Chapter Summaries

Xuan Yuanjun and the other old powers examined the hidden formation trapping Xuan Yuanxiang and his companions, while the Blood God reflected on a defiant junior he considered his chess piece. Ao Yuan arrived on behalf of the Divine Beast Clan and agreed to join forces as the group continued investigating the formation.

• The Demon God agreed to contact the Southern Wilderness Dense Forest and arrange for them to meet the group at sea.
• After the visitors left, the Blood God said a junior had resisted him and resolved to calm down before deciding what to do next.
• Xuan Yuanjun and the others examined the Transfer Formation Site and learned it concealed a killing formation as well as trapping Xuan Yuanxiang and the others.
• Xuan Yuanjun said he needed a month to determine whether he could break the formation, and the other old fellows continued studying it.
• Ao Yuan arrived half a month later, challenged Xun Wuying's attempt to speak for the group, and agreed to join forces on behalf of the Divine Beast Clan.

Ao Yuan joined the Demon God and the others as they prepared to break the Longevity Daoist’s formation, and Xuan Yuanjun revealed that he possessed the Seven Great Treasures and several divine weapons. Ao Yuan began sharing what he knew about the Longevity Daoist, including a faint bloody aura he had sensed.

• Ao Yuan asked about the absent Blood God and Slaughter Evil Lord, then offered to share news about the Longevity Daoist.
• Xuan Yuanjun arrived and said breaking the formation by force would require everyone’s strength and certain treasures.
• Xuan Yuanjun revealed that the Seven Great Treasures had been brought from the Martial World by his junior and were in his hands.
• The Demon God urged the others to contribute any divine weapons they possessed, and Xuan Yuanjun revealed that those weapons were also in his hands.
• Ao Yuan said that the Longevity Daoist had carried a faint bloody aura when Ao Yuan met him.

Ao Yuan revealed that the Longevity Daoist had negotiated for the Divine Beast Clan’s accumulated essence blood in exchange for refuge in the Southern Wilderness Dense Forest, but had not yet received it. Xuan Yuanjun suspected the Longevity Daoist’s recent essence-blood collection was meant to muddy the waters and direct suspicion toward Wen Zhaozhen, whose trustworthiness remained uncertain.

• Ao Yuan told Xuan Yuanjun and the others that the Longevity Daoist had once asked him for the Divine Beast Clan’s essence blood.
• Ao Yuan explained that the Longevity Daoist had promised the clan a safe refuge in the Southern Wilderness Dense Forest in exchange, but the clan had not handed over the blood.
• Xuan Yuanjun guessed that the Divine Beast essence blood was a backup supply and that the Longevity Daoist’s other collection efforts might have been intended to divert suspicion toward Wen Zhaozhen.
• The Demon God said Wen Zhaozhen still seemed to be hiding something, and Xuan Yuanjun admitted he had left the Blood God Sect with lingering doubts.

Xuan Yuanjun argued that Longevity Daoist had framed Wen Zhaozhen to divide their forces, and the group agreed to strengthen their alliance. Ao Yuan agreed to provide the Divine Beast Clan’s essence blood and gained the Ancestors’ support for ending targeted hunts, though the plan depended on defeating Longevity Daoist.

• Xuan Yuanjun said the evidence against Wen Zhaozhen likely pointed to a frame-up designed to distract them from Longevity Daoist.
• Demon God and Ao Yuan recognized that Longevity Daoist had used a faint bloody aura to direct suspicion toward Blood God and weaken their strength.
• Xuan Yuanjun asked Ao Yuan to contribute the Divine Beast Clan’s stored essence blood to help Wen Zhaozhen grow stronger, and Ao Yuan agreed.
• Xuan Yuanjun proposed that the Ancestors forbid their followers from hunting divine beasts so the Divine Beast Clan could leave the Southern Wilderness Dense Forest.
• Demon God and the other Ancestors agreed to restrain targeted hunts while accepting that ordinary conflicts could still cause casualties.
• Ao Yuan offered to hand over the essence blood, suggesting that Blood God collect it in person or that Demon God and Xuan Yuanjun pass it along.

