Chapter Summaries

Li Rui recognized the Immortal Slaughtering Pagoda aura in Xie Tingxuan’s phantom but concealed his reaction, while Xie Tingxuan suspected Li Rui possessed a pagoda. Xie Tingxuan pursued a deal with King Tianxuan to gather the pagodas and reclaim the Dao Lord Position, leaving Li Rui in his sights.

• Xie Tingxuan showed Li Rui and Teng Bochuan a phantom of the Immortal Slaughtering Pagoda and questioned Li Rui about it.
• Li Rui hid his recognition of the pagoda, and Teng Bochuan explained that King Tianxuan’s father had been a disciple of Xie Tingxuan’s former incarnation, Dao Lord Jinghui.
• King Tianxuan asked Xie Tingxuan whether he had gone to kill Li Rui, and Xie Tingxuan denied bearing him a grudge.
• King Tianxuan told Xie Tingxuan that he had found the item Xie Tingxuan wanted and arranged for them to set out the next day.
• Xie Tingxuan revealed that he sought the Immortal Slaughtering Pagodas to regain the Dao Lord Position and resolved to find a way to take Li Rui’s pagoda.

Li Rui met Zhong Li at Hongwen Pavilion, and Zhong Li invited him and Teng Bochuan to Master Zhu's residence to discuss the Contention for the Great Dao. Master Zhu praised Li Rui's clear heart and urged Zhong Li to learn from him, leaving Teng Bochuan astonished by Li Rui's standing.

• Teng Bochuan told Li Rui that King Tianxuan had gone south to destroy the Evil Cult and had not yet returned.
• Zhong Li greeted Teng Bochuan by recalling his achievements and invited him and Li Rui to Master Zhu's residence.
• Zhong Li asked Li Rui how he understood the Contention for the Great Dao, and Li Rui answered, “Follow your heart.”
• Master Zhu entered the courtyard, praised Li Rui, and said that Jian He had told him about Li Rui's fate.
• Master Zhu told Zhong Li to learn from Li Rui and not let fear keep scholars from moving forward.
• Teng Bochuan was astonished as Zhong Li humbly accepted Master Zhu's lesson.

Li Rui continued learning from Old Master Zhu and learned that Gu Changsheng had tied his fortune to his through a Heavenly Secret Seed. As signs of the Ascension Platform emerged and Xie Tingxuan returned with a fifth Immortal Slaughtering Pagoda, Li Rui created a humanoid cloud platform that greeted him as a fellow Daoist.

• Li Rui praised Old Master Zhu's learning, and Zhong Li explained that Master Zhu ranked among Divine Deer Academy's finest scholars.
• Gu Changsheng told Li Rui that he had placed a Heavenly Secret Seed on him and shared his ancestor's report that the Ascension Platform might appear.
• Cui He cautioned that the Ascension Platform's appearance did not guarantee anyone would ascend, while Gu Changsheng noted its other possible rewards.
• King Tianxuan returned to Divine Void City with Xie Tingxuan, who revealed that he had obtained a fifth Immortal Slaughtering Pagoda and asked about Li Rui's visits to Master Zhu.
• Li Rui condensed immortal qi into a humanoid cloud platform, infused it with Mysterious Cyan Immortal Light, and received its greeting.

Li Rui created an independent avatar named Lu Yang using One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, while King Tianxuan plotted against him and pressured Teng Bochuan to betray him. Xie Tingxuan prepared a formation to summon the Immortal Slaughtering Small Pagoda, but a Divine Rainbow struck before he could finish.

• Li Rui explained that the Immortal Court’s power let him create Lu Yang, an avatar with nearly eighty percent of his strength whose actions could not be traced back to him through karma.
• King Tianxuan learned his guard could not find an opportunity to attack Li Rui, and he told Xie Tingxuan that an accusation could be found for anyone he wanted condemned.
• King Tianxuan’s guard threatened Teng Bochuan with the decline of his clan and promised him the Hall Keeper position if he helped entrap Li Rui; Teng Bochuan accepted.
• Xie Tingxuan set up the Stars Shift and Dippers Turn Formation outside Divine Void City, intending to summon the Immortal Slaughtering Small Pagoda after Teng Bochuan lured Li Rui out.
• A Divine Rainbow descended and smashed into Xie Tingxuan’s formation.

