Chapter Summaries

Houtu traveled to the Blood Sea to contemplate why its aura resonated with her, while Gu Changqing hinted that she was approaching a profound realization about life and death. The chapter ended with Houtu surrounded by unseen Dao patterns as Gu Changqing spoke of returning to the underworld, leaving Tongtian to suspect that greater events were coming.

• Tongtian summoned Gu Changqing to Biyou Palace and asked what deeper meaning lay behind Houtu’s journey.
• Gu Changqing denied knowing anything, then told Tongtian to keep watching.
• Houtu reached the Blood Sea, and Ancestor Minghe welcomed her and allowed her to contemplate there.
• Houtu meditated above the Blood Sea and questioned whether death truly ended a being’s Dao.
• Dao patterns appeared around Houtu, and Gu Changqing said that life ended in the mortal world and could return to the underworld.

Houtu declared that the Primordial World lacked a destination for the dead and opened the Underworld, establishing the Earth Dao and seeking to become a sage. As the Great Dao sent down violet qi and boundless merit, Tongtian realized Gu Changqing had foreseen the Underworld, though he dismissed Gu Changqing’s claim that he had glimpsed the future.

• Houtu announced that she would complete the missing dao and asked the Great Dao to grant her the Sage Fruit Position.
• Houtu created the Yellow Springs Sand Sea, Red Spider Lilies, Naihe Bridge, and Wangchuan River, then declared the Underworld established and named her dao the Earth Dao.
• Tongtian asked Gu Changqing how he had foreseen the Underworld, and Gu Changqing claimed he had glimpsed the future.
• Tongtian disbelieved Gu Changqing’s claim and continued watching Houtu’s undertaking.
• Violet qi, auspicious clouds, and boundless merit descended as the Great Dao responded to Houtu’s creation of the Underworld.

Houtu attained the Earth Dao and rapidly rose beyond Sagehood, astonishing the Primordial World and unsettling the Xuanmen Saints. She stopped before absorbing all her merit and publicly credited Gu Changqing of the Interception Sect for helping her attain the Dao.

• Houtu manifested her Dao Fruit and released the coercion of an Earth Dao Sage, shocking beings across the cosmos.
• Nuwa realized Hongjun’s claim that Sagehood required entrusting one’s Primordial Spirit to the Heavenly Dao had deceived the Xuanmen Saints.
• Yuanshi sensed Houtu’s cultivation rise through the Sage heavens and into the Hunyuan Limitless Daluo Golden Immortal realm.
• Jieyin and Zhunti envied the East’s new Sage and considered advancing their plan to convert Gu Changqing.
• Houtu stopped absorbing the remaining Great Dao merit, looked toward Golden Ao Island, and declared that Gu Changqing had helped her attain the Dao and deserved a share of the merit.

Houtu became a Sage and bestowed ten thousand mu of merit on Gu Changqing, who absorbed it into his Wine Gourd and reflected on how he had changed her fate. Hongjun then appeared, denounced Houtu’s Earth Dao, and declared that he would annihilate her on behalf of the Heavenly Dao.

• Houtu thanked Gu Changqing and gave him ten thousand mu of Great Dao merit, stunning living beings across the Primordial World.
• The disciples on Golden Ao Island suspected that Gu Changqing’s wine had helped Houtu attain Sagehood, while Tongtian watched in shock.
• Gu Changqing accepted the merit into his Wine Gourd and thought about how he had advanced Houtu’s ascension and prevented her transformation into Empress Pingxin.
• Hongjun raged in Zixiao Palace after sensing Houtu’s power and the Heavenly Dao’s response, then vanished from the palace.
• Hongjun appeared and called Houtu’s Earth Dao a crooked path, declaring that he would annihilate her on behalf of the Heavenly Dao.

Hongjun descended to destroy Houtu, but she matched his attack despite having only just become a Sage. As Hongjun renewed his threat, the Eleven Ancestral Witches arrived to defend her.

• Hongjun appeared and vowed to wipe out Houtu, while holding back from attacking Gu Changqing.
• Houtu confronted Hongjun and struck with a Divine Seal refined from stars.
• Hongjun countered with a palm of laws, and their clash leveled the heights of heaven and sent both Sages flying back.
• The watching cultivators and Xuanmen Saints realized Houtu's power surpassed their expectations.
• Dijiang and the other ten Ancestral Witches emerged through a spatial passage and vowed to protect Houtu.

