Chapter Summaries

Fifth Prince Zhu Qian visited Li Rui and offered him a valuable talisman manual to smooth over their strained relationship. Meanwhile, Zhang Zilu secured Li Rui a powerful new post in the Mountain-Seeking Department after Gu Changsheng and Zhang staged an argument before the Holy Emperor.

• Zhu Qian visited Li Rui, congratulated him on his breakthrough, and offered him a copy of Yin Yang Talismans.
• Li Rui accepted Zhu Qian’s gift and maintained a polite reconciliation while remaining wary of the prince.
• After leaving Li Rui’s residence, Zhu Qian privately resolved to settle accounts with him once he became emperor.
• Gu Changsheng and Zhang Zilu argued before the Holy Emperor over Li Rui’s promotion and future post.
• Zhang Zilu offered Li Rui the position of Peacekeeper, and the Holy Emperor approved the appointment.

Li Rui attended morning court and was appointed Peacekeeper of the Mountain-Seeking Department, a powerful second-rank position, after Chief Zhang recommended him and the Holy Emperor approved. He returned to the department to congratulations from his colleagues, while his new status established him as a major figure in the court and the Annan Marquis Residence.

• Li Rui attended morning court, where officials questioned him about his expected promotion, though he said he knew nothing.
• Chief Zhang recommended Li Rui as Peacekeeper of the Mountain-Seeking Department, and the Holy Emperor approved the appointment.
• Li Rui received 40 Achievement Points after completing the Heavenly Official achievement mission, which awarded him an A rating.
• After court, Li Rui returned to the Mountain-Seeking Department, where Meng Chong, Nie Siming, Yuan Xiong, Ning Zhongtian, and Tan Hu congratulated him.
• Meng Chong told Li Rui to beat Yuan An if he refused to behave, and Yuan An felt a faint pain in his backside while wandering the capital.

Li Rui received an invitation to the Western Desert Buddhist Kingdom’s Ascension Ceremony and traveled there with Nie Siming, Ning Zhongtian, and Tan Hu. In Buddha City, he met Holy Monk Ling Lun, whose Buddhist lineage struggle concerned Great Yu’s fortune, and learned that Ling Lun would reach a decision at the ceremony in three days.

• A Mountain-Seeking Department subordinate delivered the Buddhist Kingdom’s invitation, and Li Rui decided to attend the Ascension Ceremony.
• A month later, Li Rui set out for the Western Desert with Nie Siming, Ning Zhongtian, and Tan Hu aboard a Magic Treasure boat.
• The four reached Buddha City, queued to enter, and explored the vast city filled with temples and Buddhist worshippers.
• Li Rui led his companions to meet Holy Monk Ling Lun, who recognized Nie Siming but did not know Li Rui.
• Li Rui asked Ling Lun about his sutra debate, and Ling Lun said his heart would be at peace at the Ascension Ceremony in three days.
• Li Rui told Ling Lun that he would help him.

Li Rui attended the Western Desert Buddhist Kingdom’s Ascension Ceremony, where three disciples entered the Immortal Cultivation World through the Immortal Gate Array. The ceremony ended with Holy Monk Fatian inviting those present to discuss whether immortality could be learned.

• Old Ziyang Daoist visited Li Rui and invited him to Qingwei Sect’s Immortal Gate Array ceremony three months later.
• Old Ziyang Daoist told Li Rui that Xuanyu’s Life Tablet had shattered, and Li Rui concealed that he had killed Xuanyu while agreeing not to hold a grudge.
• Li Rui joined Xuanwei and other guests at Sacred and Secular Plaza to witness the ceremony led by Holy Monks Fatian and Fawu.
• Holy Monk Fawu activated the Immortal Gate Array, and three Buddhist Kingdom disciples entered its Pillars of Light and vanished into the Immortal Cultivation World.
• Holy Monk Fatian addressed the assembled crowd and proposed discussing whether immortality could be learned.

At the Immortal Cultivation World’s Ascension Ceremony, Holy Monk Fatian used a scripture debate over whether immortals could be learned to challenge Daoist fortune. As the Buddhist Kingdom’s city-wide power silenced the Daoist challengers, Holy Monk Ling Lun stepped forward to oppose them, carrying out Li Rui and Chief Zhang’s plan to protect Yu Country’s fortune.

