Chapter Summaries

The Elder of Chaos wagered the Chaos Bead against Gu Changqing and challenged him to a life-and-death battle. Gu Changqing answered with the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, and their first clash began as he swung at the Chaos World conjured by the bead.

• The Elder of Chaos declared that he would stake the Chaos Bead in a fight to the death with Gu Changqing.
• Nuwa, Houtu, and Sect Master Tongtian prepared to intervene if Gu Changqing was in danger.
• The Elder of Chaos brought the Chaos Bead into the battlefield and challenged Gu Changqing to take it.
• Gu Changqing laughed, entered the battlefield, and summoned the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, while Hongjun coveted the weapon.
• The Elder of Chaos unleashed a vast Chaos World from the bead, and Gu Changqing charged forward and swung his axe at it.

Gu Changqing was driven back more than a thousand li by the Elder of Chaos’s first strike, shocking the watching Sages and allies. He dismissed the setback, drank his wine, and began unleashing the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe’s first style as the Elder attacked again.

• The Elder of Chaos’s clash with Gu Changqing destroyed vast swaths of laws and order, and its aftermath revealed Gu Changqing driven back more than a thousand li while the Elder stood unharmed.
• Nuwa, Houtu, Sect Master Tongtian, and the other Sages were alarmed, while the Elder of Chaos boasted that he would reclaim the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe and kill Gu Changqing.
• Gu Changqing wiped the golden blood from his mouth, declared the fight exhilarating, drank from the Wine God Gourd, and warned the Elder that his newfound power was not enough to slay him.
• The Elder of Chaos, enraged, activated the Chaos Bead and sent an even more powerful phantom Chaos World toward Gu Changqing.
• Gu Changqing closed his eyes as the divine inscriptions on the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe lit up, then announced the first of the Three Styles of Heaven Opening, Chaos-Slaying, shocking the Elder and Hongjun.

Gu Changqing revealed the First Style of Heaven Opening and shattered the Elder of Chaos’s phantom Chaos World with one axe strike, grievously wounding him. The Elder of Chaos’s attack had been broken, and the watching allies celebrated as the Elder faced Gu Changqing with fear and venom.

• Hongjun recognized Gu Changqing’s Three Styles of Heaven Opening as Pangu’s lost divine art and suspected the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe held Pangu’s complete inheritance.
• Gu Changqing unleashed the First Style of Heaven Opening, Cleave Chaos, and struck the Elder of Chaos’s phantom Chaos World.
• The Elder of Chaos poured his power into the Chaos Bead to repair and suppress the phantom world, but Gu Changqing’s axe shattered it.
• The shattered Chaos World’s backlash wounded the Elder of Chaos, weakened his aura, and sent the Chaos Bead flying backward.
• Sect Master Tongtian, Nuwa, Houtu, and the distant spectators celebrated Gu Changqing’s reversal.
• The Elder of Chaos steadied himself, wiped away his blood, and stared at Gu Changqing with fear and venom.

Gu Changqing stunned the watching experts by using the first of Pangu’s Three Styles of Heaven Opening to wound the Elder of Chaos. Houtu claimed the Chaos Bead for Gu Changqing as the wager’s prize, while Hongjun silently watched the aftermath.

• Gu Changqing’s axe strike wounded the Elder of Chaos, and onlookers recognized it as Pangu’s Three Styles of Heaven Opening.
• Gu Changqing replenished his power with wine and challenged the Elder of Chaos to keep fighting; the Elder stayed silent, fearing the remaining styles would kill him.
• Houtu used her Pangu bloodline power to sever the Elder of Chaos’s connection to the Chaos Bead and take possession of it.
• Houtu declared that the wager’s prize belonged to Gu Changqing, and the watching experts accepted the Elder of Chaos’s loss.
• Hongjun remained silent, visibly shaken by Gu Changqing’s use of the Heaven-Opening divine power.

Gu Changqing won the Chaos Bead from the Elder of Chaos and casually handed it to Houtu, provoking the Elder with his indifference. Hongjun persuaded the furious Elder to end the battle, and the Elder withdrew his power despite his resentment.

• The spectators realized Gu Changqing had baited Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos into a wager and laughed at the Elder’s loss.
• Gu Changqing asked the Elder if he still wanted to fight, then tossed the Chaos Bead to Houtu and prepared to leave.
• The Elder of Chaos spat blood and roared at Gu Changqing, but Houtu’s aura stopped him from attacking.
• The Elder hesitated as he considered Gu Changqing’s remaining Heaven-Opening techniques, and Hongjun urged him to let the matter end.
• The Elder suppressed his anger and withdrew his aura, choosing not to continue the battle.

