Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Di Jun and Taiyi have allied with the Western Sages, Jieyin and Zhunti, and are preparing to retake the Heavenly Court from the Witch Clan.
• The Ancestor Witches debate whether to attack first. Dijiang forbids it: since Heaven’s Way recognizes the Heavenly Court as legitimate authority, an initial Witch attack would bring karmic consequences and give Hongjun grounds to intervene.
• Instead, Dijiang plans to wait for the Demon Clan to attack the Heavenly Court. That would let the Witches crush them under the pretext of defending Heaven’s order. He orders the Witches to keep cultivating and training their formation.
• In Pangu Hall, Dijiang retrieves the God-Slaying Spear and Twelfth-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus from the Pangu Blood Pool. After years of purification and refinement, he gains full control of both treasures, adding them to his formidable arsenal.
• On the Sun Star, Di Jun plans to finish preparing the Heavenly Cycle Star-Fighting Formation before launching his campaign. Fuxi and Bai Ze warn that the Witches may be baiting him into an attack that would make the Demon Clan appear to defy Heaven.
• Di Jun begins to doubt the plan, especially after Bai Ze questions whether the Western Sages can be trusted to remain loyal if offered a better deal.

Character developments

• Dijiang is revealed as a patient strategist: he restrains his brothers’ aggression and turns the Heavenly Court’s legitimacy into a political trap for the Demon Clan. He also prepares personally for battle by mastering two powerful treasures.
• Zhu Rong and Gonggong initially respond with anger and eagerness to strike, but fall in line when Dijiang asserts control.
• Zhu Jiuyin reads the situation calmly and trusts that Dijiang has a plan.
• Di Jun remains ambitious but is shaken by Fuxi’s reasoning. His desire to reclaim the Heavenly Court now competes with fear that he is walking into a trap.
• Fuxi and Bai Ze act as cautious advisers, putting the Demon Clan’s survival ahead of Di Jun’s hopes for a decisive victory.

Character interactions

• Dijiang firmly checks Zhu Rong and Gonggong, then explains his strategy to the assembled Ancestor Witches; their alarm turns to enthusiasm.
• Fuxi directly challenges Di Jun’s assumptions, while Bai Ze reinforces the warning by pointing out the Western Sages’ history of self-interest.
• Di Jun listens rather than dismissing his advisers, but the chapter ends with his decision unresolved.

Significant themes

• Strategy over impulse: Dijiang’s patience contrasts with the Witches’ initial desire for immediate revenge.
• Legitimacy as a weapon: The Heavenly Court’s status under Heaven’s Way shapes what each side can safely do, making political justification as important as military strength.
• Trust and self-interest: Di Jun’s alliance with the Western Sages may be unreliable, and Bai Ze’s warning raises the danger of depending on powerful but opportunistic allies.
• Power and preparation: Both sides build toward conflict through cultivation, formations, alliances, and the acquisition of treasures.

Plot and key events

• Di Jun is devastated by Bai Ze’s warning that Jieyin and Zhunti might abandon the Demon Clan if the Witches offered them a better bargain. Taiyi asks whether the Demon Clan has any hope.
• After calculating his options, Di Jun decides not to attack the Heavenly Court. Instead, he plans to forcefully refine the Purple Star, whose origin he hopes to fuse with the Formation Flags to complete the Heavenly Cycle Star-Fighting Formation. He believes his Imperial Purple Qi and destiny give him a chance, despite the danger of provoking the starry sky’s backlash.
• Taiyi immediately agrees to help. Di Jun leaves Bai Ze and Fuxi in charge of the Demon Clan while he pursues this risky plan.
• Dijiang emerges from seclusion after refining the God-Slaying Spear and World-Destroying Black Lotus. Learning that Di Jun has withdrawn to the Sun Star rather than attack, Dijiang recognizes that Bai Ze and Fuxi have seen through his trap.
• Dijiang orders Kong Jue to take 100,000 Heavenly River Navy troops to surround the Sun Star and kill any demon who leaves. The troops’ presence enrages the demons, but Bai Ze enforces Di Jun’s order to stay put.
• Jieyin and Zhunti observe the standoff. Jieyin advises waiting for the Demon Clan to act first, while the narration reveals he never truly intended to help them.

Character developments

• Di Jun moves from despair to determined, desperate action. He chooses a dangerous alternative to open war, staking the Demon Clan’s future on refining the Purple Star.
• Taiyi shows loyalty and support, volunteering to assist his brother despite the danger.
• Bai Ze and Fuxi prove cautious and politically astute: they recognize the threat of attacking the Heavenly Court and keep the Demon Clan from provoking a fight.
• Dijiang remains confident and strategic. When his expected trap fails, he shifts to containment and pressure rather than forcing an immediate battle.
• Jieyin appears opportunistic and detached, preferring to let events unfold while keeping his options open.

Character interactions

• Bai Ze’s warning and Fuxi’s reasoning deepen Di Jun’s despair, while Taiyi’s concern reflects his closeness to his brother.
• Fuxi cautions Di Jun against refining the Purple Star, but Di Jun’s resolve is firm; Taiyi supports him, and Bai Ze and Fuxi accept their assigned roles.
• Kong Jue carries out Dijiang’s orders, while Bai Ze suppresses the Demon Clan’s calls to fight and insists they obey Di Jun.
• Jieyin and Zhunti discuss the crisis, with Jieyin urging patience rather than committing to the Demon Clan.

Significant themes

• Desperation and sacrifice: Di Jun risks catastrophic backlash because he sees no other path to save his people.
• Loyalty and duty: Taiyi stands by Di Jun, while Bai Ze and Fuxi protect the clan by carrying out his orders.
• Strategy and restraint: Both sides avoid immediate battle—Di Jun retreats, while Dijiang applies pressure and waits.
• Unreliable alliances: The Demon Clan’s potential allies may abandon it when convenient, making trust and political promises fragile.

Chapter Summary: “Zhunti’s Schemes”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jieyin and Zhunti plan to exploit the war between the Demon Clan and the Witch Cult. They intend to offer assistance to whichever side provides greater benefits, potentially acquiring Fortune and Spirit Treasures for the impoverished Western Religion.
• After several thousand years pass without any action from the Demon Clan, Zhunti becomes suspicious. Jieyin investigates and discovers that the Sun Star has been completely sealed by a powerful formation.
• The barrier prevents even Sage consciousness from entering, suggesting that Di Jun’s grand array—deduced from the River Map and Luo Writing—is far more powerful than expected.
• Zhunti suspects Di Jun is deliberately guarding against the Western Religion and wants to confront him. Jieyin restrains him, advising patience and caution. They decide to wait until Di Jun needs their assistance rather than provoke him prematurely.
• Meanwhile, Laozi continues living among the Human Clan, studying their development. Impressed by their intelligence, adaptability, rapid reproduction, and resilience, he decides to teach them a cultivation method.
• Laozi creates and teaches the Golden Core Grand Dao, a cultivation system suited to the Human Clan’s weaker bodies. It allows them to strengthen themselves, extend their lifespans, and gain the ability to defend themselves.
• Laozi discovers a gifted and determined Human youth named Xuan Du and accepts him as his sole direct disciple.
• Laozi brings Xuan Du to Kunlun Mountain, where Yuanshi Tianzun initially questions why Laozi would accept such a weak, acquired being as a disciple.
• Laozi explains that the Human Clan possesses extraordinary comprehension and the Fortune of Heaven and Earth, while Xuan Du’s pure heart and determination make him worthy of inheriting Laozi’s teachings.
• Yuanshi accepts the decision and gives Xuan Du a Supreme-Grade Acquired Spirit Treasure as a meeting gift. Laozi and Yuanshi then agree to discuss the Dao together.

Character Developments

• Jieyin demonstrates caution, patience, and strategic restraint. Rather than confront Di Jun, he chooses to wait and preserve the Western Religion’s options.
• Zhunti becomes increasingly frustrated and suspicious. His anger reflects his impulsive nature and his unwillingness to tolerate being excluded from another faction’s plans, though he ultimately follows Jieyin’s counsel.
• Di Jun, though absent from the chapter, is portrayed as highly calculating and prepared. His sealed Sun Star and mysterious grand array suggest that he is pursuing a secret plan and does not fully trust the Sages.
• Laozi grows more invested in the Human Clan and recognizes their long-term potential. He adapts his teachings to their nature instead of imposing a system designed for stronger races.
• Xuan Du is introduced as intelligent, sincere, and exceptionally determined. His acceptance as Laozi’s disciple marks the beginning of his rise.
• Yuanshi Tianzun reveals his prejudice toward acquired beings and his preference for innate sacred individuals. However, he respects Laozi’s judgment and treats Xuan Du with courtesy despite his reservations.

