Chapter Summaries

Xu Taiping used the Thunder Sound Five-Direction Earth-Splitting Formation to sever Yin God Huangpao’s arm, but Huangpao escaped with Xunqi of Ningchan Cave using Borrowing Objects to Substitute Forms. Xu Taiping opened the Rest, Fright, and Life Gates to defend against the coming tribulation lightning, then challenged the Heavenly Tribulation Eye.

• Xu Taiping opened the Death Gate and severed Yin God Huangpao’s arm as Huangpao tried to take Xunqi of Ningchan Cave away.
• Yin God Huangpao used Borrowing Objects to Substitute Forms, leaving a Demon Bone in the formation while reappearing with his arm restored and Xunqi at his feet.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu and Xiahou You realized Xu Taiping was saving his strength to withstand the Heavenly Tribulation Eye’s next lightning strike.
• Xu Taiping opened the Rest Gate, Fright Gate, and Life Gate to form a defense against the tribulation lightning.
• Xu Taiping drove the Ranked Thunder Sound Banner into the roof of Jiaye Hall and declared himself before the Heavenly Tribulation Eye.

Xu Taiping used the Thunder Sound Five-Direction Earth-Splitting Formation to absorb and refine two immense waves of tribulation lightning, but the formation began to crack under the strain. Inside the Demon-Suppressing Coffin, he condensed thunderflame, Golden Flame, and 𩙥 Flame and prepared to combine them into the Origin-Returning True Flame.

• The formation absorbed the first tribulation lightning and converted it into spiritual power, while Heavenly Lord Shihu warned that the formation could collapse if it lost balance.
• Xu Taiping ate an Earth Fruit Seed and sensed the formation as the second tribulation lightning approached.
• Xu Taiping expanded the formation's grinding disc to absorb and refine the second bolt, but the thunder continued pouring down and scorched the surrounding land.
• The formation began to crack after failing to grind the immense surge of thunder quickly enough, while Xu Taiping remained calm because it had served its purpose.
• Inside the Demon-Suppressing Coffin, Xu Taiping condensed thunderflame, Golden Flame, and 𩙥 Flame and said he needed to combine them to create the Origin-Returning True Flame.

The Thunder Sound Five-Direction Earth-Splitting Formation collapsed far sooner than expected, leaving Xu Taiping exposed to the Heavenly Tribulation Eye. As golden tribulation lightning struck and charred him, Heavenly Lord Shihu believed Xu Taiping was finished.

• The thick-earth grinding disc shattered, and the Thunder Sound Five-Direction Earth-Splitting Formation began to collapse despite Xuanzhi and the others trying to reinforce it.
• Xu Taiping stood motionless on Jiaye Hall as cultivators blamed him for the formation’s failure, while Xiahou You suspected he was secretly preparing another plan.
• The formation exploded completely, and Heavenly Lord Shihu argued that Xu Taiping had no time or means left to withstand the coming tribulation lightning.
• Xu Taiping drew his saber and leaped toward the golden tribulation lightning with the iron coffin on his back.
• The lightning tore apart Xu Taiping’s blade light and reduced his body to charcoal, and Heavenly Lord Shihu declared that it was over.

After a charred body that seemed to be Xu Taiping’s shattered beneath the tribulation, he emerged from the iron coffin, revealing that he had survived through a clone. As the next bolts threatened, Heavenly Lord Shihu prepared to rescue him but learned that Xu Taiping’s aura was powerful enough to kill a great Dao Integration Realm cultivator.

• Xu Taiping’s charred body fell onto Jiaye Hall’s roof and shattered, leaving the iron coffin behind, and Xiahou You and the others believed he was dead.
• The Heavenly Tribulation Eye opened again, and observers noticed that the iron coffin’s lid was moving.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu identified the complete Taiqing Mysterious Origin Avatar Art as a possible explanation for Xu Taiping’s survival.
• Xu Taiping rose from the coffin, and Heavenly Lord Shihu decided to send his primordial spirit to the Mysterious Wasteland to save him from the remaining tribulation bolts.
• Old Ox contacted Heavenly Lord Shihu and warned that Xu Taiping’s aura was strong enough to kill a great Dao Integration Realm cultivator.

As Xu Taiping faced the heavenly tribulation, he ignited a vast sea of fire and condensed the legendary Origin-Returning True Flame. Heavenly Lord Shihu and the onlookers recognized the human race’s progenitor of earthly fire, and Shihu warned Xiahou You and Xiahou Qingyuan to watch as Xu Taiping prepared to burn the tribulation with it.

