Chapter Summaries

Lü Yan warned Xie Feng that the Cloud Clan had fallen under the influence of Buddhist temples, prompting him to investigate a temple near Flame Island. There he met Buddha Emperor Ye Zhu, who revealed his identity but left Xie Feng questioning the blood-colored prayer beads around his neck.

• Lü Yan arrived injured and told Xie Feng that Buddhist temples had spread through the Cloud Clan, whose leader had become violent and whose people were being turned into killing puppets.
• Sushang recalled seeing a Buddhist temple near Flame Island, and Shui Yunjun suspected Buddha Island was behind the temples while Xuan Zhuying agreed to increase surveillance.
• Xie Feng ordered Sushang and Grandmaster Han to strengthen patrols around Dark Ink Mountain, then went to Flame Island as Shui Yunjun and the others returned to defend the Literary Clan.
• Xie Feng ignored the temple's warnings and questions, opened its doors, and stood unharmed against its mind-invading bell.
• Buddha Emperor Ye Zhu appeared inside the temple and introduced himself, while Xie Feng questioned why he had intervened and recognized something familiar about his blood-colored prayer beads.

Xie Feng confronted Ye Zhu, who revealed how persecution in the Lower Realm and a chance to inherit the old Buddha Emperor’s cultivation had made him determined to rule the Dao Realm through Buddhism. The two prepared to fight, with Ye Zhu insisting that no one could stop him and Xie Feng vowing to defend the world’s order.

• Xie Feng recognized Ye Zhu as Monk Moren, the Lower Realm survivor who had escaped with the Blood Tathagata Beads.
• Ye Zhu recounted how the empress eradicated Buddhism, his master died, and Lu Xiuluo tortured him, leading him to become the Blood Devil and seek revenge.
• Ye Zhu explained that he ascended after Xie Feng opened the Heavenly Gate, later became Cang Lingzi, and inherited the old Buddha Emperor’s cultivation in the First Sequence.
• Ye Zhu declared that he would eliminate the Literary Dao, Martial Dao, Alchemical Dao, and other paths to make the Dao Realm ruled by Buddhism.
• Xie Feng unleashed the Northern Nether Illusory Dao Fire around Ye Zhu, but it could not breach the space within ten meters of him.

Xie Feng defeated Yun Qingmeng and discovered that Ye Zhu's Buddhist seal had turned her into a mind-controlled puppet, leaving him to kill her to stop further slaughter. Meanwhile, the Pill Clan launched an attack on Pill Maple Academy, where Mo Cheng confronted two Pill Venerables.

• Ye Zhu vanished from the collapsing Buddhist temple after Xie Feng challenged him, and Little Sword acknowledged Ye Zhu's strength.
• Xie Feng left the Corpse-Burying Sea and faced Yun Qingmeng, whose power had been boosted by Ye Zhu's control.
• Xie Feng defeated Yun Qingmeng and found a Buddhist seal in her soul that could not be removed.
• Xie Feng killed Yun Qingmeng to prevent her from being used to slaughter others.
• Over two hundred masked Pill Clan members appeared at Pill Maple Academy, and Pill Venerables Feng Yang and Lin Li introduced themselves to Mo Cheng.

Mo Cheng called for backup when Feng Yang and Lin Li attacked Pill Maple Academy, and Sushang arrived to defeat them. After killing Feng Yang and destroying a mysterious Seventh Stage Dao Ancestor Realm attacker, Sushang suspected the black shadow had been a clone.

• Mo Cheng secretly used his voice transmission stone to call for backup, then rattled off the names of academy leaders and unsettled Feng Yang and Lin Li.
• Lin Li summoned a flood with Words Become Law, but Mo Cheng calmed it, while Feng Yang conjured an army and attacked the academy with Lin Li.
• Sushang appeared and used Great Sorrow Without Tears to destroy the summoned army and pierce Feng Yang and Lin Li, sending them more than a million li away.
• Feng Yang and Lin Li survived the first strike and tried to escape, but Sushang caught up, killed Lin Li, and beheaded Feng Yang.
• A black shadow attacked Sushang with Seventh Stage Dao Ancestor Realm power, but she destroyed it and suspected it had been a clone.

