Chapter Summaries

Gu Yuanqing used the Demon Subduing Sword and his overwhelming power to seize control of the Circulation of Heaven Star Array, breaking the Demon Purging Sword Domain and driving the other three sword wielders to burn their origins. As their desperate struggle destabilized the Realm in the Painting, the man in blue sensed that the prison could no longer contain him.

• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master, Daoist Qingxu, and Chi Jinyu joined their wills through the Circulation of Heaven Star Array, hoping to defeat Gu Yuanqing and claim the Qingping Dao Palace’s inheritance.
• Gu Yuanqing used his original body’s true essence to refine the Demon Subduing Sword Domain’s seven array artifacts while probing the other three sword domains.
• Gu Yuanqing recognized that the array resembled the game he had played with the old man in the painting, then focused his attack on Chi Jinyu’s Demon Purging Sword Domain.
• Gu Yuanqing empowered the Demon Subduing Sword with North Spring Grotto-Heaven’s power, broke through Chi Jinyu’s defenses, and took control of the Demon Purging Sword Formation’s artifacts.
• Daoist Qingxu, the Heavenly Demon Sword Master, and Chi Jinyu burned their origin power as their sword domains faltered, destabilizing the Circulation of Heaven Star Array and the prison in the Realm in the Painting.
• The man in blue sensed his power awakening and told the seven wardens that the prison would not hold him much longer.

Gu Yuanqing battled the Person in the Painting while deducing how to control the Circulation of Heaven Star Array. After drawing on North Spring Grotto-Heaven’s full power, he overwhelmed the Heavenly Demon Sword Master and Daoist Qingxu, though the Person in the Painting remained a dangerous threat.

• Gu Yuanqing refined the Demon Subduing Sword Domain’s Array Tools and used its advantage over the other Sword Domains to strengthen his control of the Grand Formation.
• The Person in the Painting sent black qi through the Circulation of Heaven Star Array to attack Gu Yuanqing, giving the Heavenly Demon Sword Master and Daoist Qingxu a brief respite.
• Gu Yuanqing suspected the Grand Formation was meant to suppress the Person in the Painting, while the painting’s realm revealed that old imprints were struggling to contain him.
• Li Chengyi approached the summit, and Gu Yuanqing reassured him before turning his full attention back to the battle.
• Gu Yuanqing unleashed North Spring Grotto-Heaven’s power, crushed the Heavenly Demon Sword Master’s and Daoist Qingxu’s resistance, and drew a contemptuous remark from the Person in the Painting.

Gu Yuanqing overwhelmed the Heavenly Demon Sword Master, Daoist Qingxu, and Chi Jinyu, then began cultivating the remaining sword daos to gain control of the Circulation of Heaven Star Array. Inside the Dao Palace, the three defeated men chose to send one of them away with the Three Tribulation Crossing Lamp, and Qingxu and Chi Jinyu sacrificed themselves so the Heavenly Demon Sword Master could escape.

• Gu Yuanqing suppressed the Person in the Painting and drove the Heavenly Demon Sword Master and Daoist Qingxu out of their Sword Domain formations.
• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master proposed that the three men merge, but Daoist Qingxu and Chi Jinyu rejected the plan and revealed the Three Tribulation Crossing Lamp as another option.
• Gu Yuanqing sent three avatars to the Sword Domain Trials to cultivate the other sword daos, while the three men realized he might soon break into the Dao Palace.
• Daoist Qingxu and Chi Jinyu decided the Heavenly Demon Sword Master should escape, then each entered the Bronze Ancient Lamp and sacrificed himself to strengthen its flame.
• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master watched Qingxu and Chi Jinyu disappear into the lamp and felt grief mingled with his resentment.

Gu Yuanqing defeated the Heavenly Demon Sword Master's attempt to escape and learned that Daoist Qingxu and Chi Jinyu had sacrificed themselves through the Bronze Ancient Lamp to give him a chance to live. He offered the three a chance to read the Heavenly Dao Scripture Upper Volume if they brought the Lower Volume to Qian Yuan Island, and the Heavenly Demon Sword Master agreed to come within ten years.

