Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Haotian and Jade Pool attack the Witches, killing hundreds and sending their blood and vital energy toward the Netherworld’s Witch God Pool.
• Gungun intervenes, striking Haotian with the Heaven-Falling Bell and then landing a physical punch that bypasses Jade Pool’s Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner. Haotian retaliates with his sword, but Gungun’s Black Giant Pearl Necklace blocks it.
• Gungun orders Hou Yi and Xingtian to seize Haotian and Jade Pool for stealing the Queen Mother of the West’s Peach Tree and killing Heavenly soldiers. Before they can act, Yuanshi arrives with the Queen Mother.
• The Queen Mother confirms that Haotian and Jade Pool stole her tree and falsely claimed Gungun had ordered them to do so. Yuanshi rejects Haotian’s excuses, binds both offenders, and sentences them to imprisonment beneath Qilin Cliff on Mount Kunlun for one hundred thousand years.
• Yuanshi allows the Queen Mother to take a nominal position in the Heavenly Court while retaining ownership of the Peach Trees already planted there. He also presents Gungun with a jade disc.

Character developments

• Gungun displays confidence in combat and skill in turning Haotian’s misconduct into a public case against him. Despite becoming Heavenly Emperor, he remains conspicuously deferential to Yuanshi.
• Haotian and Jade Pool are exposed as responsible for stealing the Peach Tree and misleading others about Gungun’s involvement. Haotian’s pride and refusal to accept blame lead to severe punishment.
• Yuanshi acts as an uncompromising judge, prioritizing order and accountability in the Heavenly Court.
• The Queen Mother of the West secures justice for her stolen property and accepts a role that preserves her claim to the trees.

Significant themes

• Authority versus status: Even a Heavenly Emperor and Great Heavenly Venerable are powerless before a Saint.
• Accountability and consequences: Haotian and Jade Pool must answer for their choices rather than hide behind excuses or blame-shifting.
• Political maneuvering: Gungun uses a legitimate grievance—and Haotian’s false accusation—to strengthen his position.
• Loyalty and humility: Gungun’s extravagant respect for Yuanshi contrasts with his new imperial rank.

Character interactions

• Gungun openly challenges Haotian in battle, then accuses him before Yuanshi.
• The Queen Mother supports Gungun’s account while revealing Haotian’s attempt to implicate him.
• Yuanshi dismisses Haotian’s defense, rebukes him, and punishes both him and Jade Pool.
• Hou Yi, Xingtian, and the Witches follow Gungun’s orders and join in praising Yuanshi after the sentence is carried out.

Key plot points and events

• Yuanshi gives Gungun a jade disc containing the Heavenly Laws, directing the Heavenly Court to govern by rules rather than the Demon Court’s recklessness. Gungun accepts and promises to enforce them.
• Haotian and Jade Pool remain imprisoned beneath Qilin Cliff for a hundred thousand years. The Queen Mother of the West asks to take their former residence, the ruined Jade Pool Immortal Realm, and decides to rebuild it despite its condition.
• Gungun returns to the High Firmament Hall and shows Ao Yue the new laws. Ao Yue questions the rule forbidding Heavenly Court deities from falling in love with mortals; Gungun suggests demoting any deity who wishes to do so before they leave for mortal life.
• Ao Yue tells Gungun that Yinglong is to become God of the Four Seasons. Gungun approves, then laments that he has no siblings, prompting Ao Yue to realize why Gungun is so eager to call others “brother.”
• The Queen Mother of the West formally joins the Heavenly Court and pledges her 3,600 Peach Trees to anchor its fortune. The Court’s three fortune-anchoring treasures are now the Pure World White Lotus, the Dragon-Headed Walking Stick, and the Peach Trees.
• Gungun and Ao Yue hope to govern by respecting the laws and following a philosophy of nonaction. Gungun promptly falls asleep, while Ao Yue leaves to relax. Meanwhile, Bi’an struggles to devise laws of his own.
• The chapter shifts to Nuwa’s palace, where the dying Feng Ling comes to pay homage to her. Nuwa recognizes that Feng Ling sacrificed her magic power and essence blood to protect human tribes during the War of the Liches.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun takes on the Heavenly Emperor’s role with characteristic informality, balancing his new legal framework with practical decisions—and his appetite for milk, peaches, and sleep. His remark about lacking siblings reveals a vulnerable, affectionate side.
• Ao Yue supports Gungun’s leadership, accepts Yinglong’s appointment, and increasingly sees Haotian and Jade Pool as less formidable than he once expected. His sympathy for Gungun deepens their brotherly bond.
• The Queen Mother of the West turns her grievance into a lasting place in the Heavenly Court, choosing to rebuild the Jade Pool Immortal Realm as both a statement against Haotian and Jade Pool and a fitting abode for her status.
• Nuwa and Feng Ling share a solemn reunion: Feng Ling honors her Mother Goddess, while Nuwa recognizes the cost of Feng Ling’s selfless protection of humanity.

Significant themes

• Law and governance: The Heavenly Laws are meant to prevent arbitrary rule and establish order in the new Court.
• Restoration and renewal: The Queen Mother’s decision to rebuild Jade Pool and her Peach Trees’ role in anchoring the Court’s fortune symbolize reconstruction after devastation.
• Duty and sacrifice: Feng Ling’s failing health reflects the immense personal cost of protecting others.
• Kinship and belonging: Gungun’s longing for siblings gives emotional weight to his habit of calling Ao Yue “brother,” while their friendship offers a chosen family.

Key plot points and events

• Feng Ling, the long-serving chief of the Human Race and leading candidate for Human Emperor, dies three years after meeting Nuwa. Her death brings supernatural thunder and rain, and humans across the tribes mourn her.
• Houtu rules that Feng Ling’s merits are balanced by karmic offenses from her conquests. She cannot become a god, but will reincarnate as a human.
• Yuanshi and Houtu agree that the Human Emperor should be from the Nine Li rather than appointed by Nuwa. They plan to elevate Nine Li’s standing by having him challenge the Nuwa Tribe’s new chief publicly, then win human support through beneficial reforms. The challenge is scheduled for three years later.
• Instead of summoning Chi You, Houtu calls Gungun and warns it to keep the Kongtong Seal secret, since the treasure can appoint or depose a Human Emperor.
• Nuwa suspects Gungun lied when it denied possessing the seal. Acting on Soaring Serpent’s confidence in his ability to read Gungun, she heads to the Heavenly Court to confront it.