Li Rui's clone killed Xie Tingxuan after discovering that Xie intended to seize his Immortal Slaughtering Small Pagoda, disrupting King Tianxuan's plans. King Tianxuan turned to the Human Emperor, while Teng Bochuan abandoned an attempt to lure Li Rui into a trap; three years later, Teng Bochuan died and his family fell into ruin.

• Li Rui's clone attacked Xie Tingxuan, who countered with the Immortal Slaughtering Small Pagodas, and Li Rui revealed his Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
• Li Rui overwhelmed Xie Tingxuan with a powerful punch and killed him despite the Dao Lord's warning and Xie Tingxuan's attempt to awaken his Dao Power.
• King Tianxuan arrived at the battlefield, blamed the Demonic Cultivator for Xie Tingxuan's death, and went to see the Human Emperor instead of returning to kill Li Rui.
• Teng Bochuan tried to lure Li Rui to Hongwen Pavilion, but Li Rui refused, and the black-robed man told Teng Bochuan to suspend the operation.
• Three years later, Teng Bochuan died while traveling south to assume office, and the Teng family eventually left Divine Void City and perished during their migration.

After Li Rui secretly killed Xie Tingxuan, he concealed his role while his clone refined the Immortal Slaughtering Pagodas and departed to act independently. Li Rui began drawing on the power of the True Martial Descent Dao Seed, while a faction in the Chaos Demon Plains searched for the unnamed Demonic Cultivator and considered recruiting him.

• Zhong Li warned Li Rui to be cautious and said Master Zhu wanted him to visit more often, while the Jiedao Sect demanded an explanation for Xie Tingxuan's death.
• Li Rui used his divine consciousness to watch his clone refine five Immortal Slaughtering Pagodas, bringing its total to seven, then sent it away from the Divine Void Immortal Dynasty.
• Li Rui confirmed that the Heavenly Secret Dao Lord could not link his clone to his true body and began nurturing the True Martial Descent Dao Seed's power.
• In the Chaos Demon Plains, an old man ordered his men to keep searching for the unnamed Demonic Cultivator who had killed Xie Tingxuan.
• The old man learned that the Demonic Cultivator had come from Taihua Province and wondered whether he belonged to a branch of their lineage.

Li Rui refused Zhong Li’s invitation to seek Illusory Immortal Stones in the Chaos Demon Plains and continued his cultivation. He opened the Niwan Palace Grotto-heaven with True Martial Descent, while a young man arrived at the Chaos Demon Plains.

• Zhong Li told Li Rui about his Myriad Scrolls Dao Seed and asked whether Li Rui’s Primordial Spirit could leave his body; Li Rui confirmed that it could.
• Zhong Li invited Li Rui to the Chaos Demon Plains to seek Illusory Immortal Stones, but Li Rui declined because the region was dangerous.
• Zhong Li left Divine Void City and headed north, while Li Rui returned to his room and cultivated for half a month.
• The Immortal Fruit’s power reached its peak in Li Rui’s Niwan Palace, and True Martial Descent rose from his Violet Palace Realm in response.
• Li Rui opened the Niwan Palace Grotto-heaven, where True Martial Descent began gathering Dao Seed qi.
• A young man wearing a bamboo hat arrived at the Chaos Demon Plains and noted that he ranked tenth among Demonic Cultivators on the latest Earth Rankings.

Li Rui, disguised as Lu Yang, followed Jiang Linxian to the Chaos Demon Plains and was approached by a demonic faction seeking to recruit him. He negotiated a position as their Great Guest Elder for fifteen percent of the profits.

• Li Rui spent a month exploring the Chaos Demon Plains and spotted Jiang Linxian in the city, following her there from the Divine Void Immortal Dynasty border.
• As Lu Yang left the tavern, a group of demonic cultivators surrounded him and asked him to meet their Ancestor.
• Lu Yang refused to go to the Ancestor and demanded that the Ancestor come to him.
• A Dao Integration Realm True Lord arrived and offered Lu Yang a Great Guest Elder position in his sect.
• Lu Yang negotiated the offered ten percent share up to fifteen percent, and the True Lord agreed.

