Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Realizing the Dragon Clan is near extinction from accumulated karma, Ancestral Dragon leaves to take drastic action. Yuanfeng and Primordial Qilin make the same choice.
• The three former rivals meet in the Nine Heavens and agree to atone for their clans’ violence by withdrawing from the struggle for dominion and taking on permanent duties:
  • Ancestral Dragon will guard the Four Seas’ Sea Eye.
  • Yuanfeng will guard the Undying Volcano.
  • Primordial Qilin will become Qilin Cliff and stabilize the earth veins.
• Their vows are accepted by the Heavenly Dao, which grants merit to their clans’ territories and eases their destructive karma. The three leaders transform into their respective guardians, and the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans leave the world’s power struggle.
• Luo Hou discovers that their withdrawal has sharply reduced the Baleful Energy needed to complete his Sword Formation of Immortal Execution. In response, he sacrifices three drops of his own essence and makes the swords drain the Western Continent’s earth veins, risking its destruction.

Character developments and interactions

• Ancestral Dragon recognizes the Dragon Clan’s dire condition and chooses self-sacrifice to preserve its bloodline. He offers reassurance to Candle Dragon before departing.
• Yuanfeng, Primordial Qilin, and Ancestral Dragon set aside their lifelong hostility. Their shared grief and resolve lead them to cooperate in a final act of atonement.
• Luo Hou responds to the clans’ withdrawal with fury and desperation. Unable to rely on the conflict’s casualties and resentment, he turns to sacrificing his own essence and the Western Continent.

Significant themes

• Atonement and responsibility: The clan leaders accept responsibility for the slaughter their people caused.
• Sacrifice for survival: The rulers give up their freedom—and effectively their lives—to preserve their clans.
• Former enemies united by fate: Shared catastrophe replaces rivalry with cooperation.
• Ambition and destructive consequences: Luo Hou’s determination to finish his formation threatens an entire continent.

Key plot points and events

• After the three clans withdraw, Hongjun declares that Luo Hou’s attempt to destroy the Primordial World must be stopped. Using the Jade Disc of Creation to broadcast his call, he gathers Yin-Yang, Qiankun, and Five-Elements Ancestors to attack Western Mount Sumeru.
• At Mount Buzhou, Dijiang observes that the Dao-Devil War is beginning. After another ten thousand years of cultivation, the remaining Eleven Ancestral Witches each condense a Law Dao Fruit and become Primordial Origin Golden Immortals.
• Dijiang leads the Twelve Ancestral Witches in practicing the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation. Their awakened primordial spirits, laws, and shared Pangu bloodline combine to manifest a formidable Pangu Phantom. Dijiang disperses it before testing its full power.
• Confident that the Witches can now take part in the conflict, Dijiang transports them toward Western Mount Sumeru through folded space, intending to interfere with Hongjun’s plans and collect a debt.
• At the battlefield, Luo Hou defends the Sword Formation of Immortal Execution with the Twelfth-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus. Hongjun and his three allies confront him. Luo Hou accuses Hongjun of using them as expendable cannon fodder to drain the formation’s power.

Character developments and interactions

• Dijiang shifts from overseeing the Witches’ cultivation to leading them into the wider conflict. He is proud of their breakthroughs but cautious about the formation’s immense power.
• The Eleven Ancestral Witches mature into Primordial Origin Golden Immortals, each manifesting a law-based Dao Fruit. Their excitement at the formation’s strength contrasts with Dijiang’s restraint.
• Hongjun presents the campaign as an act of Heaven’s will, but Luo Hou’s accusation exposes his possible strategic manipulation of the other Ancestors.
• Luo Hou remains defiant and contemptuous, openly challenging both Hongjun’s motives and the courage of his allies. His words make the three Ancestors question Hongjun.

Significant themes

• Power through unity: The Witches’ formation turns their shared bloodline and individual laws into a force greater than any one of them.
• Ambition and manipulation: Hongjun’s public appeal to Heaven’s will may conceal a self-serving plan.
• Readiness and restraint: The Witches gain extraordinary power but recognize that strength alone does not make them invincible.
• The turning of the age: With the three clans withdrawn and the Dao-Devil War underway, new powers are entering the struggle for control of the Primordial World.

Plot points and events

• Hongjun persuades Yin-Yang, Five-Elements, and Qiankun Ancestors to enter Luo Hou’s Sword Formation of Immortal Execution, promising that breaking it will earn them merit and help them reach the Primordial Origin Realm.
• The Eleven Ancestral Witches watch from a concealed fold in space. Dijiang orders them to wait until Hongjun, Luo Hou, and the other combatants are exhausted, intending to seize the advantage afterward.
• Luo Hou powers the formation with the Western Continent’s earth veins. Five-Elements Ancestor is overwhelmed, and Hongjun—despite appearing to fight—refuses to help. Five-Elements’s treasure is destroyed, and he dies, but his self-destruction damages the formation and injures Luo Hou.
• Realizing Hongjun has sacrificed them as pawns, Qiankun and Yin-Yang Ancestors also self-destruct. Their blasts shatter the formation and leave Luo Hou gravely wounded.
• Hongjun emerges unscathed and prepares to take the fallen treasures and finish Luo Hou. Luo Hou threatens to destroy the Western Continent by detonating its remaining earth veins.
• Just as Hongjun is about to strike, a mysterious hand emerges from the void and snatches the Heaven-and-Earth Cauldron.

Character developments and interactions

• Hongjun reveals himself as calculating and ruthless: he manipulates the three ancestors with promises of advancement, then knowingly lets them die to weaken Luo Hou. He plans to claim their treasures and Luo Hou’s weapons afterward.
• Luo Hou fights with desperate ferocity, draining the Western Continent’s earth veins to strengthen his formation. Even while near death, he remains defiant and threatens catastrophic destruction.
• Five-Elements, Qiankun, and Yin-Yang Ancestors move from hopeful cooperation with Hongjun to horror and fury as they recognize his betrayal. Each chooses self-destruction rather than accept certain death.
• Dijiang and the Ancestral Witches remain hidden and patient, planning to act only after the others have exhausted themselves.
• The mysterious intruder makes a sudden intervention by taking the Heaven-and-Earth Cauldron, interrupting Hongjun’s apparent victory.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and manipulation: Hongjun disguises self-interest as a righteous cause, using others as expendable tools.
• Greed and ambition: The ancestors’ longing to reach the Primordial Origin Realm makes them vulnerable to Hongjun’s promise.
• Sacrifice and retaliation: The three ancestors’ deaths damage the formation, while their final acts also expose Hongjun’s treachery.
• Waiting for opportunity: The Ancestral Witches’ strategy reflects the danger of acting too soon—and the advantage of letting rivals weaken one another.

Key plot points and events

• Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches emerge from a spatial rift at the climax of the Dao-Devil War. Dijiang takes the Four Swords of Immortal Execution from Luo Hou, then reaches for Hongjun’s Taiji Diagram.
• Hongjun attacks with the Pangu Banner, but Zhu Jiuyin briefly stops his Chaos Sword Qi with the Time Law. That moment lets Dijiang seize the Taiji Diagram and escape the strike.
• Hongjun realizes he faces twelve Primordial Origin Golden Immortals, each wielding a complete Dao law—a force he had not known existed.
• Near death, Luo Hou refuses to let Hongjun profit from his defeat. He burns his remaining Devil Dao source, vows to become an otherworldly devil, and detonates the Western Lands’ ley lines.
• Hongjun is forced to abandon the treasure struggle and suppress the catastrophic destruction to protect his Dao foundation from the resulting karmic debt.
• While Hongjun is occupied, Dijiang uses the Space Law to claim Luo Hou’s God-Slaying Spear and Twelfth-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus. He and the Ancestral Witches then depart.

Character developments and interactions

• Dijiang proves himself a calculating opportunist, timing his intervention to take the treasures while Hongjun is distracted. He openly mocks Hongjun and leaves him to handle the Western Lands’ ruin.
• Hongjun loses his composure as his plans unravel: first the Ancestral Witches interrupt his victory, then Luo Hou’s final act saddles him with a massive crisis and karmic burden.
• Zhu Jiuyin supports Dijiang by using the Time Law to create the brief opening needed to take the Taiji Diagram.
• Luo Hou, despite being defeated and dying, gets a final act of defiance. His hatred of Hongjun drives him to sacrifice himself and preserve the Devil Dao’s influence.

Significant themes

• The danger of overconfidence: Hongjun’s attempt to claim the victory and its rewards is disrupted by an unforeseen force.
• Opportunism and strategic timing: Dijiang wins the greatest haul not by fighting Hongjun head-on, but by exploiting moments when Hongjun is occupied.
• Defiance beyond defeat: Luo Hou turns his death into a lasting legacy for the Devil Dao.
• The cost of ambition: The struggle over power and treasure leaves the Western Lands devastated and Hongjun burdened with the consequences.