As Hongjun confronted the Twelve Ancestral Witches over Houtu, the Witch Clan summoned the Twelve Dutian Divine Fiends Array and manifested a figure everyone believed was Great God Pangu. Di Jun and Taiyi were left stunned by the apparent return of Pangu.

• Di Jun and Taiyi rejoiced at Hongjun's intervention, hoping he would destroy the Twelve Ancestral Witches and leave the Demon Race supreme.
• Gu Changqing drank wine calmly while the Eleven Ancestral Witches challenged Hongjun and vowed to protect Houtu.
• Dijiang announced that the Twelve Ancestral Witches would use the Twelve Dutian Divine Fiends Array against Hongjun.
• The Twelve Ancestral Witches joined their blood essence and called upon Father God Pangu to manifest.
• A colossal figure appeared in the bloody qi, and countless beings believed it was Great God Pangu returned, leaving Di Jun and Taiyi dumbstruck.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches summoned a Pangu Phantom with their Dutian Divine Fiends Array and fought Hongjun in a battle that devastated the surrounding lands. Hongjun eventually shattered the phantom, leaving the Twelve Ancestral Witches facing a likely defeat.

• Taiyi suspected that the figure of Pangu was only an array’s phantom because its aura seemed too weak to belong to the real Pangu.
• Hongjun identified the figure as a Pangu Phantom, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches attacked him with the Dutian Divine Fiends Array.
• Hongjun and the Pangu Phantom exchanged blows, sending destructive waves across the world and throwing Ancestor Minghe’s Endless Blood Sea into turmoil.
• Hongjun’s Heavenly Dao laws strengthened his attacks until he shattered the Pangu Phantom into scattered light.
• The Twelve Ancestral Witches watched their array break apart, and their expressions changed as observers wondered if they were now doomed to lose.

Hongjun shattered the Pangu Phantom but spared the Twelve Ancestral Witches, then turned to kill Houtu. Gu Changqing’s words helped Houtu claim the Great Dao of Reincarnation, leaving Hongjun unable to strike without risking its destruction, until the Heavenly Dao sent down a cage of laws to suppress her.

• Hongjun used the Heavenly Dao’s power to shatter the Pangu Phantom and defeat the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
• Hongjun sent Dijiang and the others back to Buzhou Mountain instead of killing them, to preserve the Heavenly Dao’s intended course.
• Hongjun attacked Houtu, but Gu Changqing spoke of the lord of reincarnation, prompting Houtu to realize her role.
• Houtu declared that she embodied the Great Dao of Reincarnation and warned Hongjun that killing her would bring catastrophic backlash.
• The Heavenly Dao manifested a cage of laws and sent it down to suppress Houtu.

Houtu fought the Heavenly Dao Cage but was overwhelmed and faced permanent confinement in the Underworld. As she began burning her aura and threatened to perish with the Heavenly Dao, Gu Changqing intervened with a cryptic appeal for her to hold back.

• Gu Changqing realized the Heavenly Dao was restoring Houtu's original fate and reflected on the limits of changing destiny.
• Hongjun rejoiced at the Heavenly Dao Cage's arrival and mocked Houtu, who summoned the Book of Life and Death and attacked the cage with the Earth Dao's power.
• The Heavenly Dao Cage overwhelmed Houtu, and Chains of Order began enclosing her and the Underworld as the Eleven Ancestral Witches watched helplessly.
• Houtu refused to submit, began burning her aura, and threatened to perish with the Heavenly Dao, alarming Hongjun and the watching Sages.
• Gu Changqing asked Houtu to hear him out and compared confronting the Heavenly Dao to drinking wine one sip at a time.

Gu Changqing’s drunken words persuaded Houtu to stop resisting Hongjun and accept suppression in the Underworld, while promising to return one day. After Houtu invited him into the newly established Underworld, Gu Changqing arrived and praised its role in governing life, death, reincarnation, and judgment, leaving Houtu struck by how much he knew.

• Gu Changqing spoke of letting wine gather deep before it burst forth, and Houtu interpreted his words as advice to endure and wait for another chance.
• Houtu stopped resisting the Heavenly Dao, vowed that the Profound Gate would pay when she returned, and calmly accepted suppression in the Underworld.
• Living beings and Hongjun realized Gu Changqing’s words had changed Houtu’s decision, while Hongjun left after concluding his goal was accomplished.
• Houtu invited Gu Changqing into the Underworld, and he entered as the first visitor while drinking along the way.
• Gu Changqing surveyed the Underworld and praised its power over life, death, reincarnation, and judgment, astonishing Houtu with his knowledge.