Li Rui cultivated Oblivion Abyss and planned to open a second grotto-heaven to keep his Dao Seeds balanced, while his avatar Lu Yang maintained his cover at the Funiu Sect. In the Chaos Demon Plains, Jiang Linxian encountered Zhu Yuanlong and recognized him.

• Li Rui used spiritual pills from his avatar to accelerate the opening of the Crimson Palace Grotto-heaven and prevent True Martial Descent from suppressing Oblivion Abyss.
• Lu Yang enjoyed the Funiu Sect’s hospitality while True Monarch Heifeng probed him about his family and their supposed backing.
• Lu Yang concealed his lack of a Dao Lord protector and wondered about the Funiu Sect’s connection to Taihua Province.
• Jiang Linxian confronted a powerful old man in the Chaos Demon Plains and identified him as Zhu Yuanlong.

Li Rui recognized the Yu Kingdom Imperial Family’s flame mark on Funiu Mountain and intervened when Funiu Sect cultivators threatened Qingluan Fairy and Ye Yuan. Back at Hongwen Pavilion, he heard of King Tianxuan’s northern campaign, then fell asleep and reached the foot of the White Jade Bridge in the Great Void Dao Field.

• Li Rui recognized the flame pattern on Funiu Mountain’s stone pillar as the mark carved by the Yu Kingdom’s Grand Ancestor Emperor.
• Li Rui intervened when Funiu Mountain cultivators surrounded Qingluan Fairy and Ye Yuan, and the two parties exchanged apologies before Ye Yuan and Qingluan Fairy departed.
• Li Rui returned to Hongwen Pavilion, where an elder told him King Tianxuan was leading three hundred Divine Void Guards north to suppress demonic unrest.
• Li Rui fell asleep while reading and awoke at the foot of the White Jade Bridge in the Great Void Dao Field, then stepped toward it.

Li Rui used the White Jade Bridge to strengthen his progress toward opening the Crimson Palace Grotto-heaven, then returned to Funiu Mountain and learned of Zhong Li’s exploits. As Li Rui kindled the spark in his Heart Mansion, a furious voice condemned the remnants of the Juxiang Cult.

• Li Rui woke from a dream of dying on the White Jade Bridge and realized that crossing it helped condense his grotto-heaven.
• Li Rui returned to Funiu Mountain, where the disciples treated him with newfound respect after his confrontation with Ye Yuan.
• Li Tai told Li Rui that Zhong Li had defeated seven great Demonic Cultivators and taken the Illusory Immortal Stone.
• Zhu Yuanlong returned to Funiu Mountain without gaining anything, while True Monarch Heifeng worried that Zhu Yuanlong was nearing the end of his fifth life.
• Li Rui crossed the White Jade Bridge again and used immortal power to kindle the spark in his Heart Mansion.
• A furious voice in Li Rui’s heart denounced the remnants of the Juxiang Cult.

Seven immortal sects gathered to besiege Funiu Mountain over its ties to the Juxiang Cult, while Li Rui stayed hidden and True Monarch Heifeng searched for him. Zhu Yuanlong revealed his restored power and activated the Heaven Snatching Array, trapping the gathered cultivators beneath its light curtain.

• The Divine Void Guard, the Jiedao Sect, and other forces arrived at Funiu Mountain, bringing seven immortal sects and a thousand cultivators to surround it.
• Ye Yuan and Qingluan Fairy recognized the site as connected to the Juxiang Cult and came to claim its treasures and train.
• Li Rui watched the assembled forces from a secret chamber and chose to wait for a chance to escape rather than fight for Funiu Mountain.
• True Monarch Heifeng ordered the sinister man to find the missing Lu Yang, intending to use him to pressure the Dao Lord behind him.
• Zhu Yuanlong shed his frail appearance, regained his former strength, and stepped into the air as the gathered True Lords recognized him.
• Zhu Yuanlong activated the Heaven Snatching Array, enclosing Funiu Mountain and thirty miles around it in a curtain of light.

