Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Retreat!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rumors spread that the Unparalleled Giants representing the Four Source Lands might fight. The news alarms the Sacrificial Sea, Heaven, and countless secluded Dao Ancestors, who wonder whether this could signal the Dark Lifeforms turning against one another.
• Heaven’s powerful figures hope the conflict will allow Willow God to attack and eliminate the Dark Lifeforms, but Immortal Emperors Luo and Meng Hai reject this possibility. Willow God is in a critical breakthrough, and the confrontation is unlikely to become a full war.
• Peacock Venerable faces Netherworld Prison and the other Unparalleled Giants. Netherworld Prison accuses him of violating the agreement governing the Four Source Lands.
• Peacock Venerable argues that he has violated nothing, citing the earlier case of Dao Origin, whom the others had also judged not to have broken the agreement. His defiance angers the other Giants, who side with Netherworld Prison.
• While the Giants confront one another, Dao Ancestor Changhui remains trapped in Peacock Venerable’s destructive white light. His defensive formation is nearly exhausted, and he begs for help, even offering submission.
• Peacock Venerable becomes enraged when Changhui suggests submitting to someone else rather than joining the Soul River. He intensifies his killing intent, nearly destroying Changhui.
• Netherworld Prison intervenes with his Netherworld Giant Hand, creating a direct clash between his Netherworld aura and Peacock Venerable’s white light. The confrontation devastates space and shatters the Grand Dao, though observers are unable to comprehend its deeper principles.
• Jiang Yun appears and recognizes that Netherworld Prison is truly at the peak of the Dao Ancestor Realm, comparable to Willow God and possibly capable of breaking through into the Immortal Emperor Realm.
• Peacock Venerable eventually withdraws, evidently realizing he is losing. Netherworld Prison also retracts his attack, having decisively suppressed Peacock Venerable even through an avatar.
• Rather than continue the conflict, Netherworld Prison demands compensation: the Soul River must provide endless Soul Light to replenish the Underworld’s depleted Reincarnation Origin Material.
• Peacock Venerable accepts the payment offered by the Soul River but suddenly becomes furious and leaves. Those aware of the situation realize that the Soul Light will ultimately help replenish the resources consumed by Jiang Yun, making Peacock Venerable’s actions indirectly benefit him.

Character Developments

• Netherworld Prison is revealed to be overwhelmingly powerful and likely on the verge of becoming an Immortal Emperor. His calm dominance and ability to suppress Peacock Venerable strengthen his position as the true ruler and strongest figure of the Underworld.
• Peacock Venerable remains proud, aggressive, and unwilling to admit fault, but he is forced to retreat and accept punishment. His attempt to assert the Soul River’s prestige instead results in a humiliating loss and unintended aid to Jiang Yun.
• Jiang Yun gains a clearer understanding of Netherworld Prison’s terrifying cultivation level. His past confrontation with Peacock Venerable is also placed in greater perspective, emphasizing how extraordinary Jiang Yun’s survival was.
• Dao Ancestor Changhui is reduced from a proud expert to a desperate survivor. Facing death, he abandons dignity and begs for assistance, demonstrating the enormous gap between Dao Ancestors and Unparalleled Giants.
• The Dao Ancestors of the Underworld and Soul River react differently: the former trust Netherworld Prison’s victory, while the latter fear for Peacock Venerable and willingly sacrifice valuable Soul Light to protect him.
• Many Grand Dao Dao Ancestors lose confidence after witnessing the battle and begin joining the Eight Paths of Reincarnation for protection.

Significant Themes

• The overwhelming hierarchy of power: Even elite Dao Ancestors are helpless before Unparalleled Giants, while avatars of such beings can reshape or destroy the surrounding world.
• Political restraint among the Dark Lifeforms: Despite deep conflict, the Giants avoid total war because the Grand Sacrifice remains their shared priority.
• Pride and humiliation: Peacock Venerable’s arrogance prevents him from yielding, yet he is ultimately forced to retreat and pay compensation.
• Unintended consequences: Peacock Venerable’s punishment indirectly replenishes resources used for Jiang Yun’s benefit, turning his effort to preserve the Soul River’s dignity into an advantage for his opponent.
• Fear and shifting allegiances: The display of Netherworld Prison’s strength causes many Dao Ancestors to abandon neutrality and seek refuge with the Eight Paths of Reincarnation.
• The approaching Immortal Emperor Realm: Netherworld Prison’s strength, along with Willow God’s breakthrough, suggests that a major transformation in the balance of power may soon occur.

Important Character Interactions

• Netherworld Prison and Peacock Venerable: Their dispute over the Four Source Lands’ agreement escalates into a battle, ending with Peacock Venerable’s retreat and submission to compensation.
• Peacock Venerable and Dao Ancestor Changhui: Changhui’s plea for help and willingness to submit enrages Peacock Venerable, who nearly kills him.
• Netherworld Prison and Changhui: Netherworld Prison indirectly saves Changhui by intercepting Peacock Venerable’s attack.
• Jiang Yun and the battle: Jiang Yun observes the clash and gains insight into Netherworld Prison’s cultivation and authority.
• The Four Source Lands: The other Giants collectively support Netherworld Prison, showing that Peacock Venerable’s behavior has isolated him despite his status.

Summary: “A Mysterious Aura! A Shocking Change!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the confrontation involving the Unparalleled Giants, their discussion remains unknown. Dao Ancestor Changhui survives the calamity but disappears into hiding.
• Jiang Yun speculates that the Giants reached a new agreement, possibly imposing an even harsher punishment on anyone who breaks the truce. Peacock Venerable is also unlikely to act again until the Grand Sacrifice.
• Jiang Yun consults Hou Ming about why Peacock Venerable did not use the Altar Phantom against Netherworld Prison. Hou Ming explains that both Giants were holding back: using the Altar Phantom would have provoked an even more devastating technique from Netherworld Prison.
• Jiang Yun realizes that Netherworld Prison’s Netherworld Giant Hand is merely a casual technique and that he possesses far more terrifying hidden abilities.
• Worried that Netherworld Prison might become an Immortal Emperor before Willow God, Jiang Yun resolves to rely on his own strength rather than place all hope in others.
• After completing his Sixth Transformation, Jiang Yun’s nine million bloodlines fully merge into his body. His flesh becomes extraordinarily powerful, able to withstand even a Quasi-Immortal Emperor War Spear and suppress many techniques.
• Fifty thousand years pass. The Eight Paths of Reincarnation remain active, while Heaven’s Immortal Emperors prevent a full-scale attack against them. Repeated battles between Heaven and the Reincarnation forces turn the Reincarnation Road into a kind of proving ground.
• During a clash between two familiar rival Immortal Kings, a shocking aura suddenly emerges from a destroyed realm. The aura is recognized as belonging to Willow God.
• Willow God appears to be approaching or undergoing a breakthrough toward the Immortal Emperor realm. Her emergence alarms the entire Four Source Lands, including Netherworld Prison, the Underworld Dao Ancestors, Heaven, and the Unparalleled Giants.
• The Underworld’s forces are frightened because Willow God once defeated and terrorized many of them. Although they wish to disrupt her breakthrough, the standing agreement among the Four Source Lands prevents them from acting.
• Jiang Yun suspects that Willow God’s breakthrough aura should have been concealed by a formation. He doubts that the two Immortal Kings could have caused the leak and begins to suspect a deeper scheme.
• Heaven’s Immortal Emperors reject calls to send reinforcements. They explain that interfering with Willow God’s breakthrough could destroy surrounding worlds and kill everyone nearby. Since Willow God did not request aid, they assume she understands the risks.
• Willow God’s immense true form finally manifests: an enormous willow tree rooted in the Sacrificial Sea. Its branches and leaves radiate overwhelming power, suppressing the sea and terrifying even nearby Dao Ancestors.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yun becomes more cautious after learning that Netherworld Prison has concealed formidable abilities. His concern for Willow God’s possible defeat motivates him to strengthen himself independently.
• Jiang Yun’s Sixth Transformation dramatically enhances his physical body, suggesting that his flesh may eventually become his distinctive path toward Immortal Emperorhood, much like the Desolate Emperor’s Sword Light.
• Jiang Yun also demonstrates greater strategic awareness. He recognizes that Willow God’s exposed breakthrough aura may not be accidental and begins searching for the hidden cause.
• Hou Ming provides Jiang Yun with crucial insight into the restraint and hidden power of the Giants. Her radiant smile and relaxed explanation contrast with the seriousness of the information.
• Netherworld Prison remains silent but observant. His awakening upon sensing Willow God’s aura emphasizes his immense power and his awareness of the changing balance among the strongest beings.
• Willow God moves from a distant, silent figure into the center of the chapter. Her manifestation suggests that she has reached a decisive stage in her cultivation and may soon challenge the Immortal Emperor realm.
• The two rival Immortal Kings continue using their battles to sharpen one another. Their reaction to Willow God’s aura reveals the enormous gap between their level and hers.
• Shi Yi and the Heavenly Prince outwardly appear worried about Willow God, but internally rejoice because they are traitors to Heaven and secretly support the possibility of her success.

Significant Themes

• The limits of power and the danger of hidden strength: Even the Giants conceal techniques capable of changing the outcome of their battles, while Jiang Yun realizes he cannot judge Netherworld Prison by his visible methods alone.
• Self-reliance and personal cultivation: Jiang Yun concludes that relying on Willow God or the Desolate Emperor is insufficient; his own strength must become the foundation of his future.
• The immense difficulty of transcendence: Reaching the Immortal Emperor realm is portrayed as an almost impossible final step, one that requires extraordinary talent, opportunity, and immense risk.
• Political restraint and fragile balance: The agreement among the Four Source Lands prevents immediate intervention, even when many factions want to attack or protect Willow God.
• Fear and awe before supreme beings: Willow God’s aura affects the Sacrificial Sea, countless worlds, and all nearby cultivators, demonstrating how beings at the highest level can reshape reality merely by appearing.
• Uncertainty and hidden schemes: The unexplained leakage of Willow God’s breakthrough aura raises the possibility that her emergence is part of a trap or deliberate plan.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun and Hou Ming discuss Peacock Venerable’s restraint and Netherworld Prison’s concealed trump cards, deepening Jiang Yun’s understanding of the Giants.
• Jiang Yun reflects on Willow God’s potential breakthrough and compares his own progress with hers, revealing both admiration and anxiety.
• The two rival Immortal Kings fight as lifelong opponents and mutual “whetstones,” but their conflict is abruptly halted by Willow God’s aura.
• The Underworld Dao Ancestors gather around Jiang Yun and Hou Ming, reacting with fear and hostility to Willow God’s reappearance.
• Heaven’s Grand Dao Dao Ancestors urge Immortal Emperors Luo and Meng Hai to protect Willow God, but the two Immortal Emperors reject the proposal because intervention could cause catastrophic destruction.
• The chapter ends with Willow God’s overwhelming manifestation, forcing even the Dao Ancestors who came to observe her to retreat in terror.

Chapter Summary: Willow God Breaks into the Immortal Emperor Realm!

