Chapter Summaries

Zhang Yuan agreed to hold off the [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation] for half an hour, giving Tan Chengcheng time to ascend as Divine Master. After bolstering his abilities with Ji Guang’s aid, he launched a sword strike at the enemy’s left arm.

• Ye Xiangning, Tan Chengcheng, and Tan Liang dragged the unconscious Tan Yaozheng away, leaving Zhang Yuan on the city wall.
• Zhang Yuan explained that he intended to stall the [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation] and use the fight to learn where [True Lord Ceased Light Punishes Thoughts]'s true body was.
• The Great Heng Empress withdrew the national fortune barrier, and the [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation] turned its attention to Zhang Yuan.
• Zhang Yuan used [First Under Heaven, Past and Present] and [Ancestor of Earth Immortals] to suppress the enemy, then called on Ji Guang to kindle intense malice within him.
• Chi Guanguan told Zhang Yuan she had found an approximate location, but he asked her to wait while he fought.
• Zhang Yuan invoked [Penetrating Heaven's Subtleties], gathered his stored Sword Qi with other powers, and swung the [Primordial Form-Converging Sword] at the enemy's left arm.

Zhang Yuan severed the [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation]'s arm with an enormous Sword Qi slash, but the creature quickly restored it and attacked again. Qin Tianyi rescued Zhang Yuan from the strike, and as the danger returned, the Great Heng Founder finally appeared through a sacred Dharma Form.

• Zhang Yuan used his empowered Sword Qi to cut off the [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation]'s left arm, startling the Celestial Persons in Heaven-Reaching City.
• The [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation] reattached its arm and raised it to strike Zhang Yuan, who had exhausted his strength.
• Qin Tianyi rushed to the wall, carried Zhang Yuan away, and was blasted down outside Heaven-Reaching City by the force of the creature's palm.
• Qin Tianyi pretended to pass out after offering Zhang Yuan a tiny Thunder Arc, which promptly vanished when Zhang Yuan touched it.
• The Imperial City released sacred golden light, and the Great Heng Founder appeared as a Divine Master Dharma Form bearing Tan Chengcheng's face.

Tan Chengcheng ascended to the Great Heng Founder's Divine Master station and used its power to destroy the [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation]. Tan Yaozheng revealed that Tan Chengcheng’s divine station was permanent, though she could still wield its power herself.

• The True Lords in the Great Void recognized the Great Heng Founder’s manifestation and chose to watch as it confronted the [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation].
• The [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation] realized Ji Guang had lured him into a trap and looked toward the Imperial City, where Ye Xiangning stood with Tan Chengcheng.
• Tan Chengcheng used Great Heng’s National Fortune to move Zhang Yuan and Qin Tianyi to safety, then sent the manifestation’s finger down on the [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation].
• The [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation] tried to resist but was crushed into nothingness by the manifestation’s golden finger.
• Tan Yaozheng told Tan Liang that Tan Chengcheng’s divine station could not be taken away, though Tan Yaozheng could still wield the same power.

After locating [True Lord Ceased Light Punishes Thoughts]'s true body in the East Sea, Zhang Yuan gathered allies to launch a revenge attack. Meanwhile, [True Lord Miaoling Duzhao] searched the East Sea with [heavenly well radiance] and uncovered a tiny bubble containing a verdant microcosm.

• Zhang Yuan asked Chi Guanguan where Ji Guang was, and she traced the source of the [blazing embers] profound mystery to the bottom of the East Sea.
• Zhang Yuan concluded that [True Lord Ceased Light Punishes Thoughts] was hiding in the East Sea and contacted Chen Xinqiao and [Mirror-Holding Armored Lord, Divine Master] to prepare an attack.
• The True Lords watching the Great Void discussed Daoist Tan's destruction of the [demon-summoning response incarnation] and began to withdraw their Divine Senses.
• [True Lord Miaoling Duzhao] swept the East Sea with [heavenly well radiance], drawing the watching True Lords' attention.
• [Heavenly well radiance] settled on a tiny bubble at the sea bottom and revealed a lush microcosm within it.