Character developments and interactions

• Feng Ling accepts Nuwa’s reassurance about protecting the Human Race and dies with hope of returning as a human.
• Houtu balances her political plans with concern for Gungun, warning it about Nuwa’s likely questions. Her private conversation with Yuanshi reveals that her choices are constrained by responsibilities to the Witch Race and her allies.
• Yuanshi and Houtu cooperate to make Nine Li the strongest contender for Human Emperor, using political prestige and practical achievements rather than simply invoking the Kongtong Seal.
• Gungun is smug about its growing power and eager to rest, but guards the seal jealously. It humorously agrees that losing the seal would mean its own death. Houtu’s affectionate teasing—she cuddles and strokes Gungun despite its protests—underscores their close, playful relationship.
• Nuwa and Soaring Serpent discuss Gungun’s likely deception. Soaring Serpent claims to understand the bear better than anyone and persuades Nuwa that its denial confirms it has the seal.

Significant themes

• Power and legitimacy: The Human Emperor’s authority depends on human support, prestige, governance, and the fortune of the Human Race—not merely possession of a sacred object.
• Political rivalry among immortals: The Saints and great powers maneuver to control the Human Race’s fortune and prevent rivals from gaining influence.
• Duty versus freedom: Houtu envies Gungun’s apparent freedom but admits that, unlike a solitary cultivator, she is bound by obligations to her people and allies.
• Grief, mortality, and renewal: Feng Ling’s death deeply affects the Human Race, while reincarnation offers the possibility of her return.
• Comedy amid high stakes: Gungun’s laziness, boastfulness, and protests at Houtu’s affection contrast with the serious struggle over the Human Emperor and the Kongtong Seal.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• After reflecting on how even Houtu remains constrained by her ties to the Witch Race, Gungun returns to the Heavenly Court.
• Nuwa confronts Gungun, trying both threats and persuasion to obtain the Kongtong Seal. Gungun insists it does not have the seal, and Nuwa leaves uncertain whether it is lying.
• Nuwa explains to Soaring Serpent that the Kongtong Seal can appoint or depose the Human Emperor. She suspects Houtu may have forbidden Gungun to surrender it—or may hold it herself.
• Worried Houtu could use the seal to appoint a Witch-Human ruler, Nuwa wants a pureblood human to hold the Human Emperor’s position. Since the other Saints might oppose her choice, she proposes creating Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, each ruling in a different period. She secures their teacher’s approval and summons the Saints.
• In a private conversation, Ao Yue asks Gungun whether it truly lacks the seal. Gungun maintains that it does and dismisses Ao Yue’s fears that Nuwa may retaliate.
• At Wa Emperor Palace, Yuanshi objects to Nuwa’s plans, insisting that the Human Race falls under Houtu’s jurisdiction and that Nine Li has already been promised the Human Emperor position.
• Nuwa invokes her teacher’s approval for the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors arrangement. The Saints accept it, and Nuwa asks for the right to appoint one of the eight rulers while declining any teaching merit. The others agree, including Yuanshi, who yields after the proposal gains support.

Character developments

• Nuwa shifts from trying to obtain the seal directly to devising a political compromise that ensures pureblood humans will hold some of the new positions. She stays outwardly composed despite her anger at Yuanshi.
• Gungun remains calm and steadfast, denying possession of the seal and trusting its status and protections to shield it from Nuwa.
• Soaring Serpent initially suspects Gungun is lying, but quickly changes his position to defend it. He supports Nuwa’s plan and helps summon the Saints.
• Ao Yue worries that Nuwa’s failed attempt may endanger the Heavenly Court, while Gungun dismisses the concern.
• Yuanshi strongly defends his teaching’s interest in placing Nine Li on the throne, but ultimately accepts the broader arrangement when the other Saints and their teacher’s authority leave him little room to resist.

Character interactions

• Nuwa’s confrontation with Gungun exposes the tension between her and Houtu: she suspects Houtu is behind Gungun’s refusal, despite their outwardly sisterly behavior.
• Soaring Serpent tries to reassure Nuwa by proposing that Houtu may have taken the seal from Gungun, then enthusiastically backs Nuwa’s plan.
• Ao Yue privately seeks reassurance from Gungun, whose confidence contrasts with his anxiety.
• At the council, Yuanshi directly challenges Nuwa’s authority over Human Race affairs. Nuwa sidesteps his resistance by appealing to the teacher’s approval, and Laozi helps bring the discussion to a close.

Significant themes

• Power and legitimacy: The Kongtong Seal grants control over who may rule humanity, making the Human Emperor a major prize among the Saints.
• Factional rivalry: The Saints maneuver to secure fortune and influence for their own teachings and allies.
• Compromise through divided power: Nuwa’s proposal spreads authority across eight rulers, preventing any one faction from monopolizing the Human Emperor position.
• Appearance versus reality: Nuwa and Houtu appear affectionate but act in opposition, while Gungun’s sincere denial is repeatedly doubted.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• At a gathering of Saints, Laozi proposes that he and Nuwa each choose one Human Emperor and select their teachers. The remaining Human Emperor and the Five Emperors will be allocated among the other Saints.
• Yuanshi and Tongtian both seek control of the final Human Emperor. Yuanshi favors his disciple Nine Li, while Tongtian argues for the right to choose a candidate himself.
• Nuwa objects that a Saint cannot teach a Human Emperor, because the bond between them could not be properly severed when the ruler’s merit is complete. This disqualifies Nine Li.
• Tongtian proposes that his disciple Yinglong teach the future emperor, but Yuanshi counters with Chi You, Nine Li’s younger brother. The suggestion sparks another argument over whether Chi You or a Dragon-associated teacher would be suitable for humanity.
• Laozi ends the dispute: Heaven will decide the final Human Emperor between Yuanshi and Tongtian. The Saint who loses will choose the first two of the Five Emperors, while Jieyin and Zhunti receive the last three. Zhunti accepts the arrangement.
• After the meeting, Nuwa reviews the members of her tribe but finds none capable of gathering enough human fortune to become a true Human Emperor. Fuxi arrives and claims he has a candidate: himself.