Significant Themes

• Patience versus impulsiveness: Jieyin’s restraint contrasts sharply with Zhunti’s desire for immediate confrontation.
• Political manipulation and opportunism: The Western Religion seeks to profit from the conflict between the Demon Clan and the Witch Cult rather than commit to either side.
• Hidden strength and secrecy: Di Jun’s sealed Sun Star emphasizes the danger of underestimating an opponent whose plans remain concealed.
• The potential of the Human Clan: Though physically weak and short-lived, humans possess adaptability, intelligence, resilience, and immense future potential.
• Merit beyond birth and lineage: Laozi values Xuan Du’s character and comprehension over his humble origins, challenging Yuanshi’s belief that only innate sacred beings deserve great inheritances.
• Brotherhood and shared understanding: Despite differences in judgment and status, Laozi and Yuanshi maintain mutual respect and recognize that their bond is more important than the value of individual treasures.

Character Interactions

• Jieyin and Zhunti: Zhunti demands action against Di Jun, but Jieyin persuades him to remain patient and avoid damaging their political position.
• Laozi and the Human Clan: Laozi acts as a teacher and protector, giving the humans a practical path to cultivation and survival.
• Laozi and Xuan Du: Laozi recognizes Xuan Du’s potential and accepts him as his disciple, beginning a master-disciple relationship based on trust and shared dedication to the Dao.
• Laozi and Yuanshi: Yuanshi questions Laozi’s choice of disciple, but Laozi defends the Human Clan’s value. Yuanshi ultimately respects his elder brother’s decision and welcomes Xuan Du with a gift.
• The Three Pure Ones: Laozi’s return leads to an agreement among the brothers to discuss the Dao, reinforcing their cooperation despite differing philosophies.

Chapter Summary: Dispute Over Disciples

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tongtian travels through the Primordial Wilderness and discovers a Treasure-Seeking Mouse digging near a hidden cave.
• The mouse uncovers an Innate Divine Iron and stores it in his seemingly bottomless cheeks.
• Tongtian reveals himself and is amused by the mouse’s intelligence and flattery. The mouse introduces himself as Duobao, a name reflecting his love of collecting treasures.
• Impressed by Duobao’s cleverness, personality, and devotion to treasures, Tongtian accepts him as his disciple and names him the chief disciple of the Interception Sect.
• Tongtian brings Duobao back to Kunlun Mountain, where they meet Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun in the Three Pure Ones Hall.
• Yuanshi strongly objects to Tongtian accepting a mouse demon, criticizing Duobao’s lowly origins and claiming that such a disciple damages the reputation of the Three Pure Ones.
• Tongtian defends his doctrine of “teaching without discrimination,” insisting that anyone with a sincere heart toward the Dao deserves a chance.
• Laozi intervenes to prevent the dispute from escalating, though Tongtian firmly clarifies that Duobao is his direct chief disciple, not merely a nominal one.
• Yuanshi leaves angrily but later gives Duobao a Supreme-Grade Acquired Spirit Treasure, the Scarlet Firmament Dragon-Slaying Sword, as a meeting gift.

Character Developments

• Tongtian is shown to be open-minded, perceptive, and willing to judge people by character rather than birth or species. His protective feelings toward Duobao emerge quickly, and he confidently defends his disciple against Yuanshi.
• Duobao is introduced as clever, flattering, treasure-loving, and highly observant. Though initially timid before the Sages, he proves respectful and sincere. Yuanshi’s contempt makes him uneasy, inspiring him to resolve to cultivate diligently and avoid disgracing Tongtian.
• Yuanshi Tianzun reveals his prejudice against demons and his strict emphasis on lineage, aptitude, and orthodox status. Although openly hostile, he is somewhat disarmed by Duobao’s genuine delight in the gifted sword.
• Laozi acts as the mediator, attempting to preserve harmony between his younger brothers.

Significant Themes

• Merit versus birth: The central conflict asks whether disciples should be judged by their origins or by their character and dedication to cultivation.
• Teaching without discrimination: Tongtian’s Interception Sect represents inclusivity and the belief that every being deserves a chance to pursue the Dao.
• Orthodoxy and prejudice: Yuanshi represents rigid hierarchy, lineage, and conventional standards of worth.
• Master-disciple loyalty: Tongtian immediately protects Duobao, while Duobao responds with gratitude and a determination to prove himself.
• Humility and opportunity: Despite being a low-level mouse demon, Duobao receives an extraordinary opportunity through intelligence and sincerity.

Character Interactions

• Tongtian and Duobao begin with a playful encounter that quickly develops into a master-disciple relationship.
• Tongtian and Yuanshi clash over the legitimacy of accepting a demon as a disciple, exposing their opposing philosophies.
• Laozi mediates the brothers’ argument but does not fully resolve their ideological disagreement.
• Yuanshi’s gift of the Scarlet Firmament Dragon-Slaying Sword, despite his disdain, suggests that his hostility is mixed with a degree of recognition or softened judgment.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Duobao leaves to establish his own dwelling, the Three Pure Ones—Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian—hold their first discussion of the Dao since becoming Sages.
• Yuanshi advocates the Chan Sect’s doctrine: following Heaven’s principles, preserving hierarchy, and accepting only beings with noble origins, profound merit, and suitable aptitude.
• Tongtian defends the Interception Sect’s doctrine: “teaching without discrimination” and giving every sincere seeker—regardless of species or birth—the opportunity to pursue the Great Dao.
• Their debate becomes openly hostile. Laozi acknowledges that their philosophies are fundamentally incompatible and ends the discussion, urging them to verify their doctrines through experience.
• Several days later, Yuanshi decides to confront Dijiang at Mount Buzhou. He seeks revenge for the humiliation he suffered there before becoming a Sage, when Dijiang forced him to kneel beneath the Pangu Phantom.
• Yuanshi secretly leaves Jade Void Palace and travels alone to Mount Buzhou, intending to prove that he and the Three Pure Ones are the true heirs of Pangu and the rightful rulers of the Primordial World.
• Upon arrival, Yuanshi unleashes overwhelming Sage pressure across Mount Buzhou. Countless Witch Cult disciples are forced to kneel and suffer under his presence.
• He publicly challenges Dijiang to come out and die, making his arrogance and killing intent unmistakable.
• The event attracts attention throughout the Primordial World. Di Jun and Taiyi rejoice, believing Yuanshi’s intervention may destroy the Witch Cult and allow the Demon Clan to regain dominance.
• In the west, Jieyin and Zhunti are pleased that Yuanshi has attacked first. They intend to observe the conflict and determine whether the Witch Cult’s Pangu True Body can withstand a Sage.

Character Developments

• Yuanshi Tianzun: Becomes increasingly proud, rigid, and vindictive. His belief in hierarchy and bloodline superiority shapes both his doctrine and his decision to seek revenge against Dijiang. Becoming a Sage emboldens him to act without consulting his brothers.
• Tongtian: Firmly commits to equality and the principle that all beings deserve a chance to seek the Dao. He is disappointed that Laozi does not support him, but his convictions remain unchanged. His resentment toward Yuanshi causes him to refrain from helping him.
• Laozi: Acts as the mediator between his brothers, recognizing that their doctrines cannot easily coexist. However, his preference for nonaction leads him to avoid intervening in Yuanshi’s personal conflict.
• Dijiang: Does not appear directly, but his past humiliation of Yuanshi establishes him as a powerful and intimidating figure whom even the newly ascended Sage must confront cautiously.
• Di Jun and Taiyi: Their confidence and hope are renewed by Yuanshi’s attack, as they see it as a possible turning point in the struggle between the Demon Clan and the Witch Cult.
• Jieyin and Zhunti: Demonstrate opportunism, choosing to let Yuanshi and the Witch Cult weaken each other while they watch from safety.

Significant Themes

• Conflicting interpretations of the Dao: The chapter contrasts Yuanshi’s hierarchical, rule-bound philosophy with Tongtian’s egalitarian belief in universal access to cultivation.
• Nature versus birth and status: The debate questions whether a being’s origins determine their worth or whether sincere pursuit of the Dao should be the true measure.
• Fraternal division: Although the Three Pure Ones share a common origin, their incompatible ideals threaten their unity.
• Pride and revenge: Yuanshi’s pursuit of “lost face” shows how personal humiliation and arrogance can influence even a Sage’s actions.
• Political and karmic opportunism: Other factions treat the confrontation as a chance to benefit from conflict between the Three Pure Ones and the Witch Cult.
• Power and legitimacy: Yuanshi seeks not only revenge but also recognition as the true inheritor of Pangu’s legacy, turning a personal grudge into a struggle over authority in the Primordial World.

Character Interactions

• Yuanshi and Tongtian: Engage in a heated ideological confrontation, with each accusing the other of misunderstanding the true path of the Dao.
• Laozi and his brothers: Laozi attempts to mediate, partially siding with Yuanshi’s concerns while warning Tongtian about the dangers of accepting malicious disciples.
• Yuanshi and Dijiang: Their unresolved past conflict drives the chapter’s main action, culminating in Yuanshi’s public challenge at Mount Buzhou.
• Tongtian and Yuanshi: Their earlier argument influences Tongtian’s decision not to intervene in Yuanshi’s attack.
• Di Jun and Taiyi: React with excitement to Yuanshi’s assault, viewing it as an opportunity to defeat the Witch Cult.
• Jieyin and Zhunti: Discuss Yuanshi’s actions approvingly and plan to observe the confrontation while avoiding direct involvement.

