Chapter Summaries

The Heaven-Hunting Great Sage explained how Xu Taiping could temper his true essence, divine essence, and physique to their ultimate realms before advancing to the Dao Integration Realm. He left Xu Taiping ready to learn a Dharma Method for raising his physical strength to the Moon-Supporting Realm within one jiazi.

• The Heaven-Hunting Great Sage showed Xu Taiping that his true essence was far from its ultimate realm and explained how to temper it with Dao Essence Power, Buddha Origin Power, or Dragon Origin Power through the Burning Mountains and Boiling Seas Method.
• The Heaven-Hunting Great Sage told Xu Taiping to refine thirteen immortal-grade treasures or better as life-bound weapons to reach the ultimate realm of divine essence, while warning him to refine no more than three at a time.
• The Heaven-Hunting Great Sage explained that Great Sage physiques had four stages and that Xu Taiping's physique was currently at the Earth-Shaking Realm.
• The Heaven-Hunting Great Sage said Xu Taiping could potentially reach the Moon-Supporting Realm within one jiazi by cultivating a Dharma Method suited to his true dragon divine being body.
• Xu Taiping asked the Heaven-Hunting Great Sage to teach him the method.

The Heaven-Hunting Great Sage taught Xu Taiping the dangerous Jiazi Aperture-Breaching Method and arranged for him to test it against Xiao Huang. Before leaving, the Great Sage borrowed the Blade of Guicang to sever their karma and conceal his aura from Half-Immortal Zhechen, but Old Daoist Huang reacted with fear when asked to help.

• The Heaven-Hunting Great Sage explained the Jiazi Aperture-Breaching Method, its five stages, and the risks of compressing and releasing Xu Taiping's qi and blood.
• The Great Sage arranged for Xu Taiping to fight Xiao Huang at the Black Prison in half a month, and Xu Taiping planned to leave the Jade Pool once his combat strength recovered.
• The Great Sage asked Xu Taiping for the Blade of Guicang so he could sever their karma and conceal his aura from a powerful existence.
• Xu Taiping brought out Old Daoist Huang, and the Great Sage asked him to use the blade to hide his aura from Half-Immortal Zhechen.
• Old Daoist Huang recognized the danger of the request and cried out that the Great Sage was asking for his life.

The Heaven-Hunting Great Sage had Old Daoist Huang use the Blade of Guicang to conceal his aura and sever connections that could expose Xu Taiping and the Jade Mother. After the Great Sage left, Xu Taiping continued training in Yaochi Sacred Land and learned that Bai Yue had been captured by the Yellow Origin Palace; he then prepared to open Sister Lingyue’s jade box with Ping'an.

• Old Daoist Huang carved inscriptions into the Heaven-Hunting Great Sage’s palm, concealing his aura for thirty years, then severed his ties to Xu Taiping and others in Yaochi Sacred Land and erased knowledge of the Jade Mother’s awakening.
• The Heaven-Hunting Great Sage gave Xu Taiping the Blade of Guicang, asked him to look after Chao Ci, and departed after Xu Taiping sent him out of Yaochi Sacred Land.
• Xu Taiping sent Xiao You, Chao Ci, and the remaining Xiahou Clan disciples out of the sacred land, then spent three days tempering his body with star soul power.
• Ping'an told Xu Taiping that Bai Yue had been imprisoned by an old Daoist from the Yellow Origin Palace after protecting him, and said their shared cultivation origin let them sense each other in the Chaos Void.
• Old Daoist Huang told Xu Taiping the Jade Box was ready to open, and Xu Taiping asked Ping'an whether he wanted to hear news of Sister Lingyue.

Xu Taiping and Ping'an opened Fairy Lingyue's jade box inside Old Daoist Huang's secret circle and learned what she had left for them. Fairy Lingyue revealed clues to find her, while Xu Taiping prepared for the challenges ahead in the Upper Realm.