• Heavenly Lord Shihu held back from intervening after Old Ox warned him, while Purple-Robed Elder Lu assumed Xu Taiping was doomed.
• A tremendous blast erupted around Xu Taiping, and a sea of flames spread across a thousand-zhang area around Jiaye Temple.
• Old Ox told Heavenly Lord Shihu that the spectacle would be earthly fire burning the heavens, a marvel unseen in a hundred thousand years.
• Xu Taiping raised his hand toward the Heavenly Tribulation Eye as black, white, and yellow true fire gathered at his fingertip.
• A voice identified the flame as the Origin-Returning True Flame, and Heavenly Lord Shihu confirmed its identity to Xiahou You and Xiahou Qingyuan.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu told Xiahou You and Xiahou Qingyuan to watch Xu Taiping burn the heavenly tribulation with earthly fire.

Xu Taiping endured the Heavenly Tribulation’s golden lightning and drove his Origin-Returning Earth-Fire Golden Crow toward the Heavenly Tribulation Eye. He left the onlookers in awe after transforming into a dragon and crashing into the eye, causing it to burst open in a vast bloom of three-colored fire.

• Xiahou You praised Xu Taiping for preparing the Origin-Returning True Flame, while Xiahou Qingyuan doubted he could survive the remaining tribulation lightning.
• The Heavenly Tribulation Eye unleashed a prolonged torrent of golden lightning that destroyed Jiaye Temple and seemed to overwhelm Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping sent his Origin-Returning Earth-Fire Golden Crow flying against the lightning toward the Heavenly Tribulation Eye, stirring the crowd to cheer him on.
• When a surge of thunder halted the Fire Raven, Xu Taiping transformed into a dragon, seized the three-colored fire orb, and charged into the Heavenly Tribulation Eye.
• The Heavenly Tribulation Eye exploded, scattering three-colored flames across the sky, and Heavenly Lord Shihu bowed to Xu Taiping.

After Xu Taiping fell into the Great Iron Coffin, the watching cultivators believed his tribulation had killed him. As Yin God Huangpao moved to seize Abbot Jiaye’s Buddhist fortune, a heartbeat from the coffin hinted that Xu Taiping might still be alive.

• Xu Taiping’s scorched body fell into the Great Iron Coffin, and the watching cultivators mourned what they believed was his death.
• Yin God Huangpao and Xunqi of Ningchan Cave returned with the Yin Gods, and Huangpao ordered Xunqi to transfer Abbot Jiaye’s Buddha fate and fortune to him.
• Ningchan Cave’s Purple-Robed Elder Lu silenced the cultivators who condemned Ningchan Cave’s alliance with the Yin Gods.
• Master Xuanzhi and Dongfang Yuejian tried to protect Abbot Jiaye, but Yin God Huangpao blasted them toward the surrounding Yin Gods.
• As Xunqi approached Abbot Jiaye, the Great Iron Coffin began to tremble to the sound of a heartbeat, raising hope that Xu Taiping was alive.

Xu Taiping survived the tribulation by hiding a thread of vitality in his sword intent, then received the Heavenly Dao’s reward of Ultimate Dao Power. Lotus Eye urged him to absorb as much of it as possible to determine whether he could reach the summit of Vulture Peak.

• Xunqi of Ningchan Cave tried to seize Abbot Jiaye and prepare Yin God Huangpao’s Dove Usurping the Magpie’s Nest, but the Great Iron Coffin’s violent thudding disrupted his rune.
• A sword cry and immense pressure hurled Xunqi backward as white sword light shot out of the Great Iron Coffin into the shattered tribulation clouds.
• The clouds gathered into a huge bolt of jade-colored lightning that struck the coffin, and multicolored vitality mist surged from it.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu told Xiahou You that Xu Taiping had passed the Ultimate Dao tribulation and that the Heavenly Dao’s reward had restored his life.
• Xu Taiping awakened inside the Demon-Suppressing Coffin as golden runes spread across his body and Ultimate Dao Power entered his mind.
• Lotus Eye urged Xu Taiping to absorb as much Ultimate Dao Power as he could to improve his chances of reaching the summit of Vulture Peak.

Xu Taiping’s sword strike from within the Demon-Suppressing Coffin proved that he had mastered the Hidden Sword Art, convincing Lü Daoxuan that his Dao Heart could sustain sword intent beyond death. As Yin God Huangpao attacked with a Geng Metal talisman, Xu Taiping prepared to counter with a Heavenly Dao Edict.