Chapter Summary: “Treasure Distribution”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Twelve Ancestral Witches use Space Folding to escape after seizing all the supreme treasures from the aftermath of Luo Hou’s destruction.
• Hongjun is left behind, furious that his long-term schemes have been ruined. He must suppress the earth veins, clean up Luo Hou’s destruction, and endure the karma and resentment of the Western Continent.
• At Pangu Hall, Dijiang releases the stolen treasures:
  • Taiji Diagram
  • Heaven-and-Earth Cauldron
  • Five-Elements Pagoda
  • Four Swords of Immortal Execution and their formation diagram
  • God-Slaying Spear
  • Twelfth-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus
• The treasures initially resist, especially the Black Lotus and God-Slaying Spear, but Pangu Hall’s pressure suppresses their demonic aura and forces them into submission.
• Dijiang distributes the treasures according to each Ancestral Witch’s cultivation:
  • Houtu receives the Heaven-and-Earth Cauldron.
  • Zhu Jiuyin receives the Taiji Diagram.
  • Xuanming receives the God-Slaying Spear.
  • Qiang Liang receives the Twelfth-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus.
  • Dijiang keeps the Four Swords of Immortal Execution.
  • The Five-Elements Pagoda is placed in the blood pool until someone masters all Five Elements laws.
• Dijiang warns Xuanming and Qiang Liang to be cautious while refining Luo Hou’s treasures, since Luo Hou may have left behind hidden traces or traps.
• With the treasures distributed, the Twelve Ancestral Witches’ overall strength rises dramatically. Dijiang then announces that they will discuss further matters.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Hongjun is revealed as ambitious, calculating, and deeply resentful. His anger shows how completely the witches have overturned his plans.
• Dijiang demonstrates authority, foresight, and fairness. He chooses treasures based on compatibility with each person’s laws rather than favoritism, and he retains the most dangerous weapons for himself.
• Zhu Rong and Gonggong, despite their usual conflict, cooperate by independently rejecting the Five-Elements Pagoda, showing unexpected unity and restraint.
• Houtu gratefully accepts the Heaven-and-Earth Cauldron, which complements her Earth Law and strengthens her defensive and refining abilities.
• Zhu Jiuyin accepts the Taiji Diagram with solemn trust, reflecting his steady personality and Dijiang’s confidence in him.
• Xuanming successfully suppresses the God-Slaying Spear’s murderous will with her ice laws, showing both compatibility with the weapon and strength of Primordial Spirit.
• Qiang Liang happily accepts the Black Lotus, which compensates for his relatively weak defense.
• The group’s interactions emphasize mutual trust, discipline, and a growing sense of collective power under Dijiang’s leadership.

Significant Themes

• Justice and reversal of schemes: Hongjun’s carefully prepared plan collapses when the Ancestral Witches take the rewards for themselves.
• Leadership and fairness: Dijiang distributes power according to individual strengths, preventing disputes and maximizing the group’s overall effectiveness.
• Compatibility between cultivator and treasure: A magical treasure’s true value depends on how well it matches its wielder’s laws and abilities.
• Unity and cooperation: Even traditionally quarrelsome figures such as Zhu Rong and Gonggong can set aside rivalry for the clan’s benefit.
• Hidden danger and foresight: Luo Hou’s treasures may contain remnants of his will, reinforcing the need for caution despite the witches’ victory.
• Rising strength and future conflict: The witches’ new arsenal marks a major increase in power and prepares them for further struggles in the Primordial World.

Chapter Summary: Visiting Undying Volcano

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang gathers the Twelve Ancestral Witches to discuss their future security after making an enemy of Hongjun. He orders the brothers to travel together so they can protect one another.
• He identifies a major weakness: aside from his Creation Jade Disk, the Ancestral Witches lack companion Spirit Treasures.
• Dijiang proposes searching for treasures suited to each brother’s elemental attributes. Zhu Rong and Gonggong may obtain fire- and water-based treasures from the Phoenix and Dragon Clans.
• The group decides to visit Undying Volcano first. Rather than attack the weakened Phoenix Clan, Dijiang intends to negotiate for fire-attributed treasures.
• His plan is to have Zhu Rong and Houtu help Origin Phoenix control the destructive earthly flames beneath the volcano. In exchange, the Phoenix Clan would provide treasures from its treasury. The assistance could also earn merit for Zhu Rong and Houtu.
• The Twelve Ancestral Witches arrive through Dijiang’s spatial abilities and are immediately treated as enemies by the Phoenix Clan elders.
• When the elders activate the clan-protecting formation, Dijiang effortlessly freezes the surrounding space, rendering the formation and the elders completely powerless.
• He then addresses Origin Phoenix directly. The chapter ends with her responding from within the volcano and asking who he is.

Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates increased strategic maturity. He prioritizes group safety, recognizes the importance of Spirit Treasures, and devises a mutually beneficial plan instead of resorting to violence.
• Zhu Rong and Gonggong continue their comedic rivalry, arguing over who spoke first and nearly challenging each other to a duel. Their opposing fire-and-water natures remain central to their relationship, though both still respect Dijiang’s authority.
• Houtu and Zhu Rong are positioned to play an important role in stabilizing the earthly flames through their Earth and Flame Laws.
• Origin Phoenix is shown as burdened and weakened by her sacrifice. She suppresses Undying Volcano with her own body, enduring both physical pain and karmic backlash to preserve the Phoenix Clan.
• The Phoenix Clan elders are fearful and defensive, recognizing the Ancestral Witches as the powerful enemies who previously killed two of their elders.

Significant Themes

• Unity and survival: Dijiang emphasizes that the Ancestral Witches must remain together in order to survive against stronger opponents such as Hongjun.
• Strategic cooperation over direct conflict: Although the witches could overpower the Phoenix Clan’s remaining defenders, Dijiang seeks an exchange that benefits both sides.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: Origin Phoenix’s suffering reflects the heavy cost of protecting her clan and containing the consequences of the volcano’s karmic burden.
• Power and intimidation: The witches’ arrival and Dijiang’s effortless suppression of the Phoenix formation establish their overwhelming strength.
• Sibling rivalry within familial loyalty: Zhu Rong and Gonggong constantly clash, but their arguments remain relatively harmless and are controlled by their shared loyalty to Dijiang and the group.

Character Interactions

• Dijiang acts as mediator when Zhu Rong and Gonggong’s argument threatens to become a fight.
• Zhu Rong mocks Gonggong, while Gonggong challenges him to spar without using the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl.
• Zhu Jiuyin perceptively questions Dijiang’s proposed deal with Origin Phoenix, prompting him to explain the plan.
• The Phoenix elders react with hostility upon recognizing the witches, but Dijiang ignores their threats and addresses Origin Phoenix as the true authority of Undying Volcano.
• The chapter closes with the first direct exchange between Dijiang and Origin Phoenix, setting up a negotiation—or possible confrontation—in the following chapter.

Chapter Summary: “Mutual Benefit”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang and the Ancestral Witches visit Yuanfeng beneath Undying Volcano. Yuanfeng, suspicious of revenge, threatens to erupt the volcano and fight to the death if necessary.
• Dijiang clarifies that they have come to negotiate rather than seek retaliation. He reveals that Yuanfeng’s suppression of the earthfire is causing her immense pain, karmic backlash, and steadily declining cultivation.
• Dijiang offers the aid of Zhu Rong, who controls the Flame Law, and Houtu, who controls the Earth Law. Together, they can regulate the volcano’s earthfire and reduce Yuanfeng’s burden.
• In exchange, Dijiang demands one Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, three High-Grade Spirit Treasures, and two High-Grade spiritual roots.
• Yuanfeng accepts but adds a condition: if the Phoenix Clan faces disaster in the future, Dijiang must provide them with protection or assistance. Dijiang readily agrees, considering the exchange highly advantageous.
• Yuanfeng sends Vermilion Bird, the Phoenix Clan’s second-in-command, to escort the Ancestral Witches to the clan treasury.
• Dijiang uses his Spatial Law to bypass the treasury’s restrictions. The group selects:
  • The Supreme-Grade Eight-Scenery Palace Lamp for Zhu Rong
  • The Wind-Calming Pearl for Tian Wu
  • The Myriad Poisons Banner for She Bishi
  • The Divine Thunder Hammer for Xi Zi
  • An Innate Fire-Date Tree and a branch of Parasol Tree Wood for Pangu Hall
• After receiving the treasures, Dijiang orders Zhu Rong and Houtu to begin stabilizing the earthfire.
• Inside the volcano’s core, Zhu Rong and Houtu withstand the extreme heat easily due to their cultivation and laws. Houtu prepares to suppress the earth veins while Zhu Rong regulates the violent flames.

Character Developments

• Yuanfeng is shown to be physically and spiritually weakened by her long-term duty. Though still formidable, she recognizes that she cannot protect the Phoenix Clan forever and seeks a lasting alliance for its future.
• Dijiang demonstrates strategic calculation and confidence. He turns a potentially hostile confrontation into a profitable agreement while securing a future obligation from the Phoenix Clan.
• Zhu Rong is thrilled to obtain the Eight-Scenery Palace Lamp, whose divine flames complement his own power and promise a major increase in strength.
• Houtu takes on the crucial role of stabilizing the earth veins alongside Zhu Rong.
• Vermilion Bird remains loyal to Yuanfeng but is visibly distressed at seeing the clan’s finest treasures handed over.