• Gu Yuanqing suppressed the three swords and cornered the Heavenly Demon Sword Master, who used the Bronze Ancient Lamp and threatened to unleash its power.
• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master escaped down the mountain, but stopped before reaching the Heavenly Demon Sword Domain and admitted he no longer wanted to live on alone.
• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master released Chi Jinyu and Daoist Qingxu from the lamp, and they confronted him over abandoning the escape they had sacrificed themselves to enable.
• Gu Yuanqing asked them to leave the lamp and Heavenly Demon Sword and bring the Heavenly Dao Scripture to Qian Yuan Island within thirty years in exchange for a chance to read its Upper Volume.
• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master accepted and promised to come to Qian Yuan Island within ten years.

Gu Yuanqing defeated the forces in Qingping Grotto-Heaven and accepted the Heavenly Demon Sword from the Heavenly Demon Sword Master, while deciding to leave the Person in the Painting undisturbed. After years of mastering the four sword daos, he attained minor success in the Circulation of Heaven Calamity-Suppressing Four Phases Sword Dao.

• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master surrendered the Heavenly Demon Sword to Gu Yuanqing and left Qingping Grotto-Heaven, telling Feng Jiuniang he planned to leave the Spirit Realm within a year.
• Gu Yuanqing decided not to open Qingping Dao Palace yet, wary of the Person in the Painting, and told Li Chengyi about the danger and the inheritance within the grotto-heaven.
• Gu Yuanqing asked Li Chengyi to prepare for disciples to cultivate in Qingping Grotto-Heaven and carry on the Dao Palace's inheritance.
• Gu Yuanqing's avatars spent years mastering the Heavenly Demon Sword Dao, Demon Sealing Sword Dao, and Demon Purging Sword Dao before he reunited their insights with his true body.
• Gu Yuanqing combined the four sword intents through the Circulation of Heaven Star Array and achieved minor attainment in the Circulation of Heaven Calamity-Suppressing Four Phases Sword Dao.

Gu Yuanqing stabilized his Four Phases Sword of Calamity Suppression, then discovered he could fish Dao Souls from the Boundless River into the North Spring Grotto-Heaven and discussed using them with Li Chengyi. He refined the three remaining swords and brought them into the Qingping Grotto-Heaven to take control of the Dao Palace, while the Heavenly Demon Sword Master’s journey toward Qian Yuan Island ended in a sudden crash.

• Gu Yuanqing completed his meditation and estimated that the inherited sword method could lead him to the chaos immortal realm, though he worried it would constrain his other Great Daos.
• Gu Yuanqing fished a heaven-tier Fire Flood Dragon Dao Soul from the Boundless River, and he and Li Chengyi discussed using Dao Souls to aid cultivation.
• Gu Yuanqing told Li Chengyi he would give the Heavenly Demon Sword Master a chance if he came, but would otherwise sever his connection to the sword and kill his avatars.
• Gu Yuanqing erased Daoist Qingxu’s imprint and refined the Demon Sealing Sword, Demon Purging Sword, and Heavenly Demon Sword.
• Gu Yuanqing brought the three swords into the Qingping Grotto-Heaven and unleashed the Four Phases Sword Intent as two travelers approached Qian Yuan Island and one suddenly plunged from the sky.

The Heavenly Demon Sword Master admitted that he had lost the Heavenly Demon Sword and had only fifty years left to live, then freed Feng Jiuniang and parted ways with her. Meanwhile, Gu Yuanqing took control of Qingping Grotto-Heaven, learned the history of the Person in the Painting, and discovered a vast Scripture Pavilion that could guide his cultivation.

• The wounded Heavenly Demon Sword Master traveled with Feng Jiuniang for more than half a year, stopping to leave instructions along the way.
• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master told Feng Jiuniang that he had lost the Heavenly Demon Sword, had at most fifty years to live, and wanted her to conceal her identity and live quietly.
• Gu Yuanqing activated the Circulation of Heaven Star Array, suppressed the Person in the Painting, and established control over Qingping Grotto-Heaven.
• Gu Yuanqing read the records of the Qingping Dao Palace and learned how the Person in the Painting had awakened, threatened the lineage, and led Old Man Heavenly Sword to sacrifice his path to immortality to suppress him.
• Gu Yuanqing opened the Scripture Pavilion and found extensive cultivation teachings and techniques spanning many levels, which filled the gaps in his knowledge of the Cultivation World.

