Chapter Summaries

He Pingsheng confronted Tian Jinpeng and offered to fight one of his Void Refinement disciples without using his Spatial Divine Ability, while Tian Jinpeng secretly planned to flee. When the formation came down, He Pingsheng, Zhou Qingmei, and Zi Qing killed ten of Tian Jinpeng’s disciples, leaving Tian Jinpeng to choose between protecting his descendants or handing over Tian Yao.

• He Pingsheng challenged Tian Jinpeng’s disciples to a fight and promised not to use his Spatial Divine Ability or let the Body Integration cultivators intervene.
• Tian Jinpeng agreed, secretly planned for his disciples to flee, and withdrew the golden formation after hiding Tian Yao in his Magical Treasure’s space.
• Zi Qing attacked Tian Jinpeng as He Pingsheng and Zhou Qingmei marked ten disciples with Soul-Linking Curse Talismans and struck them.
• He Pingsheng, Zhou Qingmei, and Zi Qing killed ten disciples, while four escaped and Tian Jinpeng’s imperial palace was destroyed.
• He Pingsheng refused to settle the matter while Tian Yao remained protected and offered Tian Jinpeng a Lesser Thousand World in exchange for her.

He Pingsheng left the Heavenly Fire Capital after forcing the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor to choose between the Lesser Thousand World and Tian Yao, then gave Zi Qing the [Spatial Wormhole] divine ability. He brought Zi Qing and Zhou Qingmei to the Nine Hells Abyss to show them a woman whose beauty he claimed surpassed the Great Order Wisdom King’s.

• The Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor chose the Lesser Thousand World, while Tian Jinpeng chose Tian Yao; He Pingsheng warned him he would kill Tian Yao if she ever left his protection.
• Tian Yao told Tian Jinpeng she had seen his hesitation and was grateful he chose her, while he explained that several of her brothers were also inside the Lesser Thousand World.
• He Pingsheng gave Zi Qing a golden bone recording [Spatial Wormhole] after she swore a Heavenly Dao Oath not to pass it on without his permission.
• He Pingsheng told Zi Qing that a woman in the Divine Crane Royal Clan was more beautiful than the Great Order Wisdom King, then redirected the Silver River Heavenly Shuttle toward the Nine Hells Abyss.
• Three days later, He Pingsheng arrived at the Nine Hells Abyss and saw that the Buddhist Path Golden Pearl was keeping the entrance open for fewer days than before.

He Pingsheng visited the Spirit Tea House with Zhou Qingmei and Zi Qing, learning that Immortal Maiden Yao Ran had left after the person she was waiting for arrived. He then used Buddhist Path Golden Pearls to suppress the astral wind at the entrance to the Nine Hells Abyss for six hundred years.

• He Pingsheng took Zhou Qingmei and Zi Qing to the Spirit Tea House and offered three high-grade spirit stones for tea.
• The proprietor and an old man explained that Immortal Maiden Yao Ran had once played the zither there and left two hundred and eighty-three years earlier after the person she awaited arrived.
• Zhou Qingmei wondered whether Yao Ran had been waiting for He Pingsheng, but he recalled that she had once blasted him out of the tea house with her zither music.
• He Pingsheng declined to enter the Nine Hells Abyss and took out the Buddhist Path Golden Pearls he had obtained from Buddha Venerable Bright Moon's avatar.
• He Pingsheng poured his magic power into the 108 pearls, suppressing the astral wind and creating a calm area about a thousand zhang wide for six hundred years.

After returning to Lone Pine Mountain, He Pingsheng prepared to cultivate for the Stone Terrace Gathering and refined Dao-Gathering Pills. He delegated the fate of Tian Jinpeng’s descendants to Hao Cang, who killed them all, leaving He Pingsheng and Hao Cang with only a small amount of karmic burden.

• He Pingsheng returned to Lone Pine Mountain with Zhou Qingmei and Immortal Maiden Zi Qing, then planned to cultivate before the Stone Terrace Gathering in eighty years.
• He Pingsheng enhanced ingredients and refined Temporal and Spatial Dao-Gathering Pills, turning the pills into supreme grade with the Treasure-Gathering Basin.
• He Pingsheng summoned Hao Cang and asked him to decide how to deal with the more than six hundred descendants of Tian Jinpeng inside the azure bead.
• Hao Cang entered the lesser thousand world and killed every member of the Tian Household.
• He Pingsheng and Hao Cang each gained a palm-sized patch of karmic burden, while Tian Jinpeng and his daughter Tian Yao bore much heavier burdens.