Chapter Summary: “This Script Isn’t Right!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Thirty-Three Heavens’ Cloud-Spanning Palace, Dijiang senses Yuanshi Tianzun’s Sage pressure spreading across Mount Buzhou.
• Rather than confronting Yuanshi personally, Dijiang decides to let Zhu Rong handle the situation, recognizing an opportunity to demonstrate that Sages are not invincible.
• Yuanshi’s pressure forces hundreds of billions of Witch Cult disciples to their knees, but Zhu Rong emerges from Pangu Hall and dispels it.
• Zhu Rong openly insults Yuanshi for coming to Mount Buzhou and mocks his reliance on borrowed Heaven’s Way power.
• Zhu Rong launches a powerful attack using Southern Bright Flame. Yuanshi counters with Jade Clarity Divine Thunder, but the two attacks end in a draw.
• Shocked that a non-Sage can match him, Yuanshi is driven into a defensive position as Zhu Rong repeatedly attacks him in his massive flaming form.
• Yuanshi suspects that Zhu Rong may have reached the Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, but rejects the idea because Zhu Rong lacks Primordial Purple Qi. He instead assumes Zhu Rong is using a temporary secret technique.
• The Witch Cult disciples become ecstatic, cheering Zhu Rong and losing their former fear and reverence toward Sages.
• Powerful figures throughout the Primordial World observe the battle, suggesting its outcome will have broad consequences.

Character Developments

• Dijiang: Demonstrates confidence and strategic patience. He deliberately allows Zhu Rong to confront Yuanshi, intending to use the battle to strengthen the Witch Cult’s reputation and undermine the perceived invincibility of Sages.
• Zhu Rong: Displays immense confidence, aggression, and loyalty to the Witch Cult. His strength has increased dramatically since his previous clash with Yuanshi, allowing him to fight a newly ascended Sage head-on.
• Yuanshi Tianzun: His pride and arrogance are exposed. Although newly elevated to Sagehood, he is humiliated by Zhu Rong’s relentless assault and becomes increasingly shocked and frustrated. His assumption that Zhu Rong’s power must be temporary reveals his unwillingness to accept the Witch Cult’s advancement.
• Witch Cult disciples: Shift from fearful respect toward Sages to fervent devotion and confidence in the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

Significant Themes

• The limits of Sage supremacy: The battle challenges the belief that Sages are absolutely invincible, showing that exceptional cultivation, lineage, and laws can rival Sage power.
• Pride and humiliation: Yuanshi’s arrogance prevents him from calmly assessing Zhu Rong’s true strength, while Zhu Rong’s insults and attacks turn the confrontation into a personal humiliation.
• Pangu Orthodox Lineage: Zhu Rong emphasizes the superiority and legitimacy of the Pangu lineage, framing the battle as a contest between Heaven’s Way-backed Sagehood and primordial physical and elemental power.
• Faith and authority: The disciples’ changing attitude shows how public displays of strength can reshape political and religious allegiance.
• Strategic spectacle: Dijiang understands that the battle is not merely a personal conflict; it is an opportunity to establish the Witch Cult’s authority before the entire Primordial World.

Character Interactions

• Dijiang and Yuanshi: Dijiang views Yuanshi’s arrival as useful rather than threatening, planning to exploit the confrontation to weaken the Sage’s prestige.
• Zhu Rong and Yuanshi: Their exchange is openly hostile. Yuanshi looks down on Zhu Rong as an ant, while Zhu Rong mocks Yuanshi’s Sagehood and attacks him without fear.
• Zhu Rong and the Witch Cult disciples: Zhu Rong’s dominance inspires the disciples, who respond with thunderous cheers and intensified worship.
• Yuanshi and the watching powers: Although indirect, Yuanshi’s struggle becomes a public spectacle witnessed by powerful beings across the Primordial World, placing his reputation and the authority of the Sages at stake.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Di Jun and Taiyi observe Zhu Rong’s battle with Yuanshi Tianzun through a water mirror and are shocked that Zhu Rong can contend with a Heavenly Dao Sage.
• Di Jun realizes that merely refining the Purple Star will not be enough to close the gap between the Heavenly Court and the Witch Cult. Taiyi likewise recognizes that his own strength is far below Zhu Rong’s.
• In the Western Region, Jieyin and Zhunti conclude that Zhu Rong’s mastery of the Flame Law is abnormal and powerful enough to threaten even the two of them. They reconsider their strategy of remaining uninvolved while others fight.
• Laozi watches from Kunlun Mountain and wonders whether the Law-Proving Path can truly allow a non-Sage to reach such a level.
• Zhu Rong’s attack cracks Yuanshi Tianzun’s protective auspicious cloud, humiliating and enraging the Sage.
• Yuanshi unleashes the devastating “Jade Clarity Divine Thunder, Nine Heavens Annihilation,” summoning enormous thunderbolts infused with the destructive Will of Heaven’s Way.
• Zhu Rong counters with the Eight-Scenery Palace Lamp and its Nine-Colored Divine Flame. The collision of fire and thunder devastates the surrounding region, but Zhu Rong successfully blocks the full-force Sage attack.
• Proudly declaring that he will “tread upon a Sage’s body” to attain the Primordial Origin Realm, Zhu Rong provokes Yuanshi further.
• Yuanshi attacks with a massive Jade Clarity hand. Zhu Rong burns a hole through it using his ultimate Flame Law, but is severely injured and blasted into Mount Buzhou.
• Zhu Rong rises from the crater, bloodied but still eager to fight. He charges Yuanshi again, revealing that he is deliberately using the Sage’s pressure to temper his body and laws and seek a breakthrough.

Character Developments

• Zhu Rong: Demonstrates immense growth in the Flame Law and extraordinary physical endurance. His battle-madness, arrogance, and determination intensify as he treats Yuanshi’s attacks as training rather than merely threats.
• Yuanshi Tianzun: Begins confident in his superiority but becomes increasingly enraged and unsettled when Zhu Rong repeatedly survives and resists his Sage techniques. His pride as a Pangu Orthodox Sage is deeply wounded.
• Di Jun: Becomes aware of the Witch Cult’s terrifying reserves and recognizes that his current preparations may be inadequate.
• Taiyi: Loses confidence in his previous assessment of his own power after comparing himself with Zhu Rong.
• Jieyin and Zhunti: Shift from detached observation to concern, realizing Zhu Rong may be strong enough to challenge them and that the Witch Cult cannot be casually exploited.
• Laozi: Shows interest in the potential of the Law-Proving Path and what Zhu Rong’s performance implies about non-Sage cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Law cultivation versus conventional Sagehood: Zhu Rong’s mastery of the Flame Law allows him to rival a Sage despite lacking Sage status.
• Battle as a path to advancement: Zhu Rong intentionally withstands overwhelming attacks to temper his body and laws and force a breakthrough.
• Pride and humiliation: Yuanshi’s anger stems not only from danger but from the indignity of being challenged by someone he considers an “ant.”
• The hidden strength of the Witch Cult: Zhu Rong’s performance causes powerful observers to reassess the balance of power in the Primordial Wilderness.
• Defiance against established hierarchies: Zhu Rong rejects the idea that a Sage is untouchable, openly treating Yuanshi as a stepping stone toward greater power.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Rong and Yuanshi Tianzun: Their confrontation is the chapter’s central conflict. Yuanshi seeks to erase Zhu Rong, while Zhu Rong welcomes the attacks and repeatedly challenges him.
• Di Jun and Taiyi: They react together to Zhu Rong’s strength, with Taiyi expressing disbelief and Di Jun calculating how far behind the Heavenly Court has fallen.
• Jieyin and Zhunti: Discuss Zhu Rong’s abnormal power and reconsider their strategy toward the Witch Cult.
• Laozi: Observes the battle alone, reflecting on the implications of Zhu Rong’s cultivation method.
• Zhu Rong and the Witch Cult disciples: The disciples become alarmed when he is injured, but Zhu Rong’s immediate recovery and renewed charge demonstrate his overwhelming will and encourage the impression that he is nearly unstoppable.

