Chapter Summaries

Ouyang revealed that Tu Yun, White Nine Tails, and Tutu were lingering remnants of thought, then used Hu Yun's memories to show Tu Yun the wish he had kept in his heart. He asked her to choose which identity she would return to reality with.

• Tu Yun accused Ouyang of disrespecting her, but he told her she was only a remnant of thought, as were White Nine Tails and Tutu.
• Ouyang freed Tu Yun and asked whether she remembered the tree where she and Hu Yun had spent time together as he grew up.
• Ouyang conjured two clay figures that replayed Hu Yun asking Tu Yun about her wishes before she left.
• Tu Yun remembered wishing she could set aside the burden of her name and live as a carefree little fox, and she broke down in tears.
• Ouyang offered Tu Yun a piece of cloth and told her that choosing which identity to return to reality with had always been her decision.

Ouyang helped Tu Yun reconcile with Hu Yun’s memories and accept that Hu Tutu should remain her own person, then stopped Tu Yun from killing White Nine Tails. After naming White Nine Tails Green Mound, Ouyang watched as she and Tu Yun entered Hu Tutu, who woke in his embrace and cried that she hated him for coming so late.

• Tu Yun stopped crying and laughing as she recognized Ouyang’s resemblance to Hu Yun, and Ouyang admitted he hoped she would let Hu Tutu remain herself.
• Tu Yun showed Ouyang the sleeping Hu Tutu and then seized White Nine Tails, intending to kill her as a threat to the little fox.
• Ouyang stopped Tu Yun by reminding her that White Nine Tails had once acted as Hu Tutu’s mother, and Tu Yun released her with a warning.
• Ouyang named White Nine Tails Green Mound, and she wept at finally having a name of her own.
• Green Mound and Tu Yun entered Hu Tutu, who woke in Ouyang’s embrace and cried that she hated him for arriving so late.

Ouyang reunited with Hu Tutu, who transformed into a grown girl but sealed away her powers to return to a child so he would still hug her. As the world came apart, Ouyang had her pay respects to a grave and then shielded her eyes from images appearing on an enormous tree.

• Hu Tutu stopped crying, transformed into a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl, and asked Ouyang why she had grown up.
• When Ouyang told her she could no longer act like a child, Hu Tutu sealed away the powers of Tu Yun and Green Mound and returned to her five-year-old form.
• Ouyang picked Hu Tutu up and flicked her forehead, then carried her to the solitary grave and told her to kowtow three times.
• Hu Tutu kowtowed and asked who was buried there, and Ouyang said the grave held only someone's past.
• An illusory hand touched Ouyang's shoulder, and the great tree unfurled to reveal images of Hu Yun; Ouyang covered Hu Tutu's eyes and said it was not something children could watch.

Ouyang saw the scene of Hu Yun leaving Tu Yun with the Grand Ancestor, then returned from Liang Zai’s belly with Tutu. Chang Suzhen and Xiao Feng welcomed them back, and Ouyang was startled by Xiao Feng’s blond hair.

• Ouyang watched Tu Yun part from Hu Yun as the Grand Ancestor led him into the desert, and he used True Essence to see the Grand Ancestor’s face before the scroll vanished.
• Ouyang found Tutu asleep in his arms and heard Tu Yun and Green Mound complaining about living together in one body.
• Chang Suzhen and the anxious blond-haired Xiao Feng waited for Ouyang and Tutu to return from Liang Zai’s belly.
• Chang Suzhen announced their return, Liang Zai retched out two streaks of light, and Ouyang appeared holding Tutu.
• Ouyang greeted Chang Suzhen, then exclaimed at Xiao Feng’s blond hair.

Xiao Feng returned to Little Mountain Peak with yellow hair changed by his cultivation, and Ouyang nervously kept him away from Hu Tutu. Hu Tutu happily reunited with Xiao Feng while Chang Suzhen put an end to the commotion.

• Xiao Feng introduced himself to Ouyang, who recognized him but grew suspicious of his yellow hair and warned him to stay away from Hu Tutu.
• Xiao Feng explained that merging with Vermilion Bird essence blood had changed his hair, while Ouyang reassured him that blond hair was what made him uneasy.
• Ouyang hurled Liang Zai at Xiao Feng, and the commotion woke Hu Tutu.
• Hu Tutu recognized Xiao Feng, ran over to him, and praised his hair, leaving Ouyang dismayed.
• Chang Suzhen scolded everyone, and Hu Tutu hid behind Xiao Feng while Ouyang imagined a future where Xiao Feng and Hu Tutu rode off together.

