Chapter Summaries

Lu Changsheng brought Fang Qiong to Fen Yan Valley and taught him to consider the obligations behind accepting favors. There, Fang Qiong met the other disciples, while Lu Changsheng found Xiao Hei pushing his damaged body and incomplete soul to their limits in training.

• Lu Changsheng explained that the Immortal Emperor Token could bring Fang Qiong benefits but also created an obligation to help the Immortal Emperor, and Fang Qiong understood his warning.
• Lu Changsheng introduced Fang Qiong to Ye Qiubai, Hong Ying, and the other disciples at Fen Yan Valley, then told Huang Qian and Liu Ziru that Fang Qiong's talent was strong.
• Huang Qian reported that Ye Qiubai and the others had converted their Spiritual Qi into Immortal Qi and were defeating Fen Yan Valley disciples in sparring.
• Xiao Hei endured Fen Yan's attack, recovered from severe injuries, and demanded to continue training so he could get stronger quickly.
• Lu Changsheng stopped Xiao Hei and warned that continued life-threatening injuries could damage his already incomplete soul, then told him to rest and meet his new junior brother.

After Xiao Hei’s training with Fen Yan, Lu Changsheng taught Fang Qiong the Holy Array Prison Body Art and explained how his formation spirit physique could grow through formations. Fang Qiong began cultivating and broke through to the early Earth Immortal Realm.

• Xiao Hei left Fen Yan Valley with Lu Changsheng after his strength improved, and Fen Yan told the Valley Master that Xiao Hei could soon challenge him.
• Fang Qiong met Xiao Hei and the other disciples, then stayed behind when Ye Qiubai and the others went to seek sparring partners.
• Lu Changsheng warned Fang Qiong not to pursue the matter weighing on him until he was strong enough, then passed on the Holy Array Prison Body Art.
• Lu Changsheng explained that Fang Qiong’s good fortune formation spirit physique could cultivate through formation spirits and complement the art, then gave him the Holy Array Heavenly Scroll.
• Lu Changsheng guided Fang Qiong through the art, and Fang Qiong reached the early Earth Immortal Realm while Huang Qian and Liu Ziru watched.

Lu Changsheng prepared the Immortal Emperor’s materials and brought Shi Sheng to the Immortal Realm passage to repair the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda and strengthen its seal. Shi Sheng’s Star Essence made the pagoda stir, but he could not yet connect with it as Lu Changsheng used the Eye of Heaven Scrutiny to examine it.

• Lu Changsheng taught Fang Qiong the introductory stage of the Holy Array Prison Body Art, then left him to cultivate.
• Lu Changsheng analyzed the Immortal Emperor’s materials and prepared arrays, pills, talismans, and other items before summoning Huang Qian, Liu Ziru, and Shi Sheng.
• At the Immortal Realm passage, Lu Changsheng warned that the evil devil Qi was spreading and told Shi Sheng to use the Star Essence to connect with the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda while Huang Qian and Liu Ziru guarded them.
• Lu Changsheng surrounded the group with defensive arrays and talismans, then sent the prepared materials toward the pagoda while lightning talismans dispersed the charging evil devil Qi.
• Shi Sheng released the Star Essence, causing the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda to tremble and appear faintly in his Starry Sky Dantian, but he could not establish a connection.
• Lu Changsheng activated the Eye of Heaven Scrutiny and sent its purple-gold light through the evil devil miasma toward the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda.

Lu Changsheng began repairing the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda’s origin as its Human Ancestors warned that the Evil Devil Domain’s seal was close to breaking. A Darkness Demonic Dragon attacked, but Lu Changsheng’s barrier withstood its black flames and he prepared to counter.