The Seven Great Immortal Sects besieged Funiu Mountain, where Li Rui discovered that the Heaven Snatching Array concealed Dao Lord Juxiang’s half Dao Fruit. As the array began to falter, Zhu Yuanlong arranged for the Juxiang Cult’s juniors to escape and prepared to demand justice.

• Ji Fan recognized Funiu Mountain’s Heaven Snatching Array, and the True Lords attacked it for seven days without breaking through.
• From an underground chamber, Li Rui recognized Zhu Yuanlong as the Funiu Sect’s ancestor and discovered Jutian Incense, Dao Lord Juxiang’s half Dao Fruit.
• The array began to tremble as maintaining it rapidly drained Zhu Yuanlong’s lifespan.
• Zhu Yuanlong gave True Monarch Heifeng the coordinates to a hidden Teleportation Array and ordered him to escape with five juniors.
• While the sinister man continued searching for Lu Yang, Funiu Mountain shook and a golden-armored man shot toward the sky as an angry voice rang out.

Shuangquan Dao Lord revealed that he had possessed Li Tai and seized the incomplete Jutian Incense from Funiu Mountain. As Dao Lord Qianxin rushed to stop him, Zhu Yuanlong unleashed the Heavenly River Sword Intent he had borrowed from Jiang Linxian, seeking revenge for the Dao Fruit Qianxin had severed two thousand years earlier.

• Dao Lord Qianxin shattered Zhu Yuanlong’s Heaven Snatching Array with the Divine Void Immortal Dynasty’s dragon energy.
• True Monarch Heifeng led Funiu Mountain’s survivors south, but Li Tai appeared in his path and transformed into Shuangquan Dao Lord.
• Shuangquan Dao Lord used his Free Body to possess True Monarch Heifeng, then seized the incomplete Jutian Incense.
• Dao Lord Qianxin rushed down toward Shuangquan Dao Lord, who showed signs that the encounter was a trap.
• Zhu Yuanlong revealed he had been counting the distance to Dao Lord Qianxin and unleashed the Heavenly River Sword Intent, seeking revenge for his severed Dao Fruit.

After the fall of Funiu Mountain, Li Rui emerged from hiding and discovered Zhu Yuanlong’s remnant soul inside a Soul Cultivator’s banner. Zhu Yuanlong offered the Heaven Snatching Array in exchange for being taken back to the Yu Kingdom, and Li Rui agreed before heading north.

• The seven great immortal sects destroyed the Funiu Sect, took its treasures, and left Funiu Mountain dangerous for later treasure seekers.
• After hiding beneath Funiu Mountain for a year, Li Rui emerged and killed two Soul Cultivators, taking their soul banners.
• Li Rui found Zhu Yuanlong’s remnant soul inside the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and confirmed that it could not overpower him.
• Zhu Yuanlong asked Li Rui to take him back to the Yu Kingdom, offering the Heaven Snatching Array and thirty years of service in the banner.
• Li Rui agreed to the bargain and flew north into the Chaos Demon Plains.

Li Rui learned the Juxiang Heaven Snatching Array and received warnings from Master Zhu about the dangers of revealing his Dao Seed. As Li Rui traveled with Zhu Yuanlong’s remnant soul, Zhu Yuanlong began to explain how he lost his Dao Lord Position.

• Li Rui admired the profundity of the Juxiang Heaven Snatching Array and recalled its creator, Dao Lord Juxiang.
• Zhong Li told Li Rui he had obtained the Illusory Immortal Stone and planned to plant his Dao Seed before returning to Divine Deer Academy for closed-door cultivation.
• Li Rui devoted himself to cultivation and visited Master Zhu, who realized Li Rui had found a Dao Seed and warned him that other cultivators would target him once he left an imprint upon the Heavenly Dao.
• Zhu Yuanlong told Li Rui that his Dao Fruit had been stolen after he was schemed against, and warned him about the dangers of Contention for the Great Dao.
• When Li Rui asked why Zhu Yuanlong had lost his Dao Lord Position, Zhu Yuanlong said that his Great Dao had been exchanged for another's.

