Chapter Summaries

A succession of foreign rulers and powerful figures arrived openly at Nine Dragons Royal City ahead of the Huan Kingdom’s ascension ceremony, while Jian Shang avoided meeting the hostile visitors. The arrivals stopped after a suspected Demon Soul entered the city, leaving the people to worry about other enemies already inside.

• The Immortal Pharaoh King Eternal Pharaoh Hulo arrived with Sphinx Beasts and guards, and Shao Ping and Gongsun Long escorted him to the state guest palace while Jian Shang remained occupied.
• The Undying Insect Emperor Yenaifu arrived in a carriage drawn by three-headed hounds to congratulate the Huan Kingdom.
• The Heavenly Soul Emperor Narel rode into the city with his Dread Knights, followed by Death God Casper in a decrepit carriage.
• The Eight-Prison King Anpei Yeyuan arrived with his attendants, and Hou Sai escorted him into the city despite privately disparaging him.
• A mass of black mist suspected to be the Demon Soul entered the city, and no further processions appeared.

Jian Shang weighed whether to proceed with the Huan Kingdom’s ascension ceremony as powerful enemies infiltrated Nine Dragons Royal City and threatened the Marshall Islands. He felt compelled not to cancel it, while Qin Shi Huang secretly waited in the city to witness his choice.

• Jian Shang cultivated beneath the Samsara Ancient Tree while Secret Division commanders reported powerful Dark Council, God-King, and undead forces entering the royal city.
• Jiang Yao, Qi Ji, Chong Shiqie, and other officials urged Jian Shang to consider canceling the ceremony because enemy forces threatened the Huan Kingdom and the Marshall Islands.
• Jian Shang heard their warnings and struggled between proceeding with the ceremony and avoiding a potentially ruinous confrontation, feeling that canceling might sever his Imperial Dao and future prospects.
• Dishi questioned Qin Shi Huang about his secret arrival in Nine Dragons Royal City, and he said he had come to witness Jian Shang’s choice because his own past retreat still troubled him.

The Huan Kingdom began its Kingdom Ascension Ceremony despite the danger gathering around Nine Dragons Royal City. Qin Shi Huang, Xiang Yu, and Liu Bang each revealed their resolve to witness or answer Jian Shang’s choice, leaving the ceremony poised to bring the four monarchs together.

• Jian Shang prepared Nine Dragons Royal City for the ceremony, assembling the Heaven-Sacrificing Altar, the Star Immortal Banners, and the kingdom’s civil and military forces.
• The city’s gates opened, and about ten million Huan soldiers and countless Great Huan Terracotta Warriors entered to secure the city.
• After thirty-six bell peals, the Kingdom Ascension Ceremony began as scheduled, drawing the factions’ attention to the royal palace.
• Qin Shi Huang declared that he would see the outcome for himself and unleashed his imperial aura across the city.
• Xiang Yu summoned the Heaven-Opening Axe and released his domineering presence in answer to Qin Shi Huang.
• Liu Bang drew the Son of Heaven Sword and unleashed the might of the Lord of the True Dragon, joining Qin Shi Huang and Xiang Yu as the four monarchs gathered in the city.

Chapter Summary: The Meaning of Life

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Shadow reflects on completing the latest chapter of Forging the Sacred Court, acknowledging that his intense emotions may have influenced the writing, though the plot itself remained unchanged.
• He celebrates the novel’s modest but devoted following: thirty-seven alliance leaders, two million-level alliances, and many smaller alliances. Though the work was not widely popular, it had inspired a fiercely loyal community.
• Shadow publicly explains why Forging the Sacred Court abruptly declined in late 2013, after months of silence and reader criticism.
• He reveals that he had gone bankrupt and was facing lawsuits, with the possibility of prison. His business had collapsed after a failed transaction and nearly three months of deception by a longtime friend caused his finances to unravel.
• Shadow recalls earlier hardships, including his family’s ruin during high school, homelessness, hunger, and years of struggling as a writer.
• Despite these setbacks, he insists that he will continue writing and will not surrender to failure. He closes by apologizing for the emotional, unrestrained nature of the chapter.

2. Character Developments

• Shadow reveals a deeply vulnerable side, moving beyond his public identity as a writer to discuss poverty, betrayal, bankruptcy, legal troubles, and emotional exhaustion.
• He demonstrates resilience and pride, refusing to view failure as shameful. He believes that having tried and fought honestly allows him to face himself without regret.
• Shadow’s connection to his readers becomes central to his identity. Their loyalty gives him motivation and reinforces his determination to continue despite overwhelming difficulties.
• His emotional state appears unstable and overwhelmed, but his core resolve remains firm: he will keep writing and endure whatever consequences follow.