Over seventy-six years of secluded cultivation, He Pingsheng advanced to the sixth layer of the Void Refinement Realm and strengthened his grasp of temporal and spatial laws, but he could not break through the next Dao obstacle without more travel experience. As the Stone Terrace Gathering approached, he prepared to leave and instructed his companions to continue caring for the sect’s disciples.

• He Pingsheng thanked Hao Cang for his help and promised to remove his karmic burden when he had the chance, then learned that Hao Cang’s past killings had covered his back in karmic light.
• He Pingsheng tried to enhance a lesser thousand world in the Treasure-Gathering Basin, but it showed no change by the next day.
• He Pingsheng spent seventy-six years comprehending Daoist laws, broke through five Dao obstacles and his flesh barriers, and reached the sixth layer of the Void Refinement Realm.
• He Pingsheng failed to break through the seventh layer’s Dao obstacle because his long seclusion had left his travels and state of mind insufficient, so he stopped cultivating to prepare for the Stone Terrace Gathering.
• He Pingsheng gathered Hao Cang, Zhou Qingmei, Long Yue, Immortal Maiden Zi Qing, and True Person West Lake, noted their cultivation progress, and told them to manage the sect and nurture its lower-ranking disciples while he was away.

He Pingsheng visited the Vermilion Bird Emperor Palace to ask about the Stone Terrace Gathering and see Qiao Huizhu. Nan Qiqi revealed that Qiao Huizhu’s situation was unusual, and He Pingsheng found her standing in a vast manifestation as torrents of Daoist Law power surged around her.

• He Pingsheng assigned Hao Cang to oversee Lone Pine Mountain and sent Zhou Qingmei’s clone to protect his wife and son in the Immortal Emperor Domain.
• He Pingsheng collected the golden bone from Immortal Maiden Zi Qing and traveled with her and Zhou Qingmei to Vermilion Bird Emperor City.
• He Pingsheng met Nan Qiqi at the Vermilion Bird Emperor Palace and learned that the Stone Terrace Gathering would begin in four or five years.
• Nan Qiqi told He Pingsheng that Qiao Huizhu’s situation was unusual and led him to see her.
• He Pingsheng saw Qiao Huizhu’s thousand-zhang manifestation above a mountain as emerald runes and powerful Daoist Law streams surged around her.

He Pingsheng found Qiao Huizhu cultivating inside the hall, but she blasted him away and spoke as though she were a reincarnation person with past-life memories. He left with Nan Qiqi and turned to discuss the upcoming Stone Terrace Gathering.

• Nan Qiqi told He Pingsheng that Qiao Huizhu’s enormous Dharma Manifestation had repelled even Body Integration Realm cultivators and that they could not enter the hall.
• He Pingsheng called out to Qiao Huizhu, who struck him with her aura and said she would explain their cause and effect another day because her attainment of the Dao was imminent.
• He Pingsheng and Nan Qiqi returned to her Daoist Grounds, where Nan Qiqi suspected Qiao Huizhu was a reincarnation person whose past-life memories had awakened.
• He Pingsheng rejected the idea of treating Qiao Huizhu as a source of support and asked Nan Qiqi about the Stone Terrace Gathering.
• Nan Qiqi explained that the gathering would test some combination of five aspects, award individual and team points, and send the top thirty participants up the Stone Terrace Heavenly Ladder, though its specific tests remained unknown.

He Pingsheng learned that the Stone Terrace Gathering would be held in the Heavenly Gang Emperor Domain and agreed to bring Ting Tong. He spent four years in seclusion mastering the Void Spatial Wormhole and continued cultivating afterward.

• Nan Qiqi told He Pingsheng that the Stone Terrace Gathering would take place in the Heavenly Gang Emperor Domain and described its powerful competitors.
• He Pingsheng returned to Lone Pine Mountain, where Ting Tong asked to join him at the gathering, and he agreed to take her.
• He Pingsheng entered seclusion and practiced the Void Spatial Wormhole divine ability recorded in the golden bone for four years.
• He Pingsheng successfully opened a spatial wormhole but found he needed several days to recover before using the ability again.
• He Pingsheng remained in seclusion to recover, refine pills, and temper his Daoist law with the Dao-Refining Heavenly Stele.

