a future in cultivation.
• When Lu Chen refuses to surrender the cave, Ran Deng attacks him with magical power.
• Lu Chen effortlessly crushes the attack and counters with a punch infused with powerful qi and blood, manifesting as a ferocious tiger.
• Ran Deng is forced to use the Qiankun Ruler to destroy Lu Chen’s attack. Though he blocks the blow, his reliance on a magical treasure exposes Lu Chen’s superior physical strength. Humiliated, Ran Deng withdraws.
• Lu Chen grants Jin Ling permanent use of the cave and instructs her to seek Duobao or himself if anyone troubles her again.
• The confrontation becomes a major topic of gossip throughout Kunlun, boosting the confidence and prestige of the Jie Sect disciples while damaging Ran Deng’s reputation.
• Tongtian announces that he will preach the Dao at Upper Clarity Palace in one hundred years. During the intervening period, the disciples establish their own cave abodes and the Three Pure Ones begin teaching their respective disciples.
• At Tongtian’s sermon, he teaches the lower realms of cultivation and transmits the Shangqing Sword Canon directly to Lu Chen and Duobao.
• Tongtian formally organizes the Jie Sect: Lu Chen and Duobao become his foremost disciples, with Lu Chen responsible for sect affairs. Jin Ling, Wudang, and Guiling are also named direct disciples, while Zhao Gongming becomes the chief outer disciple.
• After the ceremony, Tongtian privately discusses the sect’s future with Lu Chen, including the possible tensions caused by the policy of accepting disciples without distinction. He raises the idea of leaving Kunlun Mountain and establishing a separate Daoist sanctuary.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates that his supposedly ruined cultivation path has not made him weak. His powerful Martial Dao and qi-and-blood techniques allow him to overpower a veteran peak Great Luo without relying on magical treasures. He gains greater authority within the Jie Sect, becoming its eldest senior brother and administrator. His understanding of sword techniques also improves through studying the Shangqing Sword Canon.
• Ran Deng: His arrogance and belief in seniority are exposed as weaknesses. He underestimates Lu Chen because of Lu Chen’s past setbacks and is humiliated when forced to use the Qiankun Ruler to defend against a single physical attack.
• Jin Ling: Initially anxious when Ran Deng attacks, she witnesses Lu Chen defending her and becomes deeply admiring of him. She receives security and recognition within the Jie Sect.
• Tongtian: Gains a deeper understanding of the Three Corpses Severance path and recognizes that the problem may lie in the original explanation rather than the method itself. He also takes a more active role in structuring and guiding the newly formed Jie Sect.
• Yuanshi: Becomes angry and embarrassed after secretly expecting Ran Deng to defeat Lu Chen. Ran Deng’s failure reflects poorly on both the disciple and Yuanshi’s judgment.
• Duobao: Is elevated alongside Lu Chen and designated as the sect’s second senior brother, responsible for helping disciples with cultivation matters.

Significant Themes

• Strength beyond conventional cultivation: Lu Chen’s Martial Dao proves that physical power and qi and blood can rival or surpass orthodox magical cultivation, challenging assumptions about the limits of his path.
• Arrogance and misjudgment: Ran Deng’s seniority causes him to underestimate Lu Chen, while Lu Chen’s actual ability contradicts the reputation of being a “cripple.”
• Sect hierarchy and legitimacy: Tongtian’s formal ranking of disciples establishes order within the Jie Sect and confirms Lu Chen’s central role.
• Inclusive teaching versus internal conflict: The policy of accepting disciples from all backgrounds strengthens the Jie Sect but creates potential tensions, especially with Yuanshi’s faction and the many Demon Race disciples.
• Political and sectarian rivalry: The incident deepens the divide between the Jie Sect and Yuanshi’s followers and raises the possibility that the Three Pure Ones’ disciples cannot remain together peacefully on Kunlun.
• Revision of established Daoist understanding: Tongtian’s realization about the flaw in the Three Corpses method suggests that inherited teachings can contain errors and that new insight may correct ancient limitations.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Ran Deng: Their verbal dispute escalates into a brief battle. Lu Chen rejects Ran Deng’s authority, defeats his attack, and forces him to retreat.
• Lu Chen and Jin Ling: Lu Chen protects Jin Ling’s cave abode and offers her continued support, strengthening her trust and admiration.
• Lu Chen and Tongtian: Tongtian recognizes Lu Chen’s leadership ability and entrusts him with managing the Jie Sect. Their private conversation shifts from celebration to concerns about the sect’s long-term survival.
• Ran Deng and Yuanshi: Ran Deng’s failure frustrates Yuanshi, who had expected him to prevail and had deliberately allowed the confrontation to occur.
• Tongtian and the Jie Sect disciples: Tongtian teaches the new disciples, provides Lu Chen and Duobao with the Shangqing Sword Canon, and establishes the sect’s organizational structure.
• Jie Sect disciples and Ran Deng: News of Ran Deng’s defeat unites the Jie Sect disciples in pride and makes them more confident in their sect’s standing.