Key Plot Points and Events

• During Willow God’s breakthrough into the Immortal Emperor Realm, one of her branches suddenly withers. Soon, her entire tree body decays and petrifies, appearing completely lifeless.
• The Dao Ancestors assume Willow God’s breakthrough has failed. Immortal Emperors Luo and Meng Hai recognize similarities to their own dangerous breakthroughs but cannot determine whether Willow God has truly failed.
• The Weird Clan celebrates, believing Willow God’s apparent defeat signals the rise of their side and the eventual destruction of Heaven during the Grand Sacrifice.
• Jiang Yun remains calm and suspects that something is wrong with the situation. Hou Ming assumes he is troubled by memories of his own past calamity and comforts him, revealing her concern for him.
• Jiang Yun points out two mysterious figures who approach Willow God’s petrified body. They are former enemies whom Willow God once defeated and who have survived by cooperating with Dark Lifeforms.
• The two figures intend to loot Willow God’s accumulated treasures and take revenge. Heaven’s Dao Ancestors become furious and prepare to attack them.
• In the Underworld, the Dao Ancestors interpret the situation as an opportunity to seize Willow God’s petrified body, while Jiang Yun warns that matters are not so simple.
• The two enemies strike Willow God’s trunk with powerful sacrificial and ancient weapons to confirm that she is truly dead. The attack causes tremendous destruction, seemingly proving that the tree has no life remaining.
• However, when they search for her treasures, Willow God suddenly revives. Fresh green shoots emerge from the broken branches, revealing that only her outer layer had petrified. Her inner body still contains overwhelming vitality.
• The petrification was a deliberate concealment and trap designed to lure out hidden enemies. The two attackers are left stunned, while the surrounding Dao Ancestors realize they narrowly avoided falling into the same trap.
• Jiang Yun explains that a genuine failure at the Immortal Emperor Realm could not have been so quiet and uneventful; the apparent death was clearly suspicious.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Willow God: Demonstrates extraordinary power, patience, and strategic intelligence. Rather than failing, she hides her true vitality beneath a petrified exterior, using her breakthrough to expose enemies who had been waiting for her weakness.
• Jiang Yun: Shows exceptional insight and composure. He immediately recognizes that Willow God’s “death” is suspicious and refuses to act recklessly. His judgment earns him greater credibility among both Heaven and Underworld factions.
• Hou Ming: Displays unusual tenderness and concern toward Jiang Yun, comforting him because she believes Willow God’s fate has reminded him of his own past suffering. Jiang Yun is touched by her care and reassures her.
• The two former enemies of Willow God: Reveal their bitterness and desire for revenge after surviving for countless ages through contact with the Weird Clan and Dark Lifeforms. Their confidence collapses when Willow God revives.
• Heaven’s Dao Ancestors: Shift from shock and concern to anger when the intruders approach Willow God, then to relief and fear after realizing the petrification was a trap.
• Underworld Dao Ancestors: Become eager to claim Willow God’s body and treasures, but Jiang Yun restrains them by warning that the situation is dangerous.
• Weird Clan Dao Ancestors: Initially celebrate Willow God’s apparent defeat, but later feel fortunate that they did not personally attempt to seize her remains.

Significant Themes

• Appearances versus reality: Willow God’s apparent death is only a disguise; what seems like defeat conceals immense vitality.
• Patience and strategic deception: Willow God uses her breakthrough and apparent collapse to expose enemies who had hidden for ages.
• The danger of greed and revenge: The two attackers allow their hatred and desire for treasure to overcome caution, leading them directly into Willow God’s trap.
• Insight versus panic: Most Dao Ancestors are misled because they are overwhelmed by Willow God’s terrifying presence and the significance of the Immortal Emperor breakthrough. Jiang Yun alone remains sufficiently calm to question the obvious conclusion.
• The peril of transcendence: The breakthrough into the Immortal Emperor Realm is portrayed as extraordinarily dangerous, involving death, rebirth, and the possibility of complete destruction.
• Hidden alliances and long-term schemes: The former enemies’ cooperation with Dark Lifeforms and the involvement of the Origin Lands reveal the extensive conspiracies operating behind the conflict between Heaven, the Underworld, and the Weird Clan.

Chapter Summary: “Willow God’s Methods!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Dao Ancestors realize that Willow God’s apparent weakness and signs of death were an elaborate killing trap. She had never truly failed in her breakthrough; she had been waiting for the Weird Clan and their allies to reveal themselves.
• Two Dao Ancestors who entered the Sacrificial Sea are trapped within Willow God’s branches. They attack desperately with powerful artifacts, forbidden techniques, mysterious runes, and Altar Phantoms, risking complete corruption by weirdness.
• Willow God withstands their final combined strike using only her branches and leaves. Although several leaves wither, they quickly regrow, showing that the attack caused her almost no meaningful harm.
• The two trapped Dao Ancestors are then silently erased beneath falling willow leaves. Their artifacts remain floating in the air, while their deaths confirm the overwhelming gap between them and Willow God.
• Observers realize that Willow God has grown significantly stronger and speculate that the apparent trap was also part of a ritual or preparation for her breakthrough into the Immortal Emperor realm.
• Netherworld Prison, one of the strongest figures of the Weird Clan, unexpectedly retreats in apprehension. Jiang Yun understands that he has sensed Willow God’s imminent breakthrough and knows he has fallen behind her.
• After the battle, Willow God enters a state of profound Dao comprehension. Her presence allows some cultivators to gain insights or even enter cultivation, confirming that she is actively approaching the final breakthrough.
• Heaven celebrates the reversal of the situation. However, Immortal Emperor Luo and Immortal Emperor Meng Hai remain solemn, recognizing the significance and uniqueness of Willow God’s path.
• As Gu Tuo asks whether Heaven will soon attack the Four Source Lands, Luo hints that deeper plans exist and that the Four Source Lands cannot be conquered so easily.
• The chapter ends as Willow God’s radiance intensifies. Her roots penetrate deeper into the Sacrificial Sea while her branches and leaves extend toward the heavens, signaling that her breakthrough is reaching a critical stage.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Willow God is revealed as exceptionally calculating, patient, and confident. She deliberately allowed the enemy to believe she had fallen, then used their assumptions against them. Her effortless defeat of two Dao Ancestors demonstrates that she has surpassed her previous level of power.
• Jiang Yun remains calm and perceptive. His earlier words prevented one Dao Ancestor from rushing into the trap, and he correctly infers that Willow God is about to become an Immortal Emperor. He also understands why Netherworld Prison retreats.
• Shi Yi and the Heavenly Prince initially pretend to be worried about Willow God but are secretly delighted when her survival is revealed. Their faith in Jiang Yun’s judgment and his potential as a “Variable” grows stronger.
• The trapped Dao Ancestors shift from arrogance and hope to desperation, rage, and despair. Their final attack fails completely, and they are erased without Willow God needing to reveal a special technique.
• Netherworld Prison displays rare fear and unease. His retreat suggests that he realizes Willow God may soon surpass him, especially since his own breakthrough has stalled.
• Immortal Emperor Luo and Immortal Emperor Meng Hai react with quiet recognition rather than excitement, reflecting on their own breakthroughs and implying that Willow God’s advancement may have consequences beyond the immediate battle.
• Gu Tuo becomes eager to exploit Willow God’s breakthrough by launching an expedition against the Four Source Lands, but Luo warns that the situation is more complicated than it appears.

Significant Themes

• Deception and strategy: Willow God’s greatest weapon is not merely strength but her ability to manipulate the enemy’s expectations and lure them into a fatal trap.
• The overwhelming gap between realms: Even two Dao Ancestors using their strongest attacks cannot meaningfully injure Willow God, emphasizing how close she is to the Immortal Emperor realm.
• Breakthrough through battle: Jiang Yun speculates that reaching the Immortal Emperor realm may require countless life-and-death battles and comprehension of the Dao through bloodshed.
• Fear and psychological domination: Willow God’s reputation has become so terrifying that the Weird Clan may no longer dare leave the Four Source Lands, even without a formal agreement.
• The uncertainty of power and hidden plans: Heaven’s leaders do not immediately launch an assault, suggesting that Willow God’s breakthrough is part of a larger strategy and that the Four Source Lands conceal dangers of their own.
• Renewal and resilience: The regrowth of Willow God’s leaves symbolizes her near-limitless vitality and her ability to emerge stronger from destruction.
• The uniqueness of each Dao path: Luo and Meng Hai’s reflections emphasize that every Immortal Emperor follows a distinct route to enlightenment, making Willow God’s breakthrough both unprecedented and difficult to predict.

Chapter Summary: “Success!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Willow God’s breakthrough continues, causing the entire Sacrificial Sea to fall into an uneasy silence. Her revival and disappearance of life force seem random, but powerful beings gradually realize that these changes may represent the unfolding of her Dao.
• The Weird Dao Ancestors of the Four Source Lands are initially discouraged by Willow God’s impending rise, but reassure themselves that the forces above the Sacrificial Sea—especially the Ancestral Emperor—could still suppress her.
• In the Underworld, Hou Ming expresses regret over her stalled cultivation. Her mastery of Hell Netherflame greatly increased her combat power but damaged her future prospects. Jiang Yun comforts her, reminding her that if she had advanced earlier, they might never have met.
• Desolate Emperor’s protective Sword Light over the Sea of Realms begins to tremble and crack, seemingly in response to Willow God’s breakthrough. Jiang Yun realizes this may be connected to Willow God’s earlier warning that the Sword Light could eventually disappear.
• Willow God finally takes the last step into the Immortal Emperor Realm. Her immense true body contracts into a seemingly world-integrated phantom, while her overwhelming aura confirms her success.
• Heaven erupts in celebration, while the Weird Clan and many beings connected to Dark Lifeforms become fearful of possible retaliation.
• Contrary to expectations, Willow God does not attack the Four Source Lands or announce a campaign. She merely surveys the Sacrificial Sea and vanishes.
• Her unexpected behavior causes the Weird Dao Ancestors to become suspicious and defensive. The Four Source Lands order their affiliated forces to withdraw, contract their territories, and halt activities.
• Ditian instructs Jiang Yun to suspend the Eight Paths of Reincarnation, recall all Reincarnation Slaves, and withdraw from the increasingly dangerous Reincarnation Road.
• Jiang Yun calmly agrees and uses the order to test his authority. Zhulong, Bull Demon, the Path Masters, and the Reincarnation Slaves obey immediately, demonstrating his complete control over the Eight Paths.
• Jiang Yun privately predicts that Willow God will not launch the war everyone fears. His reasoning is based on her failure to warn him of such a campaign during their secret meeting; instead, she only urged him to return to the Sea of Realms and erase traces of his past.
• The Underworld’s Dao Ancestors debate Jiang Yun’s prediction. Some trust his judgment, while others believe he is underestimating an Immortal Emperor, possibly influenced by Desolate Emperor.
• As the Eight Paths fall silent and Heaven appears increasingly dominant, many worlds prepare to align themselves with Heaven. The chapter ends with startling news: Grand Dao cultivators are preparing to go “Above Heaven.”

Character Developments

• Willow God successfully becomes an Immortal Emperor, transforming the balance of power across the Sacrificial Sea. Her calm, unreadable conduct after the breakthrough makes her even more mysterious.
• Jiang Yun displays confidence, authority, and strategic intelligence. He obeys Ditian publicly but remains inwardly calm, trusting his interpretation of Willow God’s intentions. His command over the Eight Paths of Reincarnation is shown to be absolute.
• Hou Ming reveals vulnerability beneath her usual coldness, feeling envy and regret over her delayed cultivation. Jiang Yun’s reassurance helps her overcome these emotions.
• Ditian appears increasingly anxious despite trying to reassure Jiang Yun. He is relieved when Jiang Yun obeys but remains suspicious of Jiang Yun’s unusual confidence.
• The Weird Dao Ancestors shift from confidence to guarded anxiety. Though they still rely on the Ancestral Emperor and the forces above heaven, Willow God’s unpredictable behavior unsettles them.
• The Underworld Dao Ancestors become divided over Jiang Yun’s judgment, with some viewing him as perceptive and others as overconfident.

Significant Themes

• The arrival of a new age: Willow God’s breakthrough signals a major historical turning point and suggests that an unprecedented Grand Sacrifice and massive war may be approaching.
• Uncertainty surrounding power: Even the strongest beings cannot easily understand an Immortal Emperor’s actions. Willow God’s silence proves more frightening than an open declaration of war.
• Preparation versus speculation: Various factions respond to fear by withdrawing, consolidating territory, and preparing for conflict, even though the actual intentions of their supposed enemy remain unknown.
• Cultivation, regret, and fate: Hou Ming’s stalled advancement highlights the cost of certain cultivation paths and the irreversible consequences of choices made over countless years.
• Authority and leadership: Jiang Yun’s effortless command over the Eight Paths demonstrates the influence he has built and contrasts with the anxiety of those around him.
• The limits of understanding: Dao Ancestors debate whether Jiang Yun can comprehend Willow God’s motives, emphasizing the vast gap between realms and the danger of assuming one understands forces beyond one’s level.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun and Hou Ming: Jiang Yun notices Hou Ming’s regret and comforts her with a personal remark about how her earlier breakthrough might have prevented their meeting. Their interaction shows growing trust and warmth between them.
• Jiang Yun and Willow God: Willow God briefly notices Jiang Yun after becoming an Immortal Emperor, but neither reveals anything. Their silent exchange suggests mutual awareness and hidden plans.
• Jiang Yun and Ditian: Ditian urges Jiang Yun to shut down the Eight Paths and attempts to calm him about the threat from above. Jiang Yun complies while deliberately concealing his own reasoning, leaving Ditian uncertain.
• Jiang Yun and the Eight Paths’ leaders: His command is obeyed instantly by Zhulong, Bull Demon, and the other leaders, confirming his supreme authority.
• The Underworld Dao Ancestors: Their private discussions over Jiang Yun’s prediction reveal differing levels of trust in his judgment and concern about Willow God’s true intentions.