Significant Themes

• Mutual benefit and strategic diplomacy: Conflict is avoided through a carefully negotiated exchange.
• The burden of responsibility: Yuanfeng’s commitment to protecting her clan has caused her prolonged suffering and loss of cultivation.
• Power and alliance-building: Dijiang values not only treasures but also political connections and future support.
• Sacrifice for one’s people: Yuanfeng willingly gives up valuable resources to secure the Phoenix Clan’s continued survival.
• Growth through resources and opportunity: Zhu Rong’s acquisition of the Eight-Scenery Palace Lamp highlights how powerful artifacts can accelerate cultivation and strengthen future combat ability.

Character Interactions

• Yuanfeng and Dijiang begin in mutual distrust, but their conversation develops into a pragmatic negotiation.
• Yuanfeng appeals to Dijiang’s sense of long-term strategy by asking him to protect the Phoenix Clan in return for the treasures.
• Dijiang assigns Zhu Rong and Houtu to assist Yuanfeng, showing his authority over the Ancestral Witches.
• Vermilion Bird acts as the Phoenix Clan’s representative and treasury guide, interacting coldly with the group despite obeying Yuanfeng’s orders.
• Zhu Rong and Houtu cooperate directly in the volcano’s core, dividing responsibilities between controlling the flames and stabilizing the earth veins.

Chapter Summary: “Changes in the Dragon Clan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Rong and Houtu assist Origin Phoenix at the Undying Volcano. Zhu Rong controls and purifies the chaotic fire qi, while Houtu suppresses the unstable earth veins with her Earth Law.
• Their cooperation stabilizes the volcano, greatly reduces the backlash afflicting Origin Phoenix, and restores part of her strength.
• Heaven’s Way rewards Zhu Rong and Houtu with merit for their actions. Origin Phoenix sincerely thanks them, and her attitude toward the Wu Clan improves considerably.
• Dijiang leads the ancestral shamans away from the volcano and decides to visit the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace rather than immediately returning to Pangu Hall. He senses that something is wrong within the Dragon Clan.
• At the Eastern Sea, Candle Dragon struggles to suppress a violent eruption from the Nine Nether Cold Spring, a sea eye connected to the Nine Netherworld.
• The cold spring is discovered to contain Demonic Qi, suggesting that Dragon Clan members previously corrupted by Luo Hou’s devil seeds may have survived and fused with the demonic power.
• A powerful devil dragon emerges from the sea eye, reaching the early Primordial Golden Immortal realm. It attacks Candle Dragon and contaminates several Dragon Clan elders with demonic water.
• More demonized dragons appear ready to break through the seal. Candle Dragon, already burdened with suppressing the sea eye, is pushed toward despair and prepares to sacrifice himself.
• The chapter ends at the moment of crisis, just as a new disturbance or intervention begins with a mysterious “Buzz—.”

Character Developments

• Zhu Rong and Houtu: Demonstrate exceptional mastery of Flame and Earth Laws through their seamless cooperation. Their success earns them Heavenly merit and confirms their growing strength.
• Origin Phoenix: Gains relief from the karmic fire and volcano backlash. Her respect and goodwill toward Dijiang and the Wu Clan increase significantly.
• Dijiang: Shows strategic insight and caution by recognizing the Eastern Sea’s instability and choosing to investigate it rather than blindly pursue treasures.
• Gonggong: Remains eager to obtain powerful Spirit Treasures, joking about exploiting the Dragon Clan’s troubles to “borrow” one.
• Candle Dragon: Is portrayed as exhausted and increasingly desperate. He carries the Dragon Clan’s burden after Ancestral Dragon’s sacrifice and faces the possible collapse of the clan from within.
• Demonized Dragon Clan members: Their transformation reveals that Luo Hou’s corruption remains an unresolved threat and may be more dangerous than previously believed.

Significant Themes

• Cooperation and mutual benefit: Zhu Rong and Houtu’s combined Laws successfully resolve a crisis that neither might have handled as efficiently alone.
• Karmic burden and redemption: The Phoenix and Dragon Clans continue to suffer the consequences of their past actions, even after withdrawing from worldly conflict.
• Lingering influence of evil: Luo Hou’s demonic seeds continue to affect the three clans, showing that past corruption can resurface long after it appears contained.
• The decline of the Dragon Clan: The clan’s former glory has faded, and its internal demonic threat exposes its fragile condition.
• Desperation and sacrifice: Candle Dragon is forced to consider burning his origin to prevent the Dragon Clan from being destroyed.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Rong and Houtu work in perfect coordination to stabilize the Undying Volcano.
• Origin Phoenix expresses genuine gratitude toward them and extends an invitation to Dijiang.
• Dijiang and Gonggong discuss their next destination, revealing Gonggong’s greed for Spirit Treasures and Dijiang’s more cautious judgment.
• Candle Dragon commands the Dragon Clan elders during the sea-eye crisis, attempting to protect them while maintaining the seal.
• The devil dragon taunts Candle Dragon, turning the Dragon Clan’s internal betrayal into a direct personal confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Dragon Clan Treasury, Twelve Sea-Calming Divine Pearls”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Twelve Ancestral Witches arrive at the Eastern Sea sea eye after hearing that the Dragon Clan is struggling to contain a demonic calamity caused by Nine Nether Demonic Water and demonized dragons.
• Candle Dragon immediately recognizes that all twelve newcomers possess Primordial Golden Immortal-level auras and asks for their help. In exchange, he promises to open the Dragon Clan Treasury and let them choose whatever treasures they want.
• Gonggong and Xuanming take charge of suppressing the calamity:
  • Gonggong uses his Water Law and Extreme Cold Heavy Water to control and freeze the raging Nine Nether Demonic Water.
  • Xuanming uses Ice and Rain Laws to pin down the demonized Dragon Clan members and kills an early-stage Primordial Golden Immortal demonic dragon with the God-Slaying Spear.
• The crisis is suppressed almost instantly, leaving Candle Dragon stunned by the witches’ overwhelming mastery of the Laws.
• Candle Dragon fulfills his promise and leads the Twelve Ancestral Witches to the deepest treasury of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace.
• Dijiang discovers nine Sea-Calming Divine Pearls. Since Gonggong already possesses three, the twelve pearls form a complete set, which Dijiang gives to Gonggong.
• The group also selects several powerful treasures:
  • The Profound Ice Thorn for Xuanming
  • The Azure Wood Staff for Jumang
  • The Geng Metal Sword for Ru Shou
  • Numerous spiritual roots and divine metals for Pangu Hall
• As the witches prepare to leave, Candle Dragon reveals that the demonic calamity has not been fully eliminated. A terrifying entity remains hidden deep within the Nine Nether Cold Spring.
• Ancestral Dragon is using his own body to suppress the sea eye but is suffering severe pain and backlash. Candle Dragon asks the witches to help reduce his burden, offering the Dragon Clan’s future assistance in return.

Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates his strategic and transactional nature. He immediately accepts Candle Dragon’s offer, ensures the witches receive valuable resources, and recognizes the political importance of gaining the Dragon Clan’s future support.
• Gonggong displays exceptional control over Water Law, effortlessly suppressing the dangerous Nine Nether Demonic Water. He is thrilled to obtain all nine remaining Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, which may dramatically increase his strength.
• Xuanming proves to be a decisive and lethal combatant, combining Ice and Rain Laws with the God-Slaying Spear to eliminate the demonic dragon.
• Candle Dragon shifts from desperation to relief after the calamity is suppressed. Although he suffers at seeing the treasury depleted, he honors his promise and later reveals his deeper concern for Ancestral Dragon.
• Ancestral Dragon, though absent from the action, is characterized as sacrificing himself to contain the sea eye and protect the Dragon Clan, despite enduring immense suffering.

