Chapter Summaries

Ning Chenxin stormed a Buddhist temple on an outer peak, defeated its monks and abbot, and demanded to know what the Buddhist Sect was planning. He continued toward the inner peaks after the abbot denied knowing anything, while news of the attack spread across the Cangxuan Continent.

• Ning Chenxin reached the first peak and found pilgrims worshipping Buddha with fear in their eyes.
• Ning Chenxin broke through the temple guards and shattered the Arhat Formation with Vast Righteous Qi.
• Ning Chenxin confronted the abbot, who said Dabei had been placed in confinement.
• Ning Chenxin used the Dao Scripture to suppress the abbot and demanded to know the Buddhist Sect’s plans.
• The abbot denied knowing of any plan and warned Ning Chenxin that the Buddha would punish him, but Ning Chenxin continued toward the inner peaks.
• News that Ning Chenxin had stormed the Buddhist Sect spread across the Cangxuan Continent.

Ning Chenxin stormed the Buddhist Sect to confront its treatment of ordinary mortals, while its abbots tried to recruit him as their next Buddha Son. He rejected their reasoning and condemned their pursuit of power, as Dabei remained trapped inside a golden bell.

• Hong Ying recognized Ning Chenxin as the scholar attacking the Buddhist Sect, and the Mo Clan's patriarch offered to retrieve him before Huang Qian and Hong Ying warned that he would not be turned back or harmed.
• Ning Chenxin subdued the temples on three peaks, then passed through dozens more as their monks let him proceed toward the highest peak.
• Ning Chenxin reached the main hall and asked the abbots why they had summoned him after letting him pass.
• The abbot offered Ning Chenxin the position of Buddha Son if he abandoned the Confucian Dao and devoted himself to the Buddha.
• Ning Chenxin questioned the Buddhist Sect's reliance on faith and its disregard for Buddhist principles, while Dabei roared from inside a golden bell.
• The abbot admitted that the Buddhist Sect set aside the Buddha's rules to gain strength, and Ning Chenxin said power had corrupted their hearts.

Ning Chenxin challenged Abbot Jingxuan’s defense of hypocrisy, and his words stirred Dabei into resisting the abbots’ attempt to control him. Abbot Jingxuan revealed overwhelming power and crushed Ning Chenxin, but an unidentified voice interrupted before he could kill him.

• Abbot Jingxuan argued that hypocrisy was necessary to survive and grow stronger in the cultivation world.
• Ning Chenxin questioned whether Abbot Jingxuan was merely using the same excuses as other hypocrites, and Dabei began struggling beneath the golden bell.
• Abbot Jingxuan’s smile vanished, and he unleashed blood-colored Buddhist light whose power exceeded the lord divine realm.
• Abbot Jingxuan’s pressure forced Ning Chenxin to the ground and shattered his bones as monks and pilgrims across the Buddhist Sect’s territory knelt.
• Abbot Jingxuan pressed a hand to Ning Chenxin’s back and threatened to annihilate his soul, but a voice from the void warned him to move his hand.

Lu Changsheng rescued Ning Chenxin from Abbot Jingxuan and threatened to destroy the Buddhist Sect, prompting the abbot to summon its Power of Faith and strongest defenses. The chapter ended with Lu Changsheng facing the Eighteen Arhats and the awakened golden Buddha.

• Abbot Jingxuan held Ning Chenxin hostage and tried to bargain with Lu Changsheng.
• Lu Changsheng distracted Abbot Jingxuan, severed his arm, and rescued Ning Chenxin.
• Lu Changsheng told Abbot Jingxuan that he would wipe out the Buddhist Sect and summoned the God-Slaying Sword Array.
• Abbot Jingxuan gathered the Buddhist Sect's Power of Faith into the Eighteen Arhats and the great golden Buddha.
• Lu Changsheng faced the Buddhist Sect's defenses and remarked that the sect was playing the villain again.

