Chapter Summaries

Yang Qing’s group discussed Emperor Zetian’s selfish designs as Jiangli finally woke and learned they suspected him of being a Heavenly Realm High God. Jiangli warned that Rosy Cloud Mountain was dangerous and urged them to turn back, but Yang Qing said Emperor Zetian’s pursuers left them no choice but to keep climbing.

• Wood and Mo Yang condemned Emperor Zetian for pursuing his own desires and disregarding everyone else.
• Yang Qing felt Jiangli stirring beneath his armor, freed it, and told it how he had obtained the Black Tortoise Heavy Armor.
• Yang Qing explained that he and the others suspected Emperor Zetian was the Tribulation-Undergoing High God of the Heavenly Realm.
• Jiangli warned Yang Qing that Rosy Cloud Mountain was too dangerous and advised him not to climb farther.
• Yang Qing said they had to continue up the mountain because Emperor Zetian’s pursuers would catch them if they stopped.

Jiangli explained that Emperor Zetian could not pursue Yang Qing yet because his new vessel was unstable and he needed to wait for the right season to carry out his plan. After Yang Qing refused Jiangli’s suggestion to seize Emperor Zetian’s Primordial Spirit, Jiangli prepared to reveal another way to deal with him.

• Jiangli told Yang Qing and the others that Emperor Zetian could not return to the Heavenly Realm immediately and would not act until the conditions were right.
• Jiangli explained that winter’s dormant vitality would limit Emperor Zetian’s power, and that his reborn vessel suffered bouts of rejection.
• Jiangli revealed that the people following Yang Qing had borrowed Emperor Zetian’s name rather than acting on his orders.
• Jiangli said Yang Qing might turn the tables by seizing Emperor Zetian’s Primordial Spirit, but Yang Qing refused because he feared becoming like him.
• Jiangli accepted Yang Qing’s decision and said he would explain another way to deal with Emperor Zetian.

Yang Qing and his companions sought a way to destroy the Path to Heaven and learned of a strange pool near Rosy Cloud Mountain’s summit that might hold the Immortal Aura. Yang Qing realized the mountain’s carefully arranged scenery had been deceiving them, and the group began advancing by looking only at the path nearby.

• Jiangli told Yang Qing that destroying the Path to Heaven was another way to prevent Emperor Zetian’s return and explained that they needed to find and disperse its Immortal Aura.
• Mo Yang described a pool near the summit whose water level rose in strong sunlight and fell in heavy rain, even though its smooth bottom had no cracks.
• Yang Qing concluded that the trees and grass had been arranged to deceive them and keep them circling near the mountain’s foot.
• Yang Qing led Bu Er, Jiang Zhizhou, Mo Yang, and Wood forward while they focused only on the ground nearby.
• After they made progress, Yang Qing stopped the group and told them to stay where they were.

Yang Qing and the others left their planned campsite in the forest after Bu Er sensed danger, despite Jiangli believing the hidden beings could not harm them if they stayed. Jiangli revealed that the beings were forest spirits shaped by Rosy Cloud Mountain’s supernatural power, and warned that moving onward could bring consequences or an unexpected blessing.

• Jiangli said it was nearly dark and advised the group to rest rather than climb toward the summit.
• Bu Er told Yang Qing he felt watched and chilled, and urged him to leave the forest.
• Yang Qing agreed to move farther into the woods, and the group packed up and followed him uphill.
• Jiangli told Yang Qing that moving at night could have consequences, though it might also bring a blessing.
• Yang Qing asked what lived in the forest, and Jiangli identified the beings as forest spirits.

Yang Qing and the others entered the woods to confront the Forest Spirits, relying on their Black Tortoise Heavy Armor for protection. The swarm attacked but could not penetrate the armor, and Bu Er noticed that the spirits’ appearance had changed.

• Yang Qing and the others put on their Black Tortoise Heavy Armor and cautiously entered the woods.
• They heard a faint buzzing and saw a dense swarm of tiny Forest Spirits flying toward them.
• The Forest Spirits repeatedly crashed into their armor, then circled the group when their attacks failed.
• Jiangli stopped Bu Er from removing his helmet and warned him not to lower his guard.
• Bu Er pointed out that the Forest Spirits had changed, now looking like tiny blazing lanterns.