• The Human Ancestors told Lu Changsheng that the Evil Devil Domain would eventually break through and proposed connecting the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda to the Star Essence user.
• Lu Changsheng began restoring the pagoda’s origin, and a dragon’s roar announced an attack from within the Evil Devil Domain.
• Lu Changsheng tore through the surging evil devil Qi with lightning talismans, revealing a huge Darkness Demonic Dragon.
• Huang Qian recognized the dragon’s presence and fought it with Divine Phoenix Fire, but its black firestorm swallowed her attacks.
• Lu Changsheng called Huang Qian and the others behind his barrier, which withstood the dragon’s flames as he activated its talismans and formations.

Lu Changsheng killed the Darkness Demonic Dragon’s true body by using the Sword of Reversal to destroy its soul across space. After repairing the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda’s source, he let Shi Sheng approach it to establish a connection despite the risks.

• Lu Changsheng overwhelmed the Darkness Demonic Dragon’s phantom with lightning, then drew out its soul form and destroyed it with the Sword of Reversal.
• The Darkness Demonic Dragon’s true body roared in a distant land before its soul shattered and it died.
• Lu Changsheng confirmed the kill and named his new technique the Sword of Reversal.
• After Lu Changsheng repaired the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda’s source, a voice from inside offered to help Shi Sheng connect with it.
• The pagoda’s voice warned that Lu Changsheng’s protection would disrupt the connection, and Shi Sheng chose to proceed despite the danger.

Shi Sheng entered the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda to inherit it and accept responsibility for the Evil Devil Domain. As the pagoda’s Evil Devil Qi flooded his body and tormented his mind and soul, he told Lu Changsheng that he could endure it, leaving Lu Changsheng to hold back from intervening.

• Shi Sheng crossed the abyss using the Power of the Stars to shield his mind and reached the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda after a day of progress.
• Inside the pagoda, Shi Sheng was carried to the ninth floor, where four remnant souls told him that inheriting the pagoda would tie him to the Evil Devil Domain and require him to endure the Evil Devil Qi.
• The four elders placed a miniature pagoda mark in Shi Sheng’s Starry Sky Dantian, causing the Evil Devil Qi from the lower eight floors to surge into him.
• Shi Sheng used the Chaos Stars Record to resist, but the Evil Devil Qi overwhelmed his starlight and tore at his mind and soul.
• Half a day later, Lu Changsheng heard Shi Sheng’s agonized roar and prepared to intervene, but Shi Sheng told him through the voice-transmission jade pendant that he could endure it.
• Huang Qian urged Lu Changsheng to trust Shi Sheng, while she remained alarmed by the severity of his suffering.

Shi Sheng endured the evil devil Qi’s physical and spiritual assault inside the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda, resisting its temptation to abandon his loved ones for the pinnacle. After recalling why he began cultivating, he strengthened his Dao heart and drove the evil devil Qi from his body, while Lu Changsheng watched with pride.

• Shi Sheng endured agonizing pain as evil devil Qi corroded his body and began tainting his thoughts and eyes.
• The four Human Ancestors considered pulling Shi Sheng from the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda, but Lu Changsheng chose to watch after sensing an unseen force resisting the corruption.
• A tainted figure in Shi Sheng’s sea of consciousness urged him to abandon attachments and seek the pinnacle, showing him a vision of lonely supremacy.
• Shi Sheng saw that his family, master, and fellow disciples were gone in that imagined future and questioned whether such a pinnacle was worth reaching.
• Shi Sheng remembered that he had begun cultivating to protect his parents, and his Starry Sky Dantian unleashed starlight that expelled the evil devil Qi.
• The Human Ancestors praised Shi Sheng’s strengthened Dao heart, and Lu Changsheng laughed proudly outside the pagoda.

Shi Sheng connected with the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda, restoring the Immortal Realm passage and buying three years. Back at Fen Yan Valley, Lu Changsheng watched Fang Qiong advance in his cultivation before the valley master arrived with an offer that Lu Changsheng refused on his disciples’ behalf.

