Chapter Summaries

Belial accepted Nyarlathotep’s deal to escape the Abyssal Will’s shackles, becoming one of Nyarlathotep’s Avatars. Cheng Yu learned that he was in the Eternal True World, a Mythic Great World, and Nyarlathotep assigned him his first amusement-park job.

• Belial was trapped between dimensions, stripped of his Divine Status, and confronted by Nyarlathotep.
• Belial agreed to perform one task for Nyarlathotep in exchange for freedom from the Abyssal Will’s shackles, and Nyarlathotep severed the shackles.
• Nyarlathotep told Luo Xiaotian that Old Yog and the Mother Goddess were at the Amusement Park, then left Luo Xiaotian free to do as he pleased.
• Cheng Yu received achievement notifications and converted them into currency before the System explained the Eternal True World’s history and its standoff between the Heavenly Dao, Abyssal Will, and Pantheon.
• Nyarlathotep welcomed Cheng Yu to the Amusement Park, gave him authority fragments as advance payment, and assigned him to play a role for a real person whose satisfaction would affect his rewards.

Cheng Yu met Shen Yu, the Great Sage of the Demon Race, and inherited his identity and memories. He learned that Shen Yu had defied the Heavenly Dao to protect the Demon Race and that Shen Yu was still enduring the Five Decays of Heaven and Man in his place.

• Cheng Yu followed a path through the bamboo grove and found a white-haired man by a lake.
• The man asked Cheng Yu to look after the Demon Race, then merged with him and passed on his memories.
• Cheng Yu learned that the man was Shen Yu, a white peacock and Great Sage of the Demon Race who had attained the holy-spirit state through his own power.
• Cheng Yu discovered that Shen Yu had threatened to destroy the Seven Demon-Sealing Passes unless the Heavenly Dao left the Demon Race a way to survive, drawing immense karmic punishment upon himself.
• System briefly let Cheng Yu experience the torment of the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, then explained that Shen Yu had borne it for ten thousand years.

Cheng Yu settled into Shen Yu’s quiet routine for nearly half a year, then learned that the Demon Dynasty was in crisis when Niu Da arrived at the bamboo hut. After Cheng Yu erased Niu Da’s pursuers, Niu Da reported that the emperor was dying, and the world’s chains began to snap as Cheng Yu closed his eyes.

• Cheng Yu sensed that Shen Yu commanded the obliteration rule and saw how the Eternal True World rejected him.
• Cheng Yu spent the night in Shen Yu’s bamboo hut and began following his daily habits, cooking bamboo-tube rice and visiting Mirror Lake.
• Cheng Yu maintained Shen Yu’s quiet routine for nearly half a year, becoming increasingly laid-back.
• Niu Da, a bloodied commander of the Demon Capital’s imperial guards, reached the hut and begged Cheng Yu to save the Demon Dynasty and demon race.
• Cheng Yu asked why the emperor was dying and erased Niu Da’s pursuers; Niu Da reported that the emperor was dying as chains snapped around them.

Cheng Yu learned how the Demon Race’s factions and the Monster Emperor’s failing health threatened the Demon Dynasty, then vanished as a storm gathered over the Eternal True World. In Tokyo City, a man recognized him as his second brother.

• Niu Da begged Cheng Yu to save the Demon Dynasty, and Cheng Yu told him to return while promising a reward.
• Cheng Yu spoke defiantly to the sky and disappeared as dark clouds and lightning overtook the Eternal True World.
• The chapter explained how the Demon Dynasty united the Demon Race but struggled to control its powerful clans and growing internal factions.
• The Monster Emperor’s nearing death and young heirs threatened to make the Demon Race’s power structure collapse.
• After learning of the crisis, Cheng Yu resolved to help his two nephews.
• A man in Tokyo City looked toward the Jade Bamboo Grove and joyfully called Cheng Yu his second brother.

Cheng Yu emerged as the Demon Tribe’s Great Sage, announcing Shen Yu’s return to the world and rallying the demons under his authority. He met his dying elder brother, the Demon Emperor, who entrusted the Demon Tribe to him.

• Cheng Yu left the Jade Bamboo Grove and manifested his white peacock form, making the Heavenly Dao’s thunderclouds disperse.
• Observers outside the Demon Tribe Eastern Capital recognized that the Great Sage had emerged, while Cheng Yu summoned his older brother to the Demon Capital.
• Ancestor-level demons across the Demon Tribe saluted Cheng Yu, and demons throughout the lands knelt to honor him.
• Cheng Yu destroyed a hidden figure and many demons in the Western Capital after the figure begged him to spare them.
• Cheng Yu entered the Imperial Palace and reunited with the Demon Emperor, who entrusted the Demon Tribe to him.