Jiangli explained that the Forest Spirits were summoning True Fire and warned Yang Qing and his companions to survive until their nemesis appeared. As the spirits ignited their lifeblood and began setting the group ablaze, the Black Tortoise Heavy Armor started upgrading from the Soulfire.

• Jiangli warned Yang Qing and the others that the Forest Spirits were summoning True Fire that could burn the forest and leave them trapped.
• Jiangli told the group to pour water over themselves to temporarily suppress the poison in the Forest Spirits’ lifeblood.
• Yang Qing and his companions doused themselves, but the Forest Spirits burst apart and their flames ignited the wet grass and the group’s armor.
• Yang Qing saw that the Soulfire burned on the Black Tortoise Heavy Armor without reaching its inner layer.
• Jiangli realized that the Black Tortoise Heavy Armor was using the Soulfire’s power to upgrade.

Yang Qing and the others discovered that the Forest Spirits' Soulfire could temper their Black Tortoise Heavy Armor, while Jiangli waited for a mysterious helper to arrive. The chapter ended as fast-moving figures rushed out of the woods.

• Yang Qing questioned Jiangli about whether the Forest Spirits' Soulfire could provide the opportunity to upgrade the Black Tortoise Heavy Armor.
• Jiangli dodged the fireballs and warned Yang Qing that the Forest Spirits could absorb an opponent's power.
• Yang Qing and the others found that their armor absorbed the Soulfire and emerged tempered and more powerful.
• Jiangli said another fellow could deal with the remaining fireballs and told the group to wait quietly.
• Fast-moving figures rushed out of the woods, and Jiangli identified them as their helpers.

Yang Qing and the others watched from the trees as the rabbits attacked the Forest Spirits, while Jiangli explained their rivalry and revealed why it enjoyed spicy food. The story left them waiting for the battle to end so they could hunt the rabbits.

• Jiangli warned Yang Qing and the others to climb the trees before the rabbits reached the Forest Spirits.
• The Forest Spirits transformed into glowing rings and faced the rabbits, which needed their spiritual power to survive and grow stronger.
• Jiangli explained that the Forest Spirits could track people by their scent and that their wounds could not be treated with medicine.
• Jiangli told Yang Qing that it planned to eat the rabbits after they finished with the Forest Spirits.
• Jiangli revealed that its first human master had taught it to eat spicy food, then told Yang Qing to watch the battle below.

Jiangli guided Yang Qing and the others to watch the rabbits defeat the Forest Spirits, and the group learned from the creatures’ fighting. After catching rabbits and preparing a meal, Jiangli encouraged Yang Qing to try circulating qi as another way to protect himself, though it remained unclear whether he could do it.

• Jiangli urged Bu Er, Jiang Zhizhou, Wood, and the others to study the rabbits’ battle, and they gained insights that improved their martial skills.
• As dawn came, the rabbits overwhelmed the Forest Spirits and swallowed nearly all of them.
• Jiangli led Yang Qing and the others to catch dozens of sluggish rabbits, and Yang Qing told them to leave the rest alone.
• Wood and Mo Yang roasted rabbits with forest seasonings while Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou tended the fire.
• Jiangli told Yang Qing to try circulating qi, explaining that his deficient foundation prevented him from practicing martial arts but that he might find another way to protect himself.

Jiangli used the gathered Profound Power to strengthen Yang Qing’s damaged body, helping him become more agile and regain control over it. The process also erased the soul mark Emperor Zetian had placed in the Yang Clan bloodline, freeing Yang Qing from his influence but likely alerting Emperor Zetian.

• Yang Qing told Jiangli that he had never felt any response to martial arts and had accepted that he could not cultivate.
• Jiangli gathered Bu Er, Jiang Zhizhou, and the others to channel surrounding energy into Yang Qing.
• Yang Qing absorbed the energy for two days and woke feeling healthier, lighter, and fully in control of his body.
• Jiangli explained that the process had erased the soul mark tying Yang Qing to Emperor Zetian, making Yang Qing free from his control.
• Jiangli warned that Emperor Zetian would notice the vanished mark and might act against Yang Qing sooner.

Yang Qing and his companions learned how they might exploit Emperor Zetian’s imperfect reincarnated bodies and committed to confronting him. As Emperor Zetian prepared to meet them, the group found another path up the mountain and Yang Qing led the way.

