Chapter Summaries

After Great Zhou’s delegation delivered its invitations, Yun Huang learned that Ji Shuyue’s hidden message warned of upheaval and pleaded for his help. He concluded that Great Zhou’s elders wanted to break beyond Venerable and become Emperor, leaving Yun Qing uncertain whether he would attend the ceremony.

• Ji Chen hurriedly withdrew the Great Zhou delegation after delivering the state letter and invitations, while Yun Yuan admitted he had only pretended he might beat him and Yun Zhenye canceled an ambush.
• Yun Qing gave Yun Huang the jade slip Ji Shuyue had secretly passed him, and Yun Huang revealed its hidden message pleaded for the ancestor to save her.
• Yun Qing connected Great Zhou’s internal fracture to the Blood Haze and suspected its invitation campaign aimed to change Heavenly Origin’s Heavenly Dao and governing order.
• Yun Huang explained that Great Zhou’s elders sought to break beyond Venerable and become Emperor, and Yun Qing asked whether he would go to Great Zhou.

Yun Huang received the Yun Clan’s report about Great Zhou’s invitation to its Ancestor Sacrifice and decided to attend, treating it as a chance to confront the Ji Clan. After the guests departed, Yun Che asked who would accompany him, but a hushed exchange of voice transmissions began before Yun Huang could answer.

• Yun Huang returned the Jade Slip to Yun Qing and went with him to the main hall to hear the juniors’ report.
• Yun Che told Jiang Shouzhuo that Great Zhou’s newly appointed Minister of Rites, Ji Chen, had delivered the invitation to the Ancestor Sacrifice.
• Yun Huang entered the hall, received the invitation from Yun Che, and ordered the Yun Clan to go to Great Zhou.
• Jiang Shouzhuo, Sword Venerable Azure Sky, and True Person Xuanwei agreed to go, then took their leave after arranging to meet Yun Yuan in the Divine Capital.
• Yun Che asked Yun Huang who should accompany him, while Yun Qing noticed figures outside exchanging conspicuously quiet voice transmissions.

Yun Huang teased Yun Baojian and Yun Jinglei when the young Yun Clan members asked to go to Great Zhou, then left the youngsters in Yun Qing’s care. Yun Qing assigned Yun Tianluo to investigate Great Zhou’s officials and ancestral sacrifice regulations as the clan prepared for the journey.

• Yun Jinglei tried to spy on the hall and insisted he wanted to scout ahead in Great Zhou, while his siblings warned him about the dangers and mocked his conspicuous orange hair.
• Yun Huang let the eleven youngsters enter, then summoned Yun Zhenye and Yun Lan instead of granting Yun Baojian and Yun Jinglei permission to go.
• Yun Zhenye arrived, and Yun Huang departed with the elders to discuss arrangements for the Great Zhou journey, leaving Yun Qing responsible for his younger siblings.
• Yun Qing warned the youngsters that powerful figures would gather for the ancestral sacrifice, then tasked Yun Tianluo with researching Great Zhou’s political connections and sacrifice regulations.

Yun Qing assigned the Yun Clan members preparations for the Ancestral Sacrifice in Great Zhou as the clan braced for trouble after its victory on the Azure Cloud List. While the clan’s defenses and intelligence work took shape, Yun Qing again met Brother Huang for a nighttime hot spring chat.

• Yun Qing ordered Yun Baojian to coordinate the Clan-Guarding Formation and western defenses, and asked Yun Ruyi to pray at the Ancestral Shrine.
• The Cloud Valor Guards replaced weaker riders and prepared to attend the Ancestral Sacrifice in the Divine Capital.
• The Fifth Elder and Yun Shuanghua prepared spiritual medicines, while Yun Tianluo studied Great Zhou’s political and military forces.
• Yun Hua mapped the Divine Capital’s layout with help from Yun Pengxing, and Yun Ge practiced the Heart-Cleansing Soul-Settling Melody.
• Yun Jinglei tried to master the Trace-Free Spirit Transformation Gauze, but Yun Zui caught him with his head invisible and teased him.
• Yun Li and Yun Yao revised the night-patrol roster, and Yun Qing once again shared a nighttime hot spring chat with Brother Huang.