• Old Daoist Huang used the Blade of Guicang to create a circle that concealed everything inside it, then carefully removed the silver threads protecting Fairy Lingyue's jade box.
• Xu Taiping opened the box and Old Daoist Huang severed the threads guarding its jade slip, jade pendant, and Moonshadow Stone before collapsing from exhaustion.
• Fairy Lingyue's message revealed that the Moonshadow Stone held star maps to Ping'an and Bai Yu's secluded locations and that the jade slip contained the Soul-Merging Pill recipe Xu Taiping needed to reach the Dao Integration Realm.
• Ping'an said his improved Mind-Heart Communication could help him refine the pill, and Old Daoist Huang realized the ability could also aid Qi-Reading Practitioners in collecting fortune.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that the jade pendant held her Lingxi Art and that Xu Taiping could follow the divine-intent traces she would leave behind to find her next clue.

Xu Taiping learned from Fairy Lingyue’s Divine Soul Mark that Nether Luo Ruin Star held a suitable place to refine the Soul-Merging Pill, then prepared for the journey while refining the Blade of Guicang. After ten days, he emerged with the blade half-refined and ready to set out.

• Fairy Lingyue showed Xu Taiping the Azure Nether Pill Origin Palace in Wuji Abyss and left a Jade Pendant there, urging him to visit Nether Luo Ruin Star to refine the Soul-Merging Pill.
• Ping'an confirmed the Soul-Merging Pill required a location rich in star marrow power, and the Six-Nostril Mirror said Nether Luo Ruin Star was nearby and had a prosperous Ruin Market.
• Xu Taiping planned to travel to Nether Luo Ruin Star after handling matters in the Jade Pool, with the nearby Buzhou Immortal Palace Ruin Star also offering a chance to plant the Earth Fruit Willow Branch and revive Jade Mother.
• Xu Taiping created three clones to practice the Southern Bright Li Fire Sword and refine Longyuan and Chengying, then entered the black coffin to refine the Blade of Guicang.
• Ten days later, Xu Taiping emerged having refined half the Blade of Guicang, which could conceal most of his aura, and Ping'an urged him to set out for Nether Luo Ruin Star.

Xu Taiping prepared to leave the Yaochi Sacred Land for Nether Luo Ruin Star, arranging ways to stay in contact and return if needed. At the Black Prison, his friends waited for him while Lin Mu of the Azure Spirit Pavilion provoked them, leaving Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci confronting his lecherous remarks.

• Xiaohei said the journey from Kaiyang Heaven to Nether Luo Ruin Star would take one day, and Xu Taiping entrusted the Yaochi Sacred Land to the Six-Nostril Mirror.
• The Six-Nostril Mirror explained that Xu Taiping could contact it through his Jade Thumb Ring and return through the Dragon-Trapping Tower, and Xu Taiping placed the Dragon-Slaying Stele before the Jade Mother's statue.
• Xu Taiping set out for Nether Luo Ruin Star with Ping'an while Qu Chao Ci, Xiahou You, Bai Yue, and Mo Qingzhu waited for him at the Black Prison.
• Lin Mu of the Azure Spirit Pavilion approached Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci, then shoved Mo Qingzhu aside and tried to separate the women from their friends.
• Bai Yue pulled Mo Qingzhu back and challenged Lin Mu, while Xiahou You intervened and identified them as her friends.
• Lin Mu complimented Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci with a leering gaze, and Qu Chao Ci warned him that the Ninth Madam might punish him.

Lin Mu tried to force Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci to attend his banquet, but Yan Xuanling intervened and wounded him with Word-Follows-Law. Venerable Ziming attacked Yan Xuanling to defend Lin Mu, until Heavenly Lord Hanjian arrived and demanded that they answer for their actions against Yan Xuanling and the two women.