Character developments and interactions

• Nuwa secures the right to choose one Human Emperor, but her confidence is tempered by her tribe’s weakness. She uses the rules of karmic bonds to block Yuanshi’s preferred candidate.
• Laozi acts as mediator, assigning positions and stopping Yuanshi and Tongtian’s quarrel from escalating.
• Yuanshi and Tongtian clash over influence in the Human Race, trading insults and competing to shape the final emperor’s succession.
• Jieyin and Zhunti accept a comparatively small share of the appointments, believing they can benefit from their existing influence and seek greater fortune later.
• Fuxi shows concern for Nuwa and offers himself as a candidate, ending the chapter on a surprising proposal.

Significant themes

• Power and political bargaining: The Saints treat the Human Emperors’ appointments as a contest for influence and fortune.
• Merit, karma, and legitimacy: A ruler needs more than a title; a suitable candidate must genuinely command the Human Race’s support and fortune.
• The limits of divine authority: Even Saints must contend with rules governing karmic bonds and the consequences of their choices.
• Family loyalty and sacrifice: Fuxi’s offer suggests he may be willing to take on the role to ease his sister’s burden.

Key plot points and events

• Fuxi proposes reincarnating as a human so he can become the Human Emperor, protect humanity, and draw on the race’s fortune. Nuwa initially refuses, fearing the damage to his innate nature, but is moved by his resolve and embraces him.
• Houtu learns that Nuwa’s plan for the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors has closed Nine Li’s route to becoming Human Emperor. She orders Hou Yi to bring Chi You to Gungun, who is to train him for the position instead.
• Yuanshi recalls Nine Li from the human world, judging his bid futile. Angry at Nuwa over several perceived slights, he also assigns Taiyi to cultivate a piece of jade and equips Xiong Zhan with powerful treasures and promises of instruction.
• Six years later, Gungun is teaching Chi You by making him memorize a vast collection of Dao texts—though Gungun himself supervises while dozing.
• In the Suiming Tribe, the young man A Bei has watched for six years succeeds in producing sparks by rubbing wood together. A Bei adds dry grass to the sparks, creating a sustained flame and revealing the discovery of fire.

Character developments and interactions

• Fuxi willingly considers sacrificing his innate status for a chance to serve humanity and remain close to Nuwa. Nuwa, though initially protective and opposed, ultimately supports him emotionally.
• Houtu responds to Nuwa’s political maneuver by redirecting her hopes for the Human Emperor to Chi You, with Gungun as his teacher.
• Yuanshi becomes increasingly resentful of Nuwa and acts decisively to withdraw Nine Li and strengthen his own side. Xiong Zhan receives his favor and begins a demanding training path.
• Gungun remains comically lazy, while Chi You is assigned extensive study. Meanwhile, A Bei quietly helps the human inventor complete the breakthrough.

Significant themes

• Duty and sacrifice: Fuxi is prepared to give up his original nature for humanity and his bond with Nuwa.
• Power struggles and political maneuvering: Saints and their followers compete to shape the Human Emperor succession.
• Human progress: The discovery of fire marks a major step forward for the Human Race, aided by patient observation and subtle divine intervention.

Key plot points and events

• A young man of the Suiming Tribe, A Nuo, discovers how to kindle fire. A burst of merit rewards him with a rapid rise to the middle stage of Golden Immortal, while the kindling becomes the Human Race’s first Merit Divine Artifacts.
• The tribe gathers in astonishment. A Nuo explains that they now have fire of their own.
• Xuandu arrives with a decree from the Supreme Leader of Renjiao, naming A Nuo Suirenshi, the Human Race’s Fire Ancestor, and ordering him to spread fire among humanity. Once he completes the task, he may retire to the Fire Cloud Grotto-Heaven.
• Xuandu reveals that he is human, then relays a message to A Bei: the world’s natural conditions must be adjusted. With the Solar Star withholding its light and many beings now vulnerable, the Heavenly Court should address the problem.
• Gungun receives the message through A Bei and consults Ao Yue. Ao Yue proposes erecting a heavenly canopy and creating a separate sun, moon, and stars beneath it. Gungun worries the change will anger powerful cultivators, but Ao Yue argues it would protect ordinary beings and strengthen the New Heavenly Court’s authority.

Character developments and interactions

• Suirenshi moves from stunned discoverer to honored cultural figure, accepting his new duty with humility. He is surprised to learn that Xuandu is also human.
• Xuandu respectfully recognizes Suirenshi’s achievement, then conveys the Saint’s request to A Bei and departs.
• A Bei remains casual and deflects Xuandu’s address as Heavenly Emperor, insisting it is merely an ordinary white bear.
• Gungun weighs public welfare against political risk, preferring peace and fearing retaliation from powerful beings.
• Ao Yue takes a more decisive, public-minded stance, persuading Gungun that the proposed project is both necessary and a chance for the Heavenly Court to prove itself.
• Their discussion ends unresolved, with Gungun listing the many formidable figures who might object and Ao Yue at a loss for words.

Significant themes

• Human progress and recognition: Fire transforms human life, and its discovery earns Suirenshi lasting status and responsibility.
• Power serving the vulnerable: The Heavenly Court is urged to reshape the world to protect ordinary beings from cold and dangerous starlight.
• Leadership versus self-preservation: Gungun’s caution clashes with Ao Yue’s belief that rulers must take risks for the common good.
• Authority and consequences: A Saint’s directive carries great weight, but carrying it out may provoke powerful opponents.

