Recaps

Chu Xingchen confronted Xuanle in Bai Xuanling’s Sea of Consciousness and learned that Xuanle knew and hated him because she saw him as a threat to her plans. After leaving the Sea of Consciousness, he witnessed a memory of young Bai Xuanling and Bai Xuanle learning swordplay from a middle-aged man.

• Xuanle taunted Bai Xuanling for hiding her feelings, while Chu Xingchen urged them not to force a painful argument.
• Chu Xingchen reasoned that Xuanle recognized him and tried to attack because she feared he would disrupt her plans and had a close relationship with Bai Xuanling.
• Chu Xingchen told Xuanle that Bai Xuanling had Lü Xuan, Xie Lingyu, Qinghe, the Heavenly Derivation Sect cultivators, and himself on her side, and promised to help find a solution.
• Bai Xuanling helped Chu Xingchen leave her Sea of Consciousness, but he emerged in a memory of Zhujifeng Peak rather than the Main Hall.
• Chu Xingchen watched a middle-aged man praise young Bai Xuanling and then encourage Bai Xuanle, who asked her sister to teach her more swordplay.

Cui Hao lamented that he had not received a Spirit Treasure while joking with Chen Baiqing and Sandong. Li Yingling and Li Xingtian prepared to duel, and Chu Xingchen opened a betting pool as Cui Hao and Sandong placed bets on opposite sides.

• Cui Hao admired Yun Li's Spirit Treasure sword and complained that he still had no weapon of his own, while Chen Baiqing suggested his Spirit Treasure might not be ready.
• Cui Hao teased Sandong by claiming that a master hitting a disciple showed closeness, until Chen Baiqing threatened to punch him and he changed his explanation.
• Li Yingling arrived and said Li Xingtian had been insisting that she beat him; Li Xingtian challenged her to settle the matter through their skills.
• Li Yingling and Li Xingtian stepped onto the Martial Performance Platform and prepared to fight with their Spirit Treasures.
• Chu Xingchen appeared and set odds on the duel, prompting Cui Hao to bet on Li Xingtian and Sandong to support Li Yingling.

Wang Lin’s squad investigated the surging auras on A Loving Family Peak and found Li Yingling and Li Xingtian sparring while Chu Xingchen hosted spectators. Yan Yun arrived and asked about Bai Xuanling’s sea of consciousness, but Chu Xingchen only hinted at the severity of her condition.

• Wang Lin’s squad returned from a mission and headed toward Seclusion Peak after sensing two powerful auras.
• Wang Lin and his companions discovered Li Yingling and Li Xingtian sparring on A Loving Family Peak and went down to greet Chu Xingchen.
• Chu Xingchen welcomed the squad and asked Wang Lin who he thought would win; Wang Lin favored Li Xingtian.
• More disciples gathered to watch the spar, but Chu Xingchen kept them out, and Yan Yun later arrived.
• Yan Yun asked Chu Xingchen about Bai Xuanling’s sea of consciousness, and Chu Xingchen replied that people saw a legend’s radiance but not her scars.

Yan Yun and Chu Xingchen watched Li Yingling and Li Xingtian spar while chatting with Wang Lin and the others. As the fight intensified, Li Yingling gained the advantage and prepared a powerful sword strike, but Li Xingtian refused to yield.

• Yan Yun told Chu Xingchen she thought Li Yingling would win the spar.
• Chu Xingchen brought tea to Wang Lin's table and eased the disciples' nervousness around Yan Yun.
• Yan Yun praised the Heavenly Derivation Sect's disciples and called Yun Li an extraordinary snake, while Cui Hao enthusiastically agreed.
• Li Yingling and Li Xingtian continued trading fierce blows, with Li Xingtian falling behind in spiritual power and divine abilities.
• Li Yingling gathered her flowing-water sword intent into her spirit sword and warned Li Xingtian she would strike hard, while he raised his saber and told her to watch out.

Li Yingling defeated Li Xingtian in a fierce spar at Sealed Peak, while Wukong and Winter Melon traveled to investigate a lead connected to Cui Hao. Winter Melon realized Wukong planned to rely on his status as a Buddhist Child and leave her to face the danger.

• Yan Yun and Wang Lin reinforced the martial arena Barrier as Li Yingling and Li Xingtian's powers threatened to break it.
• Li Yingling defeated Li Xingtian, who accepted his loss and praised her talent.
• Li Yingling encouraged Li Xingtian, and Yan Yun suggested they spar at True Martial Peak next time.
• Winter Melon complained that Wukong was taking her to investigate Cui Hao without a plan.
• Wukong told Winter Melon that, as the Buddhist Child, he would be safe and she would be the one in danger.

