Chapter Summaries

After more than seven hundred years of cultivation, Shi Xuan completed the Yin Virtue Figurine and joined Mang Mountain Ghost Lord and Mang Ya on a mission to the Imperial Palace. The four Ghost Lords gathered outside the palace, where Giant Spirit Ghost Lord emerged and launched the first attack.

• Shi Xuan completed the fourth-tier Yin Virtue Figurine after years of deduction and learned it contained an unexpected feature.
• Shi Xuan reviewed his progress as a Three Tribulation Yang Spirit True Person, noting that his Yin-Yang Mixed Cavern Divine Light remained blocked from advancing.
• Mang Mountain Ghost Lord took Shi Xuan and Mang Ya by imperial carriage toward Left Saint Imperial Palace.
• Soul Devouring Ghost Lord, Dang Mountain Ghost Lord Gu Luo, and the fourth Ghost Lord arrived to join Mang Mountain Ghost Lord outside the palace.
• Gu Luo attempted to search Shi Xuan's soul, but Shi Xuan resisted with the Taiji Diagram and Mang Mountain Ghost Lord intervened.
• Giant Spirit Ghost Lord appeared in Heavenly Law Manifestation and attacked the gathered Ghost Lords.

Shi Xuan and Mang Ya entered the Left Saint Imperial Palace while the four Ghost Lords fought Giant Spirit Ghost Lord, only to be trapped in the repaired Nine Layered Minor Hell. The Sin Mirror Hell transported them to another layer, where Shi Xuan appeared above a vast cauldron of boiling oil.

• Giant Spirit Ghost Lord fought off the four Ghost Lords with his Heavenly Law Manifestation until their combined attacks and reinforcements brought the battle to a standstill.
• Mang Ya sent Shi Xuan through the palace-protecting formation, and the other Ghost Lords’ chosen companions entered the Imperial Palace with them.
• Shi Xuan and the others found themselves in a dim hall where ancient mirrors appeared behind the candles and reflected each of them.
• Mang Ya recognized the mirrors as the Sin Mirror Hell, and the Sin Mirrors transported the True Persons to scenes from the Eight Layered Hell.
• Shi Xuan arrived above a colossal cauldron of boiling oil as ghost wardens pushed screaming Yin Ghosts into it.

Shi Xuan used the Other Shore Golden Bridge to suppress the Oil Pot Hell’s formation and cross the Feces Pond Hell, defeating its sword-wielding guardian with the Purple Sheath Sword. He then headed through the void toward the final layer of hell he intended to breach.

• Pu Ya trapped Shi Xuan in the Oil Pot Hell and attacked him with the Myriad Spirit Curse Fire, but Shi Xuan’s Other Shore Golden Bridge suppressed the formation and let him leave unharmed.
• Pu Ya warned True Person Ye Xian about the golden bridge Dharma Treasure, and Ye Xian said he would not fear Shi Xuan even without the Ice Hell’s empowerment.
• Shi Xuan entered the Feces Pond Hell and used the Other Shore Golden Bridge to repel its filth and stench.
• The Feces Pond Hell’s guardian attacked Shi Xuan with the Filth Spirit Breaking Sword Art, but Shi Xuan’s Purple Sheath Sword cut apart and destroyed him.
• Shi Xuan crossed the Feces Pond Hell and headed toward the final layer of hell he planned to breach.

Shi Xuan rescued Mang Ya from Ye Xian and struck Ye Xian with a powerful combination of sword techniques and formations. Rather than risk a prolonged battle, Shi Xuan left Ice Hell to pursue his larger goal while Mang Ya followed.

• Mang Ya used his Death's Eye to break through Ye Xian's Ice Hell blizzard and tried to flee, but Ye Xian quickly sealed his escape.
• Shi Xuan's Other Shore Golden Bridge halted the blizzard and saved Mang Ya, who joined Shi Xuan after seeing the strength he had gained.
• Shi Xuan attacked Ye Xian with the Five Elements Immortal Slaying Sword, breaking through his Spirit Coffin Ice Coffin and forcing him to defend himself.
• Shi Xuan followed with the Purple Sheath Sword, the Four Symbols World Destroying Sword, and layered formations, while Mang Ya unleashed his Death Rain Melting Immortal Formation.
• Shi Xuan turned and left Ice Hell rather than continue fighting Ye Xian, prioritizing time and his journey to the Imperial Palace Main Hall.

Shi Xuan escaped the Nine Layered Minor Hell and reached the plaza before the Imperial Palace Main Hall, where he confronted Giant Spirit Ghost Lord. Giant Spirit Ghost Lord revealed his formidable strength by trapping Shi Xuan and Mang Ya in an attack from all sides.