Summary

Plot and events

Gungun and Ao Yue decide to obey the Supreme Pure Sage’s decree and establish a Heavenly Canopy, despite knowing it will anger powerful cultivators by obscuring the stars. They prepare by coordinating with the Dragon Race, securing the Witch Race’s support through Houtu, returning River Styx’s swords, and gaining the Western Saints’ approval. River Styx reluctantly agrees when Gungun promises to leave some stars visible.
At the ceremony, Gungun and Ao Yue announce that the canopy will separate yin and yang and restore order for living beings. Gungun uses the Heaven-Covering Banner to spread dark clouds across the world, blocking starlight. The backlash is immediate: Demon Crown Prince Lu Ya orders the Ten Great Demon Sages to break through the clouds, and they reopen the sky over the north. Ao Yue sends the Dragon Fang Sword after Bai Ze. Elsewhere, a great tree pierces the canopy over Five Villages Monastery, while Soaring Serpent uses the Lotus Lantern to clear the clouds above Qingcheng Mountain.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun moves from reluctance to resolve: he would rather avoid conflict, especially with a Saint, but commits to carrying out the decree.
• Ao Yue supports the plan and acts decisively when the canopy is breached. He and Gungun show mutual trust, agreeing to proceed together.
• Houtu and the Witch Race support the change; Ju Mang orders the tribes not to interfere, framing their cooperation as service to Pangu’s world.
• River Styx is unwilling but yields to the Saint’s decree and Gungun’s compromise, then hosts him before his departure.
• Lu Ya prioritizes the Demon Race’s survival and cultivation, persuading the hesitant Bai Ze to lead the attack.
• Soaring Serpent objects because the canopy also blocks starlight needed by him and the Snake Immortals, and takes matters into his own hands.

Significant themes

The chapter explores the clash between public order and individual interests: the canopy is presented as a benefit to ordinary life, but threatens cultivators who rely on starlight. It also highlights the difficulty of enforcing heavenly authority when powerful groups have competing needs, foreshadowing resistance and conflict.

Key plot points and events

• Gungun completes the sealing of heaven and earth despite repeated attempts by powerful beings to reopen the canopy:
  • Zhen Yuanzi tries to expose the sky above Longevity Mountain using the Ginseng Fruit tree, but Ao Yue drives it back.
  • Soaring Serpent resists the closure over Qingcheng Mountain with the Lotus Lantern. Gungun suppresses it with the Pure World White Lotus, promising him access to the Heavenly Court’s Star-Sun Divine Palace.
  • Jiejiao’s leading disciples try to break through the canopy over the East Sea. Yinglong cannot hold them alone, so Gungun scatters them with a colossal bear-paw strike.
  • The Ten Great Demon Sages clash with Ao Yue in the north. Gungun’s Heaven-Falling Bell turns the tide, allowing Ao Yue to rout them.
• Gungun stabilizes the canopy with the Senmu Divine Seal, makes the sun and moon from Nuwa’s Yin-Yang Spirit Pearls, and turns his fur into stars. The shortened day-and-night cycle is meant to protect weaker creatures from the long, cold nights.
• Heavenly merit descends: Gungun receives sixty percent and Ao Yue forty percent. Bai Ze accepts that the canopy can no longer be broken and leads the Demon Sages back to their palace.
• Nuwa and Fuxi discuss Fuxi’s decision to reincarnate as a human. Nuwa urges him to reconsider, but he remains resolute; she promises to reunite with him after he awakens.
• Fuxi enters the Netherworld and chooses human reincarnation, rejecting both the heavenly and hell paths. Meng Po grants his request and gives him the soup that will erase his memories.
• Houtu learns of the plan and decides to intervene. Resentful that Nuwa excluded her from discussions about the Human Emperors, she intends to use her influence over reincarnation to complicate Nuwa’s plans, arguing that Witch-Humans also count as humans.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun proves capable and decisive, enforcing the decree despite provoking powerful opponents. His teasing, irreverent exchanges with Soaring Serpent contrast with the seriousness of his task.
• Ao Yue displays immense strength and loyalty, helping Gungun secure the canopy and receiving a substantial share of the merit. Bai Ze’s respectful farewell—“Dharma Protector”—suggests a significant bond or role between them.
• Soaring Serpent is furious at losing access to the stars above Qingcheng Mountain, even after Gungun offers compensation.
• Fuxi firmly chooses a mortal life, accepting the loss of his past identity and memories. Nuwa’s farewell shows deep affection, while Fuxi accepts her bow and promises they will meet again as siblings.
• Houtu emerges as a political counterforce to Nuwa, using her command of reincarnation to resist what she sees as Nuwa’s attempt to control the Human Emperors.
• Zhen Yuanzi and the Jiejiao and Demon forces each resist the new order, but Gungun and his allies ultimately overpower them.

Significant themes

• Order versus self-interest: Gungun’s celestial reforms protect weaker beings but disrupt the cultivation grounds and plans of powerful figures.
• Power and political advantage: Sealing the regions below the Thirty-Three Heavens slows other powers while leaving the Heavenly Court unaffected, strengthening its position.
• Kinship and chosen sacrifice: Fuxi willingly gives up his divine life and memories; Nuwa’s grief and promise of reunion emphasize enduring family bonds.
• Reincarnation and identity: Fuxi’s choice to become human raises questions about whether identity depends on one’s original form or status.
• Resentment and competing authority: Houtu’s reaction shows how exclusion from political decisions can turn a settlement into a new conflict.

Chapter summary

Key plot points and events

• Houtu worries that Chi You may struggle to gain enough support to become Human Emperor now that Nine Li can no longer compete. Fuxi enters the Reincarnation Tunnel, giving Houtu an unexpected opportunity to help Chi You’s cause.
• In the Huayang Tribe, the chief rushes to finish a statue of the Heavenly Emperor, hoping his people can receive the protection the Youxiong Tribe reportedly enjoyed during the calamity.
• The chief’s daughter, Hua Xu, enters the forbidden Thunder Marsh after hearing a mysterious voice. Her father sends for help from the neighboring Youxiong Tribe.
• The Youxiong chief, Shaochen, agrees to attempt a rescue despite the danger. Following an elder’s advice, he travels to Spirit Mountain to borrow the Bear Fang Pendant, which can protect its wearer from Thunder Marsh’s killing intent.
• The Ten Shamans initially refuse because the pendant is reserved for disciples of the Witch Teaching. Houtu intervenes and orders them to lend it. Shaochen and his companions then enter Thunder Marsh, where the pendant’s protection—and perhaps the Witch God’s favor—keeps them safe.
• They find Hua Xu unconscious in a huge earthen pit. As Shaochen carries her out, he realizes the pit resembles an enormous footprint, hinting that some immense being may be involved.