As Shen Jun neared death, he entrusted the Demon Dynasty to Shen Yu and named Shen Tian his successor. Shen Jun then heard Shen Yu’s dangerous plan for the Demon Race and died that night, leaving Shen Yu responsible for what came next.

• The Golden-Winged Great Peng arrived, and Shen Jun gathered his siblings and children to say farewell and give them his final instructions.
• Shen Jun entrusted the Demon Dynasty to the White Peacock, warned the Great Peng and the eldest Phoenix to support Shen Yu, and asked Shen Tian and Yue to treat Shen Yu as their father.
• Shen Jun summoned the Demon Court, named Shen Tian as his successor, and appointed Shen Yu regent to decide the realm’s affairs.
• After the officials departed, Shen Jun asked Shen Yu about his plans, and Shen Yu described a dangerous course with no turning back.
• Shen Jun asked Shen Yu to care for the Demon Race, and Shen Jun died that night.

After the Demon Emperor died, Cheng Yu took his place as the Demon Race’s source of fortune and asserted control over the Demon Dynasty. He left his nephew Shen Yue wondering what methods he would use to reshape the Demon Race.

• Di Yi Yun learned that the Demon Emperor had died, but discovered that the peacock had become the Demon Race’s new wellspring of fortune.
• Di Yi Yun and the other human Sages concluded that they would wait for the peacock to worsen his heavenly decay and eventually fall into silence.
• Cheng Yu told the nine-tailed chancellor that he would change the Demon court and demand obedience, showing no mercy to those who obstructed his decrees.
• Shen Yue asked whether Cheng Yu planned to slaughter the Demon Race, then reasoned that Cheng Yu could impose order through his strength.
• Cheng Yu praised Shen Yue’s reasoning and asked him to guess what he planned to do next.

Cheng Yu prepared Shen Tian and Shen Yue for their future roles while old demons plotted against his authority. At Shen Tian’s enthronement, the new emperor began climbing the Heaven-Climbing Hall’s steps, where Cheng Yu expected the scheming clans to make their move.

• Cheng Yu trained Shen Tian to rule the Demon Dynasty and prepared Shen Yue to become his successor.
• Old demons gathered in a secret realm and discussed how to deal with Cheng Yu, fearing his power and ruthlessness.
• Representatives from Humankind and the Netherworld Ghost Race joined demon clans to attend Shen Tian’s enthronement.
• Cheng Yu welcomed the guests, and the assembled demons hailed Shen Tian as their emperor.
• Shen Tian began climbing the Heaven-Climbing Hall’s nine hundred and ninety steps, while Cheng Yu awaited the schemes he had allowed the great demon clans to set in motion.

Shen Tian ascended the Monster Emperor’s throne with Cheng Yu’s support, overcame the Demon Race’s Five Fiends, and proclaimed the Tianwu Era. Cheng Yu was named regent and called the first court assembly of the new era.

• The Five Fiends’ beast phantoms blocked Shen Tian’s ascent, but Cheng Yu took his hand and shattered each phantom as they climbed.
• Cheng Yu stopped at the final stair and let Shen Tian ascend alone, where the assembled demons paid their respects to the new Monster Emperor.
• A White Peacock phantom appeared, prompting the demons to renew their acclamations, and a minister read Shen Tian’s enthronement decree declaring the Tianwu Era and a general amnesty.
• Shen Tian appointed Cheng Yu, the Jade King, as regent, and Cheng Yu announced the first court assembly of the Tianwu Era.
• The enthronement rites concluded, completing the Demon Dynasty’s transition into the new era.

At Shen Tian’s first court session, Cheng Yu exposed conspiracies against the new emperor and imposed harsh punishments on the guilty clans. The Great Bird of the Northern Sea clan was exiled to guard the First Demon-Sealing Pass for eighteen generations, while the Five Fiends’ leaders were sentenced to death.

• Niu Da reported that the Great Bird of the Northern Sea clan had plotted to overthrow the Demon Dynasty and recruit him as an inside man.
• Cheng Yu revealed that he had destroyed the clan’s main branch and ordered its collateral branches to guard the First Demon-Sealing Pass for eighteen generations.
• Cheng Yu accused the Five Fiends of obstructing Shen Tian’s accession ceremony, and the five patriarchs pleaded that they had been misled.
• Cheng Yu presented a ledger documenting the Five Fiends’ dealings with Humankind, and Zhen recommended beheading their patriarchs and confiscating their territory and resources.
• Cheng Yu ordered the Five Fiends’ direct descendants stripped of their innate gifts and had the five patriarchs dragged away for immediate execution.

Cheng Yu reorganized the Demon Dynasty’s guards and strengthened his allies as the purge of the Five Fiends continued. Old Turtle confessed his secret dealings with Humankind to the beautiful Nine-Tails woman, then hurried to receive Prince Yu.

