Chapter Summaries

Houtu used the Earth Dao to purge the Jie Sect disciples of the dark-red karmic threads bound to their souls, but she could remove only the outer layer. Their heart-demons remained rooted in their Dao foundations, leaving Tongtian without a solution as a drunken voice suddenly rang out.

• Houtu discovered that an external force had grafted hidden karmic retribution onto the Jie Sect disciples' divine souls.
• Houtu invoked the Dao of reincarnation and the Earth Dao Divine Wheel to draw dark-red threads from more than a million disciples on Golden Ao Island.
• The purification stabilized the disciples, but the remaining threads resisted removal and some of the dissipated black smoke returned to them.
• Houtu told Tongtian that the heart-demons had fused with the disciples' Dao foundations and were not ordinary cultivation deviations.
• A drunken voice suddenly rang out as Tongtian and Houtu stood in silence.

Gu Changqing revealed that Demon Ancestor Luohu had returned and used the Heart-Demon Path to plant seeds in the Interception Sect’s disciples. He said he could draw Luohu out by brewing a pot of wine, leaving Tongtian and Houtu stunned by his plan.

• Gu Changqing suddenly appeared in Biyou Palace, startling Tongtian and Houtu, who had sensed nothing before he spoke.
• Gu Changqing explained that the disciples’ heart-demons were rooted in their origins, beyond the karmic retribution Houtu had noticed.
• Gu Changqing revealed that Demon Ancestor Luohu had returned and used the Interception Sect’s karmic ties to plant heart-demon seeds in its disciples.
• Gu Changqing warned that Houtu’s Earth Dao power would strengthen the seeds by feeding the disciples’ obsessions.
• As an Outer Sect disciple writhed in pain, Gu Changqing said he had a way to deal with the heart-demons.
• Gu Changqing declared that brewing a pot of wine would make Luohu reveal himself, leaving Tongtian and Houtu bewildered.

Gu Changqing dismissed Tongtian and Houtu’s doubts and went to confront the heart-demon affliction on Golden Ao Island. As his mysterious seals summoned golden runes and began rewriting the world’s rules, Tongtian and Houtu could only watch in shock.

• Tongtian warned Gu Changqing that Luohu was a dangerous foe, while Houtu shared his doubts about Gu Changqing’s plan to draw Luohu out with wine.
• Gu Changqing explained that he had hoped to avoid trouble, but Luohu’s heart-demon power threatened Golden Ao Island and disturbed his peace.
• Gu Changqing vanished from Biyou Palace with a single step and appeared above Golden Ao Island, astonishing Tongtian and Houtu with his unexplained movement.
• Gu Changqing surveyed the million afflicted Jie Sect Disciples and began forming mudra seals, freezing the demonic qi, sea wind, and heart-demon threads across the island and nearby East Sea.
• Golden runes appeared around Gu Changqing as his seals grew faster, and Tongtian and Houtu sensed that he was rewriting an underlying rule of the world.

Gu Changqing used the Great Heart-Demon Art to draw the heart-demons out of a million Jie Sect Disciples and gather them into a vast demon domain. Tongtian and Houtu watched in shock as the drunken Gu Changqing controlled the domain with ease.

• Gu Changqing spoke his decree, sending golden strands of divine radiance from the runes around him to every Jie Sect Disciple on Golden Ao Island.
• Houtu asked whether Gu Changqing was forcibly separating the heart-demons, while Tongtian said the method had failed when he tried it.
• Gu Changqing used the Great Heart-Demon Art to draw the heart-demon power from the disciples and pull it along the golden strands toward himself.
• The extracted heart-demon power gathered around Gu Changqing and formed a demon domain spanning more than ten thousand li.
• Tongtian and Houtu saw that Gu Changqing was not purifying the heart-demons but plundering them, while the demon domain remained docile near him.

Gu Changqing used the Heart-Demons he had plundered from over a million Jie Sect Disciples as ingredients for his Great Dao of Wine. As Tongtian and Houtu watched in alarm, his technique suppressed and refined the Demon Domain into a new, purer power.

