Chapter Summaries

Chu Xingchen and the allied sects prepared to meet the Buddhist Sect, while Yuankong worried about his role in their plan. As the Buddhist delegation arrived, Chu Xingchen sent the nervous Yuankong to the seat of honor to begin the act.

• Seven Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from the Great Dao Sect, Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect, and Heavenly Derivation Sect gathered at Huazhen Hall.
• Chen Xiao praised Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu, while Huang Miao apologized to Xie Lingyu for a recent misunderstanding.
• Yuankong arrived with Wukong and Cui Hao, and Chu Xingchen explained that Yuankong only needed to act as planned, not fight Ru Nan.
• Yuankong suggested rehearsing, but Chu Xingchen said there was no time as the Buddhist Sect's golden clouds appeared in the eastern sky.
• Chu Xingchen urged Yuankong to take the seat of honor, and Yuankong walked toward it as the Buddhist delegation arrived.

Yuankong questioned Ru Nan about Buddhist principles while the Buddhist Sect confronted him, then revealed his identity as Ru Nan’s senior brother. Ru Nan rejected him as a demon and gave Chu Xingchen three days to hand over the Evil Buddha.

• The Buddhist Sect arrived in force, and Ru Nan tried to probe Yuankong’s identity until Huang Miao cut off his divine sense.
• Yuankong asked Ru Nan to discuss his doubts about liberation, compassion, and worldly gains, and the two exchanged teachings for a long time.
• Venliou Buddha interrupted and challenged Yuankong to prove whether he was real or false.
• Yuankong released a wisp of Buddhist light, prompting Ru Nan to recognize him as his senior brother and remark that his abilities had declined.
• Ru Nan declared Yuankong a demon, threatened to subdue him, and gave Chu Xingchen three days to hand over the Evil Buddha.

Chu Xingchen explained how his false lead gave Ru Nan an opening to ease tensions between the Buddhist Sect’s factions and let Guangming Buddha escape. Ru Nan ended the encirclement and then visited the imprisoned Ruzhong, who remarked that Chu Xingchen always offered terms he could not refuse.

• Chu Xingchen told the gathered cultivators that Ru Nan had recognized Yuankong as a fake but accepted the excuse to make peace with the Karma Buddhas and balance the Buddhist Sect’s factions.
• Ru Nan ordered the Buddhist Sect to end its encirclement because the Evil Buddha had escaped, despite Venliou Buddha’s objections.
• Chizhu True Buddha supported Ru Nan’s judgment that the aura was genuine, and Ru Nan postponed further discussion until the other Buddhas arrived.
• Ru Nan went to the dungeon and found Ruzhong reading scripture, where Ruzhong said Chu Xingchen could always offer terms Ru Nan could not refuse.

Ruzhong explained why he had helped Chu Xingchen, while Prajna advised Ru Nan to punish Chu Xingchen to contain dissent among the Buddhas and preserve unity. Ru Nan remained wary of Prajna but asked him to prepare a plan.

• Ruzhong told Ru Nan that Chu Xingchen had offered no explicit terms and that he had helped him to bring the world a few more years of peace.
• Ruzhong warned Ru Nan that keeping him confined could drive him mad, but Ru Nan left without replying.
• Prajna arrived at Right Sound Dharma Temple and advised Ru Nan to punish Chu Xingchen in a measured way to appease the Buddhas and unite them against an outside enemy.
• Ru Nan considered Prajna's apparent loyalty and suspected that his competence concealed ambitions for the future.
• Prajna offered to take the lead, and Ru Nan asked him to make his arrangements and present them.

Cui Hao played the guzheng for Lin Luoyu, then joked crudely until Chu Xingchen arrived and punished him with a flick to the forehead. Xie Lingyu and Chu Xingchen shared a teasing exchange over the instrument, leaving them warmly at ease with each other.