• Cheng Yu replaced Niu Da as commander of the Imperial Guard with Jin Chi, appointed Jin Yang to command the new Heavenly Martial Guard, and made Niu Da its deputy commander.
• Cheng Yu gave Niu Da, Jin Chi, and Jin Yang demon cores and urged them to cultivate for breakthroughs.
• The Five Fiends’ direct descendants had their demon cores extracted, while their clan leaders were beheaded and their compounds and resources seized.
• Old Turtle told the beautiful Nine-Tails woman that he had contacted Humankind and secured the Four Sages’ promise to leave the Demon Race a dignified path to survival.
• When Old Turtle learned that Prince Yu had arrived, he summoned his household to pay their respects, and the beautiful Nine-Tails woman went with him.

Cheng Yu confronted Old Turtle over his actions and revealed that he had already suffered the five decays of heaven and man, leaving him little time to secure the Demon Race’s survival. He then ordered the establishment of the Heavenly Martial Guard and advised Shen Tian on ruling, as Shen Tian and Shen Yue pledged to build a new era together.

• Cheng Yu visited Old Turtle and said he intended to rebalance the Demon Race’s factions and reduce the prime minister’s power.
• Old Turtle questioned Cheng Yu’s attempt to resist the Heavenly Dao, and Cheng Yu revealed that he had suffered the five decays of heaven and man and had little time left.
• Cheng Yu told Old Turtle that Humankind had deceived him about their agreement, then offered to overlook Old Turtle’s actions and urged him to retire.
• Cheng Yu instructed Jin Yang to establish the Heavenly Martial Guard at the Jade King's Residence.
• Shen Tian asked Cheng Yu why the North Sea Great Bird Race had rebelled and the Five Fiends had defied him, and Cheng Yu explained the importance of commanding the powerful.
• Shen Tian and Shen Yue promised to shoulder their responsibilities together and usher in a new era.

Cheng Yu overhauled the Demon Court’s power structure and appointed a crow-man to lead the Heavenly Martial Guard’s intelligence affairs. He then learned that Shen Qian wanted his approval to marry someone outside the Demon Race, and hinted that he would support her if the man was not human.

• Old Turtle resigned as prime minister, leaving the position vacant while Cheng Yu considered how to restructure the Demon Court.
• Cheng Yu appointed a crow-man deputy commander of the Heavenly Martial Guard, responsible for intelligence, and stressed loyalty to the Demon Dynasty and His Majesty.
• At court, Cheng Yu proposed abolishing the prime minister’s office and establishing three departments, six ministries, three judicial offices, and a Heavenly Martial Directorate; Old Turtle and the other officials supported the plan.
• Cheng Yu revealed to himself that he had already chosen the new department and ministry heads and had raised the proposal to see how the officials would divide the positions.
• Shen Qian asked Cheng Yu to approve her marriage to someone outside the Demon Race, and he told her he would support her as long as the man was not human.

Cheng Yu confronted Shen Qian over her relationship with a human and warned her against causing turmoil in the Demon Dynasty. He then ordered the Heavenly Martial Guard to investigate her and appointed officials to the reorganized government, leaving the court to consider his message to the factions.

• Cheng Yu rebuked Shen Qian for risking the Demon Race’s stability over a human and threatened to disown her and punish those involved if she defied him.
• Cheng Yu comforted Shen Qian, who nodded before leaving, then ordered Wu Xuan and Jin Yang to follow her and investigate what had happened.
• Jin Yang delivered the overnight investigation to Cheng Yu, who ordered Wu Xuan to keep Shen Qian and the demon noble clan assisting her under surveillance.
• Cheng Yu reviewed the officials’ nominations and named Ma Yuan, Qingqiu Lanwei, and Changsun Shen as heads of the Three Departments.
• Cheng Yu assigned Minister Zhen to oversee the newly established Censorate and Court of Judicial Review, prompting officials to suspect he was warning the factions.

Shen Tian and Shen Yue discussed rumors that Cheng Yu intended to keep the Demon Dynasty under his control, while Cheng Yu ordered the Heavenly Martial Directorate to arrest the Qicang clan. Jin Yang confronted Qicang at the clan compound, where the chief questioned whether the children could be spared.

• Shen Yue told Shen Tian that rumors accused Cheng Yu of keeping him as a puppet, but both suspected the rumors were part of Cheng Yu's plan.
• Cheng Yu gave Jin Yang and Wu Xuan a warrant to arrest the Qicang clan and kill anyone who resisted.
• Jin Yang assembled the Heavenly Martial Guard and led them to the Qicang compound to arrest the entire clan.
• Qicang feared the arrest was connected to his clan's ties with the Eldest Princess and ordered his clan to cooperate.
• Jin Yang told Qicang that the Prince Regent demanded the entire clan come along and had ordered resisters killed.