Chapter Summary: “Rushing to Above Heaven!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A rumor spreads throughout the Sacrificial Sea that Heaven intends to send its Grand Dao Dao Ancestors to Above Heaven to cultivate. Many initially doubt it because Above Heaven is extremely dangerous and the Weird Clan may still possess hidden Immortal Emperor-level powers.
• Allied Evolutionary Civilizations send Dao Ancestors to Heaven to dissuade it from taking this risk. Gu Tuo Dao Ancestor receives them and confirms that Heaven has already made its decision.
• The visitors attempt to meet Willow God, believing she is the only one who can reverse the order. Gu Tuo blocks them with an ancient trapping formation, forcing them to leave. Their humiliation causes many outsiders to suspect that Heaven has become arrogant, though the real reason is that Heaven is protecting a crucial secret.
• The Weird Clan learns of the expedition and reacts with excitement. Many believe the Heaven cultivators are walking into a trap and will be destroyed by experts hidden in the Ancestral Land.
• Jiang Yun tells Hou Ming that he will soon leave, alarming her because Heaven’s expedition could create an opportunity for his enemies to hunt him. He reassures her that he will not depart until the Grand Dao Dao Ancestors have left.
• The Grand Dao Dao Ancestors eventually prepare for and begin their journey to Above Heaven. Although many observers regard this as reckless, the true reason is known only to a few Immortal Emperors: if Heaven does not strengthen itself, the Plateau Ancestral Land may be drawn into the conflict and bring about an even faster catastrophe.
• Jiang Yun secretly leaves the Underworld and reaches the edge of the Sword Light separating the ages. He plans to cross it and return to the Sea of Realms once attention is focused on Heaven’s expedition.
• The chapter ends with the Sword Light nearing collapse after tens of thousands of years, though no one else realizes how close it is to disappearing.

Character Developments

• Gu Tuo Dao Ancestor: Initially opposed to the idea of sending cultivators to Above Heaven, Gu Tuo accepts Willow God’s undisclosed evidence and becomes responsible for enforcing the decision. Though burdened by the possibility of losing fellow Dao Ancestors, he recommits himself to cultivation and prepares to confront enemies such as Shi Yi, the Heavenly Prince, and Jiang Yun.
• Willow God: Demonstrates strategic authority and long-term vision. She knowingly accepts the danger of the expedition because Heaven must grow stronger for the eventual final war against the Weird Clan.
• Jiang Yun: Remains secretive and calculating. He uses the distraction created by Heaven’s expedition to prepare his own return to the Sea of Realms and recognizes that the Sword Light is close to collapse.
• Hou Ming: Shows deep concern for Jiang Yun’s safety and displays a rare softness and emotional intimacy toward him. Her trust in his judgment is emphasized when she accepts his explanation.
• The Grand Dao Dao Ancestors: Despite initial dissatisfaction and external criticism, they ultimately embrace the expedition as both a dangerous mission and a valuable opportunity for cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice for the greater struggle: Heaven knowingly risks the deaths of its Dao Ancestors to prepare for a future decisive war.
• The burden of hidden knowledge: Heaven’s leaders cannot explain their actions because revealing the truth could expose dangerous secrets, making them appear arrogant or irrational.
• Time and impermanence: The weakening Sword Light symbolizes the eventual decay of even the most powerful beings and structures. Immortal Emperors, eras, and barriers all face destruction.
• Trust versus suspicion: Outsiders interpret Heaven’s actions as madness, while those within Heaven must trust Willow God without knowing the full reason behind her decision.
• Approaching final conflict: The expedition is part of a larger plan to build strength before the eventual assault on the Weird Clan and the Plateau Ancestral Land.

Character Interactions

• Allied Dao Ancestors confront Gu Tuo and try to stop the expedition, but he refuses to reveal Heaven’s secret and uses a formation to turn them away.
• Gu Tuo internally reflects on his earlier doubts about Willow God’s decision and his duty to protect Heaven.
• Jiang Yun and Hou Ming share a tender conversation: she anxiously tries to stop him from leaving, while he reassures her that he will wait until the expedition begins.
• Their emotional closeness becomes apparent through their quiet exchange, surprising Jiang Yun and revealing a gentler side of Hou Ming.
• Gu Tuo’s thoughts about Jiang Yun, Shi Yi, and the Heavenly Prince show that personal conflicts remain intertwined with the coming war.

Chapter Summary: “Return to the Sea of Realms!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yun returns to Emperorfall Tomb Marsh after more than two hundred thousand years. His experiences Above Heaven give him new insight into how Immortal Emperors’ corpses can transform into forbidden lands.
• He discovers that Sword Light is nearing total collapse. Its surface and depths are filled with cracks, allowing terrifying powers from the surrounding space to seep through.
• Rather than crossing Sword Light himself and risking accelerating its destruction, Jiang Yun summons Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin and uses the Bronze Coffin to travel safely.
• During the crossing, Sword Light has become far more dangerous than before, with clashes between its remaining power and the surrounding Grand Dao capable of killing even Immortal Emperors. The coffin and dragon corpses withstand everything unharmed.
• Jiang Yun conceals his dark power and temporarily restores his Grand Dao Origin, hoping the Desolate Emperor might contact him. However, no meeting occurs, leading him to suspect that the Desolate Emperor may be preparing for his breakthrough into the Sacrificial Dao Realm.
• Jiang Yun eventually returns to the Sea of Realms. After leaving the coffin, he changes his aura back to darkness and watches Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin disappear.
• Exploring the Immortal Domain, he learns that Sword Light’s past instability caused widespread fear of a Dark Lifeform invasion. When no invasion came, people began believing Sword Light would last forever and ridiculing those who continued to warn of danger.
• Jiang Yun also discovers that his identity and achievements as Dao Origin have been almost completely erased. Rumors claim that Immortal King Chu Xuan killed Dao Origin, while others search for Dao Origin’s lost Quasi-Immortal Emperor War Spear.
• Source Rings, originally created or associated with Jiang Yun’s power, are now attributed to the ancient Six Paths of Reincarnation Immortal King.

2. Character Developments

• Jiang Yun displays greater strength, self-control, and strategic awareness. Although he feels uncertainty about the future and the overwhelming power of the Weird Clan and Calamity Plateau, he forcibly eliminates his doubts and refuses to let fear obstruct his plans.
• His long absence has made him more emotionally reflective. He experiences homesickness and wonders whether anyone in the Sea of Realms still remembers him.
• Jiang Yun remains protective of Sword Light and the Sea of Realms, choosing the safest method of crossing rather than risking further damage to the already-failing barrier.
• He accepts the erasure of his identity with surprising calm, recognizing that such concealment was necessary and likely inevitable.
• Hou Ming briefly senses Jiang Yun’s return, feeling that someone close to her has disappeared, though she cannot identify the source of the feeling.
• The Desolate Emperor does not appear, suggesting that he may be occupied with or approaching a major breakthrough.

3. Significant Themes

• The passage and power of time: Two hundred thousand years have transformed the world and nearly erased Jiang Yun’s existence, while the Bronze Coffin remains untouched.
• The fragility of safeguards: Sword Light, once regarded as eternal, is actually at the end of its lifespan, showing that even seemingly indestructible protections can fail.
• Memory and historical distortion: Jiang Yun’s identity is rewritten, with his inventions and achievements attributed to another Immortal King. History preserves fragments while losing the truth.
• Hope versus complacency: The Immortal Domain’s temporary safety causes people to abandon vigilance and attack those who still warn of disaster.
• Resolve against despair: Emperorfall Tomb Marsh exploits doubt and hopelessness, but Jiang Yun recognizes the danger and strengthens his will.
• Sacrifice and secrecy: Jiang Yun’s plans require him to hide his identity, power, and accomplishments, even if this means being forgotten.

4. Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun has no direct meeting with the Desolate Emperor during the crossing, despite expecting another message or instruction.
• Hou Ming’s inexplicable sense of loss contrasts with Jiang Yun’s hidden return, creating an emotional connection despite their physical separation.
• Dao Ancestor Ditian notices Hou Ming’s unusual reaction and questions her, but she suppresses her feelings and dismisses his concern.
• Jiang Yun observes the beliefs and rumors circulating among Immortal Domain cultivators, especially their hostility toward the Heavenly Court veterans who continue guarding against Dark Lifeforms.
• The chapter ends with Jiang Yun silently confronting a world that has forgotten him, while remaining focused on the dangers and missions awaiting him in the Sea of Realms.

Chapter Summary: “Changes Over the Years!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yun returns from beyond Sword Light and visits a hidden Heavenly Court outpost near its edge. The guards initially mistake his presence for an attack by dark lifeforms, but they soon recognize him as the long-missing Dao Origin Immortal King.
• He recounts the battle Above Heaven, including the Desolate Emperor’s fight against three Weird Immortal Emperors and his killing of one of them. The Heavenly Court cultivators react with pride and admiration for the Desolate Emperor.
• News of Jiang Yun’s return spreads throughout the Source World. He reunites with Jiang Shuanglan, his children, and other old companions after more than two hundred thousand years apart.
• Jiang Yun observes the Source World’s development: Qing Emperor and Wushi have become Unparalleled Immortal King Giants, many old companions have entered the Immortal King Realm, and all four of his children have reached the Peak Immortal King Realm. The Ruthless Great Emperor remains in seclusion on the Reincarnation Road.
• After spending several years with his family and more than ten years in the Source World, Jiang Yun travels alone through the Immortal Domain, revisiting places connected to his past.
• He carefully erases or conceals all traces of Dao Origin and the Heavenly Court, ensuring that the Weird Clan—especially Peacock Venerable of the Soul River—cannot uncover the truth about his survival or movements.
• Jiang Yun orders the Dao Origin Faction and Heavenly Court forces to withdraw from the Sea of Realms and relocate to the Source World. This is part of a broader plan, supported by Willow God and others, to preserve their strength for the coming Grand Sacrifice and the end of the Sacrificial Era.
• The Heavenly Court subsequently “vanishes” overnight. Rumors spread that Chu Xuan may have attacked it, while others sense that a major upheaval is approaching.
• During the relocation, Jiang Yun discovers that his cousin Ye Fan is in the Immortal Domain. Ye Fan has advanced far beyond the expected timeline, combining the Red Dust Immortal and War Immortal paths to complete his cultivation five hundred thousand years earlier than originally anticipated.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yun: Now vastly more powerful and cautious, Jiang Yun acts with strategic patience rather than immediately confronting old enemies. He prioritizes protecting his allies, hiding his existence, preserving future forces, and eliminating any evidence that could expose him to the Weird Clan.
• Jiang Shuanglan and Jiang Yun’s family: They remain loyal and alive after two hundred thousand years, though the long separation has caused profound emotional pain. Their reunion highlights the strength of their bonds.
• The Heavenly Court veterans: They continue to trust Jiang Yun and remain devoted to guarding against the dark lifeforms, despite years of disappointment and suppression by the Immortal Alliance. They willingly accept relocation once convinced that it is part of Willow God’s plan.
• Qing Emperor and Wushi: Both have risen to the level of Unparalleled Immortal King Giants, showing the Source World’s extraordinary progress during Jiang Yun’s absence.
• Jiang Yun’s children: All four have reached the Peak Immortal King Realm and are approaching the level of Immortal King Giants.
• Ye Fan: He has followed an innovative cultivation path, combining the Red Dust Immortal Road with the War Immortal Road. With Jiang Yun’s distant guidance, he has achieved enormous progress far earlier than in the original timeline.
• Chu Xuan: Though he remains powerful within the Immortal Alliance, Jiang Yun now views him as insignificant and easily removable. Chu Xuan’s propaganda and suppression of the Heavenly Court have deepened the hostility between the two factions.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time: Two hundred thousand years have transformed the realms, allowing old figures to die, new powers to rise, and memories of Jiang Yun and the Dao Origin Faction to fade into legend.
• Erasure and hidden identities: Jiang Yun deliberately conceals his existence and manipulates historical traces to prevent enemies from discovering the truth. Survival depends not only on strength but also on controlling information and history.
• Preparation for catastrophe: The relocation of the Heavenly Court and Source World forces reflects the coming Grand Sacrifice and the need to preserve living strength for the final struggle.
• Loyalty and reunion: Despite immense time and separation, Jiang Yun’s allies and family retain their loyalty. His return restores old connections and confirms that some bonds endure beyond eras.
• Changing fate and altered timelines: Jiang Yun’s intervention has reshaped the development of the Source World and accelerated Ye Fan’s cultivation by hundreds of thousands of years.
• Pride in the Desolate Emperor: The Heavenly Court’s reaction to the Desolate Emperor’s battle reinforces his legendary status and their unwavering belief in his invincibility.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun surprises and reassures the Heavenly Court guards, who shift from fear and suspicion to joy upon confirming his identity.
• He shares news of the Desolate Emperor’s battle, strengthening the guards’ confidence and admiration for their cause.
• Jiang Yun reunites emotionally with Jiang Shuanglan, his children, and longtime companions after their prolonged separation.
• He negotiates with the reluctant Heavenly Court veterans, persuading them to abandon their front-line positions by invoking Willow God’s authority and showing them a Willow Branch.
• His attitude toward Chu Xuan is calm and dismissive; although Chu Xuan once suppressed the Heavenly Court and spread false rumors, Jiang Yun now considers him an enemy who can be dealt with effortlessly.
• Jiang Yun’s discovery of Ye Fan creates a moment of surprise and reflection, as he recognizes how his own interventions have radically changed his cousin’s destiny.

