Chapter Summaries

Gu Chen and the Three Corpses fought True Person Chengchu and Chan Master Zhenxie on Earth Yin Island, then activated their Ghost Seal Script formation to strengthen their defenses. The Sea-Covering Great Sage withdrew from Fire Dragon Island after the Righteous Path blocked the formation and secured the mainland earth vein, leaving the Three Corpses to fend for themselves.

• Gu Chen returned to Earth Yin Island, summoned his Blood Corpse Jiangchen Dharma Form and Corpse State Dao Domain, and joined Wu Lao and Cui Ying against True Person Chengchu and Chan Master Zhenxie.
• The Sea-Covering Great Sage went to Fire Dragon Island instead of helping Gu Chen, while the Righteous Path discovered that earth veins linked the islands to the mainland.
• Gu Chen activated the Heaven-and-Earth Inversion Profound Yin Nether Prison Formation, unleashing ghost-seal crows that strengthened the Three Corpses' forces and spread through the surrounding seas.
• Cheng Xinzhan and Huang Laosan used talismans to neutralize the ghost-seal script on Fire Dragon Island and Yellow Sulfur Island, while Cheng Xinzhan revealed that Red Rosy Cloud Island's formation flags had been replaced.
• Successors of Patriarch Sa and Lord Ge joined True Person Baoyuan on the islands, prompting the Sea-Covering Great Sage to leave without attacking the mainland earth vein.
• The Sea-Covering Great Sage ordered the Alligator King, Hui King, and Ao King to secure their territories, then refused to rescue the Three Corpses as their battle continued.

True Person Chengchu destroyed Gu Chen’s Profound Yin Beast-Gathering Banner with Juqü Mountain’s Shangqing Jade Treasure Primordial Spirit Secret Edict, while Chan Master Zhenxie’s Heavenly Dragon Zen Chant freed the Yin Spirits of Earth Yin Island. With Cui Ying struck down and Wu Lao sacrificing his Dragon Pearl incarnation, Gu Chen united with Earth Yin Island and became a land earthly immortal, then received the Sea-Covering Great Sage’s protection.

• True Person Chengchu used the Shangqing Jade Treasure Primordial Spirit Secret Edict to destroy the Ghost Seal Script and the Profound Yin Beast-Gathering Banner, leaving Gu Chen gravely wounded.
• Chan Master Zhenxie’s Heavenly Dragon Zen Chant freed the Yin Spirits, while Gu Chen realized that the Sea-Covering Great Sage had blocked his escape and chose to unite with Earth Yin Island.
• Gu Chen melted into Earth Yin Island as he began his Union with the Dao, while True Person Chengchu struck Cui Ying down and Wu Lao blew up his Dragon Pearl incarnation to block her.
• The Sea-Covering Great Sage and the Demon Kings stopped True Person Chengchu and Chan Master Zhenxie from reaching Gu Chen as Earth Yin Island completed its transformation.
• Gu Chen reappeared restored to his peak, thanked the Sea-Covering Great Sage for saving him, and stayed under his protection as True Person Chengchu and Chan Master Zhenxie departed.

One year after Dragon Spine Road was built, Lin Mingxu and Zhuming Yue traveled from Ox-Tail Pond toward Fire Dragon Island with a local guide, Old Hou. They admired the route’s sights and learned about its defenses and new Daoist branches before arriving at dawn to see Master Guangfa absorbing purple qi atop a fire dragon.

• Lin Mingxu and Zhuming Yue bought Five Blessings Demon-Suppressing Bracelets at Ox-Tail Pond and hired Old Hou to guide them along Dragon Spine Road.
• Old Hou explained how Dragon Spine Road had been built, its benefits, and the history of Red Rosy Cloud Island as he led them there to watch its sunset glow.
• The travelers crossed the Seventy-Two Bright Moon Bridges, where Old Hou described the magical treasures’ defense against a demon narwhal.
• Old Hou showed them Moonlit Yellow Mountain on Yellow Sulfur Island and explained that the Dharma Intent Sect’s formation created the warming display beneath the moon.
• At dawn, Old Hou brought Lin Mingxu and Zhuming Yue to Fire Dragon Island, where they saw Master Guangfa seated atop a fire dragon and drawing in purple qi.

