Chapter Summaries

Chen Zheng destroyed the Eastern Emperor’s Manor forces and rescued Lay Buddhist Bai from an illusory dream. As Lay Buddhist Bai spoke with Chen Zheng at Southern Beginning Academy, the Eastern Emperor attacked and Chen Zheng killed him instantly.

• Chen Zheng shattered the last imperial preceptor’s primordial spirit, wiped out everyone aboard the Eastern Emperor’s Manor warship, and left with Lay Buddhist Bai.
• Lay Buddhist Bai explained that Yu’er and Huan’er had been one consort from his previous life and said he hoped to see the Tang emperor and noble consort again.
• Chen Zheng suggested that the Tang emperor and noble consort might have reincarnated beyond the worlds.
• The Eastern Emperor’s Emperor Stele struck Shang Tianyang and crippled his combat strength before Chen Zheng shattered the stele and killed the Eastern Emperor.
• The divine beast announced that the Eastern Emperor’s primordial spirit had been destroyed, and Chen Zheng said the Eastern Emperor had interrupted his conversation.

After the Eastern Emperor and his three Imperial Tutors fell, Shang Tianyang took Chen Zheng and the Southern Beginning Academy group to Mystic Yellow Holy Mountain, where a supreme treasure of the Literary Dao had appeared. As the academies entered the mountain, others recognized Chen Zheng as a powerful contender, while Gao Xianshu warned Jiang Zhi that their academy had little chance of winning the treasure.

• Cultivators across the Black-Yellow Great World heard that the Eastern Emperor and the three Imperial Tutors had fallen, and they speculated that Southern Beginning Academy was involved.
• Heaven-Responding Academy sent Shang Tianyang a decree ordering the major academy masters to go to Mystic Yellow Holy Mountain, and Chen Zheng agreed to accompany him.
• Southern Beginning Academy arrived at Mystic Yellow Holy Mountain, where Dongfang Haoyue accused Shang Tianyang of killing the Eastern Emperor and the Imperial Tutors.
• When the mountain opened, the academies rushed inside to seek the supreme treasure of the Literary Dao, and Shang Tianyang followed Chen Zheng into the mountain with their companions.
• Kong Xinghe and Lu Qiankun recognized Chen Zheng and discussed the Sub-Sages and the possibility that the Literary Ancestor might appear.
• Gao Xianshu arrived with Jiang Zhi and said their Son of Heaven Academy had no chance of obtaining the treasure, but Jiang Zhi insisted she was the reincarnation of a great figure.

Cultivators rushed toward a supreme treasure sealed inside a stone box, only to be trapped as tiny figures within the cliff carving, where they began dying. As Shang Tianyang and Lay Buddhist Bai entered the carving, Dongfang Haoyue attacked Shang Rongrong’s group, but his powerful bodyguard suddenly turned to ashes, and newcomers arrived as the others feared the hidden killer.

• When the seal lifted, hundreds of cultivators charged for the stone box and appeared as tiny figures fighting inside the cliff carving; figures that vanished corresponded to cultivators who died.
• Shang Tianyang explained that the carving held the Literary Ancestor’s mysterious immortal script and might select only the strongest inheritors.
• Lay Buddhist Bai entered the carving, and Shang Tianyang followed despite Zhuge Qingniu’s warning.
• Dongfang Haoyue revealed that his manor possessed the Literary Ancestor’s immortal script and ordered Uncle Yan to kill Shang Rongrong, but Uncle Yan turned to ashes as he attacked Zhuge Qingniu.
• Kong Xinghe, Lu Qiankun, Gao Xianshu, and Jiang Zhi arrived, and the cultivators warned Jiang Zhi that a mysterious killer was among them.

Dongfang Shengtian used the Literary Ancestor’s immortal character to claim the supreme treasure and prepared to kill Shang Tianyang. Just as his golden dragon attacked, the dragon shattered and Dongfang Shengtian vanished, leaving everyone wondering who was protecting Southern Beginning Academy.