Chen Xinqiao, [Heavenly Army Night-Cutting Goddess], [Mirror-Holding Armored Lord, Divine Master], and Tan Chengcheng joined forces to destroy [Candlelit Flamebright Pavilion] and strike Ye Xiangning. Ye Xiangning was killed after blaming Zhang Yuan, while the pavilion’s destruction left the group’s long-planned attack accomplished.

• Tan Chengcheng recognized Ye Xiangning as the target Zhang Yuan had asked her to fight and struck her, sending her into [Candlelit Flamebright Pavilion].
• Chen Xinqiao found Ye Xiangning’s hiding place, destroyed the surrounding microcosm, and asked [Heavenly Army Night-Cutting Goddess] to attack the exposed pavilion.
• [Heavenly Army Night-Cutting Goddess] sent an Immortal Sword at [Candlelit Flamebright Pavilion], and [Mirror-Holding Armored Lord, Divine Master] followed with a halberd strike.
• Tan Chengcheng brought down her imperial dharma form, collapsing [Candlelit Flamebright Pavilion] and sending Ye Xiangning to an island in the East Sea.
• Ye Xiangning shouted that things were not over between her and Zhang Yuan before the Immortal Sword struck her and her form dissolved into flames.

Xiao Yuanjun questioned Li Huixi about stopping her from backing Zhang Yuan, then learned that an ancient Great Luo had created the Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation. Li Huixi brought Xiao Yuanjun into the River of Time to search for the culprit, and they began walking upstream.

• Xiao Yuanjun challenged Li Huixi for preventing her from helping Zhang Yuan, while Li Huixi argued that she was his fiancée and could decide what was best.
• Li Huixi asked Xiao Yuanjun about the Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation and explained that its creator was likely a Great Luo from the Primordial or Elder Era.
• Xiao Yuanjun suspected Chi Guanguan, then asked which Ancient Lord had made the incarnation so she could avenge Zhang Yuan.
• Li Huixi admitted she did not know the culprit and led Xiao Yuanjun into the River of Time.
• Li Huixi walked upstream through the River of Time, telling Xiao Yuanjun to follow.

Xiao Yuanjun followed Li Huixi to the end of the River of Time, where the Great Luo of ancient eras had been driven into a silent void. After the Ancient Lords mistook their arrival for an attack, Xiao Yuanjun demanded to know which of them had tried to kill her disciple.

• Xiao Yuanjun and Li Huixi passed through the known eras of the River of Time, while mighty beings in earlier periods sensed them and looked on.
• At the river's end, Li Huixi revealed a host of Ancient Great Luo gathered in the void beyond time.
• The Ancient Lords argued over their past deeds until an injured Great Luo holding a shattered stone platform silenced them and questioned Xiao Yuanjun.
• Xiao Yuanjun revealed her title, [Great Beginning Heaven-Governing Primordial Lady], and the Ancient Lords panicked, recalling how Li Huixi had driven them beyond the river's end.
• Li Huixi dismissed the Ancient Lords' threat to fight back, and Xiao Yuanjun demanded that whoever created the [Demon-Summoning Response Incarnation] that tried to kill her disciple step forward.

Xiao Yuanjun learned that her perfect Golden Core had left her unable to advance, then returned with Li Huixi to the present. Half a month after the battle with True Lord Ceased Light Punishes Thoughts, Zhang Yuan began worrying about the old ghost’s return and his unresolved obligations.