Significant Themes

• Power and mastery of the Laws: Gonggong and Xuanming’s effortless suppression of the demonic calamity emphasizes the overwhelming strength of the Ancestral Witches.
• Exchange and political alliances: The witches’ aid is presented as a transaction, but Candle Dragon’s later promise suggests the beginning of a potentially valuable alliance between the Dragon Clan and the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: Ancestral Dragon’s use of his own body to restrain the sea eye highlights the burden leaders bear to protect their people.
• Treasures as sources of growth: The Dragon Clan Treasury provides not only wealth but also tools for improving the witches’ cultivation and strengthening their entire clan.
• Hidden threats: The apparent victory is incomplete, as an even more dangerous existence remains beneath the sea eye, foreshadowing a greater conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Candle Dragon and Dijiang: Candle Dragon bargains openly with Dijiang for assistance, while Dijiang calmly ensures that the witches receive the promised compensation.
• Gonggong and Xuanming: They work together to suppress the calamity, with Gonggong controlling the waters and Xuanming eliminating the demonized attackers.
• Dijiang and Gonggong: Dijiang recognizes Gonggong’s affinity with the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls and gives him the nine pearls needed to complete the set.
• Candle Dragon and the Twelve Ancestral Witches: Their relationship develops from a desperate one-time transaction into a possible long-term alliance when Candle Dragon asks for help saving Ancestral Dragon.
• Candle Dragon and Ancestral Dragon: Candle Dragon’s plea reveals his loyalty and concern for his elder brother, who is sacrificing himself to contain the hidden danger.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang orders Gonggong and Xuanming to assist the Ancestral Dragon in stabilizing the Eastern Sea’s sea eye.
• Gonggong compresses and purifies the chaotic Nine Nether Demonic Water with the Water Law, while Xuanming uses the Ice Law to restrain demonized Dragon Clan members attempting to escape.
• Their cooperation calms the sea eye within several years, eliminates the threat of another eruption, and greatly reduces the backlash damaging the Ancestral Dragon.
• Heaven rewards Gonggong and Xuanming with Yellow Merit Golden Clouds for their achievement. The Ancestral Dragon thanks them sincerely, while Gonggong explains that they merely completed a paid transaction.
• Dijiang and the ancestral shamans depart from the Eastern Sea after Candle Dragon’s attitude improves and invites them to visit the Dragon Palace in the future.
• Rather than returning directly to Pangu Hall, Dijiang leads the group to Qilin Cliff in the Northern Continent. He reasons that, having visited the Phoenix and Dragon Clans, they should not neglect the Qilin Clan.
• Dijiang explains that Primordial Qilin is likely in even greater danger than the other clan leaders. He fused with Qilin Cliff to suppress the world’s earth veins, but Luo Hou’s destruction of the western earth veins has caused catastrophic backlash through the Central Continent.
• At Qilin Cliff, the ancestral shamans find the sacred land nearly destroyed. The cliff is riddled with cracks, earth-vein energy is raging uncontrollably, and Primordial Qilin is severely wounded, bleeding heavily, and close to death.
• When the Kirinkind elders mistake the newcomers for enemies, Primordial Qilin stops them and asks whether Dijiang has come to exploit the Qilin Clan’s weakness.
• Dijiang clarifies that the ancestral shamans have come to conduct a fair transaction, not to seize treasures after Primordial Qilin dies.
• He reveals that they can stabilize the earth veins and preserve the last remnant of Primordial Qilin’s origin in exchange for one Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, three high-grade Spirit Treasures, and two high-grade spiritual roots—the same terms offered to the Dragon-Phoenix Clans.

Character Developments

• Gonggong and Xuanming demonstrate their exceptional mastery of Water and Ice Laws through highly effective cooperation. Their success earns them heavenly merit and increases their standing.
• Ancestral Dragon shifts from despair and shock to genuine gratitude after realizing that the ancestral shamans can relieve his suffering and stabilize the sea eye.
• Dijiang continues to present himself as pragmatic, powerful, and principled. Although the shamans are clearly capable of taking advantage of weakened clans, he emphasizes fairness, reputation, and mutually beneficial transactions.
• Primordial Qilin is shown at his most vulnerable: physically wounded, spiritually exhausted, and convinced that the Qilin Clan may be doomed. Despite this, he retains authority over his elders and recognizes Dijiang’s strength and intentions.
• The ancestral shamans move from celebrating their success in the Eastern Sea to becoming solemn and concerned when they learn how close Primordial Qilin is to collapse.

Significant Themes

• Mutual aid as strategic exchange: The ancestral shamans help powerful ancient clans not out of pure charity, but through formal transactions that benefit both sides.
• Fairness and reputation: Dijiang insists that the shamans must not appear to exploit fallen enemies, establishing a code of conduct that distinguishes them from ordinary conquerors.
• The consequences of cosmic destruction: Luo Hou’s detonation of the western earth veins continues to destabilize the world, harming even ancient beings who were not directly involved.
• Decline of the ancient clans: The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans are all weakened and nearing collapse, marking a major shift in the balance of power.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: Primordial Qilin’s fusion with Qilin Cliff shows his willingness to sacrifice himself to protect the world’s earth veins and his clan.

Important Character Interactions

• Gonggong and Xuanming work in perfect coordination to stabilize the sea eye and protect the Ancestral Dragon.
• The Ancestral Dragon expresses sincere thanks, while Gonggong maintains a practical attitude by describing their assistance as a completed transaction.
• Candle Dragon’s attitude toward Dijiang becomes noticeably more respectful after witnessing the shamans’ help.
• Zhu Jiuyin correctly anticipates Dijiang’s intention to visit the Qilin Clan, while Zhu Rong reacts enthusiastically to the possibility of obtaining treasures.
• Dijiang warns the shamans about Primordial Qilin’s dire condition, shifting their mood from anticipation to seriousness.
• Primordial Qilin initially suspects the ancestral shamans of predatory intentions, but Dijiang counters this by offering aid before the Qilin Clan falls and presenting clear, equal terms.

Chapter Summary: “Ascending the Sun Star”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Houtu and Jumang stabilize the damaged earth veins beneath Qilin Cliff. Houtu uses Earth Law to bind and reinforce the fissures, while Jumang uses Wood Law to nourish and heal them. Their cooperation successfully prevents another eruption and greatly reduces Primordial Qilin’s backlash.
• Heaven’s Way rewards Houtu and Jumang with merit. Primordial Qilin’s illusory form becomes more solid, and he gratefully acknowledges that the Ancestral Witches have saved both his life and the Qilin Clan.
• Dijiang reminds Primordial Qilin that the rescue was part of a transaction. The Qilin Clan opens its treasury, allowing Dijiang to select several treasures, including:
  • The Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Wind Spirit Pearl for Tian Wu
  • The Violet Lightning Hammer for Qiang Liang
  • The Lightning Radiance Mirror for Xi Zi
  • Numerous spirit roots and divine metals for the other Ancestral Witches
• After completing the deal, Dijiang leads the Ancestral Witches away from Qilin Cliff. Rather than returning immediately to Pangu Hall, he announces that they will visit the Sun Star.
• Dijiang believes that Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi—the future leaders of the Demon Race—have already been born and departed from the Sun Star.
• The Ancestral Witches arrive at the Sun Star, enduring its terrifying Solar True Fire. They find the star empty except for the enormous Fusang Tree and two vacant Sun God Palaces.
• Zhu Rong chooses to remain beneath the Fusang Tree and cultivate. He absorbs the Sun Star’s pure Solar True Fire in order to strengthen his Flame Law and improve his embryonic Flame Dao Fruit.
• Dijiang leads the remaining Ancestral Witches through the starry sky for several thousand years. They visit the Lunar Star, the Big Dipper, and other celestial locations, studying their unique powers and searching for opportunities.
• Their journey brings them to the Purple Star, the center and ruler of the stellar realm. Dijiang senses a powerful innate restriction hidden within it, suggesting the presence of a major treasure or inheritance. The chapter ends as the group prepares to investigate.

Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates strategic foresight and leadership. He not only secures valuable treasures through the Qilin transaction but also anticipates the rise of Di Jun and Taiyi and seeks opportunities connected to the celestial realm.
• Houtu and Jumang display excellent cooperation, combining Earth and Wood Laws to repair the earth veins. Their success earns them merit and strengthens their reputations.
• Primordial Qilin shifts from desperation to gratitude and renewed stability. His trust in the Ancestral Witches deepens, and he formally reaffirms the Qilin Clan’s willingness to honor its promise.
• Zhu Rong finds an ideal cultivation environment on the Sun Star. His enthusiasm for the Solar True Fire reflects his affinity with fire, and his Flame Law begins to advance rapidly.
• The other Ancestral Witches benefit from the Qilin treasury and participate willingly in Dijiang’s exploration of the starry sky.

Significant Themes

• Mutual support and elemental harmony: Houtu’s Earth Law and Jumang’s Wood Law work together according to the natural cycle of earth generating wood and wood stabilizing earth.
• Transactions and reciprocity: The rescue of Primordial Qilin is framed as an exchange rather than an act of pure charity, emphasizing the importance of promises and mutually beneficial alliances.
• Strategic preparation: Dijiang continually plans ahead, gathering resources, strengthening his clan, and investigating future rivals and opportunities.
• Cultivation through natural forces: Zhu Rong’s progress shows how powerful environments and elemental affinities can accelerate cultivation.
• Exploration and destiny: The Ancestral Witches’ journey through the stars suggests that the wider cosmos contains opportunities, treasures, and future conflicts tied to the emerging heavenly powers.