Wukong brought Winter Melon through the snow-covered Huaping Cloud Sea to a strange, dilapidated Buddhist temple within the Heavenly Derivation Sect's sphere of influence. There, an aged monk welcomed them inside, while Winter Melon remained suspicious and ended the chapter looking around the courtyard in surprise.

• Winter Melon confronted Wukong about his intentions, but he insisted he had no need to send her to her death.
• Wukong led Winter Melon on a winding journey for several days, and she realized they were headed to the Heavenly Derivation Sect.
• Wukong and Winter Melon arrived at a remote Buddhist temple surrounded by shallow marshland.
• Wukong stopped Winter Melon's divine sense from probing the temple, and an aged monk opened the hall doors and invited them in.
• Winter Melon hesitated until Wukong threatened to use Buddhist arts to invite her inside, then entered the courtyard and looked around in astonishment.

Wukong brought Winter Melon to an aged monk, who concealed the flow of karma in her body and agreed to return to the Buddhist Sect amid the coming upheaval. After leaving the temple, Wukong knocked Winter Melon unconscious with repeated punches so he could take her to see Chu Xingchen.

• Winter Melon discovered that the aged monk's faceless Buddha paintings could scrutinize her, while he saw that her emotions and spirit were disturbed.
• Wukong asked the aged monk to disguise Winter Melon's karma and consider returning to the Buddhist Sect, arguing that no one could remain uninvolved in the Great Calamity.
• The aged monk agreed to help and told Wukong to proceed without worrying about him.
• After several days, the aged monk finished altering Winter Melon's spiritual aura, then cleared the haze from her eyes.
• Winter Melon angrily demanded to know what Wukong had done, and Wukong punched her repeatedly before taking her away.

Wukong brought Winter Melon to the Heavenly Derivation Sect after disguising her Divine Sense, while Chu Xingchen suspected she had been planted to probe him. The chapter ended with Chu Xingchen drawing his sword on Winter Melon, who realized Wukong and the others had all deceived her.

• Wukong explained that a monk had altered Winter Melon's Divine Sense and offered to change her face by smashing half of it, angering her.
• At the Heavenly Derivation Sect, Chu Xingchen left Bai Xuanling and Xie Lingyu to meet Wukong and his companion.
• Bai Xuanling reminisced about her own difficult path and asked whether Chu Xingchen would become a legend; Xie Lingyu said she hoped he would not.
• Chu Xingchen noticed a [Seed of the Desire Demon] among Winter Melon's traits and suspected she had been sent to spy on him.
• Chu Xingchen accused Wukong and Winter Melon of pretending and pointed his sword at her, leaving Winter Melon staring at Wukong in hatred.

Chu Xingchen killed Winter Melon in front of Wukong, then arranged for her body to be disposed of while discussing the remaining demonic targets with him. Winter Melon survived through the Flower of the Venerable and escaped east, while Chen Baiqing let her go and reported the task complete.

• Chu Xingchen pierced Winter Melon with Myriad Forms and questioned Wukong about the remaining targets in exchange for leaving the Buddhist Sect to him.
• Winter Melon survived the strike with help from the Flower of the Venerable and overheard Chu Xingchen and Wukong discussing the betrayal of the demons.
• Chu Xingchen entered the Heavenly Derivation Sect with Wukong, leaving Chen Baiqing to oversee Winter Melon's supposed disposal.
• Chen Baiqing sent most of the disciples away and instructed two to burn Winter Melon's body farther from the sect.
• Winter Melon revived, struck a Heavenly Derivation Sect disciple with the flower's power, and escaped east as Chen Baiqing stopped the others from pursuing her.

Chu Xingchen brought Wukong to Heavenly Derivation Peak, where Wukong learned that Xu Linglong was likely a Heavenly Demon and chose to return to the Buddhist Sect. Meanwhile, Xu Linglong praised Winter Melon for reporting on Wukong, then began transforming her with the power of Origin.

• Chu Xingchen brought Wukong to Heavenly Derivation Peak and introduced him to Yan Yun.
• Wukong recounted meeting Xu Linglong, and Chu Xingchen and Yan Yun identified her as likely the Heavenly Demon Bai had driven off.
• Wukong decided to return to the Buddhist Sect despite Chu Xingchen warning that it could be dangerous, and Chu Xingchen left him with Yan Yun to exchange information.
• Chen Baiqing greeted Chu Xingchen outside the hall, and he teased her for copying his smile.
• Winter Melon told Xu Linglong that Wukong and demons in the Buddhist Sect were preparing to betray them, and Xu Linglong praised her report.
• Xu Linglong pressed a finger to Winter Melon's brow and caused her blood, Origin power, and Sea of Consciousness to surge in agony.