After Gu Changqing defeated the Elder of Chaos, he provoked him by revealing he had not mastered the second and third Heaven-Opening styles. The Elder of Chaos tried to attack again, but Hongjun took him to Zixiao Palace, ending the battle.

• The Elder of Chaos threatened Gu Changqing and admitted defeat, while Gu Changqing mocked him for talking instead of fighting.
• Gu Changqing turned to leave and casually revealed that he had only fully mastered the first of the Three Styles of Heaven Opening.
• The Elder of Chaos realized Gu Changqing had not mastered the other styles and erupted in fury, threatening to attack him again.
• Houtu, Nuwa, and Tongtian readied their treasures to defend Gu Changqing and face the Elder of Chaos.
• Hongjun told the Elder of Chaos to stop and swept him away to Zixiao Palace, leaving the witnesses bewildered.

Gu Changqing thwarted Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos’s plan, won the Chaos Bead, and earned the reverence of the Primordial World before quietly returning to the Interception Sect. In Zixiao Palace, the furious Elder of Chaos confronted Hongjun over their defeat, but Hongjun refused to accept sole blame.

• The cultivators mocked the Elder of Chaos and Hongjun for fleeing after Gu Changqing defeated them and took the Chaos Bead.
• An ancient Daluo Golden Immortal explained that Gu Changqing had also prevented their plan to merge the Three Thousand Demon Gods’ origins into the Heavenly Dao, prompting all living beings to bow in gratitude.
• Gu Changqing left unnoticed, carrying his Wine Gourd back to the Interception Sect while Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu watched the crowd honor him.
• The Elder of Chaos erupted in fury at Zixiao Palace, and Hongjun calmed the chaos laws with the power of the Heavenly Dao.
• The Elder of Chaos blamed Hongjun for the failed plan and the loss of the Chaos Bead, but Hongjun said they were partners and shared responsibility.

Gu Changqing's victory left Hongjun unable to offer the Elder of Chaos any way to retaliate, while the Interception Sect celebrated the defeat of their enemies. Houtu returned the Chaos Bead to Gu Changqing, but he refused it and told her to keep it.

• The Elder of Chaos demanded a way to kill Gu Changqing, but Hongjun fell silent and turned away, revealing he had no solution.
• Hundreds of thousands of Interception Sect disciples celebrated Gu Changqing's victory and the sect's acquisition of the Chaos Bead.
• Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu praised Gu Changqing for defeating the Elder of Chaos and protecting the Primordial World.
• Houtu brought out the Chaos Bead and offered it to Gu Changqing as its rightful owner.
• Gu Changqing declined the Chaos Bead, joked that it might be used to brew wine, and told Houtu to keep it, astonishing her, Tongtian, and Nuwa.

Gu Changqing gave Houtu the Chaos Bead, then casually suggested she refine its restrictions while he went to sleep. Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu realized he had arranged for Houtu to do the labor for him, and Houtu accepted the treasure anyway.

• Houtu tried to return the Chaos Bead to Gu Changqing, saying it was too precious to accept.
• Gu Changqing lazily suggested that Houtu refine the bead herself because her cultivation would make the task easier.
• Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu realized Gu Changqing had given Houtu the bead so she would refine it for him.
• Gu Changqing told them to keep quiet and fell asleep, while Houtu put away the Chaos Bead and thanked him.
• Tongtian felt uneasy about what Gu Changqing's behavior meant for the Interception Sect's future.

After Gu Changqing’s victory, Tongtian resolved to enter seclusion and improve his strength. In Zixiao Palace, Hongjun revealed that Gu Changqing’s attack had nearly damaged his Dao foundation, while the Elder of Chaos swore he would not rest until he had his revenge.

• Tongtian watched Gu Changqing sleep, decided the disciple’s success benefited the Interception Sect, and entered seclusion to pursue greater strength.
• In Zixiao Palace, the Elder of Chaos and Hongjun sat in silence, brooding over their defeat by Gu Changqing.
• Hongjun told the Elder of Chaos that Gu Changqing had used the lingering resentment of the Chaos Demon Gods to nearly destroy Zixiao Palace and damage his Dao foundation.
• The Elder of Chaos learned that Hongjun had also suffered a severe hidden loss and turned his rage into a colder resolve to take revenge.
• The Elder of Chaos fixed his gaze on the Primordial World and vowed that he would never rest until his vengeance was achieved.