Gu Yuanqing studied the Scripture Pavilion’s rare cultivation scriptures and later received the Heavenly Dao Scripture’s lower volume from the Heavenly Demon Sword Master. After returning the Three Tribulation Crossing Lamp, he left the Heavenly Demon Sword Master and Feng Jiuniang waiting for the answer they had come to obtain.

• Gu Yuanqing surveyed the Scripture Pavilion, retrieved three dao scriptures, and sent them to North Spring Grotto-Heaven to study.
• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master and Feng Jiuniang arrived at Qian Yuan Island, where Qin Wuya recognized the Heavenly Demon Sword Master and escorted them to Gu Yuanqing.
• Gu Yuanqing brought the pair into Qingping Grotto-Heaven, and the Heavenly Demon Sword Master marveled at how quickly Gu Yuanqing had mastered its sword domains and formations.
• The Heavenly Demon Sword Master handed Gu Yuanqing the purple sandalwood box containing the matching volume of the Heavenly Dao Scripture.
• Gu Yuanqing returned the Three Tribulation Crossing Lamp and said the pair could stay on the floating island, but Feng Jiuniang asked him to give them an answer.

After studying the Heavenly Dao Scripture, Gu Yuanqing prepared to pursue a new cultivation technique and arranged a merit system that exchanged worship for access to Qian Yuan Realm resources. As Qian Yuan Divine Halls spread across several boundary domains, he continued studying and watched incense and fire qi accumulate faster.

• Gu Yuanqing dismissed Feng Jiuniang’s challenge, and Qiu Weifeng rebuked her for questioning him.
• Gu Yuanqing studied both volumes of the Heavenly Dao Scripture, reached great accomplishment in his foundation, and began preparing for his breakthrough into deathlessness.
• Gu Yuanqing instructed Li Chengyi to establish a merit system that rewarded boundary domains for enshrining his statue and offering daily incense.
• Li Chengyi, Li Haotian, and Li Shi'an refined the exchange rules, and the Qian Yuan Realm announced them across the boundary domains.
• The Illusionary Spirit Sect, the Myriad Treasures Realm, and the Purple You Realm established the first Qian Yuan Divine Halls, while the Qian Yuan Sect and Great Qian Dynasty prepared to support them.
• Gu Yuanqing read widely in the Qingping Dao Palace’s books, and the incense and fire qi around his grotto-heaven began accumulating faster.

Gu Yuanqing’s Qian Yuan Halls spread through the Exquisite Realm Domain as the Primordial Divine Sect debated how to respond, while Ning Xuxuan entrusted him with the Illusionary Spirit Sect’s legacy before passing away. The chapter ended with Gu Yuanqing estimating that the growing incense and fire qi could support his tribulation within twenty years.

• The Primordial Divine Sect’s elders challenged Mu Tianheng over the sect’s isolation and Gu Yuanqing’s growing influence, but Mu Tianheng insisted the sect’s true foundation lay within itself.
• Mu Tianheng privately confronted Lei Fuyue, then invited him to enter the Ancestor Hall together.
• Ning Xuxuan visited Gu Yuanqing with Yi Yunbo, warned him about the Primordial Divine Sect, and asked him to preserve the Illusionary Spirit Sect’s legacy if disaster struck.
• Ning Xuxuan departed by merging into Yi Yunbo, leaving Gu Yuanqing a Jade Slip containing the Illusionary Spirit Sect’s legacy.
• Qiu Weifeng reflected on his approaching death with Feng Jiuniang, while Chi Jinyu and Daoist Qingxu discussed his gamble in giving Gu Yuanqing the Heavenly Dao Scripture Lower Volume.
• Gu Yuanqing noted that Qian Yuan Halls had reached forty-two boundary domains and estimated that the incense and fire qi needed for his tribulation would accumulate within twenty years.

