Chapter Summaries

Xu Taiping broke Demon God Qingnü’s freezing power, then destroyed Demon Emperor Jiao’s remaining body and claimed the demon god heart aperture. The Heartless Demon Emperor offered to spare either Yun Shiliu or Xiahou Qingyuan if Xu Taiping returned it to the Nine Abysses.

• Zheng Zimo and Xiahou You recognized Xu Taiping as the strongest fighter in the Shangqing Lower Realm and discussed recruiting him into the Yuheng Army.
• Xuanzhi sensed an aura from an Upper Realm expert targeting Xu Taiping, but Xu Taiping’s blade force blocked attempts to contact or sense him.
• Xu Taiping reflected that his half-executed Ultimate Realm Burning Blade Style had broken the freezing power, then dismissed an Origin Beginning Clone to recover divine essence.
• Xu Taiping burned Demon Emperor Jiao’s surviving body to ashes with thunderflame, leaving the demon god heart aperture beside him.
• The Heartless Demon Emperor offered to spare Yun Shiliu or Xiahou Qingyuan if Xu Taiping returned the demon god heart aperture to the Nine Abysses.

Xu Taiping rejected the Heartless Demon Emperor’s offer to trade prisoners and burned Abbot Jiaye’s scripture page to restore his strength. With Yun Shiliu holding the demon in place, Xu Taiping prepared to unleash the Burning Blade Style again.

• Xu Taiping collected the Demon Emperor Heart Aperture, checked that Duan Xiaoyu and the others were unconscious, covered them with the Cloud-Cloaking Umbrella, and retrieved the fallen Storage Ring and Star Map Stone.
• The Heartless Demon Emperor threatened Xu Taiping and offered to release a prisoner in exchange for the other, but Xu Taiping refused and used the Form- and Shadow-Transposition Technique to move closer.
• Xu Taiping asked Yun Shiliu to keep the Heartless Demon Emperor trapped, then burned Abbot Jiaye’s scripture page and received a surge of Buddhist Dharma power that restored his aura.
• Yun Shiliu reinforced her Heaven-Sealing Moon-Locking Technique as the Heartless Demon Emperor struggled to break free.
• Xu Taiping summoned blade-qi dragons and divine manifestations, then prepared to draw the Water-Cutting Blade and unleash the Burning Blade Style.

Xu Taiping was saved from a devastating blade strike from Outer Heaven by Master Xuanzhi, Xiahou You, and Yun Shiliu, who urged him to retreat into the Dragon-Slaying Stele. Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian arrived, and Xiang Nantian shattered the attacking blade with one punch before vowing to pursue the assailant in the Upper Realm.

• Xiahou You and Lotus Eye warned Xu Taiping of an attack from Outer Heaven, so he changed to the Life-Taking Blade's Unity Blade Form.
• An enormous blade shadow descended, and Master Xuanzhi caught it with his Great Arhat Buddha Hands, which began to crack under the pressure.
• Xiahou You threw the Dragon-Slaying Stele to Xu Taiping, while Yun Shiliu offered to hold off the Heartless Demon Emperor and urged him to escape.
• Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian arrived and reunited with Xu Taiping as Master Xuanzhi's Buddha Hands shattered.
• Xiang Nantian punched apart the blade shadow and vowed to ascend to the Upper Realm and kill the attacker.

Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang revealed their Third Watch Observatory legacy and sent the Geng Metal Thousand-Eyed Crow to destroy the Heartless Demon Emperor’s demon god body and pursue the attacker beyond the heavens. They reunited with Xu Taiping, praised his strength, and Qi Haitang noticed his soul seal and scar, asking how much he had suffered.

• Xiang Nantian survived a direct strike from the Heavenly Dao’s tribulation lightning without injury.
• Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian challenged the voice beyond the heavens and summoned the Geng Metal Thousand-Eyed Crow, the Third Watch Observatory’s guardian deity.
• Zheng Zimo explained that the crow was an ancient fierce beast subdued by the First-Generation Observatory Master, suggesting the couple had obtained the Observatory’s complete legacy.
• The Geng Metal Thousand-Eyed Crow tore apart the Heartless Demon Emperor’s frozen demon god body, and the Emperor warned Xu Taiping that they would meet again.
• The crow pursued the attacker beyond the heavens as Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian reunited with Xu Taiping and praised his cultivation.
• Qi Haitang noticed Xu Taiping’s soul seal and chest scar and asked whether he had suffered greatly.