Chapter Summary: “Farewell, Black Bird!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yun travels alone to the abandoned Ancient Reincarnation Road, leaving the Heavenly Court veterans behind. He has returned to resolve unfinished matters, especially his dealings with Black Bird.
• He realizes that the Ancient Road is far more mysterious than it appears, since it once sealed a Dao Ancestor. He remains uncertain whether the road’s secrets originated with the Desolate Emperor or existed from the beginning.
• Although over two hundred thousand years have passed, Black Bird has still not escaped her seal. The Desolate Emperor’s formation resisted her attempts to break free and severely injured her when she tried.
• Jiang Yun carefully conceals his identity beneath a dark aura, intending to avoid revealing his connection to the Sea of Realms or alarming Black Bird prematurely.
• Black Bird hears Jiang Yun’s approaching footsteps and becomes extremely anxious. She prepares the Reincarnation Dao Flame for a desperate counterattack and considers many possible enemies, including Dark Lifeforms, Grand Dao cultivators, and forces from the Four Source Lands.
• Attempting to intimidate the unknown visitor, Black Bird claims to be a supreme existence of the Underworld and offers benefits in exchange for obedience.
• Jiang Yun reveals himself as “Xuan Emperor” and confirms that he is the person before her. Black Bird initially suspects he is an impostor, perhaps sent by the Four Extremes Floating Soil, because his power has increased impossibly quickly.
• To prove his identity, Jiang Yun displays the Reincarnation Dao Flame. The familiar sight convinces Black Bird that he truly is Jiang Yun, though she is stunned by how dramatically he has grown.
• Black Bird deduces that Jiang Yun must have crossed the Sword Light, reached the Underworld, and met Dao Ancestor Hou Ming. Jiang Yun confirms this and explains indirectly that Hou Ming helped him overcome the Reincarnation Dao Flame’s limitations.
• Black Bird is delighted by this revelation and assumes that Jiang Yun, as a fellow Underworld Dao Ancestor, should help free her remaining true body from the seal.
• She appeals to him with promises of friendship, support, and recognition from the other Dao Ancestors. Jiang Yun does not respond, and his silence leaves Black Bird deeply uneasy.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yun: He has become vastly stronger after his journey to the Sacrificial Sea and the Underworld. He is now confident enough to face Black Bird without fear, but remains cautious and avoids unnecessary conflict that could damage the Ancient Reincarnation Road or attract attention. His willingness to conceal his identity and control the situation shows greater patience, strategic thinking, and authority.
• Black Bird: Despite remaining powerful and cunning, she is still trapped, suspicious, and psychologically affected by her past encounters with Jiang Yun. Her fear of hidden enemies contrasts with her attempt to project dominance. She is amazed by Jiang Yun’s growth and increasingly recognizes that he has become an unfathomable figure beyond her expectations.
• Relationship between Jiang Yun and Black Bird: Their past teacher-like and mutually manipulative relationship has shifted. Black Bird once helped Jiang Yun understand the Reincarnation Dao Flame, but now Jiang Yun possesses greater power and holds the advantage. She tries to treat him as an ally, while he quietly evaluates her intentions.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time: More than two hundred thousand years have passed, demonstrating that immense stretches of time can both weaken ancient seals and revive forgotten powers. Jiang Yun also recognizes that time passes far more quickly than he once imagined.
• Hidden secrets and uncertainty: The Ancient Reincarnation Road, Jiang Yun’s rapid advancement, and the Desolate Emperor’s arrangements all remain mysterious. Black Bird repeatedly forms theories but cannot reach the truth.
• Power and reversal of status: Jiang Yun, once the junior relying on Black Bird’s knowledge, now surpasses her and controls the encounter. Black Bird’s former confidence has been replaced by caution and fear.
• Deception and identity: Both characters conceal their intentions. Jiang Yun disguises his aura, while Black Bird immediately suspects an impostor and attempts to manipulate the unknown visitor.
• The dangers of shortcuts: The Reincarnation Dao Flame grants immense power but normally fixes a cultivator’s realm and destroys future potential. Jiang Yun’s ability to overcome these limitations through Hou Ming suggests that his path is exceptional.
• Trust and manipulation: Black Bird presents her offer of friendship and assistance as sincere, but Jiang Yun’s silence implies that he does not yet trust her and may have another purpose for coming.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun’s silent approach creates intense suspense and fear within Black Bird.
• Black Bird tries to command and entice the unknown dark figure, but Jiang Yun quietly undermines her confidence by revealing his identity.
• Jiang Yun proves who he is by displaying the Reincarnation Dao Flame, recreating the circumstances of their earlier meeting.
• Black Bird questions him about Hou Ming and the Underworld, showing both her intelligence and her desire to understand Jiang Yun’s extraordinary advancement.
• Black Bird asks Jiang Yun to free her true body, promising loyalty and future assistance, but his refusal to answer leaves her uncertain and frightened about his actual intentions.

Chapter Summary: “Altering the Origin!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Black Bird releases a terrifying aura while demanding Jiang Yun help her escape. Her power devastates the Reincarnation Road, destroying the ancient city that Dark Lifeforms had spent over two hundred thousand years rebuilding.
• Jiang Yun explains that he was only hesitating because he had joined the Underworld and occupied Black Bird’s former dojo. His explanation calms her suspicions, and she withdraws her aura.
• Black Bird questions Jiang Yun about events during her imprisonment. He describes joining the Underworld, cultivating with Hou Ming, the summons from Above Heaven, the deaths of numerous Dao Ancestors, and the battle between the Desolate Emperor and the three Immortal Emperors of the Ancestral Land.
• Black Bird is horrified to learn that the Desolate Emperor killed one Weird Immortal Emperor and forced the other two to flee. She had expected or hoped for his defeat, given her hatred of him.
• While Black Bird is distracted and emotionally shaken, Jiang Yun secretly activates projections of the Nine Stone Artifacts and the Stone Millstone. He intends not to kill her, but to cleanse and convert her corrupted Origin so that she can return to the Underworld as an ally.
• Jiang Yun traps Black Bird’s Primordial Spirit within a formation made from the Stone Artifact projections and attempts to grind away the ominous, weird power contaminating her.
• Black Bird fiercely resists, fearing that Jiang Yun means to destroy her. Her struggle devastates the Reincarnation Road again and shakes the entire Hive, killing the remains of many ancient experts trapped there.
• Jiang Yun tells her that he intends to convert rather than kill her and uses a refined mind-influencing technique to weaken her resistance.
• The technique initially works, but Black Bird suddenly panics and unleashes even more power, willing to damage her own Origin rather than submit.
• By entering her memories, Jiang Yun discovers the source of her terror: a past encounter with the Desolate Emperor, who had captured and literally cooked her, stripping her wings and legs and using her blood and flesh as ingredients.
• Jiang Yun realizes that Black Bird’s extreme reaction is rooted in this enduring trauma. He withdraws from her memory, amused and astonished that the Desolate Emperor’s cooking had once used Black Bird’s own essence.
• The chapter ends with the Hive nearly collapsing. The Ruthless Great Emperor remains unharmed, while Xiao Nannan watches Jiang Yun anxiously despite the passage of more than two hundred thousand years.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yun: Demonstrates greater strength and confidence than Black Bird, carefully manipulating her emotions before attempting to convert her. He remains cautious because he wants to preserve her Dao Ancestor cultivation rather than destroy her. His methods show both ambition—seeking a powerful ally—and restraint.
• Black Bird: Reveals deep suspicion toward Jiang Yun, resentment over his occupation of her dojo, and jealousy regarding his closeness with Hou Ming. Her shock at the Desolate Emperor’s victory exposes how profoundly his power unsettles her. Her violent resistance also reveals the lasting psychological trauma caused by her former defeat.
• Hou Ming: Though absent from the main action, she remains emotionally important to Black Bird. Black Bird’s concern about being separated from her and Jiang Yun’s tender description of Hou Ming intensify Black Bird’s hostility.
• The Desolate Emperor: His overwhelming strength is emphasized through both his victory over the Weird Immortal Emperors and his earlier domination of Black Bird. He is portrayed as a terrifying figure capable of defeating enemies who once seemed invincible.
• Xiao Nannan: Her concern for Jiang Yun shows the strength of their bond. Her unchanged appearance after two hundred thousand years also highlights her extraordinary nature.
• Ruthless Great Emperor: Her immunity to the Hive’s destruction reinforces her immense power and unusual status.

Significant Themes

• Power and manipulation: Jiang Yun uses superior cultivation, artifacts, emotional influence, and psychological insight to control the situation.
• Transformation and corruption: The planned conversion of Black Bird centers on cleansing an Origin corrupted by countless eras of darkness, raising questions about whether identity and morality can be restored.
• Trauma and memory: Black Bird’s resistance is driven not merely by pride but by a deeply buried memory of humiliation and torture. The past continues to control her present actions.
• The terrifying scale of the Desolate Emperor: His victories and treatment of Black Bird establish him as a being beyond conventional measures of strength.
• The cost of great power: Jiang Yun’s actions and Black Bird’s struggle repeatedly devastate the Reincarnation Road and Hive, destroying centuries of labor and eliminating ancient remnants of life.
• Alliances and possession: Black Bird’s anger reflects her fear that Jiang Yun has taken over her former life—her dojo, legacy, and relationship with Hou Ming.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun and Black Bird: Their conversation begins as a negotiation but becomes a concealed confrontation. Jiang Yun reassures her verbally while secretly preparing to convert her.
• Black Bird and Hou Ming: Black Bird’s attachment to Hou Ming influences her decision-making and fuels her resentment toward Jiang Yun.
• Jiang Yun and the Desolate Emperor’s legacy: Jiang Yun uses artifacts connected to the Underworld while reflecting on the Desolate Emperor’s overwhelming abilities and strange history with Black Bird.
• Jiang Yun and Xiao Nannan: Though they do not directly interact in the chapter’s final moment, Xiao Nannan’s worried gaze emphasizes their emotional connection amid the surrounding destruction.