Li Rui cultivated a breath of Dao Seed qi and left an imprint on the Heavenly Dao, bringing him recognition across the Immortal Cultivation World. Old Master Zhu personally congratulated him as a new achievement notification appeared.

• Zhu Yuanlong explained that the Divine Void Immortal Dynasty had swapped his Submerging Dragon Dao Seed for Dragon-Gathering Ground, preventing him from attaining the Dao and allowing Qian Xin to become a Dao Lord.
• Li Rui decided to wait thirty years before returning Zhu Yuanlong to Great Yu so he could test Zhu Yuanlong and learn more about his circumstances.
• After three more years in Divine Void City, Li Rui cultivated exactly one thousand threads of Dao Seed qi and entered the Late Spirit Division stage.
• Zhuge Ming sensed Li Rui's imprint on the Heavenly Dao and rejoiced that White Jade Capital had produced another promising Dao Lord seed.
• Old Master Zhu visited Li Rui to congratulate him, while Cui He and Gu Changsheng watched in surprise; a system message announced Li Rui had completed the achievement “Who in the world doesn't know you!”

Li Rui kept his abilities concealed to avoid attracting the attention of powerful figures, while Zhu Yuanlong praised him from afar after sensing his mark on the Heavenly Dao. Ten days later, True Monarch Yu Hai arrived with a grand procession and invested Li Rui as Sage Monarch by the Human Emperor’s decree.

• Li Rui watched his Achievement Points rise and resolved to build his strength without revealing more of his hidden abilities.
• Old Master Zhu regretted that Li Rui had not been born in Shenshen Province and hurried away after thinking of something.
• Zhu Yuanlong sensed Li Rui’s Heavenly Dao imprint and told Lu Yang that Li Rui might help him attain Dao Lord status.
• Ten days later, True Monarch Yu Hai arrived at Li Rui’s residence with Divine Void Immortal Dynasty officials and a two-headed Big Flood Dragon.
• True Monarch Yu Hai announced that the Human Emperor had invested Li Rui as Sage Monarch for his wisdom and service to Heaven and Earth.

Li Rui received the Sage Monarch title from the Human Emperor, a reward Master Zhu secured by spending a personal favor. After another peaceful year in Divine Void City, Li Rui considered opening the Crimson Palace Grotto-heaven, but his contemplation was interrupted by Jiang's arrival.

• True Monarch Yu Hai invested Li Rui with the Sage Monarch title and left without staying to chat.
• Old Master Zhu appeared and revealed that he had used up his favor with the Human Emperor to obtain Li Rui's title, which would also protect him from the Myriad Laws Palace.
• Old Master Zhu told Li Rui he could continue visiting Hongwen Pavilion and his residence, then departed.
• Cui He praised Old Master Zhu and received a reward that cleared his spiritual platform, while Gu Changsheng regretted not praising him himself.
• A year passed, and Li Rui reflected on how the Sage Monarch fortune could help him open the Crimson Palace Grotto-heaven and cultivate his Dao Seed.
• Li Rui sensed someone at the entrance and recognized Brother Jiang.

Li Rui learned from Jiang Linxian that the Ascension Platform might soon open and uncovered its connection to Dao Lord Juxiang, Dao Lord Huating, and Zhu Yuanlong. Meanwhile, Dao Lord Qianxin used stolen dragon qi to heal his injury as Li Rui reached the tenth step on the White Jade Bridge.

• Jiang Linxian told Li Rui that Dao Lord Juxiang was the last person to emerge from the Ascension Platform and that he had obtained a method to enter it at Funiu Mountain.
• Jiang Linxian revealed that Dao Lord Huating had guided Zhu Yuanlong out of the Small Grotto-heaven, and said no one else had crossed between the worlds.
• After Jiang Linxian left, Li Rui reflected that he had not yet attained the Dao Lord Position and resumed cultivating.
• King Tianxuan delivered tribute from the three southeastern commanderies to Dao Lord Qianxin, who used its dragon qi to heal his Heavenly River Sword Intent injury.
• Dao Lord Qianxin suspected someone was scheming against him as the Ascension Platform's opening approached.
• At the Great Void Dao Field, Li Rui planted his right foot on the White Jade Bridge's tenth step.