Chapter Summaries

Guzhen and Cihui confronted a giant battle puppet, and Guzhen tried to capture it with his alms bowl. After the puppet’s spear vanished into the bowl, blue radiance began to emerge from the Buddha light and return to the puppet.

• Guzhen ignored Cihui’s warning and flew toward the giant, accusing Cihui of coveting the Ancient Buddha Sarira.
• Guzhen revealed that he had lured Benefactor Xin and Monk Tipu to Profound Water Palace with a fabricated story, and Cihui said Tipu had warned him to beware of Guzhen.
• Cihui identified the giant as an ancient Daoist battle puppet, and Guzhen enlarged his Buddha statue golden body to attack it.
• Guzhen used his alms bowl and Buddhist manifestations to lift the puppet, but the puppet hurled its spear into the bowl and seemed to lose it.
• Guzhen laughed that the puppet was helpless, but watery blue radiance emerged from the Buddha light and began returning to the puppet.

Gu Zhen and Ci Hui fought the War Puppet in the passage, but its strength and spear overwhelmed them. Gu Zhen discovered that its head was vulnerable and briefly stiffened its elbow, yet he was badly injured and nearly out of thought power as the battle continued.

• The War Puppet destroyed Gu Zhen's alms bowl, shattered his giant Buddha palm, and damaged its own right hand in the exchange.
• The War Puppet's spear overpowered Gu Zhen and shrugged off Ci Hui's attacks, leaving Gu Zhen injured and Ci Hui unable to stop it.
• Gu Zhen charged the War Puppet and broke its helmet with a Buddhist seal, identifying its head as a weakness.
• The War Puppet attacked with its fist and elbow, sending Gu Zhen crashing into the wall and further weakening him.
• Gu Zhen noticed the War Puppet's joints could be damaged and that its right elbow had stiffened, but he doubted he had enough thought power left to defeat it.

Ci Hui sacrificed his Bodhi Sarira and physical body to restore its power and hold back the battle puppet, hoping Gu Zhen could obtain the Ancient Buddha Sarira. After the puppet destroyed Ci Hui’s remaining power and knocked Gu Zhen down, the Ancient Buddha Sarira emerged from the shining wall, and Ci Hui’s scattered fragments flew into it.

• Gu Zhen demanded that Ci Hui offer his Bodhi Sarira, but Ci Hui revealed it was already badly damaged from drawing away insects in the passageway.
• Ci Hui sent his green lion aside and used the Yogācāra School’s Secret Method of Physical Body Serving the Lotus, transforming his body into lotus flowers that restored his sarira.
• Ci Hui’s restored sarira became a multicolored lotus and struck the battle puppet, damaging much of its right-side shell.
• Gu Zhen attacked while the battle puppet captured Ci Hui’s remaining power, crushed it into fragments, and hurled them into Gu Zhen, smashing his seal and sending him into the wall.
• A brilliant light burst from the watery blue wall, revealing the Ancient Buddha Sarira, and Ci Hui’s scattered fragments flew into it.

Cihui merged with the Ancient Buddha Sarira and attained the fruit of Namo Great Wisdom Manjushri Bodhisattva, leaving Guzhen healed but bitter over losing the merit he had sought. Guzhen entered a hidden hall and begged the Buddha for a path to fruition, whereupon a voice from the Changsheng Lamp asked whether he wished to become a Buddha.

• The Ancient Buddha Sarira transformed as Cihui’s spirit merged with it, and Cihui became Namo Great Wisdom Manjushri Bodhisattva.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva healed Guzhen, restored his thought power, and destroyed the battle puppet before departing on the Green Lion.
• Guzhen lamented that Cihui had gained fruition instead of him, then entered the vast hall beyond the shattered stone wall.
• Guzhen saw the hall’s Buddhist images and begged the Buddha to show him how to attain fruition.
• An aged voice from the Changsheng Lamp asked Guzhen whether he wished to become a Buddha, and Guzhen turned to examine the lamp.