Chapter Summary:

Another Dao Ancestor Joins the Ranks!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Black Bird, overwhelmed by Jiang Yun’s suppression, burns her essence blood, Origin, and primordial spirit in an attempt to destroy both herself and the surrounding world.
• The Hive collapses under the immense power. Xiao Nannan protects Ruthless by taking her away from the battlefield.
• Jiang Yun uses the Nine Revolutions Returning to the Source and the World-Purifying Great Millstone to suppress Black Bird without destroying her primordial spirit.
• The phantom Stone Millstone grinds away the weird and ominous aura rooted in Black Bird’s primordial spirit. This process causes her extreme pain but gradually restores her clarity.
• Black Bird abandons her pride and begs Jiang Yun for mercy, offering to swear loyalty. Jiang Yun ignores the oath, intending to convert her more completely through his own methods.
• As Jiang Yun purifies Black Bird, the energy released from the Stone Artifact projections benefits Ruthless, helping her break free from Black Bird’s long-term influence and recover her strength.
• After fifty years, Jiang Yun finishes removing the weirdness from Black Bird’s primordial spirit. He then begins the unprecedented process of replacing her original Dark Source with his own power.
• Jiang Yun reshapes Black Bird’s Origin, expelling her connection to the Weird Clan and replacing it with a new Origin formed from his Dark Source. The process causes immense suffering but ultimately succeeds.
• Black Bird is reborn with no connection to the Weird Clan or its Ancestral Land. Her injuries heal substantially, and her severed wings and golden feet regrow.
• She returns to her human form and accepts Jiang Yun’s guidance, though she remains shocked by his strength and secret plans.
• Jiang Yun reveals that he has already converted other powerful beings, including Shi Yi, Heavenly Prince, and Evil Emperor. Black Bird is astonished to discover Evil Emperor inside Jiang Yun’s Dark Source World.
• Afterward, Ruthless announces that she will sever her sensory connection with Xiao Nannan to avoid the awkward consequences of their shared sensations.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yun: Demonstrates overwhelming strength, patience, and increasingly profound mastery of the Dark Grand Dao. He successfully invents a method to reshape a dark creature’s Origin, expanding his ability to convert powerful enemies into allies.
• Black Bird / Nine-Hued Mysterious Emperor: Undergoes a complete spiritual and physical rebirth. She loses her ties to the Weird Clan and her former identity, but gains freedom from the Ancestral Land’s influence. Her pride gives way to humility and acceptance of a new fate.
• Ruthless: Benefits from the energy released during Black Bird’s purification, awakens, and recovers her peak condition. Her attitude toward Jiang Yun softens after witnessing his extraordinary methods, and her former hostility and prejudice begin to fade.
• Xiao Nannan: Continues protecting Ruthless and remains emotionally connected to her. She is proud of Jiang Yun but prevents him from embracing her because Ruthless would share the sensation.
• Evil Emperor: Appears as one of Jiang Yun’s converted allies, confirming the scale of Jiang Yun’s hidden preparations.

Significant Themes

• Rebirth and liberation: Black Bird’s conversion is portrayed as a true rebirth, freeing her from an existence controlled by darkness and the Weird Clan.
• Transformation rather than destruction: Jiang Yun does not kill Black Bird; he preserves her primordial spirit and changes her fundamentally, showing his preference for turning enemies into allies.
• The cost of power: Both Black Bird’s purification and Origin reshaping involve prolonged, nearly unbearable pain, emphasizing that profound transformation requires sacrifice.
• Hidden strength and preparation: Jiang Yun’s secret conversion of powerful figures suggests that he is quietly building a force capable of challenging the Underworld.
• Freedom versus control: Black Bird’s loss of connection to the Ancestral Land represents freedom, while her initial life under the Weird Clan reflects long-term spiritual control.
• Unexpected consequences: Ruthless’s recovery shows that even destructive connections can produce benefits when the source of corruption is removed.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun reassures Xiao Nannan while maintaining his focus on subduing Black Bird.
• Black Bird begs Jiang Yun for mercy, but he relies on conversion rather than promises or oaths.
• Ruthless silently observes Jiang Yun defeating Black Bird and is deeply impressed by how far he has advanced.
• Jiang Yun reassures Black Bird that Hou Ming may not discover her transformation, citing his successful concealment of other converted Quasi-Immortal Emperors.
• Black Bird meets Evil Emperor in Jiang Yun’s Dark Source World and realizes the enormous extent of Jiang Yun’s hidden influence.
• Xiao Nannan and Ruthless’s shared sensations create an awkward situation, prompting Ruthless to decide to sever their sensory connection.

Chapter Summary: “Seeing Ye Fan Again!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Ruthless is shaken by Jiang Yun’s astonishing progress. Although she feels defeated by how far he has surpassed her, she quickly regains her composure and decides to cultivate even harder.
• Grateful to Jiang Yun for saving her from the dangers of the Sea of Realms, Ruthless chooses to enter seclusion again.
• Jiang Yun persuades her to cultivate inside his Source World rather than return to the Sea of Realms, both for her safety and to prevent her from revealing the secret of his conversion of Black Bird. Ruthless unexpectedly agrees.
• Xiao Nannan teases Jiang Yun about possibly having feelings for Ruthless. Jiang Yun denies this and reassures her that Ruthless has isolated herself from their emotions. Jiang Yun and Xiao Nannan then enjoy an affectionate reunion after their long separation.
• Jiang Yun begins preparing to leave for Heaven and decides to find his cousin Ye Fan, believing Heaven will provide Ye Fan with greater safety and better opportunities for growth.
• Jiang Yun discovers Ye Fan battling Immortal Alliance forces on a prosperous fragment of the Immortal Domain.
• Ye Fan has spent hundreds of thousands of years combining the Red Dust Immortal Path with the War Immortal Path. This has given him extraordinary combat power, allowing him to fight ordinary Immortal Kings despite not yet fully reaching the Immortal King realm.
• Chongguang Immortal King, a Peak Immortal King and subordinate of Chu Xuan, traps Ye Fan with a powerful suppression technique. Desperate to avoid another failure, Chongguang is willing to damage his own foundation to capture him.
• Ye Fan is placed in serious danger, as Chongguang’s strength is far beyond his current level. He considers using outside assistance or the Source Ring, though doing so would undermine the purpose of his training.
• Chongguang realizes that Ye Fan has deliberately fled to the island ruled by Yuan Kong Immortal King. He suspects Yuan Kong may be connected to the Dao Origin Faction.
• The atmosphere changes when it becomes clear that an unidentified young man has casually suppressed Yuan Kong Immortal King. Several powerful cultivators sense the danger and flee.
• The mysterious figure is revealed to be Jiang Yun, who watches the battle calmly while drinking wine. He finally addresses Ye Fan mockingly, announcing his reunion with his cousin.

2. Character Developments

• Jiang Yun: Demonstrates increased caution and authority. He protects the secrets surrounding Black Bird and his Source World while making plans to move his allies to Heaven. He remains emotionally close to Xiao Nannan but is focused primarily on the looming threat of the Weird Clan.
• Ruthless: Her pride is wounded by Jiang Yun’s rapid advancement, but instead of becoming resentful, she turns her frustration into determination. Her commitment to the Dao becomes even stronger, and she willingly accepts Jiang Yun’s protection despite her usual independence.
• Xiao Nannan: Remains playful and affectionate toward Jiang Yun. Her teasing reveals her comfort and intimacy with him, while her initial jealousy or concern about Ruthless gives way to reassurance and closeness.
• Ye Fan: Has grown into a powerful and highly experienced cultivator. By merging the Red Dust Immortal and War Immortal paths, he has created a unique cultivation route and developed enough strength to battle Immortal Kings. Nevertheless, he is still vulnerable against peak experts such as Chongguang.
• Chongguang Immortal King: Becomes increasingly desperate and anxious because of repeated failures to capture Ye Fan. His fear of losing Chu Xuan’s trust pushes him to use a dangerous technique that may damage his cultivation.
• Yuan Kong Immortal King: Is revealed to be far more cautious and vulnerable than others realize. He appears to have been suppressed by Jiang Yun and is unable—or unwilling—to intervene in Ye Fan’s battle.

3. Significant Themes

• The pressure of surpassing and being surpassed: Ruthless’s reaction highlights the psychological burden even supreme geniuses face when someone close to them advances far more quickly.
• Pursuit of the Dao: Ruthless’s decision to enter seclusion shows her willingness to suppress personal emotions and devote herself completely to cultivation.
• Protection versus independence: Ruthless and Ye Fan are both proud, independent figures, yet Jiang Yun seeks to protect them by bringing them into safer territory.
• Growth through hardship: Ye Fan’s long journey and fusion of two cultivation paths demonstrate the value of patient accumulation, experimentation, and repeated combat.
• Secrecy and hidden power: Jiang Yun carefully conceals his true strength and the secrets of his Source World. The sudden realization that he has effortlessly suppressed Yuan Kong creates a sharp contrast between his calm appearance and overwhelming power.
• Family and reunion: Despite the vast timescale and dangers separating them, Jiang Yun and Ye Fan retain a close familial bond, culminating in Jiang Yun’s teasing greeting at the chapter’s end.

4. Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun and Ruthless discuss her cultivation and future. He offers her refuge in the Source World, and she accepts after recognizing the seriousness of the situation.
• Xiao Nannan jokes about Jiang Yun and Ruthless, prompting Jiang Yun to clarify his feelings and reassure her. Their reunion becomes affectionate and intimate.
• Jiang Yun observes the young cultivators and Immortal Kings before recognizing Ye Fan amid the battle.
• Ye Fan fights Chongguang Immortal King while trying to preserve his independence and continue tempering himself without relying on outside aid.
• Chongguang confronts Yuan Kong and demands his cooperation, unaware at first that Jiang Yun is present.
• The chapter ends with Jiang Yun addressing Ye Fan directly, transforming what appeared to be a desperate pursuit into the beginning of a powerful family reunion.

Chapter Summary: “Leaving the Sacrificial Sea!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• An unidentified Immortal King intervenes when True Immortal Chongguang attempts to suppress Ye Fan. His mysterious statement about merely disliking the bullying of “Ye Fan” causes widespread confusion, especially because some believe he may be connected to the legendary Dao Origin Immortal King.
• Chongguang initially prepares to attack, but recognizes the overwhelming power of the unknown figure and becomes unable to move. The figure then severely injures him with a casual wave, warning the Immortal Alliance that further punishment will follow if it refuses to repent.
• The mysterious Immortal King—actually Jiang Yun—leaves with Ye Fan before anyone can identify him. His ambiguous denial of being Dao Origin sparks rumors that he may be Dao Origin himself, a shadow, or one of Dao Origin’s followers.
• News of the encounter spreads throughout the Sea of Realms, causing panic. The Immortal Alliance fears that Dao Origin or the Dao Origin Faction has returned and may challenge its authority. Confusion also spreads about the possible return of Dark Lifeforms.
• Chu Xuan leads the Immortal Alliance’s Immortal King Giants to investigate, but Yuan Kong has already escaped and concealed himself. Frustrated, Chu Xuan destroys the island in his rage and orders a search for Yuan Kong and Dao Origin.
• The Immortal Alliance experts secretly intend to perform only a superficial search, recognizing that they are no match for Jiang Yun. His power is so far beyond theirs that he could stand before them without being recognized.
• Jiang Yun reunites with Ye Fan and explains that a great upheaval will occur within several hundred thousand years. He plans to take Ye Fan to Heaven, where Ye Fan can advance far more quickly and prepare for the coming Grand Sacrifice.
• Ye Fan agrees immediately, motivated by his realization of how weak he remains compared with Jiang Yun. Jiang Yun also brings Ye Fan’s Source World, leaving few attachments behind in the Sea of Realms.
• They return to the weakened Sword Light surrounding the Sea of Realms. Although gaps have appeared, other cultivators attempting to cross it are destroyed. Jiang Yun secretly uses the Copper Coffin and Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin to guide Ye Fan safely through.
• They pass through the Sacrificial Sea and arrive in Emperorfall Tomb Marsh. Ye Fan is wary of the forbidden land, but Jiang Yun calmly leads him through it. They eventually emerge at the Sacrificial Sea.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yun: Reveals himself indirectly as an overwhelmingly powerful protector of Ye Fan. He deliberately leaves behind misleading rumors rather than openly declaring his identity, using the confusion to conceal his movements and intentions. He also assumes responsibility for preparing Ye Fan for the coming catastrophe.
• Ye Fan: Gains a stronger awareness of the enormous gap between his current strength and Jiang Yun’s. His desire to improve intensifies, and he willingly follows Jiang Yun to Heaven. Though he briefly suspects that Jiang Yun’s transformation into the Dark Source may have deeper implications, he trusts his cousin and does not question him.
• True Immortal Chongguang: Changes from an aggressive enforcer into a helpless victim after realizing Jiang Yun’s terrifying strength. His severe injury demonstrates the power gap between them.
• Chu Xuan: Becomes increasingly furious and anxious as the possibility of Jiang Yun’s return threatens the Immortal Alliance. His impulsive destruction of the island reveals his frustration and loss of control.
• Immortal Alliance experts: Their fear and reluctance show that their loyalty to Chu Xuan is fragile. They prioritize survival over obeying his orders.