• Jiangli explained that Emperor Zetian’s reincarnated bodies had flaws, and offered to help identify them despite the risk of another Tribulation.
• Yang Qing, Bu Er, Jiang Zhizhou, Wood, and Mo Yang agreed to face Emperor Zetian rather than flee.
• Emperor Zetian sensed that his control over Yang Qing had been disrupted and dismissed the danger as a mere sacrifice’s rebellion.
• Emperor Zetian destroyed the crystal ball containing Gongsun Ru and Hui Niang, then set out to confront those seeking death.
• Yang Qing and the others found a new path up the mountain, and Yang Qing led them onto it.

Yang Qing and his companions waited in the woods for Emperor Zetian, laying formations and preparing to face him. Emperor Zetian arrived through a spatial vortex and confronted Yang Qing over erasing his bloodline mark.

• Jiangli sensed Emperor Zetian approaching, so Yang Qing and the others stopped and waited in the woods.
• The group ate and rested while the aura fluctuations grew stronger, and Yang Qing prepared to settle things with Emperor Zetian.
• Bu Er and Mo Yang laid a Soul-Locking Formation and several Spirit-Erasing Formations around the woods.
• Jiangli warned Yang Qing that Emperor Zetian would hold back because he wanted Yang Qing's body, giving the group a possible advantage.
• Emperor Zetian emerged from a spatial vortex and demanded that Yang Qing pay his respects after erasing the bloodline mark.

Yang Qing and his companions faced Emperor Zetian, who intended to seize Yang Qing and kill the others. Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou endured his assault with Black Tortoise Heavy Armor, and Bu Er challenged him to keep attacking.

• Yang Qing asked Emperor Zetian to spare his companions if he surrendered, but Emperor Zetian refused to let any of them go.
• Emperor Zetian attacked Bu Er and the others with overwhelming pressure, while deliberately sparing Yang Qing and demanding that he submit.
• Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou stepped forward to protect Yang Qing and provoked Emperor Zetian into attacking them.
• Emperor Zetian discovered their Black Tortoise Heavy Armor and struck repeatedly, battering Bu Er until he was sent flying.
• Bu Er wiped blood from his lips and told Emperor Zetian to hit him again if he still had the strength.

Bu Er, Jiang Zhizhou, Wood, and Mo Yang fought Emperor Zetian despite being badly injured, while a hidden force began destabilizing his soul body. Emperor Zetian unleashed a ring of light that pinned them down and made them bleed, but he then sensed something wrong with his own body.

• Emperor Zetian struck through Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou's Black Tortoise Heavy Armor, leaving them badly wounded.
• Bu Er taunted Emperor Zetian and drew him toward a tree, where an unseen force shoved Bu Er out of the way as Emperor Zetian shattered the tree with his missed palm strike.
• Emperor Zetian sensed an outside force disturbing his soul body and found that he could not retreat.
• Wood and Mo Yang attacked Emperor Zetian while Bu Er recovered and Jiang Zhizhou watched from beside a tree.
• Emperor Zetian drove the fighters toward the shattered tree, then raised a ring of light that pinned them down and caused blood to seep from their bodies.
• Emperor Zetian watched the fallen men before sensing that something was wrong with his own body.

Yang Qing lured Emperor Zetian toward a prepared formation, while Emperor Zetian tried to claim Yang Qing’s body. The formation activated after Emperor Zetian took one more step, and he recognized the patterns as his spiritual power failed to break them.

• Emperor Zetian sensed a brief strange fluctuation in his body and decided he needed to possess Yang Qing soon.
• Yang Qing confronted Emperor Zetian and drew blood from his own fingertips to show he would rather die than surrender his body.
• Emperor Zetian approached Yang Qing but stopped just short of the final step, while Bu Er, Jiang Zhizhou, and the others lay immobilized nearby.
• A gray figure appeared behind Emperor Zetian and attacked, carrying the aura of an Ancient Divine Beast.
• Emperor Zetian stepped forward, triggering the formation that concealed Yang Qing and the others; his attempt to break it failed, and he recognized its patterns.

Yang Qing and his companions used the Soul-Splitting Formation to exploit the flaw between Emperor Zetian’s soul and body, hoping to draw Heavenly Punishment before he could kill them. As the formation’s effects intensified, a gray figure struck Emperor Zetian and made him step deeper into it.