Guzhen spoke with the voice in the Changsheng Lamp, learned that Manjushri Bodhisattva had planned his attainment of fruition for one hundred thousand years, and was encouraged to pursue Buddhahood despite being a Buddhist Protector. The voice revealed itself as a heavenly dragon and another Protector of the Buddhist Kingdom.

• The voice in the Changsheng Lamp rebuked Guzhen for resenting Manjushri Bodhisattva and explained that Manjushri had prepared a relic here one hundred thousand years earlier.
• Guzhen admitted his error, resolved to let go of resentment, and then tested the voice by pretending to leave before returning to ask questions.
• The voice told Guzhen that Manjushri Bodhisattva had been a Buddhist Protector and that Protectors could attain Buddhahood and enshrine relics.
• Guzhen approached the Changsheng Lamp, and an emerald-green heavenly dragon emerged from it and spoke to him.
• The heavenly dragon confirmed that it was a Protector of the Buddhist Kingdom, like Guzhen.

Guzhen learned why the Heavenly Dragon had built Changsheng Hall and agreed to help it find Qianxin Bi in exchange for its aid in cultivating toward fruition. The Heavenly Dragon promised to help Guzhen condense relics and gather faith power, but the two had yet to discuss where the rare material could be found.

• The Heavenly Dragon told Guzhen how it had fallen into the Pure Land World and helped Manjushri Bodhisattva’s previous incarnation establish Changsheng Hall.
• The Heavenly Dragon explained that Manjushri Bodhisattva had left it another hope: Guzhen could receive its secret techniques and pursue fruition.
• The Heavenly Dragon revealed that the burning Qianxin Bi sustaining its life might not last until Guzhen attained fruition.
• Guzhen promised to seek Qianxin Bi once he reached the Zhuling realm, and the Heavenly Dragon agreed to help him condense relics and gather faith power.
• Guzhen swore to help the Heavenly Dragon find Qianxin Bi and give it a chance to return to the Buddha-realm, and the Heavenly Dragon asked for his Dharma name.

Tianlong gave Guzhen a Buddhist treasure and revealed how he could retrieve the Dao Sect artifact in Profound Water Palace to condense a relic for him. Guzhen descended the newly opened stairs, hopeful that he could overcome the karmic obstacles that normally prevented a Protector from forming a relic.

• Guzhen accepted Tianlong’s plan to use the artifact in Profound Water Palace to help condense a relic, and Tianlong explained that it had once been used for Manjushri Bodhisattva.
• Tianlong gave Guzhen a jade-green pearl containing the secret technique for controlling the artifact, though Guzhen doubted he could use it at his current cultivation level.
• Tianlong activated the Changsheng Lamp, opening an entrance in its pillar and revealing a flight of stairs.
• Guzhen entered the passage and began descending, believing the artifact could let him form a relic despite the karmic obstacles from his past killings.

Guzhen crossed into the Profound Water Palace’s inner area, while Xiao Hua discovered that its immense azure stones formed a Daoist Teleportation Array. He brought green-robed Xiao Hua out of his space to help investigate it.

• Guzhen convinced himself that freeing the Heavenly Dragon from the Daoist immortal artifact would earn him merit, then crossed a bridge through a blue halo into the Profound Water Palace.
• Xiao Hua stopped himself from attempting a dangerous technique, gathered spirit herbs and fruits into his space, and hurried to Xin Xin when she called.
• Xin Xin showed Xiao Hua a vast formation made of enormous azure stones whose seams formed familiar Daoist runes.
• Xiao Hua climbed a stone pile, recognized the formation as a Teleportation Array, and realized it matched the array hidden within the Great Universe Shifting Token.
• Xiao Hua summoned green-robed Xiao Hua from his space and invited him outside to help with the Teleportation Array.

Xiao Hua found that the Teleportation Array in Profound Water Palace was badly damaged and could not be activated without more Qi Stones. He collected its scattered materials and learned from Xin Xin that she had over a thousand top-grade Qi Stones and had found an entrance that might lead to the true Profound Water Palace.