He Pingsheng visited Qiao Huizhu at the Vermilion Bird Emperor Palace, where she promised to give him an answer soon. Preparing for the Stone Terrace Gathering, he obtained sixth- and seventh-grade toxic origin from Nan Qiqi in the Netherworld Emperor Palace so he could refine his body.

• He Pingsheng brought Ting Tong to the Vermilion Bird Emperor Palace, and Nan Qiqi took the girl out to play.
• Nan Qiqi led He Pingsheng to see Qiao Huizhu, whose Dharma Manifestation had grown to three thousand zhang; Qiao Huizhu told him she would give him an answer soon.
• Nan Qiqi asked about He Pingsheng's preparations for the Stone Terrace Gathering, and he explained that he needed poison to refine his body.
• He Pingsheng asked Nan Qiqi for sixth-grade poison origin, and she offered to take him to the Netherworld Emperor Palace.
• Nan Qiqi opened the Netherworld Emperor Palace with a token and gave He Pingsheng a ring filled with sixth- and seventh-grade toxic origin.

He Pingsheng prepared to leave for the Stone Terrace Gathering with the Vermilion Bird Emperor Domain’s delegation after enhancing his poison origin. When Demon Emperor White Cloud sensed Qiao Huizhu’s unusual cultivation, she went to investigate, and He Pingsheng hurried after her to prevent a disturbance.

• He Pingsheng enhanced the poison origin into two portions of supreme-grade poison origin using the Treasure-Gathering Basin.
• He Pingsheng, Zhou Qingmei, Immortal Maiden Zi Qing, and Ting Tong joined Nan Qiqi and the Vermilion Bird Emperor Domain’s other Stone Terrace Gathering participants.
• Nan Qiqi introduced He Pingsheng to the delegation, including Bai Yuyu and Hu Tianci, who kept silent about their past conflict.
• Demon Emperor White Cloud arrived through a spatial passage and prepared to lead the delegation to the Stone Terrace Gathering.
• White Cloud sensed Qiao Huizhu’s powerful cultivation fluctuations and flew to investigate, so He Pingsheng followed and urged her not to disturb Qiao Huizhu.

Qiao Huizhu injured Demon Emperor White Cloud so severely that her cultivation fell from the Mahayana Emperor Realm, forcing her to abandon the group before they reached the Heavenly Gang Emperor Domain. Zhou Qingmei and others opened spatial passages to take everyone there, where they spotted the Heavenly Ladder and prepared to choose a new leader.

• Demon Emperor White Cloud attacked Qiao Huizhu, who defeated her and caused her cultivation to fall to the twelfth layer of the Body Integration Realm.
• Demon Emperor White Cloud apologized to Nan Qiqi's group, said she could no longer take them to the Heavenly Gang Emperor Domain, and left.
• He Pingsheng asked Zhou Qingmei to open a spatial passage, and Zhou Qingmei, Zi Qing, and He Pingsheng transported the group to the Heavenly Gang Emperor Domain.
• Zhou Qingmei pointed out the Heavenly Ladder, and Nan Qiqi explained that the Stone Terrace Gathering would be held at Stone Terrace Mountain.
• Nan Qiqi proposed choosing a new leader because Demon Emperor White Cloud had left.

He Pingsheng and the Vermilion Bird Emperor Domain’s prodigies arrived at Stone Terrace City for the Stone Terrace Gathering, where Nan Jingci explained the Heavenly Ladder and its dangers. After settling into their assigned palace complex, He Pingsheng learned that Zhou Qingmei’s avatar had arrived with Su Zhenzhen and He Tianya.

• Nan Qiqi proposed He Pingsheng as the group’s leader, but he deferred to Nan Jingci, who accepted after Zi Qing declined.
• Nan Jingci brought the group by Immortal Ship to Stone Terrace City and explained the Heavenly Ladder’s pressure, the chance for the top thirty participants to climb it, and the need for a Mahayana Emperor Realm wall-breaker.
• A black-clad cultivator escorted the Vermilion Bird prodigies to their palace complex and said the competition events had not yet been announced.
• The prodigies chose their halls, and Zhou Qingmei told He Pingsheng that her avatar had arrived with Su Zhenzhen and He Tianya.