• Cui Hao impressed Lin Luoyu with his guzheng playing and explained that he had switched to the instrument because blowing a flute exhausted him.
• Cui Hao offered to play Eighteen Touches for Lin Luoyu, but Chu Xingchen interrupted with a threat to find men to carry out the song’s title literally.
• Chu Xingchen flicked Cui Hao on the forehead for joking with Lin Luoyu, and Cui Hao accepted the punishment.
• Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao greeted Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu, and Xie Lingyu thanked them for their hard work.
• Chu Xingchen claimed to know how to play the guzheng, and Xie Lingyu teased him before playing a simple melody herself.
• Xie Lingyu told Chu Xingchen she had learned his bad habits because he kept bullying her, and they exchanged a warm smile.

Xie Lingyu played for Chu Xingchen and their companions before the group arranged its work across Dongsheng Shenzhou. As Li Yingling and Zhang Miaoyu coordinated a secret operation investigating demonic traces, Li Yingling reassured Zhang Miaoyu that she was doing well.

• Xie Lingyu played part of a piece, and Cui Hao praised her while she reminded him that excessive praise was an insult.
• Chu Xingchen and Cui Hao exchanged unspoken remarks about Xie Lingyu, while Lin Luoyu smiled at the Sect's camaraderie.
• The group assigned Lin Luoyu, Cui Hao, Xie Lingyu, and Yun Li to their respective duties as Li Yingling brought Zhang Miaoyu along to help coordinate the operation.
• Li Yingling and Zhang Miaoyu relayed orders and gathered intelligence from disciples of the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect and the Heavenly Derivation Sect as they investigated demonic traces leading toward Dongsheng Shenzhou.
• When Zhang Miaoyu asked whether news had arrived from the Western Ox-He Continent, Li Yingling said there was no need to investigate because her Master was in Dongsheng Shenzhou.
• Li Yingling told Zhang Miaoyu that working with her made things easier and that she was doing very well, then said she always told the truth when she complimented people.

Li Yingling sent Zhang Miaoyu to an information post to investigate reports about her and display the sect’s strength. At Tassel Tower, Zhang Miaoyu met a mortal girl named Ye Wanzhou and told her she had once been much like her.

• Li Yingling gave Zhang Miaoyu a jade token and tasked her with collecting useful information and paying rewards at a Three-Sect Alliance post.
• Li Yingling told Zhang Miaoyu to dispel rumors that she had been beaten to death and to represent their sect proudly.
• Zhang Miaoyu asked whether appearing openly would disrupt Li Yingling’s plans, and Li Yingling said it would signal that they were ready.
• Zhang Miaoyu reached Tassel Tower and asked a dark-skinned girl named Ye Wanzhou for a ride there.
• Zhang Miaoyu told Ye Wanzhou that before she became an immortal, she had been quite like her.

Zhang Miaoyu recognized Ye Wanzhou’s unusual talent and offered her a chance to see the Immortal Tower. Ye Wanzhou accepted Zhang Miaoyu’s hand, leaving open whether she would join the sect.

• Zhang Miaoyu explained that she had noticed Ye Wanzhou using spiritual energy from the Immortal Tower to lure fish and had learned that Ye Wanzhou was talented and kindhearted.
• Zhang Miaoyu considered inviting Ye Wanzhou to the sect but began to leave when Ye Wanzhou seemed too nervous to respond.
• Ye Wanzhou pushed the boat away from the bank and carried Zhang Miaoyu toward the Immortal Tower, refusing to charge her a fare.
• Zhang Miaoyu offered to pay Ye Wanzhou’s fare by taking her inside the Immortal Tower.
• Zhang Miaoyu told Ye Wanzhou to raise her head and see the splendid world, and Ye Wanzhou reached for her hand.

Ye Wanzhou entered the Immortal Tower with Zhang Miaoyu and witnessed her assert her authority as a special envoy of the Heavenly Sect. Zhang Miaoyu reunited with an old rogue cultivator friend, who teased her that being a special envoy meant she had fallen short of her old boasts.