• Xiao Hua brought his newly condensed Nascent Soul out to inspect the Teleportation Array, while Xin Xin secretly watched him and then went elsewhere.
• Xiao Hua and the Nascent Soul found the Teleportation Array shattered, and Xiao Hua realized he lacked the Qi Stones needed to activate it even if it were repaired.
• Xiao Hua collected the array's valuable fragments into his space, and the Nascent Soul suggested moving the entire array if Xin Xin could not provide enough Qi Stones.
• Xiao Hua asked Xin Xin about her Qi Stones, and she said she had over a thousand top-grade ones.
• Xin Xin mocked Xiao Hua for recognizing the array, then pointed out an entrance that might lead to the true Profound Water Palace.

Xiao Hua and Xin Xin crossed a strange pavilion in Profound Water Palace after Xiao Hua secretly collected its bluestones. Xin Xin became entranced by the star-speckled dome and lamented her lack of freedom, while Xiao Hua continued toward the passage ahead.

• Xiao Hua took the pavilion’s bluestones, claiming he needed them to repair the temple at Great Snow Mountain, and refused Xin Xin’s offer of yuan stones.
• Xin Xin suspected Xiao Hua meant to take the Teleportation Array, then led him toward the pavilion and the only nearby passage.
• Xiao Hua wondered why earlier visitors had left no Cosmic Bags, and Xin Xin said the waters of Sage River had swept away their remains and belongings.
• Xin Xin asked about Xiao Hua’s Buddhist treasure, and he showed her a demonic staff, deepening her suspicions about who he was.
• Xin Xin stopped beneath the dome’s star-like lights and spoke wistfully about wanting to live freely, while Xiao Hua went ahead and pitied her.

Xin Xin and Xiao Hua were trapped in a sealed passage as thousands of Essence Devouring Insects attacked, while Xiao Hua discovered the passage was controlled by a powerful ancient formation. Xin Xin’s sword was devoured, and she unleashed a golden flying-phoenix sword that shook the passage as Xiao Hua watched the formation’s runes surge toward her.

• Xin Xin recognized the approaching insects as Essence Devouring Insects, and Xiao Hua retreated with her toward the passage entrance.
• Xin Xin discovered the entrance had become a seamless jade-green wall, so Xiao Hua opened his Eye of Delusion Breaking to examine the formation.
• Xiao Hua realized the shifting ancient formation drew on the Sage River’s spiritual energy and could not be broken by his usual method.
• Xin Xin’s flexible sword killed insects, but the swarm devoured it, forcing her to sever her connection to the weapon.
• Xin Xin summoned a golden flying-phoenix sword that killed many insects and caused the passage to shake.
• Xiao Hua saw the formation’s runes surge toward Xin Xin’s golden sword as the passage’s restrictions resisted her attack.

Xiao Hua and Benefactor Xin struggled to escape a formation passage swarming with Essence Devouring Insects, but their attacks only provoked larger waves. With the insects overwhelming them, Benefactor Xin urged Xiao Hua to charge for the exit while they sacrificed their defenses to buy time.

• Xiao Hua and Benefactor Xin fled deeper into the passage as increasingly numerous Essence Devouring Insects attacked and weakened Benefactor Xin's Flying Phoenix Sword.
• Xiao Hua's Lightning and Thunder Technique provoked the insects into attacking their Niwan Palaces, so he withdrew it; his Innate True Water was then swallowed by the formation, causing even larger insects to emerge.
• Xiao Hua used the As-You-Wish Staff and his Dharma Body Golden Body to smash the insects, while Benefactor Xin fought and retreated beside him.
• Xiao Hua tried to trap the insects with his Sleeve Universe technique, but they reappeared and clung to him; his divine sense also failed to control them.
• Benefactor Xin told Xiao Hua to charge toward the passage exit and ignore the insects, offering to release her true qi while his enormous Dharma body served as bait.

Xiao Hua used his Spirit Devouring Insects to stop the Essence Devouring swarm and watched them defeat the Essence Devouring Insect King. With the insects now showing sentience, they gathered the swarm into his Sword Pouch, leaving Xiao Hua and Xin Xin free to pass through the cleared passage.