3. Significant Themes

• Perseverance in the face of failure: Financial ruin and personal betrayal are presented as painful but not definitive.
• The meaning of dignity: Shadow argues that failure is acceptable if one has genuinely struggled, fought, and refused to give up.
• Loyalty and gratitude: The support of readers, friends, moderators, and alliance leaders becomes a source of strength and emotional meaning.
• Fate versus personal agency: Shadow recognizes that circumstances and betrayal shaped his downfall, yet he still chooses to continue acting and writing.
• Life’s brevity and intensity: Repeated reflections on life lasting only “a lifetime” or “the blink of an eye” emphasize the importance of living without regret.
• The bond between creator and audience: Forging the Sacred Court is portrayed not merely as a novel, but as a shared world belonging to Shadow and the community that supported it.

4. Character Interactions

• Shadow directly acknowledges numerous devoted supporters, including Elegant Kite, Old K, ZTP, Jie Chen, Phantom Queen, Qingyang, Storm Darling, and Destiny.
• Their different forms of support—financial sacrifice, long-term friendship, silent loyalty, moderation, multiple accounts, and personal hardship—show the varied relationships within Shadow’s reader community.
• He addresses both supporters and critics, offering the former an explanation for the novel’s decline while implicitly answering the latter’s anger and disappointment.
• The chapter’s final apology creates an intimate, almost personal exchange between Shadow and his readers, presenting the piece as an emotional confession rather than a conventional installment.

As Jian Shang’s Kingdom Ascension Ceremony began, the Canada-U.S. Allied Forces attacked the Marshall Islands, where Gan Lan and China’s defenders fought to hold their ground. Despite news of heavy losses, Jian Shang stepped onto the Heaven-Sacrificing Altar, prompting the Sea God Emperor to attack.

• Jian Shang left the palace in a royal procession as Qiu Li reported that the Canada-U.S. Allied Forces had launched an all-out assault on the Marshall Islands.
• Gan Lan activated the Falling Stars Formation, and the allied defenders charged the invading forces; after four hours, the shield collapsed and Gan Lan activated the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation.
• Jian Shang arrived at the Heaven-Sacrificing Altar, where nine Emperor Realm existences unleashed their auras to threaten the ceremony.
• Qiu Li informed Jian Shang that the kingdom’s guardian Dharma King, Black-Faced Tiger King Dian Gang, had died, but Jian Shang continued toward the altar.
• Jian Shang stepped onto the altar’s first stair, and the Sea God Emperor attacked with a torrent of blue light.

As Jian Shang began the Huan Kingdom’s ascension ceremony, emperors from rival forces attacked him, while Qin Shi Huang and several Chinese rulers intervened to protect him. Jian Shang reached the fourth step, where Wolf Emperor Hibepubute launched the next assault and the other visiting emperors remained poised to act.

• The Sea God Emperor attacked Jian Shang, but Qin Shi Huang stopped the attack and held off the Sea God Emperor, the Tomb God Emperor, and the Western King together.
• Jian Shang took the second step before Eight-Prison King Anpei Yeyuan summoned an eight-headed serpent to attack him, and Western Chu Hegemon Xiang Yu cut off one of its heads with the Heaven-Opening Axe.
• Jian Shang reached the third step before Emperor Carlos attacked to avenge his ancestor, but Liu Bang blocked him with the Xuanyuan Divine Sword and warned the dark creatures to withdraw.
• Jian Shang took the fourth step, and Wolf Emperor Hibepubute formed a golden wolf’s head and attacked him while five other visiting emperors had yet to strike.

During the Huan Kingdom's Kingdom Ascension Ceremony, Emperor-level enemies attacked Jian Shang as he climbed the Heaven-Sacrificing Altar, while Consort Qin, Imperial Consort Dishi, and Zhao Ji intervened to protect him. Jian Shang reached the seventh stair just as the Undying Insect Emperor Yenaifu launched an attack, leaving the Huan Kingdom facing another emperor.

• Consort Qin Li Yanyan spent her vital blood activating her altar's formation and used the Liyuan World-Swaying Qin to block the Wolf Emperor's attack.
• Dark God of Magic Aldolf attacked Jian Shang with Dark Purgatory, and Imperial Consort Dishi used a bodhisattva manifestation to restrain the dark mist.
• Jian Shang stepped onto the sixth stair, and Narel, the Heavenly Soul Emperor, struck at him with the Sword of Death.
• Zhao Ji appeared and dissolved Narel's attack with Bewitching All Creation.
• Jian Shang stepped onto the seventh stair, and Yenaifu, the Undying Insect Emperor, sent a cloud of insects toward his altar.