Character developments and interactions

• Houtu shifts from worrying about Chi You’s prospects to recognizing Fuxi’s rebirth as a possible advantage. She also quietly enables Hua Xu’s rescue by overruling the Spirit Mountain guardians.
• Shaochen is established as a conscientious, courageous leader. Though he recognizes the risks, he helps a neighboring tribe and personally leads the rescue.
• The Huayang chief is devoted to his daughter and desperate enough to seek aid from a tribe with whom his people have only recently become close.
• The Ten Shamans uphold their rules until Houtu’s command compels them to lend the pendant.
• The chapter links the Huayang and Youxiong tribes through mutual aid, while also showing the respect human tribes maintain for the Witch God and the Witch Race’s legacy.

Significant themes

• Righteousness and communal responsibility: Shaochen helps Hua Xu despite the danger and the tribes’ limited prior relationship.
• Faith, protection, and inherited legacies: The tribes seek divine protection through the Heavenly Emperor’s statue, the Witch God’s blessing, and Gungun’s pendant.
• Authority and duty: The Ten Shamans’ rules yield to Houtu’s higher authority.
• Mystery and foreshadowing: Hua Xu’s unexplained summons and the footprint-shaped pit suggest a powerful, unknown presence behind her disappearance.

Plot points and events

• The Youxiong chief rescues Hua Xu from Thunder Marsh and takes her home. Before leaving, he tells the Huayang chief that she was found in a hollow shaped like a giant footprint. A mysterious voice then declares that Witch-Humans will arise among the Human Emperors, and the hollow’s lingering killing intent disappears.
• Hua Xu wakes with no memory of what happened, but is soon discovered to be pregnant. Two years pass without a birth, and frightened tribespeople demand that she be expelled, believing she carries a demon.
• Nuwa, angry that Houtu interfered with her elder brother’s reincarnation and helped bring about a Witch-Human Human Emperor, orders Soaring Serpent to retrieve the unfinished Witch-Slaying Sword from Bai Ze. She intends to complete it and eventually make the Witch-Humans suffer defeat.
• When Hua Xu is nearly driven from the Huayang Tribe, Nuwa sends Soaring Serpent to protect her. He arrives just as the crowd is dragging her out. The tribespeople mistake him for a demon, and an old man attacks him with a cane—which snaps against his head.

Character developments and interactions

• Hua Xu is confused by her lost memories and inexplicable pregnancy, while her father remains fiercely protective of her despite the tribe’s fear.
• The Huayang chief is grateful to the Youxiong chief and promises to investigate Hua Xu’s experience. Later, he struggles to defend his daughter from his own people.
• Nuwa shifts from private anger to decisive action: she seeks the Witch-Slaying Sword and sends Soaring Serpent to intervene on Hua Xu’s behalf.
• Soaring Serpent is reluctant and anxious about Nuwa’s plans, but obeys her orders. His comic confidence evaporates when the tribespeople attack him.
• The tribespeople, despite having cared for Hua Xu, turn against her out of fear and suspicion.

Significant themes

• Fear of the unknown: Hua Xu’s unexplained pregnancy and long gestation provoke suspicion and persecution.
• Conflict between human, witch, and demon powers: The child’s Witch-Human identity connects personal events to a larger supernatural struggle.
• Protection and responsibility: Hua Xu’s father and Nuwa both act to protect her, though from very different positions.
• Power and retaliation: Nuwa’s plan to finish the Witch-Slaying Sword reflects her desire to punish Houtu and oppose the Witch-Humans.

Plot points and events

• Soaring Serpent intervenes when the Huayang Tribe mistreats Hua Xu, who is pregnant with Fuxi. He beats the elder who struck him, overwhelms the tribe, and threatens to send them to the Animal Path for their offense.
• The tribe recognizes Soaring Serpent as Nuwa’s Holy Emissary and apologizes. He orders them to care for Hua Xu and her unborn child, then promises to guard them until Fuxi’s birth in ten years.
• Houtu decides not to appoint Fuxi’s teacher, leaving that role open.
• Tongtian sends Duobao to the Huayang Tribe to become the newborn Fuxi’s teacher and help him attain the Human Emperor’s position. He says Fuxi will later be titled the Human Heavenly Sovereign, while emphasizing that this title does not challenge Ao Yue’s authority over the Primordial World. The second Human Emperor will be the Human Earth Emperor; the third will simply be Human Emperor.
• Yuanshi considers intervening in the choice of Fuxi’s teacher but lets Tongtian take the role. He then orders Nine Li to bring Yao Ji to the Heavenly Court, where she is appointed Desire Realm Goddess of the Fourth Heaven, responsible for deities who yearn for the mortal world. Gungun notices her open hatred toward him.

Character developments and interactions

• Soaring Serpent shifts from fury at the tribe’s disrespect to a more measured response once they identify him and apologize. He still punishes them, but gives them a chance to atone by protecting Hua Xu and Fuxi.
• The Huayang chief and tribespeople move from fear and hostility to reverence and excitement upon learning Hua Xu carries a Human sage. They begin to imagine their tribe’s future importance.
• Tongtian and Duobao agree on Duobao’s role in Fuxi’s rise, with Tongtian clarifying that Duobao’s mentorship ends once Fuxi regains his former identity.
• Jin Ling raises concerns about the Human Heavenly Sovereign title and its implications for both the Heavenly Court and Yinglong; Tongtian reassures her and explains the title’s cosmic purpose.
• Yuanshi refrains from contesting Tongtian’s choice, then makes a political appointment for Yao Ji. Her hostility toward Gungun suggests continuing conflict.

Significant themes

• Protection and atonement: The tribe’s mistreatment of Hua Xu is treated as a grave offense, but they are given a chance to make amends by caring for mother and child.
• Fate and political influence: Fuxi’s reincarnation and future status are shaped by the Saints’ decisions about his protection, teacher, and titles.
• Cosmic order and legitimacy: Tongtian presents the Human Heavenly Sovereign title as a way to restore balance among the Three Powers, not as a rival to Ao Yue.
• Ambition and limits: Yuanshi’s thoughts criticize Haotian and Jade Pool’s desire to control the Heavenly Court, suggesting that ambition without ability threatens wider order.