Lu Changsheng faced Abbot Jingxuan and the Buddhist Sect’s full power, destroying one golden-bodied Arhat with a single God-Slaying sword. As the golden Buddha’s Seven Buddhas’ Sin-Eradicating Mantra attacked, Lu Changsheng recited the Shurangama Mantra and revealed its immense power, leaving the outcome of the confrontation unresolved.

• Abbot Jingxuan asked Lu Changsheng who he was, and Lu Changsheng dismissed the question before striking an Arhat with one God-Slaying sword.
• The sword pierced the Arhat and turned its golden body into rubble, stunning Abbot Jingxuan and the other abbots.
• The abbots sent their Buddhist light to the remaining Arhats and Buddha, while Abbot Jingxuan invoked the Seven Buddhas’ Sin-Eradicating Mantra.
• As the golden Buddha’s palm descended, Lu Changsheng shielded himself with the God-Slaying Sword Array and a willow tree formed from his life intent.
• Lu Changsheng recited all 2,622 characters of the Shurangama Mantra, formed a golden disc above his head, and announced that he would test its power.

Lu Changsheng defeated the Buddhist Sect’s golden Buddha with the Shurangama Mantra and captured the remnant soul of Ancient Buddha Dipankara. After Dipankara escaped the Changsheng Realm, Willow Tree reminded Lu Changsheng about Ning Chenxin, and Lu Changsheng hurried off to find him.

• Lu Changsheng summoned a colossal golden Buddha with the Shurangama Mantra and shattered the Buddhist Sect’s golden Buddha.
• Lu Changsheng detected and seized a wisp of golden soul-light, then brought it into the Changsheng Realm.
• The soul-light revealed itself as Ancient Buddha Dipankara, who said the Buddhist Sect would face a reshuffling and promised to repay Lu Changsheng and his disciple.
• Dipankara vanished, reappeared because he could not escape the Changsheng Realm’s restrictions, then left after Lu Changsheng opened them.
• Dipankara split into two wisps of soul and flew toward the Wilderness Realm and the Buddhist Sect.
• Willow Tree asked about Ning Chenxin, prompting Lu Changsheng to tear open space and hurry away.

Lu Changsheng defeated the Buddhist Sect’s abbots, who passed into nirvana, and Dabei disbanded the sect before leaving to study Buddhist teachings in the mortal world. Lu Changsheng and Ning Chenxin departed, while Mu Fusheng and Jiu Bailu appeared on the Heavenly Mystery Continent.

• An antique bronze ring appeared on Jiang Chan’s finger at the nunnery, and an elderly nun told her to study the Buddhist scriptures stored inside it.
• Lu Changsheng returned to Ning Chenxin after briefly disappearing, then told Abbot Jingxuan that the mantra he had recited was the Shurangama Mantra.
• Abbot Jingxuan and the other abbots accepted defeat, recited scriptures, and burned their bodies away as a Buddhist bell tolled across the sect.
• Lu Changsheng destroyed the Buddhist Sect’s highest peak with his God-Slaying sword while sparing Dabei, who had been trapped beneath the golden bell.
• Dabei told the Buddhist Sect’s members to disperse and enter the mortal world, then left to study Buddhist teachings and eventually rebuild the sect.
• Lu Changsheng left with Ning Chenxin, and Mu Fusheng and Jiu Bailu were shown walking along a busy street on the Heavenly Mystery Continent.

Mu Fusheng accompanied Jiu Bailu on a shopping trip for materials, while Jiu Bailu teased him about their relationship. The two left with the supplies, and Jiu Bailu called the purchase a betrothal gift.

• Hong Ying arranged for Mu Fusheng to accompany Jiu Bailu while Mu Wan'er went with Shi Sheng to buy materials.
• Jiu Bailu bought a spatial ring and teased Mu Fusheng as he picked one for her.
• Jiu Bailu led Mu Fusheng to the Jiu Xuan Shop, where he ordered six portions of every material on his list.
• The old man prepared the materials, and Jiu Bailu paid two hundred thousand Flawless Primordial Stones.
• Mu Fusheng asked Jiu Bailu why she had not given him a discount, and she told him to consider it a betrothal gift.