• Jiang Zhi asked Chen Zheng why he seemed calm while the others feared the hidden threat.
• Dongfang Shengtian appeared, used the immortal character to draw the people out of the cliff carvings, and claimed the stone box containing the supreme treasure.
• Dongfang Haoyue revealed that the Eastern Emperor's Manor possessed the Literary Ancestor’s character and demanded that Dongfang Shengtian kill Shang Tianyang and Southern Beginning Academy.
• Dongfang Shengtian sent a golden dragon toward Shang Tianyang, but the dragon shattered and Dongfang Shengtian disappeared, leaving only the immortal character and stone box.

The Literary Ancestor descended from Mystic Yellow Holy Mountain after sensing an old acquaintance’s aura, and Dongfang Haoyue begged him to avenge the Eastern Emperor’s Manor. The Literary Ancestor instead approached Chen Zheng and tearfully said he was glad to see him again, leaving everyone stunned.

• More than half of the visiting academy representatives fled after Dongfang Shengtian was mysteriously erased, while others stayed to identify the culprit.
• Jiang Zhi wondered whether Chen Zheng had erased Dongfang Shengtian with a glance, and Dongfang Haoyue accused Southern Beginning Academy of hiding a powerful figure.
• The immortal script on the cliff formed the Literary Ancestor, and the supreme treasure’s stone box flew to him.
• Dongfang Haoyue showed the Literary Ancestor the immortal character and pleaded for justice for the Eastern Emperor’s Manor.
• The Literary Ancestor moved toward Chen Zheng and, choking with tears, said he was glad to see him again.

Chen Zheng was recognized by the Literary Ancestor Cangjie as his Saintly Teacher, and Cangjie revealed the Eastern Emperor’s Manor had descended from a traitor who once betrayed him. After Cangjie killed Dongfang Haoyue and erased the manor’s remaining cultivators, the academies departed, leaving Chen Zheng and Cangjie to speak privately.

• Jiang Zhi recognized the aura of an old acquaintance, and Cangjie addressed Chen Zheng as his Saintly Teacher.
• Dongfang Haoyue swallowed the “immortal” character and attacked Chen Zheng, but Cangjie stripped the character from him and revealed that Dongfang Wenyue had betrayed him.
• Dongfang Haoyue’s Dao heart shattered, killing him, and Cangjie erased the Eastern Emperor’s Manor’s remaining cultivators.
• The people from the various academies left, while Jiang Zhi invited Chen Zheng to visit her at the Son of Heaven Academy.
• Chen Zheng congratulated Cangjie on becoming a Dao Ancestor, and Cangjie offered to recount what had happened.

Chen Zheng spoke with the Literary Ancestor inside the hidden world within Mystic Yellow Holy Mountain’s cliff carvings and learned that Cangjie had witnessed two Xuanyuans in Supreme Heaven. After Cangjie’s avatar returned to the outer realms, the supreme treasure chose Lay Buddhist Bai, leaving the others stunned.

• Chen Zheng shattered the Eye of Heavenly Punishment with a glance and entered the cliff carvings with the Literary Ancestor’s avatar.
• Cangjie told Chen Zheng that he had ascended with Xuanyuan, later became a Dao Ancestor, and had once seen two Human Emperors in Human Emperor City.
• Chen Zheng said that a false Human Emperor could not threaten Supreme Heaven and would be punished if he had done wrong.
• Cangjie presented the supreme treasure to Chen Zheng, performed an ancient salute, and returned his avatar to the outer realms.
• Chen Zheng opened the stone box, and the supreme treasure flew into Lay Buddhist Bai’s brow.

Qin Yanzhi learned that Chen Zheng had already transcended in body and primordial spirit, while Chen Zheng’s group discussed the Fire of Eternal Life and the Great Dragon Abyss. A divine flame then emerged from the Great Dragon Abyss and shot toward Southern Beginning Academy.

• Supreme Good Heaven told Qin Yanzhi to cultivate toward Half-Step Transcendence if she wanted to see Chen Zheng again, and described worlds beyond the Great Samsara.
• Chen Zheng transmitted his revised Eternal Chapter secret art to Zhuge Qingniu and the others.
• The Literary Beast and Shang Tianyang reported that prominent Sages had gone to the Great Dragon Abyss, where the Fire of Eternal Life had emerged in the past and been swallowed by the Gate of Eternal Life.
• Creation Little Doll revealed that the Gate of Eternal Life was an artifact created by A Jiu and spoke of her hostility toward metallic life-forms.
• A tremendous boom came from the direction of the Great Dragon Abyss, and a crimson sky contracted into a divine flame that shot toward Southern Beginning Academy.