• Zhao Qian told Lü Daoxuan that Taiping had drawn the sword, and Lü Daoxuan recognized that he had mastered the Hidden Sword Art.
• Lü Daoxuan explained that the art’s final strike endured through the strength of the sword cultivator’s Dao Heart, then said Taiping’s strike reassured him about his plans.
• Yin God Huangpao entered Jiaye Hall and hurled a talisman toward Xu Taiping’s Demon-Suppressing Coffin.
• The Lotus Eye warned Xu Taiping that the talisman would form a powerful Bronze Halberd from Geng Metal qi, but could be broken while it gathered power.
• Xu Taiping told the Lotus Eye that his true body had comprehended one Heavenly Dao Edict and that two Primordial Spirit clones were still comprehending more.
• As the Bronze Halberd plunged toward the coffin, Xu Taiping raised his palm and declared that his Heavenly Dao Edict was enough.

Xu Taiping invoked the Heavenly Dao Edict, All Things Meet Spring, to stop Yin God Huangpao’s Demon-Slaying Talisman attack. The vines seized and shattered the bronze halberd and talisman, leaving Xiahou You reflecting on Xu Taiping’s steadfast heart.

• At the First-Rank Pavilion teahouse, cultivators feared Yin God Huangpao’s ancient Demon-Slaying Talisman and worried he could threaten Shangqing if he possessed Abbot Jiaye.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu told Old Ox that he would come to help Xu Taiping, but Old Ox revealed that Xu Taiping might have obtained the Heavenly Dao Edict, All Things Meet Spring.
• As Huangpao’s Geng Metal halberd descended toward Xu Taiping’s Bronze Coffin, Xu Taiping reached out and declared, “On this day, throughout the Mortal Realm, All Things Meet Spring!”
• Thick vines surged from the ground, wrapped around the halberd, pulled it away from Xu Taiping, and hurled it into the Demon-Slaying Talisman, shattering both.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu recognized Spring as the edict that had once saved the Human Race, and Xiahou You said Xu Taiping had never forgotten his original heart.

Xu Taiping’s Heavenly Dao Edict, Spring, summoned ancient willows that shielded Abbot Jiaye, Dongfang Yuejian, and Master Xuanzhi from the Yin Gods. The spectators realized why Xu Taiping had risked breaking through at Jiaye Temple, but Yin God Huangpao then attacked the willows with a powerful gale.

• Xu Taiping’s summoned willows repelled the Yin Gods and protected Abbot Jiaye, Dongfang Yuejian, and Master Xuanzhi after Dongfang Yuejian’s Ten-Crow Umbrella shattered.
• A cultivator explained that Xu Taiping’s Ultimate Dao breakthrough let him wield the Heavenly Dao Edict Spring, and the spectators recognized the power he had used against Huangpao.
• The cultivators reconsidered Xu Taiping’s motives and concluded that he had broken through at Jiaye Temple to protect everyone there.
• Xiahou You remarked that Yelai had remained faithful to Xu Taiping from the beginning.
• Yin God Huangpao summoned a howling gale that snapped most of the willows’ branches and exposed the Great Iron Coffin.

Xu Taiping used the Heavenly Dao Edict All Things Meet Spring to protect Jiaye Temple, but Yin God Huangpao countered it with the great cultivator Bingling Duke’s Divine Ability, Heavenly Burial. As Huangpao’s hurricane threatened to destroy everything, Xu Taiping formed a hand seal that Heavenly Lord Shihu recognized as the Mountain-Moving Seal.

• Xu Taiping used vines to shield Dongfang Yuejian and the others from Huangpao’s gale, then attacked Huangpao with more vines.
• Huangpao deduced that Xu Taiping had stopped comprehending Heavenly Dao Edicts after mastering only one, and Heavenly Lord Shihu explained that Huangpao likely possessed a great cultivator’s body and abilities.
• Xu Taiping used All Things Meet Spring to grow a forest around Jiaye Temple, but Huangpao summoned a hurricane that uprooted the trees and shredded the vines.
• Huangpao unleashed Heavenly Burial, which Heavenly Lord Shihu identified as Bingling Duke’s great Divine Ability.
• At Old Ox’s urging, Heavenly Lord Shihu watched the Great Iron Coffin as Xu Taiping formed a seal with his bloodied hands, and Shihu recognized it as the Mountain-Moving Seal.

