Chapter Summaries

Du Yu enlisted Zhan Qisheng to become the bandit chief and help reform the Zhang Family Stronghold, while concealing their plan from Xiao Qi. He then assured Zhang Jian that he had a solution to the stronghold’s leadership crisis, though he left the details vague.

• Zhan Qisheng dispelled his spell so Du Yu could contact Xiao Qi, and Du Yu introduced him to the Legend Management Bureau as Pockmarked Zhang.
• Du Yu persuaded Zhan Qisheng to become the bandit chief, promising the role might last only three days, and had him cut the Bureau’s connection before discussing the plan.
• Du Yu explained that he wanted to split up and reform the Mountain Stronghold so its people would not be wiped out by the imperial court.
• Zhang Jian asked Du Yu to take over the Mountain Stronghold after capturing Zhang Qian, but Du Yu said he had a better solution.
• Du Yu gave Zhang Jian a grand, vague description of comprehensive reforms, leaving Zhang Jian unsure what he meant.

Zhang Jian proposed that the Zhang Family Stronghold bandits split up and change trades, while Du Yu and Zhan Qisheng tried to convince them that future spiritual energy would decline. Zhan Qisheng demonstrated his time-travel abilities, though his imprecise timing repeatedly confused the demonstration.

• Zhang Jian told the bandits that remaining together as outlaws would lead to more deaths, and proposed splitting up and changing trades.
• Du Yu said the bandits could earn a living with their Five-Element Spells and warned that spiritual energy would become scarce in the future.
• Zhan Qisheng traveled to the past and returned with a straw sandal from Zhang Chong's childhood, proving he knew details about Zhang Chong's past.
• Zhan Qisheng returned with a scar on a burly bandit's arm from an earlier time, then explained that his time travel could only target a two-hour period precisely.
• Zhang Gouzi asked Zhan Qisheng to bring back a peach from the future, and Zhan Qisheng returned with the oddly shaped fruit.

Du Yu convinced the Zhang Family Stronghold bandits to abandon banditry and establish five immortal cultivation sects, preparing them to preserve the Five-Element Spells as spiritual energy faded. With the arrival of Firecloud Manor’s Bai Ling, Hong Ying, and their disciples, the stronghold began organizing for a new era of cultivation.

• Du Yu explained that the bandits should divide into five groups by their Five-Element Spell affinities and establish sects to pass down cultivation after spiritual energy began to disappear.
• Du Yu urged the bandits to pursue immortality rather than seek divine appointments, and the bandits chose cultivation over continuing their lives as robbers.
• The bandits formed five groups, chose sect leaders by voting, and promised Zhang Jian they would never kill fellow disciples.
• Zhan Qisheng brought Bai Ling, Hong Ying, and Firecloud Manor’s sixty disciples to join the sects after explaining Du Yu’s plan to them.
• Du Yu ordered the sect leaders to learn basic techniques and prepare to teach their disciples as everyone packed for the sects’ departure.

Du Yu helped establish five immortal cultivation sects by arranging Teleportation Arrays, then advised Zhang Jian to appoint Zhang Youren ruler of the Underworld. When Xiao Qi contradicted what she had previously told him, Du Yu realized something had happened at the Legend Management Bureau, and a photograph showed He Suoyi choking Xiao Qi amid fallen staff.

• A young girl demonstrated a Teleportation Array, and Du Yu persuaded Zhan Qisheng to set up five arrays so the sects could travel between their spiritual mountains and the Mountain Stronghold.
• Zhang Jian told Du Yu why he had agreed to become the Jade Emperor and described Zhang Youren as his closest friend and longtime partner.
• Du Yu suggested Zhang Youren govern the Underworld while Zhang Jian ruled the Heavenly Court, and Zhang Jian welcomed the plan.
• Du Yu noticed Xiao Qi claimed to know Oracle Bone Script, contradicting what she had said before, and warned Zhan Qisheng that something was wrong at the Legend Management Bureau.
• Xiao Qi sent Du Yu a photograph showing He Suoyi gripping her throat while the Bureau's staff lay sprawled on the floor.

