Chapter Summaries

Chen Nian joined the Barrier Domain Rangers’ Pursuit Ritual and raced against Uesawa Ueki and Taxue. He led through the first checkpoint, but Uesawa overtook him and Taxue in Mechanism Valley.

• Old Miao told Chen Nian that Uesawa Ueki had inherited the Wind-Chasing Ranger’s legacy, while Chen learned the rangers would hold a Pursuit Ritual.
• On Blue Star, Rika opened Abe no Seimei’s final Heaven Scroll and began studying its soul-burning forbidden art to grow stronger.
• Chen Nian entered the Pursuit Ritual alongside Uesawa Ueki and Taxue, who had won seven Hunting Rituals.
• At the start, Chen used Mandate of Heaven, Stars, and Word Spirit, Sovereign to surge into the lead, while Taxue resisted the effect and Uesawa waited ten seconds before charging after them.
• Chen Nian, Taxue, and Uesawa forced their way through the Wind Domain checkpoint, with Chen still in front as they reached Mechanism Valley.
• Taxue and Chen navigated Mechanism Valley’s traps, but Uesawa sped past both of them.

Chen Nian and Uesawa Ueki tied for first in the Barrier Domain Rangers’ race, and Chen Nian was chosen by the Star-Picking Ranger to inherit the divine bow Myriad Stars. The inheritance brought him a vision of Tiankong and the bow’s creation, while Taxue arrived to witness the revelation.

• Uesawa Ueki, Taxue, and Chen Nian passed the third checkpoint by taking feathers from its veteran guard with speed, close combat, and divine art.
• At the final checkpoint, Chen Nian trapped Uesawa Ueki and Taxue inside an invisible circle, stole a feather from a fourth competitor, and left with the two feathers required to continue.
• Chen Nian and Uesawa Ueki crossed the finish line almost simultaneously and were declared tied for first, after which the Rangers welcomed Chen Nian as one of their own.
• The central statue illuminated Chen Nian, and the Star-Picking Ranger appeared, knelt before him, and presented him with Myriad Stars and its seven named arrows.
• Chen Nian accepted Myriad Stars, which became a star-shaped mark on his hand, and saw a vision of Tiankong and the others discussing the arrow named Azure Firmament.

Chen Nian received the Star-Picking Ranger’s inheritance and told the Barrier Domain Rangers about his resolve to return to Blue Star. Meanwhile, Jun Yi lured Calamity’s army to the Fourth Tier’s core world and confronted Jian Yang, challenging his plan to remake the worlds.

• Chen Nian realized the Star-Picking Ranger may have once followed him, then received her inheritance and joined the rangers’ celebration.
• Chen Nian recounted his journeys and said he intended to recover before returning to Blue Star, earning the rangers’ respect.
• Xiao Wangchen drunkenly urged Chen Nian to date Taxue, but Taxue dragged her father home before Chen Nian showed any interest.
• Jian Yang’s army followed Jun Yi’s chess piece to World D-15, where Jun Yi’s Heaven and Earth Chessboard killed hundreds of thousands of Calamity Beasts.
• Jun Yi confronted Jian Yang and argued that his effort to remake the world could not justify the deaths he had caused.
• Jian Yang defended his plan by recalling the horrors of his past and challenged Jun Yi to stand aside or fight.

Jun Yi fought Jian Yang by cutting them both off from divine power, but Jian Yang defeated him and Mo Ning’s jade transported Jun Yi to safety. Mo Ning then revealed her plan to stop Jian Yang: find Chen Nian, force his Divine Awakening, and recruit Third and Ye Yuan, beginning with the rangers.

• Jun Yi trapped Jian Yang and himself in an independent space without divine power, but Jian Yang won their brutal hand-to-hand fight.
• Jian Yang regained his divine power as the chessboard space vanished, and Jun Yi crushed Mo Ning’s jade, which teleported him to the World Tree Academy library.
• Jing Long and Yue Si learned that Jian Yang planned to seek the Third Stratum’s core world after the Calamity Tree sprouted.
• Mo Ning told Jun Yi that a third faction may have rescued Chen Nian and proposed forcing Chen Nian’s Divine Awakening with help from three guardians.
• Mo Ning directed Jun Yi to find Third and restore Ye Yuan’s power, and Jun Yi realized Third might be living as one of the Barrier Domain Rangers.