Xu Taiping used the Mountain-Moving Edict to pin Yin God Huangpao beneath four mountains, but Huangpao warned that the Edicts would soon fade and free him. As Xu Taiping rose from the coffin and revealed a Five-Colored Halo, Heavenly Lord Shihu realized he might have comprehended a third Heavenly Dao Edict.

• Xu Taiping invoked the Mountain-Moving Edict, raising three mountains to shield Jiaye Temple and crushing Yin God Huangpao beneath another mountain.
• Yin God Huangpao revealed his True Body as a yellow robe and began lifting the mountain, but Xu Taiping summoned three more mountains that pinned him down.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu explained that Xu Taiping's Heavenly Dao Edicts would fade when his Ultimate Dao Power dissipated, freeing Huangpao, while Xiahou You worried he could not be destroyed.
• Yin God Huangpao threatened to destroy Xu Taiping and Jiaye Temple once he escaped, and Xiahou Qingyuan said only a stronger Edict could kill him.
• Xu Taiping rose from the coffin and pointed at Huangpao as a Five-Colored Halo appeared around him, prompting Heavenly Lord Shihu to suspect he had comprehended a third Heavenly Dao Edict.

Xu Taiping used his third Heavenly Dao Edict, the Heavenly Dao Corruption Edict, to force Xunqi of Ningchan Cave out of Yin God Huangpao. Xunqi threatened Xu Taiping, Azure Profound Sect, and all of True Martial Heaven, leaving Xu Taiping facing his warning.

• Heavenly Lord Shihu explained that Ultimate Dao Law Cultivators who comprehended three Heavenly Dao Edicts gained much greater power and could control ultimate Dao power longer.
• Xu Taiping demanded that Yin God Huangpao hand over Xunqi of Ningchan Cave, but Huangpao laughed and insisted Xu Taiping could not kill him.
• Xu Taiping invoked the Heavenly Dao Corruption Edict, causing the mountains around Huangpao to wither and decay.
• The corruption forced Xunqi of Ningchan Cave's phantom primordial spirit out from beneath Huangpao's yellow robe.
• Xunqi admitted defeat but threatened Xu Taiping, Azure Profound Sect, and the cultivators of True Martial Heaven with Ningchan Cave's wrath.

Xu Taiping concentrated the Heavenly Dao Edict’s decaying power on Xunqi of Ningchan Cave and killed him despite threats and offers from Xunqi’s mother, Qi Wuyan. As the watchers debated Yin God Huangpao’s uncanny survival of the Edict, they worried Xu Taiping might stay in the Wilderness to fight him.

• Xu Taiping seized Xunqi of Ningchan Cave’s Primordial Spirit with the Heavenly Dao Edict, causing it to decay until Xunqi begged for death.
• Qi Wuyan identified herself as one of Ningchan Cave’s Six Coordinates of the Crimson Firmament, threatened Xu Taiping, and then offered him a great opportunity if he released her son.
• Xu Taiping killed Xunqi and told Qi Wuyan he would visit her if he ever ascended to the Shangqing Upper Realm.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu praised Xu Taiping’s decisiveness, while Xiahou You remained uneasy about his possible future on the Heaven-Demon Battlefield.
• Yin God Huangpao endured the decaying Edict for nearly half a cup of tea, leading Heavenly Lord Shihu to suspect he had possessed Huang Tianhua and to consider having Old Ox rescue Xu Taiping if needed.

Xu Taiping prepared to climb Vulture Peak after revealing that his clones had comprehended several powerful Heavenly Dao Edicts. He accepted a Vajra Bell from Abbot Jiaye and left for the Thousand Buddha Kingdom's forbidden grounds, while Dongfang Yuejian and Master Xuanzhi stayed at Jiaye Temple to await his return.

• Xu Taiping ignored Huangpao's taunts and told him he would return for the divine shedding after half an hour.
• Xu Taiping told Lotus Eye that his clones had comprehended three Heavenly Dao Edicts, including the Sun-Chasing Edict, and planned to use them while climbing Vulture Peak.
• Xu Taiping told Abbot Jiaye that he had come to obtain a Buddha statue carrying a complete inheritance of Buddha Fate Power.
• Abbot Jiaye gave Xu Taiping a Vajra Bell and told him to ring it in the Thousand Buddha Kingdom's forbidden grounds to summon a guiding spirit sparrow.
• Dongfang Yuejian and Master Xuanzhi refused to leave Jiaye Temple and said they would await Xu Taiping's return.
• Xu Taiping bid everyone farewell and set out for Vulture Peak.