Ouyang discussed Hu Tutu's future with Chang Suzhen and left her in Chang Suzhen's care, while reflecting on the burdens he and Hu Yun had taken on. After drinking and dancing on the Deer Terrace, he watched the stars and urged his companions to journey onward.

• Ouyang agreed to leave Hu Tutu with Chang Suzhen, who promised to help her become a Tribulation Transcendence empress within a hundred years.
• Ouyang told Chang Suzhen that he wanted Hu Tutu to grow up happy rather than bear the burden of becoming empress.
• Ouyang reflected on Hu Yun's plans and realized he was following the same path of self-sacrifice, despite disagreeing with his master's methods.
• As night fell, Ouyang drank and danced on the Deer Terrace while Chang Suzhen watched him.
• Ouyang lay beneath the stars, recalled familiar faces, and drunkenly urged his companions to journey onward.

Xiao Feng brought Hu Tutu back to the Imperial City after showing her around the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, where Ouyang told him that Hu Tutu would remain there while he returned to the Sect. After Ouyang left, Hu Tutu revealed that she had heard the truth about his troubles and resolved to become stronger.

• Xiao Feng carried the sleeping Hu Tutu back to the Imperial City and found Ouyang waiting there.
• Xiao Feng told Ouyang he no longer resented Hu Yun for not taking him as a disciple, and Ouyang said keeping him on Little Mountain Peak would have hindered him.
• Ouyang said Hu Tutu would stay in the Ten Thousand Demon Nation and announced he was returning to the Sect.
• Xiao Feng warned Ouyang that Hu Tutu would be sad if he never came back, and Ouyang scolded him before leaving on Gouzi.
• Hu Tutu revealed she had been awake and had heard about Ouyang's hardships, then cried that she wanted to become strong enough to help him.
• Xiao Feng told Hu Tutu that strength could protect what she cherished, and she agreed to grow stronger.

Dongxu Zi taught Zhao Qiansun the Dao of the Golden Core Realm and urged him to strengthen his foundations before Ouyang returned to Azure Cloud Peak. Dongxu Zi apologized for the burden Ouyang had borne, but Ouyang said the outcome had yet to be decided.

• Dongxu Zi lectured Zhao Qiansun on the Dao of the Golden Core Realm, and Zhao Qiansun absorbed the teachings.
• Dongxu Zi warned Zhao Qiansun to reinforce his unstable Dao foundation, and Zhao Qiansun bowed before leaving.
• Ouyang appeared on Liang Zai after Dongxu Zi called out to him, and joked that he had stayed away during the lecture.
• Dongxu Zi admitted that his hands-off approach to teaching had contributed to Ling Feng's fate.
• Dongxu Zi asked whether Ouyang had paved the way for his junior brothers, and Ouyang said he had nearly died doing it.
• Dongxu Zi apologized to Ouyang, who replied that the future had not yet unfolded and he might not follow the path Dongxu Zi expected.

Ouyang returned to Little Mountain Peak and found it quiet and meticulously cared for after Chen Changsheng and the others had left. Little Bie San arrived after waiting more than half a month, and Ouyang comforted him by giving him Chen Changsheng’s waist token.

• Ouyang landed at the foot of Little Mountain Peak, then grew impatient and flew to the summit with Liang Zai.
• Ouyang found the courtyard spotless and the quilts protected by formations, and thought of Changsheng’s care for the peak.
• Ouyang rested beneath the banyan tree while reflecting on how his disciples had grown beyond the Azure Cloud Sect.
• Little Bie San returned with fruit, found Ouyang asleep, and curled up beside the chair after waiting more than half a month for him.
• Ouyang woke after nightfall, called for Chen Changsheng, and realized again that he had left.
• Ouyang hung Chen Changsheng’s waist token around Little Bie San’s neck, and the ape broke down sobbing.

Ouyang realized Chen Changsheng was choosing to join the Devil Race and decided not to interfere with his path. Little Bie San vowed to bring Changsheng back and asked Ouyang for help, who promised to find it a powerful teacher.

• Little Bie San gorged itself on wild fruit before urgently trying to tell Ouyang about Chen Changsheng.
• Ouyang explained that Changsheng had chosen his own path toward the Devil Race, and that he would not stop him.
• Little Bie San rejected Ouyang's decision to stand aside and vowed to bring Changsheng back itself.
• Ouyang praised Little Bie San's resolve but pointed out that it was too weak to help Changsheng.
• Little Bie San asked Ouyang to teach it a powerful ability, and Ouyang offered to find it a teacher, hinting at Dongxu Zi on Azure Cloud Peak.