Xu Taiping reassured Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian that he would keep pursuing the Great Dao despite its hardships, and Qi Haitang praised the uniqueness of his path. The three entered the Dragon-Trapping Tower to talk privately, while Qi Haitang promised to teach Dongfang Yuejian how to draw a Divine Intent Talisman.

• Xu Taiping admitted to Qi Haitang that his journey had been difficult but said he had never regretted leaving the mortal world to pursue the Great Dao.
• Xiang Nantian tested Xu Taiping by offering him a return to mortal life, then laughed with relief when Xu Taiping reaffirmed his resolve.
• Qi Haitang said Xu Taiping’s vulnerable feelings strengthened his Dao Heart and that his Great Dao was unique among cultivators.
• Xiang Nantian warned that they could not speak freely while Outer Heaven cultivators might be watching, so Xu Taiping invited him and Qi Haitang into the Dragon-Trapping Tower.
• Qi Haitang used a Divine Intent Talisman to protect the Dragon-Slaying Stele and promised to teach Dongfang Yuejian how to draw one.
• Xu Taiping and Qi Haitang entered the Dragon-Trapping Tower, and Dongfang Yuejian thanked Upper Immortal Haitang for the talisman.

Xu Taiping showed Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang the gold essence stones and the two Yin Gods inside the Dragon-Trapping Tower. Xiang Nantian said he and Qi Haitang could help the Wolf-Headed Yin God survive the struggle, then revealed that their grand gift for Xu Taiping was inside Room Ding on the third floor.

• Xiang Nantian saw Xu Taiping's mountain of gold essence stones, and Xu Taiping explained how he had found them during the Wilderness Expedition.
• Qi Haitang showed Xiang Nantian the Golden Silkworm Cocoon that Yin God Su Yan had become, and Xu Taiping recounted his battle with Su Yan.
• Qi Haitang pointed out that Yin God Su Yan and the Wolf-Headed Yin God were devouring each other, and warned that the more injured Wolf-Headed Yin God would likely lose.
• Xiang Nantian said there was a way to help the Wolf-Headed Yin God prevail and told Xu Taiping they would handle it before leaving.
• Xiang Nantian revealed that his and Qi Haitang's grand gift for Xu Taiping was inside Room Ding on the Dragon-Trapping Tower's third floor.

Xu Taiping learned that Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian had found and activated the Dragon-Slaying Stele for Room Ding on the third floor of the Dragon-Trapping Tower. He looked into the Minor Grotto-Heaven beyond it and was astonished by its ancient beasts and a Mountain-Swallowing Whale.

• Xu Taiping realized Room Ding could be opened only if its Dragon-Slaying Stele was found or its seal was lifted.
• Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian told Xu Taiping they had found the Third Ding Dragon-Slaying Stele in a Minor Grotto-Heaven at Thousand-Island Jade Pillow Lake in Chenglong Heaven.
• Qi Haitang burned a talisman to activate the Dragon-Slaying Stele, and Xu Taiping sensed the seal on Room Ding lift.
• Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang brought Xu Taiping to Room Ding and urged him to look through the Dragon-Slaying Stele at the Minor Grotto-Heaven.
• Xu Taiping saw the grotto-heaven's immense spiritual energy and ancient beasts, including a Mountain-Swallowing Whale that swallowed a Kousun and Lingniu.

Xu Taiping learned from Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian about the treasures and dangers in the Minor Grotto-Heaven. He realized his presence might draw the deadly Profound Heart Netherfire and wondered whether hunting beasts could keep it away.

• Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang explained that the Minor Grotto-Heaven preserved rare treasures, exotic beasts, and ancient spirit herbs under a Heavenly Dao Edict.
• Xiang Nantian said the Edict forbade visitors from taking spirit birds, beasts, herbs, or fruit outside, and violations would cost them their cultivation.
• Xiang Nantian described the Profound Heart Netherfire, which roamed the grotto-heaven and appeared when living beings increased in its domain.
• Qi Haitang showed Xu Taiping an image of the netherfire burning an exotic beast to ashes and warned that it appeared only when close.
• Xu Taiping realized entering the grotto-heaven might trigger the netherfire and asked whether hunting one or two beasts could prevent it from appearing.