• Lin Mu had seven Azure Spirit Pavilion disciples surround Bai Yue and Mo Qingzhu while he pressured Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci to join his banquet.
• Yan Xuanling arrived, confronted Lin Mu, and shattered his attack with Word-Follows-Law, badly injuring his arm.
• Lin Mu accused Yan Xuanling of attacking him, and Venerable Ziming restrained Qu Chao Ci and Xiahou You before striking Yan Xuanling with a disciplinary ruler and sending black light at her.
• Heavenly Lord Hanjian appeared in time to block Venerable Ziming's attack and learned that Yan Xuanling had been injured by him.
• Heavenly Lord Hanjian demanded that Venerable Ziming and Lin Mu account for their actions toward Yan Xuanling, Xiahou You, and Qu Chao Ci.

Venerable Ziming attacked Heavenly Lord Hanjian, but Ninth Madam intervened and punished Ziming’s disciple Lin Mu for harassing Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci. After Hanjian explained that he was protecting Xu Taiping’s friends, Ninth Madam revealed Xu Taiping had arrived, and the Black Prison Child announced him as the Bronze Sparrow Platform’s defender.

• Venerable Ziming clashed with Heavenly Lord Hanjian, who suppressed Ziming’s aura and blocked his innate true-fire attack with help from Ninth Madam’s red silk.
• Ninth Madam slapped Lin Mu for staring at her, and Venerable Ziming struck his disciple before apologizing and taking him away.
• Heavenly Lord Hanjian told Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci he was protecting them because they were Xu Taiping’s friends, and Ninth Madam later confirmed Xu Taiping had arrived.
• Heavenly Lord Hanjian pressured Yan Xuanling to claim she and Xu Taiping were close friends and reassured Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci that Xu Taiping would arrive soon.
• A Black Prison Child announced Xu Taiping as the day’s Bronze Sparrow Platform defender and named Qi Mushroom Herb, Yang Yan Fruit, and Golden Millet Paper as his arena wager items.

Xu Taiping faced Chu Wei of the Iron-Clad Pavilion in a contest of pure martial strength on the Bronze Sparrow Platform. Still burdened by Star Soul Body Tempering, Xu Taiping struggled against Chu Wei’s mountain-heavy punches and began reducing the star soul weight he carried as the fight continued.

• Chu Wei of the Iron-Clad Pavilion challenged Xu Taiping to a fist match, and the spectators learned about the pavilion’s pure martial artists and their battlefield reputation.
• Xu Taiping arrived on the Bronze Sparrow Platform and revealed his True Dragon Divine Being Body as Chu Wei expanded into a towering, muscular form.
• After the bell rang, Xu Taiping and Chu Wei fought at such speed that the spectators had to use their divine senses to follow their exchanges.
• Chu Wei criticized Xu Taiping for holding back and repeatedly drove him toward the platform’s edge with punches powered by qi and blood.
• Xu Taiping decided to ease the Star Soul Body Tempering weight from eleven ten-thousand-zhang mountains to ten-mountain power, and his aura stirred with faint qi explosions.

Xu Taiping fought Chu Wei on the Bronze Sparrow Platform, enduring his increasingly powerful army-infused fist force and answering with the Heaven-Touching Stance. As Chu Wei's Flood Dragon attack engulfed him, Xu Taiping invoked the ultimate realm and unleashed eight enormous vajra aspects, leaving their collision unresolved.

• Xu Taiping adjusted the Star Soul Power weighing on his body until he could unleash his full strength, then met Chu Wei's Crushing the Vanguard with the Heaven-Touching Stance and five Wrathful-Eyed Vajra phantoms.
• Xu Taiping's successive attacks broke through Chu Wei's fist force and struck his true body, shattering his phantom armor and making Qu Chao Ci declare Xu Taiping the winner.
• Chu Wei rose with a phantom Battle Banner and thousands of armored soldiers behind him, then attacked Xu Taiping with fist force infused with thousand-army battle intent.
• Chu Wei unleashed Dragon-Slaying Turnover, becoming a Flood Dragon phantom that charged Xu Taiping, while Heavenly Lord Hanjian recognized that Chu Wei's strength neared the threshold of breaking beyond the Mountain-Shaking Great Sage Realm.
• Xu Taiping summoned a Ten Thousand Armies Battle Formation phantom, invoked the ultimate realm of the Heaven-Touching Stance, and formed eight enormous vajra aspects as Chu Wei's attack engulfed him.