• Tongtian realized Gu Changqing had plundered the Heart-Demons of more than a million Jie Sect Disciples and feared the accumulated malice would corrupt his Dao Heart.
• Houtu sensed the Demon Domain's concentrated pain and despair, while Tongtian prepared to warn Gu Changqing.
• Gu Changqing ignored the danger and formed Mudra Seals, revealing the patterns of his Great Dao of Wine and a fragrance of wine.
• Gu Changqing recited a recipe using Heart-Demons as starter and resentment as mash, then pointed at the Demon Domain and declared, "Open the Cellar!"
• The Demon Domain stopped its rampage and turned into a vast vortex as Gu Changqing's Great Dao of Wine suppressed and refined its demonic power into dazzling spiritual light.

Gu Changqing refined the million disciples’ heart-demons into a vast, fragrant wine sea, then collected it in the Wine God Gourd and drank from it. As the disciples and Tongtian reacted to the wine’s effects, new turmoil arose in an unknown Secret Realm.

• The heart-demon aura surrounding Gu Changqing transformed into a transparent wine sea, whose fragrance swept across Golden Ao Island and intoxicated the disciples.
• Tongtian warned the disciples to control their minds, and they sealed their senses to resist the wine’s allure.
• Gu Changqing summoned the Wine God Gourd and drew the entire wine sea into it.
• Gu Changqing drank from the gourd and praised the wine as a delight.
• Turmoil arose in a Secret Realm unknown to anyone.

Demon Ancestor Luohu discovered that a mysterious force was siphoning away his heart-demon origin and traced it to Golden Ao Island. There, Gu Changqing drank the heart-demons gathered from a million Interception Sect disciples, leaving everyone stunned and worried about his safety.

• Luohu found that an unseen force was draining his heart-demon origin, and his divination pointed toward Golden Ao Island.
• Luohu suspected the Interception Sect was involved and raced there to uncover the truth and reclaim his power.
• Gu Changqing drank wine brewed from the gathered heart-demons of a million Interception Sect disciples.
• Daoist Duobao, Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Zhao Gongming, the disciples, Tongtian, and Nuwa stared at Gu Changqing in shock as Tongtian asked whether he was all right.
• Houtu leaped to Gu Changqing's side while the others watched him with worry.

Gu Changqing reassured Golden Ao Island’s disciples after swallowing the heart-demons gathered from a million people, then revealed that Luohu was hiding nearby. Luohu realized Gu Changqing had been draining his devil dao origin and tried to retreat without being detected.

• The disciples feared Gu Changqing might go mad, while Tongtian and Duobao worried about the danger of what he had swallowed.
• Gu Changqing said he was fine and warned that someone else might be getting restless.
• Gu Changqing called out Luohu, who was concealed in the void beyond Golden Ao Island.
• Luohu realized his heart-demon origin had been flowing into Gu Changqing’s Purple Gold Gourd and understood that his scheme had become a leash in Gu Changqing’s hands.
• Luohu decided not to confront Gu Changqing, Tongtian, and Houtu, and began withdrawing his aura to escape unseen.

Gu Changqing revealed that Luohu was hiding near Golden Ao Island and struck him with a giant palm, forcing the wounded figure out of the void. Luohu landed outside the island and fixed his gaze on Gu Changqing.

• Tongtian and the disciples doubted that Luohu was really present after Gu Changqing called out to him.
• Luohu secretly fled through a fissure in the void, believing he had concealed his presence.
• Gu Changqing sensed Luohu's location and reached toward the empty void, summoning a giant palm that blocked every escape route.
• Gu Changqing's palm struck Luohu and forced him out of the fissure, wounded and coughing blood.
• The disciples took defensive stances as Zhao Gongming and Golden Spirit Holy Mother watched Luohu, who raised his head and stared at Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing confronted Luohu outside Golden Ao Island, revealing that the Demon Ancestor had planted the heart-demon path that caused turmoil among the Interception Sect. As Luohu reeled from the revelation and Gu Changqing’s unexplained power, Hongjun sensed Luohu’s return and left Zixiao Palace.

• Luohu asked Gu Changqing how he had discovered him after Gu Changqing knocked him down with one palm strike.
• Daoist Duobao, Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Tongtian, and Houtu watched as Gu Changqing’s discovery of Luohu’s hiding place and the heart-demon path sank in.
• Hongjun sensed Luohu’s Devil Dao aura from Zixiao Palace, recognized him as returned from the dead, and departed.
• Gu Changqing drank from the Wine God Gourd, and Luohu sensed that his power was being plundered again.
• Gu Changqing told Luohu that his heart-demon path had caused turmoil in the Interception Sect, shocking Luohu and filling the disciples with anger.