Winter Melon survived Xu Linglong’s painful bloodline evolution and pledged herself to the Venerable One, while Xu Linglong planned to pressure Boluo into confronting Chu Xingchen. At A Loving Family Peak, Yan Yun met Chu Xingchen, who expected Xu Linglong to make her next move.

• Winter Melon endured the Flowers of the Venerable’s torment and awakened a powerful energy in her bloodline.
• Xu Linglong and Baibo decided to pressure Boluo for support and spread word that a Demon had taken a Buddha’s seat in the Buddhist Sect, forcing Boluo to make trouble for Chu Xingchen.
• Winter Melon thanked Xu Linglong, promised to serve her, and left to recover.
• Xu Linglong and Baibo set out to make trouble for Boluo.
• Yan Yun visited Chu Xingchen at A Loving Family Peak, and they discussed Xu Linglong’s likely next move.

Xu Jin and Jing Qing investigated the demonic attacks ravaging Western Ox-He Continent and found Lychee gravely wounded in Huangliang City. As Xu Jin tried to give her a healing pill, Lychee begged him to save someone.

• Xu Jin explained that Demon Beasts were resonating with Demon Crystals and suspected demons were using them to divert attention from their schemes.
• Jing Qing condemned the Buddhist Sect for neglecting Western Ox-He Continent, and Xu Jin vowed to hold it accountable.
• Xu Jin and Jing Qing traveled toward Huangliang City, killing the demons they encountered along the way.
• Xu Jin found Huangliang City still inhabited but besieged, then secretly entered and searched for Lychee.
• Xu Jin found Lychee badly injured and gave her a healing pill, but she caught his wrist and begged him to save them.

Xu Jin healed Lychee, restored her protective Dharma Treasure, and questioned her about the demonic beast attacks ravaging the Western Ox-He Continent. After learning that the Buddhist Sect had not intervened and that the first reports came from the south, he sent Jing Qing to find Chu Xingchen while he headed for Bodhisattva Man to investigate.

• Xu Jin gave Lychee a pill, used spiritual power to clear the strange force from her wounds, and helped her recover.
• Lychee told Xu Jin she would remain in Huangliang City to keep her promises, and Jing Qing restored the protective Dharma Treasure Chu Xingchen had given her.
• Lychee reported that the demonic beasts were first reported by southern merchants and refugees, including someone from Bodhisattva Man, and that the Buddhist Sect had not acted.
• Xu Jin learned that most of the local Heavenly Patrol Bureau had been killed and said the Buddhist Sect would have to answer if it caused the disaster.
• Xu Jin told Jing Qing to return to Central Province and report everything to Chu Xingchen, while he went to Bodhisattva Man to investigate.

Jing Qing brought Xu Jin’s report about the Western Ox-He Continent to Chu Xingchen, who organized the Heavenly Derivation Sect, the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect, and the Great Dao Sect to intervene. The three sects issued a joint decree announcing their expedition to the Western Ox-He Continent to slay demons and defend the Dao.

• Jing Qing reached the Heavenly Derivation Sect and told Chu Xingchen about the discoveries in Huangliang City and Xu Jin’s conversation with Lychee.
• Chu Xingchen agreed to help and asked Lü Xuan to mobilize the Heavenly Derivation Sect; Lü Xuan assigned Yan Yun to assist him.
• Chu Xingchen, Jing Qing, and Yan Yun went to the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect, where Li Moze agreed to join the expedition and sealed a jade slip.
• The Great Dao Sect’s sect leader read the report and agreed to join, sending Yuyang Daozi to take part.
• On the third day of the seventh month, the three great sects announced that they would go to the Western Ox-He Continent to slay demons and defend the Dao.

As Huangliang City faced an overwhelming Demon Beast tide, Lychee and its defenders prepared to make their last stand. Chu Xingchen arrived, destroyed the beasts with a single sword strike, and brought a vast force of cultivators from the Central Province to aid the people of the Western Ox-He Continent.

• Lychee refused to abandon Huangliang City despite the burly man's urging, and the two prepared for an immense Demon Beast attack.
• Chu Xingchen arrived as an azure strike carved through the approaching beast tide and destroyed it.
• Lychee welcomed Chu Xingchen, who said he had reached the Spirit Transformation realm and was there to help the people of the Western Ox-He Continent.
• A vast host of cultivators from the Central Province flew toward Huangliang City, and Chu Xingchen urged the two regions to unite against their enemies.