• Li Rui recognized that Holy Monk Fatian had revived the ancient debate over learning immortality to reclaim Buddhist fortune and undermine Daoism.
• A Celestial Phenomenon Realm Buddhist monk argued that immortals could not be learned, and the Buddhist domain silenced an immortal sect elder who challenged him.
• The gathered immortal sects realized the Buddhist Kingdom had drawn on Buddha City’s faith to suppress their Great Dao, and many looked to Xuanwei to respond.
• Li Rui sensed Buddhist fortune growing as Xuanwei prepared to step forward.
• Holy Monk Ling Lun emerged from the crowd, and the observers recognized that Ten Thousand Dharma Temple’s monk could challenge the Buddhist Kingdom from within Buddhism.
• Li Rui revealed that Ling Lun’s intervention was the final move in Chief Zhang’s plan to keep Yu Country’s fortune from being lost.

Holy Monk Ling Lun challenged the Buddhist Kingdom’s master at the Immortal Gate Array, but the master’s Indestructible Body stopped him and repelled Nie Han’s attack. As the immortal sects hesitated to intervene, an unknown brother stepped forward to try next.

• Holy Monk Ling Lun began a scripture debate with the Buddhist Kingdom’s master, seeking to cross the Immortal Gate.
• The Buddhist master raised an Indestructible Body barrier that halted Ling Lun and stirred the Buddhist Kingdom’s believers to celebrate.
• Xuanwei and the other immortal sects hesitated to intervene, fearing the karmic consequences and damage to their Dao fortune.
• Nie Han attacked the barrier with a colossal blade, but the Indestructible Body repelled him and left the Buddhist master unmoved.
• A figure placed a hand on Nie Han’s shoulder and said he would try next.

Li Rui broke the Buddhist master's Indestructible Body with a finger flick, letting Holy Monk Ling Lun channel Ten Thousand Dharma Temple's fortune and secure victory in the scripture debate. Li Rui and the others departed Buddha City for the south, while the Buddha Lord let them go in the face of Yu Kingdom's military strength; a voice then called for Master Li to wait.

• Li Rui joined Holy Monk Ling Lun before the Buddhist master's Indestructible Body and flicked the monk's head, opening a hole with his formidable External Skill.
• Holy Monk Ling Lun's Buddhist fortune from Ten Thousand Dharma Temple poured through the opening and shattered the Buddhist master's Indestructible Body, ending the debate in their favor.
• Li Rui told Holy Monk Ling Lun it was time to return south, and the group left Buddha City while the Buddha Lord refused to stop them.
• Nie Siming worried about pursuers, but Li Rui knew the West Garrison Army had deployed a hundred thousand troops along the border with the Buddhist Kingdom.
• As Li Rui and the others traveled south by boat, a voice called, "Master Li, please wait!"

After Nie Han sought Li Rui out to learn about the external skill that broke the Indestructible Body, Li Rui received the Azure Sea Green Lotus Contemplation Diagram as an achievement reward. He returned to the capital, where Chief Zhang praised his work in the Western Desert and promised to report his merits to the emperor; Li Rui then began recalling the new diagram’s mnemonic verse.

• Nie Han asked Li Rui whether Marquis Yuan had taught him the external skill he used to break the Indestructible Body, and Li Rui confirmed it.
• Nie Han thanked Li Rui and flew away, while Li Rui joked with Nie Siming about deserving a reward for finding the Marquis an expert.
• The system awarded Li Rui 20 Achievement Points and the Azure Sea Green Lotus Contemplation Diagram after he completed the Hero Subdued quest.
• Li Rui and his group returned to the capital, while Holy Monk Ling Lun went back to Ten Thousand Dharma Temple.
• Chief Zhang praised Li Rui’s handling of the Western Desert affair and said he would report Li Rui’s merits to the emperor.
• After Chief Zhang left, Li Rui considered Great Yu’s finances and recalled the Azure Sea Green Lotus Contemplation Diagram’s mnemonic verse.