• Ye Xian broke the Two Forms Dust Formation with his Ice Hell, but Shi Xuan escaped before he could pursue him.
• Shi Xuan emerged into the main hall and stepped through a wooden door that led to the plaza before the Imperial Palace Main Hall.
• Shi Xuan and Mang Ya saw Giant Spirit Ghost Lord emerge from the shadows, chewing on Ghost-faced Boy’s Primordial Spirit.
• Purple Sheath identified Giant Spirit Ghost Lord as a Three Tribulation peak pure yang Dharma Treasure empowered to near-Heavenly Sovereign strength.
• Giant Spirit Ghost Lord declared that Shi Xuan and Mang Ya would die, then surrounded them with a purple sword strike, black death rain, and a bone-white hand.

Shi Xuan survived Giant Spirit Ghost Lord’s surprise attack with the Xuanhuang Merit Pagoda, but Mang Ya was killed. Shi Xuan summoned the Six Paths of Reincarnation against the white banner as the Ghost Lords above fought to keep Giant Spirit Ghost Lord from reaching him.

• Shi Xuan’s Purple Sheath Sword, Mang Ya’s White Bone Soul Locking Great Hand Seal, and the Two Forms Dust Formation destroyed Giant Spirit Ghost Lord’s apparent incarnation.
• Gloomy green ghostfire and a white banner appeared, drawing Mang Ya’s Primordial Spirit away and killing him.
• Shi Xuan used the Xuanhuang Merit Pagoda and Other Shore Golden Bridge to withstand the ghostfire and the banner’s attack.
• Shi Xuan realized Giant Spirit Ghost Lord had used its apparent death to disguise a surprise attack by its true body.
• Shi Xuan summoned the Six Paths of Reincarnation and pointed its Heavenly Human Path at the white banner.
• The Ghost Lords above the Left Saint Imperial Palace froze at the Six Paths’ appearance, then Gu Luo, Soul Devouring Ghost Lord, and White Bone Sword Lord restrained Giant Spirit Ghost Lord while Mang Mountain Ghost Lord cursed his lost advantage.

Shi Xuan defeated Giant Spirit Ghost Lord’s Second Primordial Spirit and reached the Imperial Palace Main Hall, using the Six Paths of Reincarnation to open its gate. As the gate began to part, the four Ghost Lords turned their attacks toward Shi Xuan.

• Shi Xuan used the Circumstellar Star Dou Sword Art and the Six Paths of Reincarnation to overwhelm Giant Spirit Ghost Lord’s Second Primordial Spirit and destroy its defenses.
• Giant Spirit Ghost Lord cast a costly protective technique and fought through the four Ghost Lords’ attacks to pursue Shi Xuan toward the Main Hall.
• White Bone Sword Lord and Mang Mountain Ghost Lord wounded Giant Spirit Ghost Lord, but he kept charging toward Shi Xuan.
• Shi Xuan reached the Main Hall gate and used the Hell Path of the Six Paths of Reincarnation to make the gate open.
• The four Ghost Lords stopped fighting Giant Spirit Ghost Lord and launched their attacks toward Shi Xuan as the gate began to move.

Shi Xuan struggled to open the Imperial Palace Main Hall gate while the Ghost Lords fought among themselves and attacked him. After using the Yin Virtue Figurine to escape a fatal strike, he reached the widening crack, but Mang Mountain Ghost Lord’s death rain threatened to delay him as he tried to enter.

• The Ghost Lords attacked one another to prevent rivals from reaching the Imperial Palace Main Hall first, while Shi Xuan used the Six Paths of Reincarnation to force its gate open.
• Dang Mountain Ghost Lord Gu Luo struck Shi Xuan with a split-off spiked club, shattering the Minor Heavenly Star Dou Great Formation and the Xuanhuang Merit Pagoda.
• Gu Luo redirected the club to stop Mang Mountain Ghost Lord, whose Karmic Oath prevented him from attacking Shi Xuan before entering the main hall.
• The gate cracked open, and Shi Xuan escaped toward it, but the White Bone Killing Sword destroyed his body and Primordial Spirit.
• Shi Xuan’s Yin Virtue Figurine took his place, allowing him to reappear near the gate and reach the crack as the Ghost Lords attacked too late.
• Mang Mountain Ghost Lord sent down black death rain to frighten and delay Shi Xuan just as he prepared to enter the main hall.

Shi Xuan entered the Imperial Palace Main Hall after using the Two Forms Dust Formation to trap Mang Mountain Ghost Lord and withstand the four other Ghost Lords’ attacks. The Black Imperial Robe and Flat Sky Crown chose him, driving his power toward Heavenly Human Fourth Decay and unleashing Human Killing Intent across the Nine Nether Great World.