Chapter Summary: “Sage Bleeds, Heaven and Earth Mourn”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yuanshi Tianzun launches a full attack on Zhu Rong, transforming Jade Clarity Immortal Radiance into countless swords.
• Under the overwhelming pressure of the battle, Zhu Rong compresses and cracks his Flame Dao Fruit—not as a sign of destruction, but as the catalyst for a breakthrough.
• Zhu Rong successfully advances to the Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, causing his wounds to heal and his flames to transform into a purer, more profound Flame Origin.
• Zhu Rong immediately counterattacks. His first powerful punch shatters Yuanshi’s Jade Clarity defenses and sends the Sage crashing through Mount Buzhou, publicly humiliating him.
• Enraged, Yuanshi declares that his status as a Heavenly Dao Sage makes him indestructible. He summons vast amounts of Jade Clarity Divine Thunder and even begins burning his own origin.
• Zhu Rong effortlessly withstands and absorbs the divine thunder, then overwhelms Yuanshi in close combat, repeatedly injuring him.
• Zhu Rong unleashes a massive nine-colored flaming sword, forcing Yuanshi to abandon his pride and call for Laozi’s help.
• Laozi hears the plea but refuses to intervene, recognizing that Zhu Rong’s strength now rivals a Sage’s and that interfering would bring disastrous consequences.
• The flaming sword cleaves through Yuanshi’s Sage body, causing it to shatter into blood. The Primordial World responds with torrential bloody rain and mournful cries, signifying the fall of a Sage.

Character Developments

• Zhu Rong: Experiences a dramatic breakthrough during battle and gains extraordinary confidence in his newly awakened power. He shifts from struggling under Sage pressure to completely dominating Yuanshi, demonstrating that his innate Flame Dao can rival or surpass borrowed Heavenly Dao power.
• Yuanshi Tianzun: His arrogance turns into shock, rage, humiliation, and finally fear. Once confident in his Sage status and supposed immortality, he is reduced to helplessly calling for Laozi’s aid before being destroyed.
• Laozi: Shows caution and political awareness. Although he hears Yuanshi’s desperate plea, he refuses to intervene because Zhu Rong’s strength and the backing of Dijiang and the Witch Cult make the conflict too dangerous.
• The observing great powers: Are left stunned by Zhu Rong’s unprecedented breakthrough during combat and by the spectacle of a Sage being defeated.

Significant Themes

• Growth through extreme pressure: Zhu Rong’s breakthrough occurs precisely because he is pushed to the limits by Yuanshi’s Sage power.
• True strength versus borrowed authority: Zhu Rong mocks Yuanshi’s reliance on Heavenly Dao power, arguing that genuine mastery of the laws is superior to externally granted or borrowed strength.
• The collapse of pride: Yuanshi’s lofty status cannot protect him from humiliation once his opponent surpasses him in direct combat.
• The danger of underestimating an opponent: Yuanshi attacks Zhu Rong believing him inferior, but instead becomes the catalyst for Zhu Rong’s advancement.
• Cosmic consequences of Sage conflict: The bloody rain and mourning of heaven and earth emphasize that the destruction of a Sage is an event of enormous significance to the entire Primordial World.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Rong and Yuanshi Tianzun: Their confrontation evolves from a one-sided Sage assault into Zhu Rong’s overwhelming counterattack. Zhu Rong repeatedly taunts Yuanshi and challenges the legitimacy of his power, while Yuanshi becomes increasingly desperate and enraged.
• Yuanshi and Laozi: Yuanshi abandons his pride and begs Laozi for help. Laozi responds indirectly through refusal, choosing self-preservation over rescuing his brother.
• Zhu Rong and the wider powers: Zhu Rong’s victory serves as a warning to every hidden observer that the Witch Cult’s strength has risen dramatically and that he can now contend with—and defeat—a Sage.

Chapter Summary: Laozi and Tongtian Arrive Together

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Rong completes his breakthrough to the Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm during his battle with Yuanshi Tianzun.
• He unleashes a nine-colored flaming sword formed from the ultimate Flame Origin, destroying Yuanshi’s Sage body and scattering his blood, bones, and primordial spirit.
• Zhu Rong proudly declares that Sages are not invincible, shocking the powerful beings secretly observing the battle. His victory proves that a Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal can rival—or even surpass—a Sage in combat.
• On Kunlun Mountain, Laozi and Tongtian witness Yuanshi’s defeat through their divine senses. Initially confident in the immortality of Sages, they are stunned when Yuanshi is physically slain.
• Outraged by the humiliation of their brother and the damage to the Three Pure Ones’ reputation, Laozi and Tongtian rush to Mount Buzhou together.
• Tongtian confronts Zhu Rong with his Green Duckweed Sword and a vast sword formation, while Laozi arrives on his Golden Bridge riding the Azure Bull and radiating restrained but overwhelming Sage pressure.
• Zhu Rong refuses to retreat despite facing two Sages. Empowered by his recent victory and breakthrough, he challenges Laozi and Tongtian to fight him together.
• Before the confrontation begins, Heaven’s Way gathers Yuanshi’s scattered remains and resurrects him. His revival confirms that a Sage whose primordial spirit is entrusted to Heaven’s Way can return endlessly as long as Heaven’s Way survives.
• Although restored, Yuanshi is deeply humiliated and shaken. He remembers experiencing genuine fear and recognizes that Zhu Rong defeated him completely.

Character Developments

• Zhu Rong rises from a powerful Ancestor Witch to a Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. His confidence and battle fervor intensify after killing Yuanshi, and he now sees himself as capable of confronting Sages directly.
• Yuanshi Tianzun suffers a devastating blow to both his body and pride. Though revived, he develops a deep wariness toward Zhu Rong and is forced to acknowledge the gap between his assumptions and Zhu Rong’s actual strength.
• Laozi abandons his usual calm detachment when Yuanshi is slain. His brotherly loyalty and pride in the Pangu Orthodox Lineage overwhelm his normally tranquil Dao heart.
• Tongtian reacts with open fury. His admiration for Zhu Rong’s courage turns into aggression after witnessing Yuanshi’s defeat, leading him to confront Zhu Rong alongside Laozi.
• The Three Pure Ones’ brotherly bond is emphasized: they still regard themselves as one family and instinctively unite when one of them is humiliated.

Significant Themes

• Power versus status: The chapter challenges the belief that Sages are absolutely superior to all beings. Zhu Rong’s victory demonstrates that cultivation realm and actual combat strength are not always identical.
• The limits of immortality: Yuanshi’s resurrection proves that Sage immortality protects against permanent death, but not against defeat, humiliation, or psychological trauma.
• Pride and reputation: Yuanshi’s greatest wound is not merely physical destruction but the public collapse of his dignity and authority as a Sage and representative of the Pangu lineage.
• Brotherhood and shared honor: Laozi and Tongtian respond not only out of concern for Yuanshi but also because his defeat is an insult to the entire Three Pure Ones.
• Fear beneath arrogance: Even a Sage can experience genuine fear when confronted by overwhelming force. Yuanshi’s experience forces him to reassess Zhu Rong as a serious existential threat.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Rong and Yuanshi: Their battle shifts from Yuanshi’s initial confidence and condescension to Zhu Rong’s total victory. Yuanshi is ultimately forced to respect and fear him.
• Laozi and Tongtian: They act together in defense of Yuanshi, displaying their unity and shared pride before the later divisions of the Three Pure Ones.
• Laozi and Tongtian versus Zhu Rong: The two Sages arrive prepared to punish Zhu Rong, but Zhu Rong meets their anger with defiance rather than submission, setting up a potentially larger confrontation.
• Yuanshi and his brothers: Yuanshi’s public defeat provokes an immediate, emotional response from Laozi and Tongtian, demonstrating the strength of their familial and factional ties.

Chapter Summary: “Hongjun’s Test”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Yuanshi Tianzun revives after Zhu Rong destroys his physical body. Although Laozi and Tongtian express concern, their sympathy only deepens Yuanshi’s humiliation.
• From the Violet Firmament Palace, Hongjun observes the battle through the Jade Disc of Creation. He recognizes that Zhu Rong has reached the Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.
• Hongjun realizes the Twelve Ancestral Witches may be developing a power beyond Heaven’s Way’s control. If all of them reach this level and form the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation, even Hongjun may struggle to suppress them.
• Seeing Yuanshi’s wounded pride, Hongjun decides to use him to test the Witch Cult’s strength. He secretly channels the power of Heaven’s Way into Yuanshi.
• The infusion greatly strengthens Yuanshi’s Sage body and mana, raising his power far beyond the ordinary Sage Early Stage.
• Believing Hongjun has chosen and supported him, Yuanshi’s confidence and arrogance return. He declares that his earlier defeat was merely carelessness and vows to kill Zhu Rong personally.
• Ignoring the concerns of Laozi and Tongtian, Yuanshi launches a new attack using the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi and a Heaven’s Way-enhanced Jade Clarity Divine Thunder.
• The attack manifests as a massive violet-black thunder dragon carrying the destructive authority of Heaven’s punishments, rushing toward Zhu Rong.

2. Character Developments

• Yuanshi Tianzun: His defeat severely wounds his pride and Dao heart, but Hongjun’s power restores his confidence—along with his arrogance. He becomes convinced that he is Heaven’s chosen representative of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage.
• Hongjun: Reveals his growing concern about the Ancestral Witches and their independent path to proving the Dao. He acts strategically, using Yuanshi as a pawn to measure the Witch Cult’s hidden strength.
• Laozi: Shows concern for Yuanshi but becomes suspicious when Yuanshi’s power suddenly exceeds the normal limits of an early-stage Sage.
• Tongtian: Also worries about Yuanshi’s sudden transformation and growing frenzy, though he remains prepared to fight if necessary.
• Zhu Rong: Remains the target of Yuanshi’s renewed hostility and represents the emerging strength of the Witch Cult.