Zhi Ji wounded the Undying Insect Emperor Yenaifu with Heaven-Destroying Finger, while the Huan Kingdom’s Kingdom Ascension Ceremony came under coordinated attack across Nine Dragons Royal City. Jian Shang reached the summit of the Heaven-Sacrificing Altar, where Chancellor Tian Dan began the ceremony amid a citywide battle.

• Zhi Ji struck the insect cloud with Heaven-Destroying Finger, wounding Yenaifu and herself, and forced the Undying Insect Emperor to hold back.
• Jian Shang climbed several more stairs without drawing attacks from the remaining silent emperors.
• At the tenth stair, Undying Forces and other disruptors launched assaults on the Heaven-Sacrificing Altars, and Han Xin rallied the Huan Kingdom’s forces to defend them.
• The China Alliance called on people across the city to resist the attackers and sent troops to support the altars as battles spread throughout Nine Dragons Royal City.
• Jian Shang and his companions reached the altar summit, where Chancellor Tian Dan announced the start of the Kingdom Ascension Ceremony as the fighting continued.

During the Huan Kingdom’s ascension ceremony, Heaven’s apparent wrath struck the altar as the Heavenly Dao collapsed and the Otherworlders’ system began to fail. Jian Shang learned through ancestral memories that Heaven had died and swore to lead its children against the immortals and Buddhas.

• Thunder and accusations that Jian Shang had provoked Heaven’s wrath disrupted the ceremony and shattered the Huan army’s morale.
• The Great Huan King Seal and the Myriad Emperors’ Heavenly Seal flew out, and Jian Shang ordered Tian Dan to complete the ritual at once.
• After the ritual ended, a thunder dragon struck the altar, but Jian Shang, Tian Dan, Qi Ji, and Yu Ji survived as battle across Nine Dragons Royal City halted.
• A system announcement declared that the Heavenly Dao was collapsing, while blood rain fell and Otherworlders discovered that their status panels and system rewards had disappeared.
• Jian Shang experienced ancestral memories of past rulers, declared that Heaven was dead, and vowed to cleave open the world and slaughter every immortal and Buddha in the heavens.

During the Huan Kingdom’s unfinished ascension ceremony, Jian Shang’s grand vow shook heaven and earth, and the national fortune surged as he rapidly broke through into the Loose Immortal Realm. As he challenged a hidden presence, True Immortals descended, leaving the ceremony and the world’s fate in doubt.

• Jian Shang vowed to cleave open the world and slaughter the immortals and Buddhas, creating a grand vow that stunned the gathered powers.
• Qin Shi Huang avoided Jian Shang’s gaze, burdened by shame over having passed his mission and glory to the Huan King.
• Jian Shang told Tian Dan the ceremony had only just begun as the Huan Kingdom’s vast but unstable nine dragons national fortune appeared.
• Jian Shang used the Great Huan Imperial Seal and national fortune to break into the Loose Immortal Realm and surge to peak Loose Immortal Third Grade.
• Jian Shang called out a hidden presence, and a True Immortal descended in burning flames while overwhelming the gathered emperors and Great Adepts.
• Fire God Ottos addressed a woman as his goddess and wife, and another True Immortal’s arrival suggested more than one had descended.

During Huan Emperor Jian Shang’s Heaven-Sacrificing Ceremony, the God of the Underworld arrived with the War God and Fire God, accusing Jian Shang of carrying off Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, who had been traveling with him as Tia. Tia defended Jian Shang and fought the gods to protect him, and the chapter ended as another powerful figure appeared to taunt the God of the Underworld.

• The God of the Underworld, the War God, and the Fire God descended, and the Underworld Warriors identified them before the assembled rulers and officials.
• The God of the Underworld revealed that Tia was Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, and accused Jian Shang of taking her from him.
• Tia explained that Jian Shang had not known who she was, while the God of the Underworld admitted he was jealous and denounced her for defending Jian Shang.
• Jian Shang challenged the God of the Underworld, but Tia intervened to stop his attack and then blocked the Fire God’s flames.
• The God of the Underworld attacked Tia with his divine hand, and Tia answered with her Warning Voice.
• A blood cloud descended as a newcomer mocked the God of the Underworld for failing to control his own woman.

