Chapter Summaries

Hongxuan explained to Longji why he had let Hong Jin meet his fate, then took her to watch a battle over a spirit treasure on the Eastern Sea Coast. The fight between Jie Sect immortals and Chan Sect Golden Immortals escalated as the treasure neared its birth.

• Hongxuan told Longji that Jie Sect disciples had their own fates and that Hong Jin’s death had fulfilled a karmic connection.
• Longji asked whether she had other karmic ties, and Hongxuan told her to prepare and wait for the right time.
• Hongxuan concealed their auras and carried Longji eastward to witness a great spectacle.
• On the Eastern Sea Coast, Cihang, Puxian, and Manjusri confronted Immortal Chang'er Dingguang, Immortal Jinguang, Immortal Lingya, and Qiu Shou Xian over a rare embryonic spirit treasure.
• The two sides exchanged accusations and began fighting in earnest as the tribulation aura stirred their hostility.

As the spiritual treasure neared completion, Cihang subdued Immortal Jinguang with a Beast Taming Ring and declared that he would make him a mount. Manjushri and Puxian prepared to capture Immortal Lingya and Qiu Shou Xian as mounts too, while Immortal Chang'er Dingguang continued coveting the treasure from the edge of the battle.

• Immortal Chang'er Dingguang avoided fighting at full strength and focused on the spiritual treasure, hoping the other combatants would kill one another and leave him a chance to claim it.
• Cihang trapped Immortal Jinguang with a ring-shaped magical treasure and forced him to reveal his Golden Roar true form.
• Cihang announced that Immortal Jinguang would become his mount and called on Manjushri and Puxian to act.
• Manjushri and Puxian took out their own rings to capture Immortal Lingya and Qiu Shou Xian, who realized they were about to suffer the same humiliation as Immortal Jinguang.

Qiu Shou Xian and Immortal Lingya self-destructed rather than become mounts, killing Manjusri and Puxian in the blasts. Cihang turned his fury on the wounded Immortal Chang'er Dingguang, who insisted he had no part in the deaths, leaving their conflict on the brink of violence.

• Qiu Shou Xian attacked Manjusri and self-destructed, killing them both as their True Spirit fragments flew toward the Investiture of the Gods.
• Immortal Lingya seized Puxian and self-destructed, killing them both.
• Cihang blamed the Jie Sect disciples for his Dao companions' deaths and set his sights on Immortal Chang'er Dingguang.
• Immortal Chang'er Dingguang denied responsibility and urged Cihang to stop, but Cihang declared their hatred irreconcilable.

Cihang attacked the wounded Immortal Chang'er Dingguang while Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and Lord Tongtian reacted to the deaths and humiliation involving their disciples. Grand Pure Laozi set out for the Eastern Sea to prevent his junior brothers from fighting, as Lord Tongtian learned that Immortal Jinguang had become a Chan Sect disciple’s mount.

• Cihang, enraged, charged at the heavily injured Immortal Chang'er Dingguang to kill him.
• Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning learned that Manjushri and Puxian had died and been listed, then left Mount Kunlun for the Eastern Sea Coast.
• The great powers of the Primordial Wilderness deduced that Manjushri and Puxian had died alongside Jie Sect disciples and that Cihang had taken Immortal Jinguang as his mount.
• Grand Pure Laozi understood what had happened, left the Eight Scenery Palace, and headed for the Eastern Sea Coast to prevent a clash between his junior brothers.
• Lord Tongtian learned that two of his Seven Attendant Immortals had perished and that Immortal Jinguang had become a Chan Sect disciple’s mount, and he condemned the attendants for ignoring his warning.

Lord Tongtian intervened when Yuanshi tried to kill Immortal Chang'er Dingguang, and the Three Purities’ remaining brotherly pretense collapsed as Tongtian accused Laozi and Yuanshi of conspiring with the Two Sages of the West against him. The confrontation left Tongtian protecting Chang'er Dingguang while Yuanshi removed Cihang and Golden Roar from his reach.