Mo Ning revealed her plan to use Chen Nian to awaken Third Brother, while Calamity began attacking the Third Stratum’s core world. Chen Nian went to Hangzhou to find Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing, and Xiao Wangchen secretly followed him back to the Third Stratum.

• Mo Ning explained that she had guided Uesawa Ueki toward the rangers so Chen Nian could influence Third Brother and help him undergo Divine Awakening.
• The rangers learned that the Fourth Tier had fallen and that Calamity had located the Third Stratum’s core world, C-03, where Xiao Wangchen’s wife lived.
• After recognizing his connection to Xiao Bai, Chen Nian said farewell to the rangers and entered a passage to the Third Stratum.
• Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing encountered Calamity Beasts outside Hangzhou, while Fahai protected Jinshan Temple with a Buddhist barrier.
• Chen Nian arrived in the besieged Third Stratum and used Xiao Bai’s jade hairpin to seek her out.
• Taxue found a note saying Xiao Wangchen had gone out, and the rangers realized he had likely returned to the Third Stratum.

Chen Nian returned to Hangzhou City, saved Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing from an Origin Demon God, and prepared to take them to safety as Calamity ravaged the world. In Heavenly Phoenix City, Xu Feifeng faced the destruction of her dynasty until her long-missing husband Xiao Wangchen returned and charged into battle.

• Xiao Bai, Xiao Qing, and Qin Xuan fought an Origin Demon God outside Hangzhou City, but it badly wounded Xiao Bai and knocked Qin Xuan unconscious.
• Chen Nian arrived, restored Xiao Bai's demonic power with her jade hairpin, and killed the Demon God with Morning Star from his Myriad Stars bow.
• Chen Nian urged Xiao Bai, Xiao Qing, and Qin Xuan to hide, warning that the world could no longer be saved and stronger enemies might arrive.
• As Calamity Beasts attacked Heavenly Phoenix City, Xu Feifeng grieved over losing her family and dynasty and prepared to take her own life.
• Xiao Wangchen fought through thousands of Calamity Beasts, reunited with Xu Feifeng, and charged back into battle to prove he was no coward.

The Barrier Domain Rangers arrived in time to save Xiao Wangchen and reunite him with Taxue and Xu Feifeng, but Heavenly Wolf overwhelmed them and killed Xiao Wangchen. Chen Nian joined the battle and tried to hold Heavenly Wolf back, and as the rangers faced certain death, Xiao Wangchen suddenly opened his eyes.

• Meteors revealed the arriving Barrier Domain Rangers, and Chen Nian set out with Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing to fight alongside his companions.
• Uesawa Ueki and Taxue saved Xiao Wangchen from a Tier Eight Origin Demon God, and Taxue reunited with her mother, Xu Feifeng.
• Heavenly Wolf arrived and defeated the rangers; Xiao Wangchen charged him, was mortally wounded, and died in his family's arms.
• Chen Nian struck Heavenly Wolf with Phantom Night and trapped him with two restraints while the rangers tried to reopen the passage between worlds.
• Heavenly Wolf broke free, stopped the rangers from reopening the passage, and prepared a devastating attack as Xiao Wangchen suddenly opened his eyes.

Xiao Wangchen awakened as the Third Level Guardian and defeated Heavenly Wolf, then stayed behind to face his eldest brother, Jian Yang, so his family and the rangers could escape. His attempt to use Rebirth against Jian Yang failed, and Jian Yang unleashed Destruction on him.

• Xiao Wangchen awakened as the Third Level Guardian, blocked Heavenly Wolf's full-power strike, and destroyed him with Rebirth.
• Xiao Wangchen revealed his identity to Chen Nian and the others, then faced Jian Yang and his two companions when they arrived.
• Jian Yang agreed to let the rangers leave, and Xiao Wangchen knocked Taxue unconscious while Xu Feifeng chose to stay with him.
• Xiao Wangchen opened a way home for the rangers, protected Xu Feifeng, and began fighting Jian Yang as the others escaped.
• Xiao Wangchen infused the river water with his power and used it to attack Jian Yang, but Jian Yang confined the power to his left arm and regenerated it.
• Jian Yang snapped his fingers and activated Destruction, causing Xiao Wangchen's body to crack and crumble into dust.