Qin Shi Huang revealed his Chiyou True Form and fought the Blood Demon while Jian Shang defended the Huan Kingdom from the Death God with the Eight-Gate Heaven-Locking Formation. An Atlantis True God arrived and summoned nine Divine Emperor Warriors, leaving the defenders facing an even greater threat.

• Qin Shi Huang halted the Blood Demon’s attack, then transformed into his thousand-foot-tall Chiyou True Form and declared his true power.
• Jian Shang activated the Eight-Gate Heaven-Locking Formation to protect the Huan Kingdom from a death cloud sent by the Death God.
• Jian Shang used Buddha Suppressing Hell to purify the dead souls and strengthened his golden Buddha while resisting the Death God’s attacks.
• Yu Ji replenished Jian Shang’s power, allowing the formation to withstand the Death God despite his efforts to break it.
• An Atlantis True God mocked the Death God and summoned nine Divine Emperor Warriors.

Jian Shang defended Nine Dragons Royal City as gods attacked and the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation shielded the city with power from hidden immortal stones. Seeing the gods treat the devastation as a game, he rallied the Huan Kingdom’s people to lend him their strength to slay a god, and channeled their power into the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow.

• Nine Divine Emperor Warriors battered the Eight-Gate Heaven-Locking Formation, while the purple-robed elder attacked the city with Thundercloud Storm.
• Jian Shang activated the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation, whose barrier withstood the lightning and revealed the Huan Kingdom’s hidden immortal stones to the gods.
• The Wolf God and Bone God appeared as the fighting between gods and immortals devastated Nine Dragons Royal City.
• Jian Shang concluded that the gods were treating the catastrophe as a game, then took up the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow and called on the Huan Kingdom’s subjects to help him slay a god.
• The people answered Jian Shang’s call, strengthening the Nine Dragons National Fortune as he channeled their power into the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow.

Jian Shang used the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow to kill the Bone God during the Huan Kingdom’s ascension, completing the Kingdom Ascension Ceremony and raising the kingdom’s power. As Jian Shang collapsed from the arrow’s strain, the God of the Underworld rallied the remaining gods and launched a fresh attack.

• Jian Shang drew on the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow’s ancient inheritance and transformed as he aimed at the Bone God.
• Jian Shang fired Sunfall and shattered the Bone God, whose death helped heal the void and solidify the Huan Kingdom’s nine dragons national fortune.
• The completed Kingdom Ascension Ceremony healed the people of Nine Dragons Royal City, strengthened the Huan Kingdom, and advanced Jian Shang, Qi Ji, Yu Ji, and Tian Dan.
• Jian Shang began bleeding heavily and collapsed into Qi Ji’s arms, while Yu Ji used Phoenix Blesses All Life to aid him.
• The God of the Underworld urged the gods to attack together and unleashed Wrath of the Underworld God against the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation.

Summary of “The Gods’ Objective”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A phantom Nether God descends upon the Huan Kingdom, causing space to collapse under its immense power. The assembled Gods hesitate to attack directly because they fear provoking the Huan Emperor, Jian Shang, whose previous arrow killed Bone God.
• Jian Shang, already mentally exhausted from using his God-Slaying Arrow, unleashes “Emperor of Myriad Emperors—Sword Suppresses the World.” Empowered by the Nine Dragons’ national fortune, the imperial seal, and his mastery of heavenly laws, ten thousand sword lights assault the Nether God phantom. They weaken it but fail to destroy it.
• The phantom’s descent damages Nine Dragons Royal City and causes widespread destruction, though the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation withstands the attack.
• Believing Jian Shang can fire his divine arrow only once, the Gods grow bolder. The lightning-element mage launches an enlarged “Thundercloud Storm,” threatening the entire city and its inhabitants.
• Jian Shang collapses from spiritual exhaustion. Although Yu Ji can replenish his mana and physical strength, she cannot restore the mental power consumed by his earlier arrow. Qi Ji, Yu Ji, and Prime Minister Tian Dan calmly prepare to face death, expressing gratitude for the lives and achievements they have shared.
• At the height of the crisis, Divine General Ji Geng intervenes. With a single sword strike, he splits apart the thunderclouds and disperses the lightning.
• Ji Geng confronts the Gods, especially the Purgatory Ancestor Nickal, and declares that he could drag all seven True Gods into death with him. He then summons the fifty thousand Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards.
• The Guards occupy the hundreds of Heaven-Sacrificing Altars throughout the city, dramatically strengthening the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation. Ji Geng openly challenges the Gods to fight, causing them to hesitate.
• Ji Geng reveals that the Gods are not primarily trying to destroy the Huan Kingdom. They have descended to search for a mysterious Chaos supreme treasure, allegedly connected to Pangu Immortal Venerable. Because destroying the world would incur enormous karma and punishment from their superiors, they have been ordered not to interfere with the world’s development.