Chapter Summary: First Sun Mountain, Kongtong Seal

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning to Kunlun Mountain, Lu Chen speaks briefly with Tongtian, who suggests that Golden Turtle Island would be a suitable place for him. Lu Chen remains silent because he prefers Kunlun Mountain but does not openly object.
• Lu Chen returns to his cave and checks on Bai Geng, who has recovered to the Taiyi Realm after the demonic qi in his body was removed. Bai Geng has become unusually reclusive and focuses on cultivation.
• Lu Chen leaves Kunlun Mountain and tests his physical body by walking through Chaos without using mana for protection. Thanks to his previous training with Spirit Liquid and the Human Race Martial Dao, the chaotic winds barely affect him.
• He collects a bottle of chaotic qi with the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase before visiting the Human Race near the East Sea.
• The Human Race has expanded from a small tribe of tens of thousands into several hundred thousand people. Their society is developing, with different groups handling cultivation, hunting, construction, weaving, education, and household work.
• Guided by the Human Race’s fortune, Lu Chen discovers First Sun Mountain and retrieves the Kongtong Seal, a powerful treasure belonging to the Human Race. The seal is decorated with nine dragon souls and bears the characters “Kongtong.”
• Since he is near the Witch Clan’s territory, Lu Chen decides to visit them. He is escorted by a border guard, Wu Man, and eventually meets the Ancestral Witch Houtu.
• Lu Chen tells Houtu that he has come to repay the treasure she once gave him. He offers not another treasure, but a method to preserve the Witch Clan.
• Houtu reacts with disbelief and suspicion, asking whether Tongtian sent him. Lu Chen clarifies that he came on his own behalf.
• When Houtu challenges his belief that the Witch Clan will lose, Lu Chen explains that they will be defeated “utterly and completely,” but adds that the demon race will not win either.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates increasing confidence in his physical strength, discovering that he can survive in Chaos using only his body. His connection to the Human Race deepens after finding the Kongtong Seal, and he begins taking a more active role in shaping the fate of both the Human and Witch Clans. He also shows strategic caution when dealing with Houtu.
• Bai Geng: Has recovered to the Taiyi Realm and shifted from a violent, restless state to a quiet, disciplined life centered on cultivation. Lu Chen continues to guide him, reminding him to comprehend his innate Divine Ability.
• Houtu: Initially presents herself as cold and dignified, but Lu Chen’s claim that he can preserve the Witch Clan shocks her. Her suspicion and restrained killing intent reveal how seriously she views the threat to her people.
• The Human Race: Has progressed from a small settlement into an organized and flourishing society. Their continued population growth and development are beginning to bring them closer to the Witch Clan’s territory.

Significant Themes

• Growth and civilization: The Human Race’s increasing population and division of labor show its rapid development from a primitive tribe into an organized society.
• Destiny and fortune: Lu Chen’s discovery of First Sun Mountain and the Kongtong Seal suggests that the Human Race’s fortune is guiding him toward an important role in its future.
• Power through cultivation: Lu Chen’s ability to walk through Chaos reflects the transformation of his body through Martial Dao and long-term training.
• The coming conflict: The chapter foreshadows a catastrophic confrontation between the Witch and demon races, while suggesting that neither side will ultimately emerge victorious.
• Individual responsibility: Lu Chen acts independently rather than under Tongtian’s orders, accepting personal responsibility for trying to alter the Witch Clan’s fate.
• Fragile alliances: Lu Chen’s relationships with the Human Race, Witch Clan, and Tongtian place him between major powers, making his decisions increasingly politically significant.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Tongtian: Their brief exchange shows Lu Chen’s respect and restraint; he does not openly express his wish to remain on Kunlun Mountain.
• Lu Chen and Bai Geng: Lu Chen acts as a stern but caring mentor, encouraging Bai Geng to remain in seclusion and cultivate his innate ability.
• Lu Chen and the Human Race: He observes their society while remaining concealed, indicating both his concern for them and his desire not to interfere unnecessarily.
• Lu Chen and Wu Man: Wu Man initially treats him as a suspicious outsider but escorts him respectfully after learning that he is Tongtian’s chief disciple.
• Lu Chen and Houtu: Their meeting is tense and politically important. Lu Chen presents himself as someone offering salvation, while Houtu responds with doubt and latent hostility. His prediction that both major factions will fall forces her to confront the possibility of a far greater disaster.

Chapter Summary: Lu Chen’s Warning, Discussion in Pangu Hall

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen warns Houtu that the upcoming Witch-Demon conflict will not produce a true victor. He compares it to the Dragon-Han Cataclysm, in which the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans all fought for supremacy but ultimately declined, leaving none as the true winner.
• Houtu initially reasons that if both the Witch and Demon Clans are weakened, Styx’s Asura Clan might seize control of the Primordial World. She suggests destroying the Asura Clan before the war begins.
• Lu Chen silently considers this mistaken, believing the Human Race—not the Asura Clan—has the greater long-term potential. Houtu dismisses the Human Race because of its weak foundation, limited lifespan, and decline from innate to acquired humanity.
• Houtu gives Lu Chen a cultivation scripture by placing it into his mind. This repays, in part, Lu Chen’s earlier gift of Xi Rang. Lu Chen then leaves.
• Afterward, Houtu orders Xing Tian to send Witch Clan members to investigate the Human Race and determine what makes them unusual.
• In Pangu Hall, Houtu summons the other Ancestral Witches and argues that they should abandon their plan to attack the Heavenly Court during its banquet.
• She explains that the Witch Clan cannot completely defeat the Demon Race in one battle. Attempting to do so would expose their trump cards and leave them vulnerable to intervention by powerful outside forces.
• Houtu believes that certain higher powers benefit from the Witches and Demons weakening each other and will prevent either clan from becoming the sole ruler of the Primordial World.
• Zhu Jiuyin reveals that his examination of the River of Time failed to show what happens after the war begins. He now suspects that someone deliberately interfered with time and concealed the future.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen acts as a cautious strategist, warning Houtu about the dangers of pursuing absolute victory. He continues to conceal his belief in the Human Race’s potential.
• Houtu becomes more suspicious and politically perceptive. Although she does not accept Lu Chen’s view of the Human Race, his warning prompts her to investigate it and reconsider the Witch Clan’s war strategy.
• Xing Tian is shown as a loyal subordinate who immediately accepts Houtu’s order to contact the Human Race.
• Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches are shocked by Houtu’s proposal, since they had been preparing for an all-out assault.
• Zhu Jiuyin provides crucial confirmation that the future has been obscured, lending credibility to Houtu’s fears about outside interference.