A divine fire appeared in the Imperial Extremity Territory and was stopped by Chen Zheng, who said it had come to meet the Spirit of the Sacred Tree. The world’s strongest beings gathered at Great Dragon Abyss, where Meng Sheng, Sage Mo, and Sage Han blocked Chen Zheng with a Heaven-Locking Formation and ordered their disciples to bar everyone else.

• The divine fire devoured Old Ancestor Huangshan and overwhelmed Shang Tianyang and Lay Buddhist Bai’s Sacred Words before Chen Zheng caught it and made it disappear.
• Chen Zheng said the fire had sensed the Spirit of the Sacred Tree and wanted to see her, then flew toward Great Dragon Abyss as others followed.
• Patriarch Realm beings from across the Black-Yellow Great World gathered at Great Dragon Abyss, where Chen Zheng stood at its entrance.
• Meng Sheng, Sage Mo, and Sage Han warned Chen Zheng that the entrance was the Gate of Calamity and formed a Heaven-Locking Formation to block his way.
• Meng Sheng ordered the disciples of the Meng Clan, Mo Family, and Legalist School to form another formation and prevent anyone from entering Great Dragon Abyss.

The Three Saints tried to strengthen the Heaven-Locking Formation and rally the factions against Chen Zheng, but major lineages and powerful figures instead declared their loyalty to him. Sage Zhuang and Patriarch Qiankun also joined Chen Zheng, leaving the Three Saints' plan faltering as Jiang Zhi taunted them.

• Sage Mo urged the factions to enter the Heaven-Locking Formation, and Ling Yun Academy's arrival strengthened it as more groups followed.
• Venerable Duanmu refused to act without Sage Kong's decree and revealed that You Beihai had died at Chen Zheng's hands.
• Xiang Hengtian, Shen Lian, Qin Yanzhi, Mo Jiu, Shang Tianyang, Gao Xianshu, Du Shaoling, and the Bitter Domain Demon-Devouring Buddha joined Chen Zheng's side.
• Patriarch Qiankun rejected Sage Mo's order and said he had followed Chen Zheng for at least a hundred years.
• Sage Zhuang joined Chen Zheng and recalled meeting him in the Azure Cloud Realm when he had been a Nascent Soul cultivator.
• Jiang Zhi mocked the Three Saints as their Heaven-Locking Formation could no longer be strengthened.

Chen Zheng exposed Mystic Yellow Old Ancestor as the mastermind behind the Heaven-Locking Formation and the false claim about the Gate of Calamity. Mystic Yellow Old Ancestor revealed his true identity as Mystic Yellow Sage and tried to enter the Great Dragon Abyss, but Chen Zheng annihilated him.

• Chen Zheng questioned the Three Saints’ claim that the entrance beneath the Great Dragon Abyss was the Gate of Calamity and suggested Mystic Yellow Old Ancestor had survived the divine flame.
• Chen Zheng revealed that Mystic Yellow Old Ancestor had held up Sage Kong, prompting Xiang Hengtian to suspect a connection between Mystic Yellow Old Ancestor and Mystic Yellow Sage.
• The Heaven-Locking Formation stripped the cultivators inside it, including the Three Saints, of their magical power and turned them into mortals.
• Mystic Yellow Old Ancestor appeared above the formation, identified himself as Mystic Yellow Sage, and swallowed the magical power gathered inside it.
• Mystic Yellow Sage attempted to enter the Great Dragon Abyss, but Chen Zheng froze and shattered his immortal-light form, annihilating him.

Chen Zheng entered the mysterious world beneath the Great Dragon Abyss with Mo Xin and found fire spirits who said eight other teams had entered as part of their master's tests. After Red Lotus swallowed the first heaven’s red lotus fire, another team arrived and the fire spirits ordered them to fight to the death.

• Chen Zheng erased Mystic Yellow Old Ancestor, then entered the Great Dragon Abyss with Mo Xin while the others stayed behind.
• Chen Zheng met fire spirits in the mysterious world of fire and summoned Red Lotus, Yingge, and the Spirit of the Sacred Tree.
• A fire spirit explained that Chen Zheng’s group had to defeat or drive back the other eight teams to meet her master.
• Chen Zheng told Red Lotus to swallow the red lotus fire, and she consumed all the fire in the first heaven and grew stronger.
• More than a dozen figures arrived, and the fire spirits declared that the two teams had to fight to the death.