Character Developments

• Jian Shang: Demonstrates extraordinary power but is pushed to his physical and spiritual limits. His inability to continue fighting highlights the cost of his God-Slaying Arrow and makes clear that Yu Ji’s healing cannot repair soul-level exhaustion.
• Qi Ji: Shows unwavering devotion to Jian Shang. She accepts death peacefully, viewing it as worthwhile if she can remain beside the man she loves.
• Yu Ji: Remains emotionally composed and supportive, holding Jian Shang’s hand and facing possible death with serenity. Her healing abilities are shown to have important limitations.
• Prime Minister Tian Dan: Reflects on having survived beyond his destined death and expresses satisfaction with the additional years and accomplishments granted to him under Jian Shang.
• Ji Geng: Emerges as a powerful, fearless, and unconventional protector. Though he initially admits he cannot defeat all seven True Gods, he uses their fear of death and karmic consequences against them. His loyalty to the surviving Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards also reveals deep paternal affection and grief over the fallen Great Zhou.
• The Gods: Their apparent arrogance gives way to caution once Ji Geng strengthens the formation and threatens mutual destruction. Their motives are revealed to be pragmatic rather than purely hostile.

Significant Themes

• Courage in the face of death: The Huan Kingdom’s leaders do not surrender despite overwhelming odds; they accept possible death with dignity.
• Loyalty and companionship: Qi Ji, Yu Ji, Tian Dan, and the Guards remain committed to Jian Shang and the Huan Kingdom even when victory seems impossible.
• Limits of power: Jian Shang’s devastating abilities cannot be used endlessly, emphasizing the difference between physical restoration and spiritual or mental exhaustion.
• Fear beneath divine arrogance: The Gods present themselves as invincible, yet Ji Geng exposes their reluctance to risk death, karmic punishment, or failure.
• Karma and cosmic order: The fate of an entire world is constrained by higher laws. The Gods must pursue their objective without destroying the world, or they will suffer consequences from the upper realm.
• The legacy of fallen nations: Ji Geng’s cry that the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards remain after the fall of Great Zhou shows how loyalty and historical memory survive political destruction.

Character Interactions

• Qi Ji supports Jian Shang physically and emotionally, revealing her intimate relationship with him beyond his public identity as Emperor.
• Yu Ji takes Jian Shang’s other hand, creating a quiet moment of solidarity among the three.
• Ji Geng and Nickal exchange hostile remarks about their pasts and degraded conditions, turning their confrontation into both a personal and ideological conflict.
• Ji Geng reassures Jian Shang that his threat is partly a bluff, explaining that the Gods fear death and the consequences of destroying the world.
• Jian Shang questions Ji Geng about the Gods’ true objective and learns that the conflict centers on a hidden Chaos supreme treasure rather than direct hostility toward the Huan Kingdom.

Jian Shang realized that his Pangu bloodline made him an enemy of the Immortal Domain, while Ji Geng faced an assault by the gods. Qin Shi Huang joined the battle and summoned the God-Devouring Ants, driving the Blood Demon and Wolf God to flee.

• Ji Geng reassured Jian Shang that the supreme treasure was not connected to him, and Jian Shang wondered who the destined Child of the Great Dao was.
• Ji Geng explained that Jian Shang's inherited Pangu bloodline made the Immortal Domain's True Immortals unlikely to help him, prompting Jian Shang to deduce the history behind Pangu and the treasure.
• The God of the Underworld dismissed Ji Geng's threat and ordered Fire God Otos and War God Heros to attack the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation.
• Qin Shi Huang blocked their attacks and revealed an ancient vortex in his palm, which the gods recognized as the source of God-Devouring Ants.
• Ji Geng revealed that he had guarded Great Shang's God-Devouring Ant eggs and that Qin Shi Huang's Gu Ancestor inheritance enabled him to raise the ants.
• Qin Shi Huang summoned the God-Devouring Ants, and the Blood Demon fled, the Wolf God vanished, and Purgatory Ancestor concealed himself.