Significant Themes

• The cost of supremacy: The chapter emphasizes that conquering the world does not guarantee victory; excessive ambition can bring karmic punishment, decline, and extinction.
• Hidden manipulators: The Witch-Demon conflict may be shaped by stronger forces that benefit from keeping both sides divided and weakened.
• The limits of foresight: Even Zhu Jiuyin’s mastery of time cannot reveal the future, suggesting that powerful beings are actively interfering with destiny.
• Underestimated potential: Houtu judges the Human Race by its current weakness, while Lu Chen recognizes that its collective growth and adaptability may make it far more dangerous than its present condition suggests.
• Strategic restraint: Houtu begins shifting from direct confrontation toward investigation and long-term planning.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Houtu engage in a philosophical debate over who might ultimately dominate the Primordial World. Their disagreement reveals Lu Chen’s hidden confidence in humanity and Houtu’s distrust of the Human Race.
• Houtu’s gift of a scripture to Lu Chen establishes a reciprocal relationship between them, though she also watches him carefully because of his cultivation of both Pangu-related techniques and the Witch Clan’s Nine-Turn Strength Art.
• Houtu commands Xing Tian to investigate the Human Race, demonstrating her willingness to act on suspicion rather than rely solely on assumptions.
• During the Pangu Hall meeting, Houtu challenges her siblings’ expectations and forces them to question their planned attack. Zhu Jiuyin, in particular, presses her about the source of her knowledge and connects her warning to the mysterious obstruction in the River of Time.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Houtu and the Ancestral Witches decide that war against their enemies is unavoidable, even though they know they are unlikely to win. Houtu explains that the Witch Clan must fight to preserve its reputation for aggression; otherwise, other forces may become suspicious.
• Lu Chen leaves the Houtu Tribe and travels to First Sun Mountain to study the Nine-Turn Strength Art, the Witch Clan’s secret cultivation technique.
• After comprehending the art, Lu Chen realizes that the Ancestral Witches do not truly rely on Killing Intent to temper their bodies. Their strength comes from absorbing and refining Laws directly into their physical bodies.
• The technique requires a body at least as strong as a Great Luo’s and comprehension of at least ten percent of a Law. This allows the cultivator to contain and refine the Law without being destroyed by its power.
• Lu Chen begins practicing by drawing Devouring Law into his body. After repeated refinement, he successfully absorbs more than ten percent of it.
• He then refines ten percent of Destruction Law, ten percent of Thunder Law, and five percent of Sword Dao Law. This gives him far greater control over these powers and strengthens his confidence that his long-planned path to attaining the Dao may succeed.
• A thousand years pass during his seclusion. With the Heavenly Court’s banquet approaching, Lu Chen returns to Kunlun Mountain.
• Upon arriving, Lu Chen learns from Duobao that Chan Sect disciples have seized the Jie Sect disciples’ cave abodes. The displaced disciples have been hiding and cultivating in Duobao’s cave abode.
• Angered by the insult, Lu Chen gathers Jin Ling, Wudang, Guiling, the Three Xiao Sisters, the Four Saints of Kowloon Island, Zhao Gongming, and Wuyun Immortal. He immediately leads them to reclaim Jin Ling’s cave abode.
• Lu Chen destroys the defensive formation with one punch. Ran Deng emerges and confronts him, but Lu Chen refuses to negotiate and attacks directly. Ran Deng hurriedly raises the Qiankun Ruler to block the blow, beginning the confrontation.

Character Developments

• Houtu demonstrates strategic intelligence. Although the Witch Clan knows it cannot win the coming battle, she understands that refusing to fight would contradict the clan’s reputation and expose their intentions.
• Lu Chen gains a major breakthrough in cultivation. He not only masters the Nine-Turn Strength Art but also confirms that his own physical cultivation and Martial Dao foundation qualify him to practice it.
• Lu Chen’s understanding of the Witch Clan deepens, revealing that their bodies are vessels for Laws rather than merely products of Killing Intent. This gives him a clearer route toward his own advancement.
• Lu Chen becomes more confident and aggressive. His improved mastery of Laws, particularly Thunder Law, greatly increases his speed and combat control.
• Duobao feels responsible for failing to protect the younger disciples and seeks Lu Chen’s help. His behavior also shows his protective role, since he sheltered the displaced disciples in his own cave abode.
• Lu Chen adopts a decisive, uncompromising attitude toward the Chan Sect, choosing immediate retaliation rather than discussion.