Yun Huang thoroughly cleansed Yun Qing in the Azure Heaven Spirit Spring before their journey to Great Zhou, while Yun Qing reviewed Yun Tianluo’s intelligence and questioned the purpose behind the treasures Yun Huang had given the younger Yun Clan members. Yun Huang concealed his plan to assess whether they could help form a new order, then named the elders accompanying them to Great Zhou.

• Yun Huang used the Azure Heaven Spirit Spring and his divine flame to cleanse and fortify Yun Qing, who joked that he was being scrubbed like a cat.
• Yun Qing read Yun Tianluo’s detailed intelligence on Great Zhou and praised his work.
• Yun Qing asked whether Yun Huang’s gift of the Mountains and Rivers Brush to Yun Tianluo served a larger purpose, but Yun Huang denied planning that far ahead.
• Yun Huang privately considered whether the younger Yun Clan members could become the foundation of a new order if the Great Zhou Immortal Dynasty fell.
• Yun Huang named Yun Yuan, Yun Zhenye, Yun Jun, and Yun Lan as the elders going to Great Zhou alongside him and Yun Qing.
• Yun Qing joked that Yun Jun would help restrain the other elders, and Yun Huang silently recalled Yun Jun’s past exploits.

Yun Huang advised Yun Qing that reaching the Immortal Lord realm required tempering his heart in the mortal world and choosing a Dao, explaining that only one cultivator could attain the peak of each Dao Path. He promised to help Yun Qing remove any Dao Venerable who blocked his chosen path, then took him to meet Yun Lan.

• Yun Huang told Yun Qing to temper his heart in Great Zhou and explained that a Dao Venerable could prevent others from attaining the same Dao.
• Yun Qing asked whether reincarnating in another world could avoid Heavenly Origin's restrictions, and Yun Huang explained that worlds rejected or suppressed outsiders.
• Yun Huang told Yun Qing to choose whatever Dao he desired and offered to kill its Dao Venerable if necessary, even inviting Yun Qing to pursue his own Dao.
• Yun Huang sensed Yun Lan's arrival, dried Yun Qing after he left the Spirit Spring, and the brothers went to Perching Phoenix Hall.

The Xia Emperor ordered his sons to remain in the Divine Capital and prepare for a future undertaking while sending War King Xia Zhan to Great Zhou with three thousand cavalry. In Perching Phoenix Hall, Yun Lan reported that the Yun Clan’s preparations were in place, then drew teasing from the elders for boasting about his devoted wife.

• The Xia Emperor told Xia Wushang and Xia Wujie that Great Xia would follow its own path, regardless of Great Zhou’s outcome.
• The Xia Emperor ordered both princes to stay in seclusion in the Divine Capital and prepare for “that matter.”
• The Xia Emperor commanded War King Xia Zhan to attend Great Zhou’s ceremony with three thousand Great Xia Bloodslaughter Dragon Cavalry.
• Yun Lan reported that Southern Mountain’s Divine Capital businesses and intelligence connections were ready, and said Sword Venerable Azure Sky and his wife would come to the capital.
• Yun Yuan, Yun Zhenye, Yun Jun, and Yun Qing teased Yun Lan about disguising his delight at his wife’s concern as a complaint.

Yun Huang prepared to lead the Yun Clan to the Great Zhou Divine Capital with an overwhelming display of military and imperial grandeur. As the procession assembled, Yun Ruyi tearfully urged Fifth Elder Yun Jun to stay safe and hide behind Yun Qing if danger arose.

• Yun Lan announced that the three thousand Cloud Valor Guards were assembled and ready to depart for the Great Zhou Divine Capital.
• The Yun Clan gathered with three thousand armored cavalry as Yun Huang's Nine Dragons Agarwood Carriage emerged from the Sea of Clouds.
• Yun Jinglei marveled at the extravagant carriage, while Yun Qing reflected that Yun Huang intended to make a forceful impression on the Ji Clan.
• Fifth Elder Yun Jun pretended to be pitiful before Yun Ruyi, who gave him a good-fortune sachet and told him to hide behind Yun Qing if he met bad people.
• Yun Qing overheard Yun Ruyi's advice and wondered why she expected an Immortal Venerable like Yun Jun to use him as a shield.