Xu Taiping defeated Chu Wei, who thanked him for opening sealed acupoints, then faced Xiao Huang in the next arena challenge. Xiao Huang demanded a fight to the death, and the chapter ended as he charged at Xu Taiping after the bell.

• Xu Taiping shattered Chu Wei's fist force and drove him down, and Chu Wei conceded before being knocked off the Bronze Sparrow Platform.
• Chu Wei thanked Xu Taiping because his punches had opened the last sealed acupoints in his body, then left the platform hoping they would fight demons together on the Heaven-Demon Battlefield.
• Xiao Huang descended onto the platform and challenged Xu Taiping, declaring that their match should decide life and death.
• Xu Taiping accepted Xiao Huang's challenge and revealed his true dragon divine being body as the bell tolled.
• Xiao Huang's aura overwhelmed Xu Taiping's, and Xu Taiping prepared to use battle intent to bridge the gap before Xiao Huang charged toward him.

Xu Taiping fought Xiao Huang in the Bronze Prison, where their battle intent grew into a clash of vast phantom armies. As Xiao Huang’s five-hundred-thousand-strong formation began overwhelming him, Xu Taiping unleashed battle intent representing eight hundred thousand soldiers.

• Xiao Huang’s opening punch shattered more than half of Xu Taiping’s Hundred-Armed Vajra Dharma Aspect, and Yan Xuanling warned that he had used only a fraction of his power.
• Xiao Huang brought forth the battle intent of nearly ten thousand cavalry, but Xu Taiping answered with the ultimate Heavenly Wrath Style and a thunderflame-wreathed Thousand Arms Vajra Dharma Aspect.
• Xu Taiping and Xiao Huang’s battle intent rose until both formations represented nearly three hundred thousand troops, shaking the Bronze Prison as Boys reinforced its restrictions.
• Xiao Huang’s battle intent surged to five hundred thousand troops and gradually shattered Xu Taiping’s Vajra arms, leading Heavenly Lord Hanjian to believe Xiao Huang had secured victory.
• Xu Taiping merged his fist shadows into one and released battle intent representing eight hundred thousand armored soldiers, prompting Heavenly Lord Hanjian to recognize the power of a four-army battle general.

Xu Taiping fought Xiao Huang in the Bronze Prison, refusing to release his Star Soul Power even as Xiao Huang broke through and overwhelmed him. He finally revealed Star Soul Body Tempering, imposing ten-mountain power on himself and showing that he, too, was building an ultimate-realm foundation for the Dao Integration Realm.

• Xu Taiping fused the Four Armies' battle intent with his Heaven-Shaking Palace fist and briefly suppressed Xiao Huang.
• Xiao Huang unsealed his qi and blood apertures, pushed Xu Taiping back, and broke through toward the Moon-Supporting Great Sage Realm.
• Xu Taiping refused to release his Star Soul Power and strengthened his attack with the Second Stage of Heaven-Shaking Palace.
• Xiao Huang's breakthrough-powered flaming fist shattered Xu Taiping's golden fist shadow and Thousand Arms Vajra phantom.
• Xu Taiping released rings of Star Soul Power that blocked Xiao Huang's attack, and Yan Xuanling recognized his ten-mountain Star Soul Body Tempering.

Xu Taiping and Xiao Huang’s clash ended in a draw after Xu Taiping broke through to the first stage of the quasi Moon-Supporting Realm and gained a stronger physique. Xiao Huang acknowledged Xu Taiping had truly won and asked to arrange another fight.