Significant Themes

• The return of suppressed history: Though the Immortal Alliance tried to erase Dao Origin’s existence and achievements, the old legends quickly resurface once Jiang Yun acts.
• Fear of overwhelming power: The Immortal Kings and other experts are paralyzed by Jiang Yun’s presence, emphasizing the vast difference between ordinary Immortal Kings and higher realms of existence.
• Rumor and deliberate ambiguity: Jiang Yun allows multiple contradictory stories to spread, using uncertainty as a form of protection and strategic concealment.
• Preparation for catastrophe: The approaching upheaval and Grand Sacrifice create a sense of impending doom. Ye Fan’s journey to Heaven represents preparation for a future conflict on a much greater scale.
• Trust and family bonds: Ye Fan accepts Jiang Yun’s guidance despite his unanswered questions, relying on their familial relationship and Jiang Yun’s history of protecting him.
• The decline of old barriers: The weakening Sword Light symbolizes the gradual breakdown of boundaries and the approach of a new, dangerous era.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun and Chongguang: Jiang Yun dismisses Chongguang’s authority, then punishes him effortlessly for attacking Ye Fan and threatens the Immortal Alliance.
• Jiang Yun and Ye Fan: Their reunion is warm and familial. They share wine, discuss Ye Fan’s escape, and make plans for Ye Fan’s future growth.
• Chu Xuan and the Immortal Alliance: Chu Xuan demands an investigation, but the other Immortal Kings secretly resist because they fear the danger and doubt the search can succeed.
• Jiang Yun and Ye Fan at the Sword Light: Jiang Yun allows Ye Fan to reflect on his earlier journey and then safely guides him through the weakening barrier using the Copper Coffin.
• Ye Fan and the Sacrificial Sea: Ye Fan’s unease in Emperorfall Tomb Marsh contrasts with Jiang Yun’s calmness, highlighting Jiang Yun’s superior experience and control.

Chapter Summary: “War with Heaven?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Fan asks Jiang Yun about his cultivation and learns that Jiang Yun is above the Immortal King realm but below the Immortal Emperor realm, known as a Quasi-Immortal Emperor or Dao Ancestor.
• Jiang Yun sends Ye Fan to Heaven through the Reincarnation Road, giving him a Reincarnation Token for emergencies. He warns Ye Fan not to invoke his name if he causes trouble.
• Afterward, Jiang Yun investigates the situation in the Sacrificial Sea. Heaven’s Grand Dao Dao Ancestors have gone to Above Heaven without being attacked, while the Weird Clan remains suspiciously inactive.
• Reflecting on Willow God’s message, Jiang Yun realizes Heaven needs battle to temper its experts. He concludes that he must attack Heaven in a controlled manner, both to train Heaven’s forces and to prove his loyalty to the Weird Clan.
• Jiang Yun returns to the Underworld and discusses his concern that Peacock Venerable may oppose Evil Emperor’s submission to the Eight Paths of Reincarnation. Hou Ming reassures him that the Underworld will support him.
• Jiang Yun summons the leaders of the Eight Paths and publicly announces that Evil Emperor will become the Supreme Protector.
• The announcement shocks everyone. Although Evil Emperor was once a notorious sacrificial tyrant, he appears completely obedient to Jiang Yun. The other members eventually accept him because of his overwhelming strength.
• Jiang Yun then announces that the Eight Paths will begin conquering the remaining worlds near Heaven. Rather than sending its strongest Protectors, he orders an Emperor Light Immortal King Path Master to lead a limited attack on a peripheral world.
• The move is interpreted throughout All Heavens as the Dark Lifeforms or Four Source Lands testing Heaven’s defenses. The attacked world becomes the focus of widespread attention, and Heaven reacts with fury.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yun demonstrates growing strategic maturity. He understands that war must be limited and gradual so that both Heaven and the Eight Paths can gain experience without suffering catastrophic losses.
• Ye Fan feels increasingly distant from Jiang Yun in cultivation and hopes that his journey through Heaven will help him surpass his cousin.
• Evil Emperor undergoes a major reversal, changing from a feared, self-serving Dao Ancestor into Jiang Yun’s subordinate and Supreme Protector. He is deeply moved by the respect he receives from the Eight Paths.
• Hou Ming shows strong concern and emotional support for Jiang Yun. She also reveals her confidence in the Underworld’s willingness to protect him.
• Bull Demon and Zhulong become uneasy when Evil Emperor is placed above them. Although resentful, they submit because of the clear difference in strength.
• The appointed Path Master eagerly accepts the chance to lead the first assault, believing Jiang Yun has recognized his ability.

Significant Themes

• War as a means of growth: Controlled conflict is presented as necessary for cultivating powerful experts and producing new Dao Ancestors.
• Loyalty and political positioning: Jiang Yun’s attack on Heaven serves both as military training and as proof that he is not secretly allied with Heaven.
• Power and hierarchy: The Eight Paths’ members quickly accept Evil Emperor because strength determines status in the Sacrificial Sea.
• Transformation and redemption: Evil Emperor’s submission suggests that even a former tyrant can be reshaped under Jiang Yun’s influence.
• Suspicion and hidden motives: The Weird Clan’s silence, Heaven’s movements, and the planned conflict all suggest that larger forces are preparing for the coming Grand Sacrifice.

Character Interactions

• Ye Fan and Jiang Yun discuss Jiang Yun’s realm and Ye Fan’s future journey.
• Hou Ming comforts Jiang Yun and encourages him not to fear Peacock Venerable’s reaction.
• Jiang Yun introduces Evil Emperor to the Eight Paths, forcing the faction to acknowledge their new superior.
• Bull Demon and Zhulong silently share their dissatisfaction at being outranked.
• Jiang Yun directs the Path Masters toward a limited war, establishing Evil Emperor, Bull Demon, and Zhulong as rear guardians who will control the conflict’s escalation.

Chapter Summary: “Collision”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Heaven’s experts gather at the Sacrificial Sea after the Eight Paths of Reincarnation, representing the Underworld, begin attacking the Azure Cloud Ancient World.
• Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor explains that Heaven’s Immortal Emperors are occupied Above Heaven and have ordered him to stop the conflict. The remaining experts must determine whether this is a limited invasion or the beginning of a larger alliance among the Four Great Origin Ancient Lands.
• The Immortal Kings hesitate to reinforce Azure Cloud because the Underworld may possess terrifying hidden strength, including Dao Ancestor-level figures such as Dao Origin and Evil Emperor.
• Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor’s disciple, Myriad Stars Immortal King, volunteers to confront Emperor Light Immortal King.
• At the Azure Cloud battlefield, Emperor Light Immortal King and the Reincarnation Slaves overwhelm Azure Cloud’s forces. Azure Cloud Immortal King activates a World-Destroying Grand Formation in a desperate attempt to die alongside the enemy, but Emperor Light easily destroys it.
• Myriad Stars Immortal King arrives just in time, saves Azure Cloud Immortal King, and challenges Emperor Light.
• Myriad Stars reveals that he is Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor’s disciple and is already close to entering the Dao Ancestor realm. Emperor Light chooses to fight rather than retreat, partly to preserve his reputation and partly because he has powerful backing.
• Myriad Stars uses Myriad Stars Calamity, Eternal Thought, creating countless stars and combining spatial and temporal Dao laws to immobilize Emperor Light and crush a large portion of the Underworld’s forces.
• Emperor Light escapes by using a talisman, but the backlash from his attack kills roughly one-third of the surrounding Eight Paths of Reincarnation experts.
• Myriad Stars pursues the fleeing Emperor Light, while Jiang Yun secretly follows, considering whether to intervene and use the battle to test or pressure the young genius.

2. Character Developments

• Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor is shown to be cautious and politically aware. He understands that Heaven is weakened because many Dao Ancestors are fighting Above Heaven, and he is reluctant to provoke a full-scale war.
• Myriad Stars Immortal King makes a major entrance as an exceptionally gifted expert who has surpassed ordinary Immortal Kings. His mastery of space and time allows him to overwhelm Emperor Light despite not yet being a true Dao Ancestor.
• Emperor Light Immortal King shifts from arrogance to fear and desperation. He initially treats Heaven’s forces with contempt, but after recognizing Myriad Stars’ strength, he realizes he cannot win and escapes using a talisman.
• Azure Cloud Immortal King displays courage and refusal to submit to “weirdness,” choosing mutual destruction over surrender. He also recognizes his own inferiority compared with Emperor Light and Myriad Stars.
• Jiang Yun remains an observer rather than an active participant. His perspective establishes how extraordinary Myriad Stars is while also emphasizing the enormous gap between Myriad Stars and Jiang Yun himself.

3. Significant Themes

• The looming larger war: The invasion may be more than a local conflict; it could signal cooperation among the Four Great Origin Ancient Lands and the beginning of a major confrontation between Heaven and the Underworld.
• Courage versus overwhelming power: Azure Cloud’s forces resist despite knowing they are outmatched, emphasizing defiance against corruption and annihilation.
• The importance of reputation and pride: Emperor Light continues fighting partly because retreat would damage his standing among the Underworld’s numerous powerful experts.
• Cultivation as constant competition: Even powerful Immortal Kings must continue advancing or risk being surpassed. Emperor Light knows that only exceptional opportunities can help him break through.
• The gap between realms: Myriad Stars’ ability to create stars and manipulate space-time demonstrates his proximity to the Dao Ancestor realm, while Jiang Yun’s reflections reveal that even this astonishing power is insignificant compared with a true supreme Dao Ancestor.
• Training through conflict: Jiang Yun views the war as an opportunity to temper Heaven’s younger or rising geniuses, suggesting that battlefield pressure is necessary for genuine growth.

4. Character Interactions

• Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor pressures his disciples and the assembled Immortal Kings to respond to the Underworld’s invasion.
• Myriad Stars volunteers to serve his master, eager to earn recognition from Heaven’s Immortal Emperors.
• Myriad Stars rescues Azure Cloud Immortal King, who expresses gratitude; Myriad Stars dismisses the thanks and immediately focuses on defeating the enemy.
• Emperor Light mocks Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor and claims that the Underworld’s Dao Ancestors are superior, provoking Myriad Stars into battle.
• Myriad Stars’ attack humiliates Emperor Light, destroys many of his allies, and forces him to flee.
• Jiang Yun silently observes the confrontation and follows the pursuit, potentially preparing to test Myriad Stars himself.