Chapter Summary: Fuxi Unites the Human Race

Key plot points and events

• Gungun appoints Yao Ji as the Goddess of Desire in the Fourth Heaven, responsible for deities who long for the mortal world. Yao Ji resents Gungun and leaves without hiding her hostility.
• Nine Li offers to punish Yao Ji on Gungun’s behalf, but Gungun declines to protect his reputation. He instead welcomes Nine Li to the Heavenly Court with one of his frequent feasts.
• While Gungun enjoys his leisurely life as Heavenly Emperor, Fuxi is born among the Human Race. Duobao, Tongtian’s foremost disciple, becomes his teacher and promises Hua Xu that Fuxi will unite the Human Race.
• Fuxi grows into a capable leader. He restores the old practice of making nets, reforms marriage customs, and creates written characters, earning heavenly merit. He later invents musical instruments and songs.
• Soaring Serpent gives Fuxi an immortal qin, naming it “Fuxi’s Qin.” Touching it stirs a fleeting, unclear memory in Fuxi and reveals the instrument’s immense power.
• Fuxi’s growing influence brings surrounding tribes under the Huayang Tribe. He defeats Shaochen of the Youxiong Tribe, whose divine weapon is shattered by the qin, and the tribe submits.
• The Nine Li Tribe also submits. Its envoy reveals Fuxi’s true appearance, prompting Fuxi to learn from Duobao that he is the reincarnated great god Fuxi. After three days of reflection, he recognizes the Witch-Humans as kin and incorporates them into the Human Race.
• The Nuwa Tribe then relinquishes its claim to be the Human Race’s orthodox lineage. At age 110, Fuxi has united the Human Race. He meditates beside the Yellow River, entering Dao comprehension as Tongtian reacts with alarm.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun remains carefree and self-indulgent, but shows political restraint by refusing to retaliate against Yao Ji. He begins monitoring Fuxi’s progress once he learns of the reincarnation.
• Yao Ji sees Gungun as an enemy because he harmed her brother and sister-in-law. She leaves vowing to grow stronger and settle the score.
• Fuxi develops from an infant into a reformer and unifier. Discovering his identity causes a painful period of reflection, but he ultimately embraces an inclusive vision of human kinship.
• Duobao guides Fuxi and conceals his divine identity for a time. He is repeatedly astonished by Fuxi’s achievements.
• Soaring Serpent observes Fuxi’s rise and gives him the qin associated with his former life, hinting at the memories and power beneath Fuxi’s mortal existence.
• Nine Li supports Gungun and later submits to Fuxi; its revelation helps Fuxi understand his identity and the Witch-Humans’ connection to the Human Race.

Significant themes

• Leadership through achievement: Fuxi earns authority by improving human life and uniting tribes, rather than relying solely on lineage.
• Identity and memory: His mortal life gradually intersects with his past divine identity, especially through the qin and the Nine Li envoy’s revelation.
• Inclusion and shared ancestry: Fuxi’s acceptance of the Witch-Humans broadens the definition of the Human Race and strengthens its unity.
• Duty versus indulgence: Gungun’s detached leisure contrasts with Fuxi’s sustained work for the Human Race.
• Fate and heavenly merit: Fuxi’s accomplishments fulfill the role expected of his reincarnation, while his creation of writing earns direct heavenly recognition.

Key plot points and events

• The Hetu Luoshu suddenly struggles to leave Tongtian’s possession. Heaven’s decree says the treasures belong to the Human Race’s destined ruler. Tongtian resists, but a bolt of Purple Heaven Divine Thunder strikes him, and the scrolls fly to Fuxi by the Yellow River.
• Fuxi studies the Hetu Luoshu for more than a decade, gradually grasping the patterns governing the universe. As his true spirit awakens, he begins forming a sequence of teachings but cannot complete the idea of the four symbols.
• Manifestations of the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise appear. Their combined pattern inspires Fuxi to understand the next stage: the four symbols generate the eight trigrams.
• Fuxi reveals the eight trigrams, regains a youthful appearance as his true spirit awakens, and declares himself the Human Emperor. Human fortune and heavenly merit gather around him, and the Human Race hails him.
• Lu Ya and the Demon Sages witness the event. Lu Ya bows to Fuxi, congratulating him as Xi Sovereign.

Character developments and interactions

• Tongtian goes from celebrating his possession of the Hetu Luoshu to furious resistance when Heaven claims it for humanity. His defiance ends in a direct punishment from the Heavenly Dao.
• Fuxi evolves from a quiet, meditating human ruler into an awakened sage-like figure. Through the Hetu Luoshu and the four Sacred Beasts, he discovers the eight trigrams and embraces his identity as Human Emperor.
• Duobao is astonished by the treasures and by Fuxi’s unexpected power, while keeping silent in Soaring Serpent’s presence.
• Soaring Serpent, acting on Nuwa’s orders, delivers the treasures to Fuxi and directs him to examine them.
• Lu Ya, despite his Demon Race allegiance, recognizes Fuxi’s rise and offers congratulations.

Significant themes

• Destiny and heavenly authority: The Heavenly Dao ensures the Hetu Luoshu reaches its destined owner, overriding Tongtian’s wishes.
• Knowledge and cosmic order: Fuxi turns the diagrams of the Hetu Luoshu and the four symbols into the eight trigrams, revealing a framework for understanding heaven and earth.
• Identity and service: Fuxi declares that he chooses to remain human in every life, grounding his new authority in loyalty to the Human Race.
• Legitimacy through recognition: His status is affirmed by heavenly merit, human devotion, and even acknowledgment from a rival faction.