Xiao Wangchen was freed from Jian Yang’s seal after Xu Feifeng died, then returned to World Tree Academy with Jun Yi and Chen Nian. There, Mo Ning revealed that Chen Nian was the Fifth Guardian and began a plan to force his Divine Awakening before Calamity attacked.

• Xiao Wangchen revived twenty-eight times during his battle with Jian Yang, who eventually sealed him away after sending him back to Xu Feifeng.
• The Origin Heavenly Cascade pierced Xu Feifeng with a black sword, and Jian Yang killed him before using his power to sustain Xu Feifeng long enough for her to say goodbye to Xiao Wangchen.
• Jun Yi persuaded Xiao Wangchen to leave the barrier, and they broke it together; Xiao Wangchen let Xu Feifeng’s body become motes of light and vowed to protect the worlds for her next life.
• Jun Yi and Xiao Wangchen returned to the Barrier Domain Ranger camp and brought Chen Nian back to World Tree Academy, while Uesawa Ueki chose to join them.
• Jun Yi and Xiao Wangchen broke Ye Yuan’s seal, restoring her divine power.
• Mo Ning revealed that Chen Nian was the Fifth Guardian and ordered the guardians to force his Divine Awakening, warning that they had at most seven days before Jian Yang and the others arrived.

World Tree Academy prepared for Calamity’s invasion while Rika returned to the second stratum and a mysterious girl told Su Jinyu that Chen Nian was alive. As battle erupted at the academy, Mo Ning drew Jian Yang away and revealed that the World Serpent was influencing him, but Jian Yang already knew it was inside him.

• The dean asked the academy’s students to choose whether to flee or fight, and they stayed after he promised their efforts would matter and vowed to die before them.
• Rika mastered Heaven Scroll: Part One and tore through the realms toward the second stratum, while a mysterious girl told Su Jinyu that Chen Nian was alive and led her to Ye Hongling and Zhao Yixue.
• Jian Yang and Calamity’s elite forces arrived outside World Tree Academy, where Mo Ning banished Jing Long and Yue Si into spatial illusion realms before drawing Jian Yang away through Mind Roaming.
• The dean charged the remaining Calamity forces and crushed an Origin Demon God and an Origin Heavenly Cascade with his strength and Nine Heavens, Azure Firmament.
• At the Mirror Moon Stargazing Pavilion, Mo Ning explained that the World Serpent was lurking inside Jian Yang and guiding him, and Jian Yang admitted he already knew it was there.

Mo Ning persuaded Jian Yang to cooperate in drawing out and destroying the World Serpent, revealing that Ninth Sister Ling Wu was part of her plan. Ten days earlier, Mo Ning recruited Ling Wu to deceive three people on the Fifth Stratum, and the chapter ended with Jian Yang agreeing to wait while Mo Ning’s allies dealt with his subordinates.

• Mo Ning warned Jian Yang that his plan risked the World Tree and urged him to face the World Serpent before settling their conflict.
• Jian Yang agreed to hear Mo Ning’s plan, and she explained that the World Serpent had to manifest fully so they could destroy it.
• Ten days earlier, Mo Ning visited Ling Wu at the Heavenly Gate, saw through her disguise, and asked for her help deceiving someone who was not human.
• Ling Wu accepted Mo Ning’s task and agreed to go to the Fifth Stratum to find three people.
• Back in the Stargazing Pavilion, Jian Yang agreed to hold back as long as Mo Ning’s people could stop his subordinates.

The dean fought three Origin Heavenly Cascades while trying to reduce the academy’s casualties, unveiling his escalating Vast Righteous Heaven Fist. After killing the sixth-ranked Heavenly Cascade and badly injuring the third-ranked one, he faced the remaining enemies despite his own severe wounds.