• Mang Mountain Ghost Lord tried to slip into the Imperial Palace Main Hall, but Shi Xuan trapped him in the Two Forms Dust Formation.
• White Bone Sword Lord, Giant Spirit Ghost Lord, Soul Devouring Ghost Lord, and Dang Mountain Ghost Lord joined forces to collapse space around Shi Xuan, but the Taiji Diagram held them back long enough for him to enter the hall.
• Shi Xuan found the Black Imperial Robe and Flat Sky Crown on the throne, and the two items enveloped him and settled onto his body.
• The Black Imperial Robe caused Shi Xuan’s strength to surge through the first three Heavenly Human Decays and toward the fourth.
• Human Killing Intent erupted from Shi Xuan, flung the hall gates wide, and sent the Nine Nether Great World’s sky and Yellow Springs River into turmoil.

Shi Xuan took control of the Imperial Palace Main Hall and gathered the Human Killing Intent needed for the Three Powers Dharma Destroying Sword as the Nine Nether’s ghosts hailed his return as Imperial Sovereign. When Mang Mountain Ghost Lord and the others tried to flee, Shi Xuan trapped them with his control of time, but their trump cards and backing from Half-step Golden Immortals began to break his hold.

• Shi Xuan’s Killing Intent opened the Imperial Palace Main Hall, and Giant Spirit Ghost Lord knelt before him while ghosts throughout the Nine Nether welcomed the Imperial Sovereign’s return.
• Shi Xuan gathered the scarlet Human Killing Intent into his Primordial Spirit, regained control of himself, and prepared to deal with the Ghost Lords outside.
• Shi Xuan used his control of time to slow Mang Mountain Ghost Lord, White Bone Sword Lord, Soul Devouring Ghost Lord, and Dang Mountain Ghost Lord as they tried to escape.
• Soul Devouring Ghost Lord summoned a dark ocean of death that shattered the time around him, while White Bone Sword Lord used a compassionate Golden Lotus Flower to restore the flow of time.
• Mang Mountain Ghost Lord manifested the Fate Destroying Scroll through a connection to the Nine Nether Eighth Layer, and Shi Xuan recognized the final-step cultivation method while growing wary of Dang Mountain Ghost Lord’s changes.

Shi Xuan used the Six Paths of Reincarnation to punish Dang Mountain Ghost Lord Gu Luo and pursue the three fleeing Ghost Lords. He left them reborn or trapped in the Hells, a mortal body, and the Beast Path, revealing the power of a Four-decay Heavenly Monarch.

• The desolate world of death that appeared around Dang Mountain Ghost Lord Gu Luo dissipated, and Shi Xuan manifested his Six Paths of Reincarnation.
• Shi Xuan cast Gu Luo into Volcano Hell, where Gu Luo and his hidden avatars were destroyed and transformed into ghostly beings.
• Shi Xuan sent Soul Devouring Ghost Lord into the cauldron of oil Hell, suppressing the Dark Death Ocean and reducing Soul Devouring Ghost Lord to powder.
• Shi Xuan cast White Bone Sword Lord into human Reincarnation, turning him into an ordinary young man after his Golden Lotus of Compassion was tainted and vanished.
• Shi Xuan sent Mang Mountain Ghost Lord into the Beast Path, turning him into a little pig just before he could reach Origin space.

Shi Xuan discovered that the black Emperor Robe granted him the Left Saint Imperial Sovereign’s Fourth Decay power but bound him to the Nine Nether Great World. He resisted the temptation to abandon his original path, left for the Seven Immortals Great World, and felt the Yin Yang Great Dao stir within him.

• Shi Xuan tested the black Emperor Robe and found that it raised his strength to the Heavenly Human Fourth Decay, while removing it returned him to his Three Tribulation Yang Spirit.
• Shi Xuan learned that the robe could not leave the Nine Nether Great World and weighed its power and the promise of a different path against his resolve.
• Shi Xuan chose to remove the robe and use the Spacetime beacon to leave the Nine Nether Great World.
• The old boatman praised Shi Xuan for resisting temptation, while the colored-clothed boy reacted with apparent displeasure.
• Shi Xuan arrived in the Seven Immortals Great World with a strengthened Dao heart and sensed the Yin Yang Great Dao within him.

After touching the true essence of the Yin Yang Great Dao, Shi Xuan realized his tribulation and path to Heavenly Being might come sooner than expected. He returned from the Nine Nether Great World to Zhushan, reunited with Xia Jing, and then departed for the Great Yuyu World.