Xuan Yuanjun took responsibility for safeguarding the Divine Beast Clan’s essence blood and promised to prepare the formation-breaking setup within ten years. As the group departed, Fu Beiwang agreed to temporarily oversee the Alliance Domain while Xuan Yuanjun focused on the formations.

• Xuan Yuanjun persuaded the Demon God to let him keep the essence blood until Wen Zhaozhen emerged from seclusion, and the Demon God warned him not to let the Longevity Daoist seize the divine weapons.
• Xuan Yuanjun said he needed time to gather materials and refine the formation setup, estimating that he could be ready within ten years.
• Xuan Yuanjun told Ye Nishang to monitor the Spirit Land Grand Formations in the Immortal Spirit Domain, especially the one in the Last Spirit Land.
• Fu Beiwang and Gu Chengfei agreed that Fu Beiwang would temporarily maintain order in the Alliance Domain while Xuan Yuanjun worked on the formations.
• Gu Chengfei returned toward the God Transformation Sect, and Fu Beiwang continued into the Immortal Spirit Domain.

Gu Chengfei secretly met Xu Zhiru and Du Mei, who were also working for Longevity Daoist, and learned that their operation required them to cooperate while keeping their identities hidden. Xu Zhiru revealed that their task was to kill someone, but did not yet name the target.

• Gu Chengfei left Fu Beiwang, then changed course and traveled to a small island offshore.
• Xu Zhiru and Du Mei greeted Gu Chengfei and confirmed that they were secretly working together.
• Xu Zhiru gave Gu Chengfei a healing pill from Longevity Daoist, and Gu Chengfei took it.
• Xu Zhiru told Gu Chengfei to cooperate with Fu Beiwang to reduce Xuan Yuanjun's suspicions.
• Xu Zhiru explained that Longevity Daoist had summoned them and revealed that their task was to kill someone.

Xu Zhiru told Du Mei and Gu Chengfei that they would target Huang Xiao because Ji Xuanying and her son were guarding him. He assigned Gu Chengfei to kill Huang Xiao and later ambush Fu Beiwang, hoping Fu Beiwang’s death would distract Xuan Yuanjun in the final battle.

• Du Mei and Gu Chengfei learned that Xu Zhiru wanted them to kill Huang Xiao, the Wild Ox Sect Master, who was protected by Ji Xuanying and her son.
• Xu Zhiru said Gu Chengfei would kill Huang Xiao while the others held off the two experts, and Du Mei objected that this could expose her identity.
• Xu Zhiru revealed that Gu Chengfei had a more important task afterward, prompting Du Mei and Gu Chengfei to argue over their relative strength.
• Xu Zhiru told them that Gu Chengfei was to ambush and kill Fu Beiwang rather than Xuan Yuanjun.
• Du Mei suggested that Fu Beiwang’s death might distract Xuan Yuanjun during the final battle.

Du Mei, Gu Chengfei, and Xu Zhiru discussed Longevity Daoist’s orders to make Xuan Yuanjun suffer and kill Huang Xiao, then headed for the Desolate Domain. Meanwhile, Huang Xiao waited for Senior Xuanyuan and reflected on Qingfeng’s advice about keeping an even mind and knowing what to relinquish.

• Xu Zhiru revealed that Longevity Daoist wanted Xuan Yuanjun to suffer before dying and that Gu Chengfei was better suited to ambush Fu Beiwang.
• Du Mei and Gu Chengfei questioned why Longevity Daoist wanted Huang Xiao killed, but Xu Zhiru said he did not know.
• Du Mei agreed to keep her identity concealed and accepted that the Ghost God Sect might be destroyed; Xu Zhiru led the group toward Huang Xiao in the Desolate Domain.
• Huang Xiao waited with Qingfeng for Senior Xuanyuan, who had not returned, and explained that he had come out of the formation for fresh air.
• Qingfeng advised Huang Xiao to ease his pressure and learn what to keep and relinquish, prompting Huang Xiao to recall the remainder of the Dao.