Gu Changqing exposed Luohu’s Heart-Demon Path and forced the Demon Progenitor to claim his arrival was a misunderstanding. Before Luohu could explain further, a crushing aura descended from the direction of Zixiao Palace, leaving the gathered figures bracing for the arrival of its source.

• Luohu discovered that Gu Changqing had identified his Heart-Demon Path and sensed that Gu Changqing had reached Hunyuan Wuji.
• Luohu claimed that he had merely come to learn about the Interception Sect’s Dao lineage, while the disciples credited Senior Brother Changqing with making the Demon Progenitor back down.
• Daoist Duobao judged that Luohu’s apparent retreat was a calculation and silently signaled Zhao Gongming to prepare for battle.
• Gu Changqing dismissed Luohu’s explanation with a flat repetition of “A misunderstanding.”
• A vast aura descended from beyond the universe, forcing the disciples down and making Tongtian retreat half a step.
• Houtu recognized the aura as coming from the Outer Chaos Region near Zixiao Palace, while Luohu realized that he had drawn its source there.

Hongjun descended onto Golden Ao Island, confronting Luohu and filling the island with crushing pressure. Luohu regretted staying after Gu Changqing’s attack, but abandoned any pretense and faced Hongjun defiantly as Hongjun declared that he should have ceased to exist long ago.

• Hongjun’s arrival overwhelmed the million disciples on Golden Ao Island, and they recognized Luohu as the figure who had drawn the Dao Ancestor there.
• Daoist Duobao shielded Zhao Gongming, Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Wudang Holy Mother, and Turtle Spirit Holy Mother as Tongtian and Houtu endured Hongjun’s pressure.
• Hongjun stepped through a rift in the sky and fixed his gaze on Luohu.
• Luohu regretted not fleeing after Gu Changqing struck him, realizing Hongjun’s arrival had left him without an escape route.
• Luohu dropped his pretense and mocked Hongjun for throwing his weight around.
• Hongjun calmly told Luohu that he should have ceased to exist long ago.

Hongjun confronted Luohu on Golden Ao Island as Luohu declared that the Devil Dao made him impossible to destroy permanently. The heavens panicked while Gu Changqing calmly watched, and Hongjun’s frown suggested Luohu’s claim had struck a truth even the Dao Ancestor could not deny.

• Hongjun told Luohu that he should have ceased to exist long ago, and their opposing auras shook the heavens and universe.
• Cultivators across the world sensed Luohu’s presence and feared that another battle between the Dao Ancestor and Demon Ancestor would bring catastrophe.
• Gu Changqing reclined and drank as he watched Hongjun and Luohu, reassuring Zhao Gongming and leaving Daoist Duobao numb with disbelief.
• Luohu told Hongjun that he had returned through the heart-demons of living beings and could never truly be destroyed as long as the Devil Dao endured.
• Hongjun frowned at Luohu’s declaration, and Daoist Duobao realized that the claim struck a truth even Hongjun could not deny.

Hongjun answered Luohu’s claim that the Devil Dao could never be extinguished by ordering him to come to Zixiao Palace, where he would be imprisoned rather than killed. Luohu tried to flee, but Hongjun used the Heavenly Dao’s power to bind him, leaving him unable to escape.

• Hongjun told Luohu to come with him to Zixiao Palace, and the gathered disciples realized he intended to imprison him.
• Luohu understood that imprisonment could be worse than death and fled at full speed, shattering space and sending shock waves across Golden Ao Island.
• Daoist Duobao reinforced Golden Ao Island’s mountain-protecting Great Array to shield the island from the shock waves.
• Hongjun spoke nine words that formed nine invisible shackles and stopped Luohu thousands of miles away.
• Luohu struggled against the shackles, but Hongjun’s Heavenly Dao power held him fast and revealed the vast gulf between them.

Luohu tried to escape Hongjun by detonating his body and sending his Devil Dao origin fleeing, but Hongjun effortlessly trapped it in a Heavenly Dao Cage. Luohu was left defeated and helpless as the onlookers recognized the overwhelming gap between him and Hongjun.