Xiang Nantian revealed that a map of the Minor Grotto-Heaven’s rare medicines and beasts was buried beneath the Dragon-Slaying Stele, and offered it to Xu Taiping if he passed a dangerous test. Xu Taiping agreed to hunt a Chitie Barbarian Ox before the Profound Heart Netherfire appeared, and began searching the herd for a lone target.

• Xiang Nantian told Xu Taiping that he and Qi Haitang had buried a map of the Minor Grotto-Heaven beneath the Dragon-Slaying Stele, marking rare medicines, beasts, and their habitats.
• Xiang Nantian offered to give Xu Taiping the map if he hunted a Chitie Barbarian Ox and brought it back within the time it took to brew a cup of tea.
• Qi Haitang warned Xu Taiping that a Chitie Barbarian Ox could gravely injure even a Dao Integration Realm cultivator, but Xu Taiping agreed to the test.
• Xiang Nantian explained that the Profound Heart Netherfire would appear soon after Xu Taiping entered the Minor Grotto-Heaven, making haste essential.
• Xu Taiping spotted the herd through the Dragon-Slaying Stele and began looking for a lone Chitie Barbarian Ox to pursue.

Xu Taiping watched a Wilderness Lion die after attacking the Chitie Barbarian Oxen and learned how dangerous their charges were. He refused to abandon his trial and launched an attack on an isolated ox, drawing the herd’s attention.

• Xu Taiping observed a Wilderness Lion ambush a Chitie Barbarian Ox, then get killed by the herd’s coordinated charges.
• Xu Taiping realized the Chitie Barbarian Oxen gnawed on the lion’s bones only because it had attacked their kind, and reconsidered his hunting plan.
• Qi Haitang offered to call off the trial, but Xu Taiping refused and said retreating would sever his Great Dao.
• Xu Taiping spotted an isolated Chitie Barbarian Ox and stepped out of the Dragon-Slaying Stele, causing the herd to turn toward him.
• Xu Taiping used the Star-Transposing Step to appear behind the lone ox and drew his saber to strike its neck.

Xu Taiping killed a Chitie Barbarian Ox but was trapped by its herd after a Griffin carried off the carcass and blocked his way back. He fought through the beasts to reach the Dragon-Slaying Stele, retrieved the treasure chest beneath it, and collapsed gravely injured inside the Dragon-Trapping Tower.

• Xu Taiping beheaded a Chitie Barbarian Ox with Unity Blade, but a Griffin swooped down and carried off its carcass, leaving him surrounded by the herd.
• Xu Taiping tried to escape by wind-riding, but Xiang Nantian warned him that the Minor Grotto-Heaven's Heavenly Dao Edict forbade prolonged travel off the ground.
• Xu Taiping refused Qi Haitang's offer of help and used Raging Thunder Form to batter the Chitie Barbarian Oxen, enduring more than a thousand charges as he forced his way toward the Dragon-Slaying Stele.
• Xu Taiping unleashed Baxia to open a path through the herd, then reached the Dragon-Slaying Stele and learned from Xiang Nantian that the treasure chest lay beneath his feet.
• Xu Taiping grabbed the object under the ground and plunged into the Dragon-Slaying Stele, collapsing from his injuries inside the Dragon-Trapping Tower.

Xu Taiping recovered from his injuries after surviving Xiang Nantian’s dangerous test to retrieve a treasure chest in the Minor Grotto-Heaven. A three-thousand-year-old Yaoguang Fruit restored his True Essence, qi and blood, and Divine Soul Power, and Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang gave him a beast-hide map hinting at the realm’s other spirit fruits.

• Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian discovered that Xu Taiping had shattered nearly every bone, and Xiang Nantian helped stabilize him with his power.
• Xu Taiping woke, accepted that Xiang Nantian’s test had taught him how dangerous the Minor Grotto-Heaven was, and sat up with Qi Haitang’s support.
• Xu Taiping confirmed that the mud-covered chest was the one Xiang Nantian had buried beside the Dragon-Slaying Stele.
• Xiang Nantian opened the chest and revealed a dozen three-thousand-year-old Yaoguang Fruits that could restore Divine Soul Power, True Essence, and qi and blood.
• Xu Taiping ate a Yaoguang Fruit and rapidly recovered his depleted power, including his Divine Essence.
• Xu Taiping asked whether the Minor Grotto-Heaven held many spirit fruits of similar rank, and Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang handed him a beast-hide map.