Lin Mingxu and Zhuming Yue arrived at Fire Dragon Island and were summoned to meet their master, Cheng Xinzhan. While preparing new eyes for the Dragon Corpse and developing a Three Luminaries method for illuminating his future Nascent Soul, Cheng Xinzhan welcomed them at True Harmony Palace, where Zhuming Yue presented a letter and token from Cult Master Hong of Fuxia Lake.

• Old Hou explained Fire Dragon Island’s customs to Lin Mingxu and Zhuming Yue before they parted from him and explored the island.
• Cheng Xinzhan used Taichu Purple Dew to cleanse the Dragon Corpse’s eye sockets and prepared talismanic eyes using Bright Governance Mountain’s borrowed-aperture method.
• Cheng Xinzhan advanced his cultivation and chose to use the Three Luminaries—sun, moon, and stars—to illuminate his future Fate Embryo through his three Primordial Spirits.
• Cheng Xinzhan sensed Lin Mingxu and Zhuming Yue’s arrival, and attendants Fu Miao and Bai Zhenzhen escorted them to True Harmony Palace.
• Lin Mingxu and Zhuming Yue paid their respects to Cheng Xinzhan, and Zhuming Yue presented the letter and token entrusted to them by Cult Master Hong of Fuxia Lake.

Cheng Xinzhan taught his disciples, awakened the Dragon Corpse into the new cultivator Lan Yizhou, and completed a batch of Lesser Corpse Liberation Pills. The chapter ended with True Person Baoyuan recognizing the pills’ value and hoping Cheng Xinzhan could eventually refine their greater version.

• Cheng Xinzhan answered Lin Mingxu and Zhuming Yue’s cultivation questions, gave them materials suited to their Dao Paths, and urged them to enjoy their youth and support each other.
• Cheng Xinzhan opened Hong Changbao’s jade box, received the Blood-Transforming Divine Saber, and used it to awaken the Dragon Corpse.
• The newly awakened cultivator named himself Lan Yizhou and agreed to become the True Intent Sect’s Altar-Guarding Marshal.
• Four months later, Cheng Xinzhan completed six Lesser Corpse Liberation Pills, while the Alligator King’s attempt to seize them was stopped by True Person Baoyuan’s swordlight.
• True Person Baoyuan praised the pills’ ability to conceal heaven’s secrets and urged Cheng Xinzhan to pursue refining the greater Corpse-Liberation Pills.

Cheng Xinzhan left the True Intent Sect to return two long-unclaimed corpses and visit his former sect, bringing home gifts and revealing that he had refined the Lesser Corpse Liberation Pill. The chapter ended with Ji Hehe urging him to pursue the True Corpse-Liberation Pill and promising to help find the necessary Immortal Materials.

• Cheng Xinzhan entrusted the True Intent Sect to Wu Qingbo, He Xiangu, and Lan Yizhou before traveling to the mainland to undergo his Fourth Washing Elixir Tribulation.
• Cheng Xinzhan returned Patriarch Jianhong's remains to True Person Yixuan, who recognized the senior and grieved over his return.
• Cheng Xinzhan reunited with Xinshu, Yongliang, Zhaoli, and White Dragon on Bright Governance Mountain and gave them gifts.
• Cheng Xinzhan returned his ancestor's Emperor Corpse to the tomb array with Wen Sukong and gave her Lesser Corpse Liberation Pills he had refined.
• Cheng Xinzhan presented Ji Hehe with a Lesser Corpse Liberation Pill, and Ji Hehe urged him to work toward refining the True Corpse-Liberation Pill.

After months of delaying, Cheng Xinzhan left Three Pure Ones Mountain to undergo his Fourth Washing tribulation at Iron-Raft Mountain on the Winter Solstice. He survived the yang earth Boulder Thunder, perfected his Golden Core, and ended the chapter reciting a poem after swallowing it.