• Lord Tongtian arrived at the Eastern Sea Coast with Laozi and Yuanshi and stopped Yuanshi from killing Immortal Chang'er Dingguang.
• Lord Tongtian argued that Chan Sect disciples had brought their deaths upon themselves by coveting spiritual treasures and humiliating Jie Sect disciples as mounts.
• Laozi urged Lord Tongtian to accept Yuanshi's losses, but Tongtian rejected his appeal and condemned the supposed brotherhood of the Three Purities.
• Lord Tongtian accused Laozi and Yuanshi of conspiring with the Two Sages of the West to attack him during the Great Tribulation.
• Yuanshi sent Cihang and Golden Roar to Kunlun Mountain, while Lord Tongtian returned Immortal Chang'er Dingguang to Golden Ao Island.

After the clash between the Chan Sect and Jie Sect, Yuanshi and Lord Tongtian fought in the chaos, where the Chaos Bell’s appearance further widened the rift among the Three Purities. Hongxuan and Longji entered a Human Race city, while the other factions began considering how to exploit the Three Purities’ division.

• Cihang took the spiritual treasure as it finished gestating, while Manjushri, Puxian, Immortal Jinguang, Immortal Lingya, and Qiu Shou Xian died and were listed on the Investiture.
• Yuanshi challenged Lord Tongtian to a fight in the chaos, and Lord Tongtian followed him there.
• Lord Tongtian brought out the Chaos Bell, astonishing Yuanshi and Laozi, and accused Yuanshi of treating their brotherhood as a joke.
• The powers of the Primordial Wilderness welcomed the Three Purities’ split, and the Two Sages of the West planned to spread their teachings eastward.
• Hongxuan and Longji entered a Human Race city, and Hongxuan judged the Chan and Jie disciples involved to be disloyal.

Hongxuan reflected on the fates of Immortal Chang'er Dingguang and Cihang before explaining to Longji how the Investiture Great Tribulation had corrupted King Zhou and driven events in the Shang Dynasty. He left the story aware that Zhao Gongming had entered the tribulation despite his warnings, putting the Three Xiao Sisters at risk.

• Hongxuan resolved to use the Investiture Great Tribulation to turn the disloyal Jie Sect disciples Shiji, Immortal Lingya, and Qiu Shou Xian against their enemies, while continuing to plot against Immortal Chang'er Dingguang.
• Hongxuan noted that Cihang had survived and gained a Grand Luo Golden Immortal-level mount and a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
• As Hongxuan traveled through the Shang Dynasty with Longji, she questioned why they should help a kingdom ruled by the cruel King Zhou.
• Hongxuan told Longji that King Zhou had once been wise but had been corrupted by the tribulation's baleful aura and a Sage's schemes.
• Hongxuan learned that Shen Gongbao had persuaded Zhao Gongming to enter the tribulation, despite Hongxuan's warnings, placing the Three Xiao Sisters in danger.

Hongxuan prepared to draw the Western Sect into the conflict and watched as Zhao Gongming entered the great tribulation despite his warning. When Lu Ya’s Seven Arrows Book with Nailhead left Zhao Gongming unconscious and near death, Hongxuan decided to save him without acting personally and to punish those responsible.

• Hongxuan warned the Three Xiao Sisters to prepare to enter the tribulation and decided to begin the next stage of his plan by involving the Western Sect.
• As the Chan Sect and Jie Sect clashed on the Shang-Zhou Battlefield, Shen Gongbao persuaded Zhao Gongming to join the fighting.
• Zhao Gongming defeated Western Qi’s forces with the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, while Daoist Randeng grew greedy for the treasure and Lu Ya plotted against him.
• Lu Ya used the Seven Arrows Book with Nailhead, leaving Zhao Gongming unconscious in Wen Zhong’s camp and in mortal danger.
• Hongxuan decided to save Zhao Gongming through another method so he would not disrupt Zhao Gongming’s chance to escape the tribulation, and he resolved not to spare Lu Ya.