As Xu Taiping left Jiaye Temple, he turned toward the Thousand Buddha Kingdom Forbidden Grounds instead of leaving the Wilderness, puzzling the Jade Balance Mountain watchers. Heavenly Lord Shihu revealed that the legendary Vulture Peak lay hidden within the forbidden grounds’ Hundred-Thousand-Li Mist.

• Xiahou You and Heavenly Lord Shihu watched Xu Taiping leave Jiaye Temple and expected him to depart the Wilderness.
• Xiahou Qingyuan pointed out that Xu Taiping was heading toward the Thousand Buddha Kingdom Forbidden Grounds, not the Wilderness exit.
• Xiahou You speculated that Xu Taiping might be seeking treasures or had comprehended more Heavenly Dao Edicts, but Xiahou Qingyuan and Heavenly Lord Shihu doubted he could succeed.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu explained that cultivators had long since plundered the forbidden grounds, leaving only wandering Yin Gods and ruined temples.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu revealed that the forbidden grounds were sacred because eminent monks of the Thousand Buddha Kingdom had passed away there, and that Vulture Peak lay hidden in the Hundred-Thousand-Li Mist.

Xu Taiping entered the Thousand Buddha Kingdom’s forbidden grounds, where a bell was said to guide worthy monks through the hundred-thousand-mile mist to Vulture Peak. As he rang the Vajra Bell, the mist began to churn, while Abbot Jiaye declared that Xu Taiping’s immense Buddha Fate would compel the Spirit Sparrow to guide him.

• Heavenly Lord Shihu explained to Xiahou You and Xiahou Qingyuan that monks seeking Buddhahood had to follow a Spirit Sparrow through the mist to Vulture Peak, and that outsiders gained little from the Flesh Buddha Statues there.
• Xiahou Qingyuan revealed that he had once explored the forbidden grounds with his uncle but had turned back when their bell’s Buddha Light faded; Xiahou You concluded that Xu Taiping would also return empty-handed.
• Abbot Jiaye told Dongfang Yuejian that he had given Xu Taiping the Vajra Bell because Xu Taiping possessed the deepest Buddha Fate beneath the heavens, and said the Spirit Sparrow would have to guide him.
• Master Xuanzhi wondered whether Xu Taiping was headed to Vulture Peak as Xu Taiping reached the forbidden grounds and rang the Vajra Bell, stirring the mist.

Xu Taiping rang the Vajra Bell at the Thousand Buddha Kingdom’s forbidden grounds, hoping to summon a guide, while cultivators watching from the First-Rank Pavilion discussed what the guides were and worried about his safety. After four attempts brought no response, the young monk Yelai insisted that Xu Taiping’s effort mattered greatly to the Shangqing Realm.

• A cultivator identified as Liu Qingshan explained that guides led Buddhist disciples through the forbidden grounds toward its treasures, and that entering without one was deadly.
• Xu Taiping rang the Vajra Bell for a third time, but no guide appeared, prompting Xiahou Qingyuan to claim he had been right.
• Cultivators in the teahouse argued over whether Xu Taiping should keep trying, while Yelai prayed for him to summon a guide.
• Xiahou You asked Yelai why he wanted Xu Taiping to succeed, and Yelai said nobody understood what Xu Taiping had given or what his actions meant for the Shangqing Realm.
• Xu Taiping rang the bell a fourth time without a response, and Xiahou Qingyuan said he had no fate with the forbidden grounds; Xiahou You rebuked her brother for his past efforts there.

Xu Taiping rang the bell repeatedly in the Thousand Buddha Kingdom's forbidden grounds, while spectators mocked him and doubted he would summon a guide. After his eighth peal, the legendary white peacock White Maitreya arrived and offered to lead him to Vulture Peak to question the Buddha.

• Cultivators watching Xu Taiping's repeated bell summons mocked him, and Xiahou You and Heavenly Lord Shihu grew doubtful.
• After the seventh peal brought no guide, Xiahou Qingyuan decided to leave the teahouse for Jade Balance Mountain.
• Xu Taiping rang the bell for an eighth time, and the forbidden grounds answered by splitting open the misty path before him.
• A gigantic white peacock emerged from the forbidden grounds, astonishing Xiahou Qingyuan and the watching cultivators.
• The peacock introduced itself as White Maitreya, Vulture Peak's guide, and offered to take Xu Taiping to question the Buddha.