Significant Themes

• Reputation and strategic deception: The Witch Clan must act according to its established image so that its enemies do not suspect its true intentions.
• The body as a vessel for the Dao: The Nine-Turn Strength Art presents physical cultivation as a way of containing and embodying Laws, emphasizing the immense requirements of attaining higher realms.
• Karmic debts and reciprocity: Lu Chen recognizes that Houtu’s teaching creates another significant karmic obligation, which he plans to repay by helping her achieve the Six Paths and establish the Underworld.
• Cultivation through integration: Rather than merely using Laws externally, Lu Chen absorbs them into his body, making them as natural and controllable as his own limbs.
• Sect rivalry and honor: The dispute over cave abodes reflects the larger conflict between the Jie and Chan Sects. Lu Chen’s response emphasizes that defending one’s people and possessions is tied to sect dignity.

Character Interactions

• Houtu persuades Dijiang and Shebishi that the Witch Clan must engage in war for political reasons, and Dijiang entrusts her with organizing the conflict.
• Houtu’s gift of the Nine-Turn Strength Art creates a deeper bond and karmic connection between her and Lu Chen.
• Duobao greets Lu Chen upon his return, apologizes for failing the younger disciples, and explains the dispute.
• Lu Chen reassures the displaced Jie Sect disciples through action rather than words, gathering them and leading them to reclaim their territory.
• Lu Chen directly confronts Ran Deng, signaling an escalation from internal sect conflict to open hostility between the Jie and Chan Sects.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen defeats Ran Deng with a single punch after Ran Deng attacks him with the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Qiankun Ruler. Lu Chen remains completely unharmed, demonstrating that his physical body rivals or surpasses a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.
• Ran Deng is forced to surrender the cave abode he had seized from Jin Ling. Lu Chen mocks him for violating the rules while invoking Yuanshi’s reputation for valuing propriety, leaving Ran Deng unable to respond.
• Lu Chen returns the cave abode to Jin Ling, earning her gratitude and admiration.
• Lu Chen then challenges Guangchengzi, the Chan Sect’s chief disciple, over another superior cave abode. Rather than fight Guangchengzi himself, Lu Chen arranges a fair match between Guangchengzi and Wudang.
• Wudang and Guangchengzi fight without magical treasures, relying only on their cultivation and techniques. Wudang’s stronger Shangqing Sword Canon enables her to defeat Guangchengzi despite their comparable cultivation.
• Afterward, Wudang proudly seeks Lu Chen’s approval, and he affectionately praises and pats her head.
• In Yuqing Palace, Laozi observes that Lu Chen’s combination of Witch Clan body-tempering and his own cultivation makes him nearly unbeatable among Great Luo cultivators. Yuanshi, angered and jealous of Tongtian’s good fortune, pretends to enter seclusion after Laozi leaves and violently vents his frustration.
• Lu Chen and his disciples continue checking other cave abodes, but find them abandoned and stripped of their contents. Returning home, Lu Chen wakes Bai Geng and orders him to accompany him to the Heavenly Court.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen displays overwhelming physical strength, strategic judgment, and sharp rhetorical skill. He not only defeats Ran Deng effortlessly but also avoids bullying Guangchengzi by arranging a balanced contest.
• Ran Deng suffers a major loss of dignity. His confidence in his treasure and cultivation collapses after Lu Chen’s punch, and he is humiliated publicly through Lu Chen’s accusations.
• Jin Ling becomes the rightful owner of the cave abode and develops stronger admiration and affection toward Lu Chen.
• Wudang proves her combat ability by defeating Guangchengzi. Though normally composed, she shows a more youthful and affectionate side when seeking Lu Chen’s praise.
• Guangchengzi demonstrates restraint and honor by accepting the contest and leaving quietly after defeat.
• Yuanshi is revealed to be deeply resentful of Lu Chen and Tongtian’s growing advantages, while Laozi remains observant and detached.
• Zhao Gongming becomes increasingly inspired by Lu Chen, aspiring to reach his level of strength.

Significant Themes

• Strength and legitimacy: Lu Chen uses overwhelming power but frames his actions as restoring fairness after the cave abodes were seized unjustly.
• Rules versus hypocrisy: Ran Deng invokes authority and hierarchy, but Lu Chen exposes his violation of the very rules he claims to defend.
• Sect rivalry: The conflict between the Jie Sect and Chan Sect appears through the struggle over cave abodes and the comparison between their cultivation methods.
• Mentorship and loyalty: Lu Chen protects and guides his junior disciples, giving Jin Ling her abode and providing Wudang with a fair opportunity to prove herself.
• Jealousy and fate: Yuanshi’s anger reflects his frustration with Tongtian’s luck and Lu Chen’s rapid rise.
• Physical cultivation: The chapter emphasizes the terrifying potential of Lu Chen’s body-tempering path, even after the destruction of his Three Flowers.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen humiliates Ran Deng verbally after defeating him physically, while Ran Deng is left powerless to resist.
• Jin Ling respectfully thanks Lu Chen and reacts shyly to his protection.
• Lu Chen gives Wudang the opportunity to fight Guangchengzi, and later praises her warmly after her victory.
• Guangchengzi treats the contest honorably and accepts the result without complaint.
• Laozi and Yuanshi discuss Lu Chen’s unusual cultivation and future potential, though Yuanshi’s jealousy quickly overwhelms his composure.
• Lu Chen ends the chapter by summoning Bai Geng for an unexplained mission to the Heavenly Court.