He Pingsheng reunited with Su Zhenzhen and their son, He Tianya, in the Spirit Realm and learned how their old friends had fared after ascending. He planned to bring Su Zhenzhen with him after the Stone Terrace Gathering, while news of Qiao Xiaoqiao and Cheng Daocai’s rise left him astonished.

• Zhou Qingmei brought Su Zhenzhen and He Tianya to meet He Pingsheng, and He Tianya greeted his father.
• He Pingsheng gave He Tianya twelve fifth-grade Dao-Gathering Pills and told him he could seek a Dragon-Eye Immortal Lychee if he needed help breaking through.
• He Tianya and Zhou Qingmei left He Pingsheng alone with Su Zhenzhen, and the couple reunited in private.
• Su Zhenzhen explained that she had joined their son's sect and become an elder, and He Pingsheng asked her to leave with him after the Stone Terrace Gathering.
• Su Zhenzhen told He Pingsheng that Qiao Xiaoqiao had reached the eleventh layer of Void Refinement and become one of the Human Race's ten great prodigies.
• Su Zhenzhen said Xiao He was the foremost fighter in the Cultivation World and Cheng Daocai was second, with both Cheng Daocai and his granddaughter serving as Sacred Lords of Tawenian Mountain.

He Pingsheng joined the Vermilion Bird Tribe’s prodigies at a meet-and-greet before the Stone Terrace Gathering, bringing Zhou Qingmei as his sole companion. After other races mocked the tribe’s decline and He Pingsheng’s humanity, Zhou Qingmei wanted to fight them, but He Pingsheng told her she would not be allowed to.

• Su Zhenzhen and Zi Qing declined to accompany He Pingsheng, so Zhou Qingmei went with him to the Prodigy Meet-and-Greet.
• Nan Qiqi led the Vermilion Bird Tribe’s prodigies to the central palace, warning them to keep a low profile despite their seats at the front.
• An announcer introduced the arriving Vermilion Bird Tribe, drawing the attention of the gathered prodigies.
• Several attendees mocked the tribe’s apparent decline and insulted He Pingsheng for being human.
• Zhou Qingmei grew angry and asked whether she could fight the mockers, but He Pingsheng reminded her that her Body Integration Realm would keep her from fighting.

He Pingsheng watched the Sea Kun Clan and Celestial Roc Emperor Domain arrive, greeting Liu Haoran and Crown Prince Tianyu and spotting Tian Yao among them. When Wang Dun appeared with the Soaring Serpent Clan, he barged into He Pingsheng's seat area and gave him a mysterious black Jade Talisman called “Fifty-Fifty.”

• The Sea Kun Clan and Celestial Roc Emperor Domain entered the Great Hall, and He Pingsheng recognized Crown Prince Tianyu, Liu Haoran, and Tian Yao among them.
• Liu Haoran explained that he had been ordered to bring Tian Yao, who only wanted to watch the Heavenly Fire Continent's prodigies, and He Pingsheng said he did not mind.
• The Soaring Serpent Clan arrived, and He Pingsheng spotted Wang Dun leading nine women.
• Wang Dun rushed over, squeezed White Tiger Crown Prince Hu Tianci out of his seat, and promised to give him three free moves if they fought at the Stone Terrace Gathering.
• Wang Dun produced a black Jade Talisman and gave it to He Pingsheng, calling it “Fifty-Fifty.”

He Pingsheng received a powerful Fifty-Fifty Immortal Talisman from Wang Dun and met Buddha Venerable Bright Moon, who demanded the return of his prayer beads. When the Hollow Beast delegation arrived, Crown Prince Empty Void confronted He Pingsheng after realizing he had mistaken Wang Dun for him.

• Wang Dun gave He Pingsheng a supreme-grade Fifty-Fifty Immortal Talisman and agreed to climb the Stone Terrace Heavenly Ladder with him later.
• Ming Yue asked He Pingsheng to return his Buddha Emperor Bone prayer beads, and He Pingsheng returned the red kasaya but told him the beads were holding Netherworld Astral Wind in the Nine Hells Abyss.
• Wang Dun worried Ming Yue might reclaim the beads, but He Pingsheng believed taking them would anger cultivators who relied on their power.
• Crown Prince Empty Void arrived with the Hollow Beast prodigies and realized He Pingsheng and Wang Dun were two different people.
• Crown Prince Empty Void used a Spatial Divine Ability to appear before He Pingsheng and demanded to know who he was as the crowd wondered why the prodigies were approaching him.