• The Human Ancestors’ remnant souls told Shi Sheng to study the Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda’s Dao Rhyme and traces before he returned to Lu Changsheng.
• Lu Changsheng and his companions returned to Fen Yan Valley, where Ye Qiubai and the others had been challenging its disciples while Xiao Hei sought another beating from Fen Yan.
• Fang Qiong reached the silver-skin stage of the Holy Array Prison Body Art and pierced a stone wall with a beam of gray light.
• Lu Changsheng began explaining the Mortal Realm to Fang Qiong and warned him not to provoke hidden masters.
• The valley master arrived with something he said Lu Changsheng’s disciples would want, but Lu Changsheng immediately refused.

Lu Changsheng agreed to let his disciples enter Immortal Affinity Heaven-Reaching Mountain, where they could gain powerful benefits, and they prepared to go when it opened in three days. As challengers gathered in Fen Yan Valley, Fang Qiong reacted with killing intent to the name He Yuan, while the Cottage’s many slots drew widespread attention.

• The Valley Master explained the benefits and mystery of Immortal Affinity Heaven-Reaching Mountain, and Lu Changsheng agreed to ask his disciples to go.
• Ye Qiubai and the others accepted the opportunity, and Lu Changsheng reminded them not to stir up trouble.
• Before the mountain opened, Wei Zhaoyun and He Yuan won slots from their holders.
• Fang Qiong reacted to He Yuan’s name with intense killing intent but chose to handle the matter himself, and Ye Qiubai offered the Cottage’s support.
• News that Ye Qiubai and the others held many slots spread, drawing slotless cultivators to Fen Yan Valley to challenge them.

With Immortal Affinity Heaven-Reaching Mountain opening in three days, Ye Qiubai and his companions accepted challengers seeking to take their spots. Ye Qiubai began the contest against Ji Chengfang, whose spear intent clashed with Ye Qiubai’s powerful Sword Domain as he charged forward.

• The Valley Master offered to refuse the challengers, but Ye Qiubai and the others agreed to fight them on the Fen Yan Platform.
• The Valley Master arranged the challenges and limited them to cultivators at the same stage as each spot holder.
• Ye Qiubai volunteered to go first, and Ji Chengfang, an Earth Immortal Realm late-stage spear expert, stepped forward to challenge him.
• Ji Chengfang’s spear intent pierced Ye Qiubai’s clothes, but Ye Qiubai unleashed his Sword Domain and suppressed it with his sword intent.
• Ji Chengfang gripped his spear in both hands and charged at Ye Qiubai.

Ye Qiubai fought Ji Chengfang on the Fen Yan Platform and overcame his spear techniques with his superior Sword Dao and flexibility. After Ye Qiubai shattered Ji Chengfang’s final dragon-shaped spear attack, Ji Chengfang conceded and collapsed.

• Ji Chengfang charged Ye Qiubai, but Ye Qiubai met his spear with the Primordial Immortal Sword and revealed his superior Sword Intent.
• Ji Chengfang tried to retreat and attack from different angles, but Ye Qiubai pursued him and kept him locked in combat.
• After five breaths of being suppressed, Ji Chengfang gathered his Spear Dao intent and hurled his spear at Ye Qiubai as a gigantic dragon.
• Ye Qiubai used the Primordial Sword Scripture’s Fourth Sword, Demon Breaking, and his strike overwhelmed and shattered the dragon.
• Ji Chengfang conceded to Ye Qiubai, then collapsed after spitting blood.

After Ye Qiubai defeated Ji Chengfang, Xiao Hei rushed onto the Fen Yan Platform and challenged anyone in the Heaven Immortal Realm. He shattered his fist against a challenger's axe but sent the man flying, then chased after him for another punch.

• Ye Qiubai's victory over Ji Chengfang astonished the spectators and revealed his growing Sword Dao strength.
• Xiao Hei leaped onto the Fen Yan Platform and invited challengers, declaring that anyone in the Heaven Immortal Realm could fight him.
• A Late Stage Heaven Immortal challenger accused Xiao Hei of arrogance and attacked him with a double-bladed axe.
• Xiao Hei activated his Eternal Devil Body and punched the axe, breaking bones in his hand while the impact hurled the challenger toward the platform's edge.
• Xiao Hei ignored his injury and pursued the challenger, raising his other hand to punch again.