Nan Tingfeng approached Jiu Bailu and questioned her about Mu Fusheng, learning that the rumors of her having someone in her heart were true. After leaving, Nan Tingfeng ordered an investigation and decided to wait for the Six Realms Academy Grand Competition before pursuing Mu Fusheng's background further.

• Nan Tingfeng approached Jiu Bailu and invited her to join him for wine and music, but she declined.
• Nan Tingfeng asked whether Mu Fusheng was the person Jiu Bailu had chosen, and she said it depended on both of them.
• Mu Fusheng argued that marriage alliances could not lead a faction to the summit, then refused to reveal where he came from.
• Nan Tingfeng left and instructed an attendant to obtain a report on Mu Fusheng from the Listening Wind Pavilion.
• After reading the report, Nan Tingfeng decided not to investigate further until the Six Realms Academy Grand Competition.

With ten days remaining before the Six Realms Academy Exchange, Liu Ziru briefed Hong Ying and the others on the participating academies and the God Ascension Ruins. He explained that the ruins were a forbidden ground connecting the Human Realm, Divine Realm, and Underworld.

• The Cangxuan Guardian Beast's death allowed the Divine Realm to establish the God Ascension Domain on the Cangxuan Continent, while the Dark Domain expanded its intelligence network there.
• Liu Ziru met Hong Ying and the others and warned them to watch the Divine Miracle Academy, Devil Beast Academy, and Cangxuan Academy at the Six Realms Academy Exchange.
• Liu Ziru revealed that the Dark Domain had bought information about the God Ascension Ruins from the Listening Wind Pavilion, despite the organizations being rivals.
• Liu Ziru explained that the God Ascension Ruins connected the Human Realm, Divine Realm, and Underworld.

Hong Ying, Ye Qiubai, and their companions registered for the Six Realms Academy Exchange at Cangxuan Academy and learned that the God Ascension Ruins connected forbidden lands from three realms. They arrived at the gathering hall, where Xiao Hei was recognized as the Holy Demon and Jiu Bailu drew attention by standing beside Mu Fusheng.

• Hong Ying and the others learned that the God Ascension Ruins joined forbidden lands from the Divine Realm and Mortal Realm with the Nine Nether Underworld, and Xiao Hei took comfort in the connection.
• The Azure Firmament Academy students registered at Cangxuan Academy and were impressed by its immense resources and cultivation grounds.
• Cangxuan Academy students mocked the Azure Firmament Academy delegation, and Hong Ying urged Zong Yun and Hao Tian to grow stronger and prove them wrong.
• Demon Realm Academy representatives knelt before Xiao Hei and addressed him as Lord Holy Demon, drawing the attention of Divine and Chaos Realm attendees.
• Vice Dean Lin and students from Chaotic Spirit Academy greeted Ye Qiubai and the others, while Jiu Bailu's presence beside Mu Fusheng attracted many watching eyes.

Hong Ying registered Azure Firmament Academy for the Six Realms Academy Exchange, where Divine Miracle Academy threatened her students and plotted to eliminate them in the God Ascension Ruins. At the entrance, Jiu Bailu rejected Cangxuan Academy’s offer, and Mu Fusheng confronted Chu Xiang over his claim that Mu was unworthy of her.

• Hong Ying gave a Cangxuan Academy vice dean the academy’s registration scroll and token, while Mu Fusheng secretly prepared to sever the students’ soul connections.
• Jiang Yousheng mocked Azure Firmament Academy, and Hong Ying rebuked him before leading her group away.
• Divine Miracle Academy’s elder told Jiang Yousheng to dispose of Azure Firmament Academy’s students in the God Ascension Ruins, following orders to eliminate threats from the Mortal Realm.
• Xu Luo, An He, and Chu Xiang confronted Jiu Bailu and urged her to join Cangxuan Academy, but she refused.
• Chu Xiang told Mu Fusheng he was unworthy of Jiu Bailu, and Mu Fusheng replied that Chu Xiang and the others should examine themselves instead of mocking him.