• Cheng Xinzhan left Carefree Cave with Lion and traveled to Iron-Raft Mountain to prepare for his tribulation.
• On the Winter Solstice, Cheng Xinzhan summoned his Golden Core and confirmed that the Purple Empyrean Tribulation brought yang earth Boulder Thunder.
• Cheng Xinzhan used the Earth Book to shield his Golden Core, treasures, incarnations, fleshly body, and Primordial Spirits as they endured the tribulation lightning.
• During the final bolt, Cheng Xinzhan's Golden Core rose through the lightning and pierced the tribulation cloud, condensing to the size of a grain of rice and shining like the moon.
• Cheng Xinzhan flew above the clouds, swallowed the perfected Golden Core, and recited True Person Ziyang's poem.

Cheng Xinzhan learned that Yan Renying had defected to the demonic path after his parents died in the escalating feud between the Yan and Xun families. Feng Ji Hu explained how the Xun family’s aggression led to Renying’s retaliation, while Renying remained at Biji Mountain under the Green-Robed Ancestor’s protection.

• Cheng Xinzhan completed the first transformation of Fetal Formation and emerged from meditation as spring arrived.
• Feng Ji Hu told Cheng Xinzhan that Yan Renying had betrayed Xuanmen, destroyed the Chongning Xun Clan, and led Biji Mountain to join the Southern School.
• Cheng Xinzhan flew to Butterfly Valley and met Feng Ji Hu, who said Renying was alive at Biji Mountain and Xun Lanyin could not reach him there.
• Feng Ji Hu explained that the Xun family had seized Yan territory after the Yan family Immortal, Bi Wenzi, ascended, and that the families’ conflict erupted the previous night.
• Feng Ji Hu said Renying returned from the Dian Campaign to find both parents dead, then attacked the Chongning Xun Clan with his ancestral sword, Immortal Raft.

Feng Ji Hu explained how Yan Renying seized Biji Mountain after striking back at Emei, and why the mountain’s people may have willingly joined the demons. Cheng Xinzhan and Feng Ji Hu watched Qi Shuming try to persuade Renying to return, but the Green-Robed Ancestor intervened by enfeoffing Renying as Dian’ning King.

• Feng Ji Hu told Cheng Xinzhan that Yan Renying had used the Immortal Raft sword to destroy the Xun Household’s ancestral residence, then seized Biji Mountain by killing its three Emei elders.
• Feng Ji Hu explained Biji Mountain’s strategic importance and Renying’s longstanding conflict with the Emei elders, suggesting the mountain may have chosen to defect rather than submit to their treatment.
• After learning that Qi Shuming had arrived at Biji Mountain, Cheng Xinzhan carried Feng Ji Hu there at extraordinary speed.
• Qi Shuming called on Renying to return, swearing that Emei would forgive him, protect the Yan family, and punish those responsible for their suffering.
• The Green-Robed Ancestor appeared at the Nanpan River, and his messenger proclaimed Yan Renying Dian’ning King, granting him authority over the territory around Dianchi Lake.

Yan Renying accepted the Green-Robed Ancestor’s decree and King’s Seal, formally leaving Emei to become the Dian'ning King, while Qi Shuming returned to Western Shu. Cheng Xinzhan and Feng Ji Hu discussed Green Robe’s likely renewed campaign against Yuyang before the sect urgently summoned Cheng Xinzhan back to the mountain.

• Yan Renying accepted Green Robe’s decree and King’s Seal, becoming the Dian'ning King despite Qi Shuming’s appeal for him to return to Emei.
• Qi Shuming left after offering Yan Renying the Seize Light and Snatch Shadow method, which Green Robe blocked before Yan Renying returned to Biji Mountain.
• Cheng Xinzhan told Feng Ji Hu that Green Robe was likely to attack Yuyang now that he had secured the western bank of the Nanpan River.
• Cheng Xinzhan and Feng Ji Hu spent several days talking at Butterfly Valley while Cheng reinforced its formations and wards.
• Cheng Xinzhan received an urgent summons from the Sect Leader, accepted Feng Ji Hu’s medicine supplies, and left for the mountain.