Xu Zhiru and Du Mei arrived to distract Ji Xuanying and Ji Shidao while Gu Chengfei tried to reach the island and kill Huang Xiao. Ji Xuanying exposed Du Mei’s identity, and the four began fighting as Huang Xiao and the others watched from afar.

• Huang Xiao calmed himself after Qingfeng pointed out that he had become restless under the pressure of the Final Battle.
• Huang Xiao spotted Xu Zhiru and a disguised companion approaching, and he and Qingfeng realized the visitors posed a threat.
• Ji Xuanying and Ji Shidao intercepted Xu Zhiru and Du Mei while Gu Chengfei took another route to attack Huang Xiao.
• Ji Xuanying recognized Du Mei as the Ghost Hag, and Du Mei dropped her disguise.
• Du Mei fought Ji Xuanying as Xu Zhiru and Ji Shidao joined the battle, while Huang Xiao and the others watched from the island.

Ji Xuanying and Ji Shidao fought Du Mei and Xu Zhiru while Huo Lian realized Longevity Daoist might have sent reinforcements. Gu Chengfei arrived and nearly killed Huang Xiao, but three divine weapons intervened and helped Huang Xiao and the others escape to the Ji Residence’s small island.

• Ji Xuanying and Ji Shidao fought Du Mei and Xu Zhiru, with the Ji family holding a slight advantage.
• Huo Lian and the others suspected Longevity Daoist had sent more people, and Gu Chengfei appeared behind them.
• Gu Chengfei attacked Huang Xiao, suppressing him so completely that he could barely move.
• The Xuanyuan Sword, Ganjiang, and Zhanlu struck Gu Chengfei and gave Huang Xiao time to flee with the others.
• Li Bai and his companions recalled the divine weapons, and the group reached the Ji Residence’s small island while Gu Chengfei vowed to capture them.

Gu Chengfei confronted Huang Xiao and the others, entered Ji Xuanying’s island formation, and pursued them to the Ji Residence. There, Zhao Yunhui revealed that she had secretly set up another formation and said she was confident it could stop him.

• Wu Xuancang warned that Ji Xuanying’s formation might weaken Gu Chengfei but could not kill him.
• Gu Chengfei demanded Huang Xiao hand over the Divine Weapons and Seven Treasures, then stepped onto the island despite the formation.
• Huo Lian led the group into the Ji Residence as Gu Chengfei followed them.
• Zhao Yunhui revealed that she had laid an additional formation outside the residence.
• Zhao Yunhui said Gu Chengfei’s poor formation skills meant her formation could stop him, though it could not stop Senior Xuanyuan.

Zhao Yunhui explained how her formation borrowed power from a grand formation in the Desolate Domain, protecting the group inside the stone house from Gu Chengfei. She then proposed that a second formation might trap him, though she said the plan had major obstacles.

• Zhao Yunhui explained that she had connected the stone house’s formation to one of Longevity Daoist’s formations in the Desolate Domain, allowing it to borrow some of its power.
• Gu Chengfei repeatedly attacked the formation outside the stone house but could not break it.
• Zhao Yunhui clarified that the formation was meant to defend against others, not Longevity Daoist, and said she had used the Seven Great Treasures without damaging them.
• Huo Lian suggested Zhao Yunhui might use her insights into the formation to help find ways to break Longevity Daoist’s formations.
• When Baili Zhen wished they could trap Gu Chengfei, Zhao Yunhui proposed setting up another formation outside the existing one but noted that serious problems stood in the way.