Ouyang brought Little Bie San to Dongxu Zi and persuaded the Azure Cloud Sect Master to give the ape a cultivation manual. Little Bie San attained Dao Enlightenment almost instantly, but his puppet body began to melt under the cultivation energy; the Immortal-Binding Rope repaired him as Zhao Qiansun arrived to witness the extraordinary scene.

• Ouyang brought Little Bie San to Dongxu Zi and used flattery to persuade him to teach the ape.
• Dongxu Zi gave Little Bie San a basic cultivation manual, and Little Bie San attained Dao Enlightenment after only a few moments of reading.
• Dongxu Zi activated the Spirit-Gathering Formation, but the powerful Heaven and Earth Essence began melting Little Bie San's wooden puppet body.
• Ouyang stopped Dongxu Zi from withdrawing the formation and insisted Little Bie San be allowed to continue his chosen path.
• As Little Bie San toppled, the Immortal-Binding Rope entered his body and restored his life force, while his Great Demon bloodline Phantom roared at the heavens.
• Zhao Qiansun arrived and was shocked to see Little Bie San meditating in Dao Enlightenment.

Little Bie San endured the painful reshaping of its body as Ouyang watched, while a vast heavenly tribulation gathered over the Azure Cloud Sect. The chapter ended with the eye of heavenly punishment unleashing a torrent of purple-blue plasma toward them.

• Little Bie San bore the agony of its body dissolving and reforming, determined to become strong enough to save Boss.
• Ouyang's power merged into Little Bie San, and the ape phantom straightened and roared defiantly at the sky.
• A vast eye of heavenly punishment formed over the Azure Cloud Sect, alarming Dongxu Zi and the sect's cultivators.
• Little Bie San's reshaped body became more humanlike, and Ouyang watched with satisfaction as it continued to endure.
• The eye of heavenly punishment opened within the clouds and blasted a torrent of purple-blue plasma downward.

Ouyang blocked the Nine Heavens Purple Firmament Divine Thunder meant to strike Little Bie San as it reconstructed its true form, then blasted apart the Eye of Heavenly Punishment. The skies cleared over the Azure Cloud Sect, though Dongxu Zi believed Little Bie San still lacked Heaven and Earth's acknowledgment.

• Little Bie San braced itself to face the world-shattering tribulation, while Dongxu Zi believed the ape could not survive the Nine Heavens Purple Firmament Divine Thunder.
• Ouyang raised one hand and blocked the tribulation from striking Little Bie San, leaving Dongxu Zi confused about why he would intervene.
• Ouyang recognized the Eye of Heavenly Punishment above him and felt exhilarated that Heaven and Earth feared his plans.
• Ouyang took down Liang Zai and poured true essence into the dog's belly, firing a blast that pierced the Eye of Heavenly Punishment and scattered the dark clouds.
• Ouyang lowered his hand and flashed a V sign at the stunned spectators as the Azure Cloud Sect's skies cleared.

Ouyang protected Little Bie San through his Heavenly Tribulation, and the ape emerged with a reconstructed true form. Left behind after Ouyang was taken to the Main Hall, Little Bie San began studying cultivation with Zhao Qiansun.

• Ouyang shielded the ape phantom with his True Essence and sent it back into Little Bie San’s body after the tribulation ended.
• Little Bie San emerged from Dao Enlightenment, thanked Ouyang, and examined his new, humanlike body.
• Dongxu Zi dragged Ouyang into the Main Hall, leaving Little Bie San behind.
• Zhao Qiansun approached Little Bie San, introduced himself, and offered friendship.
• Little Bie San struggled to read his cultivation manual, so Zhao Qiansun explained it to him.

Ouyang confronted Dongxu Zi about his plans and learned that Dongxu Zi could remember little about their lost Grand Ancestor. In the Grand Ancestor’s hidden space, Ouyang claimed he knew what the Grand Ancestor looked like, and Dongxu Zi immediately unleashed immense pressure on him.

• Ouyang bluffed Dongxu Zi into revealing that he had considered sacrificing himself, then accused him of making moves against his disciples.
• Ouyang said he had taken his late father’s place in watching the Chessboard and scheming against Heaven and Earth.
• Dongxu Zi brought Ouyang into a Pure White Space left to him by the Grand Ancestor, where even Heaven and Earth could not hear their conversation.
• Dongxu Zi explained that he remembered having a Master but could no longer recall the Grand Ancestor’s voice or appearance, and mourned the fallen Seven Azure Cloud Disciples.
• Ouyang claimed he knew what the Grand Ancestor looked like, and Dongxu Zi’s pressure surged against him.