Hongxuan planned to use Lu Ya’s attempt to murder Zhao Gongming to test Nüwa’s intentions and set a trap for Lu Ya. Under the influence of tribulation qi and Hongxuan’s scheme, Lu Ya followed a perceived opportunity to an immortal mountain, unaware that he was walking into danger.

• Hongxuan decided to make Lu Ya suffer the Seven Arrows Book with Nailhead and use the scheme to gauge Nüwa’s stance.
• Lu Ya monitored Zhao Gongming’s condition and confirmed that the Seven Arrows Book with Nailhead was progressing as planned.
• After returning to his mountain retreat, Lu Ya sensed a fated opportunity and hurried toward it without noticing the tribulation qi’s influence.
• Lu Ya arrived at an immortal mountain, ignored its smaller sects, and flew toward the highest peak, wondering whether his opportunity was there.

Lu Ya entered a secret realm after slaughtering everyone in the mountain range, hoping to claim an opportunity. A mysterious spirit treasure trapped him in an inescapable formation, and he realized Jiang Ziya was cursing him with power like the Seven Arrows Book with Nailhead.

• Lu Ya killed every living being in the mountain range to keep his discovery secret.
• Lu Ya found a hidden opening in a cliff and entered a secret realm filled with spiritual energy.
• Lu Ya absorbed a mysterious spirit treasure, which forced him into enlightenment as the secret realm's formation sealed its entrance.
• Lu Ya failed to expel the treasure and sensed its curse growing stronger each day.
• Lu Ya realized Jiang Ziya was cursing him with power identical to the Seven Arrows Book with Nailhead.

Lu Ya died after becoming trapped in a secret realm, and Hongxuan realized his plan had succeeded. Hongxuan then warned Longji that she would soon face a life-and-death crisis.

• Lu Ya failed to escape the secret realm as his essence, energy, and spirit were drained, and he eventually died, leaving only his True Spirit to fly toward the Investiture of the Gods.
• The secret realm and its guarding formation collapsed after Lu Ya’s True Spirit departed.
• Hongxuan sensed that his arrangement had been triggered and reflected that Lu Ya had fallen into his trap before the later stages of his plan could be used.
• Longji asked what had happened, and Hongxuan told her that Lu Ya had perished; Longji said his death repaid the Golden Crows’ past crimes.
• Hongxuan told Longji that she would soon face a life-and-death crisis and urged her not to let down her guard.

The Three Xiao Sisters arrived at the Shang-Zhou Battlefield and learned that Zhao Gongming had survived the Chan Sect’s curse, thanks to Hongxuan’s protection and healing talisman. After sending him away to recover, they prepared to enter the tribulation by setting up the Nine Twists Yellow River Formation, while Nüwa sensed a sudden icy aura during her seclusion.

• Hongxuan noticed that the Three Xiao Sisters had entered the tribulation and anticipated a fiercer conflict between the Chan Sect and Jie Sect.
• Yunxiao, Qiong Xiao, and Bixiao met Wen Zhong and asked about their brother Zhao Gongming.
• Yunxiao used Hongxuan’s jade talisman to purify the curse qi in Zhao Gongming, who then woke and learned what had happened.
• Yunxiao sent Zhao Gongming back to Mount Luofu to recover, assuring Qiong Xiao that he would not be ambushed safely.
• The Three Xiao Sisters asked Wen Zhong for soldiers and prepared to set up the Nine Twists Yellow River Formation before the battle lines.
• Nüwa opened her eyes after an icy aura suddenly erupted around her as she cultivated in Wa Imperial Palace.

Nüwa investigated Lu Ya’s death and traced it to a plot that turned Jiang Ziya’s curse back on Lu Ya. Hongxuan arranged for Zhao Gongming to travel alone so Randeng would reveal himself, setting up a chance to reclaim the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls.