Chapter Summary: The Banquet Begins, the Witch Clan Comes Calling

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen attends the Heavenly Court banquet on behalf of his master, Tongtian, who is in seclusion. He presents Dijun with a low-grade innate spiritual sword.
• Although the sword itself is not especially valuable, Dijun views Tongtian’s gesture as meaningful and as evidence of his goodwill toward the Demon Race.
• The gathering includes several major powers of the Primordial World. Laozi brings refined Golden Cores, while Yuanshi gives no gift. Zhunti and Jieyin bring a modest spiritual fruit and arrive with numerous disciples who greedily consume and pack away the banquet’s food.
• Nuwa is absent because of her strained relationship with the Demon Race after forcing Fuxi to leave it.
• Zhunti and Jieyin politely invite Lu Chen to sit with them despite their previous conflict, but Lu Chen recognizes their hidden motives and declines. He instead joins Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi.
• Lu Chen’s white cat, Bai Geng, is revealed to be a rare member of the White Tiger Clan. Hong Yun is fascinated by it, while Zhen Yuanzi warns Lu Chen not to wander around alone.
• Laozi and Yuanshi secretly calculate Lu Chen’s circumstances and discover that Hong Yun had given him the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi. However, the Purple Qi is no longer on Lu Chen, leaving them uncertain about its whereabouts.
• During the banquet, the Witch Clan arrives angrily, accusing Dijun of deliberately excluding them and challenging the Demon Race’s authority.
• Dijun and Taiyi leave the palace to confront the incoming Witch Clan. Lu Chen, eager to witness the conflict personally, follows them. Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi accompany him, with Zhen Yuanzi prepared to protect them using the Earth Book.
• The chapter ends as Lu Chen prepares to watch the confrontation and hopes to witness the Witch-Demon formations—and possibly see whether Hongjun will intervene.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates political awareness and caution by rejecting Zhunti and Jieyin’s seemingly friendly invitation. He remains relaxed and observant, treating the banquet as an opportunity to study the powerful figures around him. His attachment to Bai Geng is also shown through his casual care and feeding of the cat.
• Dijun: Appears outwardly warm and gracious, but his reaction to the Witch Clan’s arrival reveals his responsibility as leader of the Demon Race. He values Tongtian’s symbolic support.
• Taiyi: Acts as the more direct and aggressive defender of the Demon Race, immediately preparing to confront the Witches.
• Hong Yun: Remains warmhearted and sociable, openly welcoming Lu Chen and showing affection toward Bai Geng.
• Zhen Yuanzi: Displays his usual restraint and caution. Though reluctant to indulge Hong Yun’s enthusiasm, he follows along and prioritizes the safety of Lu Chen and Hong Yun.
• Laozi and Yuanshi: Their discovery concerning the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi increases their interest and suspicion toward Lu Chen.
• Zhunti and Jieyin: Conceal their hostility beneath polite smiles, reinforcing their image as patient but calculating schemers.

Significant Themes

• Political alliances and hidden intentions: The value of gifts depends less on material worth than on the relationships and loyalties they represent. Tongtian’s modest gift carries more significance than the offerings of others.
• Appearances versus reality: The banquet’s polite atmosphere masks rivalries, suspicion, and old grudges. Zhunti and Jieyin’s friendliness is clearly insincere, while the elegant celebration quickly gives way to confrontation.
• Power and factional conflict: The arrival of the Witch Clan highlights the growing tension between the Witches and Demons and foreshadows a larger war.
• Observation and strategic caution: Lu Chen avoids exposing himself, watches the major powers carefully, and prefers to gather information before acting.
• Friendship and loyalty: Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi’s close bond contrasts with the political maneuvering of the Sages and Demon leaders. Their willingness to accompany and protect Lu Chen also shows their growing regard for him.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Dijun: Lu Chen formally presents Tongtian’s gift, while Dijun interprets it as a sign of respect and alliance.
• Lu Chen and Zhunti/Jieyin: Their exchange is outwardly cordial but filled with concealed hostility. Lu Chen tactfully refuses their invitation.
• Lu Chen, Hong Yun, and Zhen Yuanzi: Lu Chen joins the two old friends, and their familiarity suggests that they already regard him as a respected peer.
• Hong Yun and Bai Geng: Hong Yun enthusiastically pets and admires the rare White Tiger, even joking about finding tiger creatures as mounts.
• Laozi and Yuanshi: They privately discuss and investigate the location of the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi, revealing their growing concern about Lu Chen.
• Dijun and Taiyi: The brothers coordinate their response to the Witch Clan, with Taiyi taking the initiative and Dijun insisting on confronting the crisis alongside him.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Southern Heavenly Gate, Dijiang arrives with only the Twelve Ancestral Witches and several hundred High Witches, facing the Demon Race’s enormous army.
• Dijun immediately suspects a trap because the Witch Clan has brought only a small force despite supposedly preparing for war.
• Dijiang bluntly declares that he has come to “smash” the Heavenly Court and challenges Dijun to a duel: if Dijun wins, the Witch Clan will recognize the Heavenly Court; if he loses, the Demon Race must leave.
• Contrary to expectations, the Witch-Demon conflict does not immediately become a massive battle. Dijun accepts the challenge and fights Dijiang personally.
• Dijun transforms into his Three-Legged Golden Crow form and uses the River Diagram, Luo Writing, and Great Sun Golden Flame. Dijiang withstands the flames with his powerful body and overwhelms Dijun with his fists.
• Lu Chen recognizes that Dijiang is deliberately holding back, making the duel appear almost staged rather than a genuine life-or-death confrontation.
• Dijiang eventually knocks Dijun away, prompting Dijun to abandon the duel and activate the Demon Race’s hidden trump card: the All-Heaven Star Formation.
• Three hundred and sixty-five demon soldiers form the formation, with Dijun and Taiyi acting as its core positions. Starlight descends from the heavens, producing a formation with Sage-level power.
• Laozi, Yuanshi, the Western Sages, Styx, and other powerful figures arrive after sensing the formation. They recognize that the Demon Race has secretly gained a force capable of threatening Sages.
• Dijiang reveals that the Witch Clan’s small force was also a deception. He declares before the Heavenly Dao that the Demon Race provoked the war, then summons a black palace containing the Witch Clan’s true army, preparing for the real battle.