3. Significant Themes

• Heavenly control versus independent power: Hongjun fears the Witches because their cultivation path may exist outside Heaven’s Way’s authority.
• Pride and humiliation: Yuanshi’s defeat damages his sense of identity, while the sympathy of his brothers intensifies his shame.
• Manipulation and hidden agendas: Hongjun presents his intervention as aid, but his true goal is to use Yuanshi to investigate the Witches’ strength.
• False confidence and borrowed power: Yuanshi mistakes Heaven’s Way’s temporary empowerment for proof of his own destiny and superiority.
• The struggle over the Pangu legacy: Yuanshi and the Witches both claim connection to Pangu’s inheritance, making their conflict ideological as well as personal.

4. Character Interactions

• Laozi and Tongtian attempt to comfort Yuanshi after his revival, but he interprets their concern as a reminder of his failure.
• Hongjun observes Yuanshi and the battlefield from afar, calculating how best to exploit the situation.
• Yuanshi addresses Laozi and Tongtian with renewed dominance, ordering them to stand aside while he settles his personal grudge with Zhu Rong.
• Laozi and Tongtian react with shock and unease to Yuanshi’s sudden increase in power.
• Yuanshi confronts Zhu Rong again, boasting of his status as a true Heavenly Dao Sage before unleashing a devastating attack.

Chapter Summary: “Dijiang Makes His Move”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Rong confronts Yuanshi Tianzun’s second, immensely powerful purple-black Thunder Dragon attack without retreating, relying on his newly achieved Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal cultivation and the Eight-Sc景 Palace Lamp.
• He unleashes his strongest Flame Dao technique, summoning an enormous Flame Fiend God formed from Nine-Colored Divine Flame.
• The clash between fire and lightning initially reaches a stalemate, but Yuanshi’s attack is secretly strengthened by Heaven’s Way Power supplied by Hongjun. Because Zhu Rong’s breakthrough is recent and unstable, his Flame Fiend God is eventually destroyed.
• Zhu Rong is severely injured and spits blood as the Thunder Dragon breaks through his defenses and moves to kill him.
• At the critical moment, Dijiang appears before Zhu Rong. With a casual use of his Space Law technique, “Space, Exile,” he opens a spatial rift and sends the Thunder Dragon into the depths of the Primordial Chaos.
• Dijiang reveals that he is also a Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal—and that, unlike Zhu Rong, he is not newly advanced or unstable. His aura is several times stronger than Zhu Rong’s and shocks everyone watching.
• Laozi and Tongtian realize that Dijiang and Zhu Rong had secretly concealed their breakthroughs. Observers across the Primordial World, including Di Jun, Taiyi, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Nuwa, react with fear, relief, or surprise.
• Dijiang orders Zhu Rong to withdraw and stabilize his cultivation, then confronts Yuanshi directly. He points out that Yuanshi should have been weakened after losing his physical body, yet has instead become even stronger—evidence that Heaven’s Way has secretly empowered him.

Character Developments

• Zhu Rong: Displays immense pride and courage by refusing to retreat despite facing a superior attack. However, his unstable cultivation and recent breakthrough leave him unable to withstand Yuanshi’s enhanced power. He accepts Dijiang’s protection and steps back to recover.
• Dijiang: Makes a dramatic entrance and reveals his long-hidden strength. His effortless destruction of Yuanshi’s ultimate attack establishes him as calm, powerful, experienced, and highly confident. He shifts from protecting Zhu Rong to openly challenging Yuanshi.
• Yuanshi Tianzun: Begins the battle with overwhelming confidence and cruelty, enjoying Zhu Rong’s apparent defeat. His confidence falters when Dijiang neutralizes his strongest attack. He attempts to justify his increased strength as Heaven’s favor.
• Laozi and Tongtian: Realize that Dijiang’s cultivation is far beyond what they had expected and become wary of the Witch Cult’s hidden power.
• Di Jun and Taiyi: Experience intense fear and relief, recognizing that attacking the Heavenly Court earlier would have led to the Demon Clan’s destruction.
• Jieyin and Zhunti: Conclude that avoiding direct involvement in the Demon-Witch conflict was wise because the Witch Cult is much stronger than anticipated.
• Nuwa: Understands that Dijiang may have been absent from her sainthood celebration because he was secretly completing his breakthrough, making the karmic debt between them more difficult to repay.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and strategic patience: Dijiang and Zhu Rong concealed their breakthroughs, demonstrating that true power need not be publicly announced.
• Pride versus prudence: Zhu Rong’s refusal to retreat reflects the pride of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage, while Dijiang’s intervention emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s limits.
• Heavenly interference and injustice: Yuanshi’s abnormal power increase suggests that Hongjun and Heaven’s Way are secretly supporting him, challenging the claim that Heaven’s Way is impartial.
• The danger of underestimating opponents: Several factions realize that they have badly misjudged the Witch Cult’s strength, particularly Dijiang’s mastery of Space Law.
• Power concealed beneath appearances: Yuanshi presents himself as naturally favored by Heaven, but Dijiang exposes the likelihood that his strength comes from outside assistance.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Rong and Yuanshi: Their clash represents a direct contest between Zhu Rong’s newly gained fire power and Yuanshi’s Heaven-enhanced thunder. Yuanshi treats Zhu Rong with contempt and seeks to kill him after breaking his defense.
• Dijiang and Zhu Rong: Dijiang protects his younger brother at the decisive moment, calmly instructing him to retreat and recover while taking responsibility for the battle.
• Dijiang and Yuanshi: Dijiang openly mocks Yuanshi’s unexplained power increase and challenges his claim of being merely favored by Heaven. Their confrontation becomes the central conflict of the chapter.
• Laozi and Tongtian with Yuanshi: Though they stand behind Yuanshi, their reactions show that even they are shocked and uneasy about Dijiang’s true cultivation.
• The observing factions: Di Jun, Taiyi, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Nuwa each reassess their previous decisions and relationships after witnessing Dijiang’s revelation.

Chapter Summary: “Rebuking Heaven’s Way in Fury!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang publicly accuses Heaven’s Way of partiality, claiming that Hongjun secretly used its power to empower Yuanshi Tianzun against the Pangu Orthodox Lineage.
• His accusation triggers a violent Heavenly Dao backlash. The backlash reaches Violet Firmament Palace and severely injures Hongjun, causing him to spit Sage blood.
• Hongjun uses the Jade Disc of Creation to seal Violet Firmament Palace and sever the connection between himself and the outside world, stopping the backlash.
• Yuanshi remains unaware of Hongjun’s injury and mistakenly believes Heaven’s Way has chosen to support him. His power is raised to the peak of the Sage Early Stage, nearly reaching the Middle Stage.
• Yuanshi launches a powerful Jade Clarity Divine Thunder attack, condensing his strength into a destructive lightning sword aura aimed at Dijiang.
• Dijiang effortlessly counters the attack through his mastery of Space Law, folding space to trap the sword aura and exiling it into Primordial Chaos.
• Yuanshi attacks repeatedly in fury, but Dijiang continues to evade, exile, or sever each attack. The battle becomes a humiliating one-sided display of Dijiang’s superiority.
• Laozi and Tongtian realize Yuanshi cannot defeat Dijiang and decide to attack the recovering Zhu Rong instead.
• Tongtian unleashes a lethal sword slash while Laozi summons a massive Taiji yin-yang millstone, jointly targeting Zhu Rong.
• The cultivators within Mount Buzhou’s formation condemn the Three Pure Ones for attacking an injured opponent two-on-one.
• Seeing Zhu Rong threatened, Dijiang’s expression turns cold and summons the Pangu Banner.

Character Developments

• Dijiang: Demonstrates both courage and political authority by openly challenging Heaven’s Way in the name of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage. His mastery of Space Law proves overwhelming, allowing him to dominate Yuanshi without being touched.
• Hongjun: Reveals that he anticipated the consequences of empowering Yuanshi and had prepared a defensive measure. Though badly injured by the Heavenly Dao backlash, he successfully conceals the incident and preserves Yuanshi’s power.
• Yuanshi Tianzun: Becomes increasingly arrogant and enraged. Believing himself favored by Heaven, he overestimates his advantage and descends into reckless, desperate attacks after Dijiang repeatedly neutralizes him.
• Laozi: Abandons any possibility of a peaceful resolution, prioritizing the Three Pure Ones’ reputation and deciding to attack Zhu Rong while Dijiang is occupied.
• Tongtian: Shows strong loyalty to his brothers and eagerness for battle. He joins Laozi in attacking Zhu Rong despite Zhu Rong’s injuries.
• Zhu Rong: Remains incapacitated and recovering after his earlier battle, making him vulnerable to the coordinated assault by Laozi and Tongtian.