Xu Taiping studied a map of the Crimson Heaven Spirit Garden and learned about its dangers, the clues left by a long-dead explorer, and the way to overcome its flight restriction. Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang explained that they had to leave for the Upper Realm soon to search for a trapped senior martial uncle.

• Xu Taiping examined the Lushu-hide map and realized the Crimson Heaven Spirit Garden appeared to be a place built for cultivating spirit herbs and raising exotic beasts.
• Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian warned Xu Taiping that hostile beasts made even the garden’s outskirts dangerous, and said they had only reached the boundary between its outer and middle regions.
• Qi Haitang gave Xu Taiping a Moonshadow Stone recording an explorer’s experiences, including his discovery that eating a Vermilion Fruit let him fly despite the Heavenly Dao Edict.
• Xiang Nantian told Xu Taiping that the explorer had spent more than three hundred years reaching the foot of a towering mountain, while his fate and whether he found the ancient Alchemy Chamber remained unknown.
• Qi Haitang explained that the explorer had hidden his gains at five locations and that Xu Taiping would need to follow the clues in order to find four more Moonshadow Stones.
• Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang said they could not remain to gather spirit fruits because their aura-concealing treasure was nearly depleted, and they needed to reach the Upper Realm before Heavenly Palace ruins opened to search for their trapped senior martial uncle.

Xu Taiping offered Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian his Dragon-Slaying Stele so they could return to the Dragon-Trapping Tower and explore the Crimson Heaven Spirit Garden with him. They revealed that two corpses in his White Gourd posed a grave danger and asked to take them to the Land of Chaos, leaving Xu Taiping to decide whether to trust them.

• Xu Taiping offered Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian his Dragon-Slaying Stele, and they recalled a sealed stele in the Heavenly Palace Ruins that could let them meet him again.
• Qi Haitang said she and Xiang Nantian needed to deal with two corpses in Xu Taiping’s White Gourd, which Xu Taiping realized were Shang Jiu and his female companion.
• Xiang Nantian explained that an old acquaintance had asked them to retrieve the corpses and that taking them could also remove a hidden danger from Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping questioned how they knew about the corpses and refused to hand them over without a clear explanation.
• Qi Haitang warned that the corpses would bring Xu Taiping a fatal calamity if they were not sent to the Land of Chaos soon, then left the choice to him.
• Xu Taiping asked Qi Haitang whether she remembered the White Tree Kingdom’s righteous men who had died fighting Fan Qi for her.

Xu Taiping trusted Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian with Shang Jiu’s and the little girl’s frozen bodies, but the Lotus Eye’s deduction nearly destroyed its power. The incomplete Divine Soul Mark revealed a white-haired Daoist dragging corpses toward a furnace—and the bodies were Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian.

• Qi Haitang recalled the people who had died for her, including Xu Taiping, and he told her and Xiang Nantian that he trusted them.
• Xu Taiping placed Shang Jiu’s and the little girl’s frozen bodies before Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian, who promised to protect them and help him in the Upper Realm.
• Xiang Nantian touched Xu Taiping’s shoulder, triggering a burst of blood mist from his left eye, and the Lotus Eye warned him to keep away from the couple.
• The Lotus Eye explained that its attempted deduction had triggered great deductive power because of the couple’s immense karma, nearly destroying its divine power and leaving it weakened for three to five years.
• Xu Taiping opened the incomplete Divine Soul Mark and saw a white-haired Daoist drag two corpses toward a Pill Furnace in Tusita Palace.
• Xu Taiping recognized the corpses as Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian.

Xu Taiping watched Lotus Eye’s deduction reveal a gaunt old Daoist preparing to burn Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang as fuel, but the Daoist saw him across the River of Time and made a bargain to spare them. After the vision ended, Xu Taiping reopened his eyes as Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang waited anxiously to hear what had happened.

• The gaunt old Daoist sensed Xu Taiping watching through Lotus Eye’s Divine Soul Mark, restored the shattered vision, and threatened him with overwhelming pressure.
• The Daoist prepared to throw Xiang Nantian’s corpse into the Pill Furnace, and Xu Taiping offered to provide fresh fuel instead.
• Xu Taiping offered the bones and flesh of a true dragon, and the Daoist agreed to spare Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang for ten years in exchange.
• The Daoist warned Xu Taiping not to break their deal before the vision shattered, and Lotus Eye cautioned that the Daoist might be bluffing.
• Xu Taiping opened his eyes, and Qi Haitang asked him what had happened.