2. Character Developments

• Dijun becomes increasingly suspicious and cautious. Although initially reluctant to act, he eventually gives in to anger and unveils the Demon Race’s hidden formation after being humiliated by Dijiang.
• Dijiang demonstrates both overwhelming physical strength and strategic cunning. His apparent recklessness conceals a deliberate plan to lure Dijun into revealing the All-Heaven Star Formation.
• Houtu is shown to be far more perceptive and calculating than Lu Chen previously assumed. She understands the real purpose of the confrontation but pretends otherwise, successfully misleading him.
• Lu Chen realizes that the Witch Clan has deceived him and that the expected Witch-Demon war has not followed the usual course. He also begins to suspect that his presence may have altered the Primordial World’s established destiny.
• Taiyi remains eager to fight, but Dijun restrains him because he senses that the Witch Clan’s behavior is suspicious.
• Laozi and Yuanshi reassess the Demon Race after witnessing the formation’s power, recognizing it as a genuine Sage-level threat.

3. Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden strategies: Both sides conceal their true strength. The Witch Clan uses a small vanguard to provoke the Demon Race, while the Demon Race hides the All-Heaven Star Formation.
• Appearance versus reality: What appears to be a reckless challenge is actually a calculated maneuver. The seemingly simple duel is designed to force Dijun to expose his trump card.
• Changing destiny: Lu Chen notices that events differ from the expected course of the Witch-Demon War, suggesting that the world’s fate or historical trajectory has been altered.
• Power beyond individual strength: The All-Heaven Star Formation demonstrates how coordinated formations can elevate Quasi-Saints and Great Luos to Sage-level power.
• Pride and provocation: Dijun’s wounded pride ultimately causes him to reveal the Demon Race’s secret weapon, while Dijiang exploits his anger.

4. Character Interactions

• Dijun and Dijiang: Their exchange begins with mutual provocation. Dijiang insults Dijun and challenges the Demon Race’s legitimacy, while Dijun tries to determine the hidden motive behind the Witch Clan’s arrival. Their duel ends with Dijiang clearly superior and Dijun responding by activating the formation.
• Dijun and Taiyi: Taiyi wants to attack immediately, but Dijun stops him, emphasizing caution. Later, both serve as the central anchors of the All-Heaven Star Formation.
• Lu Chen and Houtu: Houtu silently reveals through a knowing glance and a blink that she has been pretending to misunderstand Lu Chen. He realizes she helped conceal the Witch Clan’s plan.
• Lu Chen and Hong Yun: Hong Yun comments on the unusual lack of immediate violence, reinforcing Lu Chen’s sense that the situation is abnormal.
• The Demon Race and the arriving Sages: The formation’s appearance changes the Sages’ perception of the Demon Race from a powerful faction into a potential threat requiring immediate attention.
• Dijiang and the Witch Clan army: After successfully drawing out the Demon Race’s secret weapon, Dijiang summons the hidden Witch Clan forces and commands them to prepare for the true battle.

Chapter Summary: “Twelve Heavenly Capitals Formation”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Witch-Demon conflict escalates when the Witch Clan unveils the Twelve Heavenly Capitals Formation, while the Demon Race deploys the All-Heaven Star Formation and Pangu Hall.
• Lu Chen is delighted by the prospect of a decisive, bloody battle and openly anticipates the Demon Race’s destruction.
• Dijiang challenges Dijun to stake the survival and fortune of their races on the outcome. Though a mysterious voice urges Dijun not to agree, Dijun rejects the temptation and accepts, preserving his authority as Demon Emperor.
• The revived Human Dao immediately responds to the challenge. The fortunes of the Witch and Demon Clans become linked in a twelve-part division, with each race controlling six portions. The battle becomes a struggle for the fortune of the entire Primordial World.
• The Twelve Ancestral Witches activate their formation and summon a gigantic phantom of Pangu. The sight shocks the great powers of the world, especially the Three Pure Ones, who share a connection to Pangu.
• Pangu’s phantom attacks the Demon Race’s All-Heaven Star Formation with a single punch, annihilating countless laws and severely damaging the formation. Dijun, as its core, suffers the most and spits out essence blood.
• Tongtian arrives at the Heavenly Court and confirms that the phantom is not Pangu’s true resurrection, though it appears to possess a trace of consciousness. He deduces that the Demon Race is likely destined to lose the war.
• Tongtian also foresees that the future Human Race will eventually clash with the Witch Clan, potentially placing Lu Chen in a difficult position.
• The chapter ends with Lu Chen questioning whether the Demon Race will continue to exist after the battle.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Chen is shown as bloodthirsty, confident, and excited by the escalating conflict. He understands the formations’ strengths and weaknesses and recognizes that the Demon Race’s current formation is incomplete.
• Dijun demonstrates the qualities of a true ruler. Despite supernatural temptation, he accepts Dijiang’s challenge rather than appearing cowardly before his people. His confidence is shaken, however, when Pangu’s phantom overwhelms his formation.
• Dijiang acts aggressively and decisively, provoking Dijun into a battle that will determine the fate of both races.
• Tongtian appears as a powerful Primordial Unity expert and formation master. His emotional reaction to Pangu’s phantom reveals his deep connection to the Father God, but he ultimately remains rational and analyzes the situation objectively.
• Laozi and Yuanshi also feel an instinctive desire to merge with or respond to Pangu’s phantom, but they suppress it after recognizing that it is only a bloodline-created manifestation.
• Hongjun and the mysterious opposing figure continue their strategic conflict. Hongjun mocks the failure of the attempt to manipulate the war, while his opponent insists that both Witch and Demon Clans are destined to perish and that the Human Race will eventually rise.