• Luohu recognized that his reborn cultivation left him far beneath Hongjun, who held him within nine layers of Heavenly Dao shackles.
• Tongtian sensed Luohu's desperate resolve as Luohu detonated all his demonic qi and Dao body.
• Tongtian activated Golden Ao Island's Sect-Protecting Array while cultivators fled from Luohu's explosion.
• Hongjun contained the blast within a translucent shell, but Luohu's Devil Dao origin escaped toward the high heavens.
• Hongjun raised his hand and manifested a Heavenly Dao Cage that trapped Luohu's fleeing origin.
• The disciples and cultivators discussed how Luohu could not overcome the gulf between a quasi-saint and Hongjun.

Hongjun suppressed Luohu and prepared to take him back to Zixiao Palace, but Gu Changqing unexpectedly objected. The chapter ended with Gu Changqing telling Hongjun that taking Luohu away was not appropriate.

• Hongjun effortlessly contained Luohu's self-detonation and subdued him inside the Heavenly Dao Cage.
• The Jie Sect disciples and distant cultivators relaxed as Hongjun prepared to take Luohu to Zixiao Palace.
• Gu Changqing called out to Hongjun from Golden Ao Island, stopping his departure.
• Hongjun turned toward Gu Changqing and asked what he intended.
• Gu Changqing praised Hongjun, then said it was not appropriate for him to take Luohu away.

Gu Changqing defied Hongjun’s demand to take Luohu away, arguing that Luohu’s return had disrupted the Interception Sect and belonged under its custody. He summoned a Chaos Heavenly Sword and struck at the Heavenly Dao Cage imprisoning Luohu.

• Gu Changqing told Hongjun that Luohu should be handed over to the Interception Sect because his return had stirred heart-demons among its disciples.
• Hongjun insisted that he would take Luohu away, regardless of Gu Changqing’s objections.
• Gu Changqing revealed his intention to test whether his newly comprehended sword strike could break the Heavenly Dao Cage.
• Gu Changqing summoned a Chaos Heavenly Sword and ordered it to slash at the cage imprisoning Luohu.

Gu Changqing shattered Hongjun’s Heavenly Dao Cage and freed Luohu, then threatened to hunt him down if he fled. He offered Luohu safety on Golden Ao Island, leaving the Demon Ancestor to weigh his choices as Hongjun’s fury mounted.

• Gu Changqing poured his magic power into the Chaos Heavenly Sword and broke Hongjun’s Heavenly Dao Cage.
• Luohu emerged from the shattered cage while Hongjun furiously threatened Gu Changqing.
• Luohu thanked Gu Changqing for freeing him and announced he would leave, drawing scorn from the gathered experts and Interception Sect disciples.
• Gu Changqing warned Luohu not to flee and promised to pursue him if he did.
• Gu Changqing offered to keep Luohu safe from Hongjun if he stayed on Golden Ao Island, leaving Luohu uncertain.

Gu Changqing refused Hongjun’s demand to surrender Luohu and declared that the Interception Sect would protect him. As Hongjun prepared to fight, Houtu rose to confront him in Gu Changqing’s place.

• Luohu agreed to stay on Golden Ao Island after Gu Changqing promised to protect him.
• Hongjun angrily accused Gu Changqing of opposing him, but Gu Changqing mocked his threat of heavenly punishment and invoked Tongtian’s Immortal-Slaying Sword Array.
• Gu Changqing refused Hongjun’s final demand to hand over Luohu and challenged him to ask his sword first.
• Hongjun gathered Dao resonance patterns as though preparing a Great Divine Power, but Houtu flew up and offered to fight him before Gu Changqing could act.

Houtu joined Gu Changqing in protecting Luohu, prompting Hongjun to abandon his attempt to take Luohu from Golden Ao Island. Back at Biyou Palace, Luohu bowed to Gu Changqing and thanked him for his protection.

• Houtu declared that she would stand with Gu Changqing and protect Luohu, forcing Hongjun to reconsider attacking.
• Luohu challenged Hongjun, who withdrew after warning Luohu and the Interception Sect.
• Gu Changqing told Houtu that he wanted to make Luohu a potential ally, and she cautioned him to remain wary.
• Gu Changqing, Tongtian, and Luohu returned to Biyou Palace, where Luohu bowed deeply to Gu Changqing in gratitude.