Key plot points and events

• Fuxi becomes the Human Emperor after gathering enough protagonist destiny. Nuwa prepares to reunite with him, but Xuandu arrives bearing Laozi’s decree.
• The decree grants Fuxi the title of Heavenly Sovereign of the Human Race and permits him to rule for only one hundred years. Afterward, he must enter the Fire Cloud Grotto-Heaven and remain there except during an Immeasurable Calamity.
• Fuxi initially resists, fearing that humanity—still weakened and vulnerable—will have no protector if he is confined. Laozi argues that a powerful Human Emperor alongside humanity’s destiny could make the Human Race as dominant as the Witch and Demon Races once were.
• Fuxi realizes the decree is meant to prevent humanity from becoming too powerful and independent of the Saints. He reluctantly accepts it.
• Nuwa tries to reach Fuxi, but Yuanshi and Tongtian block her with the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation and the Pangu Banner.
• Xuandu explains that Laozi acts for the sake of the Primordial World. He also points out that Fuxi once belonged to the Demon Race, raising doubts about where Fuxi’s loyalties might ultimately lie.
• In the Heavenly Court, Gungun watches events unfold. Hou Yi warns that the Demon Race may take an interest in Fuxi’s rise.

Character developments and interactions

• Fuxi shifts from anger and concern to reluctant acceptance. He recognizes that his own power could threaten the balance of the world, yet remains troubled by humanity’s need for protection. His former Demon-Race identity becomes a source of suspicion.
• Nuwa reacts fiercely to Laozi’s decree, viewing it as imprisonment of her brother, but is prevented from intervening by Yuanshi and Tongtian.
• Xuandu carries out Laozi’s orders while presenting them as necessary for the greater good. His exchange with Fuxi exposes mutual concerns about loyalty and identity.
• Laozi, speaking through the decree and his voice, frames Fuxi’s confinement as a safeguard against another race becoming overwhelmingly powerful.
• Hou Yi anticipates political consequences, warning Gungun that the Demon Race may act.

Significant themes

• Power and balance: The Saints seek to prevent the Human Race from repeating the dominance of the Witch and Demon Races.
• Leadership versus freedom: Fuxi’s role as emperor is sharply limited, revealing that his authority is subordinate to the Saints’ broader plans.
• Protection and control: The decree is presented as safeguarding the world, but it also removes humanity’s strongest potential defender.
• Identity and loyalty: Fuxi’s past as a Demon becomes a reason for others to question whether he will truly serve humanity.

Key plot points

• Hou Yi worries that Fuxi’s return to power could revive the Demon Race’s threat. Gungun reassures him: Fuxi has been reborn as a Witch-Human and now serves as Human Emperor, while the weakened Demon Race cannot seriously challenge the Witch Race.
• Gungun leaves for Shouyang Mountain to speak with Laozi about Fuxi and the future Human Emperors.
• Laozi explains that he did not want to restrain the Human Emperor, but considers Fuxi’s confinement in Fire Cloud Cave necessary to prevent future trouble. He accepts that Nuwa may resent him.
• Gungun asks whether later rulers can avoid the same confinement. Laozi says the second Human Emperor will also be confined because he is an exceptional being; the third’s fate will depend on whether he is purely human or a reincarnated mighty figure. The Five Emperors, however, will face no such restriction.
• On leaving the palace, Gungun meets Ganglie, a Profound Immortal of the Dan Zhu Tribe. He invites Ganglie to serve in the Heavenly Court, then departs. Ganglie is thrilled by the unexpected opportunity.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun shows confidence about the Demon Race, tact in discussing Laozi’s decisions, and a strong interest in the Human Race. He links that concern to his past ties with human tribes and his role as teacher of the Witch Race.
• Laozi is pragmatic and firm: he frames his actions as serving the wider order, even at the risk of Nuwa’s displeasure.
• Ganglie moves from nervous deference to elated anticipation, seeing Gungun’s invitation as a chance to prove himself.
• Hou Yi is left puzzled by Gungun’s cryptic warning about someone targeting his World-Cleansing White Lotus.

Significant themes

• Power and political balance: The Demon Race’s decline eases the threat to the Witch Race, while the Heavenly Court remains a source of opportunity.
• The cost of leadership: Laozi treats confinement as a safeguard against powerful rulers becoming dangerous, even when it risks personal conflict.
• Humanity and identity: Gungun’s concern for humans reflects the ties between human tribes, Witch-Humans, and the Witch Race.
• Opportunity and ambition: Ganglie’s encounter suggests that new positions may open for capable figures in the post-calamity world.

Key plot points and events

• Laozi grants Ganglie the surname Zhu, naming him Zhu Ganglie, and approves his plan to join the Heavenly Court. He warns him to obey the Heavenly Laws and not act recklessly.
• After Fuxi becomes Human Emperor and begins building a capital at Chen, Nuwa visits him once the great formations blocking her entry are withdrawn.
• Bai Ze arrives on behalf of the Demon Race to discuss cooperation. Fuxi argues that humanity is still developing, while the Demon Race is badly weakened despite its surviving Quasi-Saints.
• Bai Ze counters that the Demon Race remains powerful and offers to form contracts with humans, fight alongside them, and help humanity expand.
• Though Fuxi recognizes the practical benefits, he hesitates because humans deeply hate demons. Nuwa then advises him to accept, but only under strict terms: humans may contract with demons whose merit outweighs their karma, and those who do so must thereafter be called divine beasts, not demons.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhu Ganglie shows eagerness to enter the Heavenly Court and readily defers to Laozi. Laozi is unimpressed by him but accepts his destined connection to Heaven.
• Fuxi balances his former identity as Demon Sovereign with his duty as Human Emperor. He speaks bluntly about both races’ strengths and weaknesses and refuses to sacrifice humanity’s interests.
• Bai Ze approaches cautiously and argues that cooperation could benefit both races, while also seeking a share in humanity’s growing fortune.
• Nuwa intervenes at a crucial moment, steering Fuxi toward a compromise that preserves the possibility of cooperation while addressing human hostility and moral concerns.

Significant themes

• Duty versus former allegiance: Fuxi must put humanity’s interests ahead of his ties to the Demon Race.
• Pragmatism and reconciliation: Cooperation may reduce future human losses, but past enmity cannot simply be ignored.
• Merit, karma, and identity: Nuwa’s conditions make merit a prerequisite for partnership and require cooperating demons to take on a new identity.
• Growth and resilience: Fuxi defends humanity’s endurance despite its weaker innate powers and shorter history.