3. Significant Themes

• Fate and fortune: The Human Dao transforms the conflict into a battle over the shared fortune of the Primordial World, making the war’s outcome cosmically significant.
• Leadership and courage: Dijun’s decision to accept the challenge emphasizes that a ruler must maintain resolve even when facing overwhelming danger.
• The legacy of Pangu: The Witch Clan’s ability to summon Pangu’s phantom demonstrates its deep bloodline connection and reinforces the importance of Pangu’s inheritance in the Primordial World.
• Incomplete power versus true potential: The Demon Race’s formation is powerful but unfinished, while the Witch Clan’s Pangu phantom possesses overwhelming strength. The chapter suggests that preparation and completeness matter as much as raw power.
• The rise of the Human Race: Both Tongtian and Hongjun’s opponent identify humanity as the future dominant force, foreshadowing the eventual decline of the ancient Witch and Demon powers.
• Manipulation versus inevitability: The conflict between Hongjun and his opponent reflects a broader struggle over whether history can be controlled or whether the great races are bound to follow a predetermined fate.

4. Character Interactions

• Dijiang and Dijun: Their confrontation turns the war into a formal contest for racial supremacy. Dijiang taunts Dijun, while Dijun accepts to protect his authority and the Demon Race’s morale.
• Hongjun and his opponent: They exchange accusations over the failed attempt to manipulate the war. Hongjun argues that the Human Dao has disrupted the intended course of events, while his opponent maintains that both ancient races will ultimately fall.
• Tongtian and Lu Chen: Tongtian arrives beside Lu Chen, explains the nature of the Pangu phantom, and warns him that the future conflict between humans and witches may force him into a difficult choice.
• Tongtian, Laozi, and Yuanshi: Their shared reaction to Pangu’s manifestation highlights their common origin and emotional bond with Pangu, while their differing responses show their ability to suppress instinct through reason.
• The Witches and Demons: Their formations directly embody the strengths of their races—the Witch Clan channels Pangu’s physical might, while the Demon Clan relies on the power of the stars. The first clash strongly favors the witches.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Witch Clan decisively defeats the Demon Race. The Pangu Phantom’s second punch nearly destroys the All-Heaven Star Formation, while the third punch shatters it completely, ending the battle.
• Dijun, Taiyi, and the Demon Sages are left severely wounded beneath the Southern Heavenly Gate. Most lower-ranking demon generals perish, while Demon Master Kunpeng abandons the battlefield and flees.
• With the formation destroyed, the Demon Race soldiers lose all will to fight and surrender. The Witch Clan does not slaughter those who lay down their weapons.
• The Pangu Phantom then turns on Zhunti, repeatedly punching and injuring him despite his attempts to block the attacks with the Seven-Treasure Wondrous Tree.
• Tongtian confronts Jieyin and demands that the Western Sages return the people they attempted to abduct for the Western Sect. Under pressure, Jieyin releases hundreds of thousands of Demon Race and Witch Clan members.
• Zhunti and Jieyin retreat, taking their own disciples and whatever supplies they had looted from Lingxiao Palace.
• After the Pangu Phantom disappears, the Twelve Ancestral Witches emerge. Dijiang thanks Tongtian for warning them about the Western Sages’ attempted abduction.
• The Ancestral Witches debate whether to kill and eat the defeated Three-Legged Golden Crows. Houtu ultimately decides that Dijun and Taiyi should instead be imprisoned within Pangu Hall.
• The Demon Race Heavenly Court is renamed the Witch Clan Heavenly Court. The Demon Race emperors and all Quasi-Saint-level demon experts are suppressed, establishing the Witch Clan as the Primordial World’s sole dominant race.

Character Developments

• Dijun and Taiyi: Their ambitions are completely crushed by the destruction of the All-Heaven Star Formation. Though humiliated and gravely injured, they are relieved when Houtu spares their lives. Dijun no longer intends to compete for supremacy.
• Dijiang and the Ancestral Witches: They emerge as the undisputed victors and become more confident in their control of the world. Their victory also reveals their rough, aggressive humor and intense hostility toward Dijun and Taiyi.
• Houtu: Demonstrates mercy and restraint by choosing suppression over execution, recognizing Dijun and Taiyi’s connection to Pangu through the Solar Star.
• Tongtian: Acts decisively against the Western Sages, forcing them to return the people they tried to seize. His intervention shows his support for the Witch Clan and his disdain for Zhunti and Jieyin.
• Zhunti and Jieyin: Their attempt to profit from the war fails. Zhunti is repeatedly humiliated and even injured by the Pangu Phantom, while both Western Sages are forced to surrender their captives.
• Kunpeng: Reveals his self-serving nature by abandoning the Demon Race at the first sign of certain defeat.