The Yun clan prepared to depart for the Divine Capital as Fifth Elder Yun Jun playfully sought comfort from Yun Ruyi before saying goodbye. Yun Huang summoned Yun Qing to his carriage, and Yun Qing stepped aboard as the journey began.

• Yun Ruyi gave Yun Qing a blessed sachet, prompting Yun Jun to pretend to feel unwell so she would comfort him.
• Yun Yuan exposed Yun Jun's act, but Yun Jun defended his affection for family and teased Yun Yuan about getting an embroidered sachet.
• Yun Huang ordered Yun Jun to prepare for departure, and Yun Jun immediately straightened up and said goodbye to Yun Ruyi.
• Yun Jun enlarged his purple-gold gourd for the journey, while Yun Yuan and Yun Zhenye entered a bamboo realm and the Cloud Valor Guards mounted their Qilin.
• Yun Huang asked Yun Qing why he had not boarded yet, and Yun Qing approached the Nine Dragons Agarwood Carriage as its dragon silhouettes lowered their heads.

Yun Qing traveled with Yun Huang in the Nine Dragons Agarwood Carriage as the Yun Clan made a powerful, highly visible journey toward the Great Zhou Divine Capital. The procession entered the Southern Region, while Yun Qing remained curious about the cryptic message Ji Shuyue had sent.

• Yun Huang invited Yun Qing to sit beside him on the throne, and Yun Qing imagined an Immortal Emperor trial card.
• Yun Huang ordered the carriage to depart, and nine Heavenly Vein Tribulation Dragons and three thousand Cloud Valor Guards led the Yun Clan procession toward the Great Zhou Divine Capital.
• Cultivators across the continent saw the procession and spread alarmed speculation about the Yun Clan and its passenger.
• Yun Qing relaxed in the carriage, sampled Vermilion Fruits, and explored its furnishings until Yun Huang warned him about criticizing the old Immortal Court's craftsmanship.
• Yun Qing asked what Ji Shuyue had written on his Jade Slip, and Yun Huang called the people involved useless without explaining further.
• The carriage crossed into the Southern Region, and Yun Qing reached for another Vermilion Fruit as they approached Great Zhou.

Yun Huang's nine-dragon carriage and three thousand Cloud Valor Guards broke through Great Zhou's border defenses and advanced toward the Divine Capital. Emperor Ji Chongli ordered the court to welcome Yun Huang in person, and the Yun Clan's overwhelming procession reached the skies a hundred li from the city.

• Yun Huang's nine-dragon Agarwood Carriage crossed Red Cloud Pass, and the defending general sent an urgent warning to the Divine Capital.
• A scout reported that the Yun Clan had broken through eight heavenly passes and was heading straight for the capital.
• Emperor Ji Chongli rejected both a routine welcome and a show of force, then decreed that he would personally lead the officials to greet Yun Huang.
• Ji Chongli summoned Ji Shuyue and Ji Lingri to accompany him.
• Yun Huang's carriage and three thousand black-armored cavalry descended toward the Divine Capital, terrifying cultivators across the region.

Yun Huang’s procession arrived at the Divine Capital, where the Zhou Emperor and his officials staged an elaborate welcome. Yun Qing handled the formalities while noticing that Ji Lingri was bound by imperial power, and Yun Huang accepted the welcome without appearing in person.

• The Nine Dragons Agarwood Carriage passed through the Celestial Stars Barrier and reached the Divine Capital as the Zhou Emperor and his court awaited it.
• Yun Qing emerged from the carriage, greeted the Zhou Emperor, and explained that Yun Huang preferred quiet and would leave the formalities to him.
• Yun Qing noticed imperial chains suppressing Ji Lingri’s fighting spirit, and she briefly met his gaze before her emperor mark subdued her again.
• Yun Huang addressed the Zhou Emperor from behind the carriage curtain, accepted the officials’ welcome, and was invited into the city and to a banquet at the Heavenly Palace.