• Shi Xuan touched the true essence of the Yin Yang Great Dao, gained a personal Dao Art called Yin-Yang Transformation, and judged that he might be ready to pursue the Great Dao of Heavenly Being within several hundred years.
• Shi Xuan assessed his losses and gains from the Nine Nether Great World, then decided to return to the Penglai Sect and visit Xia Jing.
• At Zhushan, Shi Xuan appeared in Cloudshuo Hall, where Xia Jing and Li Fu recognized and greeted him as their patriarch and master.
• Shi Xuan praised Xia Jing's achievements, answered her questions, and heard her report that the Ancient Tomb of Desolate Beasts had transformed into a Netherworld guarded by powerful Judges.
• Shi Xuan gave Xia Jing and Li Fu Nine Nether treasures, then activated the Spacetime beacon and returned to the Great Yuyu World.

Shi Xuan returned to Penglai Sect after being trapped in the Nine Nether Great World, ending years of uncertainty about his fate. His arrival surprised the sect, and True Person Jiang asked whether he had obtained the Karma-Eradicating Flower.

• True Person Jiang discussed his approaching third Heavenly Tribulation with Chu Wan'er, Xie Fangwei, and Yang Zongzhi, while explaining that he was content with his life and had no intention of wavering.
• Chu Wan'er reported that Shi Xuan’s imprint on the sect jade slip had recovered, suggesting he had escaped, and planned to ask Meng Nishang to contact him.
• Qing Suo admitted she knew no usable tribulation-delaying arts, while True Person Jiang insisted he would face the tribulation without seeking a fallback.
• Shi Xuan entered End of the World Pavilion unseen, reuniting with Chu Wan'er, Qing Suo, Xie Fangwei, Yang Zongzhi, Zhang Zhengyan, and True Person Jiang.
• Shi Xuan said he had been trapped in the Nine Nether Great World and gained a great harvest; True Person Jiang asked whether he had obtained the Karma-Eradicating Flower.

Shi Xuan returned from the Nine Nether Great World and recounted his dangerous journey while showing the Penglai Sect the rare treasures he had brought back. He learned that Lin Xuantong was preparing to establish a sect with backing from a True Lord, and agreed to accompany senior Meng and Qing Suo to meet him.

• Chu Wan'er, Xie Fangwei, and the others reacted with shock when Shi Xuan revealed that he had visited the Nine Nether Great World.
• Shi Xuan displayed four Karma-Eradicating Flowers and a trove of Nine Nether treasures, astounding the Penglai Sect members.
• Shi Xuan recounted his encounters in the Nine Nether Great World, including his struggles against Mang Mountain Ghost Lord and his escape from the Left Saint Imperial Palace.
• Xie Fangwei praised Shi Xuan's state of mind, and True Person Jiang said surviving the fourth Heavenly Tribulation could make him the Penglai Sect's second Heavenly Immortal True Monarch.
• True Person Jiang and Zhang Zhengyan told Shi Xuan about Yuyu Heaven's recent cultivation developments and Lin Xuantong's plans to establish a sect with a True Lord's support.
• Shi Xuan agreed to accompany senior Meng and Qing Suo when Lin Xuantong's sect-establishment date was set, then entered seclusion.

Shi Xuan returned to Penglai Sect, where Ming Qingyue overcame years of doubt and achieved Primordial Spirit with his encouragement. Thirty-nine years later, as the Witchcraft Poison Sect prepared to claim Tianji City, Shi Xuan intercepted Jing Mingzi and invited him to talk.

• Shi Xuan returned to Penglai Sect with the items he had gathered, thanked the sect for its efforts, and arranged to visit Meng Nishang with Chu Wan'er and Qing Suo.
• Shi Xuan learned that Qing Suo's second Decay Tribulation would arrive in three or four thousand years and promised to help her when it came.
• Ming Qingyue told Shi Xuan how jealousy and doubts had nearly driven her to abandon her path, but she had stayed true to her cultivation and Black Dragon bloodline.
• Shi Xuan's words helped Ming Qingyue recognize her enduring resolve, and she entered the Life-and-Death Profound Pass and formed her Primordial Spirit.
• Thirty-nine years later, as Lin Xuantong and True Lord Zhou Quan prepared to establish the Witchcraft Poison Sect in Tianji City, Shi Xuan trapped Jing Mingzi in a sword formation and invited him to tea.

Meng Nishang fought Zhou Quan outside Tianji City while Lin Xuantong faced Wei Boshu’s attempt to avenge Yun Yi inside the city. In the Heaven and Earth Mountain River Diagram, Jing Mingzi chose to attack Shi Xuan, and Shi Xuan sent Qing Suo to meet his strike.