• Xu Taiping released his star soul power, transformed as his heart aperture and body strengthened, and met Xiao Huang’s punch with the third stage of Heaven-Shaking Palace.
• The two fighters’ punches shattered and sent them flying from the Bronze Sparrow Platform, so the Black Prison Child declared the match a draw.
• Heavenly Lord Hanjian explained that Xu Taiping and Xiao Huang had reached the threshold of the quasi Moon-Supporting Realm, and observers realized Xu Taiping’s aura was at least ten percent stronger because he had released his power later.
• Xu Taiping’s growth stopped at sixty zhang tall, about three zhang taller than Xiao Huang, and Yan Xuanling resolved to follow her master’s instructions to improve her own physique.
• The Black Prison Child said the arena contest had ended because the defending side had not won, then told Xiao Huang he could open another contest.
• Xiao Huang told Xu Taiping that he considered him the true winner and asked to arrange another fight.

After Xu Taiping refused to schedule another fight, Xiao Huang desperately raised the stakes to persuade him to return to the Black Prison. Xu Taiping finally stopped when Xiao Huang offered a Ziyang Pill, which he urgently needed to restore his damaged lifespan.

• Xu Taiping declined Xiao Huang's request for a rematch because he had pressing tasks and could not say when he would return to the Black Prison.
• Xiao Huang offered increasingly valuable wagers, including a Great Dao Divine Weapon, an Immortal Weapon, an Immortal Pill, and the Ziyang Sect's Qiankun Fan, but Xu Taiping kept leaving.
• Yan Xuanling teased Xiao Huang by suggesting he offer the Ziyang Pill, unaware that Xu Taiping needed one badly.
• Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci explained that Xu Taiping's lifespan was damaged and the Ziyang Pill was especially effective at restoring it.
• Xu Taiping stopped near the exit and asked Xiao Huang seriously whether he meant his offer of a Ziyang Pill.

After advancing his Star Soul Body-Tempering Method, Xu Taiping traveled with Ping'an to Wuji Abyss to find the Azure Nether Pill Origin Palace and follow Fairy Lingyue's guidance. They found the sealed palace and a Jade Pendant, but Xu Taiping sensed danger when he touched a hollow patch of ground.

• Yan Xuanling explained that Xu Taiping's second stage of the Star Soul Body-Tempering Method would require him to bear the weight of thirty ten-thousand-zhang mountains, and Heavenly Lord Hanjian urged the group to press forward on their cultivation paths.
• A month later, Xu Taiping and Ping'an crossed the violent innate 𩙥 wind surrounding Wuji Abyss, which Xu Taiping believed Fairy Lingyue had sealed to hide the place.
• At the bottom of the abyss, Xu Taiping and Ping'an found the Azure Nether Pill Origin Palace and discovered that its star marrow power could support refining the Soul-Merging Pill.
• Xu Taiping found Fairy Lingyue's Jade Pendant on an offering table, while Ping'an noticed that the palace had no rooms beyond its main hall and suspected the other halls were underground.
• Ping'an found a hollow section of floor, and Xu Taiping touched it, triggering a strange, rapidly trembling divine-soul sensation in his mind.

Xu Taiping opened the third golden lotus and learned that Qi Haitang and Xiang Nantian were trapped in Tusita Palace, where the strange Old Daoist agreed to keep them alive for another year and a half. The vision warned that Xu Taiping’s cultivation would end if he failed to rescue them, and Fairy Lingyue’s message confirmed the danger by urging him not to open the passage beneath the Main Hall.

• Xu Taiping opened the third golden lotus and saw the Old Daoist holding Qi Haitang captive while Xiang Nantian remained trapped somewhere in Tusita Palace.
• Xu Taiping demanded that the Old Daoist keep his friends alive and negotiated a year and a half to prepare for their rescue.
• The golden lotus showed Xu Taiping carrying Qi Haitang and supporting Xiang Nantian through the Main Hall’s ruins, while the Lotus Eye warned that failure to save them would end his cultivation.
• Xu Taiping and Ping'an decided not to tamper with the passage and planned to refine the Soul-Merging Pill in the Main Hall.
• Xu Taiping used the Moonlight Stone to contact Fairy Lingyue, who urgently warned him not to open the passage beneath the Main Hall.