Chen Zheng swiftly annihilated one team, prompting the narcissistic Fire Spirit to gather the remaining teams for a new trial involving refined primordial fire. The trial left the cultivators terrified, and Divine Phoenix Heaven descended as the Fire Spirits bowed to her.

• Chen Zheng erased a team of attackers in an instant and asked the narcissistic Fire Spirit to bring the other seven teams to him.
• The narcissistic Fire Spirit teleported all eight teams to a crimson platform and announced that anyone who endured the primordial fire for a quarter of an hour could qualify for the Ninth Heaven.
• A tall, thin First Realm Dao Ancestor entered the primordial fire and escaped moments later as only a primordial spirit.
• The Dao Ancestors begged the narcissistic Fire Spirit to restore the former trial, but she began to reveal that the change had been ordered by someone before stopping herself.
• Divine Phoenix Heaven descended onto the platform, and the Fire Spirits bowed to her while Creation Little Doll told Chen Zheng that her real name was likely Huang.

Divine Phoenix Heaven entered Chen Zheng’s primordial spirit, encountered the Cosmic Cantilever, and hurried off to awaken someone for a deal. After a Dao Ancestor attacked Chen Zheng with Primordial Fire, Chen Zheng swallowed it and killed the Dao Ancestor.

• Divine Phoenix Heaven recognized Red Lotus’s constitution and offered to keep Chen Zheng as her plaything until he reached at least Half-Step Hegemon.
• Chen Zheng remarked that Divine Phoenix Heaven’s cultivation had fallen, and she entered his primordial spirit as a streak of crimson light.
• Divine Phoenix Heaven emerged in disarray, said Chen Zheng was the person someone had been waiting for, and rushed away to awaken her.
• A Dao Ancestor broke the rules and sent Primordial Fire at Chen Zheng, but Chen Zheng swallowed the fire and blasted the Dao Ancestor into blood mist.

Chen Zheng swallowed the Primordial Fire and was summoned to the Ninth Heaven, where Divine Phoenix Heaven and Chuli offered him a trade. Chuli presented the Heart of the Universe in exchange for Chen Zheng using the Cosmic Cantilever to send them out of the Primordial Chaos Universe.

• Chen Zheng erased Dao Ancestor Wuwang and swallowed the Primordial Fire, shocking the cultivators and Fire Spirits.
• A guiding light carried Chen Zheng to the Ninth Heaven, and the Fire Spirit sent the seven teams out of the world when they chose to withdraw.
• Chuli explained that she had pursued the Cosmic Cantilever into the Primordial Chaos Universe and wanted it to help her and Divine Phoenix Heaven leave.
• Divine Phoenix Heaven revealed that Great Rong Heaven had gravely wounded her and asked whether Chen Zheng was connected to Zero; Chen Zheng said he and Great Rong Heaven were enemies.
• Chuli offered the Heart of the Universe in exchange for the Cosmic Cantilever's help, and the Cosmic Cantilever shifted forms to take the crystal.

Chen Zheng used the Cosmic Cantilever, empowered by the Heart of the Universe, to send Li and Divine Phoenix Heaven beyond the Primordial Chaos Universe, unlocking its third form and gaining the complete third-layer Great Samsara Network. Afterward, he collected the mysterious flame world and returned the Spirit of the Sacred Tree to the Dao Diagram, then pondered Yingge’s former incarnation as a green lamp.

• Creation Little Doll objected to Chen Zheng’s deal with Divine Phoenix Heaven, but Chen Zheng agreed and used the Cosmic Cantilever to send Divine Phoenix Heaven and Li beyond the Primordial Chaos Universe.
• Chen Zheng explained that the Cosmic Cantilever had unlocked its third form and that using it had exhausted its stored energy and his magical power.
• Creation Little Doll asked about the third form and the Great Void, then withdrew into seclusion after Chen Zheng said he would enter the Great Void when the time was right.
• Chen Zheng realized he had comprehended the complete third-layer Great Samsara Network and that his primordial spirit had become nearly impossible to destroy.
• Red Lotus entered seclusion after devouring the fire in the mysterious flame world, while Mo Xin absorbed eternal divine fire and further awakened her Huntian Bloodline.
• Chen Zheng shrank the flame world into the Dao Diagram, sent the Spirit of the Sacred Tree to the Taishi Ancient Land within it, and questioned Yingge about her former incarnation as a green lamp.