Yun Huang forced the Great Zhou court, including the Zhou Emperor, to kneel before him and entered the Divine Palace with Yun Qing. After ordering the officials to rise, he left them dreading the evening Welcome Banquet.

• Yun Huang declared the court's bow an empty show and unleashed his imperial might, forcing the officials and the Zhou Emperor to their knees.
• Yun Qing and the Yun Clan's Immortal Venerables avoided receiving the Zhou Emperor's obeisance, while Ji Shuyue and Ji Lingri knelt under the pressure.
• Yun Huang emerged from the Nine Dragons Agarwood Carriage and strode through the air toward the Divine Palace, with Yun Qing following and the Cloud Valor Guards entering behind them.
• Yun Huang ordered the court to rise after entering the Divine Palace, leaving the ministers shaken and anxious about the Welcome Banquet.
• Ji Shuyue rose calmly, brushed off his robes, and looked toward the Divine Palace with relief that Yun Huang had arrived.

After settling into the Divine Palace, Yun Qing gave a spirit to a kitten Yun Huang created from a Jade Slip. The kitten chose Yun Huang, who named it Qing Kitty, leaving Yun Qing stunned.

• Yun Huang and Yun Qing surveyed the Divine Palace and criticized the Zhou Emperor's people for corrupting the old Immortal Court's legacy.
• Yun Qing fed Little Radiant Chick a Vermilion Fruit while Yun Huang watched with jealousy.
• Yun Huang created a black-and-white kitten and threatened Little Radiant Chick's divine power until Yun Qing agreed to give it a spirit.
• Yun Qing infused the kitten with a wisp of his divine soul, but it ran to Yun Huang and mewed at him.
• Yun Huang named the kitten Qing Kitty, and Yun Qing reacted in shock.

Yun Huang named the awakened black kitten Qing Kitty and took it to the Great Zhou Immortal Dynasty’s welcoming banquet. He ignored the Zhou Emperor and sat on the imperial throne, leaving the gathered officials uncertain how to respond.

• Yun Huang named the black kitten Qing Kitty, and Yun Qing gave up protesting after Yun Huang threatened Little Radiant Chick.
• Yun Huang invited Qing Kitty to the banquet, while Yun Qing vented his frustration by ruffling Little Radiant Chick’s feathers.
• At the Heaven-Praying Terrace, Lu Mingqian and other Great Zhou officials worried about Yun Huang’s arrival and speculated about why the Ji Clan had invited him back.
• Yun Huang entered the banquet with Qing Kitty in his arms, followed by Yun Qing and the Yun Clan’s Immortal Venerables.
• Yun Huang passed the Zhou Emperor and sat on the imperial throne as Qing Kitty looked around the hall.

Yun Huang halted Great Zhou’s welcome banquet and ordered officials to bring him years of memorials and state-business reports, turning the celebration into a court session. The officials scrambled to revise the ceremony while Yun Huang calmly held Qing Kitty, and the banquet remained suspended as the court prepared to answer to him.

• Yun Huang told Ji Chongli to set aside the banquet and bring him the memorials and state-business summaries from recent years.
• Yun Qing recognized that Yun Huang had turned the welcome banquet into a parent-teacher conference, while the Great Zhou officials panicked.
• Ji Chen burned the ceremonial booklet and decided to convert the welcome banquet into a court session.
• Ji Chen ordered the officials to suspend the performances, postpone the gifts, and follow the Immortal Court’s old rites for announcing envoys.
• Yun Yuan watched with amusement as Yun Huang stroked Qing Kitty, who tucked in his paws and meowed beside him.

Yun Huang forced the Zhou Emperor to review Great Zhou’s memorials in public, exposing military vacancies and cuts to ancestral rites. When Great Xia’s War King arrived with three thousand Bloodslaughter Dragon Cavalry, Yun Huang ordered them summoned, leaving Ji Chen to accept that the banquet’s proceedings now followed Yun Huang’s authority.