Cheng Xinzhan returned to Three Pure Ones Mountain and learned that Doumu Pavilion faced pressure from Emei and feared destruction after Biji Mountain joined the Demon Cult and Dianwen’s Buddhist leaders submitted to Xuanmen. The chapter ended with Mountain Lord Fa Wujiu asking for counsel on whether to form his Nascent Soul and serve as Doumu Pavilion’s acting Sect Leader.

• Cheng Xinzhan returned to the Three Pure Ones Palace, where Ji Hehe, Marshal Kui, and Fa Wujiu told him about the crisis in Dianwen.
• Ji Hehe explained that Emei wanted Doumu Pavilion to join Xuanmen and become its subsidiary seat, while Dragon Elephant Nunnery and Kaiyuan Temple had already agreed to submit.
• Fa Wujiu described the Northern Dipper Society’s request for help and explained that Doumu Pavilion sought a Fourth Realm cultivator to lead it and direct its protective formation.
• Fa Wujiu recounted Celestial Master Sa’s story as a precedent for inviting someone of another surname to govern a sect temporarily.
• Fa Wujiu said he might soon enter the Fourth Realm and could lead Doumu Pavilion, but feared the opportunity might be a tribulation; Ji Hehe invited Cheng Xinzhan to advise them.

Cheng Xinzhan and Ji Hehe divined that Fa Wujiu should travel west to help Doumu Pavilion, then arranged his succession and planned to reveal Three Pure Ones Mountain’s control of Limitless Mountain. Fa Wujiu formed his Fourth Realm infant, and Cheng Xinzhan departed west with him to secure Doumu Pavilion and Limitless Mountain.

• Cheng Xinzhan’s bird divination and Ji Hehe’s divination sticks both indicated that Fa Wujiu should go west to reunite with and help his old friend, Sect Leader Zuo of Doumu Pavilion.
• Ji Hehe chose Tan Weixu to succeed Fa Wujiu as mountain lord of Shaking Light Mountain and instructed Fa Wujiu to contact allies, hand over the mountain’s affairs, and wait until his infant was stable before traveling.
• Cheng Xinzhan proposed publicly establishing Limitless Mountain as an unorthodox sect and revealed that he and Three Pure Ones Mountain had secretly brought its leaders under their control.
• Cheng Xinzhan offered to accompany Fa Wujiu west and personally guard Limitless Mountain, and Ji Hehe approved the plan.
• Fa Wujiu stepped down and entered seclusion; Tan Weixu succeeded him, and thirty-two days later Fa Wujiu reached the Fourth Realm as Three Pure Ones Mountain celebrated.
• Three days later, Cheng Xinzhan and Fa Wujiu left Three Pure Ones Mountain together, heading west.

Fa Wujiu arrived at the Doumu Pavilion and forced Emei’s envoy to retreat, while Cheng Xinzhan began reforming the Five Poisons Sect at Limitless Mountain. The announcements of both changes reached Zhong Yuanjue, who learned that Emei’s influence in Dianwen was being challenged.

• Zuo Taichong rejected Emei’s offer to make the Doumu Pavilion a subsidiary sect, and Fa Wujiu appeared and drove the envoy away after striking him and inflicting four curses.
• Zuo Taichong welcomed Fa Wujiu to Weibao Mountain and announced that he would resign as Sect Master, with Wujiu Xuan serving as acting Sect Master.
• Cheng Xinzhan assured Wan Gaoming that he would guide reforms while Wan remained Sect Master, and he greeted Zhu Jianmo and He Jiyuan as fellow Daoists.
• The injured Emei envoy returned to Zhong Yuanjue and claimed that an unidentified Fourth Realm star-robed cultivator had attacked him at the Doumu Pavilion.
• Zuo Taichong announced Fa Wujiu’s appointment, and Wan Gaoming announced that the Five Poisons Sect would become the Limitless Cult under Master Guangfa’s guidance.

After Buddhist monasteries in Dianwen converted to Xuanmen under Emei’s influence, the region’s sects faced upheaval and denunciations. Cheng Xinzhan began transforming Limitless Mountain into the Limitless Cult, leaving its foundations in the midst of sweeping reforms.