Significant Themes

• Heavenly impartiality versus hidden manipulation: Dijiang’s accusation exposes the conflict between the supposed justice of Heaven’s Way and Hongjun’s secret intervention.
• Pangu Orthodox Lineage and legitimacy: Dijiang invokes the authority of the Pangu lineage to challenge Heaven itself, emphasizing the political and spiritual importance of ancestry.
• Power versus technique: Yuanshi possesses overwhelming empowered strength, but Dijiang’s refined control of Space Law renders that strength ineffective.
• Pride and humiliation: Yuanshi’s confidence collapses into rage as his strongest attacks repeatedly fail, while the Three Pure Ones become increasingly concerned with preserving their reputation.
• Honor and shamelessness: The Three Pure Ones’ decision to gang up on the injured Zhu Rong contrasts with the moral outrage of the beings watching from Mount Buzhou.
• Hidden consequences: Hongjun’s empowerment of Yuanshi creates a backlash that harms Hongjun himself, suggesting that attempts to manipulate Heaven’s Way carry unavoidable risks.

Character Interactions

• Dijiang directly condemns Hongjun and Heaven’s Way, making the conflict more than a personal duel with Yuanshi.
• Yuanshi mocks Dijiang’s accusation and claims divine legitimacy, then attempts to kill him with Heaven-empowered attacks.
• Dijiang responds calmly, repeatedly frustrating Yuanshi through spatial manipulation and turning the battle into a public humiliation.
• Laozi and Tongtian discuss Yuanshi’s disadvantage and agree to target Zhu Rong instead of assisting him directly.
• The spectators side with the Pangu faction, condemning Laozi and Tongtian’s coordinated attack.
• Dijiang reacts to the threat against Zhu Rong by summoning the Pangu Banner, signaling the next escalation of the conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Killing Intent from All Sides”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang summons the Pangu Banner, an Innate Supreme Treasure whose Chaos Sword Qi greatly boosts his strength.
• Empowered by the banner and his mastery of the Space Dao, Dijiang fights Yuanshi Tianzun to a standstill while also defending Zhu Rong from Laozi and Tongtian.
• Dijiang uses the Taiji Diagram to create a massive Golden Bridge that blocks Laozi and Tongtian’s combined attacks, giving the badly injured Zhu Rong time to recover.
• Observing that the Three Pure Ones are failing to suppress Dijiang and the Wu Clan, Hongjun intervenes again. He channels even greater Heaven’s Way Power into Yuanshi, allowing him to break through from the Sage Early Stage to the Sage Middle Stage.
• Hongjun orders Jieyin and Zhunti to go to Mount Buzhou and assist the Three Pure Ones. Their arrival turns the battle into a siege by five Heavenly Dao Sages.
• Nuwa attempts to rescue Dijiang but is prevented when Hongjun seals Wa Emperor Palace. She realizes that the attack on Mount Buzhou was planned by Hongjun and that he intends to stop her from interfering.
• Inside Pangu Hall, Zhu Jiuyin, Gonggong, Houtu, and the other Ancestor Witches remain in secluded cultivation, racing to break through to the Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm. They understand that leaving would only burden Dijiang.
• Dijiang faces the five Sages without retreating, while Zhunti cunningly tries to assign Dijiang to the Three Pure Ones and leave Zhu Rong to himself and Jieyin.

Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates exceptional combat ability, using both the Pangu Banner and Taiji Diagram while relying on Space Dao techniques to evade Yuanshi’s attacks. His confidence and battle intent intensify as the odds worsen.
• Yuanshi Tianzun becomes increasingly consumed by jealousy and rage over Dijiang’s possession of the Pangu Banner. After receiving Hongjun’s blessing, he breaks through to the Sage Middle Stage and becomes even more murderous.
• Hongjun reveals himself as an active and ruthless manipulator. Rather than merely observing events, he directly empowers Yuanshi, summons the Western Sages, and prevents Nuwa from intervening.
• Nuwa shifts from observation to decisive action, attempting to aid Dijiang. Her shock at Hongjun’s interference causes her to question her master’s true intentions.
• Jieyin and Zhunti are reluctant participants who obey Hongjun despite their desire to remain uninvolved. Zhunti displays his usual opportunism by trying to avoid fighting Dijiang directly.
• Zhu Rong begins recovering under Dijiang’s protection, while the other Ancestor Witches endure their breakthrough in seclusion, aware that Dijiang is buying them time.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming odds and resistance: Dijiang stands against a force of five Sages, emphasizing the Wu Clan’s defiance and refusal to submit.
• Political manipulation and betrayal: Hongjun covertly engineers the conflict, exploiting the Three Pure Ones and Western Sages for his own objectives.
• Power versus strategy: Although the Sages possess greater raw strength, Dijiang’s mobility, treasures, and Space Dao techniques allow him to outmaneuver them.
• Brotherhood and sacrifice: Dijiang protects Zhu Rong and the cultivating Ancestor Witches, accepting immense danger so they can recover and advance.
• Loss of trust in authority: Nuwa begins to recognize that Hongjun’s role as a teacher masks a deeper agenda, creating a serious fracture in their relationship.
• Breakthrough under pressure: The Ancestor Witches’ cultivation becomes crucial; their advancement may determine whether the Wu Clan can survive the siege.

Character Interactions

• Dijiang taunts Yuanshi over his reliance on Heaven’s Way Power and repeatedly evades his attacks.
• Yuanshi demands the Pangu Banner and attacks Dijiang with heightened hatred after seeing him wield it.
• Laozi and Tongtian combine their powers against the Taiji Diagram but fail to penetrate its defense.
• Hongjun secretly strengthens Yuanshi and commands Jieyin and Zhunti to join the assault.
• Nuwa attempts to intervene but is forcibly isolated by Hongjun, realizing that her master is orchestrating the crisis.
• Zhunti proposes that the Three Pure Ones handle Dijiang while he and Jieyin restrain Zhu Rong, exposing his reluctance to face the more dangerous opponent.
• The chapter ends with Dijiang surrounded by five Sages, while the Ancestor Witches struggle to complete their breakthroughs in time.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Three Pure Ones—Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian—join forces to kill Dijiang while Zhu Rong is left to their allies.
• Dijiang struggles under their combined assault but uses Space Law and the Pangu Banner to evade their attacks.
• When Yuanshi launches a full-strength strike at Dijiang’s back, Dijiang uses “Space, Exchange” to switch places with Laozi. Yuanshi’s attack hits Laozi instead.
• Dijiang then attacks Laozi with the God-Slaying Spear, whose demonic killing power tears apart Laozi’s Sage primordial spirit and destroys his physical body.
• Laozi’s blood rains across the Primordial World, marking yet another Sage whose body has been shattered in a single day. Most of his blood essence is destroyed before Heaven’s Way can reconstruct him.
• Yuanshi and Tongtian become enraged and vow that the Three Pure Ones will never stop pursuing Dijiang, but Dijiang retreats safely into the void.
• The Witch Cult celebrates wildly, while the Demon Clan witnesses the event in shock and despair.

Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates overwhelming combat ability, combining Space Law, the Pangu Banner, and the God-Slaying Spear to outmaneuver and seriously injure a united group of Sages. His tactical cunning is as important as his strength.
• Laozi suffers a devastating defeat. His body is destroyed and his Sage primordial spirit is severely wounded by the God-Slaying Spear.
• Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian shift from confidence to fury after witnessing Laozi’s defeat. Their hatred of Dijiang intensifies.
• The Six-Eared Macaque becomes even more devoted to Dijiang, loudly boasting that he will one day imitate his master’s strength.
• Kong Xuan abandons his remaining pride and develops profound admiration for Dijiang. He resolves to follow his master and reach the pinnacle of cultivation.
• Di Jun and Taiyi are shaken by the revelation that Dijiang may be beyond the ability of even multiple Sages to defeat.
• Bai Ze admits that the Demon Clan badly underestimated the Witch Cult’s power.
• Fuxi begins doubting his own divination and wonders whether joining the Demon Clan was truly the correct path.

Significant Themes

• The shattering of established power hierarchies: Sages, once regarded as nearly invincible, are shown to be vulnerable before Dijiang.
• Strategy overcoming numbers: Dijiang survives the Three Pure Ones’ assault through precise timing and spatial manipulation rather than brute force alone.
• Rising faith and fanaticism: The Witch Cult’s followers interpret Dijiang’s victory as proof of his absolute supremacy, strengthening their loyalty.
• Humility and transformation: Kong Xuan’s pride is replaced by reverence and ambition, while Fuxi’s confidence in his own foresight begins to collapse.
• Despair among opponents: The Demon Clan realizes that its previous plans may no longer be viable against the rapidly ascending Witch Cult.

Character Interactions

• The Three Pure Ones coordinate their attacks against Dijiang, but Dijiang turns their teamwork against them by swapping positions with Laozi.
• Yuanshi’s attack unintentionally injures Laozi, enabling Dijiang to deliver the decisive blow.
• Yuanshi and Tongtian react with grief and rage over Laozi’s defeat, directing their shared hatred toward Dijiang.
• The Six-Eared Macaque publicly glorifies Dijiang before the Witch Cult disciples, while Kong Xuan silently strengthens his resolve to follow him.
• Within the Demon Clan, Di Jun, Taiyi, Bai Ze, and Fuxi collectively confront the terrifying implications of Dijiang’s victory, with Fuxi privately questioning the future of their entire faction.