Du Yu tried to protect Xiao Qi and buy time while He Suoyi pressured him to kill Zhang Jian. After He Suoyi took over Xiao Qi’s voice transmission, Du Yu refused to cooperate and asked him to explain his larger plan.

• Du Yu realized Xiao Qi’s question about killing Zhang Jian was a trap and claimed he would consider it in exchange for money and Xiao Qi’s agreement to be his woman.
• Du Yu arranged for Xiao Qi to keep talking while he stalled on the way to Zhang Jian, then secretly urged Zhan Qisheng to use Yingning to contact Houtu.
• Zhan Qisheng and Yingning inferred that Du Yu was warning them He Suoyi had appeared at the Legend Management Bureau, and Yingning sent Houtu a voice transmission.
• At Zhang Jian’s quarters, Du Yu discovered He Suoyi had put Xiao Qi to sleep and taken over the transmission; He Suoyi offered to let Du Yu return safely if he killed Zhang Jian.
• Du Yu refused He Suoyi’s offer and admitted he was buying time, then asked He Suoyi to explain the larger plan.

Du Yu rejected He Suoyi’s offer to kill Zhang Jian and used their conversation to warn Zhang Jian about He Suoyi’s planned rebellion. Zhang Jian’s memories stirred, and Houtu arrived with Yang Jian and Nezha to apprehend He Suoyi.

• He Suoyi revealed his plan to eliminate the Immortal Realm’s rulers and rebuild it, and admitted that Du Yu had repeatedly disrupted his schemes.
• He Suoyi claimed Xiao Qi and Dong Qianqiu were dying and offered to bring Du Yu back if he killed Zhang Jian.
• Du Yu told Zhang Jian that he was an Operator from the future and urged him to remember the events and send help to the Legend Management Bureau.
• Houtu stormed into the Bureau, and Yang Jian and Nezha arrived under the Jade Emperor’s decree to capture He Suoyi.

Yang Jian, Nezha, and Lady Houtu confronted He Suoyi after he slaughtered the Legend Management Bureau, while Yang Jian revived a cat demon and the group learned that Black and White Impermanence and Zhong Kui had been cursed. He Suoyi revealed his demonic power and summoned a black manifestation of Tathagata Buddha as the battle continued.

• Yang Jian discovered a surviving Seven-Lives Cat and restored the girl to life, revealing her hidden nature to He Suoyi.
• Lady Houtu questioned He Suoyi about Little Black, Little White, and Mei Ghost, and he claimed his spell was dispersing the souls of Black and White Impermanence and Zhong Kui.
• Nezha contacted the Heavenly Worthy of the Way and Its Virtue, who had stabilized the affected souls with help from other immortals.
• He Suoyi transformed into a demon and attacked the cat demon, but Yang Jian shielded her while Lady Houtu and Yang Jian struck back.
• He Suoyi healed his wounds, recited a Buddhist scripture, and summoned a gigantic black manifestation of Tathagata Buddha.

Yang Jian, Nezha, and Lady Houtu fought He Suoyi, whose black Tathagata form resisted their attacks despite being restrained and badly damaged. Lady Houtu unleashed Ten Thousand Things Kill, but He Suoyi vanished in the ensuing chaos.

• Yang Jian and Nezha prepared to fight He Suoyi, while Lady Houtu refused to retreat and ordered Nezha to hold him for ten seconds.
• Nezha trapped He Suoyi with the Cosmic Ring and Heaven-Mixing Silk as Lady Houtu attacked with Earth Kill, but He Suoyi’s black Tathagata form deflected the blades.
• Yang Jian summoned Divine Ao, then used Nezha’s fireball to make the dog explode against He Suoyi’s black Tathagata, damaging it and destroying much of the Legend Management Bureau’s equipment.
• Lady Houtu used the fire from the destruction to unleash Ten Thousand Things Kill, turning nearby objects into a storm of swords aimed at He Suoyi.
• A distorting force made the swords collide before they could strike He Suoyi, and when Lady Houtu cleared the yellow sand, he had disappeared.