• The dean faced the first-, third-, and sixth-ranked Origin Heavenly Cascades while students and instructors fought the Calamity forces across the battlefield.
• The dean used the first three punches of Vast Righteous Heaven Fist to injure the sixth-ranked Heavenly Cascade and crack his Demon Artifact, even as the other two Cascades wounded him from behind.
• The dean’s fourth punch shattered the Demon Artifact and blasted the sixth-ranked Heavenly Cascade into a crater, but the enemy seized an academy girl and used her as a shield.
• A streak of lightning rescued the girl, and the dean’s fifth punch killed the sixth-ranked Heavenly Cascade.
• The dean struck the third-ranked Heavenly Cascade with his sixth punch, sending him flying and making him cough blood.
• Heavenly Dragon, Heavenly Tiger, and Heavenly Lion surrounded the badly wounded dean and attacked him together.

The dean used his final strength to break free of the Heavenly Cascades’ trap and wound Heavenly Tiger and Heavenly Lion, but he fell before striking Heavenly Dragon. As the academy retreated behind its failing barrier, Mo Ning returned in time to hear the dean’s last words and close his eyes.

• Heavenly Dragon unleashed Dragon Nether Death Domain, killing dozens of students and instructors with its life-corroding breath.
• The dean charged the three Heavenly Cascades, broke their restraint with his sixth punch, and gravely wounded Heavenly Lion and Heavenly Tiger with his seventh and eighth punches.
• The dean’s final attack stopped just short of Heavenly Dragon as his life force gave out, but Uesawa Ueki carried him to safety.
• The Calamity army attacked the academy’s defensive barrier while Director Ma and the medical staff were unable to save the dying dean.
• Mo Ning returned, remembered how Merlin had sworn to protect her for hundreds of years, and heard the dean call her “Young... lady...” before he died.

Rika emerged to defend the academy and avenge Chen Nian, unleashing a soul-burning art that killed tens of thousands of Calamity Beasts and several powerful enemies. As she collapsed and Heavenly Dragon prepared to kill her, a golden radiance rose behind the academy, and Jian Yang said that he had arrived.

• Rika appeared before the Calamity Beasts and used Boundless to expand her Yin-Yang Boundless Barrier across a hundred li.
• Rika used Zero Barrier to warp and collapse space, killing tens of thousands of Calamity Beasts and two Origin Demon Gods.
• Mo Fu attacked Rika with the Heavenly Star Compass, but she reversed its spacetime power and aged him into a pile of bones.
• Rika killed Di Mie and another Demon God with Heaven-Piercing Finger, then sank to one knee as Heavenly Dragon prepared to attack her from afar.
• A golden radiance rose behind the academy, and Jian Yang said, "He's here."

After completing Forced Divine Awakening, Chen Nian saved Rika and overwhelmed the Calamity forces, killing their three strongest Heavenly Cascades and wiping out countless enemies. As the battle turned in his favor, Eldest Brother sent Seventh Brother to test Chen Nian.

• Chen Nian appeared after Forced Divine Awakening and blocked Heavenly Dragon's deadly attack on Rika, then stabilized her soul with his divine power.
• Chen Nian killed Heavenly Dragon with Dragon Devours the Eight Wastelands and trapped Heavenly Lion and Heavenly Tiger in golden cages that erased them.
• Chen Nian unleashed Final Judgment, spatial energy cannons, and the Ten Beasts of All Creation, slaughtering millions of Calamity Beasts and defeating the Origin Demon Gods and Origin Heavenly Cascades.
• Eldest Brother told Seventh Brother that Chen Nian both was and was not Fifth Brother, then ordered Seventh Brother to test his strength.

Ling Wu brought Su Jinyu, Ye Hongling, and Zhao Yixue to the Ninth Stratum, where Su Jinyu sensed the Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens' final Divinity fragment. On the Second Stratum battlefield, Chen Nian fought Jing Long and Yue Si until Jian Yang intervened and blocked his attack.

• Ling Wu explained that she had brought the women to the Ninth Stratum to find the Divinity fragment and said Chen Nian would arrive soon.
• Jing Long challenged Chen Nian and copied his Judgment Domain and Dragon Devours the Eight Wastelands, so Chen Nian switched to close combat.
• Chen Nian's Mountain-Splitting Axe shattered Jing Long's barriers and carved a massive rift through the battlefield, but Jing Long escaped with a spatial spell.
• Yue Si joined the fight, stopped Chen Nian's axe with his hands, and endured a close-range Fingertip Stars attack.
• Chen Nian used Death God to cut down Jing Long's five elemental dragons, but Jian Yang appeared and blocked Chen Nian's strike.