• Dragon Elephant Nunnery and Kaiyuan Temple announced their conversion to Xuanmen and became subsidiary establishments of Emei, provoking denunciations from Buddhist and Chan sects across the Divine Land.
• Gantong Temple closed its mountain, and Buddhist monasteries across Ba-Shu shut their gates as Emei drew praise from many Xuanmen disciples and attracted new followers.
• Cheng Xinzhan oversaw extensive construction at Limitless Mountain, appointing Zhu Jianmo Chief Supervisor as the rebuilding also strengthened the mountain-guarding formation.
• Cheng Xinzhan ordered the purging of crimes at Limitless Mountain and appointed He Jiyuan Chief Punishment Officer to judge and punish the sect’s members.
• Cheng Xinzhan developed the Lesser Five Elements Spiritual Bait and Living Elixir True Scripture, replacing the Five Poisons Sect’s methods with a new practice combining gu refinement, five elements methods, and alchemy.

Shen Zhaoming fought back a jiao assault on Yuyang’s North River front and sent Cheng Xinzhan a letter and a rare scale, easing Cheng’s worries about the eastern front. After strengthening Limitless Mountain and setting its affairs in order, Cheng rode to Ailao Mountain and summoned Land-Splitting Tai'e to attack its demon stronghold.

• Shen Zhaoming received an urgent message about a jiao attack at Xiqiao Mountain, reinforced the front, killed a Fourth Washing demonic jiao and other foes, and counterattacked near Pingsha Islet.
• Shen Zhaoming sent Cheng Xinzhan a letter describing the Yuyang defenses and enclosed a seven-colored jiao scale as a gift.
• Cheng Xinzhan read the letter, resolved to advance east by clearing Ailao Mountain and Fuxian Lake, and considered how to protect the land and waters.
• Cheng Xinzhan rebuilt Limitless Mountain’s protective formation, assigned his Bamboo Body and Shuangling Primordial Spirit to govern in his absence, and rode alone toward Ailao Mountain.
• Cheng Xinzhan located the Ailao Mountain Demon Lair and drew his Dharma Sword, Land-Splitting Tai'e, which enlarged into a falling mountain.

Cheng Xinzhan attacked Ailao Mountain, overcoming Mu Longzhang’s defenses with three Dharma Swords, Dragon Thunder, and Marshal Deng. The Earth Sword finally pierced the mountain while the Fire Sword set its defenses ablaze, leaving the battle poised to continue.

• Mu Longzhang ordered an ancient demonic vine to block Cheng Xinzhan’s enormous Earth Sword, but Cheng used Sword Fiend to pierce the vine’s defenses.
• Cheng sent the wooden and Fire Swords against the vine, forcing it to sever its burning upper half and retreat into Bottomless Cave.
• Mu Longzhang used his Heaven-Spanning Dragon Claw Hand to seize Cheng’s swords, but Cheng’s Dragon Thunder destroyed all four claws.
• Mu Longzhang recognized Cheng and summoned his Golden Core and dark green dragon Dharma Form, while Cheng summoned Marshal Deng to wrench the dragon aside.
• Cheng’s Fire Sword burned through Ailao Mountain’s vine formation and ignited the mountain, while the Earth Sword struck the ground and pinned Ailao Mountain.

Cheng Xinzhan attacked Mu Longzhang at Ailao Mountain, using fire, flying swords, spells, and ritual treasures to force the Fourth Realm fiend to defend his mountain and himself. As Mu Longzhang’s vines began to fail and Cheng trapped his divided incarnations beneath a robe, an elder brother arrived from Wumeng Mountain in response to Mu’s cries for help.

