Chapter Summaries

Taishi Zhanran and Kong Hongwu tried to ensure that Bodhi and Xiao Hua would not survive the defensive array, while Xiao Hua chose to endure its deadly trials alongside Bodhi. After more than half a year of cultivation and rescues, Taishi Zhanran decided to summon help against them.

• Kong Hongwu ordered Taishi Zhanran to keep the Buddhist disciple trapped and kill him if necessary, and Taishi activated the defensive array at full strength.
• Bodhi joined Xiao Hua inside the array, and Xiao Hua let him face the trials freely while continuing to break the falling boulders.
• As burning spheres and lightning filled the array, Bodhi spoke about life and death, prompting Xiao Hua to stay and cultivate through the deadly ordeal with him.
• Over half a year, Xiao Hua advanced his physical cultivation and rescued several Nascent Soul and more than a dozen Golden Core cultivators, while Bodhi's golden body grew close to six feet.
• With most nearby arrays cleared and cultivators gathered at the Crimson Star, Taishi Zhanran decided to summon several Star Lords to help defeat Xiao Hua and Bodhi.

Taishi Zhanran struggled to kill a Buddhist expert hidden in his crimson star formation, even after Linghu Piran gave him an Immortal Palace star shuttle. As the formation remained red and the expert endured its attacks, Taishi sought help from Tail Fire Tiger Ouyang Jingran, who revealed that she too had failed to kill a Daoist cultivator and had been reprimanded by the Hall Master.

• Taishi Zhanran summoned Linghu Piran after his star map failed to kill the Buddhist expert in his formation.
• Linghu Piran reported that Zhang Daoran had obtained the Red Star's exotic treasure with Xunkong Shangren, then gave Taishi Zhanran a star shuttle instead of entering the formation himself.
• Taishi Zhanran sent the star shuttle into the formation, where it shattered a giant star and sent enormous fragments falling toward Xiao Hua and Bodhi.
• Over the following months, other crimson formations turned white, but Taishi Zhanran's formation stayed red while Xiao Hua continued resisting its attacks.
• After Linghu Piran remained unavailable, Taishi Zhanran asked Tail Fire Tiger Ouyang Jingran for help, and she told him the Hall Master had reprimanded her for letting Zhai Xingzi escape her formation.

Taishi Zhanran and Ouyang Jingran tried to intercept the monk trapped in the star formation, while Linghu Piran suspected Xiao Hua was inside and entered after them. Xiao Hua continued cultivating until the formation began to close as the Yaotai Gathering neared its end.

• Ouyang Jingran refused to enter the star formation with Taishi Zhanran and advised him to wait for the monk at the formation’s fault.
• When the formation’s clouds changed color, Taishi Zhanran used his star lock to find a path inside, and Ouyang Jingran followed on her white tiger.
• Linghu Piran learned Taishi Zhanran had entered the formation and suspected Xiao Hua was trapped there, then entered by following a starry path.
• Linghu Piran emerged from the formation pale and hurried toward Yaotai Mountain after the Haoyue Great Formation was broken.
• Xiao Hua and Bodhi continued cultivating and smashing boulders, strengthening their bodies and consciousness.
• Bodhi warned Xiao Hua that white light was pressing against the star formation and that it was preparing to close as the Yaotai Gathering ended.

After leaving the star array, Xiao Hua worried that his ten Primordial Spirits’ differing cultivation paths could lead to conflict. He was then ambushed by Star Lords Ouyang Jingran and Taishi Zhanran, and the chapter ended with Xiao Hua trading blows with them.

• Xiao Hua and Bodhi argued about whether he should leave the star array, while Confucian cultivator Xiao Hua briefly tried to take control of Xiao Hua’s body.
• Xiao Hua warned his Primordial Spirits not to harbor treacherous intentions, then left the star array and reflected on the dangers of splitting his Nascent Soul.
• As Xiao Hua entered the next imperial array, the space froze, and he broke free with his divine sense.
• Ouyang Jingran and Taishi Zhanran sealed Xiao Hua with Vast Righteous Qi and tried to capture him, but Xiao Hua struck their attacks back with the As-You-Wish Staff.
• Ouyang Jingran and Taishi Zhanran formed armored secondary bodies, and Taishi Zhanran attacked Xiao Hua with a powerful fist that Xiao Hua shattered with his staff.

Xiao Hua and Bodhi fought Taishi Zhanran and Ouyang Jingran, revealing the strength of Xiao Hua’s year-tempered Vajra Body and forcing the two opponents to consider retreat. As Taishi Zhanran tried to escape, Bodhi used Innate True Water to block Ouyang Jingran’s way out.