Key plot points

• Nuwa tells Fuxi to require Bai Ze to leave the Demon Race before helping the Human Race. Bai Ze objects: the Demon Race is held together by shared interests and the authority of its sages, so his departure could help fracture it.
• Bai Ze leaves without agreeing, but Fuxi’s suggestion that the Human Race could honor him and help him recover gives him pause. Nuwa believes he may still accept after considering the changing state of the world.
• Fuxi accepts that he will be sent to Fire Cloud Cave to safeguard the Human Race’s fortune. He reassures Nuwa that the rivalries among the Three Pure Ones and the Western Sages may eventually give him a chance to escape.
• Three days later, Tongtian arrives at the Heavenly Court in a grand display of Saintly auspices. The gate guards respectfully admit him; his mount, the Kui Ox, is comically puzzled when its attempt to intimidate them has no effect.
• Gungun, who had briefly hidden at Shouyang Mountain and thought Tongtian would not come, learns that Tongtian has arrived after all.

Character developments and interactions

• Bai Ze is caught between loyalty to the Demon Race and the possibility of pursuing his own recovery and future. Though he makes no commitment, Fuxi’s appeal unsettles him.
• Fuxi remains composed about his coming confinement, presenting it as a way to protect the Human Race while quietly anticipating that the sages’ alliances may break down.
• Nuwa is angry and despairing that the other sages allowed Fuxi’s imprisonment, but Fuxi’s confidence restores some of her hope.
• Tongtian is treated with deference as a Saint. The Kui Ox’s self-importance provides comic contrast to the guards’ calm, automatic obedience.
• Gungun’s attempt to avoid Tongtian sets up the chapter’s closing expectation of an awkward encounter.

Significant themes

• Power, loyalty, and self-interest: Bai Ze must weigh allegiance to a political group against his own future.
• Fragile alliances: The sages may cooperate now, but their conflicting paths could make that unity temporary.
• Sacrifice and hope: Fuxi accepts confinement for the Human Race while believing the future may offer a way out.
• Authority and comedy: Tongtian’s arrival underscores the unquestioned status of Saints, while the Kui Ox’s failed show of force punctures the grandeur.

Key plot points and events

• Tongtian visits Gungun because Jiejiao’s karmic fortune is unstable now that the Hetu Luoshu is destined for Fuxi.
• He asks what treasure could anchor Jiejiao’s fortune, naming several treasures held by the Heavenly Court. Gungun privately resents the implication that he might hand them over.
• Gungun refuses to offer a Heavenly Court treasure and instead urges Tongtian to ask the Dao Ancestor for the Creation Jade Disc. He argues that it could secure Jiejiao’s fortune and make Tongtian the strongest Saint.
• To persuade him, Gungun appeals to Tongtian’s pride, contrasting Jiejiao’s position with the other teachings and their superior anchoring treasures.
• Tongtian is briefly tempted but doubts the Dao Ancestor would agree. Gungun advises him to keep pestering the Dao Ancestor—and, if necessary, offer to make him Jiejiao’s leader. Tongtian is horrified by this proposal.

Character developments

• Gungun maintains an outwardly respectful manner while privately grumbling about Tongtian’s demands. He shows quick strategic thinking, steering Tongtian toward a solution that keeps the Heavenly Court’s treasures safe.
• Tongtian arrives frustrated and seeks Gungun’s advice. Gungun’s flattery and appeals to his pride make him seriously consider an audacious request, though his reaction to the final suggestion shows its absurdity.

Significant themes

• Pride and persuasion: Gungun motivates Tongtian by emphasizing status, rivalry, and the prospect of becoming the foremost Saint.
• Self-interest and political maneuvering: Gungun’s “advice” protects the Heavenly Court while shifting the burden onto the Dao Ancestor.
• Comic contrast between ceremony and candor: Gungun’s formal courtesies conceal his exasperation, while his increasingly outrageous counsel undercuts Tongtian’s solemn concerns.

Character interactions

• Tongtian treats Gungun as a potential adviser, despite insulting him; Gungun silently takes offense but answers respectfully.
• Gungun repeatedly deflects Tongtian’s interest in Heavenly Court treasures and redirects him toward Zixiao Palace.
• Tongtian becomes receptive to Gungun’s reasoning, only to end the exchange angered by the suggestion that he surrender his position as Jiejiao’s leader.

Plot points and events

• Tongtian tries to take Gungun’s Twelfth-Grade Pure World White Lotus to stabilize Jiejiao’s fortune. He offers Dao teachings in exchange, but Gungun counters by asking for the Twelfth-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus—an impossible demand that ends Tongtian’s attempt.
• Tongtian gives up and leaves, lamenting that Jiejiao’s decline may be inevitable. Gungun feels sympathy and calls after him, but Tongtian privately thinks his display of disappointment has successfully softened the bear.
• Gungun first advises Tongtian to pester the Dao Ancestor for treasures, then proposes a more practical solution: send virtuous Jiejiao disciples to take posts in Heaven so they can benefit from its stable fortune and channel some of it back to Jiejiao.
• Tongtian worries that his disciples would fall under Gungun’s authority. Gungun offers to place them under Yinglong and, if Tongtian agrees, Crown Prince Changqin, both trusted figures connected to Jiejiao. Tongtian accepts and plans to arrange for disciples to join the Heavenly Court.

Character developments and interactions

• Tongtian shifts from frustration and attempted force to resignation, then cautiously accepts Gungun’s proposal. His concern is less about the disciples’ status than about their remaining connected to Jiejiao.
• Gungun refuses to surrender the lotus, using humor and negotiation to protect his treasure. Despite Tongtian’s staged theatrics, he genuinely feels pity for him and offers a constructive solution. He also sees the arrangement as a chance to strengthen the Heavenly Court.
• Their exchange is playful and adversarial: Tongtian blusters and bargains, while Gungun answers with cheeky demands and practical compromises. Tongtian’s offer to make Gungun Jiejiao’s Deputy Cult Leader is rejected, partly because Gungun fears being caught up in the Investiture of the Gods.

Significant themes

• Fortune and institutional survival: Jiejiao’s instability prompts Tongtian to seek ways to preserve its power.
• Compromise and shared interests: Jiejiao disciples can serve Heaven while still retaining their Jiejiao identity.
• Comedic self-interest: Both characters mix serious political concerns with opportunism, bluffing, and humorous misunderstandings.