Xiao Hei defeated a late-stage Heaven Immortal challenger on the Fen Yan Platform, and Fen Yan stopped further fights after Xiao Hei proved he deserved a slot. Hong Ying, Ning Chenxin, Mu Fusheng, Shi Sheng, Mu Wan'er, and Xiao Shitou also defeated their challengers, and three days later Immortal Affinity Heaven-Reaching Mountain opened.

• Xiao Hei relentlessly attacked the late-stage Heaven Immortal, enduring injuries before knocking him off the Fen Yan Platform and winning.
• Fen Yan arrived on the platform and, after relaying Lu Changsheng's warning to Xiao Hei, stopped the challenges against him and asked the challengers to spare Fen Yan Valley's favor.
• Hong Ying, Ning Chenxin, Mu Fusheng, Shi Sheng, Mu Wan'er, and Xiao Shitou each took the platform and defeated their opponents within the same cultivation realm.
• The challengers left Fen Yan Valley in dejection as several immortal cultivators grew wary of the group's strength and shared origins.
• Three days later, Immortal Affinity Heaven-Reaching Mountain opened.

Ye Qiubai and his companions gathered at Immortal Affinity Heaven-Reaching Mountain, where they learned about the deadly trials and the powerful cultivators competing for the Immortal Affinity Heavenly Pool. Lu Changsheng discovered the mountain itself had chosen his disciples for their immortal affinity, and as the climb was about to begin, a stranger urged them to go first.

• Fen Yan pointed out formidable competitors at the mountain, including Qiu Jing, Han Lu, and Yang Feng.
• The Immortal Emperor told Lu Changsheng that Immortal Affinity Heaven-Reaching Mountain had a spirit that chose Lu Changsheng’s disciples because they possessed immortal affinity.
• Lu Changsheng tried to leave and pull his disciples out, but the Immortal Emperor warned that their fates were already entangled with the mountain.
• Lu Changsheng sat back down and asked the Immortal Emperor to let him slap him gently, but the Immortal Emperor refused.
• The gathered cultivators held back from climbing, and a man challenged Ye Qiubai and his companions to go first.

Ye Qiubai and his companions accepted Zhuo Cai’s demand to test Immortal Affinity Heaven-Reaching Mountain’s first trial, despite other experts dismissing their chances. They cleared the first lightning-struck step and decided to rotate who led the way as they climbed.

• Zhuo Cai mocked Fen Yan and ordered Ye Qiubai’s group to serve as the vanguard, while Fen Yan prepared to fight him.
• Ye Qiubai stopped Fen Yan from confronting Zhuo Cai and agreed to lead the trial with his companions, who insisted on going together.
• Qiu Jing predicted the group would fail before the two-hundredth step, while Han Lu suspected their many slots meant they were more capable than they appeared.
• Ye Qiubai and his companions stepped onto the mountain path, where lightning bolts attacked them and revealed the first stage’s Lightning Dao Law.
• The group shattered the lightning on the first step, and Xiao Hei proposed rotating the vanguard for the thousand-step climb.

Xiao Hei took the lead in bearing the Thunder Dao Law so Ye Qiubai and the others could sense its Dao Rhyme while following behind. After climbing a hundred steps and repeatedly healing from the lightning’s damage, Xiao Hei armored himself and charged into the sea of lightning above.