Over twenty years, Gu Yuanqing’s sermons and the Qian Yuan Divine Hall’s expansion transformed the Qian Yuan Realm’s influence, while Gu Yuanqing prepared to face the Primordial Divine Sect and advance his cultivation. He began deriving a technique for breaking into the chaos immortal realm, and the vision showed him successfully crossing the boundary between human and immortal.

• Over the first ten years, Li Chengyi organized the Qian Yuan Sect as it expanded the Qian Yuan Divine Hall across seventy-six exquisite realm domains, and Gu Yuanqing helped an outside cultivator break through to the heavenly human level.
• Gu Yuanqing announced a sermon, and cultivators who had not exchanged Merit Points for eligibility discovered they could not hear it; listeners from other domains gained breakthroughs and repaired flaws in their Dao foundations.
• The sermon made more boundary domains eager to establish Qian Yuan Halls, increasing the incense and fire qi reaching Gu Yuanqing, who considered the Primordial Divine Sect’s likely response to his coming breakthrough.
• Another ten years passed as Gu Yuanqing’s understanding deepened and his Heavenly Human World’s Dao imprints grew more complete, bringing its yin and yang principles close to becoming the Sun and Moon.
• Gu Yuanqing gathered the accumulated incense and fire qi and activated Dao Derivation Augmentation to derive a technique for entering the chaos immortal realm, seeing a possibility in which he crossed from human to immortal.

Gu Yuanqing discovered that the Primordial Divine Sect had secretly used tribulation qi to manipulate his judgment about where to undergo his tribulation, so he chose to avoid the Exquisite Realm Domain and prepare safely elsewhere. After reaching the Peak of the shattering heaven realm and celebrating his birthday with his descendants, he turned toward the Cultivation World to undergo his tribulation.

• Mu Tianheng reported Gu Yuanqing’s progress to the Primordial Divine Sect’s ancestors, who dismissed the Path of Incense and Fire and regarded Gu Yuanqing as a potential divine embryo.
• Gu Yuanqing derived the Heavenly Dao Zen Heart Art, integrated several cultivation paths, and estimated that he could undergo his tribulation within three years.
• While weighing whether to undergo his tribulation in the Exquisite Realm Domain, Gu Yuanqing realized his prolonged indecision was abnormal and discovered subtle tribulation qi influencing him.
• Gu Yuanqing burned away the tribulation qi inside North Spring Grotto-Heaven and decided to forgo the Exquisite Realm Domain’s tribulation to gain time and avoid danger.
• Two and a half years later, Gu Yuanqing reached the Peak of the shattering heaven realm, rehearsed for the Spiritual Mountain Trial, and celebrated his birthday with his descendants.
• After the birthday gathering, Gu Yuanqing looked toward the Cultivation World and decided it was time to undergo his tribulation.

Gu Yuanqing began his chaos immortal Calamity after secretly evacuating Qian Yuan Island, and he used object control to harness the devastating lightning as he merged his body, divine soul, and dao principle imprint. As his breakthrough progressed, observers in the Demon Realm speculated about his origins and investigated a mysterious Sword Dao inheritance.

• Gu Yuanqing had Li Chengyi arrange for Qian Yuan Island's inhabitants to be moved into North Spring Grotto-Heaven before he began his Calamity in secret.
• Gu Yuanqing released his aura and severed North Spring Mountain from the Exquisite Realm Domain, causing Calamity clouds to gather over the Cultivation World and the Demon Realm.
• The Mountain-Bearing Divine Turtle concealed itself, while Xiong Mo, Wu Ti, and Lie Shanyu sensed the Calamity and considered what Gu Yuanqing's strength and origins might be.
• Lie Shanyu questioned Xing Linyuan about the widely circulated Sword Dao technique, and Xing Linyuan reported its appearance at Chaotic Star Valley and the disappearance of powerful cultivators.
• Gu Yuanqing endured the opening strikes of the eight-times-nine Calamity, using object control and the Nine Tribulations Undying Scripture to forge his body, divine soul, and dao principle imprint into a unified whole.