Cheng Yu confronted demon clan chiefs who resisted his rule, destroyed the Stone Rhinoceros clan’s compound, and demanded their submission. Jin Yang then presented the Qicang clan’s crimes, leaving the kneeling chiefs to hear the full case against the imprisoned clan.

• Jin Yang reported that the Qicang clan’s members who resisted arrest had been executed and the rest, including its chief, had been imprisoned.
• Cheng Yu warned visiting clan chiefs that he would destroy families that refused to serve the Demon Dynasty and replace their power with Dynasty officials.
• The Blue Stone, Ink Monkey, and Hungry Insect clan chiefs swore loyalty to Cheng Yu and the Demon Dynasty.
• Cheng Yu rejected the first old man’s submission, declared that he would serve as an example, and erased him along with the Stone Rhinoceros clan’s compound.
• Jin Yang read aloud the Qicang clan’s crimes, including smuggling demons to Humankind, leaking secrets, aiding rebellions, embezzling resources, and plotting against the Dynasty.

Cheng Yu launched a sweeping purge of the Demon Race after exposing the Qicang’s crimes, personally overseeing investigations that became known as the Tianwu Case. The purge nearly eradicated the Pro-Human surrender advocates, though it left the Demon Race bloodied and greatly enriched its Treasury.

• Cheng Yu ordered the Qicang exterminated and directed Jin Yang, Zhen, and several government offices to investigate everyone implicated in their crimes.
• Cheng Yu instructed Zhen to record anyone who tried to bribe, threaten, or influence him during the purge.
• The Qicang were beheaded the next morning, and their heads were piled before the Demon Capital’s main gate.
• The purge decree triggered a wave of arrests and executions across the Demon Race, as the Qicang case implicated one great demon race after another.
• The campaign became known as the Tianwu Case, nearly wiped out the Pro-Human surrender advocates, and filled the Demon Dynasty’s Treasury with demon blood and monster cores.

Shen Yuan reflected on the Demon Race’s changing fate and learned that Cheng Yu had purged many traitors, while Cheng Yu considered the consequences of his actions and prepared to press the advantage. Shen Yuan arrived at the Jade King's Residence, where Cheng Yu dismissed his questions about Demon Dynasty affairs.

• Shen Yuan recalled how his future changed after he became a Heavenly Dao Sage and how the Demon Race’s fate grew uncertain after Cheng Yu became a Great Sage.
• Shen Yuan divined that Cheng Yu had killed many demons who would have betrayed their race and felt relieved, though he worried the Heavenly Dao might punish Cheng Yu for changing the future.
• Shen Yuan transformed into a Golden-Winged Great Peng and flew to the Jade King's Residence.
• Cheng Yu sensed heaven and earth’s growing aversion toward him and concluded that his actions had disrupted the Heavenly Dao’s intended course.
• Cheng Yu assessed the factions remaining in the Demon Race and said it was time to strike while the iron was hot.
• Shen Yuan asked what Cheng Yu meant, and Cheng Yu told his third brother that Demon Dynasty affairs were better left unknown to him.

Cheng Yu gathered Shen Yuan and the family for a banquet, where he guided Shen Tian and Shen Yue to consider the Qicang affair from different perspectives. After the youngsters left, Shen Qian accused Cheng Yu of cruelty, and he gave her the Qicang's written confessions to read before judging him.

• Cheng Yu told Shen Yuan about Shen Qian's actions involving the Qicang, and Shen Yuan condemned both the clan and his little sister.
• Steward Yu summoned Shen Qian to Cheng Yu's family banquet, and a guard told her the Qicang had been exterminated ten months earlier.
• Shen Tian and Shen Yue joined Cheng Yu, Shen Yuan, and Shen Qian for the banquet, where Cheng Yu urged the youngsters to seek their own answers and understand matters from multiple perspectives.
• After Shen Tian and Shen Yue left, Shen Qian called Cheng Yu cruel, and he placed the Qicang's written confessions before her.

Cheng Yu convinced Shen Qian to leave her human lover and sent her with Shen Yuan to Wangshu Mountain, revealing that she was essential to a plan that would sacrifice her future. Left alone, Cheng Yu reflected on his isolation, spoke with the System, and danced as a white peacock in the snow.

• Shen Qian read Cheng Yu's evidence about the human and still insisted that she loved him and would give up everything to stay with him.
• Cheng Yu ordered Shen Yuan to make Shen Qian unconscious and take her to Wangshu Mountain to cultivate until he had settled matters with the Demon Race.
• Cheng Yu told Shen Yuan that Shen Qian was indispensable to his plan and that he would have to sacrifice her future, though she would not be in danger.
• After Shen Yuan left with Shen Qian, Cheng Yu reflected on being a lone sovereign and discussed the System's silence during his mission.
• Steward Yu told Cheng Yu that it was snowing, and Cheng Yu transformed into a white peacock and danced beneath the moonlight.