• Xiao Yuanjun attacked the Ancient Great Luo when none admitted responsibility for harming Zhang Yuan.
• A stone-platform Great Luo told Xiao Yuanjun she had taken the wrong path, and an ethereal woman explained that her perfect Golden Core left no room for further advancement.
• Xiao Yuanjun thanked the ethereal woman, resolved to find her own remedy, and returned to the present with Li Huixi.
• The stone-platform Great Luo warned the Ancient Great Luo not to provoke powerful figures, and they dispersed after exchanging dismissive remarks.
• After half a month of rest, Zhang Yuan decided he needed to send Ao Xiu back and find a place to hide before True Lord Ceased Light Punishes Thoughts returned.

Zhang Yuan tried to leave Heaven-Reaching City for the Azure Firmament Dust-Dyed Realm, but Tan Chengcheng and Tan Yaozheng stopped him to ask where he was going. After Zhang Yuan said he planned to visit the East Sea Dragon Clan to take Ao Xiu home, Tan Yaozheng warned him about the long, dangerous journey and the pursuers likely drawn by Ao Xiu’s karma.

• Zhang Yuan packed his bedding and prepared to leave Heaven-Reaching City without saying goodbye to Tan Chengcheng or the Tan family.
• Tan Chengcheng and Tan Yaozheng appeared behind Zhang Yuan and stopped him as he tried to depart.
• Tan Chengcheng questioned Zhang Yuan about leaving and told him that Tan Yaozheng would agree to let him become emperor, but Zhang Yuan rejected the position.
• Zhang Yuan told Tan Chengcheng and Tan Yaozheng that he was heading to the East Sea Dragon Clan for Ao Xiu.
• Ao Xiu protested when Tan Yaozheng called her a little fellow, and Tan Yaozheng warned Zhang Yuan that the journey would be dangerous and that pursuers might come after them.

Tan Yaozheng told Zhang Yuan that ships from Spirit Emperor Blessed Land could shorten his journey to the East Sea Dragon Clan, so he set out east with Chi Guanguan and Ao Xiu. After fifteen days of travel, he reached the East Sea and blamed the worsening heavenly laws for slowing his flight.

• Tan Yaozheng directed Zhang Yuan to Spirit Emperor Blessed Land, whose ships traveled to the Dust-Dyed Realm's East Sea.
• Zhang Yuan said goodbye to Tan Chengcheng and secretly departed Heaven-Reaching City with Chi Guanguan and Ao Xiu.
• Tan Yaozheng accused Tan Chengcheng of having feelings for Zhang Yuan, but Tan Chengcheng denied their relationship.
• During the journey, Ao Xiu and Chi Guanguan fed Zhang Yuan pastries, and Chi Guanguan blushed as she told him he could not have more unless she decided otherwise.
• Zhang Yuan took fifteen days and nights to reach the East Sea and complained that the heavenly laws had slowed his flight.

Zhang Yuan tried to sneak into the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven but its Insight Talisman exposed him, and the cultivators recognized him as the feared Demon Fiend [Return to True]. As they called for every elder, someone recognized him as Guard Zhang.

• Zhang Yuan admired the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven and discussed future cultivation grounds with Chi Guanguan and Ao Xiu.
• Zhang Yuan concealed his Golden Carriage and tried to enter the grotto-heaven without an identification talisman.
• The Insight Talisman exposed Zhang Yuan, and Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven cultivators attacked him with suppression talismans.
• Zhang Yuan destroyed the talismans with his Life-Bound Flying Sword, revealing the three-colored Sword Qi that identified him as [Return to True].
• Senior Brother Chen ordered the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven elders to be summoned, and a voice called Zhang Yuan Guard Zhang.

Zhang Yuan met Tong Ke at the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven and asked about traveling to the East Sea. With no ships going there directly, Tong Ke offered him a place on a ship to the Mysterious Court and led him to seek the elders’ approval.