Jian Yang defeated Chen Nian in a devastating battle and blasted him through the strata into the Ninth Stratum. He sealed World Tree Academy and headed with Jing Long and his companion to the Divine Kingdom to complete the final step toward the new world.

• Jian Yang and Chen Nian fought with their fists and weapons, but Jian Yang's strength and destruction aura overwhelmed Chen Nian.
• Chen Nian opened his Heavenly Eye and summoned Dharma Heaven and Earth, but Jian Yang's Dragon of Destruction shattered it and left Chen Nian gravely injured.
• Jian Yang struck Chen Nian with a devastating punch that broke through the barriers from the second stratum to the Eighth Stratum and sent him falling into the Ninth Stratum.
• Jian Yang told the others that Chen Nian was dead, then sealed World Tree Academy so its people could not leave.
• Jian Yang went with Jing Long and his companion toward the first stratum, the Divine Kingdom.

After Jian Yang conquered the Second Stratum, Ling Wu guided him to the First Stratum’s Divine Kingdom, where she turned its immortals and gods against him while her clone kept them occupied. In the Ninth Stratum, Su Jinyu received the final fragment of the Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens’ Divinity, and Ling Wu reunited Chen Nian with her and the other women.

• Mo Ning told the trapped Second Stratum group to recover their divine power after Chen Nian’s defeat.
• Ling Wu led Jian Yang and his companions to the First Stratum’s Divine Kingdom, then summoned its immortals and gods to oppose them.
• Su Jinyu received the final fragment of the Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens’ Divinity, linking her memories with Zhao Yixue and Ye Hongling.
• Ling Wu revealed that a clone of hers was keeping the battle above occupied and left to find Chen Nian.
• Ling Wu found Chen Nian in the Ninth Stratum and offered to take him to Su Jinyu, Zhao Yixue, and Ye Hongling.

Ling Wu brought Chen Nian to Su Jinyu, Ye Hongling, and Zhao Yixue, whose united souls summoned Luo Yueyao and triggered Chen Nian’s true Divine Awakening. With his memories and divine powers restored, Chen Nian reunited with his beloved, who greeted him by name.

• Ling Wu reunited Chen Nian with Su Jinyu, Ye Hongling, and Zhao Yixue in the desolate sword tomb, where their ethereal souls emerged and joined into Luo Yueyao’s form.
• Luo Yueyao’s appearance caused Chen Nian’s divine power to surge out of him as the sun, moon, and stars appeared in the sky.
• The Sun God, Moon God, and Star God bestowed their powers on Chen Nian, restoring his World Tree power and granting him the Sun God Body, Moonlight Divine Armor, and Stars Divine Sword.
• Ling Wu explained that Mo Ning had arranged the reunion to fulfill the condition for Chen Nian’s Divine Awakening and prepare to face the World Serpent.
• Chen Nian regained his Guardian memories and recognized Luo Yueyao as his beloved, whom he had failed to save in the ancient war.
• Luo Yueyao greeted Chen Nian with affection and said she could call him Chen Nian.

Chen Nian said goodbye to Luo Yueyao and used a Cage to keep her three souls from dissipating while he vowed to recover her seven corporeal souls. In the First Stratum, the World Serpent revealed its true form, but Mo Ning’s plan had lured it into the core worlds, where the guardians prepared to fight it.

• Luo Yueyao told Chen Nian to cherish Su Jinyu and the others, then began to fade as she bid him farewell.
• Chen Nian used his divine power to stabilize Luo Yueyao’s three souls and vowed to reclaim her seven corporeal souls by killing the World Serpent.
• The World Serpent emerged from Jian Yang and extended its body through the core worlds of all nine strata.
• Ling Wu revealed that the Divine Kingdom and Heavenly Gate were staged to lure the World Serpent out, and Jian Yang disclosed that he had been in on the plan.
• The other guardians arrived, and Mo Ning announced that they would eliminate the World Serpent before settling their family affairs.