The Elder of Chaos admitted that Gu Changqing’s power within the Primordial World made confronting him there nearly impossible, and proposed seeking the Five Pre-Heavenly Ultimates in Chaos. Hongjun rejected the plan as futile and too slow, then revealed that he intended to create new Sages for the Profound Gate.

• The Elder of Chaos acknowledged Gu Changqing’s strength and the Interception Sect’s dominance, then suggested recruiting the Five Pre-Heavenly Ultimates from Chaos.
• Hongjun argued that the Five Pre-Heavenly Ultimates might not exist and would be too difficult to find before Gu Changqing grew even stronger.
• The Elder of Chaos demanded to know whether they would simply wait helplessly as Gu Changqing advanced.
• Hongjun declared that he would create more Sages for the Profound Gate, even without primordial violet qi.

Hongjun revealed to the Elder of Chaos that, as the true Heavenly Dao, he could grant Sage Dao Fruits without primordial violet qi. He planned to use the promise of Sainthood to win the hearts of powerful cultivators and fracture Gu Changqing’s camp, leaving the scheme in the Elder of Chaos’s mind as a way to turn the world against Gu Changqing.

• Hongjun declared that he could create Sages, but the Elder of Chaos doubted that he could make anything beyond weak false saints.
• Hongjun displayed his overwhelming power and explained that his fusion with the Heavenly Dao let him condense and bestow Sage Dao Fruits with a single word.
• Hongjun told the Elder of Chaos that Gu Changqing’s exposure of their plan to seize the Demon Gods’ origin had damaged the Heavenly Dao’s reputation.
• Hongjun argued that offering Sainthood would tempt powerful cultivators such as Randeng and Kunpeng, and could weaken the loyalty of Gu Changqing’s followers in the Interception Sect.
• The Elder of Chaos realized that Hongjun intended to divide Gu Changqing’s allies and leave him surrounded by enemies.

Hongjun summoned Daoist Randeng to Zixiao Palace and offered him a Sage Position as the first step in a plan to win over living beings and isolate Gu Changqing. Randeng, stunned and uncertain whether Hongjun was testing him, accepted the offer.

• The Elder of Chaos realized Hongjun's offer of Sage Positions could undermine Gu Changqing and eagerly praised the scheme.
• Hongjun chose the Chan Sect as the place to begin and identified Daoist Randeng as the first candidate for a new Sage.
• Hongjun used his power to bring Randeng from the Jade Void Palace to Zixiao Palace.
• Randeng feared he had been summoned for punishment, but Hongjun asked whether he was willing to accept a Sage Position.
• Randeng overcame his disbelief enough to bow and say he was willing to accept the position.

Randeng accepted Hongjun’s offer of a Sage Position, and Hongjun announced that the Heavenly Dao’s order was changing so that Sagehood would no longer be limited to a fixed number of positions. The Primordial World was left in uproar as Hongjun summoned Quasi-Saints to witness Randeng’s ascension before Zixiao Palace.

• Randeng overcame his doubts and accepted the Sage Position, consumed by his lifelong desire to become a Sage.
• Hongjun proclaimed throughout the Primordial World that the Heavenly Dao was ascending to a higher order and that he would help Randeng become a Sage.
• Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi and powerful beings across the Primordial World reacted with shock to Hongjun’s announcement.
• Hongjun declared that Sage Positions were no longer fixed and that qualified living beings could attain Hunyuan and become Sages.
• Hongjun invited all Quasi-Saint mighty experts to Zixiao Palace to witness Randeng become a Sage beyond Chaos.
• Kunpeng stirred with greed at the possibility of Sagehood, while Ancestor Minghe reacted with suspicion toward Hongjun and the Profound Gate.

After Hongjun announced that Sage Positions would be open to all, the Primordial World’s Mighty Experts rushed toward Zixiao Palace, and the Heavenly Dao and Profound Gate began regaining influence. Gu Changqing woke, saw through Hongjun’s strategy, and set out to witness Randeng’s attainment of sainthood, prompting Tongtian to leave Biyou Palace as well.

• Ancestor Minghe recognized Hongjun’s offer of Sage Positions as a scheme to restore the Heavenly Dao’s influence and chose not to act.
• Mighty Experts and cultivators across the Primordial World rushed toward Zixiao Palace, causing the Profound Gate’s prestige to recover.
• Gu Changqing woke in his cave abode, learned of Hongjun’s declaration and Randeng’s sainthood, and understood Hongjun’s plan to increase his own authority.
• Gu Changqing rode his sword toward Zixiao Palace to witness Randeng’s attainment of sainthood.
• Tongtian vanished from Biyou Palace after seeing Gu Changqing set out.