• Tong Ke vouched for Zhang Yuan, and Senior Brother Chen left to report his arrival to the elders.
• Tong Ke gave Zhang Yuan a cyan talisman that allowed him to enter the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven.
• Zhang Yuan questioned how Tong Ke had reached the grotto-heaven so quickly, and she explained that she had used a teleportation array.
• Tong Ke said the Eastern Sunken Pavilion’s reports about Zhang Yuan were false and that she trusted him because Tan Chengcheng did.
• Tong Ke explained that no ships sailed directly to the East Sea, but offered Zhang Yuan a place on a ship to the Mysterious Court departing in three days.
• Tong Ke led Zhang Yuan to ask the elders for permission to board the ship.

Zhang Yuan traveled with Tong Ke through the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven to meet her master, Shangxian True Person. When Tong Ke introduced him at the Azure Talisman Palace, Shangxian True Person and Baihui True Person were stunned by his arrival.

• Tong Ke explained that the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven welcomed outsiders and led Zhang Yuan across the Jade Bridge toward its core.
• Tong Ke introduced Zhang Yuan to Chu Xiang as an elderly, temperamental Sword Immortal, and Chu Xiang respectfully let them pass.
• Tong Ke teased Zhang Yuan about his age and his connection to the owner of [Eastern Sunken Pavilion], and he admitted he was in his twenties while sarcastically calling the owner his best friend.
• Tong Ke brought Zhang Yuan into the Azure Talisman Palace, where Shangxian True Person and Baihui True Person were discussing preparations to travel to the Mysterious Court.
• Baihui True Person joked that Tong Ke might have brought home a son-in-law, then froze when he saw Zhang Yuan; Shangxian True Person also recognized the unexpected visitor and gaped.

Zhang Yuan secured passage on the Spirit Emperor Blessed Land’s ship to the Mysterious Court and discovered that the First God Cult was recruiting inside the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven. After locating the cult’s base, he confronted its followers by claiming to be their Holy Son.

• Shangxian True Person and Baihui True Person prepared to fight Zhang Yuan, but accepted his request to board their ship after he explained he would pay for passage and agreed to wait three days.
• Tong Ke defended bringing Zhang Yuan to the grotto-heaven, while Shangxian True Person scolded her for putting the sect at risk.
• Zhang Yuan searched the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven for an inn and encountered a black-robed First God Cult recruiter.
• When the recruiter attacked him, Zhang Yuan crushed the low-level cultivator into dust and divined the location of the cult’s base.
• Zhang Yuan disguised himself in the cult’s robes, went to its gathering, and told the followers he was the cult’s Holy Son.

Zhang Yuan appeared at a First God Cult gathering and proved he was the missing Holy Son, forcing Yu Lian and the other cultists to accept his authority. After Zhang Yuan killed two cultists who challenged him, Yu Lian asked where he had been and why his cultivation had changed.

• Zhang Yuan entered the cultists’ room, claimed his identity as Holy Son, and demanded that they bow.
• Yu Lian identified himself as the former Candidate Holy Son and challenged Zhang Yuan’s identity, but Zhang Yuan displayed the Holy Son’s Command Token.
• Zhang Yuan killed two cultists with wine needles after they questioned or opposed him, and Yu Lian stopped the others from attacking.
• Yu Lian accepted Zhang Yuan as the true Holy Son, and the remaining cultists bowed and apologized.
• Yu Lian asked Zhang Yuan where he had gone and why his cultivation had risen beyond recognition.

Zhang Yuan convinced Yu Lian and the black-robed cultists that the First God had saved him and empowered him, then accepted Yu Lian’s challenge to recruit a new cultist. He chose an old purple-robed Daoist who was a Celestial Person of the Demon Realm, and approached him with Yu Lian following.

• Zhang Yuan claimed the First God had rescued him from the Great Heng Founder and helped him reach Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm, and Yu Lian believed him.
• Yu Lian told Zhang Yuan that recruiting an outsider would prove his loyalty, and Zhang Yuan agreed to do it immediately.
• Zhang Yuan deliberately spilled wine on Yu Lian’s shoe before leaving the restaurant with the cultists.
• Zhang Yuan searched the Azure Talisman streets for a suitable recruit and rejected mortals and lower cultivators as targets.
• Zhang Yuan spotted an old purple-robed Daoist whose Dust-Dyed Realm aura was unconcealed and declared him the one, despite Yu Lian warning that he was a Celestial Person of the Demon Realm.