• Bodhi summoned his Buddha phantom to battle Ouyang Jingran’s fire dragon and poetry-forged giant sword, while Xiao Hua attacked Taishi Zhanran’s powerful scroll with his As-You-Wish Staff.
• Bodhi’s Nine-Character Mantra struck Ouyang Jingran’s sword, and Xiao Hua’s Golden Body withstood the scroll’s flying swords, clouds, and water attacks without injury.
• Taishi Zhanran realized Xiao Hua had cultivated inside the star formation for a year, then attacked him with his Azure Dragon saber.
• Xiao Hua used the Eye of Delusion Breaking to expose Taishi Zhanran’s hidden blade tide and blocked it with the As-You-Wish Staff.
• Ouyang Jingran and Taishi Zhanran decided to retreat, but Xiao Hua pursued Taishi Zhanran while Bodhi spread Innate True Water to seal Ouyang Jingran’s escape route.

Xiao Hua and Bodhi killed the Star Lords Taishi Zhanran and Ouyang Jingran, then disguised Xiao Hua as Taishi and escaped the star formation. Xiao Hua reached Yaotai Mountain and headed toward the Immortal Palace’s hidden formation while worrying about the cultivators trapped in the Blazing Sun Formation.

• Bodhi struck Ouyang Jingran with the Mountain Buddha Seal, while Xiao Hua used his Divine Thought Hammer to crush Taishi Zhanran and both Star Lords’ transformed bodies.
• Xiao Hua pierced Taishi Zhanran and Ouyang Jingran with Jing Mu An’s serpent spear, then destroyed their fleeing Primordial Spirits with Spirit Severing Primordial Light.
• Bodhi sent the Star Lords’ souls into reincarnation, and Xiao Hua collected their belongings, concealed signs of the fight, and learned their memories.
• Xiao Hua put on Taishi Zhanran’s armor, took his Azure Dragon saber, and transformed himself to pass through the star formations.
• Xiao Hua emerged atop Yaotai Mountain and flew toward the site of the Immortal Palace’s powerful hidden formation.

Xiao Hua reached the forbidden ground at Yaotai Mountain and used the Immortal Palace Token to deceive its water guardian and reveal a hidden starry path. He entered the passage after sensing green-robed Xiao Hua inside, while the guardian’s eyes closed beneath the pool.

• Xiao Hua realized that probing the great formation could bring him into conflict with the Immortal Palace, but decided to continue despite the danger and his promise to fulfill.
• Xiao Hua arrived at the deep pool in the forbidden ground and encountered a gigantic water man guarding the entrance to the formation.
• Xiao Hua posed as Star Day Ma Taishi Zhanran and claimed the Hall Master had sent him to inspect the area, then presented the Immortal Palace Token when the water man demanded proof.
• The water man accepted the token’s display and allowed Xiao Hua to inspect the formation without disturbing it.
• Xiao Hua placed the Immortal Palace Token on a platform, revealing an Immortal Palace projection and a starry path in the mountain wall.
• Xiao Hua sensed green-robed Xiao Hua beyond the path and entered it; the passage vanished behind him as a pair of eyes closed beneath the pool.

Kong Hongwu reacted to trouble in the Blazing Sun Great Formation while Xiao Hua navigated a hidden trap and discovered the formation collecting Nascent Souls. Xiao Hua recognized the fist-sized object at the vortex’s center as the Immortal Palace’s Demon Refining Pot.

• Kong Hongwu blamed Huo De for helping the Daoist cultivators and then abruptly vanished after sensing danger.
• Gusu Qiuran watched Kong Hongwu leave and quietly smiled before descending into the clouds.
• Xiao Hua realized the star path was a trap and followed his instincts through the darkness toward green-robed Xiao Hua’s cries for help.
• Xiao Hua found a vast vortex filled with Vast Righteous Qi and the captured Nascent Soul projections of cultivators lost in the Yaotai Mountain formations.
• Green-robed Xiao Hua used a Bronze Mirror to shield himself and pointed Xiao Hua toward the vortex’s destination.
• Xiao Hua recognized the fist-sized object drawing in the Nascent Souls as the Demon Refining Pot.

Xiao Hua confronted Kong Hongwu over the Demon Refining Pot and the slaughter of Daoist cultivators, then tried to kill him by surprise. Kong Hongwu’s star armor trapped Xiao Hua, but Xiao Hua broke free with Heaven and Earth Manifestation, revealing his identity as Daoist Xiao Hua.