In the Underworld, Houtu questioned Gu Changqing about escaping her confinement and how to grow stronger. Gu Changqing urged her to rely on her own strength and revealed the six paths of reincarnation, leaving Houtu astonished by the prototype he gave her.

• Houtu concluded that Gu Changqing knew secrets about the Underworld and asked whether he had a way to free her from confinement.
• Gu Changqing said Houtu would have to rely on her own strength to break the impasse, restoring her confidence.
• Houtu asked Gu Changqing how she should grow stronger after establishing the Underworld.
• Gu Changqing declared that the Underworld should have six paths of reincarnation to govern life, death, and rebirth.
• Gu Changqing sent Houtu six spheres of light containing a prototype of the Heavenly Path, Asura Path, Human Realm Path, Animal Realm Path, Hungry Ghost Path, and Hell Realm Path.
• Houtu sensed the six paths in the spheres and marveled at Gu Changqing's knowledge.

Houtu thanked Gu Changqing for the Six Paths of Reincarnation Prototype and pledged the Underworld and Witch Clan Lineage to an alliance with the Interception Sect. As Houtu began refining the prototype, Tongtian worried about Gu Changqing’s growing entanglements, while his disciples defended him and Tongtian noticed Jieyin and Zhunti.

• Houtu thanked Gu Changqing and vowed that the Underworld and Witch Clan Lineage would advance and retreat with the Interception Sect.
• Houtu found Gu Changqing apparently drunk and asleep, then began refining the Six Paths of Reincarnation Prototype as Earth Dao Resonance strengthened him.
• Living beings across the Primordial World recognized that Houtu’s sainthood had broken the Profound Gate’s dominance and saw the Underworld’s growing potential.
• Tongtian worried that Gu Changqing’s actions would anger Dao Ancestor Hongjun, but Zhao Gongming, Duobao, the Three Xiao, and others praised their senior brother.
• Tongtian sensed Jieyin and Zhunti and turned his attention toward them.

Jieyin and Zhunti secretly planned to seize Gu Changqing and convert him to the Western Teachings while he remained in the Underworld. As Houtu refined the Six Paths of Reincarnation, she sensed Gu Changqing’s breakthrough and helped his power rise, leaving it unclear whether he would advance.

• Tongtian sensed two concealed Sage auras entering the Eastern heavens but dismissed them as Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Jieyin and Zhunti plotted to capture Gu Changqing outside the Underworld and use their Conversion Saint Art to reshape his Divine Sense.
• Houtu continued refining the Six Paths of Reincarnation with the River of Destiny gathered above her.
• Gu Changqing remained in an ancient-dreamlike drunken state as the Great Dao of Wine and his accumulated power transformed him.
• Houtu sensed Gu Changqing’s breakthrough opportunity and infused him with Dao Resonance, causing his aura to surge across the Underworld.

Gu Changqing broke through to the middle stage of the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm, then unleashed a sword strike while seemingly drunk. The strike failed to break Houtu’s Heavenly Dao Cage, and Gu Changqing pretended not to remember what he had done.

• With Houtu’s help, Gu Changqing broke through to the middle stage of the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm, and his aura silenced the Underworld.
• After drinking, Gu Changqing recited a boast and struck toward the heavens with the Purple-Green Nine Heavens Sword, unleashing his Sword Dao attainments.
• Houtu hoped Gu Changqing’s sword strike would break the seal imprisoning her, but the Heavenly Dao Cage endured the attack.
• Gu Changqing returned to his drunken state, acted as if he had no memory of the strike, and apologized to Houtu.
• Houtu understood that Gu Changqing was concealing his intent to keep Hongjun and the others from accusing him of defying the Heavenly Dao.

Gu Changqing left the Underworld after helping Houtu, and Jieyin and Zhunti secretly followed him, intending to seize him once they were beyond Houtu’s reach. Gu Changqing’s spilled wine pierced both Sages with sword intent, but he acted as if he had only just noticed them, leaving them bewildered.

• Houtu thanked Gu Changqing and promised that the Underworld’s treasures and laws would always be available to him, and he departed for his cave abode.
• Jieyin and Zhunti spotted Gu Changqing leaving the Underworld and followed him, waiting until he was far from Houtu before striking.
• Gu Changqing glanced behind him and made cryptic remarks, but Jieyin and Zhunti dismissed them as the words of a drunkard.
• As Gu Changqing stumbled and spilled two drops of wine, they turned into sword intent and pierced Jieyin and Zhunti, breaking their concealment.
• Zhunti demanded to know how Gu Changqing had detected them, but Gu Changqing appeared bewildered and greeted the two as though he had only just noticed them.