Yang Jian and Nezha learned that an unknown ally had taken He Suoyi away, while Lady Houtu secretly struggled with lost memories. Du Yu reunited with Xiao Qi, arranged help for the damaged Legend Management Bureau, and continued the legend despite discovering Zhongli Chun remained mysteriously unconscious.

• Yang Jian found He Suoyi's severed leg, and Lady Houtu concluded that someone had taken him away; she sent Yang Jian to retrieve the Cat Demon girl and Nezha to check on the Heavenly Worthy of the Way and Its Virtue.
• Lady Houtu went off alone to eat and realized that using her magical power had made her advance again and forget why she had fought He Suoyi.
• Du Yu heard Xiao Qi's voice and learned that the Legend Management Bureau's staff had been killed, but Sister Qianqiu had been saved with elixirs by the Heavenly Worthy of the Way and Its Virtue.
• Du Yu told Xiao Qi to seek the Northern Yin Great Emperor of Fengdu and the Eastern Peak Great Emperor of Mount Tai for help, then found Zhongli Chun still asleep and icy cold.
• Du Yu went to Zhan Qisheng and Yingning, reassured them that the crisis had settled for now, and insisted that the legend was not finished.

Du Yu warned Zhang Jian that assassins might target him and Zhang Youren during their planned identity exchange, then devised a plan to protect them. At the Investiture Altar, Nezha unexpectedly arrived with Zhang Youren, threatening to disrupt the plan.

• Zhan Qisheng warned Du Yu that He Suoyi might exploit the identity exchange to kill Zhang Jian and Zhang Youren.
• Du Yu urged Zhang Jian to postpone the meeting, but Zhang Jian insisted on attending and asked Du Yu to protect him.
• Du Yu and Zhang Jian disguised themselves alike and went to the Investiture Altar, where they sensed people waiting in ambush.
• Du Yu told Zhang Jian to follow a revised plan and deliberately leave an opening for their hidden enemies.
• Zhang Youren arrived at the altar with Nezha, who said he had come to see the newly established Spell-Learning Sects.

Du Yu distracted Nezha while Zhang Jian and Zhang Youren staged a fight on the Investiture Altar to draw out their enemies. After the attackers ambushed them, Zhang Youren and Zhang Jian revealed they had anticipated the trap and began fighting back.

• Zhang Jian and Zhang Youren pretended to agree to a sparring match, while Du Yu provoked Nezha into chasing him away from the altar.
• Du Yu used the Green Pen to keep Nezha occupied, then convinced him to sit and meditate on how to become trendy.
• Zhang Jian told Zhang Youren to knock him down so he would understand the plan, and Zhang Youren struck him lightly.
• Wildland Monsters and Unfettered Immortals ambushed Zhang Youren, who used iron knives to pierce several attackers.
• The attackers' blood formed a Blood Dragon that slaughtered nearby enemies, and Zhang Jian rose, saying a gentleman had warned him of the ambush.

Du Yu, Zhang Jian, and Zhang Youren fought off a crowd of would-be assassins, with Yingning repeatedly saving Du Yu after he risked his life to provoke her into action. Nezha arrived and attacked the remaining villains, while Du Yu kept irritating Yingning with his ridiculous move name.

• Zhang Jian and Zhang Youren faced the assassins together while Du Yu failed to summon Yingning and realized his other allies were absent.
• Yingning refused to help until Du Yu charged into danger, then intervened and let him name his tactic “Showing Off My Brush.”
• Du Yu repeatedly put himself in harm’s way to trigger Yingning’s protection as Zhang Jian and Zhang Youren fought the attackers.
• Nezha crashed into the Investiture Altar, promised to handle the remaining villains, and charged at them after Du Yu provoked him.
• Du Yu tried to call his protective trick “Showing Off a Big Writing Brush,” prompting Yingning to threaten him again.