After learning that Buddha Island’s Buddha Emperor, Ye Zhu, was behind the Buddhist temples controlling powerful figures, Xie Feng gathered clan leaders and planned a coordinated defense. The clans prepared to protect their people and cities as they faced the threat.

• Sushang told Mo Cheng that she had destroyed a shadowy clone, and Mo Cheng guessed it belonged to Pill Clan patriarch Kui Xin.
• Xie Feng returned from a Buddhist temple in the Corpse-Burying Sea and reassured Sushang that he was unharmed.
• Xie Feng told Shui Yunjun and the gathered clan leaders that Buddha Island and Ye Zhu were behind the temples and their control of people’s minds and bodies.
• Xie Feng ordered the clans to close their gates, protect their people, and install at least Saint Grade defensive formations in every city.
• Shui Yunjun, Qing Wu, and Chen Ling offered Words Become Law practitioners and formation masters to help defend the clans.
• Xie Feng told the clan leaders to use the Floating World Bank or Jade Qilin Workshop for funds as needed.

Xie Feng gathered the clans’ support against the Three-Clan Alliance, and Haidera joined after revealing that Chu Kuang had ordered him to help. Later, Xie Feng and Sushang went to Emperor City to confront the Pill Clan, where a starving monk attacked them with a mysterious bell.

• Ge Kuangwo, Yan Ming, Xue Yan, and Shui Yunjun pledged their clans’ resources and forces to Xie Feng.
• Haidera arrived and said Chu Kuang had sent him; he proved his sincerity by admitting he had killed Ghost Clan elders and hung their heads on the Emperor City walls.
• Sushang asked how they should deal with a traitor, and Xie Feng, Ge Kuangwo, and Shui Yunjun agreed to kill them.
• Xie Feng took Sushang to Emperor City to confront the Pill Clan after its provocation, and a ragged monk grabbed Sushang and begged for alms.
• The monk attacked Xie Feng and rang a mysterious Buddhist bell, but Xie Feng remained unaffected and the monk froze.

Xie Feng and Sushang uncovered that the blood-red bells could control people, then confronted the controlled Kui Xin and his forces. Xie Feng killed Kui Xin with one sword and searched his soul for answers, but found only a blank mind marked by a Buddhist seal.

• Xie Feng killed the monk who attacked Sushang and retrieved the blood-red bell that had controlled him.
• Xie Feng and Sushang theorized that the bell was an offspring of a mother bell, and Xie Feng resolved to investigate its source.
• Kui Xin and hundreds of controlled cultivators surrounded Xie Feng and Sushang in the Pill Clan.
• Sushang transformed into a giant white tiger and charged the black-clad crowd while Xie Feng faced Kui Xin.
• Xie Feng pierced Kui Xin's forehead with the Cherished Wine Cup Dao Sword, then captured his escaping soul and searched his memories.
• Xie Feng found no memories in Kui Xin's blank mind, only a Buddhist seal deep within it.

After destroying the controlled Pill Clan forces, Xie Feng returned to the academy with Sushang, who began preparing to research an antidote to Ye Zhu’s bells. Meanwhile, Pei Jue faced a sudden attack amid the Star Clan’s civil war, and Pei Shanhe arrived just as Pei Jue was about to kill Feng Lin.

• Xie Feng destroyed Kui Xin after learning Ye Zhu had controlled many people, while Sushang killed the remaining Pill Clan fighters.
• Buddha Venerable Lingdu appeared in the bloodstained alley, erased the corpses, and warned that someone was meddling too much.
• Sushang asked Xie Feng for assistants and medicinal ingredients to research an antidote, and he arranged support for her work at the academy.
• Pei Jue prepared for the final battle against Pei Shanhe as the Star Clan’s civil war spread, but Feng Lin and armored warriors attacked him first.
• Pei Jue killed Feng Lin’s charge and annihilated many warriors with Words Become Law, but Pei Shanhe intervened and extinguished Pei Jue’s sword strike.