• Xiao Hua saw the Demon Refining Pot drawing in hundreds of Nascent Souls and Vast Righteous Qi, then questioned Kong Hongwu about the formation and the Immortal Palace envoy behind it.
• Xiao Hua inferred that Kong Hongwu suspected he held an Immortal Palace Token and pretended he intended to leave the forbidden ground.
• Xiao Hua approached Kong Hongwu and attacked with the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors, but the strike passed through a phantom.
• Kong Hongwu activated the star patterns in Xiao Hua’s armor, constricting him and attempting to seal his Confucian cultivator true qi.
• Xiao Hua unleashed Heaven and Earth Manifestation and resisted the armor’s force, prompting Kong Hongwu to recognize him as Daoist Xiao Hua.

Xiao Hua broke free of Kong Hongwu’s armor restraints, revealed his identity, and refused Kong Hongwu’s offer to join the Star Lord Palace. Kong Hongwu then manipulated the battle to drive Xiao Hua into the Demon Refining Pot’s whirlpool, leaving Xiao Hua trapped in its strengthening suction.

• Xiao Hua used Five Qi Ascending to the Origin and the Lightning Travel Technique to escape Kong Hongwu’s restraints, then revealed his true appearance and attacked with the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors.
• Xiao Hua admitted that he had killed Star Horse, Jing Mu An, and Tail Fire Tiger, and Kong Hongwu praised him for eliminating Star Lords he had wanted removed.
• Kong Hongwu offered to recruit Xiao Hua as a Star General, but Xiao Hua refused to betray his Daoist sect and denounced the offer.
• Kong Hongwu attacked Xiao Hua with successive Righteous Qi Pillars, maneuvering him toward the Demon Refining Pot’s whirlpool.
• Xiao Hua shattered a Righteous Qi Pillar and triggered the whirlpool’s powerful suction, which grew stronger as he tried to escape.

Xiao Hua struggled against the Demon Refining Pot’s vortex while Kong Hongwu watched, convinced he would die. Xiao Hua and green-robed Xiao Hua found a way to break through the vortex long enough to rescue True Person Jingting, but green-robed Xiao Hua also seized several other Nascent Soul spiritual bodies.

• Xiao Hua circled the vortex with the Lightning Evasion Technique, resisting its suction while Kong Hongwu followed and monitored him.
• A Nascent Soul was pulled into the vortex and stretched to enormous size, while Xiao Hua endured the vortex’s tearing force with his tempered body.
• Xiao Hua sensed green-robed Xiao Hua and secretly coordinated an escape plan as he was dragged deeper into the vortex.
• Xiao Hua expanded his body and released spiritual fire as green-robed Xiao Hua attacked from inside, opening a gap in the vortex.
• Green-robed Xiao Hua escaped through the gap with True Person Jingting’s Nascent Soul, then emerged with several more Nascent Soul spiritual bodies as Xiao Hua prepared to follow.

Xiao Hua escaped the Demon Refining Pot’s vortex with green-robed Xiao Hua’s help, rescuing True Person Jingting’s Nascent Soul and more than a dozen others. Kong Hongwu pursued him into the starry labyrinth, while green-robed Xiao Hua recovered inside Xiao Hua’s space and resolved to accumulate merit and found a sect.

• Xiao Hua and green-robed Xiao Hua used an exploding Nascent Soul spiritual body to propel themselves out of the vortex, and Xiao Hua seized more than a dozen Nascent Souls on the way.
• Kong Hongwu attacked, but green-robed Xiao Hua used the Ice Mirror and the vortex’s suction to redirect Kong Hongwu’s Vast Righteous Qi and send himself toward Xiao Hua.
• Xiao Hua gathered the Nascent Souls and escaped the vortex with another explosion’s force, then fled into the starry sky using Lightning Escape.
• Kong Hongwu pursued Xiao Hua through the labyrinth, but Xiao Hua followed its twisting paths and pulled ahead, prompting Kong Hongwu to take a shorter route through the darkness.
• Green-robed Xiao Hua returned to Xiao Hua’s space, recovered under the lightning, and declared that he wanted to found a sect and accumulate merit.

Xiao Hua realized that escaping Yaotai Mountain would not save him and decided to kill Kong Hongwu inside the great formation. He recruited green-robed Xiao Hua and Bodhi to help, then pursued Kong Hongwu through the darkness while the Demon Refining Pot threatened their Nascent Souls.