Gu Changqing mocked Jieyin and Zhunti’s attempts to recruit him into the Western Teachings, dismissing their immortal fruits and refusing to go. When the two Sages tried to seize him by force, he welcomed a fight to test his Sword Nine Divine Ability Seventh Form.

• Gu Changqing revealed that Jieyin and Zhunti’s pierced bodies had been wounded by his wine, then watched as the Sages healed themselves.
• Jieyin invited Gu Changqing to the Western Teachings to discuss the Dao, but Gu Changqing refused and called the Western World barren and lacking fine wine.
• Zhunti offered Gu Changqing three high-grade precelestial immortal fruits to lure him to the Western World.
• Gu Changqing called the immortal fruits garbage, enraging Jieyin and Zhunti as they abandoned persuasion and prepared to take him by force.
• Gu Changqing stood his ground and said he wanted to test the Seventh Form of his Sword Nine Divine Ability on a Sage.

Gu Changqing unveiled the seventh form of his Sword Nine Divine Ability and used it to overwhelm Jieyin and Zhunti. As Tongtian sensed the battle and flew into a rage, an even greater threat loomed over the two Sages.

• Jieyin and Zhunti agreed to end the battle quickly before Tongtian could intervene.
• Jieyin and Zhunti unleashed the Great Annihilation Seal against Gu Changqing.
• Gu Changqing fused the first six forms of his Sword Nine Divine Ability and named his new attack Seven Swords Pluck All the Stars from Heaven.
• Gu Changqing's sword strike broke through the Great Annihilation Seal and sent Jieyin and Zhunti flying, their bodies cracking and bleeding.
• Tongtian sensed the battle on Golden Ao Island, condemned Jieyin and Zhunti, and vowed that they would die.

After Gu Changqing wounded Jieyin and Zhunti, Jieyin attacked again, but Gu Changqing unleashed the Myriad Swords Saint Art to fight back. Tongtian arrived in fury and struck the two Sages, leaving the battle poised to escalate.

• Tongtian sensed Jieyin and Zhunti attacking Gu Changqing and ordered Duobao, Jin Ling, the Three Xiao, and the others to guard the Interception Sect before rushing to the battlefield.
• Gu Changqing drank wine to recover after his sword strike had severely wounded Jieyin and Zhunti, while Jieyin realized that the attack had drained much of Gu Changqing's magical power.
• Jieyin attacked Gu Changqing with a palm strike and tried to bind him with Chains of Order, but Gu Changqing unleashed the Myriad Swords Saint Art.
• Jieyin and Zhunti used their golden bodies to withstand the sword intent as Jieyin charged toward Gu Changqing.
• Tongtian arrived and punched Jieyin and Zhunti away, shocking the Sages and the watching beings of the Primordial World.

Tongtian arrived in time to protect Gu Changqing and confronted Jieyin and Zhunti for attacking his disciple. He summoned the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords and left their punishment to Gu Changqing, whose strange smile unsettled the two Sages.

• Tongtian repelled Jieyin and Zhunti, then healed Gu Changqing and asked whether he was injured.
• Gu Changqing said he was fine but lamented that he had used up so much wine, and Tongtian realized the fight had drained his magical power.
• Tongtian demanded an explanation from Jieyin and Zhunti, and Jieyin claimed they had only wanted to invite Gu Changqing to the Western Teachings.
• Tongtian mocked their excuse, summoned the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords, and frightened Jieyin and Zhunti into admitting they were wrong to attack Gu Changqing.
• Tongtian told Gu Changqing to decide how the two Sages should be dealt with, and Gu Changqing stopped drinking and smiled strangely at them.

Gu Changqing forced Jieyin and Zhunti to hand over the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit in exchange for leaving Tongtian's Immortal-Slaying Sword Array. As the two prepared to depart, Gu Changqing stopped them and demanded a strand of their Origin Qi of Geng Metal.

• Jieyin apologized to Gu Changqing for coveting his talents, and Gu Changqing asked to borrow the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit.
• Zhunti refused, so Tongtian threatened to make Jieyin and Zhunti break out of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Array themselves.
• Jieyin agreed to give up the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit, and Tongtian lowered the swords' power as Jieyin handed the treasure to Gu Changqing.
• Jieyin and Zhunti turned to leave, but Gu Changqing stopped them and asked them to give him a strand of Origin Qi of Geng Metal.