Chen Zheng traveled to the Taotie Ancestral Land to help the Taotie Clan, which was under attack by the Heaven-Shaking Giants while Old Taotie lay gravely wounded. When the giants’ young clan leader attacked Chen Zheng, Chen Zheng shattered both of his arms, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

• Chen Zheng left for the Sacred Beast Realm with Little Black and Shen Yue, while Jiang Zhi stayed behind with Gao Xianshu.
• At the Taotie Ancestral Land, Little Black explained that the Heaven-Shaking Giants were attacking and that the Qilin Clan had likely exposed Old Taotie’s condition.
• Little Black’s big sister rushed into battle with Little Black and Shen Yue, but the Heaven-Shaking Clan’s young clan leader transformed into a ten-thousand-zhang giant and overwhelmed the Taotie fighters.
• The young clan leader reached for Shen Yue, and Chen Zheng appeared in front of Little Black’s big sister to protect her.
• The young clan leader struck Chen Zheng, but Chen Zheng shattered his huge hand and then blew apart his other arm.

Chen Zheng defeated the Heaven-Shaking Clan’s attack on the Taotie ancestral grounds and warned Young Emperor Kui that the clan had ten days to flee. When Daoist Youku attacked with the Scarlet Heaven No-Return Sword, Chen Zheng reflected the sword rays and destroyed him.

• Young Emperor Kui challenged Chen Zheng, but Chen Zheng said the Heaven-Shaking Clan and Qilin Clan had at most ten days left.
• Young Emperor Kui ordered the Heaven-Shaking Giants to bypass Chen Zheng and attack the Taotie, so Chen Zheng released baleful energy that killed them all except Young Emperor Kui.
• Chen Zheng told Young Emperor Kui to flee and warn his father, and Young Emperor Kui ran away.
• Daoist Youku attacked Chen Zheng with the Scarlet Heaven No-Return Sword, but the sword rays rebounded and destroyed Daoist Youku.

Chen Zheng’s reflected sword attack killed Daoist Youku, stunning the Taotie Clan and prompting them to revere him. At Old Taotie’s bedside, Chen Zheng silenced Lu Qitian’s age-based arrogance by revealing a life wheel with thousands of life rivers, and Lu Qitian knelt before him.

• Chen Zheng explained that people refused to believe his claims, and the Taotie Clan members dropped to their knees.
• Hei Si brought Chen Zheng to help save Old Taotie, but Lu Qitian scolded her for trusting a mortal and dismissed Chen Zheng’s assessment of the injuries.
• Lu Qitian revealed his life wheel, boasting of nearly a hundred life rivers and challenging Chen Zheng to compare their ages.
• Chen Zheng revealed a life wheel with more than ten times as many life rivers as Lu Qitian’s, leaving everyone stunned.
• Lu Qitian opened his mouth in shock and suddenly knelt before Chen Zheng.

Chen Zheng exposed the poison seed planted in Old Taotie and stopped him from attacking, then destroyed a qilin phantom sent to kill him. After Blood Qilin killed Lu Qitian and challenged Chen Zheng at the Qilin Ancestral Land, Chen Zheng prepared to go there with the Taotie clan once Old Taotie awoke.

• Chen Zheng revealed that Old Taotie had been poisoned by a seed designed to make him destroy the Taotie clan, and Old Taotie suddenly attacked Lu Qitian and Shen Yue.
• Chen Zheng subdued Old Taotie, extracted the qilin poison seed, and crushed the qilin phantom that emerged from it.
• Lu Qitian fled the Taotie Ancestral Land, but Blood Qilin killed him outside and challenged Chen Zheng at the Qilin Ancestral Land.
• Chen Zheng told the others that Blood Qilin wanted revenge because he had killed her son in the Spirit Realm.
• Chen Zheng said he would go to the Qilin Ancestral Land with the others after Old Taotie awoke and promised to kill their enemies.