Gu Yuanqing survived the chaos heaven immortal tribulation and completed his transformation into a deathless cultivator, drawing immense power from North Spring Grotto-Heaven. With his new strength stabilized, he turned his attention to the Great Void Creation Wheel and then to Li Chengyi, deciding to handle other matters first.

• Gu Yuanqing transformed his Particles into miniature worlds as the Seventy-Two Heavenly Tribulations struck, while Li Chengyi and Li Haotian worried from afar.
• Lie Shanyu and powerful cultivators across the Spirit Realm sensed the tribulation, but none dared interfere as the final lightning descended.
• After the tribulation ended, Xiong Mo urged Xiong Ba to prepare a proper congratulatory gift, while the Demonic Dragon Clan and the Four Great Royal Races also discussed gifts for Gu Yuanqing.
• Gu Yuanqing spent a month replenishing his Particles with North Spring Mountain's power, stabilized his chaos immortal realm, and gained the deathless property.
• Gu Yuanqing considered seeking control of the Great Void Creation Wheel, then looked toward Li Chengyi and said he had other matters to deal with first.

After breaking through to the chaos immortal realm, Gu Yuanqing reunited with Li Chengyi and prepared to settle old scores before traveling to the Spirit Realm. In the God Ruins, Li Lingyun warned him that the Primordial Divine Sect intended to possess him and offered a deal to help him overcome the Calamity of deathlessness in exchange for rescuing Li Lingyun’s true body.

• Gu Yuanqing told Li Chengyi that he would stabilize his cultivation, visit the Spirit Realm, and first settle his score with Zuo Qiu.
• Gu Yuanqing created a chaos heaven-level avatar from a drop of blood and sent it into the God Ruins.
• Gu Yuanqing met Li Lingyun’s avatar at the Myriad Laws Return to Void Bridge, where Li Lingyun revealed that the Primordial Divine Sect had become the Decay Dao.
• Li Lingyun warned Gu Yuanqing that the sect regarded him as its finest Divine Embryo and would try to possess him during his Calamity of deathlessness.
• Li Lingyun offered to help Gu Yuanqing overcome the Calamity if Gu Yuanqing would help rescue Li Lingyun’s true body.

Gu Yuanqing cultivated the Great Void Creation Wheel’s power and confirmed he could keep it contained and under control. He then visited Qiu Weifeng, whose peaceful acceptance of old age prompted Gu Yuanqing to offer him the chance he had once promised.

• Li Lingyun offered to help Gu Yuanqing reach the chaos heaven immortal level in exchange for rescuing his true body, but Gu Yuanqing refused and accepted a jade talisman for contacting him.
• Gu Yuanqing used the Creation Admonitions to cultivate the Great Void Creation Wheel’s power, forming a rune after three days.
• Gu Yuanqing studied and tested the rune, found that North Spring Mountain could suppress it, and sealed it in an acupoint in his palm.
• Gu Yuanqing visited Qiu Weifeng, who explained that losing his connection to the Heavenly Demon Sword had freed him from its shackles and helped him let go of his past.
• Gu Yuanqing offered Qiu Weifeng the chance he had promised in exchange for the Heavenly Dao Scripture Lower Volume, and Feng Jiuniang eagerly asked if he meant it.

Gu Yuanqing gave Qiu Weifeng the complete Heavenly Dao Scripture and a ten-year chance to study it, then investigated Qin Baijun’s dealings with a demonic altar. After easily defeating Qin Baijun and stopping his attempted self-destruction, Gu Yuanqing searched his memories and discovered a connection to the Ancient Realm.

• Gu Yuanqing gave Qiu Weifeng the upper and lower volumes of the Heavenly Dao Scripture and told him to study them for ten years while teaching swordsmanship at the Qingping Dao Palace.
• Gu Yuanqing returned to North Spring Grotto-Heaven, reflected on the miniature worlds forming within his body, and watched Qin Baijun perform a blood ritual before a demonic statue in the Ling Shu Realm.
• Gu Yuanqing confronted Qin Baijun, stopped his escape and attacks, and destroyed the demonic creature summoned from the altar.
• Qin Baijun tried to summon the statue’s power against Gu Yuanqing, but Gu Yuanqing suppressed it and defeated him.
• Qin Baijun attempted to destroy himself, but Gu Yuanqing froze him and searched his memories, finding that he was connected to the Ancient Realm.