Li Rui improved his cultivation through the Azure Sea Green Lotus Contemplation Diagram and learned that Jiang Linxian’s daughter had gone to the Immortal Cultivation World. After digesting Xuanyu’s Spirit Embryo and nearing the initial Embryonic Formation stage, Li Rui entered the Great Void Dao Field and greeted Daoist Wu.

• Li Rui contemplated the Myriad World Immortal Lotus and found that the Azure Sea Green Lotus Contemplation Diagram had nearly doubled his progress in comprehending the Great Dao.
• Liu Tong told Li Rui that the Black Market was selling expensive Ascension Slots, though the Immortal Gate would not open again for seven or eight years.
• Jiang Linxian visited Li Rui for wine and told him that Yan Er had gone to the Immortal Cultivation World.
• Li Rui and Jiang Linxian discussed Yan Er’s departure and Yellow Dragon Child, whose past actions had shaped the current era.
• After more than a year, Li Rui finished digesting the spiritual energy in Xuanyu’s Spirit Embryo and believed he was at most two years from reaching initial Embryonic Formation.
• Li Rui fell asleep, entered the Great Void Dao Field, and greeted Daoist Wu.

Li Rui traveled to Dragon Spring Town with Nie Siming and Yuan An to retrieve the enhanced Immortal Blade Flood Dragon Slayer. After admiring the weapon, he was greeted by the weaponsmith Situ Lian.

• Wu De told Li Rui that he would descend to the lower realm in seven days and would rarely visit the Great Void Dao Field afterward.
• Yuan An asked Li Rui to take him to Dragon Spring Town, and Li Rui agreed; Nie Siming soon joined them, and the three set off for Jiangzhou.
• Li Rui and his companions bypassed Jiangzhou City and reached Dragon Spring Town, where Liu Tiezhu and Iron Madman welcomed them at the Star-Picking Pavilion.
• Iron Madman led Li Rui and Nie Siming to the warehouse and showed them the enhanced Immortal Blade Flood Dragon Slayer.
• Li Rui summoned the blade into his hand and praised it, while Situ Lian arrived and said the weapon was fortunate to have found a worthy master.

Li Rui and Nie Siming witnessed a Dao Lord tear open the boundary between worlds and send three thousand cultivators into the mortal world. The Holy Emperor ordered Great Yu to investigate their arrival and declared that any cultivator who broke the law would be executed.

• Situ Lian gave Li Rui the completed Dragon Slayer, explaining that its power could grow when it encountered flood dragons or dragons, and hosted Li Rui and Nie Siming in Dragon Spring Town.
• During their gathering at Star-Picking Pavilion, Li Rui, Nie Siming, and Situ Lian sensed a strange ripple and saw a Dao Lord forcibly open a passage between the worlds.
• Three thousand cultivators descended across the mortal world as a meteor shower, prompting Li Rui and Nie Siming to leave for the capital.
• At the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Gu Changsheng identified the force behind the descent as a Dao Lord, and the National Preceptor departed after learning of a change at the immortal gate.
• Chief Zhang asked the Holy Emperor for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to help investigate the three thousand cultivators, and the Holy Emperor approved the request and ordered that lawbreakers be executed.

Li Rui learned that cultivators were secretly stealing the Yu Kingdom’s fortune while the court hunted those who had descended to the lower realm. After hearing why outsiders sought to plunder Grotto-heaven fortune, Li Rui began considering what lay beyond the First Rank.

• Li Rui reviewed the Mountain-Seeking Department’s list of 1,371 cultivators and confirmed that Wu De had not been found.
• Gu Changsheng told Li Rui that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s Armillary Sphere showed someone secretly stealing the nation’s fortune, and Li Rui agreed to investigate.
• Wu De hid in a remote forest, resolved to reach the Violet Palace Realm, and planned to settle his score with Zhu Ping.
• The Weapon Spirit Old Man condemned cultivators who descended to seize Grotto-heaven fortune, explaining that they could not prevail in the Immortal Cultivation World’s Contention for the Great Dao.
• Li Rui concluded that the Golden Court Grotto-heaven offered outsiders a chance to advance beyond the First Rank, but that their rise would threaten native cultivators.