Chu Xingchen led the three sects’ forces across the Western Ox-He Continent and ordered them to pressure the Buddhist Sect, while Huang Miao blocked the Buddhist forces at the Pudu River. The chapter left the temples under attack and the Buddhist Sect unable to cross the river.

• Chu Xingchen’s coalition swept across the Western Ox-He Continent, destroying Buddhist temples and sects that resisted.
• Chu Xingchen told Yan Yun to lead the three sects to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple and to answer Buddhist threats with even fiercer threats.
• Chu Xingchen gave Lychee protective Dharma Treasures and urged her to stay alive, then left to confront the approaching monks.
• Huang Miao barred the Buddhist Sect from crossing the Pudu River and claimed the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect had jurisdiction there.
• An Arhat reported that the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple was under attack and the Right Sound Dharma Temple might also be under attack, and Huang Miao intercepted the report and taunted the Buddha.

Li Xingtian and Yan Yun led Heavenly Derivation Sect cultivators in an assault on the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, whose abbot defended its neglect of starving refugees. After killing him, the cultivators distributed the temple’s grain and made arrangements for the refugees, while Yan Yun hurried on as the conflict with the Buddhist Sect intensified.

• Yan Yun confronted the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple’s abbot over its refusal to help refugees, and he blamed the Heavenly Derivation Sect for cutting off the continent’s spirit veins.
• Li Xingtian attacked the abbot and denounced him, declaring that he would destroy the temple even if he could not win the argument; Yan Yun then killed the abbot with one strike.
• Wang Lin led his squad through the temple, killing monks who resisted while sparing those who did not fight and avoiding needless damage to places that could shelter people.
• Yan Yun ordered the temple’s grain reserves distributed, refugees whose homes had been cleared escorted back, and guards and logistics arranged.
• Yan Yun left to continue the campaign as Yuyang Daozi headed for Right Sound Dharma Temple and Chu Xingchen sought Xu Jin at Bodhisattva Man, with Huang Miao facing pressure at the Pudu River.

Xu Jin stayed with a remote tribe in Bodhisattva Man and tried to understand a drawing that seemed to predict an approaching ritual or disaster. When a female savage arrived with urgent news, Xu Jin sensed something outside and went to investigate.

• Xu Jin refused the middle-aged savage's roasted rat and used Spiritual Power to put it into the man's mouth.
• Xu Jin studied the savage's drawing of the moon and crazed demons, which seemed to depict something happening after a certain number of days.
• Xu Jin asked the middle-aged savage to take him to the place shown in the drawing, but could not understand the man's gestures about the timing.
• A female savage entered the hut, gesturing and making excited sounds, and Xu Jin sensed something outside with his Divine Sense before leaving to investigate.

Chu Xingchen reunited with Xu Jin and learned that the tribespeople’s lunar ritual would take over twenty years to activate. They traced its absorption of Spirit Stones and Moonlight Crystals above the Endless Sea, where Xu Jin’s blood triggered a reaction in the moonlight.

• Chu Xingchen used an illusion technique to communicate with the tribespeople and learned they believed they were taking part in an ancient trial.
• Chu Xingchen interpreted the tribesman’s gestures and told Xu Jin the moon ritual would take over twenty years to complete.
• Chu Xingchen told Xu Jin that Yan Yun, Yuyang Daozi, and the Grand Elder had also arrived, then took Xu Jin’s Spatial Ring to find the ritual.
• Chu Xingchen scattered spiritual power and moonlight over the Endless Sea to trace where the ritual absorbed them.
• Chu Xingchen cut Xu Jin’s wrist, and the moonlight sank into the sea along with his blood.

Chu Xingchen and Xu Jin opened a Secret Realm beneath the Endless Sea, but Xu Linglong attacked before they could enter. Bai Xuanling defeated her group and prepared to investigate the realm alone, leaving Xu Jin stung by her judgment of his cultivation as meager.

• Xu Jin and Chu Xingchen completed the blood-fueled Ritual, opening a Secret Realm beneath the Endless Sea.
• As a dozen-odd auras approached, Chu Xingchen and Xu Jin prepared to enter the realm and defend themselves.
• Xu Linglong led the arrivals and attacked Chu Xingchen, but Bai Xuanling appeared and annihilated the group, revealing that Xu Linglong had sent a clone.
• Bai Xuanling criticized Chu Xingchen's plan to draw out their enemies, and he said Xu Linglong had seemed unconcerned that the realm was discovered.
• Bai Xuanling chose to investigate the Secret Realm alone and told Chu Xingchen and Xu Jin not to follow because their cultivation was meager.

The Buddhas gathered at Great Thunderclap Temple to discuss the Three Sects’ entry into the Western Ox-He Continent and the Buddhist Sect’s response. Hua Wu argued that the sect had neglected the suffering caused by rampaging Demon Beasts, leaving the assembly silent.