Chapter Summary: “Tracking!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Myriad Stars Immortal King pursues Emperor Light Immortal King across countless starry rivers after the latter’s failed attack and retreat. Their difference in strength is immediately clear: Myriad Stars steadily catches up despite Emperor Light’s desperate flight.
• Emperor Light uses “One Qi Transforms into Myriad Forms” to create over ten thousand clones, sending them into different ancient universes and the Void to confuse his pursuer. The clones possess only True Immortal-level strength.
• Jiang Yun secretly follows the two Immortal Kings and instantly identifies Emperor Light’s true body through the difference in their Immortal King Origins.
• Myriad Stars activates his Qilin Eye, piercing through the illusions and destroying all but ten clones. He then kills the remaining clones and locates Emperor Light’s hiding place.
• When a local Quasi-Immortal King appears to defend the ancient universe, Myriad Stars detects Weird Dark Blood in him and kills him without explanation. He subsequently annihilates every living being in the entire universe in order to force Emperor Light out of hiding.
• Emperor Light escapes the destroyed universe but is trapped by seals placed around it. Myriad Stars taunts him, claiming he will be taken back to Primordial Beginning Dao Venerable and studied.
• With capture preferable only to death, Emperor Light burns his Immortal King Origin, temporarily restoring his peak strength at the cost of severe, likely permanent damage to his future cultivation.
• The two Immortal Kings engage in a universe-shaking battle. Emperor Light initially holds his own but gradually loses ground because of his earlier depletion and the self-destructive nature of his power boost.
• Myriad Stars eventually restrains Emperor Light. In desperation, Emperor Light attempts to detonate his Immortal King Origin.
• Jiang Yun finally reveals himself and suppresses the explosion effortlessly, separating the two combatants and saving Emperor Light.
• Upon recognizing Jiang Yun as the powerful Dao Origin Dao Ancestor, Myriad Stars immediately tries to flee. Jiang Yun prevents his escape and captures him in his palm.

2. Character Developments

• Emperor Light Immortal King: His fear and desperation become increasingly evident as he realizes he cannot escape or defeat Myriad Stars. He abandons pride, uses clones, hides within a universe, and ultimately burns his own Origin. After Jiang Yun saves him, he becomes deeply grateful and resolves to remain loyal to Jiang Yun.
• Myriad Stars Immortal King: He is established as vastly stronger than Emperor Light and highly experienced, using the Qilin Eye and battle instincts to defeat the clone technique. However, his ruthless extermination of an entire civilization reveals extreme cruelty and disregard for ordinary life. His confidence collapses once Jiang Yun appears.
• Jiang Yun: He remains concealed throughout the pursuit, observing both Immortal Kings and studying Myriad Stars’ pure Qilin bloodline. His judgment of Myriad Stars worsens after witnessing the massacre, and he decides to punish or subdue him. His effortless suppression of the Origin explosion and capture of Myriad Stars demonstrate his overwhelming Dao Ancestor-level power.
• Myriad Stars’ Qilin form: His true body is revealed as an enormous Qilin with a third eye capable of seeing through illusions, suggesting that his bloodline is exceptionally pure and possibly connected to an ancient ancestral source.

3. Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and hierarchy: The gap between Immortal Kings of different realms is enormous, while the difference between Immortal Kings and Dao Ancestors is even more decisive.
• Ruthlessness of the powerful: Myriad Stars treats entire civilizations and countless lives as expendable obstacles, illustrating how detached high-level cultivators can become from ordinary beings.
• Desperation and sacrifice: Emperor Light’s decision to burn and eventually detonate his Immortal King Origin shows the extreme cost of resisting capture and the lengths one will go to avoid humiliation or exploitation.
• Hidden strength and timing: Jiang Yun’s patience and concealment allow him to observe the conflict, assess Myriad Stars, and intervene only when the decisive moment arrives.
• Bloodline and inheritance: Jiang Yun recognizes the exceptional purity of Myriad Stars’ Qilin bloodline and considers using it as a reference for his own further evolution.

4. Character Interactions

• Myriad Stars and Emperor Light: Their interaction is dominated by pursuit, mockery, and overwhelming force. Myriad Stars repeatedly humiliates and taunts Emperor Light, while Emperor Light resorts to increasingly desperate measures to survive.
• Myriad Stars and the ancient universe’s Quasi-Immortal King: The local expert attempts to confront him, but Myriad Stars kills him immediately after detecting Weird Dark Blood, without explaining the broader conflict.
• Jiang Yun and Myriad Stars: Jiang Yun silently judges Myriad Stars’ brutality and ultimately intervenes against him. Myriad Stars recognizes Jiang Yun’s identity and attempts to retreat, but Jiang Yun captures him effortlessly.
• Jiang Yun and Emperor Light: Jiang Yun saves Emperor Light from self-destruction. Emperor Light responds with overwhelming gratitude and vows lifelong loyalty, viewing Jiang Yun as his rescuer and new master.

Chapter Summary: “Bullying the Weak?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yun, now a powerful Dao Ancestor, captures Myriad Stars Immortal King inside his Palm World after the latter exterminates an entire universe and kills an unnamed Quasi-Immortal King.
• Myriad Stars Immortal King accuses Jiang Yun of bullying the weak by attacking an Immortal King while being a Dao Ancestor. Jiang Yun openly admits that he is doing so, arguing that the cultivation world is governed by strength.
• Jiang Yun exposes Myriad Stars Immortal King’s hypocrisy by pointing out that Myriad Stars had casually killed weaker beings and destroyed an entire universe without considering their innocence.
• Myriad Stars justifies his actions by claiming that all beings connected to the Dark Weird Bloodline deserve death and that he was acting on Heaven’s behalf.
• Jiang Yun begins crushing Myriad Stars’ resistance within the Palm World. At the critical moment, Myriad Stars summons an avatar of his master, Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor, through an ancient rune.
• Primordial Beginning threatens to retaliate against the Underworld’s Immortal Kings if Jiang Yun kills his disciple. Jiang Yun realizes that a battle between Dao Ancestors could escalate into a full-scale war between Heaven and the Underworld.
• To prevent such escalation, Jiang Yun proposes an agreement: Dao Ancestors from either side will not participate in the current war; the highest level of combat will be the Immortal King Realm. Primordial Beginning agrees.
• Despite the agreement, Jiang Yun shatters Myriad Stars Immortal King’s Immortal King Origin, reducing him to the Quasi-Immortal King Realm rather than killing him. Jiang Yun secretly preserves part of the shattered origin for himself, leaving open the possibility of Myriad Stars’ eventual recovery.
• Primordial Beginning retreats with his unconscious disciple, warning Jiang Yun that their true bodies will eventually fight.
• Jiang Yun returns to the Underworld, reports the incident to Hou Ming, and orders the Eight Paths of Reincarnation to mobilize and formally open the battlefield under the agreed restrictions.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yun: Demonstrates overwhelming power, fearlessness, and strategic intelligence. He is willing to appear conciliatory in order to prevent a larger war, but still punishes Myriad Stars severely. His actions reveal both ruthlessness and restraint: he refuses to kill Myriad Stars, yet deliberately cripples his cultivation.
• Myriad Stars Immortal King: Loses his former arrogance when captured, but remains stubborn, hypocritical, and unrepentant. His confidence is shown to come largely from his reliance on his master, Primordial Beginning. After Jiang Yun destroys his Immortal King Origin, he falls to the Quasi-Immortal King Realm.
• Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor: Reveals himself as extremely protective of his disciple and similarly dismissive of weaker life-forms. Though a veteran Dao Ancestor, he is unable to overpower Jiang Yun’s control of the Palm World through only an avatar. He is forced to accept the battlefield agreement and retreat.
• The Immortal King Giant: Gains a deeper understanding of the importance of strength and becomes more determined to reach the Dao Ancestor Realm. He also places increasing hope in Jiang Yun, believing that receiving Dark True Blood from him may be the key to advancing.
• Hou Ming: Supports Jiang Yun’s decision to prohibit Dao Ancestors from entering the war and agrees to mobilize the Underworld’s forces alongside him.

Significant Themes

• Strength determines power and justice: The chapter repeatedly emphasizes that those below the Dao Ancestor Realm are treated as ants by higher-level cultivators.
• Hypocrisy of the strong: Myriad Stars condemns Jiang Yun for bullying the weak despite having just murdered weaker beings and annihilated an entire universe himself.
• Moral justification and fanaticism: Myriad Stars views his brutality as righteous because he believes he is fighting the Dark Weird Bloodline. His certainty prevents him from feeling remorse.
• Restraint versus escalation: Although Jiang Yun is capable of killing Myriad Stars and challenging Primordial Beginning, he prioritizes preventing a devastating Dao Ancestor-level war.
• Power and dependence: The Immortal King Giant realizes that personal cultivation may not be enough to break through and begins relying on Jiang Yun’s protection and resources.
• Punishment without annihilation: Jiang Yun chooses to cripple Myriad Stars rather than kill him, combining revenge, deterrence, and strategic calculation.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun and Myriad Stars: Their confrontation is primarily ideological as well as physical. Jiang Yun dismantles Myriad Stars’ claim to moral superiority and punishes him for his mass slaughter.
• Jiang Yun and the Immortal King Giant: Jiang Yun teaches him that strength, rather than verbal victory, is what commands respect. The lesson strengthens the Giant’s determination to advance.
• Jiang Yun and Primordial Beginning: Their exchange escalates from a rescue attempt into a negotiation backed by threats. Jiang Yun refuses to be intimidated by Primordial Beginning’s status and ultimately forces a compromise.
• Primordial Beginning and Myriad Stars: Their relationship shows the master’s intense protection of his disciple, but also exposes their shared disregard for weaker beings.
• Jiang Yun and Hou Ming: They establish the rules for the next stage of the Underworld-Heaven conflict: separate battlefields for lower realms and Immortal Kings, with Dao Ancestors barred from direct participation.

Chapter Summary: “Layered Battlefields”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dao Ancestors Hou Ming and Jiang Yun establish strict battlefield divisions for the coming war:
  • Immortal Kings may only fight on Immortal King-level battlefields.
  • Experts below the Immortal King Realm must fight in lower-level battlefields.
  • Any Immortal King who violates this rule will be killed.
• The arrangement is intended to train the Underworld’s forces for the future war at the Sacrificial Sea. The Immortal Kings believe that those who achieve the greatest battle merits may receive opportunities to advance to the Dao Ancestor Realm.
• The new rules trigger a massive war between the Underworld and Heaven. Experts from both sides pour into the worlds surrounding Heaven, causing bloodshed and turmoil throughout the Sacrificial Sea. Other Ancient Origin Lands observe the conflict from the shadows.
• Jiang Yun secretly investigates the battlefields and confirms that Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor has imposed similar restrictions on Heaven’s side. Neither side’s Dao Ancestors openly intervene, suggesting that the war is being used to temper their forces.
• Jiang Yun retreats to the Source World and refines Myriad Stars Immortal King’s Immortal King Origin. Nearly half of the origin condenses into a single drop of extremely pure Qilin blood.
• After absorbing it, Jiang Yun’s Qilin Bloodline evolves beyond the limits of the ordinary Qilin Race and begins moving toward a true ancestral bloodline. He concludes that he may eventually need to obtain genuine Qilin Ancestor Blood, possibly from the mysterious Qilin Dao Ancestor.
• Jiang Yun orders Zhulong, Bull Demon, and Evil Emperor to remain behind and guard the Underworld. He is especially cautious about Soul River’s possible retaliation and asks Hou Ming to secretly protect Evil Emperor.
• Jiang Yun senses the aura of a Sacred Physique near the ancient Qingming World and realizes that his cousin Ye Fan may be in danger. He travels there to investigate.

Ye Fan’s Battle

• Qingming World, once ruled by Qingming Dao Ancestor, contains a powerful Ancestor Method artifact left behind to protect it. Because the Dao Ancestor is absent, the world becomes a target for Immortal Kings seeking opportunities.
• Ye Fan has entered the battlefield to seek advancement. Although he has not yet reached the Immortal King Realm, his cultivation of the Red Dust Immortal and War Immortal paths gives him combat power comparable to a Peak Immortal King.
• An Immortal King Giant from the Eight Paths of Reincarnation identifies Ye Fan as an outsider and pursues him across multiple universes. He is astonished that someone below the Immortal King Realm can possess such overwhelming strength.
• Ye Fan treats the battle as a trial rather than panicking. He summons the Nine-Colored Ancient Cauldron, which absorbs the essence of several universes before crashing down on his opponent.
• The Immortal King Giant transforms into a colossal Heaven-Cleaving Earth-Creation form and withstands the cauldron’s attack. Their collision devastates countless universes and kills many beings below the Immortal King Realm.
• Ye Fan then unleashes the Heavenly Emperor Fist. Its power shocks the watching Immortal Kings and alarms his opponent, who associates the technique’s name and might with the legendary Desolate Emperor.
• The Immortal King Giant demands to know Ye Fan’s relationship with the Desolate Emperor and whether Ye Fan is his inheritor. He avoids taking the punch directly, but the attack tears through Qingming World and continues into the Sacrificial Sea.
• Jiang Yun is drawn to the battlefield by the power of Ye Fan’s punch. Upon arriving, he recognizes not only Ye Fan but also the opposing Immortal King as an old acquaintance, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Development

• Jiang Yun: Demonstrates strategic foresight by organizing the layered battlefields and preparing both sides for the future Sacrificial Sea war. His Qilin Bloodline advances significantly, and he becomes increasingly proactive in protecting his allies while remaining confident enough to challenge powerful Dao Ancestor-level forces.
• Ye Fan: Shows remarkable growth and fearlessness. Despite lacking the Immortal King Realm, he can battle a Peak Immortal King and confront an Immortal King Giant. His willingness to use a stronger opponent as a trial highlights his developing confidence and warrior mentality.
• Evil Emperor: Is formally treated as a member of the Eight Paths of Reincarnation, with Jiang Yun taking precautions to protect him from Soul River’s possible response.
• Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor: Though suffering previous losses, he obeys the battlefield agreement and refrains from allowing Heaven’s Dao Ancestors or Immortal Emperors to intervene openly.