Chapter Summary: “Brothers Gather, the Formation Rises!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dijiang continues battling Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian alone above Mount Buzhou. Armed with the God-Slaying Spear and Pangu Banner and relying on Space Law, he not only withstands their joint attacks but briefly suppresses them.
• Jieyin and Zhunti realize they cannot meaningfully challenge Dijiang or Zhu Rong. They pretend to restrain Zhu Rong while avoiding a serious fight, choosing to “drag things out.”
• Laozi recovers after Dijiang previously destroyed his physical body. With Heaven’s Way Power flowing into him, Laozi breaks through from the Sage Early Stage to the Sage Middle Stage.
• Now joined by Laozi, the Three Pure Ones launch a three-on-one assault against Dijiang.
• Dijiang responds by deploying nearly all of his defensive and offensive treasures: the twelve-grade World-Destroying Black Lotus, the Sword Formation of Immortal Execution, the Taiji Diagram, and the Pangu Banner.
• Although these treasures allow him to resist the Three Pure Ones, Dijiang’s magical power is rapidly exhausted. The Taiji Diagram weakens, the black lotus develops cracks, and the sword formation is eventually breached.
• With Zhu Rong no longer protected by the Taiji Diagram, Jieyin and Zhunti consider attacking him but retreat out of fear that his desperate counterattack could injure them. They instead move toward the Three Pure Ones while pretending to assist.
• Realizing he would only burden Dijiang in his injured state, Zhu Rong returns to Pangu Hall to summon the other Ancestor Witches.
• Just as Yuanshi prepares to land a potentially fatal blow on Dijiang, the remaining Ancestor Witches complete their breakthroughs and emerge from seclusion.
• The eleven Ancestor Witches assemble, and Zhu Jiuyin calls for the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation. Dijiang dismisses the Immortal Execution Sword Formation and merges into the new formation, dramatically changing the balance of power.

Character Developments

• Dijiang displays overwhelming combat ability, confidence, and tactical awareness, but the prolonged three-Sage assault finally pushes him toward his limits. His willingness to abandon one formation and join the Ancestor Witches’ greater formation shows strategic flexibility.
• Laozi suffers intense humiliation after being physically destroyed by Dijiang. His anger replaces his usual composure, and Heaven’s Way Power elevates him to the Sage Middle Stage, making him a much more dangerous opponent.
• Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian remain aggressive and are initially unable to overpower Dijiang. Their confidence returns once Laozi joins them.
• Jieyin and Zhunti are portrayed as cautious and opportunistic. They avoid genuine danger, abandon the vulnerable Zhu Rong, and use the language of cooperation to conceal their reluctance to fight.
• Zhu Rong shows awareness of the larger battle and personal responsibility. Rather than recklessly remaining exposed, he returns to summon reinforcements.
• The other Ancestor Witches, including Zhu Jiuyin, Gonggong, and Houtu, complete their breakthroughs at a crucial moment, becoming powerful enough to activate the clan’s ultimate formation.

Significant Themes

• Power through unity: Dijiang can contend with multiple Sages alone, but the Ancestor Witches’ true strength lies in combining their individual powers through the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation.
• Strategic survival versus honor: Jieyin and Zhunti prioritize self-preservation, contrasting with Dijiang’s willingness to fight directly and Zhu Rong’s decision to seek reinforcements for the group.
• Heaven’s interference and escalation: Laozi’s breakthrough through Heaven’s Way Power shows how external divine forces can alter the battlefield and intensify conflicts.
• The limits of individual strength: Even Dijiang’s treasures and Space Law cannot indefinitely withstand three Sages, emphasizing the importance of coordination and formations.
• Imminent reversal: The chapter builds suspense by placing Dijiang on the verge of defeat before the Ancestor Witches arrive, signaling a major shift in the battle.

Character Interactions

• Dijiang taunts and challenges Yuanshi and Tongtian, refusing to retreat despite their combined assault.
• Laozi reunites with Yuanshi and Tongtian after his resurrection and urges them to attack Dijiang together.
• Jieyin and Zhunti discuss their fear of Dijiang and manipulate their apparent allegiance, first avoiding Zhu Rong and then pretending to support the Three Pure Ones.
• Zhu Rong communicates with Dijiang before leaving the battlefield, promising to summon their brothers.
• Zhu Jiuyin takes command when the Ancestor Witches arrive, directing the group to form the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation.
• Dijiang responds immediately by joining the formation, placing the brothers’ collective strength at the center of the next stage of the conflict.

Chapter Summary: “The Curtain Falls”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Twelve Ancestral Witches activate the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation, creating an immensely powerful, highly solid Pangu Phantom above Mount Buzhou.
• The phantom’s strength appears to surpass the Sage realm, terrifying Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian.
• From the Violet Firmament Palace, Hongjun realizes that although the formation is powerful, the phantom is only temporary. Each activation consumes more of Pangu’s residual will, and without that will, it cannot threaten Heaven’s Way.
• Having achieved his objective, Hongjun withdraws the Heaven’s Way Power blessing Laozi and Yuanshi, causing their cultivation to fall back to the Sage Early Stage.
• The Pangu Phantom strikes Laozi and Yuanshi, shattering their Sage bodies. Though they regenerate through the Heavenly Dao, their vitality is severely weakened and their Sage Dao Fruits become unstable.
• Tongtian attacks in fury but is effortlessly repelled. Dijiang prepares to destroy the Three Pure Ones’ Sage Seats completely.
• Hongjun intervenes, offering Dijiang secrets about the World-Opening Tribulation and a cultivation path beyond the Primordial Zenith Heaven realm. Interested in advancing further, Dijiang agrees to stop.
• As punishment, Dijiang declares that Mount Kunlun will become part of the Heavenly Court’s territory and forbids the Three Pure Ones from leaving it. Laozi and Yuanshi are forced to accept the humiliation because they are too weak to resist.
• Jieyin and Zhunti flee back to the Western Spirit Mountain after witnessing the defeat.
• The Three Pure Ones retreat to Mount Kunlun, while the Witch Cult celebrates its overwhelming victory and dominance over the Primordial World.

Character Developments

• Dijiang demonstrates both overwhelming power and strategic restraint. Although he wants to eliminate Laozi and Yuanshi, he accepts Hongjun’s bargain because the promise of a higher cultivation path is more valuable.
• Laozi and Yuanshi suffer a devastating defeat. Their physical bodies are destroyed, their cultivation is reduced, their Sage foundations destabilized, and their Daoist sanctuary is seized.
• Tongtian displays loyalty and anger toward his brothers but is forced to retreat after realizing he cannot overcome the Pangu Phantom.
• Hongjun reveals his calculating nature. He allows the Three Pure Ones to be empowered only long enough to fulfill his objective, then withdraws his support once the Witch Cult’s trump card has been exposed.
• Jieyin and Zhunti are portrayed as cautious and self-preserving, immediately abandoning the battlefield rather than risking confrontation.
• The Ancestral Witches grow more confident after proving that their combined formation can overwhelm Sages, though Dijiang recognizes that revealing this power has created new dangers.

Significant Themes

• Power and deterrence: The Pangu Phantom establishes the Witch Cult as the dominant force in the Primordial World, capable of defeating even Sages.
• Strategic manipulation: Hongjun’s intervention shows that apparent battlefield victories are shaped by deeper political and cosmic calculations.
• The cost of power: The formation’s strength depends on Pangu’s residual will, which diminishes every time it is used, suggesting that the Witches’ ultimate weapon is not limitless.
• Humiliation and revenge: The seizure of Mount Kunlun transforms military defeat into lasting political punishment for the Three Pure Ones.
• Pursuit of transcendence: Dijiang’s decision to spare his enemies highlights the importance of discovering a path beyond the current cultivation realm.
• Changing balance of power: The chapter marks the Witch Cult’s public rise to supremacy while leaving the larger conflict with Hongjun unresolved.

Character Interactions

• Hongjun secretly communicates with Dijiang and halts the execution of Laozi and Yuanshi by offering valuable knowledge.
• Dijiang humiliates the Three Pure Ones by sparing their lives while confiscating Mount Kunlun and restricting their movements.
• Tongtian attempts to defend his brothers but is knocked aside by the Pangu Phantom.
• Zhu Rong and Gonggong celebrate the defeat and mock the Three Pure Ones, reflecting the Witches’ triumphal confidence.
• In Pangu Hall, Dijiang tempers his subordinates’ excitement by warning that Hongjun has now understood the true strength and limitations of their formation.
• Zhu Jiuyin’s questions about Hongjun’s secrets set up the next stage of the story concerning the World-Opening Tribulation and cultivation beyond Primordial Zenith Heaven.