Hongjun began creating a Sage by pouring the Heavenly Dao’s power into Randeng before a crowd of Quasi-Saints gathered outside Zixiao Palace. As Randeng’s aura surged toward a new height, Gu Changqing and Tongtian watched from the sidelines.

• Quasi-Saints gathered outside Zixiao Palace, hoping to learn the secret of attaining sagehood as Hongjun prepared to elevate Randeng.
• Gu Changqing watched the crowd from his Immortal Sword, and Tongtian arrived and stood beside him.
• Hongjun appeared with the Elder of Chaos and Randeng, then declared that Randeng would be the first to receive this opportunity.
• Hongjun pointed at Randeng, summoning Heavenly Dao laws, Great Dao runes, and auspicious signs that engulfed him in a pillar of divine light.
• Randeng’s aura rapidly surpassed its long-standing bottleneck as the Quasi-Saints tried to contemplate the laws of attaining sagehood.

Hongjun used the laws of the Heavenly Dao to force Randeng toward sainthood, and Randeng’s Dao Fruit took shape as his aura reached Sage-like power. Tongtian shattered Randeng’s coercive might, and Randeng was left stunned when no one bowed to him.

• Hongjun infused Randeng with the laws and order of the Heavenly Dao, pushing his cultivation beyond the limits of a Quasi-Saint.
• Gu Changqing judged that Hongjun’s method had trapped Randeng in a fixed realm and made him Hongjun’s obedient servant.
• A Dao Fruit materialized above Randeng, and his newly formed sagely might spread throughout the Outer Chaos Region.
• Tongtian swept away Randeng’s sagely might with his sword intent, freeing the gathered cultivators from its pressure.
• Randeng emerged from the pillar expecting the gathered beings to kneel, but they remained standing while Gu Changqing continued drinking on his sword.

Randeng tried to establish his authority as a newly ascended Sage by accusing Gu Changqing of preventing others from bowing to him. Gu Changqing dismissed the charge and challenged Randeng to fight, then released his own terrifying might as Randeng prepared to strike.

• Randeng resented that the gathered experts did not bow to him, and he targeted Gu Changqing to restore his dignity while avoiding a direct challenge to Tongtian.
• Randeng accused Gu Changqing of interfering with the worship and demanded to know whether he meant to challenge a newly ascended Sage.
• Gu Changqing said he had only been drinking and asked Randeng what it had to do with him, provoking laughter from the gathered experts.
• Randeng flew into a rage, declared Gu Changqing insolent, and raised a destructive finger to discipline him.
• Gu Changqing mocked Randeng's majesty, asked if he wanted to fight, and released a terrifying surge of blood qi and laws that shook Randeng.

Gu Changqing’s overwhelming power stopped Sage Randeng from attacking, turning Randeng’s attempt to establish authority into a public humiliation. Dao Ancestor Hongjun finally intervened, but his words left Randeng stunned.

• Randeng froze instead of fighting after sensing that Gu Changqing’s power surpassed ordinary Sage might.
• Gu Changqing mocked Randeng for failing to give him a chance to stretch his muscles, and the watching experts struggled to contain their laughter.
• Randeng realized his bid to establish authority had become a humiliating farce and nearly lost control of his Dao Heart.
• Dao Ancestor Hongjun’s voice silenced everyone and gave Randeng hope that he would intervene against Gu Changqing.
• Hongjun continued speaking, and Randeng was instantly dumbfounded.

Hongjun dismissed the dispute over Randeng’s ascension and told him to return to the Chan Sect, leaving Randeng humiliated and Gu Changqing untroubled. After Randeng fled, Sect Master Tongtian called Gu Changqing to leave, and Gu Changqing got up to go home and drink.

• Hongjun declared the affair over and promised that those under his Profound Gate could also gain a sage fruit position and Heavenly Dao recognition.
• Hongjun ordered Randeng to return to the Chan Sect and govern it alongside Yuanshi, then vanished from the Zixiao Palace.
• The powerful figures struggled to suppress their laughter as Randeng realized Hongjun’s words had left him a laughingstock.
• Randeng glared at Gu Changqing before fleeing toward the Jade Void Palace in disgrace.
• Sect Master Tongtian told Gu Changqing to leave, and Gu Changqing yawned, drank from his Wine Gourd, and agreed to head back.