Xu Taiping warned Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang that their journey to the Heavenly Palace ruins would bring certain death, but they remained determined to go. Before parting, Xiang Nantian wounded Yin God Su Yan, and Xu Taiping resolved to find a way to ensure his friends returned safely.

• Xu Taiping revealed that his left eye had deduced Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang would face certain death at a secret realm containing Tusita Palace.
• Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang said they would go despite the prediction because they wanted to find the uncles who had saved and guided them, and they trusted that heaven always left a way.
• Xiang Nantian struck Yin God Su Yan's golden cocoon, leaving him half alive to avoid the karmic burden of killing a sleeping Yin God.
• Qi Haitang gave Xu Taiping a jade slip of Divine Intent Talisman methods to pass on to the young lady, and the friends said farewell.
• Xu Taiping resolved to fight for a chance for Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang to survive and vowed silently that they would meet again.

Xu Taiping and his companions faced a gathering of Upper Realm cultivators seeking the Celestial Palace Star Map Stone. As Ningchan Cave’s Purple-Robed Elders rallied them to attack, Xu Taiping prepared his allies with Yaoguang Fruits and showed no fear.

• Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang departed, and Xu Taiping offered Yaoguang Fruits to Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi to help them recover.
• Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi told Xu Taiping that Jiang Cuicui had taken Duan Xiaoyu and Mysterious Wasteland Heaven’s people had taken the four young men for treatment.
• Qi Haitang’s Barrier shattered, and Xu Taiping gave Dongfang Yuejian a Jade Slip containing Divine Intent Talisman drawing methods.
• Purple-Robed Elder Lu, Lü Hu, Thousand Threads, and other Ningchan Cave cultivators arrived and demanded the Celestial Palace Star Map Stone.
• Purple-Robed Tie Sha promised the gathered Upper Realm cultivators a share of the Star Map Stone if they helped seize it from Xu Taiping.
• As the cultivators surrounded them, Xu Taiping urged Xuanzhi and Dongfang Yuejian to eat their Yaoguang Fruits to restore their strength.

Xu Taiping, Dongfang Yuejian, and Xuanzhi ate Yaoguang Fruits and planned to conceal their restored strength before fighting the Upper Realm cultivators. Xiahou You and Zheng Zimo arrived to intervene, but Zheng Zimo surprised everyone by asking Xu Taiping to spare the enemies’ lives, leaving the Upper Realm cultivators furious.

• Xu Taiping gave Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi Yaoguang Fruits, and the three planned to mislead the Upper Realm cultivators into thinking they were exhausted.
• Xiahou You and Zheng Zimo arrived, and Zheng Zimo tried to mediate with Ningchan Cave’s elders, who demanded Xu Taiping hand over the Star Map Stone and apologize.
• Xu Taiping greeted Zheng Zimo and thanked Xiahou You for helping him in Yangxian City.
• Zheng Zimo asked Xu Taiping to spare the Upper Realm cultivators when he fought them, arguing that their deaths would benefit the Nine Abysses.
• The Upper Realm cultivators angrily accused Zheng Zimo of madness and threatened to kill him.

Xu Taiping rejected the request from Xiahou You and Zheng Zimo to spare the Upper Realm cultivators if possible, then faced an attack by nearly a hundred of them. He used Form- and Shadow-Transposition to turn the Ningchan Cave elders’ assault against them, leaving the other cultivators shocked.

• Xu Taiping asked Xiahou You and Zheng Zimo who had sent them, and Zheng Zimo revealed that they carried a message from Heavenly Lord Shihu and Yun Shiliu.
• Dongfang Yuejian explained Heavenly Lord Shihu’s standing and achievements, while Xiahou You urged Xu Taiping to avoid making enemies in the Upper Realm.
• Xu Taiping said he would spare the cultivators only if he had strength to spare, and Zheng Zimo and Xiahou You left after delivering the message.
• Purple-Robed Elder Lu attacked Xu Taiping and his companions with two fire dragons, while Elder Qi enlarged them with a powerful gale.
• Nearly a hundred Upper Realm cultivators attacked together, but their strike blasted Elder Lu and Elder Qi into a crater while Xu Taiping and his companions appeared in the elders’ former position.
• A cultivator recognized that Xu Taiping had used Form- and Shadow-Transposition.