• Ye Wanzhou chose to risk entering the Immortal Tower with Zhang Miaoyu, despite her fear and lack of support.
• The cultivators in the tower rose to greet Zhang Miaoyu, who declined the attendant’s offer and went toward the third floor.
• A middle-aged cultivator mocked Zhang Miaoyu for relying on others, but she revealed her Heavenly Sect special envoy token and ordered him to stop using Yingling’s name and leave.
• Zhang Miaoyu’s old rogue cultivator friend arrived, delighted to see her and surprised that she had become a Heavenly Sect special envoy.
• Zhang Miaoyu claimed even Yuyang Daozi had to greet her, and her friend joked that she was worse off than when she had boasted she could trounce him with one hand.

Zhang Miaoyu reunited with Su Zhuo, explained that Chu Xingchen was her master, and offered Ye Wanzhou guidance before leaving. In Huazhen Hall, Guangming Buddha thanked Chu Xingchen and Yuyang Daozi, then suggested Chu Xingchen as a way to appease the Mundane Buddha, leaving Chu Xingchen and Yuyang Daozi exchanging suspicious looks.

• Zhang Miaoyu told Su Zhuo that her team leader's master was Chu Xingchen, then laughed off rumors that he was the Fierce-Devouring True Lord.
• Su Zhuo said she preferred to remain an unattached cultivator, and Zhang Miaoyu promised she could use Zhang's future name for protection.
• Zhang Miaoyu gave Su Zhuo spirit stones and pills, watched her leave, and asked Ye Wanzhou whether she had made up her mind; Ye Wanzhou thanked her for offering guidance.
• At Huazhen Hall, Guangming Buddha thanked Chu Xingchen, who credited Yuyang Daozi, and Guangming Buddha thanked Yuyang Daozi as well.
• Chu Xingchen asked how Ru Nan should appease the Mundane Buddha, and Guangming Buddha suggested making Chu Xingchen the focus; Chu Xingchen and Yuyang Daozi exchanged looks that worried him.

Chu Xingchen persuaded Guangming Buddha to risk himself to buy time while the sects investigated the Heavenly Demons’ plans in Western Ox-He Continent. At Putu Temple, Prajna delivered the Venerable Buddha’s decree to eliminate the Evil Buddha at Zhenghua Hall the day after tomorrow, challenging the gathered Buddhas to support the plan.

• Chu Xingchen told Guangming Buddha that Heavenly Demons had fled toward Western Ox-He Continent and urged him to meet Ru Nan to delay a confrontation with the Buddhist Sect.
• Guangming Buddha agreed to Chu Xingchen’s plan, and Chu Xingchen arranged for him to meet Wukong and receive treatment for his injuries.
• Yuyang Daozi remarked on Guangming Buddha’s courage, while Chu Xingchen joked that Yuyang would be just as willing to take the risk.
• Prajna entered Putu Temple and told the assembled Dust-Matters Buddhas that the Venerable Buddha would descend on Zhenghua Hall the day after tomorrow to eliminate the Evil Buddha.
• Prajna said the real Evil Buddha would be present next time and mocked the Buddhas for hesitating to oppose him despite their grievances.

Prajna persuaded the Buddhist Sect’s Buddhas to accept a plan to eliminate the Evil Buddha, using their fears of Mahayana Buddhism’s return and the Three Sects’ pressure. He left the Buddhas holding Message Tokens that could make him their scapegoat as they prepared for the meeting two days later.

• The Buddhas questioned whether the Venerable Buddha had truly ordered them to kill the Evil Buddha, wary of acting without clear backing.
• Prajna argued that the Buddhist Sect had to confront the Evil Buddha and warned the Buddhas that their power and positions were at risk if they continued to do nothing.
• Prajna proposed feinting against Chu Xingchen before redirecting their attacks toward the Evil Buddha, with the Venerable Buddha and two Karma Buddhas joining the fight.
• Prajna distributed Message Tokens as proof of his orders, and the Buddhas accepted the plan while treating him as a potential scapegoat.
• Prajna left Putuo Temple, satisfied that the factional divisions and the Buddhas’ greed had set his plan in motion.

As the Three Sects prepared to meet Ru Nan and the Buddhist arrivals, Chu Xingchen suspected the Heavenly Demons might be targeting him and quietly arranged for his disciples and dao companion to be moved to safety. He remained at the Main Hall entrance to watch the delegation arrive, leaving Huang Miao bewildered by his plans.