He Jiuxuan, a powerful Myriad Laws Palace disciple, descended to the lower realm after years of being suppressed by the Azure Emperor’s lingering Dao resonance and asked Ji Lei to show him around Golden Court Grotto-heaven. In the Yu Kingdom, Li Rui invited He Qiannian to help prepare the World Martial Evaluation, which Li Rui intended to conduct rigorously despite the growing number of cultivators.

• He Jiuxuan met Ji Lei at the Arctic Immortal Sect and asked him to show him around Golden Court Grotto-heaven.
• He Jiuxuan told Ji Lei that he had given up trying to attain the Dao beneath the Azure Emperor’s suppression after sixty years without progress.
• He Qiannian broke through to the Profound Understanding Middle Stage after a change in state of mind, aided by Li Rui’s earlier help.
• Li Rui invited He Qiannian to advise on the World Martial Evaluation, and He Qiannian agreed.
• Li Rui considered the pressure of investigating at least eighty percent of the realm’s cultivators and making the Martial Ranking convincing to all under Heaven.

Li Rui pressed Wu Ping to complete the Martial Ranking and arranged to gather intelligence during his Imperial Envoy inspection of the East Sea. As Li Rui and He Qiannian prepared to depart in seven days, three mysterious visitors from White Jade Capital arrived in the capital using Gu Changsheng’s carriage.

• Li Rui warned Wu Ping that the Martial Ranking had to meet its deadline, and Wu Ping promised to deliver the materials within three days after Li Rui offered to gather East Sea intelligence.
• Li Rui told He Qiannian that they would set out for the East Sea in seven days, and He Qiannian cautioned him that the inspection would be difficult.
• At dusk, Han Qin stopped Gu Changsheng’s carriage at a woman’s request, and a man, a woman, and an elderly immortal emerged from inside.
• Han Qin recognized the three as Gu Changsheng’s honored guests and heard that they had come from White Jade Capital.

Gu Changsheng revealed that Si Feng had stolen and eaten an immortal fruit from White Jade Capital, and a White Jade Capital elder came to claim him. Li Rui then set out to inspect the East Sea with Tan Yu and Yu Ziyi, cultivators from Divine Firmament City, joining his party aboard Tan Yu’s flying treasure.

• Gu Changsheng introduced the imprisoned Si Feng to Daoist Priest Wang, who confirmed that Si Feng had stolen White Jade Capital’s immortal fruit and prepared to take him away.
• Li Rui gathered He Qiannian, Yuan An, and the Mountain-Seeking Department officials for the East Sea inspection.
• Gu Changsheng brought Tan Yu and Yu Ziyi to join Li Rui’s party, explaining that the White Jade Capital cultivators wished to travel to the East Sea.
• Tan Yu offered his jade-gourd flying Magic Treasure instead of Li Rui’s smaller boat, and the group boarded it and took off.

Li Rui inspected Breeze Wind Island on behalf of the Yu Kingdom, but its leaders delayed meeting him while he and his companions waited and cultivated. Meanwhile, He Jiuxuan and Ji Lei appeared in the East Sea, and Li Rui sensed their presence; the chapter ended with his Dao Embryo Infant showing signs of Embryonic Formation.

• He Jiuxuan and Ji Lei traveled across the East Sea, where He Jiuxuan spotted a gourd carrying Li Rui and his companions toward Divine Firmament City.
• Li Rui recognized Ji Lei and sensed that his companion was an exceptionally powerful figure, then arrived with Tan Yu's party at Breeze Wind Island.
• Dust Profound Daoist Priest welcomed Li Rui and his party, explaining that the island lord was in closed-door cultivation.
• Li Rui and his companions stayed on Breeze Wind Island for a month, but its leaders continued to delay cooperating with the inspection.
• Li Rui and the others cultivated using the island's abundant spiritual energy, and Li Rui noticed that his Dao Embryo Infant was growing, signaling Embryonic Formation.

Li Rui formed his Dao Embryo and began building the foundation for opening his Violet Palace through a million punches. Meanwhile, He Jiuxuan seized a Water Dao Stone from Tan Yu and Yu Ziyi, learned it was meant to extract the Immortal Fruit Spirit from Si Feng, and left Ji Lei uneasy with what he knew.