• Xiao Hua released more than a dozen Spirit Devouring Insects, causing the Essence Devouring Insects to stop attacking.
• The Essence Devouring Insect King emerged and tried to command the swarm, but the Spirit Devouring Insects kept the other insects at bay.
• The Spirit Devouring Insects coordinated their attacks and devoured the Essence Devouring Insect King while Xiao Hua watched to avoid triggering the passage’s formation.
• The Spirit Devouring Insects led the remaining Essence Devouring Insects into Xiao Hua’s Sword Pouch in orderly groups.
• The Spirit Devouring Insects returned to Xiao Hua, who withdrew his Dharma Body Golden Body and fed them spirit herbs.

Xiao Hua and Xin Xin escaped the insect-filled passage and wandered through Profound Water Palace, where they discussed the Ancient Buddha Sarira and the palace’s possible connection to Celestials. Their search halted when a Daoist Sect War Puppet appeared, and Xiao Hua eagerly prepared to fight it.

• Xiao Hua caught up with Xin Xin and broke open the passage’s restriction with the As-You-Wish Staff.
• Xin Xin led Xiao Hua through Profound Water Palace while worrying that Guzhen and Ci Hui might not survive their route to the Ancient Buddha Sarira.
• Xiao Hua questioned whether Xin Xin’s Ink Cloud Pupil could truly confirm that the Ancient Buddha Sarira was in Profound Water Palace, and the two admitted they both wanted the immortal artifact.
• Xiao Hua suggested that the enormous palace and its restrictions might be connected to Celestials, surprising Xin Xin with his knowledge.
• A Daoist Sect War Puppet approached, and Xiao Hua claimed it for himself before enlarging the As-You-Wish Staff to attack.

Xiao Hua fought the battle puppet in the Profound Water Palace, first trying to wear down the spirit stones he believed powered it. Xin Xin discovered that the puppet drew Primordial Qi from the formation instead, and after its counterattack destroyed Xiao Hua’s Nascent Soul hand, he immobilized it with a technique.

• Xiao Hua enlarged his Dharma Body Golden Body and battled the puppet with his As-You-Wish Staff, suffering heavy blows as the passage crumbled around them.
• Xiao Hua realized the puppet’s strength and repairs seemed to come from spirit stones and fought on, hoping to exhaust them and claim the puppet.
• Xin Xin recognized the puppet’s fifth-grade Yuan force and later saw that it drew Primordial Qi from the Profound Water Palace rather than relying on Yuan stones.
• Xiao Hua seized the puppet with a Nascent Soul hand, but the puppet destroyed it with blue rays and a spear strike.
• Xiao Hua used a hand seal to bind the puppet in earthen-yellow threads, leaving it unable to move.

Xiao Hua fought the battle puppet as green fragments corroded his defenses and the puppet wounded him. The Profound Water Ancient Beast arrived and trapped him in its domain, but green-robed Xiao Hua broke the confinement; Xiao Hua then attacked the beast to protect Xin Xin and was stabbed in the back by the puppet’s spear.

• Green fragments corroded the Sea-Overturning Seal’s radiance, and the battle puppet broke free of Xiao Hua’s Silk-Binding Technique and speared him in the abdomen.
• Xiao Hua struck the puppet with the Sea-Overturning Seal and As-You-Wish Staff, then used his shoulder to topple it while trying to capture it.
• The Profound Water Ancient Beast appeared, released emerald water, and confined Xiao Hua and the puppet with its domain.
• Green-robed Xiao Hua emerged through the invisible Nascent Soul and shattered the beast’s immature domain with golden light.
• The Profound Water Ancient Beast turned toward Xin Xin, so Xiao Hua and green-robed Xiao Hua attacked it to stop it from reaching her.
• The battle puppet’s spear evaded Xiao Hua’s kick and pierced his back as his attacks halted the ancient beast.