• Lin Luoyu sparred with Cui Hao using her fists and revealed the flow of her Righteousness Sword Technique, which Cui Hao studied closely.
• Yuankong told Chu Xingchen he hoped he would stay safe, and Chu Xingchen persuaded him to pray for his opponent to protect him just to frustrate the enemy.
• Chu Xingchen sensed that the Heavenly Demons might target him at the coming meeting, while Xie Lingyu shared a tender moment with him beneath the moon.
• Ru Nan arrived aboard the jeweled canopy of Morning Clouds as Guangming Buddha, the Three Sects, and two unfamiliar Tribulation Transcendence cultivators prepared for the meeting.
• Huang Miao told Chu Xingchen that his disciples and dao companion had been taken somewhere safe, but Chu Xingchen stayed to watch for a possible surprise among the Buddhist arrivals.

Ru Nan's attempt to resolve the Buddhist Sect's confrontation with Guangming Buddha was interrupted when Prajna attacked, prompting the Three Sects and the mundane Buddhas to clash. Chu Xingchen began evacuating with Huang Miao, but Xu Linglong arrived with reinforcements to hunt him down.

• Ru Nan asked Guangming Buddha to surrender without a fight, but Prajna struck the Three Sects' formation before he could answer.
• The Three Sects' cultivators blasted Prajna away, and the mundane Buddhas joined the battle as Ru Nan advanced against them.
• Chu Xingchen told Huang Miao to retreat, concealed their auras, and activated a teleportation formation in the Rear Hall.
• Xu Linglong's scarlet arrow shattered the formations, and Huang Miao's Spirit Treasure Longsword intercepted it.
• Xu Linglong told Chu Xingchen that her allies had come to kill him, while powerful auras closed in around them.

At Pearl-Gem Peak, Bai Xuanling told Chen Baiqing that Chu Xingchen might have a way to help her, while waiting for him to return from the Western Ox-He Continent. When powerful cultivators rushed out of the Heavenly Derivation Sect, Chen Baiqing hurried to Li Xingtian, who told her to trust their Master and not rush after them.

• Bai Xuanling told Chen Baiqing that Lü Xuan's method had failed and that she was waiting for Chu Xingchen to try an idea after handling matters on the Western Ox-He Continent.
• Bai Xuanling said Qinghe was training with the Scarlet Flood Dragon and asked whether Chen Baiqing minded that Chu Xingchen had not taken her with him; Chen Baiqing said she trusted his arrangements.
• Bai Xuanling received a summons from the Sect Leader Lü and left before finishing their Go game.
• Chen Baiqing saw powerful figures speed out of the Heavenly Derivation Sect and hurried to A Loving Family Peak.
• Chen Baiqing found Li Xingtian watching the departing cultivators, and he told her to trust Master and not rush over blindly.

Xu Linglong’s attack exposed Prajna as a suspected Demon, prompting the Buddhist Sect to unite against him while Heavenly Demons attacked Chu Xingchen. Ru Nan gave Hua Wu True Buddha the sect’s supreme treasure to protect Chu Xingchen, then revealed the power of former Venerable Buddhas and silenced the Buddhist Sect’s dissent.

• Xu Linglong shattered the Grand Formation, and the gathered Buddhas and cultivators turned their attention to her and Prajna.
• Ru Nan attacked Prajna with the Seven-Colored Buddhist Prayer Beads, and more than a dozen Tribulation Transcendence cultivators joined Hua Wu True Buddha in assaulting him.
• The golden light annihilated Prajna’s Blood Qi, while Heavenly Demons charged at Chu Xingchen and the Three Sects’ cultivators fought to protect him.
• Ru Nan told Hua Wu True Buddha that Ruzhong was coming to help Chu Xingchen and entrusted him with the Seven-Colored True-Flow Buddha-Light Bright Pearl.
• Ru Nan summoned former Venerable Buddhas from his Buddha Kingdom and ordered the Buddhist Sect to sit in silence.
• When a Mundane Buddha questioned him, Ru Nan had the former Venerable Buddhas break that Buddha’s Golden Body and commanded everyone to be silent.