Zhao Yunhui proposed using seven divine weapons to set up a second, larger formation that could trap Gu Chengfei, and the group accepted the risk after she estimated a seventy percent chance of success. They prepared to distract Gu Chengfei while Zhao Yunhui worked and chose which weapons to use, leaving out the Xuanyuan Sword because it belonged to Xuan Yuanjun.

• Zhao Yunhui explained that she could make a larger formation but lacked materials, so Huo Lian suggested using divine weapons in place of the Seven Treasures.
• Zhao Yunhui warned that failure could cost them the weapons, but Huo Lian argued that trapping Gu Chengfei could reveal important secrets.
• After hearing Zhao Yunhui estimate a seventy percent chance of success, Huo Lian and Wu Xuancang agreed that the group should try, and Zhao Yunhui asked them to distract Gu Chengfei.
• The group discussed which seven weapons to use, and Dugu Sheng explained that the Xuanyuan Sword belonged to Xuan Yuanjun rather than to him.
• Wu Xuancang proposed leaving out the Xuanyuan Sword, and the group raised no objections.

Huang Xiao taunted Gu Chengfei into focusing on attacking the formation while Zhao Yunhui prepared the divine weapons. The weapons then flew out of the stone house and surrounded Gu Chengfei, who mistook their appearance for a chance to claim them.

• Gu Chengfei failed to break Huang Xiao's formation and realized he could not reach him while he remained inside.
• Huang Xiao appeared at the stone house doorway and questioned Gu Chengfei about why he had come to kill him.
• Gu Chengfei suspected Huang Xiao was stalling and wrongly concluded the formation was close to collapsing.
• Huang Xiao insulted Gu Chengfei to keep his attention fixed on the formation as Zhao Yunhui sent word that the preparations were ready.
• Seven divine weapons shot from the stone house, scattered around Gu Chengfei, and filled him with hope of seizing them.

Huang Xiao trapped Gu Chengfei inside Zhao Yunhui’s formation, preventing him from reaching the seven divine weapons. Ji Xuanying and Ji Shidao arrived but were also stopped outside, leaving Huang Xiao and Zhao Yunhui unsure whether they could let them in.

• Gu Chengfei chose to seize the seven divine weapons, but Huang Xiao concealed them by raising another formation around him.
• Huang Xiao revealed that Zhao Yunhui had set up the formations, and Gu Chengfei realized he was confined and could not break out.
• Ji Xuanying and Ji Shidao landed on the island but could not enter the formation, while Du Mei and Xu Zhiru urged Gu Chengfei to kill Huang Xiao.
• Gu Chengfei continued attacking the formation as Huang Xiao asked Zhao Yunhui whether she could let Ji Xuanying and Ji Shidao inside, but she only shook her head.

Zhao Yunhui’s formations trapped Gu Chengfei while Ji Xuanying and Ji Shidao fought Xu Zhiru and Du Mei. After half a month, Xu Zhiru and Du Mei fled, leaving Gu Chengfei isolated as Xuan Yuanjun had yet to return.

• Zhao Yunhui told Ji Xuanying that her formations could hold even if all three old fellows attacked, and Ji Xuanying and Ji Shidao resumed fighting Xu Zhiru and Du Mei.
• Huo Lian, Tan Ming, Zuo Qiu Shu, and Baili Zhen praised Zhao Yunhui, who said they could not consider the mission complete until Xuan Yuanjun returned.
• The battle continued for half a month while Gu Chengfei failed to break or understand the formation, and Xu Zhiru and Du Mei failed to escape through it.
• Xu Zhiru and Du Mei fled, leaving Gu Chengfei behind; he decided he still had a chance to escape before Xuan Yuanjun returned.
• Ji Shidao taunted Gu Chengfei and offered to have Zhao Yunhui withdraw the formation, but Ji Xuanying shouted for him to shut up.