Mu Fusheng openly insulted Chu Xiang, Xu Luo, and An He after they were rejected by Jiu Bailu, and the group later discussed the dangers awaiting them in the God Ascension Ruins. The chapter ended with Vice Dean Lin warning them that the ruins held forbidden zones and traps, while powerful rivals posed an additional threat.

• Mu Fusheng told Chu Xiang, Xu Luo, and An He they were not good enough, and they warned him to repeat those words inside the God Ascension Ruins.
• Hong Ying led the group back to their lodgings, where Xiao Hei and Mu Wan'er teased Mu Fusheng about Jiu Bailu.
• Gu Sheng, Tan Zongzhao, Qin Chi, Feng Ye, Vice Dean Lin, and Jiu Xuan visited the group, and Jiu Bailu claimed Mu Fusheng had followed her until they ended up together.
• Gu Sheng asked whether the group had a strategy for facing their rivals, and Mu Fusheng said they lacked enough information to plan.
• Gu Sheng explained why he was absent from the Cangxuan Ranking, then warned them not to use escape talismans to leave the ruins early.
• Vice Dean Lin warned that the God Ascension Ruins contained forbidden zones and traps, and that they would need to beware of both their rivals and the ruins themselves.

The God Ascension Ruins appeared as a destructive whirlpool formed in the sea, and the academies prepared to enter it despite the danger. Xiao Hei jumped in first, while Jiu Bailu linked herself to Mu Fusheng with a Karmic String so they might arrive together, then teased him by taking his hand again.

• Chaotic Spirit Academy and Azure Firmament Academy finalized their cooperation before the participating students gathered at sea to await the God Ascension Ruins.
• A storm formed, and a vast whirlpool appeared; Vice Dean Lin and Gu Sheng explained that it was the only entrance and that it tested entrants' physical strength.
• Fourteen Devil Beast Academy students jumped into the whirlpool, followed by Xiao Hei, who endured its force and disappeared beneath the sea.
• Xu Luo, Chu Xiang, and An He provoked Mu Fusheng before entering, but he chose to conserve his strength rather than follow them immediately.
• Jiu Bailu used a Karmic String to link herself and Mu Fusheng, then took his hand again and claimed she was granting his wish.

Mu Fusheng and Jiu Bailu entered the God Ascension Ruins together and searched a ruined city in the Divine Realm section for clues to the God Ascension Platform. The other students were scattered across different realms as the Six Realms Academy Exchange began.

• Mu Fusheng learned Jiu Bailu could use her Karmic String to connect only to him, and they entered the vortex holding hands.
• The academy leaders argued over alliances while Vice Dean Lin backed cooperation with the Mortal Realm, Immortal Realm, and Demon Realm academies.
• Mu Fusheng and Jiu Bailu arrived together in the Divine Realm section and headed into a ruined city to look for clues.
• Ye Qiubai, Shi Sheng, and Xiao Shitou arrived in separate locations in the Human Realm.
• Xiao Hei and Fang Qiong arrived in the Underworld, where Nether Qi gathered around Xiao Hei.

Mu Fusheng and Jiu Bailu searched the ruins of God Ascension City and found a stele containing a map to God Ascension Canyon. When Jiang Yousheng and two Divine Miracle Academy disciples tried to force them to retrieve it, Mu Fusheng tricked them, slapped Jiang, and escaped with Jiu Bailu.

• Mu Fusheng searched the city ruins and found burned books identifying God Ascension City as the city closest to God Ascension Canyon.
• Mu Fusheng and Jiu Bailu discovered a sacred stone stele, but Jiang Yousheng and two Peak Ancestor Realm companions appeared and claimed they wanted its map.
• Jiang Yousheng explained that people from the Divine Realm could not activate the stele, so he ordered Mu Fusheng to retrieve the map for them.
• Mu Fusheng activated the stele and took out a scroll, pretending to hand it over to Jiang Yousheng.
• Jiang Yousheng threatened to kill Mu Fusheng, but Mu Fusheng slapped him and used a lightning escape to flee with Jiu Bailu.