Gu Yuanqing confirmed that Qin Baijun’s demonic power was connected to the Heavenly Demon Cult Master’s power, then killed him. After learning that Ning Xuxuan had died, Gu Yuanqing prepared to leave North Spring Mountain and venture into the Cultivation World, while arranging new opportunities for Qiu Weifeng and the Qingping Grotto-Heaven.

• Gu Yuanqing brought Qin Baijun to the North Spring Grotto-Heaven and revealed that the figure who had captured him was only an avatar formed from a strand of hair.
• Gu Yuanqing extracted a drop of Demon Blood from Qin Baijun and found that it was drawn to the sealed Demonic Qi, then separated and sealed the two powers.
• Gu Yuanqing burned Qin Baijun to ashes, and the Lingxu Sect later discovered that Qin Baijun’s life lamp had gone out.
• Yi Yunbo visited Gu Yuanqing and told him that Ning Xuxuan had died, leaving Gu Yuanqing without a Daoist Friend in the Exquisite Realm Domain.
• Ten years later, Gu Yuanqing granted Qiu Weifeng access to the Demon Subduing Sword Domain and told Li Chengyi to prepare the Qingping Grotto-Heaven for Sword Dao talents.
• Gu Yuanqing told Li Chengyi that he would leave the grotto-heaven in six months to explore the Cultivation World while his true body remained on North Spring Mountain.

Gu Yuanqing left North Spring Grotto-Heaven to travel through the Cultivation World, seeking insight into his Dao and enjoying the mortal world. After months of wandering, he reached the Great Evolution Mountain Range and sent word to Zhang Xuanlin that an old acquaintance had come to visit.

• Gu Yuanqing guided Li Chengyi through fortnightly chess matches, entrusted him with the Heavenly Dao Scripture, and warned him to stay away from the Dao Palace.
• Li Haotian passed his heavenly change tribulation, and Li Chengyi smoothly survived the Yin-Yang Tribulation before entering seclusion.
• Gu Yuanqing assigned his avatars their duties, joined with North Spring Grotto-Heaven to contemplate the Dao, and sent another avatar into the Cultivation World.
• Gu Yuanqing explored Wutong Continent, found the Fire Phoenix Sect's former territory in ruins, and continued roaming the world.
• Gu Yuanqing visited a gambling house, took its silver, and escaped the pursuing cultivators before traveling onward to the Great Evolution Mountain Range.
• Gu Yuanqing told the Lingxu Sect disciples that he was an old acquaintance from three hundred years ago named Gu and asked to see Zhang Xuanlin.

Gu Yuanqing visited the Lingxu Sect and reunited with Zhang Xuanlin, who recognized that Gu had far surpassed him in cultivation. Their private conversation touched on Qian Yuan Island and the Heavenly Demon Cult, and Zhang ended by mentioning another prodigy from the Ding Twelve Realms.

• Gu Yuanqing arrived at the Lingxu Sect as the North Spring Mountain Master, and its reception elder Qiu Zhichen brought him to the reception hall.
• Ji Qingyun recognized Gu Yuanqing as the man who had once imprisoned him, then confirmed to Qiu Zhichen that Gu was an old acquaintance of the Sect Master.
• Zhang Xuanlin welcomed Gu Yuanqing with an elaborate ceremony and treated him as a Daoist Friend after realizing Gu's cultivation surpassed his own.
• Gu Yuanqing gave Zhang three bottles of Spirit Nurturing Pills as a visiting gift, and the Lingxu Sect hosted him at a banquet.
• Gu Yuanqing and Zhang privately discussed his departure from the Floating World, Qian Yuan Island, and the Heavenly Demon Cult; Gu said he would investigate the past when the opportunity arose.
• Zhang warned Gu about the Yunmeng Holy Land, then asked whether he had heard of the Lingxu Sect's prodigy from the Ding Twelve Realms.