Du Yu distracted Nezha so Zhang Jian and Zhang Youren could exchange identities and clothes. Zhang Jian departed as the Jade Emperor, while Du Yu told Zhang Youren to go to Mount Tai and wait for the old boss’s arrangements.

• Zhang Jian and Zhang Youren agreed they needed to exchange clothes as well as identities to avoid Nezha’s suspicions.
• Du Yu lured Nezha into the woods and taught him a nonsensical song disguised as a protective incantation.
• Du Yu and Nezha returned to the Investiture Altar and learned the identity exchange was complete.
• Zhang Jian thanked Du Yu and Zhang Youren, then left in the carriage as the Jade Emperor.
• Du Yu refused to reveal his face and told Zhang Youren to go to Mount Tai and wait for the old boss’s arrangements.

After helping a trapped white snake on Mount Emei, Du Yu realized he had interfered with the legend of Xu Xian and the snake. He returned to the ruined Legend Management Bureau, then teleported to Impermanence Hall to find his injured companions and was attacked as an intruder.

• Du Yu freed a little white snake pinned beneath jade and met a scholar surnamed Xu, realizing the encounter resembled the white snake legend.
• Du Yu urged Xu to care for the snake so it would remember him, then left when Xiao Qi said the recall ritual was ready.
• Du Yu returned to the scorched Legend Management Bureau, embraced Xiao Qi, and learned that Ksitigarbha was being treated while the others were at Impermanence Hall.
• Du Yu teleported to Impermanence Hall to visit his companions, but a white-robed man and a black-clad child mistook him for a wandering ghost and attacked him.

Du Yu and Yingning were trapped in Impermanence Hall after Yingning overwhelmed two guards and the Impermanence Assembly Order summoned reinforcements. Du Yu’s escape failed, and as the guards prepared to kill him, Xie Jin arrived and recognized him.

• Yingning fought the two guards, defeated their ghost-catching techniques, and stopped short of killing them at Du Yu’s request.
• Fan Tu sounded the alarm, summoning over a hundred Impermanence Guards, while he and the others refused Du Yu’s request to see the Seventh Master and Eighth Master.
• Du Yu tried to leave with a Teleportation Talisman, but Xie Yujiao’s Instant-Cast Spirit-Locking Formation kept him trapped among the guards.
• Fan Tu ordered the guards to kill Du Yu, and an old guard questioned why they had summoned everyone over one mortal.
• Du Yu insisted he meant no harm and had stopped Yingning from hurting the guards, then Xie Jin entered and recognized him.

Du Yu reached Impermanence Hall and visited the injured Underworld Enforcers before Xie Jin showed him Dong Qianqiu’s horrifying condition. The Mei Ghost told him Qianqiu had risked her life to save them, leaving Du Yu demanding to know what had happened.

• Xie Jin stopped Fan Tu and the Impermanence Guards from attacking Du Yu, then led him to visit the injured Enforcers.
• Du Yu saw Ox-Head, Horse-Face, the Golden and Silver Generals, Cui Jue, Zhong Kui, Xie Bi'an, and Fan Wujiao recovering from soul injuries.
• Xie Jin led Du Yu through a hidden corridor after warning him that Dong Qianqiu had suffered terrible injuries.
• Du Yu found Dong Qianqiu suspended in the air with shattered bones piercing her body while the Supreme Elder Lord worked to reconnect her meridians.
• The Mei Ghost told Du Yu she had survived because she had no soul, and said Dong Qianqiu had risked her life to save them.
• Du Yu, overcome with grief and anger, asked the Mei Ghost what had happened.

Du Yu waited while the Supreme Elder Lord treated Dong Qianqiu, whose broken bones and trauma left her delirious. White Impermanence arrived, and Du Yu then realized Zhongli Chun had fallen asleep after displaying extraordinary strength, prompting them to consider asking Lady Houtu for help.