Significant Themes

• The collapse of ambition: The defeat of the Star Formation symbolizes the destruction of the Demon Race’s hope for supremacy.
• Power and political dominance: The Witch Clan’s victory reshapes the balance of power, making it the new ruling race.
• Mercy versus vengeance: Although the Ancestral Witches desire revenge, Houtu chooses imprisonment rather than execution.
• Opportunism and betrayal: Kunpeng flees to save himself, while the Western Sages attempt to exploit the chaos by abducting powerful or valuable people.
• The limits of victory: Even after winning the war, the Witch Clan may not be able to monopolize all Fortune or guarantee that its leaders can attain the Dao, because the Sages, other great powers, and the future Human Race still possess their own destiny.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and his teacher discuss whether the Witch Clan can use the Fortune of the Primordial World to help an Ancestral Witch attain the Dao, highlighting the political and cosmic uncertainty surrounding their victory.
• Tongtian and the Pangu Phantom jointly pressure Zhunti and Jieyin, with Tongtian’s threat and the Phantom’s attacks forcing them to release their captives.
• Dijiang thanks Tongtian for protecting the Witch Clan’s people, though Tongtian dismisses the gratitude and claims he acted only because he disliked the Western Sages.
• The Ancestral Witches mock and argue over how to cook Dijun and Taiyi, with Zhurong and Gonggong nearly starting another fight until Xuanming silences them.
• Houtu calmly overrules the others and decides the fate of the defeated Demon Race emperors, choosing suppression in Pangu Hall instead of death.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Inside Pangu Hall, Houtu explains why she spared the defeated Demon Race leaders, Dijun and Taiyi. She argues that struggles for supremacy produce no true eternal victors—only eventual losers—and reminds Dijun that even the Witch Clan’s apparent victory may be temporary.
• Dijun realizes the deeper truth behind the Witch-Demon conflict and acknowledges Houtu’s wisdom, admitting his own strategic thinking had been too superficial.
• Houtu offers Dijun and Taiyi a new role: the Demon Race will rule and guard the boundless Starry Sky, while supporting the Witch Clan whenever it faces danger.
• Dijun accepts, recognizing that the Starry Sky can shelter the scattered Demon Race and provide abundant starlight for cultivation. Houtu also restores the Ten Demon Saints, who had been captured or separated.
• Taiyi, Dijun, and the Ten Demon Saints swear before the Human Dao to end their conflict with the Witch Clan and aid them in times of crisis. They then leave Pangu Hall, causing powerful figures throughout the world to take notice.
• Back on Kunlun Mountain, Lu Chen summons his fellow disciples and distributes gourds of Spirit Liquid to help them improve their cultivation.
• Lu Chen reprimands Duobao for still not having reached the Great Luo realm and orders him to cultivate in Tongtian’s Sword Cave until he comprehends a law.
• Duobao reports that the Chan Sect has remained quiet since Lu Chen reclaimed their cave residences, though Ran Deng has left Kunlun Mountain and returned to Cosmos Cave.
• The chapter ends with someone arriving to ask Tongtian to make his disciples surrender some of their cave residences, setting up a likely new conflict.

Character Developments

• Houtu demonstrates political insight and long-term vision. Rather than annihilating the Demon Race, she transforms them into an allied force bound to protect the Witch Clan.
• Dijun undergoes a major change in perspective. He abandons his former ambition of defeating the Witch Clan completely, recognizes the limits of his own strategies, and willingly submits to Houtu’s arrangement.
• Taiyi remains cautious and pragmatic, testing whether Houtu truly trusts them, but ultimately swears a sincere oath of reconciliation.
• The Ten Demon Saints show loyalty to Dijun and Taiyi and formally commit themselves to the new alliance.
• Lu Chen acts as a generous but demanding senior brother. He rewards his disciples with Spirit Liquid while insisting that they cultivate seriously.
• Duobao remains talented and respectful but is portrayed as somewhat lazy and fearful of hardship, especially regarding the painful Sword Cave. Lu Chen’s command forces him to confront this weakness.

Significant Themes

• No permanent victors in power struggles: Houtu’s central philosophy is that supremacy is temporary, and even apparent winners may eventually lose.
• Reconciliation and political transformation: Former enemies do not simply make peace; the Demon Race is given a new purpose that preserves its existence while benefiting the Witch Clan.
• Oaths and accountability: The Human Dao serves as witness to the reconciliation, making the Demon Race’s promises spiritually and cosmically binding.
• Mentorship and cultivation: Lu Chen supports his juniors materially but expects discipline and personal effort in return.
• Strategic foresight: Both Houtu’s settlement and Lu Chen’s cultivation arrangements reflect the importance of preparing for future challenges rather than focusing only on present victories.

Character Interactions

• Houtu and Dijun engage in a philosophical discussion that leads Dijun to accept her authority and plan.
• Taiyi challenges Houtu’s trust, but his question results in a public oath of loyalty and reconciliation.
• Dijun and the Ten Demon Saints reunite emotionally after Houtu releases them.
• Lu Chen distributes Spirit Liquid to his disciples and exchanges teasing but stern remarks with Duobao about cultivation.
• Duobao explains the situation on Kunlun Mountain, including Ran Deng’s departure.
• The closing exchange suggests that members of another group are pressuring Tongtian to make his disciples give up their residences, threatening renewed tensions.