Xie Feng arrived in time to kill Pei Shanhe and Feng Lin, then helped Pei Jue defeat the old faction and seize control of Emperor City. After the fighting ended, Xie Feng noticed that Pei Jue had the Shurangama Sutra Pei Shanhe had given him.

• Pei Shanhe revealed Yi Cang's severed head and fought Pei Jue with power far beyond the Dao Ancestor Realm.
• Xie Feng appeared and killed Pei Shanhe with the Cherished Wine Cup Dao Sword, then swept Feng Lin out of the Dao Realm with his fan.
• Xie Feng displayed Pei Shanhe's head and demanded the old faction's soldiers surrender, killing those who resisted.
• Pei Jue confined the surrendered soldiers while his army took control of Emperor City and pursued the fleeing old faction members.
• Xie Feng relaxed in the courtyard and asked Pei Jue about the Shurangama Sutra, which Pei Jue said Pei Shanhe had given him.

Xie Feng and Pei Jue uncovered Ye Zhu’s plan to spread the Buddhist Dao and turn the Dao Realm into a world of his followers. As the clans joined forces against Buddha Island, Sushang was attacked in her pill-refining room by Yu Qianfeng, who revealed a blood-red bell.

• Xie Feng opened Pei Jue’s scripture and discovered it contained a soul-capturing chime meant to control Pei Jue if he opened it.
• Pei Jue realized Pei Shanhe had been serving Ye Zhu and agreed to help Xie Feng, who directed him to Shui Yunjun for a task.
• The Star Clan joined the Literary Clan and other major clans in battle against the Ghost Clan, Pill Clan, Cloud Clan, and Buddha Island, while Shui Yunjun struggled to investigate the island.
• Sushang searched for ingredients to make pills that could resist the soul-capturing chime, and Yu Qianfeng arrived claiming to need healing medicine.
• Yan Ru warned Sushang as Yu Qianfeng raised a dagger, but Sushang turned and kicked him away before he could stab her.
• Yu Qianfeng transformed the dagger into a blood-red bell, and Yan Ru recognized its danger.

Sushang captured Yu Qianfeng and Yan Ru after discovering a clue to how the bells controlled them, and Xie Feng decided they needed to target a more important member of Buddha Island. Buddha Venerable Lingdu left the island on mysterious business, while Xiao Mo remained behind, and Lingdu sensed someone approaching.

• Sushang resisted Yu Qianfeng's bell, bound him and Yan Ru in the Water Dragon Chant, and realized the flashes of red in controlled people's eyes marked brief moments of lucidity.
• Xie Feng, Shui Yunjun, Qing Wu, and Yan Ming arrived, and Xie Feng urged them to watch for controlled people and capture them alive for Sushang to study.
• Qing Wu revealed that a captured ordinary monk had empty memories, and Xie Feng said they needed to go after a bigger target.
• Buddha Venerable Lingdu gave Xiao Mo corn, told him to stay on Buddha Island, and left while Xiao Mo continued chanting sutras.
• After leaving Buddha Island, Buddha Venerable Lingdu sensed a ripple in space and demanded to know who was there.

Xie Feng confronted Buddha Venerable Lingdu near Buddha Island, then listened as Lingdu explained the island’s goal of redeeming people by controlling their minds and souls. Lingdu offered Xie Feng the chance to join them and become sovereign of all under heaven, leaving Xie Feng intrigued but not yet committed.

• Xie Feng appeared before Buddha Venerable Lingdu and moved them nine million li away from Buddha Island’s entrance.
• Lingdu invited Xie Feng to sit and talk, and they discussed Xie Feng’s role in harming the alliance during the war.
• Lingdu defended Buddha Island’s use of the Buddha Emperor Bell as a way to redeem people and free them from regret.
• Xie Feng challenged Lingdu to explain how Buddha Island’s actions matched its stated ideals.
• Lingdu warned that the Buddha Emperor would win the war and offered Xie Feng power and the position of sovereign of all under heaven.
• Xie Feng said the offer sounded good and that he was tempted.

Xie Feng rejected Buddha Venerable Lingdu’s offer to join the Buddhist Dao and defeated him after resisting the Buddha Emperor Bell. Lingdu was left dying, and Xie Feng made no effort to capture him alive.