Xu Taiping and Ping'an watched Fairy Lingyue reveal the dangers beneath Danyuan Hall and offer a possible route to safety and a secret realm. While Ping'an began refining the Soul-Merging Pill, Xu Taiping sealed the Abyss passage with the Dragon-Trapping Tower and the Heaven-Mending Art, leaving Ping'an astonished by the strength of the barrier.

• Fairy Lingyue sealed a passage beneath Danyuan Hall after rotting arms and ghostly faces emerged, then warned Xu Taiping that the secret realm below was perilous and advised him to wait until he reached Dao Integration Realm.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that she had reached Buzhou Immortal Palace, had protected the Abyss with a Xiaofeng Grand Formation, and might have found a way to help him enter the secret realm beneath Danyuan Hall.
• Xu Taiping and Ping'an agreed to prepare for cultivators drawn by the Soul-Merging Pill, and Xu Taiping told Ping'an to focus on refining it.
• Ping'an set out an enormous pill furnace while Xu Taiping wedged the Dragon-Trapping Tower into the Abyss passage and reinforced it and the surrounding cliffs with the Heaven-Mending Art.
• Ping'an helped the exhausted Xu Taiping up, then discovered that the Heaven-Mending Art's spirit-crystal seal could block his divine sense.

Xu Taiping and his companions waited six months while Ping'an refined the Soul-Merging Pills and Xu Taiping cultivated and refined his weapons. When the pills were nearly ready, Xu Taiping saved the furnace with earthly fire, but their formation sent a seven-colored pillar of light skyward, threatening to reveal their location.

• Xu Taiping gave Ping'an the Thunder Sound Banner and the Soul-Merging Pill ingredients, then sealed the area and began cultivating while Ping'an refined the pills.
• Xu Taiping cultivated with Dao Essence Power and earthly fire as his avatars refined his Life-Bound Divine Weapons; over six months, his divine essence and true essence grew much purer and deeper.
• Xu Taiping found that the Dragon Vault Armor, Chengying Sword, and Longyuan Sword were nearly finished, while the Water-Cutting Blade still needed at least another year in the furnace.
• Ping'an told Xu Taiping that the Soul-Merging Pills' chill was extinguishing the furnace fire, so Xu Taiping fused thunderflame, Golden Flame, and 𩙥 Flame into earthly fire and fed it to the furnace.
• A seven-colored pillar of spiritual energy rose from the furnace as the Soul-Merging Pills formed, and Ping'an warned that powerful cultivators would soon come searching.

Xu Taiping prepared to defend the Soul-Merging Pills while they finished refining, and recruited the Six-Nostril Mirror to monitor the abyss above. The pills still needed half a month, leaving Xu Taiping and his companions to plan for the powerful cultivators and demonic beasts drawn by their emerging phenomena.

• Ping'an told Xu Taiping that the Soul-Merging Pills needed at least another half month in the furnace, and Xu Taiping left him to watch them.
• Xu Taiping gave Old Daoist Huang and Xiaohei Thunder Sound Banners and explained how the banners could help form the Thunder Sound Earth-Splitting Five Directions Formation.
• Old Daoist Huang agreed that their defenses could delay powerful intruders, and Xu Taiping handed him the Blade of Guicang so he could use the Qi-Slaying Art.
• Xu Taiping contacted the Six-Nostril Mirror, which revealed that scarlet clouds had appeared above the Wuji Abyss and that demonic beasts and cultivators were approaching.
• The Six-Nostril Mirror agreed to show them what was happening above the abyss, and Xu Taiping said Old Daoist Huang could use the information as a Qi-Reading Practitioner.