• Mei Ghost told Du Yu that He Suoyi had defeated Ksitigarbha through his Buddha-heart and that Dong Qianqiu had endured terrible injuries while protecting them.
• The Supreme Elder Lord reset Dong Qianqiu’s bones as she screamed and spoke deliriously about her suffering and her concern for Du Yu.
• Du Yu waited outside the treatment room with Mei Ghost and Xie Jin, and White Impermanence joined them while Dong Qianqiu continued to cry out inside.
• White Impermanence asked about the Jade Emperor’s legend, and Du Yu said it had gone smoothly before remembering that Zhongli Chun remained asleep in the Eight Directions Ghost Record.
• Du Yu explained that Zhongli Chun had driven Zhan Qisheng back with sudden strength and then stopped responding, so White Impermanence suggested seeking Lady Houtu, the record’s previous owner.

After the Underworld leaders recovered, Du Yu learned that He Suoyi’s scheme had threatened the leaders of both the Underworld and Immortal Realm. He postponed meeting the Jade Emperor to investigate Zhongli Chun’s condition, but at Mount Unreturning he found that Lady Houtu no longer remembered him or the Eight Directions Ghost Record.

• The Supreme Elder Lord gave Mei Ghost seven blood-replenishing pills for Qianqiu, and Du Yu joined the recovered Underworld Enforcers to discuss He Suoyi’s plot.
• Du Yu explained that He Suoyi had targeted the leaders of the Immortal Realm, including the Jade Emperor, and the Enforcers decided to contact him.
• Nezha and Yang Jian arrived with the Jade Emperor’s invitation for Du Yu, but Du Yu delayed the meeting so he could ask Lady Houtu about the unconscious Zhongli Chun.
• Du Yu traveled to Mount Unreturning and told Lady Houtu that an evil ghost’s entry in the Eight Directions Ghost Record seemed wrong.
• Lady Houtu could not remember giving Du Yu the record and then failed to recognize him, while Chi Ghost silently confirmed something was wrong.

Du Yu learned that Lady Houtu had forgotten several hundred years of memories and agreed to keep Yingning company after Houtu explained that Yingning needed to experience more than happiness. Wraith told Du Yu that Zhongli Chun had temporarily succumbed to demonic corruption, and Du Yu left with Yingning to return to the Heavenly Court.

• Yingning reunited with Lady Houtu, who did not recognize Du Yu because she had forgotten several hundred years of memories.
• Du Yu told Lady Houtu about her lost memories, and she asked him to keep accompanying Yingning; Yingning agreed to stay with him for a few more days.
• Lady Houtu explained that she wanted Yingning to experience a full range of emotions, prompting Yingning to sob and embrace her.
• Wraith told Du Yu that Zhongli Chun had temporarily succumbed to demonic corruption and warned that repeated berserk episodes could make the condition irreversible.
• Yingning returned to Du Yu's waist as he said he had to go to the Heavenly Court.

After the Legend Management Bureau was destroyed, Du Yu promised Xiao Qi that he would help rebuild it and went to the Heavenly Court to seek support. He reached the Southern Heavenly Gate without an Underworld Constable Token, and the gatekeeper confronted him after he tried to force his way inside.

• Du Yu returned to the ruined Legend Management Bureau and reassured Xiao Qi that he would rebuild it with her and Sister Qianqiu.
• Xiao Qi told Du Yu that the bureau faced equipment and staffing shortages, unresolved allegiance issues, and errors in the 'Emei White Snake' and 'Black and White Impermanence' legends.
• Du Yu used a Teleportation Talisman to travel to the Heavenly Court, but it dropped him at the Southern Heavenly Gate instead of Lingxiao Hall.
• A burly pipa-playing gatekeeper demanded Du Yu's Underworld Constable Token and refused him entry when he could not produce one.
• Du Yu tried to slip past the gatekeeper, but the Green Pen blocked the gatekeeper's attack, and the man accused him of three offenses.