• Buddha Venerable Lingdu tried to persuade Xie Feng to join him, but Xie Feng refused and condemned his ideals.
• Buddha Venerable Lingdu rang the Buddha Emperor Bell three times, but Xie Feng resisted its soul-seizing power.
• Buddha Venerable Lingdu attacked with his trident and wrathful vajras, but Xie Feng shattered his assaults with the Azure Profound Fan.
• Xie Feng’s Dao Grade Azure Profound Fan pierced Buddha Venerable Lingdu’s neck and smashed through his defense.
• Xie Feng poured destructive power into Buddha Venerable Lingdu, then pulled the fan from his neck as Lingdu’s vitality faded.

Xie Feng killed Buddha Venerable Lingdu and intercepted Buddha Venerable Wuxiang at sea, then launched a fierce battle against him. Wuxiang unleashed his strongest techniques, but Xie Feng's Dao fire swallowed the nine bolts of lightning as their fight continued.

• Xie Feng killed Buddha Venerable Lingdu and set out to eliminate Buddha Venerable Wuxiang.
• Buddha Venerable Wuxiang returned to Buddha Island, learned that Lingdu and the Buddha Emperor were absent, and left to find the Buddha Emperor.
• Xie Feng ambushed Wuxiang at sea and showed him Lingdu's jeweled crown, revealing that he had killed Lingdu.
• Wuxiang transformed, attacked Xie Feng with his weapons and techniques, and summoned the nine bolts of No Life Nine Thunders.
• Xie Feng used the Northern Nether Illusory Dao Fire to form fire dragons that swallowed Wuxiang's lightning.

Xie Feng defeated Buddha Venerable Wuxiang, then learned that Ghost Sorrow City’s residents had been controlled and used the city’s Puppet Secret to turn Wuxiang into a spy. Gu Meng and the others offered Ghost Sorrow City’s support in the war.

• Xie Feng’s fire overwhelmed Buddha Venerable Wuxiang’s lightning, and the Cherished Wine Cup Dao Sword pierced Wuxiang as he tried to escape.
• Gu Meng, Yellow Hair, Red Hair, and Green Hair arrived and explained they had been searching for Xie Feng to apologize for their earlier misunderstanding.
• Xie Feng told them about the state of the world, and they realized Buddha Venerable Wuxiang had controlled Ghost Sorrow City’s residents.
• Gu Meng used Ghost Sorrow City’s Puppet Secret to extract Wuxiang’s soul, seal it, and return it to his body as a lifelike puppet.
• Xie Feng took control of Buddha Venerable Wuxiang and sent him back to Buddha Island to spy on Ye Zhu.
• Gu Meng declared that Ghost Sorrow City would join the war, and Yellow Hair, Red Hair, and Green Hair offered their reconnaissance skills.

Xie Feng rewarded Gu Meng and his companions with billion-year Star Cores and joined the leaders at Pill Maple Academy to discuss the war against Buddha Island and its followers. Meanwhile, Buddha Venerable Wuxiang secretly sent Xie Feng a pill tied to Xiao Mo, and Ye Zhu began searching for the missing Lingdu.

• Xie Feng gave Gu Meng, Yellow Hair, Red Hair, and Green Hair a billion-year Star Core each and brought them to Pill Maple Academy.
• Qing Wu, Xue Yan, Haidera, Lü Yan, and Ge Kuangwo reported the war’s progress, including the Cloud Clan’s resistance and Buddha Island’s growing influence.
• Yellow Hair, Red Hair, and Green Hair showed off their Star Cores to Ge Kuangwo and Haidera, who left in irritation.
• Buddha Venerable Wuxiang secretly transferred Xiao Mo’s red pill to Xie Feng, who gave it to Sushang after learning it helped counter the Buddha Emperor Bell’s influence.
• Ye Zhu asked about Lingdu, and Xiao Mo reported that Lingdu had been missing for two days before Ye Zhu began divining his whereabouts.

Ye Zhu learned that Xie Feng had caused Buddha Venerable Wuxiang’s death and resolved to accelerate his plan to save living beings. At Pill Maple Academy, Sushang tested her Great Dream Calamity-Dispelling Pills, discovering that they briefly delayed the Buddha Emperor Bell’s control but did not prevent it.