• Xiao Hei proposed that he hold off the Thunder Dao Law while Ye Qiubai and the others followed and comprehended its power, and Fen Yan rejected Zhuo Cai’s doubts about Xiao Hei’s strength.
• Xiao Hei endured the lightning on the second step with his bare body as Ye Qiubai and the others shared the remaining power and adapted to the Dao Rhyme.
• Xiao Hei climbed ten steps at a time, suffering severe wounds that healed rapidly and strengthened his physical power, while Mu Fusheng drew thunder into his body to cultivate.
• Xiao Hei slowed at the hundredth step as a sea of lightning gathered overhead, then covered himself in black armor, revealed six patterns, and charged into it.

Xiao Hei charged into the sea of lightning but began to suffer injuries faster than he could recover. Mu Fusheng took his place, used three ancient divine lightnings to resist the Thunder Dao Law, and began absorbing its power as he climbed.

• Xiao Hei rushed into the sea of lightning and endured severe injuries while his demonic Qi slowly healed him.
• Mu Fusheng revealed Profound Yin Purple Lightning, Heavenly Punishment Divine Lightning, and Six-Nine Heavenly Lightning, causing the sea of lightning to recoil.
• Mu Fusheng told Xiao Hei to withdraw and recover, then took the lead on the steps.
• Mu Fusheng blocked the lightning beams with a barrier and sent two lightning dragons to clash with them.
• Mu Fusheng activated the Nine-Nine Primordial Chaos Divine Lightning Art and absorbed the scattered Thunder Dao Law into his body.

Mu Fusheng used the Lightning Dao Law to strengthen himself as he climbed to the 200th step, where he confronted the Qilin Lightning Beast with talismans. He trapped the beast in a barrier and redirected his lightning chains to close in around it.

• Mu Fusheng climbed through the sea of lightning, using the Lightning Dao Law to improve his strength.
• At the 200th step, a Qilin Lightning Beast began to form, and Mu Fusheng prepared talismans with his Holy Lightning Mystic Talisman Brush.
• Yang Feng speculated that Mu Fusheng had concealed his strength, while Zhuo Cai, Han Lu, and Qiu Jing discussed the possibility.
• Mu Fusheng completed Heavenly Immortal-level talismans infused with three kinds of divine lightning as the Qilin Lightning Beast took shape.
• The Qilin Lightning Beast dodged Mu Fusheng's lightning chains, but Mu Fusheng trapped it in a barrier and redirected the chains into an encircling net.

Mu Fusheng trapped the Qilin Lightning Beast, absorbed its Lightning Dao Law, and began cultivating the fourth divine lightning. As the group advanced to the fire-law trial, Mu Wan'er volunteered to take it on.

• Mu Fusheng used lightning chains that absorbed the beast's lightning power to bind the Qilin Lightning Beast.
• Mu Fusheng tested whether he could absorb the beast, then drew its Lightning Dao Law into his body and began forming Taiji Yin-Yang Righteous Qi Divine Lightning.
• The spectators were stunned that Mu Fusheng had subdued and absorbed the guardian beast, while Fen Yan challenged Zhuo Cai's claim that the group were cannon fodder.
• Ye Qiubai and the others moved on to the second stage, which tested the Power of the Law of Fire.
• Mu Wan'er insisted that she would handle the fire-law stage instead of letting Hong Ying lead.

Mu Wan'er used her mastery of fire control, honed through alchemy, to overcome the fiery trial on Immortal Affinity Heaven-Reaching Mountain. She reached the 300th step and unleashed a powerful technique to redirect flaming meteors, leaving the other geniuses impressed by her potential.

• Hong Ying accepted Mu Wan'er's request to take on the fire trial, and Mu Wan'er stepped onto the 202nd stair.
• Mu Wan'er seized control of the firestorms with her mastery of the law of fire and used them to protect herself as she climbed.
• Mu Wan'er reached the 300th stair, where a sea of fiery clouds sent enormous flaming meteors crashing toward her.
• Mu Wan'er invoked the Alchemy Saint Scripture, formed a flaming lotus mark, and used a thread of flame to redirect the meteors into one another.
• Qiu Jing remarked that Mu Wan'er might become unmatched in fire control across the Immortal Realm as her cultivation advanced.