• Mu Longzhang blasted away Cheng Xinzhan’s first spreading flames with Mountain-Bombarding Void-Trapping Divine Thunders, destroying the sword furnace and damaging the Earth Sword.
• Cheng Xinzhan poured nine-colored fire from Red Wart Gourd over Ailao Mountain, and Mu Longzhang exhausted his remaining divine thunders before using a vast umbrella of demonic vines to shield the mountain.
• Mu Longzhang sent his Fourth Realm wooden dragon incarnation upward, but Cheng Xinzhan attacked it with paired flying swords, the Wuying Seal, and increasingly powerful binding incantations.
• Cheng Xinzhan struck Mu Longzhang with the Wuying Seal, and Mu recognized him as the Daoist who had previously sealed the Five Poisons Heavenly King.
• Mu Longzhang used the Heavenly Demon Body-Splitting Art to divide into four incarnations, but Cheng Xinzhan trapped them beneath the expanding Purple Gauze Ritual Robe as Ailao Mountain’s formation weakened.
• A streak of light arrived from Wumeng Mountain, and Mu Longzhang shouted for his elder brother to help.

Cheng Xinzhan escaped Ailao Mountain’s burning waterfall but was intercepted by Zhong Yuanjue of Emei, who accused him of stealing Emei sword arts and attacked him. Zhou Qingyun arrived and, after Cheng’s lion approached her, proposed that they join forces to capture Xiao Youshi.

• Xiao Youshi used a feather fan to drive Cheng Xinzhan’s waterfall of fire away from Ailao Mountain, and Cheng retrieved the flames and left on his lion.
• Zhong Yuanjue blocked Cheng Xinzhan’s path and demanded that he cripple himself over the supposed theft of Emei sword arts.
• Cheng Xinzhan attacked Zhong Yuanjue with Peach Capital, while Xiao Youshi watched for a chance to strike.
• Zhou Qingyun arrived from the north, questioned Zhong Yuanjue’s accusation, and saw the lion carry Cheng Xinzhan to her.
• Zhou Qingyun suggested that she and Zhong Yuanjue join Cheng Xinzhan to capture Xiao Youshi, alarming the Demon Ancestor.

Xiao Youshi fought off Zhou Qingyun, Cheng Xinzhan, and Zhong Yuanjue before fleeing and lending Mu Longzhang his feather fan to defend Ailao Mountain. Ten days later, Cheng Xinzhan traveled east to the Longevity Palace and asked Daoist Zhenchang about the Lushan School’s expertise in destroying spirits and monsters.

• Zhou Qingyun and Cheng Xinzhan attacked Xiao Youshi, and Zhong Yuanjue joined them with his sword and treasures.
• Xiao Youshi used his Demon Bell and feather fan to withstand the attacks, then fled northeast through a sandstorm.
• Zhong Yuanjue led an assault toward Ailao Mountain, but Xiao Youshi lent Mu Longzhang his feather fan to strengthen the mountain’s defense.
• Cheng Xinzhan abandoned the attack and left, while Zhou Qingyun followed Zhong Yuanjue toward Ailao Mountain.
• Ten days later, Cheng Xinzhan’s Bamboo Body traveled from Limitless Mountain to the Longevity Palace and asked Daoist Zhenchang about the Lushan School’s methods for exterminating spirits and monsters.

Cheng Xinzhan persuaded Daoist Zhenchang and the Lushan School’s leaders that Dianwen’s deep waters, local conditions, and struggle against the Demon Cult made it an ideal place to establish a Lushan branch. Huang Faming agreed in principle, and the chapter ended as Cheng Xinzhan began discussing preparations for the move.

• Cheng Xinzhan asked Daoist Zhenchang about the Lushan School’s origins, water altars, and ritual traditions, and Zhenchang explained the lineage’s history and practices.
• Cheng Xinzhan argued that Dianwen’s deep rivers and lakes, local customs, demonic activity, and political circumstances made it a rare opportunity for the Lushan School to spread its teachings.
• Daoist Zhenchang eagerly took Cheng Xinzhan to the Lushan School’s headquarters at Lins hui Palace in the Eight Min.
• Huang Faming and Zang Faxian welcomed Cheng Xinzhan and Daoist Zhenchang, then heard Cheng Xinzhan propose establishing a Lushan branch in Dian.
• Huang Faming asked when they would leave, and Cheng Xinzhan said they first needed to agree on an approach and make thorough preparations.