• Li Rui’s Dao Embryo completed Embryonic Formation, and he used the Weapon Nurturing Art to practice punches and strengthen his Great Dao foundation.
• Li Rui estimated that he would need to practice a million punches before he could open his Violet Palace.
• Tan Yu and Yu Ziyi condensed a Water Dao Stone in the East Sea to seal the Immortal Fruit Spirit within Si Feng.
• He Jiuxuan captured Tan Yu and Yu Ziyi with Immortal Binding Ropes and took their Water Dao Stone, but the pair escaped using a White Jade Capital secret art.
• He Jiuxuan told Ji Lei that White Jade Capital wanted the Water Dao Stone to extract the Immortal Fruit Spirit from Si Feng, leaving Ji Lei alarmed.

Li Rui secured Breeze Wind Island’s friendship with Yu Kingdom after Breeze Wind True Person tested his comprehension and weighed the kingdom’s support against rival sects. As Li Rui’s group prepared to leave with Tan Yu and Yu Ziyi, the pair returned battered and reported an ambush by the Myriad Laws Palace.

• Taoist Dingchen led Li Rui to meet Breeze Wind True Person, who transmitted insights through his hoeing and praised Li Rui’s comprehension.
• Breeze Wind True Person revealed that representatives of the Western Desert and Northern Plains had visited, then agreed that Breeze Wind Island would befriend Yu Kingdom on the condition that no other Yu Kingdom officials interfered in its affairs.
• Li Rui’s preparations, including bringing Tan Yu and Yu Ziyi and having Nie Siming and He Qiannian keep watch, helped persuade Breeze Wind True Person to choose Yu Kingdom’s side.
• Li Rui reunited with Nie Siming and He Qiannian, confirmed that the agreement had succeeded, and waited five days for Tan Yu and Yu Ziyi to return.
• Tan Yu and Yu Ziyi came back bedraggled after a fierce battle, and Tan Yu told Li Rui that people from the Myriad Laws Palace had ambushed them.

Li Rui secured Breeze Wind True Person’s help against He Jiuxuan, returned to the capital with valuable information on the East Sea sects, and then went back to Lotus Boat Immortal Island with He Qiannian. He Jiuxuan tracked Li Rui there, but a black-robed figure carrying a white funeral banner appeared behind him.

• Tan Yu told Li Rui that He Jiuxuan of the Myriad Laws Palace had defeated him and Yu Ziyi, so Li Rui asked Breeze Wind True Person to escort them away from the East Sea.
• Breeze Wind True Person carried Li Rui and the others to the Yu Kingdom capital, where Gu Changsheng stopped him and invited him to stay; afterward, Breeze Wind True Person sent a roster of East Sea sects to Li Rui.
• A month later, Li Rui and He Qiannian returned to the East Sea and waited at Lotus Boat Immortal Island while its sect master remained in seclusion.
• He Jiuxuan learned that Li Rui was on Lotus Boat Immortal Island and decided to take advantage of Li Rui’s apparent good fortune.
• A black-robed figure holding a white funeral banner appeared behind He Jiuxuan, startling him.

Li Rui confronted He Jiuxuan and Ji Lei, then killed Ji Lei despite He Jiuxuan’s interference. He Jiuxuan withdrew by teleportation while Li Rui fled deeper into the East Sea, and the Lotus Boat Immortal Island sect master concluded the battle had nothing to do with his island.

• He Jiuxuan attacked Li Rui with an Immortal Binding Rope, but Li Rui’s powerful body sent it flying back.
• Li Rui and He Jiuxuan clashed with their Thousand Soul Banners, and Li Rui used his fists to knock He Jiuxuan’s banner aside.
• Li Rui secretly trapped Ji Lei within his Immortal Domain, preventing him from using the Great Teleportation Talisman, then punched through his heart and killed him while his Spirit Embryo escaped.
• He Jiuxuan struck Li Rui with his Thousand Soul Banner, but Li Rui remained unscathed and flew toward the deepest reaches of the East Sea.
• He Jiuxuan used a Great Teleportation Talisman to disappear, and the Lotus Boat Immortal Island sect master later declared the battle unrelated to his island.