• Emperor Zetian recognized the Soul-Splitting Formation and realized his enemies knew about the flaw between his soul and body.
• Emperor Zetian threatened Bu Er to force Yang Qing to reveal the formation eye, while secretly healing Bu Er to keep him alive.
• Jiang Zhizhou warned Yang Qing not to give in, urging him to wait for the formation to weaken Emperor Zetian enough to attract Heavenly Punishment.
• A gray figure flashed past Emperor Zetian and slashed his face, making him retreat into another trench in the formation.
• The Soul-Splitting Formation flared around Emperor Zetian, and he realized his situation had become more dangerous.

Yang Qing, Bu Er, and Jiang Zhizhou used ancient formations to immobilize Emperor Zetian, while Jiangli’s presence revealed their old connection. Emperor Zetian recognized the Divine Beast he had betrayed, and Jiangli prepared to stop him from being reborn, even at the cost of its own life.

• Emperor Zetian watched his cultivation dissipate in Yang Qing’s formation and threatened that none of them would escape if he died.
• Yang Qing revealed that Thousand-Gold Fall was dragging Emperor Zetian into the ground, leaving him barely able to move.
• Jiangli appeared on Yang Qing’s shoulder, and Emperor Zetian recognized it as the Divine Beast he had once abandoned.
• The chapter revealed that Jiangli had sacrificed its divine soul to curse Emperor Zetian, but the laws of Heaven and Earth delayed Jiangli’s punishment until his soul was destroyed.
• Jiangli learned after waking from ten thousand years of slumber that Emperor Zetian had found a way to body-snatch and be reborn, and resolved to stop him at any cost.

Yang Qing protected Jiangli from Emperor Zetian, whose old master-servant contract prevented Jiangli from attacking him. As Emperor Zetian’s power faded and Heavenly Thunder struck him, he realized someone had secretly benefited from his efforts.

• Emperor Zetian invoked his contract with Jiangli and attacked it, but Yang Qing shielded it and took the brunt of the strike.
• Emperor Zetian noticed a Heavenly Realm mark on Yang Qing’s shoulder and renewed his attack, determined to destroy Yang Qing’s soul body.
• Yang Qing dodged another blow when power surged through his shoulder, while Emperor Zetian found his strength rapidly draining away.
• Dark clouds gathered, and the first bolts of Heavenly Thunder struck Emperor Zetian instead of Yang Qing, Bu Er, and Jiang Zhizhou.
• As more lightning struck, Emperor Zetian raged that someone had hidden in wait and reaped the rewards of his efforts.

Emperor Zetian was suddenly trapped by Heavenly Law, which revealed its plan to seize his accumulated Profound Power and strip away his cultivation. After Heavenly Law released him, Emperor Zetian approached Yang Qing and demanded his cooperation.

• Yang Qing led the others to retreat and recover while Emperor Zetian remained occupied by an unseen force.
• Heavenly Law told Emperor Zetian that it would strip his cultivation, send his Soul Body to the Netherworld, and prevent his rebirth.
• Heavenly Law began draining Emperor Zetian's power and admitted it wanted his Profound Power to take physical form.
• Emperor Zetian accused Heavenly Law of being corrupted by a heart demon and persuaded it to release him so he could take the others' blood essence.
• Emperor Zetian approached Yang Qing and demanded that he cooperate.

Emperor Zetian secretly warned Yang Qing that his long-laid plans had failed and ordered him to hide with his companions. As dark clouds gathered over Emperor Zetian, Yang Qing realized that an overwhelming force called Heavenly Law had trapped him and might leave ordinary people to resist Heaven in his place.

• Emperor Zetian immobilized Yang Qing and his companions, then secretly told Yang Qing to take everyone into the woods when he gave the signal.
• Emperor Zetian struck Yang Qing and sent him flying, freeing Bu Er, Jiang Zhizhou, Wood, and Mo Yang to catch him before he hit a tree.
• Yang Qing stopped Wood and Mo Yang from confronting Emperor Zetian and led everyone into the woods as dark clouds gathered.
• Yang Qing told his companions that Emperor Zetian had spoken to him and warned Bu Er that the danger was too great for them to approach.
• Yang Qing concluded that Emperor Zetian had likely failed to escape Heavenly Law and might have spared them because he believed they could still fight against Heaven.