He Pingsheng and Wang Dun exposed the mix-up behind Crown Prince Empty Void’s grudge, and Wang Dun provoked the crown prince into attacking him in front of the entire hall. After Empty Void was removed by the enforcers, Wang Dun drew new attention and greeted Nan Qiqi.

• Crown Prince Empty Void learned that Wang Dun and He Pingsheng were two different people and confronted He Pingsheng over their past encounters.
• Wang Dun explained that Empty Void had chased him for years and that he had killed Empty Void’s original body, then called the crown prince stupid.
• Empty Void struck Wang Dun, whose body withstood the attack, while the resulting force disrupted the hall.
• Wang Dun accused Empty Void of attacking him without provocation, and an enforcement squad dragged Empty Void away.
• Nan Qiqi introduced herself to Wang Dun, who offered to help her and commented on her pale complexion and abdominal pain.

He Pingsheng watched the Heavenly Fire Continent’s prodigies gather and learned that the Phoenix Race dominated the continent’s Heavenly Ladder and its Human Race delegation. He discovered that Zhou Qingmei’s former fiancé, Zhao Xiangdu, had become the Phoenix Race’s slave and spokesman, leaving him and Wang Dun furious.

• Wang Dun reminded He Pingsheng to climb the Heavenly Ladder and drove Hu Tianci away after offering him three moves.
• The Phoenix Race’s prodigies entered the Great Hall and filled all seventy seats reserved for the Heavenly Fire Continent’s leading candidates.
• The Human Race delegation arrived, with nine Phoenixes and Qiao Xiaoqiao as its sole human prodigy.
• Nan Qiqi explained that the Immortal God Emperor Zhao Xiangdu had received the Imperishable Sacred Fire from the Phoenix Race after becoming its slave and spokesman.
• He Pingsheng recognized Zhao Xiangdu as Zhou Qingmei’s former fiancé, comforted her, and grew angry at the humiliation he had brought upon the Human Race.

He Pingsheng reunited with Qiao Xiaoqiao at the Stone Terrace Gathering and learned that Zhao Xiangdu was her master. After Huo Ming introduced him to Yun Yi, who resented him for marrying Su Zhenzhen, He Pingsheng left their company while tensions between the two men remained.

• He Pingsheng comforted Zhou Qingmei, then went to greet Qiao Xiaoqiao, who burst into tears and hugged him while asking about her sister.
• He Pingsheng learned that Qiao Xiaoqiao had reached the eleventh layer of the Void Refinement Realm and that Zhao Xiangdu, the Immortal Emperor Domain's Divine Emperor, was her master.
• Qiao Xiaoqiao introduced He Pingsheng to her senior brother Huo Ming, who had previously glared at him but then greeted him politely.
• Huo Ming told He Pingsheng that Yun Yi pursued Su Zhenzhen and believed her husband was made up, then warned that Yun Yi might clash with him.
• He Pingsheng traded barbs with Huo Ming, patted Qiao Xiaoqiao's head, and walked away as Huo Ming grew furious and Qiao Xiaoqiao praised his confidence.

The Demon Emperors arrived at the Stone Terrace Gathering reception, where Demon Emperor Vajra welcomed the gathered prodigies. The Great Order Wisdom King confronted He Pingsheng and dragged Wang Dun over, while Zhao Xiangdu recognized Zhou Qingmei and wondered whether she was the woman he once knew.

• The Demon Emperors revealed their Dharma Manifestations and took their seats as Demon Emperor Vajra opened the reception and promised to announce the gathering’s events and schedule.
• He Pingsheng confirmed through Divine Sense that the human Great Emperor Zhao Xiangdu was the man Zhou Qingmei recognized from her past.
• The Great Order Wisdom King stepped beside He Pingsheng and greeted him, drawing the attention of the prodigies and Great Emperors.
• Zhao Xiangdu saw Zhou Qingmei beside He Pingsheng and secretly wondered whether she was still alive, reincarnated, or merely someone who looked like her.
• The Great Order Wisdom King used her whip to pull Wang Dun over, and Wang Dun cursed at her while the Soaring Serpent Clan delegation leader feared the consequences.