Key plot points and events

• Dijiang tells the Ancestor Witches that some Chaos Fiends may have survived Pangu’s creation of the world. He says they could return when the Primordial World weakens, though he doubts Hongjun’s claim that merging with the Heavenly Dao was mainly to repel them.
• Dijiang explains that the path beyond the Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm is a struggle against heaven and all others who share one’s Dao. Only one can reach its end, replacing the original Chaos Fiend and becoming a representative of the Great Dao.
• After witnessing the Twelve Ancestor Witches defeat three Heavenly Dao Sages, Di Jun refuses to abandon his ambition. He decides to forcefully refine Purple Star to perfect the Heavenly Cycle Star-Fighting Formation, despite the risk of deadly backlash. Taiyi agrees to guard Sun Star while Di Jun enters seclusion.
• At Kunlun Mountain, Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian recover from the battle. Laozi warns that Dijiang’s power, weapons, and formation make another confrontation unwise. Yuanshi, enraged by the humiliation, refuses to accept the defeat.

Character developments and interactions

• Dijiang presents a cautious, strategic view: he accepts that powerful Chaos Fiends may remain, but questions Hongjun’s motives and urges the Witches to keep strengthening themselves.
• Houtu and the other Witches are alarmed by the possible threat, then unite behind Dijiang’s warning.
• Di Jun becomes more desperate and determined, choosing a dangerous gamble rather than surrender. Taiyi doubts the plan but ultimately supports his brother and pledges to protect him.
• Laozi suppresses his anger and argues for restraint; Yuanshi remains furious and focused on revenge. Tongtian is present but does not speak in this excerpt.

Significant themes

• Hidden existential threats: The Chaos Fiends may endanger the world, though their survival and Hongjun’s motives remain uncertain.
• Ruthless competition for transcendence: Advancement beyond the current realm means competing with every rival who shares one’s Dao.
• Ambition and risk: Di Jun’s resolve pits the Demon Clan’s hopes against the potentially fatal consequences of his plan.
• Humiliation and restraint: The Sages’ defeat fuels Yuanshi’s vengeance, while Laozi recognizes that anger cannot overcome the Witches’ strength.

Key plot points and events

• After their defeat by the Witch Cult, the Three Pure Ones retreat to Kunlun Mountain and seal it off to enter seclusion. Laozi urges patience: they need time to stabilize their Sage realms and grow stronger before seeking revenge or responding to a new decree from the Dao Ancestor. Yuanshi vows to create a powerful weapon once he has recovered.
• Jieyin and Zhunti return to Spirit Mountain, relieved to have escaped the battle. Rather than hide, they decide to preach across the Primordial World, recruiting those unable to cultivate the Law Grand Dao—people the Witch Cult largely ignores—and using their work to strengthen Western Religion and gain public favor.
• Dijiang receives a report that the Three Pure Ones are secluded, the Demon Clan remains withdrawn on the Sun Star, and Western Religion has begun quietly gathering followers. He allows the Western Religion’s activity to continue, seeing little threat in it, and turns his attention to strengthening the Witch Cult and training its next generation.
• Dijiang sends his disciples, the Six-Eared Macaque and Kong Xuan, out into the world to seek breakthroughs. He gives each a teleportation talisman for emergencies and warns them not to dishonor the Witch Cult by bullying or harming innocents.
• The pair leave Mount Buzhou eagerly. Dijiang watches them go and declares that a new “game of chess” is about to begin.
• Meanwhile, on the Eastern Sea coast, the Human Clan has grown from three thousand people to tens of millions under Laozi’s guidance, forming many prosperous, peaceful tribes. The chapter ends as this peace is abruptly shattered.

Character developments

• Laozi takes a cautious, strategic approach, persuading his brothers to accept temporary retreat in order to rebuild their strength.
• Yuanshi remains resentful and vengeful, while Tongtian shares the frustration of their defeat.
• Jieyin and Zhunti show political opportunism: they turn the Witch Cult’s indifference toward weaker cultivators into an opening for Western Religion.
• Dijiang remains confident and calculating, prioritizing the Witch Cult’s long-term growth over minor rivals.
• Six Ears is eager for adventure; Kong Xuan, though quieter, is equally eager. Both have made major progress in cultivation, with Kong Xuan’s Five Elements techniques especially strengthened.

Significant themes

• Patience and strategic retreat: the Three Pure Ones accept that survival and preparation must come before revenge.
• Competing paths to power: the Witch Cult cultivates the strong, while Western Religion seeks influence among those left behind.
• Growth through experience: Dijiang sends his disciples beyond the safety of Mount Buzhou to find opportunities for advancement.
• Peace under threat: the Human Clan’s prosperity is presented as fragile, foreshadowing new conflict.

Character interactions

• Laozi advises Yuanshi and Tongtian to endure their humiliation and wait for a better moment.
• Jieyin persuades Zhunti that preaching is both safe and useful, turning Zhunti’s initial alarm into enthusiasm.
• Dijiang discusses the state of the world with Kong Jue, then instructs Six Ears and Kong Xuan before sending them out with protective talismans and moral guidance.

Plot points and events

• Sea Demons emerge from the Eastern Sea and massacre the weak Human Clan tribes.
• Kong Xuan intervenes, disarming the demons with his Five-Colored Divine Light and killing their chief, who transforms into a Blackwater Mystic Serpent.
• Six-Eared Macaque blocks the remaining demons’ escape and helps Kong Xuan slaughter them.
• After learning that the Human Clan is newly created, poorly suited to the Golden Core cultivation Laozi taught them, and unable to defend themselves, the two decide to stay and help. They teach practical body-refinement and combat methods, and the humans gradually become better able to resist attacks.
• Meanwhile, Di Jun continues trying to refine the Purple Star’s origin. After tens of thousands of years, his attempt still fails and the star’s power injures him. A sudden signal from Hetu Luoshu gives him new hope, though the chapter ends before its meaning is revealed.

Character developments and interactions

• Kong Xuan shows both overwhelming combat ability and a growing sense of responsibility: he chooses to protect the Human Clan rather than simply move on.
• Six-Eared Macaque fights alongside Kong Xuan and suggests helping the humans, prompting Kong Xuan to agree.
• The Human Clan elder explains his people’s vulnerability and expresses deep gratitude for their rescue and instruction.
• Di Jun shifts from despair over his stalled effort to elation after receiving what seems to be a promising development from Hetu Luoshu.

Significant themes

• Protection of the vulnerable: Kong Xuan and Six-Eared Macaque turn a chance encounter into sustained aid.
• Practical empowerment: Rather than imparting profound doctrines, they teach skills the humans can use to survive.
• Persistence and hope: Di Jun’s long, painful failure is interrupted by a possible breakthrough.
• Power and responsibility: The heroes use their strength not only to defeat enemies but also to help others become stronger.

Key plot points and events

• Di Jun realizes that his Sun Star Fortune is preventing him from refining the Purple Star’s Stellar Origin: his attempt to claim the Purple Star while retaining the Sun Star’s authority makes the two imperial powers conflict.
• He chooses to sever his connection to the Sun Star, sending its Fortune back and risking a decline in cultivation. Once free of that claim, he successfully merges with the Purple Star’s Origin.
• Taiyi senses Di Jun’s Fortune pouring into him and understands that his brother has relinquished his mastery of the Sun Star. He prepares to leave and find him, but Bai Ze stops him, reminding him of Di Jun’s orders and warning that Taiyi’s departure could expose their plans.
• Dijiang observes the shift in Fortune, admires Di Jun’s resolve, and decides not to interfere. He doubts the completed formation can threaten the now-powerful Twelve Ancestral Witches, but is curious to see what it can do.
• Di Jun fully masters the Purple Star. Though his cultivation drops from late to middle Quasi-Saint, he gains command of the starry sky and completes the core of the Heavenly Cycle Star-Fighting Formation. He sets off for the Sun Star, vowing to challenge Dijiang and the Sages.

Character developments and interactions

• Di Jun proves willing to sacrifice his foundation and status for his larger goal. He transforms from Sun Star ruler into “Purple Star Di Jun,” gaining a new source of imperial authority and renewed confidence.
• Taiyi shows deep concern and loyalty toward his brother, but ultimately obeys Di Jun’s orders and remains behind.
• Bai Ze acts as a cautious adviser, restraining Taiyi and urging him to trust Di Jun’s judgment.
• Dijiang recognizes Di Jun’s ruthlessness and ambition, but remains confident in the Witches’ strength.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice for ambition: Di Jun gives up the Sun Star’s Fortune—and risks weakening himself—to achieve a greater strategic goal.
• Competing authority: The Purple Star, as ruler of the stars, cannot be subordinated to the Sun Star; Di Jun must choose which power to serve.
• Loyalty and restraint: Taiyi’s desire to help is balanced against his duty to follow his brother’s instructions.
• Rivalry and uncertainty: Di Jun’s new power renews his challenge to Dijiang, while Dijiang’s confidence leaves the outcome open.