• Buddhas from across the Buddhist Sect assembled at Great Thunderclap Temple, where Ru Nan welcomed them and called for discussion.
• The Eight-Turn True Buddha warned that the Three Sects were destroying Buddhist temples and could eventually seize Great Thunderclap Temple.
• Hua Wu True Buddha said the Buddhist Sect had failed to help the Western Ox-He Continent’s people as Demon Beasts rampaged there.
• The Eight-Turn True Buddha defended the sect’s actions and said its Buddhas had tried to cross the Pudu River to provide support.
• Hua Wu pointed out that the river had been unguarded when the Demon Beasts first began rampaging and asked why the Buddhas saw only their own hardships; the hall fell silent.

Hua Wu True Buddha and the Buddhas debated how to respond to the Three Great Sects’ actions in the Western Ox-He Continent, then agreed to send Buddhist Child Wukong to seek passage across the Pudu River. Li Yingling teased Li Xingtian with a made-up story about Lin Luoyu, and he believed her.

• Tian Ying True Buddha argued that the Buddhist Sect should investigate the Three Great Sects’ intentions rather than abandon the Western Ox-He Continent.
• Ru Nan Buddha approved Tian Ying True Buddha’s proposal to send a Buddhist Child across the Pudu River first.
• Eighth-Turn True Buddha recommended Buddhist Child Wukong for the mission, and Ru Nan accepted him.
• Ru Nan kept Hua Wu True Buddha behind after the council as the other Buddhas waited at the Great Thunderclap Temple.
• Li Yingling praised Li Xingtian for supposedly making an abbot kill himself, then claimed Lin Luoyu had done the same, and Li Xingtian believed her.

At Golden Radiance Mountain, Li Yingling reunited with Li Xingtian and Lin Luoyu, who explained that Cui Hao was teaching Buddhist believers practical ways to care for themselves. At the Right Sound Dharma Temple, Yuyang Daozi realized Chen Baiqing had steered events toward its destruction to give Chu Xingchen leverage over the Buddhist Sect.

• Li Yingling teased Li Xingtian after he returned from tearing down the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple.
• Lin Luoyu told Li Yingling that Cui Hao was still teaching Buddhist believers how to live well as mortals and had done good work.
• Li Yingling worried that Li Yuyang was still at the Right Sound Dharma Temple, while Lin Luoyu assured her that Yuyang Daozi was there to protect her.
• Yuyang Daozi reflected on how Chen Baiqing had helped push events toward the destruction of the Right Sound Dharma Temple.
• Chen Baiqing said the temple’s destruction would give Chu Xingchen leverage over the Buddhist Sect and more room to act.

Wukong led a small Buddhist party to the Pudu River under orders to enter the Western Ox-He Continent, while secretly tasked with investigating the three sects and local opinion. Huang Miao destroyed Buddha Ru Nan’s missive but let Wukong cross because someone whose words carried more weight had mentioned him.

• Wukong returned to the Buddhist Sect, where he remained free to move but was given several covert tasks by three Buddhas before being sent toward the Western Ox-He Continent.
• Wukong reached the Pudu River and bowed to True Buddha Yuan Gui, who warned him not to force a crossing if Huang Miao refused.
• Wukong approached Huang Miao alone and presented Buddha Ru Nan’s missive, saying he had come to lead a party to safety.
• Huang Miao crushed the missive and dismissed Ru Nan’s authority, but then allowed Wukong to cross because someone had spoken up for him.
• Wukong realized Huang Miao was referring to Chu Xingchen and wondered why his name seemed useful everywhere.

Wukong secured passage across the Pudu River for himself and his fellow disciples through Huang Miao’s favor to Chu Xingchen. Meanwhile, Cui Hao met a starving boy on Jinshan Flatland and gave him a literacy primer through Lin Luoyu, while Li Junzi led a trapped team of cultivators at Zhaomang Ridge and insisted they face the danger together.

• Huang Miao let Wukong bring any companions he wished across the Pudu River, and Wukong summoned the Buddhist cultivators who had followed him.
• Cui Hao approached a poor boy hiding behind a dead tree, but the boy fled after asking for his ragged clothes back.
• Lin Luoyu told Cui Hao that Master was returning and gave him a literacy primer to pass on to the boy.
• At Zhaomang Ridge, Yun Chuan asked Li Junzi what the team should do next as they remained deep in the beast-tide devastation.
• Li Junzi said they should not venture farther if the area had been evacuated, and Yun Chuan insisted the team would stay together whether they withdrew or pressed on.