Important Character Interactions

• Houtu and Jumang coordinate seamlessly under Dijiang’s command to save the Qilin Clan.
• Primordial Qilin expresses profound gratitude to Dijiang and the Ancestral Witches, while Dijiang calmly emphasizes that their assistance fulfilled a transaction.
• Zhu Rong excitedly asks to cultivate on the Sun Star, and Dijiang approves, recognizing the benefit of Solar True Fire to his Flame Law.
• Dijiang leads the other Ancestral Witches on their stellar exploration, encouraging them to seek opportunities in the newly formed cosmic realm.
• At the Purple Star, the group collectively notices the star’s unusual imperial aura and hidden restriction, setting up the next major discovery.

Chapter Summary: The Struggle for Survival, the Laws of the Primordial World

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang and the Twelve Ancestral Witches explore the Purple Star after conquering the surrounding wilderness and starry sky.
• At the summit of a divine mountain, Dijiang breaks an innate formation sealing away two supreme-grade innate spirit treasures:
  • The Cosmic Star Chart, which contains the principles governing the movement of the stars.
  • The Purple Tenuity Emperor Sword, an imperial weapon embodying authority, command, and slaughter.
• Dijiang gives the Cosmic Star Chart to Zhu Jiuyin, believing it will strengthen his Time Law and ability to deduce heavenly secrets. He claims the Purple Tenuity Emperor Sword for himself after suppressing its arrogant imperial aura.
• The group travels to the Sun Star, where Zhu Rong emerges from seclusion after fusing Solar True Fire with the Southern Bright Flame. His cultivation rises to the Mid-Primordial Golden Immortal realm, and his Flame Law advances.
• After tens of thousands of years, the Ancestral Witches return to their protected territory beneath Mount Buzhou. The Spirit-Gathering Formation has allowed tens of millions of beings to thrive.
• However, they witness a Blackflame Tiger hunting and killing an Azure Jade Deer while other creatures wait to steal the remains.
• Houtu initially attempts to save the deer, but Dijiang stops her and explains that protection does not mean eliminating all danger or natural competition.
• The chapter concludes with the inhabitants recognizing the returning Ancestral Witches, kneeling in worship, and proclaiming their gratitude and loyalty.

Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates his increasing power by effortlessly destroying a powerful innate formation and suppressing the Purple Tenuity Emperor Sword’s imperial will. He also reinforces his role as the group’s pragmatic leader and philosophical guide.
• Zhu Jiuyin receives the Cosmic Star Chart, potentially deepening his mastery of the Time Law and enhancing his ability to understand or predict heavenly principles.
• Zhu Rong achieves a major cultivation breakthrough, reaching the Mid-Primordial Golden Immortal realm. His fusion of two powerful flames also advances his Flame Law.
• Houtu is shown to be compassionate and protective toward weaker beings. Through Dijiang’s explanation, she begins to understand that true protection requires allowing creatures to develop strength and survival instincts rather than shielding them from every hardship.
• The broader Ancestral Witch group continues to grow in power and influence after successfully exploiting opportunities across both the wilderness and the starry sky.

Significant Themes

• Natural selection and survival: The Primordial World operates according to the principle that the strong survive and the weak are consumed. Predation is presented as a necessary part of life rather than simple cruelty.
• Protection versus overprotection: Dijiang argues that the Ancestral Witches should provide a safe territory and resources, but not remove all competition. Their subjects must retain the ability to struggle, fight, and adapt.
• Power and authority: The Purple Tenuity Emperor Sword symbolizes imperial command, while Dijiang’s suppression of it reflects the dominance of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage.
• Growth through adversity: Both cultivators and ordinary creatures become stronger through challenges. A completely sheltered existence would produce weakness and dependence.
• Loyalty and gratitude: The inhabitants’ worship of the Ancestral Witches shows that their protection and teachings have created deep reverence and political legitimacy.

Important Character Interactions

• Dijiang and Zhu Jiuyin: Dijiang entrusts Zhu Jiuyin with the Cosmic Star Chart, showing confidence in his abilities and the brothers’ cooperative approach to cultivation.
• Dijiang and the Purple Tenuity Emperor Sword: Dijiang forcibly subdues the sword’s imperial aura, establishing that the weapon must serve him rather than command him.
• Dijiang and Zhu Rong: Dijiang approves of Zhu Rong’s breakthrough and immediately prepares to lead the group home.
• Dijiang and Houtu: Their central exchange concerns whether Houtu should intervene to save the Azure Jade Deer. Dijiang’s reasoning challenges her compassionate instincts and helps her accept the harsher laws of the Primordial World.
• The Ancestral Witches and their subjects: Upon the group’s return, the tens of millions of inhabitants stop their activities and kneel in unison, demonstrating the immense respect and dependence they feel toward their protectors.

Chapter Summary: “Opening the Mountain Gates?”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang addresses the tens of millions of beings living under the Ancestral Witches’ protection, praising their growth while warning them that they must ultimately rely on their own cultivation to survive in the dangerous Primordial World.
• The Twelve Ancestral Witches return to Pangu Hall and discuss the changing political situation following the retreat of the three clans and the conclusion of the War of Dao and Demons.
• Dijiang warns that Hongjun may soon advance further and stresses that the Witches cannot depend entirely on the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation. Each Ancestral Witch must become strong enough to protect themselves individually.
• Zhu Jiuyin proposes opening Mount Buzhou’s gates and accepting many more beings to increase their Fortune. Dijiang rejects the idea for the time being, fearing that openly expanding their influence would make them targets for hidden powers and ambitious sacred beings.
• Instead, Dijiang devises a quieter strategy: the Ancestral Witches will preach the Dao to the beings already living near Mount Buzhou. By cultivating these “seeds,” the Witches can deepen their followers’ faith and accumulate purer Fortune without attracting unnecessary attention.
• Advanced disciples will eventually leave Mount Buzhou and spread the influence of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage throughout the Primordial World. Their success will draw other seekers toward Mount Buzhou.
• Over the following tens of thousands of years, the Witches take turns preaching their Laws. The beings’ cultivation improves rapidly, producing hundreds of Taiyi Golden Immortals and several potential Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals.
• The growing Fortune strengthens the Ancestral Witches. Dijiang’s Space Dao Fruit advances, allowing him to break through to the mid-stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm.

2. Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates increasingly mature leadership and strategic foresight. Rather than pursuing immediate gains by opening the mountain gates, he chooses a gradual, concealed expansion of influence.
• He also becomes more cautious regarding Hongjun and the wider Primordial World, recognizing that formations alone cannot guarantee the Witches’ survival.
• Zhu Jiuyin shows political and strategic awareness by recognizing the value of gathering more Fortune. He accepts Dijiang’s more measured plan and supports the preaching strategy.
• Houtu displays sound judgment by agreeing that uncontrolled population growth could create management problems and damage their reputation.
• Zhu Rong and Gonggong retain their impulsive, combative personalities, arguing humorously over whose Dao—Fire or Water—would be better for teaching. Their rivalry is restrained by Dijiang.
• The protected beings develop rapidly under the Witches’ guidance, beginning to serve not only as followers but also as future agents of the Witches’ influence across the world.

3. Significant Themes

• Strength versus dependence: The Witches recognize that relying on the Twelve Capitals Formation is insufficient; true security requires personal cultivation and independent power.
• Strategic patience: The chapter contrasts reckless expansion with gradual, carefully concealed growth. Dijiang chooses long-term influence over immediate accumulation of Fortune.
• Faith and Fortune: Teaching and protecting living beings deepens their faith, which in turn produces greater and purer Fortune for the Ancestral Witches.
• Influence through cultivation: The Witches plan to spread their authority indirectly by training capable disciples who will carry the Pangu Orthodox Lineage throughout the Primordial World.
• Balance between visibility and survival: The Witches seek to expand their influence without becoming a conspicuous threat to rival powers during the unstable period after the great wars.
• Mentorship and enlightenment: The Ancestral Witches move beyond simply protecting their followers, taking on the role of teachers who help others understand the Dao.