• Yun Huang ordered the archived memorials brought to the banquet despite the Zhou Emperor’s attempt to delay the review.
• Ji Chen arranged for attendants to bring the Jade Slips, and Yun Huang told the Zhou Emperor Ji Chongli to read them aloud.
• Yun Huang exposed a military report that concealed thirty percent vacancies in the Border Army, and the vice minister of war fell to his knees and begged forgiveness.
• Yun Huang challenged the Zhou Emperor over seven changes to the Ancestral Sacrifice procedures, and Ji Chongli promised to restore them.
• A ritual official reported that Great Xia’s War King Xia Zhan had reached the northern gate with three thousand Bloodslaughter Dragon Cavalry.
• Yun Huang ordered Great Xia’s delegation summoned, and Ji Chen and the minister of the Court of State Ceremonial accepted that the banquet would proceed according to Yun Huang’s command.

Xia Zhan arrived in Great Zhou's Divine Capital and discovered that Yun Huang had taken the seat of honor as Immortal Emperor, while the Zhou Emperor sat below him. As guests from across the Heavenly Origin Continent gathered, Great Zhou's Ministry of Rites reshaped the welcoming feast into an Immortal Court assembly, leaving Yun Qing wondering what the Zhou Emperor intended.

• Xia Zhan led three thousand Great Xia Bloodslaughter Dragon Cavalry riders to the Divine Capital, where Ji Chen greeted him with an unusually hurried ceremony.
• Xia Zhan entered the Heaven-Praying Terrace and saw Yun Huang seated on the Imperial Throne, with the Zhou Emperor relegated to a lower seat.
• Xia Zhan followed the Immortal Court's ancient rites and paid his respects to Yun Huang as Immortal Emperor.
• Prominent figures from across the Heavenly Origin Continent arrived, and Ji Chen increasingly arranged the gathering like an Immortal Court assembly.
• Sword Venerable Azure Sky remarked on the changed seating, while Jiang Shouzhuo laughed at Ji Chen's explanation.
• Yun Qing watched the confused guests and wondered what the Zhou Emperor was plotting as Yun Huang's influence over the gathering grew.

At the Great Zhou banquet turned Immortal Court assembly, news arrived that the Mu Clan had been destroyed overnight and its territory swallowed by a sea of blood. Yun Qing suspected the report was being used to manipulate the gathered factions, while the assembly began debating the disaster and Yun Huang remained unconcerned.

• Feng Ci praised Yun Qing to Yun Yuan, and Yun Qing joined their polite conversation with the other elders.
• A Great Zhou imperial guard reported that the Mu Clan's ancestral grounds had been destroyed, its shrine and genealogy shattered, and most of its members killed.
• The Zhou Emperor ordered an investigation as the gathered factions suspected the Nine Heavens Divine Palaces or another hidden power and sent messages to their sects.
• Yun Qing recalled the Mu Clan's past role in trying to kill him and suspected the timing of the report was meant to turn the clan's destruction into a political weapon.
• Jiang Shouzhuo linked the sea of blood and shattered shrine to past Heavenly Demon calamities, while the Zhou Emperor asked the assembled elders to assess the report together.
• Yun Huang stayed aloof, stroking the kitten and musing about dyeing its paws black.

The assembled powers used divination to inspect the destroyed Mu Clan and discovered Blood Haze that appeared to have originated within Heavenly Origin. As they debated the threat, True Person Xuanwei found a fleeting karmic link to the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud List, suggesting a junior’s feud might be involved.

• True Person Xuanwei, Xing Yuanzi, and Frost Fairy joined their powers to reveal the Mu Clan’s ruined ancestral grounds in the Clear Void Mirror.
• The group saw Blood Haze consuming the ruins and gnawing away at the Mu Clan’s Immortal Genealogy.
• True Person Xuanwei and Xing Yuanzi concluded that the Blood Haze had likely grown from within Heavenly Origin rather than entered through the world barrier.
• The Zhou Emperor warned that the Blood Haze had returned, while the gathered elders avoided connecting the ancient catastrophe to Yun Huang.
• True Person Xuanwei traced broken karma to several figures who had crossed the sea at night and noticed a brief link to the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud List.