• Ye Zhu learned Lingdu had died and blamed Xie Feng, then ordered Buddha Venerable Wuxiang to deploy eight hundred Buddhist lords to rescue people.
• Xiao Mo accidentally rang the Buddha Emperor Bell, and Ye Zhu discovered that Wuxiang had been controlled before killing him and releasing three seals from his body.
• Xie Feng recognized Wuxiang’s death and gave Sushang the red pill that served as an antidote model for the Buddha Emperor Bell.
• Sushang replicated three Great Dream Calamity-Dispelling Pills and persuaded Red Hair, Yellow Hair, and Green Hair to test them.
• Sushang rang the Buddha Emperor Bell after the three took the pills, then used the Void Mysterious Emperor Flame to drive back its influence.
• The three reported that the pills kept them clearheaded for a few extra seconds, but the bell’s evil power still began invading their minds.

Sushang developed the Great Dream Calamity-Dispelling Pill, allowing the allied armies to overcome the Buddha Emperor Bells and defeat the Three-Clan Alliance. After Shui Yunjun killed You Chenfeng, two hundred powerful monks from Buddha Island intervened and attacked the Literary Clan army.

• Sushang used three thousand stalks of thousand illusions myriad forms grass to create the Great Dream Calamity-Dispelling Pill, and Xie Feng distributed the pills among the clans.
• After the pills neutralized the Buddha Emperor Bells, Shui Yunjun's armies overwhelmed the Three-Clan Alliance, which soon collapsed.
• Shui Yunjun defeated and killed You Chenfeng on the battlefield, and the Ghost Clan fell into panic.
• Two hundred Buddha Lords arrived from Buddha Island, calmed the Ghost Clan with Buddhist chants, then attacked the Literary Clan army with golden chains.
• Shui Yunjun cut down the chains and launched a thousand-foot palm strike toward the Buddha Lords.

Buddha Emperor Ye Zhu used the mother Buddha Emperor Bell to trap Shui Yunjun in an illusion of a secluded life with the Marquis of Mo Yang. Qing Wu, Xue Yan, Yan Ming, and Ge Kuangwo arrived and planned to rescue her and fight Ye Zhu.

• Shui Yunjun fought off the Buddha Lords until Ye Zhu appeared and urged her to stop fighting.
• Ye Zhu rang the mother Buddha Emperor Bell, freezing Shui Yunjun and drawing her into an illusion.
• Shui Yunjun recognized the illusion but gradually lost her clarity as she imagined a happy life with the Marquis of Mo Yang.
• Xue Yan condemned Ye Zhu for controlling Shui Yunjun, while Qing Wu, Yan Ming, and Ge Kuangwo identified the bell as the source of his power.
• Xue Yan divided the group’s tasks, and Qing Wu assigned Ge Kuangwo to take Shui Yunjun away while the others fought Ye Zhu.

Qing Wu, Xue Yan, and Ge Kuangwo fought Ye Zhu while Yan Ming tried to take Shui Yunjun, but Ye Zhu overwhelmed them. Ge Kuangwo summoned Ghost Sorrow City’s shadows to help Qing Wu escape with Shui Yunjun, and Xie Feng arrived to confront Ye Zhu.

• Qing Wu, Xue Yan, and Ge Kuangwo attacked Ye Zhu, but his golden finger imprint killed Xue Yan with one strike.
• Ye Zhu cut Yan Ming in half and consumed him with a blood-colored chain as he tried to seize Shui Yunjun.
• Ge Kuangwo fired Gu Meng’s signal arrow, summoning Ghost Sorrow City’s shadows to shield the battlefield.
• Qing Wu carried Shui Yunjun away while Ge Kuangwo tore open space, and Ye Zhu tried to destroy the shadows with a palm strike.
• Xie Feng emerged from the mist and blocked Ye Zhu’s attack with a silver dragon, then enclosed the two of them in a domain.
• Xie Feng faced Ye Zhu, who asked if he still refused to see reason, and Xie Feng accused him of trying to drag him into the mire.