4. Character Interactions

• Dijiang establishes authority through his speech and strategic decisions, while the other Ancestral Witches respond with respect and agreement.
• Zhu Jiuyin’s proposal prompts the central debate about whether to open Mount Buzhou’s gates. Dijiang acknowledges its potential but explains why it is dangerous at the present time.
• Houtu reinforces Dijiang’s caution by pointing out the risks of poor-quality followers and disorder.
• Zhu Rong and Gonggong’s quarrel over preaching the Flame and Water Daos provides comic relief and highlights their fiery, competitive relationship.
• Dijiang suppresses their argument and assigns Zhu Jiuyin and Houtu to lead the preaching effort, with the other Witches assisting.
• The chapter ends by showing the tangible result of their collective work: the followers grow stronger, Fortune accumulates, and Dijiang advances in cultivation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang reflects on the hidden nature of the Space Dao within the Primordial World and wonders how to take the final step beyond the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm.
• A terrifying pressure erupts from Mount Yujing as Hongjun achieves the Primordial Origin Realm and becomes the first Sage of the Primordial World.
• Hongjun announces that, in thirty thousand years, he will lecture on the Grand Dao in Violet Firmament Palace. All beings with sufficient fate are invited to attend.
• The Ancestor Witches debate whether to go. Houtu, Zhu Rong, Gonggong, and the others believe Hongjun’s teachings might help them advance, but Dijiang firmly refuses.
• Dijiang argues that Hongjun’s Dao is the Dao of submitting to Heaven’s Way, fundamentally opposed to the Witch Clan’s Law-Proving and Force-Proving paths. He also distrusts Hongjun, fearing that the Sage may conceal traps or methods to control those who listen.
• The Ancestor Witches recall Hongjun’s ruthless betrayal of the Five-Elements Ancestor, Yin-Yang Ancestor, Qiankun Ancestor, and others, and unanimously decide not to attend.
• Dijiang concludes that Hongjun intends to gain the gratitude and Fortune of the Primordial World by teaching the Three Thousand Divine Beings, but believes Hongjun’s plan will be weakened without the Witch Clan.
• Across the world, countless powerful beings emerge from seclusion and travel toward Primordial Chaos to attend the lecture. Notable attendees include the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa and Fuxi, Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi, Kunpeng, and Minghe.
• The journey through Primordial Chaos proves deadly. Countless weaker cultivators are torn apart by the chaotic currents, while only powerful beings or those with strong defensive treasures survive.
• Thirty thousand years later, 2,999 great powers gather outside Violet Firmament Palace. Haotian and Yaochi open the gates and invite them inside.
• Six golden prayer mats beneath Hongjun’s seat become the most coveted positions. The Three Pure Ones take the first three, Nuwa takes the fourth with Fuxi’s help, Hong Yun claims the fifth through his speed, and Kunpeng takes the sixth.
• The chapter ends just before Hongjun begins his lecture.

Character Developments

• Dijiang is shown to be cautious, perceptive, and deeply distrustful of Hongjun. He prioritizes the Witch Clan’s independence and safety over the possibility of gaining knowledge from a Sage.
• Houtu, Zhu Rong, Gonggong, and the other Ancestor Witches initially feel tempted by the opportunity to hear Hongjun’s Dao, but Dijiang’s reasoning convinces them to suppress their curiosity and follow his leadership.
• Hongjun reaches the Sage realm and immediately establishes himself as the highest authority in the Primordial World, using the promise of Dao instruction to attract the world’s most powerful beings.
• The attending divine beings demonstrate their ambition and willingness to risk death for greater cultivation and opportunities.
• Haotian and Yaochi appear as Hongjun’s attendants, formally managing the entrance to Violet Firmament Palace.

Significant Themes

• Independence versus submission: The Witch Clan’s Law-Proving path represents self-determined cultivation, while Hongjun’s Heaven-aligned Dao threatens to make cultivators servants of Heaven’s Way.
• Trust and manipulation: Hongjun presents his lecture as a benevolent act, but Dijiang suspects it is a strategy to accumulate Fortune and influence.
• Power and political authority: Becoming the first Sage allows Hongjun to establish unmatched prestige and gather the strongest figures beneath his influence.
• Dangerous pursuit of opportunity: The cultivators’ journey through Primordial Chaos illustrates how ambition drives them to risk their lives for advancement.
• Leadership and loyalty: The Ancestor Witches’ decision reflects their trust in Dijiang and their unity as the Pangu Orthodox Lineage.
• The contrast between paths: The chapter emphasizes the conflict between cultivating inherited Law Grand Dao techniques and following Heaven’s Way through Hongjun’s teachings.

Important Character Interactions

• Dijiang and the Ancestor Witches: Dijiang persuades his siblings not to attend the lecture by reminding them of Hongjun’s treachery and the danger of accepting his Dao.
• Zhu Rong and Gonggong: Both initially question Dijiang’s decision but quickly become convinced, especially after recalling Hongjun’s past actions.
• Dijiang and Hongjun: Although Hongjun does not appear directly before the chapter’s end, the two are positioned as ideological and political opponents. Dijiang views Hongjun’s lecture as an attempt to control the Primordial World.
• The gathered divine beings: Their competition for the six prayer mats reveals rivalries, differing abilities, and the hierarchy forming around Hongjun.
• Nuwa and Fuxi: Fuxi supports Nuwa as she secures the fourth seat, showing their close cooperation.
• Hong Yun and Kunpeng: Their race for the final seats highlights Hong Yun’s speed and Kunpeng’s pursuit, while establishing the importance of the six positions.

Plot points and events

• Zhunti arrives at the Violet Firmament Palace with Jieyin and theatrically laments the Western Lands’ hardship. His performance persuades kind-hearted Hong Yun to surrender his front-row seat.
• Zhunti then insults Kunpeng and demands his seat for Jieyin. Backed by Yuanshi and Laozi’s support for the Three Pure Ones’ claim to superiority, the western pair force Kunpeng to yield. Kunpeng retreats, vowing revenge.
• Hongjun begins his sermon to the Three Thousand Guests, explaining the path to Daluo Golden Immortality. His teaching creates celestial signs and captivates the assembly.
• Hongjun is privately troubled that the Twelve Ancestral Witches are absent. Their Pangu heritage and immense Fortune would have helped his hidden aim of gathering Fortune before merging with Heaven’s Way.
• At Mount Buzhou, Dijiang gives a separate, accessible sermon to millions of beings, teaching basic cultivation rather than abstruse doctrines.
• Dijiang notices a muddy, barely awakened monkey listening with unusual focus: the Six-Eared Macaque.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhunti proves calculating and manipulative, using feigned distress to gain a seat before aggressively securing another for Jieyin.
• Hong Yun shows compassion but is exploited for it.
• Kunpeng is humiliated by the group’s pressure and leaves with a lasting grudge against Hong Yun, Zhunti, and Yuanshi.
• Yuanshi and Laozi align with the Western sages against Kunpeng, reinforcing the status and solidarity of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage.
• Hongjun reveals a strategic motive beneath his public generosity: the sermon is also meant to draw Fortune toward him. His concern over the Witches’ absence exposes their importance and independence.
• Dijiang presents himself as a practical teacher, making cultivation accessible to ordinary beings. He recognizes the Six-Eared Macaque’s unusual potential and remembers the creature’s tragic fate in the original course of events.

Significant themes

• Power, status, and exclusion: The dispute over the cushions shows how lineage and perceived legitimacy shape who is allowed influence.
• Kindness exploited and grudges formed: Hong Yun’s generosity costs him his seat, while Kunpeng’s humiliation sets up future conflict.
• Public teaching versus hidden motives: Hongjun’s sermon appears universal but serves his plan to accumulate Fortune.
• Accessible knowledge and opportunity: Dijiang’s plain instruction offers hope to beings excluded from elite gatherings.
• Changing fate: The Six-Eared Macaque’s appearance at Mount Buzhou suggests that events may diverge from the world’s original course.

Chapter Summary: Establishing Rules at Mount Buzhou

Plot Points and Events

• The Twelve Ancestral Witches continue their cycle of sermons at Mount Buzhou after Dijiang concludes his hundred-year teaching.
• Zhu Jiuyin explains the Dao of Time, followed by Zhu Rong’s Flame Dao, Gonggong’s Water Dao, Houtu’s Earth Dao, and the teachings of the other Ancestral Witches.
• Although their teachings are not as profound or universal as Hongjun’s sermons at Violet Firmament Palace, they are more practical and accessible to lower-level cultivators.
• News of the open sermons spreads throughout the Primordial Wilderness. Unlike Violet Firmament Palace, Mount Buzhou imposes no cultivation threshold, attracting countless living beings.
• The gathering grows from millions to tens of billions, causing an enormous amount of fortune to converge above Mount Buzhou in the form of a massive Fortune Golden Dragon.
• The Ancestral Witches recognize that this fortune, drawn from the Primordial World’s countless ordinary living beings, may rival the power once accumulated by the three ancient clans.
• As the population grows, disorder and criminal elements begin to appear. Houtu and Jumang warn that some attendees possess heavy karma, murderous intent, or plans to exploit Mount Buzhou.
• Dijiang establishes three rules:
  1. Fighting and vendetta killings are forbidden within the formation; violators will be killed.
  2. The strong may not oppress the weak; offenders will have their cultivation abolished and be expelled.
  3. Those with grave karma or corrupt intentions must leave within one hundred years or face punishment.
• The rules drive away malicious cultivators while increasing the respect and gratitude of sincere seekers.
• To enforce order, Dijiang proposes creating a Dao Protector Army from trustworthy, powerful attendees.
• He also orders the creation of a Dao Transmission Pavilion to preserve the Ancestral Witches’ teachings for later generations.
• The new institutions restore order, reduce the Ancestral Witches’ burden, and encourage outsiders to identify with the Mount Buzhou lineage.
• As more cultivators settle nearby to attend future sermons, Mount Buzhou begins developing into a true sacred land.

Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates strategic vision and political leadership. He understands that the fortune of ordinary living beings can become a powerful counterbalance to Heaven’s Way and Hongjun’s influence.
• He also shows practical wisdom by recognizing that open access requires firm rules and organized administration.
• Zhu Jiuyin is portrayed as deeply perceptive, using the River of Time to assess the scale of the accumulating fortune.
• Zhu Rong becomes enthusiastic about the benefits of preaching, especially as teaching strengthens his Flame Law.
• Houtu and Jumang display caution and responsibility by identifying the dangers created by the uncontrolled influx of cultivators.
• The other Ancestral Witches readily support Dijiang’s plans, reinforcing his authority as their leader.

Significant Themes

• Power through the masses: The chapter emphasizes that true strength does not come only from the strongest cultivators. The fortune of countless ordinary beings can accumulate into overwhelming power.
• Accessibility of knowledge: Mount Buzhou contrasts with Violet Firmament Palace by offering practical teachings to all sincere seekers, regardless of cultivation level.
• Order versus freedom: Open access creates prosperity and influence but also invites crime and disorder. Rules are presented as necessary for a functioning community.
• Leadership and institution-building: Dijiang moves beyond preaching and begins constructing a lasting organization through law enforcement, education, and shared identity.
• Fortune and destiny: The growing Fortune Golden Dragon suggests that Mount Buzhou’s influence is becoming a major force in the Primordial World and may eventually challenge Heaven’s Way.
• Merit and morality: Sincere pursuit of the Dao is welcomed, but those burdened by severe karma or malicious intent are excluded.

Character Interactions

• The Ancestral Witches discuss the rapid accumulation of fortune and agree that it could rival the power of the ancient clans.
• Houtu and Jumang raise concerns about dangerous cultivators, prompting Dijiang to establish formal regulations.
• Gonggong questions how the rules will be enforced, leading Dijiang to propose the Dao Protector Army.
• Dijiang’s ideas receive enthusiastic approval from the other Ancestral Witches, who recognize that the measures will strengthen both Mount Buzhou’s order and its collective identity.

Chapter Summary: “The Gourd Vine Matures”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hongjun ends his three-thousand-year sermon in Violet Firmament Palace and announces that it will reopen in thirty thousand years. The assembled cultivators leave, deeply impressed by his teachings on the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal path.
• The Three Pure Ones—Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian—travel to Mount Buzhou after Laozi senses that an Innate Supreme Treasure is about to be born there.
• Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi also arrive, followed by Nuwa, Fuxi, Red Cloud Patriarch, and other powerful cultivators, all drawn by the same treasure omen.
• A seven-colored radiance bursts from Mount Buzhou, revealing the maturation of the Primordial Gourd Vine. The vine grows from Nine Heavens Resting Soil and bears seven gourds, each containing the embryo of a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.
• Taiyi attempts to claim the gourds, but Yuanshi blocks him, arguing that the treasure should belong to the Three Pure Ones because Laozi sensed it first. Their dispute nearly erupts into battle.
• Before the conflict begins, Dijiang and the other eleven members of the Twelve Ancestors of Witchcraft emerge from a concealed grotto-heaven. Dijiang declares that he planted and personally nurtured the gourd vine, making the outsiders’ claim unjustified.
• Although the evidence confirms Dijiang’s connection to the vine through the creation qi in its roots, Yuanshi refuses to surrender the treasure. He argues that the gourds should belong to those with greater virtue, fortune, and the Dao Ancestor’s personal instruction.
• Zhu Rong is enraged by Yuanshi’s arrogance and invokes the authority of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage. He challenges Yuanshi, unleashing the power of his Southern Bright Flame as the chapter ends.

Character Developments

• Laozi remains calm and measured, attempting to prevent conflict and relying on reason and the principle that opportunities are determined by fate.
• Yuanshi is portrayed as proud, elitist, and increasingly aggressive. His belief in the superiority of the Three Pure Ones leads him to disregard Dijiang’s legitimate claim.
• Tongtian is present as part of the Three Pure Ones but does not play a major role in the dispute.
• Di Jun and Taiyi act decisively and competitively. Taiyi is particularly confrontational, relying on the Chaos Bell and the principle that treasures belong to whoever can seize them.
• Dijiang is revealed as the hidden protector and cultivator of the gourd vine. His authority and confidence establish the Twelve Ancestors of Witchcraft as the true owners or guardians of the treasure.
• Zhu Rong emerges as a fierce defender of the Witch Ancestors’ dignity. His anger at Yuanshi’s condescension turns the dispute toward open confrontation.
• Nuwa, Fuxi, and the other observers remain cautious, watching the struggle between the major factions without immediately committing themselves.

Significant Themes

• Treasure and rightful ownership: The chapter questions whether ownership comes from discovering a treasure, nurturing it, possessing greater cultivation, or having the strength to seize it.
• Pride and entitlement: Yuanshi’s claim that Dao Ancestor disciples and “virtuous” cultivators deserve the gourds reflects the arrogance of those who believe status guarantees possession.
• Strength versus justice: The competing arguments—Laozi’s fate, Taiyi’s “whoever snatches it gets it,” and Dijiang’s long-term cultivation—represent different standards for determining legitimacy.
• Pangu’s legacy and factional identity: Zhu Rong invokes the Pangu Orthodox Lineage, emphasizing the importance of heritage and the rivalry between the Three Pure Ones and the Twelve Ancestors of Witchcraft.
• Hidden preparation and delayed rewards: Dijiang’s secret cultivation of the gourd vine demonstrates the value of patience and foresight, while the outsiders arrive only when the treasure is ready to harvest.

Character Interactions

• Laozi and Yuanshi disagree in temperament: Laozi seeks restraint and fairness, while Yuanshi quickly becomes hostile.
• Taiyi directly confronts Yuanshi, with the Chaos Bell opposing the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi.
• Dijiang humiliates the claimants by exposing that the gourd vine was cultivated in his hidden grotto-heaven and nourished with his own creation qi.
• Yuanshi refuses to acknowledge the moral force of Dijiang’s evidence, provoking Zhu Rong.
• Zhu Rong’s challenge transforms a tense dispute among rival treasure-seekers into a direct confrontation between the Witch Ancestors and the Dao Ancestor’s disciples.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Rong immediately attacks Yuanshi Tianzun when the Three Pure Ones attempt to claim the Primordial Gourd Vine. His Southern Bright Flame takes the form of a fire dragon and overwhelms Yuanshi’s Three Treasures Jade Ruyi.
• Yuanshi is badly injured, blasted into a cliff, and left suffering from lingering fire poison. Zhu Rong mocks him and threatens to kill the entire group if they do not leave.
• Laozi restrains Yuanshi and realizes that the Twelve Ancestral Witches are extraordinarily powerful—possibly possessing Pangu Orthodox Lineage themselves. He concludes that the Three Pure Ones cannot win.
• Red Cloud arrives with Zhen Yuanzi and tries to mediate. He suggests dividing the seven gourds among all the parties, believing this will preserve harmony.
• Zhu Rong rejects Red Cloud’s proposal, insisting that the gourd vine belongs to the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Gonggong also condemns the other cultivators as hypocritical bandits for trying to steal it.
• Qiang Liang openly suggests killing everyone present, causing the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, Nuwa, and Fuxi to recognize the seriousness of the threat.
• Laozi wisely admits defeat and leads Yuanshi and Tongtian away. Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi soon retreat as well, followed by Nuwa and Fuxi.
• Red Cloud and Zhen Yuanzi leave last, humiliated after Red Cloud’s failed attempt at peacemaking.
• Once the other cultivators are gone, Dijiang harvests the seven fully matured gourds, each glowing in a different color and containing the potential to become a top-grade primordial Spirit Treasure.
• The chapter ends with the Ancestral Witches eagerly asking Dijiang how the seven gourds should be divided.

Character Developments

• Zhu Rong is portrayed as fiercely aggressive, confident, and contemptuous of anyone who challenges the Witches. His overwhelming attack establishes the Twelve Ancestral Witches’ superior strength.
• Yuanshi Tianzun’s pride is shattered when he is defeated almost instantly. His belief in the superiority of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage is challenged by the Witches’ comparable—or greater—Pangu heritage.
• Laozi demonstrates caution and strategic judgment. Although furious at the humiliation, he prioritizes survival and quickly recognizes that retreat is the only sensible choice.
• Tongtian remains hot-blooded and eager to fight, but Laozi’s warning prevents him from acting recklessly.
• Red Cloud suffers a major loss of dignity. His self-image as a benevolent mediator clashes with the Witches’ refusal to recognize his authority, leaving him embarrassed and powerless.
• Zhen Yuanzi proves loyal to Red Cloud by defending him when Zhu Rong insults him, though he ultimately accepts that retreat is necessary.
• Dijiang acts as the calm leader of the Ancestral Witches, allowing Zhu Rong and Qiang Liang to intimidate their enemies while he focuses on securing the gourd vine.