• Green-robed Xiao Hua studied Du Shanjun's jade slip, and the other Primordial Spirits began cultivating in response to the danger.
• Xiao Hua reconsidered his escape plan and concluded that killing Kong Hongwu was his only path to survival.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua promised green-robed Xiao Hua disciples for his sect, persuading him to help fight Kong Hongwu.
• Green-robed Xiao Hua proposed ambushing Kong Hongwu in the maze, and Jade Slip Xiao Hua, Bodhi, and Xiao Hua agreed to attack him together.
• Xiao Hua returned to the vortex, summoned green-robed Xiao Hua with the Kunlun Mirror and Bodhi, and followed the route Kong Hongwu had taken.

Xiao Hua ambushed Kong Hongwu in the darkness, but Kong Hongwu countered with the Star Lord Palace’s Infant Annihilation Art and severely injured Xiao Hua’s lower dantian. Bodhi and green-robed Xiao Hua struck Kong Hongwu in turn, and Xiao Hua reappeared using Golden Qi Dawn as Kong Hongwu recognized Bodhi’s Buddha Sarira.

• Xiao Hua sent Bodhi and green-robed Xiao Hua to flank him while they waited in ambush for Kong Hongwu.
• Kong Hongwu advanced cautiously, and Xiao Hua attacked him with fire talismans and the As-You-Wish Staff.
• Kong Hongwu used Vast Righteous Qi to suppress the talismans and hit Xiao Hua with the Infant Annihilation Art, tearing Xiao Hua’s lower dantian and sending him falling.
• Bodhi struck Kong Hongwu with a Buddhist seal, and green-robed Xiao Hua followed with the Kunlun Mirror, shattering Kong Hongwu’s star armor and hurling him away.
• Xiao Hua stopped his fall with Golden Qi Dawn and charged back into the fight, while Kong Hongwu recognized Bodhi’s Buddha Sarira.

Xiao Hua fought Kong Hongwu despite his damaged lower dantian, revealing that his golden body did not depend on his Daoist cultivation. With green-robed Xiao Hua and the Kunlun Mirror striking from behind, Kong Hongwu was badly wounded, but he countered by trapping both Xiao Hua and himself with powerful inscriptions.

• Kong Hongwu realized Xiao Hua had practiced Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, while Xiao Hua admitted his lower dantian was badly damaged.
• Xiao Hua charged Kong Hongwu and used his Dharma Body Golden Body to clash with Kong Hongwu’s giant hand.
• Xiao Hua blocked Kong Hongwu’s flying wheel spikes as Bodhi’s Mountain Buddha Seal pressed Kong Hongwu, who summoned a Vast Righteous Qi peak to resist it.
• Green-robed Xiao Hua struck Kong Hongwu from behind with the Kunlun Mirror, blasting a hole through his embodiment, and a thunderbolt smashed part of his head.
• Kong Hongwu trapped the surrounding space and Xiao Hua with crystalline threads and Righteous Qi bands, but Xiao Hua broke free and his golden body endured the bands.

Xiao Hua and his allies faced Kong Hongwu as he tried to recruit Xiao Hua and then revealed the Star Lord Palace’s two hall-suppressing artifacts. Xiao Hua rejected him and launched an attack, while Kong Hongwu raised layered defenses against the three heroes.

• Kong Hongwu recovered from Xiao Hua’s assault, summoned a cloud-and-petal defense, and recognized Xiao Hua’s strength.
• Kong Hongwu claimed Xiao Hua was Ancestor Hongmeng’s hidden move, warned that the Immortal Palace controlled the Star Lord Palace, and offered him the position of Vice Hall Master.
• Xiao Hua refused to abandon the Daoist sect or join Kong Hongwu, declaring that only one of them would survive the formation.
• Kong Hongwu produced the Imperial Star Thorn and Imperial Shield Defense, while Xiao Hua challenged him to withstand a single strike.
• Xiao Hua charged Kong Hongwu as Buddha Sarira Bodhi attacked with Innate True Water and the Mountain Buddha Seal.
• Kong Hongwu poured his avatar’s inscriptions into the Imperial Shield Defense and formed layers of poems, crystal threads, and Vast Righteous Qi around himself.

Xiao Hua, Bodhi, and green-robed Xiao Hua faced Kong Hongwu as he tried to persuade Xiao Hua to join the Star Lord Palace, then revealed two powerful palace-suppressing artifacts. The three attacked, and Kong Hongwu raised the Imperial Shield Defense to protect himself as the battle continued.