Gu Chengfei was captured after his attempt to escape failed, and he tried to bargain with Xuan Yuanjun for his life by offering secrets about the Longevity Daoist. Xuan Yuanjun agreed to spare him if the information proved valuable, while Ji Xuanying remained opposed, and Gu Chengfei insisted that the formation around the Stone House stay in place.

• Ji Xuanying saw through Gu Chengfei's escape plan and ordered Zhao Yunhui to keep the formation intact.
• A month later, Xuan Yuanjun returned, and Gu Chengfei revealed his true appearance after being subdued.
• Xuan Yuanjun questioned Gu Chengfei about the Longevity Daoist, but Gu Chengfei stayed silent until he asked whether sharing secrets could earn him freedom.
• Xuan Yuanjun offered to spare Gu Chengfei if his secrets were sufficiently astonishing, despite Ji Xuanying's objection.
• Gu Chengfei called Ji Xuanying back and asked Xuan Yuanjun to keep the formation outside the Stone House in place.

Gu Chengfei explained that he served the Longevity Daoist out of fear of his overwhelming strength, though he had no idea why the Daoist had ordered Huang Xiao killed. He revealed that the Daoist had kept his identity hidden because he believed Gu Chengfei had a greater role to play than Du Mei.

• Xuan Yuanjun released Gu Chengfei from the formation and gathered the divine weapons while keeping the formation in place.
• Gu Chengfei said he, Xu Zhiru, and Du Mei were not poisoned or controlled, but worked for the Longevity Daoist because his power was terrifying.
• Gu Chengfei told Xuan Yuanjun that Xu Zhiru received the Longevity Daoist's messages through a puppet and that the Daoist had ordered Gu Chengfei to fake his injuries.
• Gu Chengfei said he did not know why the Longevity Daoist wanted Huang Xiao killed, since he and Du Mei had only followed the order.
• Gu Chengfei explained that the Longevity Daoist had protected his identity because he believed Gu Chengfei had a greater role to play than Du Mei.

Gu Chengfei revealed Longevity Daoist’s schemes, including plans to make Xuan Yuanjun suffer and to harvest essence blood through hidden formations. He warned that the trapped Xuan Yuanxiang and the others—and possibly the forces joining against Longevity Daoist—could be intended as sacrifices for an even greater ritual.

• Gu Chengfei said Longevity Daoist had wanted him to conceal his identity and ambush Fu Beiwang during the final battle to make Xuan Yuanjun suffer.
• Xuan Yuanjun questioned Gu Chengfei about the blood jade and learned that Longevity Daoist had supplied it to Ao Yuan and the Divine Beast Clan.
• Gu Chengfei said the Blood God had secretly benefited from the great battle by collecting essence-blood aura preserved by Longevity Daoist’s formations.
• Gu Chengfei explained that Longevity Daoist needed essence blood to activate the Desolate Domain formations and had delayed collecting it to avoid detection.
• Gu Chengfei warned that the formations’ Blood Sacrifice could include Xuan Yuanxiang and the others trapped inside, and that Longevity Daoist might be drawing their allies into a larger sacrifice.

Gu Chengfei, Xuan Yuanjun, and the others discussed Longevity Daoist’s hidden strength and growing plans, concluding that he might be preparing to sacrifice the entire Ancient World. Gu Chengfei began to recognize that Longevity Daoist would likely discard even powerful allies like him.

• Gu Chengfei warned that Longevity Daoist might be stronger than before and could secretly recruit the Old Fools who had joined Xuan Yuanjun.
• Xuan Yuanjun argued that Longevity Daoist would see his followers as expendable, especially because he cultivated the Ruthlessness Dao.
• Xuan Yuanjun concluded that Longevity Daoist’s expanded Grand Formations were meant to carry out a Blood Sacrifice of the Immortal Spirit Domain or the entire Ancient World.
• Gu Chengfei realized that Longevity Daoist might target powerful allies like him for their essence blood, while Wen Zhaozhen might be cooperating without knowing Longevity Daoist’s true strength.