Qin Shi Huang recalled the God-Devouring Ants with Lady Nandou’s help, and the Upper Realm visitors gathered to discuss their mission. After the visitors departed, Jian Shang chose to retaliate against the forces that had ravaged Nine Dragons Royal City by turning the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation against their abandoned cultivators.

• Fire God Ottos fled with the God of the Underworld when Qin Shi Huang summoned the God-Devouring Ants, while War God Heros warned everyone not to act recklessly.
• Old Immortal Nanhua, Lady Nandou, and Beidou True Lord arrived, and Lady Nandou recalled the ants and healed the wounded and ruined land.
• Old Immortal Nanhua summoned the other Upper Realm beings to agree on rules, and the visitors departed after Purgatory Ancestor invited Qin Shi Huang to join them.
• Qin Shi Huang reaffirmed his alliance with Jian Shang, then left; Ji Geng also departed and warned Jian Shang to use the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards sparingly.
• Empress Qi Ji, Prime Minister Tian Dan, and Yu Ji urged Jian Shang to punish the cultivators trapped in the formation, and Jian Shang ordered them killed.

Jian Shang activated the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation to attack the forces gathered in Nine Dragons Imperial Capital, beginning with the Sea God Emperor. As starlight battered the enemies, Liu Bang joined the assault, leaving Jian Shang wary of his claim to rule under heaven.

• Jian Shang ordered the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation to shift from defense to offense, and the formation’s gravity and starlight overwhelmed those inside Nine Dragons Imperial Capital.
• The Sea God Emperor tried to flee, but Jian Shang’s Astral Main Banner knocked him back, and Jian Shang attacked him with Thousand Palms Overturning Heaven.
• Jian Shang unleashed Falling Stars across the capital, killing hundreds of experts as the formation weakened its targets.
• The Sea God Emperor accused Jian Shang of risking universal retaliation by trying to kill the gathered forces, while Jian Shang claimed Heaven’s will demanded it.
• The Tomb God Emperor disputed Jian Shang’s excuse and threatened revenge, but Liu Bang attacked him with the Xuanyuan Divine Sword and urged the people to unite against the undying beings.
• Jian Shang wondered whether Liu Bang was claiming legitimacy as ruler of the world and resented him for stealing the moment.

Jian Shang used the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation to trap the enemy emperors while Liu Bang fought the Tomb God Emperor. As Jian Shang reinforced the critical Marshall Islands battlefield and opened teleportation routes for volunteers, he killed the Sea God Emperor, whose fall was marked by a bell tolling across heaven and earth.

• Liu Bang attacked the Tomb God Emperor with the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, but was wounded and driven back as Jian Shang manipulated the formation's starlight to direct undead toward him.
• Jian Shang kept the Sea God Emperor under attack while other fighters pinned down enemy emperors across the imperial capital.
• After Tian Dan reported that the Marshall battlefield was in danger, Jian Shang sent the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards and opened teleportation formations for volunteers to reinforce the Marshall Islands.
• Eternal Pharaoh Hulo asked Jian Shang to allow the distant, non-hostile Immortal Empire forces to leave, and Jian Shang agreed.
• Jian Shang used the Great Huan Imperial Seal, the formation, and the Scarlet Firmament Divine Sword to break the Sea God Emperor's defenses and kill him.

After Jian Shang killed the Sea God Emperor, a bell appeared during the battle in the Celestial Cycle Star-Dipper Formation and was identified as the Eastern Sovereign Bell. The Tomb God Emperor seized it and escaped the formation, but Jian Shang captured the bell and ordered Xiao Dieyi to pursue the wounded emperor.

• Jian Shang killed the Sea God Emperor with the Scarlet Firmament Divine Sword and absorbed his vital energy and knowledge.
• The Tomb God Emperor attacked Liu Bang with the Death God's Scythe, but Liu Bang's ancient bell shattered the scythe and scattered the undead around it.
• Zhao Ji identified the bell as the Eastern Sovereign Bell, prompting Jian Shang and the other supreme experts to rush for it.
• The Tomb God Emperor wrapped the bell in a Chain of Darkness and used its power to break through the formation, but the bell shrank, snapped the chain, and veered away.
• Jian Shang caught the Eastern Sovereign Bell with the Cosmic Heaven-Sealing Hand, returned to the Heaven-Sacrificing Altar, and ordered Xiao Dieyi to pursue and kill the gravely wounded Tomb God Emperor.
• Jian Shang concealed the bell and tried to erase Liu Bang's imprint while realizing that Liu Bang had already refined it to a preliminary degree.