Mu Fusheng and Jiu Bailu lured Jiang Yousheng and his companions into splitting up, then confronted Run Ling alone. Mu Fusheng used the Divine Talisman of Creation to reach the demigod realm and attacked her with six kinds of divine lightning, ending with the Qianyuan World-Ending Lightning Talisman in hand.

• Jiang Yousheng ignored Senior Brother Fu's warning and ordered the group to split up and chase the three lightning signatures.
• Jiu Bailu realized Mu Fusheng had slapped Jiang Yousheng to provoke him, while their talisman-covered puppets drew Jiang Yousheng and Senior Brother Fu away.
• Mu Fusheng and Jiu Bailu stopped after gaining distance, and Mu Fusheng sealed the area with a formation scroll as Run Ling caught up.
• Mu Fusheng unleashed six kinds of divine lightning while Jiu Bailu attacked Run Ling with karmic silk ribbons.
• Run Ling summoned the Divine King Seal, and Jiu Bailu moved to hold it off as Mu Fusheng used the Divine Talisman of Creation to reach the demigod realm.
• Mu Fusheng struck at Run Ling's dantian, and as she summoned troops from a tiger tally to defend herself, he revealed the Qianyuan World-Ending Lightning Talisman.

Mu Fusheng killed Run Ling with the Qianyuan World-Ending Lightning Talisman, then set off with Jiu Bailu toward God Ascension Canyon. Outside the ruins, the academies learned of Run Ling’s death, while Xiao Hei encountered Xu Luo in the Underworld region.

• Mu Fusheng used the Qianyuan World-Ending Lightning Talisman to destroy Run Ling’s tiger tally, shatter her dantian, and annihilate her.
• Mu Fusheng erased the Divine King Seal’s soul imprint, and Jiu Bailu discarded the seal before they headed east toward God Ascension Canyon.
• Jiang Yousheng learned of Run Ling’s death and raged, but Fu Yuan rebuked him and directed him to search for the way into God Ascension Canyon.
• The academies’ leaders learned that Run Ling had died, and Divine Miracle Academy’s leading elder reacted with anger and disbelief.
• Xiao Hei met up with Zong Yun and Gu Sheng in the Underworld region, where they encountered Xu Luo.

Xiao Hei and his companions reached the Nether Lord's bedchamber, where Xu Luo tried and failed to open its soul-attacking gate. When Xiao Hei touched it, the wronged souls fled and the gate opened, leaving Xu Luo and Fan Yin stunned.

• Xu Luo confronted Gu Sheng and offered him a place in the Xu Clan, but Gu Sheng refused to join any faction.
• Gu Sheng said the group needed to pass through the Underworld, Human Realm, and Divine Realm to reach the God Ascension Platform, so Xiao Hei headed for the bedchamber gate.
• Xu Luo and Fan Yin tried to open the gate, but its wronged souls attacked their souls and forced them to retreat.
• At Gu Sheng's suggestion, Xiao Hei touched the gate, and the wronged souls fled back inside.
• The gate creaked open, surprising Xu Luo and Fan Yin, while Gu Sheng reflected that Xiao Hei's group had many secrets.

Xiao Hei and the other academy students reached the central palace in the Nether Lord’s sleeping palace, where their rivalries surfaced before the doors opened. A voice from within complained that it had already opened the way and invited them inside.

• Xiao Hei’s presence frightened the wronged souls at an archway, and Xu Luo and Fan Yin wondered how he had done it.
• The other three archways opened, and students from the stronger academies forced weaker students to scout ahead before entering.
• After following straight roads through the ghost-filled city, the groups converged at the enormous central palace without encountering traps.
• Xu Luo, Hu Xinian, and Shi Guan argued about their rivalries and whether to attack the palace, while Xiao Hei told them to stop talking and act.
• The palace doors opened, releasing icy wind and howling wronged souls as an impatient voice complained that it had already opened the way for them.