Significant Themes

• Strength determines authority: Red Cloud’s appeal to fellowship and harmony is ignored because the Witches possess overwhelming power and rightful ownership of the treasure.
• Pride versus pragmatism: Yuanshi’s arrogance leads to humiliation, while Laozi’s pragmatism saves the Three Pure Ones from destruction.
• Hypocrisy and entitlement: The visiting cultivators claim moral or communal grounds for sharing the gourds, but the Witches view them as trespassers attempting to seize someone else’s property.
• The limits of diplomacy: Red Cloud’s well-intentioned mediation fails because it ignores the fundamental issue of ownership and assumes all parties have equal standing.
• Pangu lineage and legitimacy: Laozi recognizes that the Twelve Ancestral Witches may possess an equally pure Pangu heritage, undermining the Three Pure Ones’ belief that they alone represent Pangu’s orthodox inheritance.
• Treasure and competition: The seven gourds symbolize enormous future power, making them the center of conflict among the strongest cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Rong humiliates Yuanshi through both combat and verbal insults, while Laozi and Tongtian assist the injured Three Pure One.
• Laozi counsels Yuanshi and Tongtian to retreat, overriding their anger with strategic reasoning.
• Red Cloud attempts to reconcile both sides, but Zhu Rong dismisses him, and Zhen Yuanzi steps in to defend his friend.
• Gonggong and Qiang Liang reinforce Zhu Rong’s hostility, escalating the pressure on the visiting cultivators.
• Dijiang remains above the argument, allowing the others to drive away the intruders before claiming the seven gourds with the Ancestral Witches.

Chapter Summary: “Distributing the Treasures”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang distributes the seven gourds from the Gourd Vine among the Ancestor Witches:
  • Zhu Jiuyin receives the Purple-Gold Red Gourd, which contains an internal world and can absorb people and objects.
  • Zhu Rong receives the Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd, containing Flame Origin.
  • Ru Shou, Tian Wu, She Bishi, and Jumang receive the Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade, Demon-Summoning, Water-Fire, and another violet-green gourd respectively.
  • Dijiang keeps the Primal Chaos Gourd for himself.
• He also takes the withered Gourd Vine and the Nine Heavens Resting Soil, recognizing that the vine will be essential to Nuwa’s future creation of humanity.
• The Witches return to Pangu Hall and begin refining their treasures.
• At Kunlun Mountain, the Three Pure Ones are furious that the Witches seized the opportunity. Laozi urges patience and plans to settle the matter after their breakthrough to the Quasi-Saint realm.
• At Wuzhuang Temple, Hong Yun accepts the loss calmly, while Zhen Yuanzi remains resentful.
• Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi resolve to build their own powerful faction and increase their strength so they can eventually overcome the Twelve Ancestor Witches.
• Nuwa senses a deep karmic connection to the Gourd Vine and feels an inexplicable loss after it is taken. Fuxi comforts her and advises her to focus on cultivation.
• Dijiang quickly refines the Primal Chaos Gourd, discovering that its vast internal Primal Chaos space complements his mastery of the Space Law.
• He then gives a thousand-year sermon on the basic mysteries of the Space Dao.
• At the sermon’s conclusion, the former “mud monkey” calls out to Dijiang. The creature has advanced to the Golden Immortal realm and appears to possess a faint but pure connection to the Space Law.

Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates foresight and authority by distributing the treasures according to each Ancestor Witch’s abilities. His decision to preserve the Gourd Vine and Resting Soil shows awareness of future events, particularly Nuwa’s creation of humanity.
• The Ancestor Witches begin transforming the gourds into weapons and tools suited to their individual laws, strengthening their overall power.
• Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian react differently to the humiliation: Laozi remains calculating, Yuanshi burns with hatred, and Tongtian is displeased despite recognizing the Witches’ strength.
• Hong Yun displays acceptance and wisdom, choosing survival over attachment to a lost opportunity, while Zhen Yuanzi remains frustrated.
• Di Jun and Taiyi shift toward long-term political and military ambition, deciding to gather allies and establish a hegemony.
• Nuwa develops an intuitive awareness of her destined connection to the Gourd Vine, foreshadowing its importance to her future.
• The mud monkey undergoes remarkable growth, rising from an insignificant creature to a Golden Immortal with an affinity for the Space Law.

Significant Themes

• Strength and survival: The weaker cultivators recognize that opposing the united Ancestor Witches would be futile, leading them to prioritize patience, cultivation, or strategic preparation.
• Destiny and karmic opportunity: Nuwa’s reaction suggests that important destinies may be delayed rather than permanently lost.
• Foresight and preparation: Dijiang’s preservation of the Gourd Vine and the others’ plans for future breakthroughs emphasize the importance of anticipating future developments.
• Power and political ambition: Di Jun and Taiyi begin laying the groundwork for a future hegemony capable of challenging the Witches.
• Cultivation and transformation: The refinement of the gourds and the mud monkey’s rapid advancement highlight the continual evolution of characters through understanding and practice.
• Individual talent matching power: Each treasure is assigned according to the recipient’s abilities, especially Dijiang’s natural compatibility with the Primal Chaos Gourd and Space Law.

Character Interactions

• Dijiang personally assigns each gourd to the Ancestor Witches, reinforcing his leadership and their trust in him.
• Yuanshi vents his anger to Laozi and Tongtian, while Laozi counsels restraint and promises eventual retaliation.
• Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi discuss the lost treasure, contrasting acceptance with indignation.
• Di Jun and Taiyi jointly decide to enter seclusion and expand their influence.
• Fuxi reassures Nuwa when she feels connected to the stolen Gourd Vine, though her unease remains.
• Dijiang teaches the assembled beings the Space Dao and is interrupted by the transformed mud monkey, setting up a new encounter and likely disciple or ally.

Chapter Summary: “Taking a Disciple: A Choice of Cultivation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Six-Eared Macaque repeatedly begs Dijiang to accept him as a disciple after listening to Dijiang’s teachings on the Dao.
• Dijiang initially refuses, saying, “The Dharma must not be passed on lightly,” seemingly testing the monkey’s sincerity and determination.
• Over the course of three thousand years, Six Ears continues cultivating and makes the same request after each of Dijiang’s sermons.
• During his third attempt, he bows until his forehead bleeds, but remains unwavering. Impressed by his persistence, Dijiang finally accepts him and asks whether he is willing to enter Pangu Hall.
• Dijiang heals Six Ears and brings him before the other eleven Ancestor Shamans.
• The Ancestor Shamans are surprised and doubtful that Dijiang would accept a weak, incompletely transformed Golden Immortal as a disciple.
• Dijiang explains that Six Ears possesses extraordinary comprehension: after only three sermons, he has grasped the beginnings of Space Law.
• He identifies Six Ears as one of the Four Monkeys of Chaos, gifted with the ability to hear all things, perceive natural principles, understand past and future developments, and comprehend the workings of creation.
• Dijiang formally recognizes Six Ears as a direct disciple of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage, then presents him with a choice regarding his cultivation path.

Character Developments

• Six-Eared Macaque: Demonstrates exceptional perseverance, humility, loyalty, and devotion to the Dao. Despite public ridicule and repeated rejection, he never gives up. His comprehension and innate abilities are revealed to be far greater than his appearance suggests.
• Dijiang: Acts as a discerning and demanding teacher. Rather than accepting Six Ears immediately, he tests his sincerity. He recognizes the monkey’s rare talent and character, ultimately taking responsibility for nurturing him.
• The Ancestor Shamans: Initially skeptical of Six Ears because of his low cultivation, weak appearance, and lack of Pangu bloodline. Their attitude shifts to surprise and respect after learning of his comprehension of Space Law.
• Zhu Jiuyin: Perceives Six Ears’s unusual ability to hear and understand the principles of the world, confirming Dijiang’s assessment.
• Zhu Rong and Gonggong: Represent the sect’s initial concern with bloodline, aptitude, and orthodox qualifications, questioning why Dijiang would choose such an unconventional disciple.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance and sincerity: Six Ears earns the opportunity to become Dijiang’s disciple through thousands of years of unwavering effort rather than status or appearance.
• Talent beyond appearances: Though Six Ears looks like an ordinary, underdeveloped monkey, his comprehension and innate gifts surpass those of many supposedly superior beings.
• The value of character: Dijiang values Six Ears’s steadfast heart and dedication as much as his natural aptitude.
• Mentorship and recognition: A capable teacher can identify hidden potential that others dismiss.
• Choice in cultivation: The chapter ends by emphasizing that cultivation must suit an individual’s nature. Since Six Ears lacks Pangu’s bloodline, he may not need to follow the full Pangu method of cultivating the Primordial Spirit, body, and laws equally.

Character Interactions

• Six Ears repeatedly appeals to Dijiang, while Dijiang silently observes and tests him.
• The surrounding beings mock Six Ears, creating a contrast between superficial judgment and Dijiang’s deeper understanding.
• Dijiang introduces Six Ears to the Ancestor Shamans, whose skepticism prompts him to explain the disciple’s exceptional origins and abilities.
• Six Ears respectfully greets the Ancestor Shamans as his martial uncles, formally entering the Pangu Orthodox Lineage.
• Dijiang then addresses Six Ears directly as his disciple and asks him to choose between possible cultivation emphases, setting up the next stage of his training.