Qin Tianyi tried to flee back to the Azure Firmament Dust-Dyed Realm, but Zhang Yuan encountered him and recruited him into the First God Cult. The group headed back to the cult after Qin Tianyi accepted the role of Divine General Qin.

• Qin Tianyi planned to board a Magic Ship to return to the Azure Firmament Dust-Dyed Realm while other Celestial Persons fought over the Central Land conceptual image.
• Zhang Yuan and the black-robed cultists stopped Qin Tianyi on the street, and Qin Tianyi recognized Zhang Yuan as Demon Fiend Zhang.
• Zhang Yuan offered Qin Tianyi a place in the First God Cult, and Qin Tianyi solemnly pledged himself to the Holy Son.
• Zhang Yuan named Qin Tianyi one of the Four Divine Generals, and Yu Lian reluctantly accepted the same title after learning Qin Tianyi had joined.
• Yu Lian gave Qin Tianyi black cult robes, which concealed his appearance, aura, and Celestial Person conceptual image.
• Yu Lian declared that Zhang Yuan had passed his test and hurried the group back to the cult.

Zhang Yuan learned that the First God Cult planned to reach the Mysterious Court and resurrect its First God, then arranged to travel on the same ship as the cultists. After leaving them, he searched for lodging and found that the Sea Splendor Tower had one room left.

• Yu Lian told Zhang Yuan that the First God Cult had received a divine oracle ordering its leaders to go to the Mysterious Court and resurrect the First God.
• Zhang Yuan decided the cult might clash with the Mysterious Court and said he had a ticket for the ship departing in three days.
• Zhang Yuan told Yu Lian's group to sneak aboard and remain quiet unless he contacted them, then left the restaurant.
• Qin Tianyi also departed, relieved that Zhang Yuan was gone but worried they would share the voyage.
• Zhang Yuan reached the Sea Splendor Tower and asked for lodging, but the maid said it was full until the innkeeper offered him a Grade B Room.

Zhang Yuan checked into an inn after an argument over rooms, where he unexpectedly encountered Miaole and a group of core disciples. He kept his identity secret and went upstairs, while the others wondered who he was.

• Zhang Yuan silenced the inn’s dispute and asked the innkeeper for a room for three days.
• A woman with a narrow saber apologized after Zhang Yuan glanced at her, and the innkeeper offered him a room key.
• Miaole arrived with several core disciples, and the young men offered Zhang Yuan their rooms while Miaole called him a Bodhisattva.
• Zhang Yuan accepted a Grade A room and gave only his surname before leaving the lobby.
• The red-robed youth asked Miaole who Zhang Yuan was, but Miaole refused to reveal his identity, and the blue-robed young man stopped the questioning.

Zhang Yuan left the Azure Talisman Grotto-Heaven and reached the Spirit Emperor Blessed Land, where he boarded the Azure Spirit Ship with Tong Ke and Huang Yingquan. The ship had not yet set sail when Zhang Yuan asked when they would depart.

• Tong Ke sent Zhang Yuan a voice-transmitting talisman telling him to meet her at the coast, and Zhang Yuan checked out of Sea Splendor Tower.
• Zhang Yuan asked a blue-robed young man for directions, then rode his Golden Carriage east along the Jade Bridge.
• Zhang Yuan passed through the eastern opening into the Spirit Emperor Blessed Land and nearly crashed into a towering statue before spotting the ship at the coast.
• Tong Ke and Huang Yingquan waited aboard the Azure Spirit Ship and discussed Zhang Yuan's arrival.
• Zhang Yuan landed on the deck, greeted Tong Ke and Huang Yingquan, and asked when the ship would set sail.