Chu Xingchen and Huang Miao faced the Heavenly Demons and Devil Race cultivators while waiting for reinforcements, and Huang Miao fought to keep Chu Xingchen safe. Bai Xuanling arrived with cultivation nearing Tribulation Transcendence peak, leaving his power and condition uncertain.

• Chu Xingchen detected strange Devil Race Tribulation Transcendence cultivators approaching from the east and realized someone in the Buddhist Sect might be controlling the Pudu River.
• Huang Miao promised to protect Chu Xingchen until reinforcements arrived, then attacked the incoming cultivators and fought off a Heavenly Demon while shielding him.
• A Heavenly Demon recognized the Innate Primordial Origin Stabilizing Dao Two Qi Pearl and attacked Chu Xingchen, but Huang Miao's Spirit Treasure Longsword intervened.
• Bai Xuanling arrived and struck the Heavenly Demon, revealing cultivation almost at Tribulation Transcendence peak.

Bai Xuanling arrived after Chu Xingchen’s emergency token alerted her and joined the battle against the Devil Race, as reinforcements rushed to the scene. While Bai Xuanling fought the Heavenly Demons, Chu Xingchen defended the center against the invading demons and beasts, noticing signs that Bai Xuanling was beginning to suffer.

• Bai Xuanling used Azure Darkness to destroy the Heavenly Demon’s Crimson Curtains and drove back its crimson Origin power.
• Bai Xuanling explained that Chu Xingchen’s token had summoned her automatically, and said she had come because she wanted to, not because of his pills.
• The five great Heavenly Demons united as Devil Race reinforcements and enormous Demonic Beasts poured into the battlefield.
• Bai Xuanling said Lü Xuan was coordinating reinforcements and that the other sects would arrive within half an hour, then charged into battle.
• Chu Xingchen used Myriad Forms and the Primordial Innate Dao-Settling Two-Qi Pearl to cut down the demons and beasts that reached him.
• Chu Xingchen saw red traces appearing in Bai Xuanling’s azure Spiritual Energy and realized the battle was taking its toll on her.

Bai Xuanling fought a Heavenly Demon with Azure Darkness, striking decisively despite being wounded and nearly losing herself to old memories. Chu Xingchen stopped her before she could continue attacking, forcing her to face the living person beside her.

• Bai Xuanling charged the Heavenly Demon with Azure Darkness and overwhelmed its attacks with her sword’s Dao Resonance.
• Bai Xuanling pierced the Heavenly Demon, then withdrew to evade Xu Linglong’s Origin arrow and pulled an Origin sword from her shoulder.
• Bai Xuanling rushed toward Xu Linglong, but stopped when she realized the wounded Heavenly Demon had vanished without a finishing blow.
• Bai Xuanling recalled someone asking how she could protect them if she could not hold her sword, and her vision turned red as she prepared to attack again.
• Chu Xingchen seized Bai Xuanling’s arm and blocked her punch with Myriad Forms, then shouted that she cared only about the dead and asked her to consider the living.

Chu Xingchen used the Spirit-Shattering Butterfly Jade to trigger Bai Xuanling’s ascension while a protective formation shielded them from the Heavenly Demon. Bai Xuanling trusted him and let her cultivation rise beyond Tribulation Transcendence, drawing every demon and human present to watch.

• Bai Xuanling warned Chu Xingchen that she could not remain clearheaded until reinforcements arrived, while he refused to leave her to die.
• Chu Xingchen showed Bai Xuanling the Spirit-Shattering Butterfly Jade and activated a secret Great Dao Sect formation to protect them.
• Chu Xingchen used the jade to select Bai Xuanling and trigger Daytime Ascension, releasing purple qi into her body.
• Bai Xuanling said Lü Xuan had foretold that she could not ascend, but Chu Xingchen urged her to trust him instead.
• Bai Xuanling accepted Chu Xingchen’s words, stopped resisting the breakthrough, and let her aura rise beyond Tribulation Transcendence as everyone watched.