Ouyang provoked Dongxu Zi by claiming he had met Dongxu Zi’s long-lost master, nearly prompting the powerful Daoist to kill him. After Ouyang revealed that he had seen the Grand Ancestor in the Nine Hells, Dongxu Zi demanded to know more and explained how deeply his master’s rescue had shaped him.

• Dongxu Zi lost his composure when Ouyang claimed to have met his master and trapped Ouyang with One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones.
• Ouyang’s joking remark that he had thought he was Dongxu Zi’s father enraged Dongxu Zi, who pinned him under immense pressure.
• Ouyang shouted that he had seen the gray-robed Grand Ancestor in the Nine Hells, and Dongxu Zi stopped just short of striking him.
• Dongxu Zi returned the Pure White Space to normal and pressed Ouyang for details about his master.
• Ouyang admitted he had seen the Grand Ancestor’s Dao Integration with the Nine Hells, and Dongxu Zi warned that Chongming might have killed him for the same claim.
• Dongxu Zi recalled how his master had saved him and Su Xiaoqi from despair and given them a home.

Dongxu Zi recalled the Great Calamity and explained why he and the other powerful cultivators sought to guide the world through it with as few losses as possible. He challenged Ouyang to see how individuals shaped the world, and Ouyang realized that Heaven and Earth flowed like the River of Time.

• Dongxu Zi remembered the devastation of the first Dao-Demon War and the sacrifices made by the Seven Azure Cloud Disciples before they rose to power.
• Dongxu Zi told Ouyang that he had gradually become like them, but Ouyang rejected the idea that he or his junior brothers and sisters should represent all living beings.
• Ouyang challenged Dongxu Zi's attempt to steer him, and Dongxu Zi conjured a seven-colored torrent in the Pure White Space.
• Dongxu Zi asked Ouyang to see each person's path as a thread, and Ouyang perceived countless lives connected and moving together.
• Ouyang realized that the torrent represented Heaven and Earth as an unstoppable river whose pioneers shaped its course, and recognized it as the River of Time.

Ouyang learned that the Immortals’ flight from the Great Calamity had stalled the River of Time and left the world on the brink of collapse. Dongxu Zi explained that no one could escape the River of Time without perishing, a secret understood by his Master, Ouyang’s Grand Ancestor.

• Ouyang realized the Immortals had fled the Great Calamity, leaving the River of Time without pioneers and threatening the world with collapse.
• Ouyang considered whether the Immortals and other living beings were wrong, recognizing the conflict as an insoluble problem.
• Dongxu Zi explained that the colored threads represented each person’s lifetime and River of Life, which together formed the River of Time.
• Ouyang asked whether stepping outside the River of Time would make someone a sage, and Dongxu Zi said escape meant certain demise.

Dongxu Zi told Ouyang that the old cultivators planned to guide the world through the coming calamity, while Ouyang’s junior brothers and sisters were destined to become future pioneers and sacrifices. Ouyang accepted that he had to stand with them for now, but remained convinced their plan would fail and learned the Dao-Demon War was set to begin in nine years.

• Ouyang asked Dongxu Zi why he had revealed the plan and what he expected Ouyang to do, and Dongxu Zi urged him to stop defying heaven and keep moving forward.
• Ouyang asked about his junior brothers and sisters, and Dongxu Zi admitted they would become future pioneers whose fate would be to sacrifice themselves in the next Great Calamity.
• Ouyang recognized that Dongxu Zi and the others were concealing the cost of their plan, but he believed they were destined to fail because Chen Changsheng had returned through rebirth.
• Ouyang asked when Dongxu Zi and the others planned to die, and Dongxu Zi said they would take ancient threats down with them.
• Ouyang inferred that the Dao-Demon War would begin in nine years, then suggested they order food.

Ouyang and Dongxu Zi clashed over their plans for the Immortal, then Ouyang learned that Chen Changsheng had severed his affiliation with the Azure Cloud Sect. As Chen Changsheng entered the dark clouds in the far north, Ouyang resolved to disrupt the forces betting on his disciples, leaving the story with a tense moment disguised by his complaint about Azure Cloud Peak’s food.

• Ouyang decided that persuading Dongxu Zi was pointless, while both men privately regarded the other as foolish.
• Dongxu Zi showed Ouyang Chen Changsheng’s extinguished everlasting lamp and explained that Chen Changsheng had left the Azure Cloud Sect to spare Ouyang and Little Mountain Peak shame.
• Ouyang remembered meeting Chen Changsheng as a child and lamented that his junior brother kept risking himself to solve future problems.
• In the far north, Chen Changsheng rode a black lotus through lightning and vanished into the dark clouds without looking back.
• Ouyang resolved to interfere with the plans surrounding his disciples and the River of Time, then criticized Dongxu Zi’s cooking.