• Xiao Hua damaged Kong Hongwu's inscription cocoon, prompting Kong Hongwu to summon tri-colored clouds and recognize Xiao Hua's strength.
• Kong Hongwu urged Xiao Hua to abandon the Daoist sect and join the Star Lord Palace, but Xiao Hua refused and declared that only one of them would survive the formation.
• Kong Hongwu produced the Imperial Star Thorn and the Imperial Shield Defense, while Xiao Hua declared that he would surrender if Kong Hongwu survived his next strike.
• Xiao Hua charged Kong Hongwu as Bodhi attacked with Innate True Water and the Mountain Buddha Seal.
• Kong Hongwu activated the Imperial Shield Defense, surrounding his avatar with layered poetry, prose, Vast crystal threads, and Vast Righteous Qi.

Xiao Hua, Bodhi, and green-robed Xiao Hua joined forces to break Kong Hongwu’s defenses, but Kong Hongwu’s Imperial Star Thorn gravely wounded all three. Xiao Hua killed Kong Hongwu with a demonic blade, then lost control of his demonic power and attacked the Demon Refining Pot as Bodhi and green-robed Xiao Hua struggled against its vortex; a golden-armored Heavenly General appeared to meet the demonic blade.

• Bodhi, Xiao Hua, and green-robed Xiao Hua battered Kong Hongwu’s Imperial Shield Defense, while Divine Thought and seven-colored radiance opened breaches in it.
• Kong Hongwu launched three Imperial Star Thorn attacks that severely wounded Xiao Hua, Bodhi, and green-robed Xiao Hua.
• Xiao Hua summoned a demonic blade and split Kong Hongwu’s Dharma Body and Primordial Spirit, killing him.
• The Demon Refining Pot struck Xiao Hua, destroying much of his golden body and causing his suppressed demonic nature to erupt.
• Green-robed Xiao Hua collected the Imperial artifacts with the Kunlun Mirror, while Bodhi used Innate True Water to shield them from the vortex’s suction.
• Xiao Hua’s demonic body attacked the Demon Refining Pot, and a golden-armored Heavenly General emerged to thrust a Coiled Dragon Spear at the blade.

Confucian cultivator Xiao Hua regained control of his body as the Demon Refining Pot and vortex vanished, then escaped the collapsing great formation. Outside, Zhang Daoran and Xunkong Shangren continued gathering fire crystals while worrying that Xiao Hua had been lost in Yaotai Mountain.

• The Demon Refining Pot swallowed the remaining vortex and flew away, while its five-colored radiance restored Xiao Hua and drew the magic blade back into his hand.
• Bodhi and green-robed Xiao Hua returned to Xiao Hua’s body, and Confucian cultivator Xiao Hua took control before the great formation collapsed.
• Xiao Hua gathered the Righteous Qi Pillar and charged out of the collapsing formation as a gigantic sword.
• The water-type Heavenly General saw the mountaintop explode and the Blazing Sun Great Formation begin to collapse, then pursued the departing object.
• Zhang Daoran and Xunkong Shangren defeated a flame giant and let the cultivators collect its fire crystals.
• Xunkong Shangren said Xiao Hua should have escaped by then, but Zhang Daoran still hoped he had survived Yaotai Mountain.

Zhang Daoran and Xunkong Shangren led their united cultivators through the Blazing Sun Great Formation toward the Pure Yang Ancestor, while Gusu Qiuran watched and worried they might not survive. At the treasure site, Zhai Xingzi and True Lord Huode arrived, with Huode still searching for Xiao Hua and dreading his failure to fulfill Kong Hongwu’s order.

• Xunkong Shangren comforted Zhang Daoran over Xiao Hua, and the two reflected on how their companions had grown closer and more united.
• Xunkong Shangren organized the cultivators to defeat attacking Fire Crows and flying dragons, and they then set off together after a meteor appeared.
• Gusu Qiuran praised the cultivators’ newfound unity but feared the Blazing Sun Great Formation would kill them before the one-year deadline.
• The meteor struck a volcano and revealed a jade casket surrounded by inscriptions and Vast Righteous Qi.
• Zhai Xingzi and True Lord Huode arrived at the volcano, and Zhai Xingzi promised to give Huode the Pure Yang Ancestor if it proved useless to him.
• True Lord Huode remained anxious because he had searched for nearly a year without finding Xiao Hua, whom Kong Hongwu had ordered him to kill.