Xiao Hua and Xin Xin fought the Profound Water Ancient Beast and its battle puppet in the Profound Water Palace, but the beast nearly killed Xiao Hua and survived their strongest attacks. After it vanished into blue ripples, Xin Xin helped Xiao Hua recover, though his internal injuries remained severe.

• The Profound Water Ancient Beast broke free of Xiao Hua’s restraints and shattered his golden body with an attack while the battle puppet struck at him from behind.
• Xin Xin unleashed the golden hairpin’s river of swords, destroying the battle puppet and nearly obliterating the ancient beast, which began restoring itself from the palace walls.
• Green-robed Xiao Hua tried Lingmou Zhu Fire against the beast, but it passed through unharmed as Xiao Hua and Xin Xin faced despair.
• Blue ripples appeared above Xiao Hua, and the Profound Water Ancient Beast disappeared into them.
• Xin Xin gave Xiao Hua a Chaoyuan Pill, which repaired his organs and drew Vast Righteous Qi into his body; Xiao Hua’s wounds healed, but his vital essence was depleted and his viscera remained only partly restored.

After Xiao Hua and Xin Xin survived the Profound Water Ancient Beast’s ambush, Xin Xin explained the Confucian cultivation foundation of Five Qi Ascending to the Origin and revealed that Xiao Hua had cultivated Confucian techniques along a mistaken path. As an exit appeared, she asked him to accompany her into the Profound Water Palace to look for someone she wanted to save.

• Xiao Hua thanked Xin Xin for saving him, and Xin Xin asked whether her Chaoyuan Pill had healed his injuries as expected.
• Xin Xin’s explanation of Five Qi and True Qi led Xiao Hua to reveal his familiarity with Confucian cultivation and demonstrate his Golden Essence Transforming into Sword technique.
• Xin Xin said Xiao Hua had followed the common, mistaken path of treating Confucian True Qi like Daoist True Qi and described Five Qi Ascending to the Origin as the foundation of Confucian cultivation.
• Xiao Hua challenged Xin Xin’s claim that Daoist cultivation methods had been stolen from Confucian cultivation, and Xin Xin declined to explain the origin of Confucian True Qi.
• When a triangular blue exit began forming, Xin Xin asked Xiao Hua to enter the Profound Water Palace with her and help save the person she sought.

Xiao Hua and Xin Xin entered a mysterious gate and arrived at the Profound Water Palace, where a golden light healed Xiao Hua’s injuries. As they discussed the palace and their concealed backgrounds, Xin Xin prepared to tell Xiao Hua why she needed his help saving her relative.

• Xin Xin explained that her golden hairpin could be activated only two and a half times and urged Xiao Hua to enter the mysterious light first.
• A golden light swept over Xiao Hua as he entered, restoring his injuries, and Xin Xin followed before the doorway vanished.
• Xiao Hua found himself inside a magnificent hall marked as the Profound Water Palace and suspected its formations drew on minor worlds.
• Xin Xin said the golden light was the Confucian cultivators’ Primordial Golden Light, and Xiao Hua admitted his Daoist cultivation surpassed his Buddhist cultivation.
• Xin Xin said she owed Xiao Hua an explanation of her origins and asked him to help save her relative; Xiao Hua agreed, and the two exchanged familiar names.

Xin Xin told Xiao Hua about her family’s betrayal and her imprisoned father, and Xiao Hua comforted her before they entered Profound Water Palace together. They found a hidden restriction blocking the raised platform and the suspected immortal artifact, and Xin Xin began examining it with her Golden Qi Dawn technique.

• Xin Xin confessed that the current clan head had lured her father to Profound Water Palace and imprisoned him with an immortal artifact, while Xiao Hua promised to share her burden.
• Xiao Hua and Xin Xin entered Profound Water Palace and searched its vast hall, finding a coiling Dragon Pillar but no clues there.
• Xin Xin suspected the immortal artifact was beside the golden seat on the raised platform, or that the seat itself was the artifact.
• An invisible restriction blocked Xiao Hua and Xin Xin as they approached the platform.
• Xin Xin activated her golden pupils to inspect the restriction, then summoned a golden sword with her true Qi.