Significant Themes

• War as a path to advancement: The battlefield divisions are designed not merely to prevent unfair slaughter but to create opportunities for experts to grow and break through.
• Respect for strength and merit: Both sides believe that surviving brutal battles and achieving great kills may lead to advancement toward the Dao Ancestor Realm.
• Bloodline evolution: Jiang Yun’s refinement of Qilin blood reflects the importance of ancestry, inherited power, and surpassing one’s racial limitations.
• The dangers of power: The battle between Ye Fan and the Immortal King Giant demonstrates that Immortal King-level combat can destroy entire universes and devastate countless weaker beings.
• Legacy and inheritance: Ye Fan’s Heavenly Emperor Fist evokes the Desolate Emperor, raising questions about whether Ye Fan has inherited or recreated part of that legendary figure’s path.
• Hidden calculation among supreme beings: Although Dao Ancestors do not openly participate, they manipulate events from behind the scenes, using the war to prepare for a greater conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Hou Ming and Jiang Yun jointly impose the battlefield rules on the Underworld.
• Jiang Yun coordinates with Hou Ming to protect the Underworld and Evil Emperor from Soul River.
• Jiang Yun worries about Ye Fan’s development and rushes to intervene when he senses Ye Fan’s Sacred Physique aura.
• Ye Fan clashes directly with an Immortal King Giant from the Eight Paths of Reincarnation, who questions his origins and connection to the Desolate Emperor.
• The chapter concludes with Jiang Yun arriving at the battlefield and recognizing Ye Fan’s opponent, setting up a significant confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Tempering His Subordinates!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yun recognizes the weakened Immortal King Meng Xie, formerly an Emperor Light Immortal King whom he had previously encountered. After suffering severe injuries and burning part of his Immortal King Origin in battle with Myriad Stars Immortal King, Meng Xie has fallen to the level of an Immortal King Giant.
• Meng Xie battles Ye Fan, who is only a Quasi-Immortal King but possesses strength comparable to a Peak Immortal King. Ye Fan’s Heavenly Emperor Fist shocks the watching Immortal Kings and proves powerful enough to seriously injure Meng Xie if taken directly.
• Meng Xie reveals that he is the mysterious Emperor Light Immortal King who fought Myriad Stars Immortal King. His survival and the damage he inflicted cause the observers to greatly fear the strength of Eight Paths of Reincarnation.
• Meng Xie attempts to recruit Ye Fan, believing he may be an unaffiliated peerless genius. Ye Fan refuses, declaring himself irreconcilable with the “weird” forces.
• Heaven and the native Immortal Kings of Qingming Ancient World unite against Meng Xie. Dozens of Immortal Kings attack, hoping to overwhelm him through numbers.
• Meng Xie summons the Immortal Kings of Eight Paths of Reincarnation with the Reincarnation Token. Fifty powerful Immortal Kings appear, most of them at least Peak Immortal Kings.
• The two factions engage in widespread battles across the cosmos. After intense fighting, most combatants are eliminated, leaving Meng Xie and Ye Fan among the final survivors on their respective sides.
• Just as Heaven’s remaining Immortal Kings prepare to capture Meng Xie, more Immortal Kings from Eight Paths of Reincarnation arrive, turning the numerical situation once again and ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yun: Remains hidden and observes the conflict rather than intervening directly, partly to obey the agreement forbidding Dao Ancestors from joining Immortal King battles. He is impressed by Ye Fan’s rapid growth and recognizes his cousin’s extraordinary battle talent.
• Ye Fan: Demonstrates immense combat strength, courage, and an unwavering desire to fight powerful opponents. He rejects Meng Xie’s recruitment attempt and openly declares his hostility toward the weird forces. His willingness to challenge an Immortal King Giant confirms his identity as a battle-born genius.
• Immortal King Meng Xie: Despite his weakened cultivation, he remains extremely formidable and politically loyal to Eight Paths of Reincarnation. He carefully assesses Ye Fan, considers both eliminating and recruiting him, and ultimately calls for reinforcements when outnumbered.
• The Immortal Kings of Heaven and Qingming Ancient World: Recognize Ye Fan’s potential and attempt to protect him from Meng Xie’s influence. They temporarily cooperate against the common enemy but underestimate the number of Eight Paths of Reincarnation’s forces.
• Eight Paths of Reincarnation’s Immortal Kings: Reveal themselves as far more numerous and powerful than Heaven expected, emphasizing the scale of the conflict between the two sides.

Significant Themes

• Battle as a path to growth: Ye Fan’s strength and potential are shown through his willingness to fight opponents far above his apparent realm.
• Loyalty and recruitment: Meng Xie’s attempt to recruit Ye Fan highlights the importance of exceptional talents in the larger war and his unwavering dedication to Eight Paths of Reincarnation.
• Hidden strength and deception: Meng Xie’s survival, concealed injuries, and true identity demonstrate that appearances and rumors in the Immortal King Battlefield can be misleading.
• The limits of cultivation realms: Although Meng Xie has fallen in realm and Ye Fan is only a Quasi-Immortal King, both possess combat strength far beyond what their cultivation levels suggest.
• Factional conflict and numerical power: The chapter emphasizes the escalating war between Heaven and Eight Paths of Reincarnation, with shifting alliances and reinforcements determining the battlefield’s balance.
• Rules restricting Dao Ancestors: The prohibition against Dao Ancestors directly participating forces Immortal Kings to resolve the conflict themselves, making their battles especially dangerous and decisive.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Yun and Ye Fan: Jiang Yun silently watches Ye Fan’s battle and takes pride in his cousin’s extraordinary progress.
• Ye Fan and Meng Xie: They exchange attacks and test one another’s strength. Meng Xie tries to understand Ye Fan’s origins and later offers him a place in Eight Paths of Reincarnation, but Ye Fan firmly rejects him.
• Heaven/Qingming Immortal Kings and Ye Fan: They warn Ye Fan not to trust Meng Xie and the Weird Clan, recognizing his value and attempting to keep him from being recruited.
• Heaven and Eight Paths of Reincarnation: The two sides engage in a massive, evenly matched confrontation. Their battle escalates from individual duels to a large-scale clash involving dozens of Immortal Kings.
• Meng Xie and his allies: Through the Reincarnation Token, Meng Xie summons reinforcements, demonstrating his authority and the solidarity of Eight Paths of Reincarnation.

Chapter Summary: “Ye Fan’s Battle Prowess!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Reincarnation Token summons reinforcements from the Eight Paths of Reincarnation. Five Immortal Kings tear through the world barriers and arrive in the Qingming Ancient World.
• Their strange auras awaken the Qingming Ancient World’s Heavenly Dao, triggering violent resistance. Ancient universes collapse, terrifying omens appear, and the scene resembles “Heavenly Weeping.”
• Peak Immortal King Tian E challenges one of Heaven’s Immortal Kings to a deathmatch. They create a separate universe to fight until one of them dies.
• Red Demon Immortal King, a vicious snake-scorpion female Immortal King, also enters a life-and-death battle with an Immortal King of Heaven whose former companion she killed.
• Ye Fan, despite being only a Quasi-Immortal King, remains on the Immortal King battlefield. Four Immortal Kings from the Eight Paths, led by Meng Xie, debate whether to attack him.
• Black Dragon Immortal King, a Peak Immortal King with a particularly dangerous hidden power, challenges Ye Fan.
• Worried about Black Dragon’s unknown trump card, Jiang Yun disguises himself as an Immortal King Giant and attempts to take Black Dragon’s place. Meng Xie instead challenges Jiang Yun, allowing Ye Fan and Black Dragon to fight separately.
• Jiang Yun enters Meng Xie’s deathmatch universe and effortlessly withstands Meng Xie’s four-sword formation. He seizes control of Meng Xie’s four Immortal King weapons and destroys the formation.
• Jiang Yun reveals that he is actually Dao Origin Dao Ancestor. Meng Xie immediately submits and agrees to cooperate with Jiang Yun’s plan to stage the battle.
• Meanwhile, Ye Fan reveals the Origin of his Sacred Physique and clashes directly with Black Dragon in a battle of fist versus claw.
• Ye Fan’s Heavenly Emperor Fist cracks Black Dragon’s claw, while Ye Fan himself remains unharmed. The Quasi-Immortal King successfully matches a Peak Immortal King, shocking Black Dragon.
• Realizing Ye Fan is far more powerful than expected, Black Dragon abandons his initial confidence and prepares to reveal stronger methods.

Character Developments

• Ye Fan demonstrates extraordinary battle prowess. Though still a Quasi-Immortal King, he can directly contend with a Peak Immortal King, confirming his status as an unprecedented prodigy.
• Jiang Yun displays overwhelming superiority over ordinary Immortal Kings. His calmness, disguise, and effortless destruction of Meng Xie’s formation reveal the enormous gap between Dao Ancestors and Immortal Kings.
• Meng Xie is shown to be cautious and powerful, possessing four Immortal King swords and a deadly formation. However, he is completely outclassed by Jiang Yun and quickly recognizes Dao Origin Dao Ancestor.
• Black Dragon Immortal King is revealed as a ruthless genius-killer who especially targets young prodigies. His confidence is shaken after Ye Fan withstands his attack.
• Tian E and Red Demon reinforce the image of the Eight Paths Immortal Kings as violent, battle-hardened figures who welcome life-and-death combat.

Significant Themes

• Battle as a path to advancement: Jiang Yun views deathmatches as necessary for true breakthroughs and believes only survivors of genuine life-and-death battles deserve to be called powerhouses.
• The rise of a prodigy: Ye Fan’s ability to fight above his realm emphasizes the theme that cultivation level alone does not determine true strength.
• Hidden power and deception: Jiang Yun conceals his identity and strength, while Black Dragon appears to possess a devastating trump card. The battlefield is shaped as much by strategy and concealment as by direct combat.
• Respect for ancient rules: The Immortal Kings observe the traditional one-on-one rules of deathmatches. Even though Ye Fan is outmatched in realm, the others refrain from interfering.
• The vast hierarchy of cultivation: Meng Xie’s defeat highlights the immense gulf between Immortal Kings and Dao Ancestors, while Ye Fan’s performance shows that exceptional talent can narrow the gap between cultivation realms.

Character Interactions

• Tian E openly challenges Heaven’s Immortal Kings, resulting in a formal deathmatch.
• Red Demon provokes an enemy connected to one of her past victims, turning their battle into a personal vendetta.
• Jiang Yun warns Ye Fan about Black Dragon’s unusual danger, prompting Ye Fan to study his opponent more carefully.
• Jiang Yun attempts to protect Ye Fan by challenging Black Dragon, but Meng Xie intervenes and becomes Jiang Yun’s opponent instead.
• Meng Xie initially tries to intimidate Jiang Yun and demands his treasures, only to have his formation dismantled and his identity exposed.
• Black Dragon mocks Ye Fan as an inexperienced Quasi-Immortal King and vows to kill him, but Ye Fan answers with the Heavenly Emperor Fist and proves he can fight him evenly.