• Meng Nishang intercepted Zhou Quan’s attempt to stop her and fought his All-Heaven Witch Curse Puppets with her ice, snow, and Lunar Immortal Arts.
• Lin Xuantong began addressing the guests at the Witchcraft Poison Sect’s founding, but Wei Boshu entered Tianji Hall and struck at him in revenge for Yun Yi.
• Lin Xuantong used the Ma Yi Divine Banner to break apart Wei Boshu’s sword attack and drive his flying sword back.
• Jing Mingzi decided to aid Zhou Quan and attacked Shi Xuan with the Cave-Illuminating Mirror.
• Shi Xuan sent Qing Suo, transformed into azure sword light, to meet Jing Mingzi’s beam.

Shi Xuan fought Jing Mingzi with Qing Suo’s help, holding him inside the Heaven and Earth Mountain River Diagram while searching for a chance to turn the battle. At the same time, Meng Nishang survived True Lord Zhou Quan’s attack with help from an unexpected treasure and an approaching Heavenly Immortal True Monarch.

• Shi Xuan used the Minor Heavenly Star Dou Great Formation and Qing Suo’s sword light to counter Jing Mingzi’s Radiant Immortal Robe and Cave-Illuminating Mirror.
• Jing Mingzi repeatedly used Illusionary Escape of Light and Shadow to attack Shi Xuan, but Shi Xuan and Qing Suo kept him entangled.
• Jing Mingzi warned Shi Xuan that Zhou Quan had obtained the Mandarin Duck Divine Shears to attack Meng Nishang, but Shi Xuan showed no hesitation.
• True Lord Zhou Quan unleashed his fifth tier Immortal Techniques and natal Spirit Treasure to suppress Meng Nishang, then sent the Mandarin Duck Divine Shears toward her.
• Meng Nishang’s hidden fan released Five-Colored Starlight to block the shears as a Heavenly Immortal True Monarch rushed toward the battle.

Meng Nishang killed True Lord Zhou Quan and Wei Boshu avenged Teacher Yunyi by killing Lin Xuantong. Shi Xuan then trapped Jing Mingzi in the Heaven and Earth Mountain River Diagram and struck him with the Yin-Yang Mixed Cavern Divine Light.

• Meng Nishang overwhelmed True Lord Zhou Quan with the Ice Sky Snow Land, while the Five-Colored Star Crown girl held off his Mandarin Duck Divine Shears.
• True Lord Zhou Quan used his witchcraft puppets to fake Meng Nishang's death and escape, but Meng Nishang's God-Shattering Ice Spear froze and destroyed him.
• Lin Xuantong discovered that True Lord Zhou Quan had fallen, but the formation failed to respond; Wei Boshu killed Lin Xuantong with the Thick Earth Load-Bearing Sword and avenged Teacher Yunyi.
• Shi Xuan let Jing Mingzi sense Zhou Quan's death and agreed to a truce, then secretly used the Other Shore Golden Bridge and the Minor Heavenly Star Dou Great Formation to block his escape.
• Jing Mingzi broke the star formation with the Cave-Illuminating Mirror and tried to flee, but Shi Xuan intercepted him and used the Golden Bridge to hold him as the Yin-Yang Mixed Cavern Divine Light engulfed him.

Shi Xuan killed Jing Mingzi with the Azure Rope Sword and Yin-Yang Mixed Cavern Divine Light, then used the Karma Dan Book to eliminate Jing Mingzi’s connected incarnations. News of the victory spread through Yuyu Heaven, while Meng Nishang and the Five-Colored Star Crown girl held the Mandarin Duck Divine Shears at Tianji City.

• Jing Mingzi’s True Spirit Spark tried to flee, but Shi Xuan’s Minor Heavenly Star Dou Great Formation destroyed it.
• Shi Xuan attached the Karma Dan Book to Jing Mingzi’s lingering aura and used the Heaven and Earth Mountain River Diagram to locate and kill Jing Mingzi’s incarnations.
• Shi Xuan made Qing Suo swear not to reveal his use of Yin-Yang Mixed Cavern Divine Light.
• Tianji Mansion’s True Persons realized Jing Mingzi had fallen and departed to report the news to their masters.
• The True Persons in the Myriad Immortals Great Hall reacted to the deaths of Zhou Quan and Jing Mingzi, while Qiao Mubai praised Shi Xuan’s swordsmanship.
• Meng Nishang and the Five-Colored Star Crown girl stopped attacking the Mandarin Duck Divine Shears, which invoked its connection to Youxian Palace.