• Nüwa discovered that Lu Ya had died from the Seven Arrows Book with Nailhead after someone reversed the curse’s target and trapped him.
• Nüwa reasoned that the culprit was likely connected to the Jie Sect and wondered whether it was a disciple of Lord Tongtian.
• Zhao Gongming left Wen Zhong’s camp for Mount Luofu and encountered Randeng and several others blocking his path.
• Zhao Gongming accused Randeng of using despicable means to steal his Sea-Stabilizing Pearls.
• Hongxuan had secretly arranged for Zhao Gongming to travel without the Three Xiao Sisters so Randeng could be lured out and the pearls reclaimed.

Hongxuan arrived as Randeng, Cihang, and Juliusun prepared to kill the wounded Zhao Gongming, protecting him with a golden barrier that reflected their attacks. He revealed himself to the injured Chan Sect disciples and condemned their conduct.

• Randeng, Cihang, and Juliusun discussed sending Zhao Gongming onto the Investiture of the Gods to settle their grievances and avenge Lu Ya.
• Daoist Huanglong attacked Zhao Gongming, who taunted him about his low standing in the Chan Sect and nearly defeated him.
• Randeng urged Cihang and Juliusun to join him in killing Zhao Gongming, while Cihang charged alongside Golden Roar.
• A golden light shielded Zhao Gongming and reflected the three attackers' strikes, sending them flying and leaving them injured.
• Hongxuan appeared and mocked the Chan Sect disciples for trying to kill a Jie Sect member.

Hongxuan defeated Daoist Randeng, reclaimed the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, and freed Immortal Jinguang from the Beast Taming Ring. He stopped Zhao Gongming from killing Daoist Huanglong and let Immortal Elder of the South Pole take the Chan Sect disciples away.

• Hongxuan erased Randeng's imprint from the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, took them, and warned Randeng to stay silent.
• Hongxuan freed Immortal Jinguang from the Beast Taming Ring, and Immortal Jinguang thanked him.
• Hongxuan stopped Zhao Gongming from killing Daoist Huanglong and returned the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls to Zhao Gongming.
• Immortal Jinguang urged Hongxuan to kill the Chan Sect disciples, but Immortal Elder of the South Pole arrived and asked him to spare them.
• Hongxuan agreed to Immortal Elder of the South Pole's request, and the latter led the Chan Sect disciples away.

Hongxuan escorted Zhao Gongming back to Luofu Cave after rescuing him from the Chan Sect, while the South Pole Immortal warned his allies not to challenge Hongxuan. Zhao Gongming reflected on his arrogance and, after Hongxuan explained the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls’ true potential, realized how they could help him reach the Quasi-Sage realm.

• The South Pole Immortal advised Randeng and Cihang to avoid Hongxuan and leave dealing with him to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning.
• Hongxuan escorted Zhao Gongming back to Luofu Cave, where Zhao thanked him for saving his life.
• Zhao Gongming admitted that arrogance had blinded him to the Chan Sect’s schemes and offered Hongxuan his twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls.
• Hongxuan declined the pearls and explained that Zhao could transform them into twenty-four heavens or cave-heaven worlds to aid his cultivation.
• Zhao Gongming understood the pearls’ purpose and thanked Hongxuan for guiding him toward a breakthrough.

Hongxuan watched the Three Xiao Sisters fight on the Shang-Zhou Battlefield and investigated Cihang’s extraordinary providence after he killed Immortal Jinguang. He chose not to interfere with Cihang, wary of the dangers of manipulating Destiny.

• Zhao Gongming thanked Hongxuan for saving him and hurried to protect the Three Xiao Sisters, blaming himself for their danger.
• Hongxuan teleported to the Shang-Zhou Battlefield and watched from concealment, hoping to keep the Sages out of the conflict until the Western Sect became more involved.
• The Three Xiao Sisters routed the Chan Sect disciples with their formation, while Hongxuan lamented that Immortal Jinguang had charged at Cihang and been killed.
• Hongxuan used the Grand Destiny Art, the Grand Karma Art, and the Grand Deduction Art to confirm that providence protected Cihang openly and secretly.
• Hongxuan decided not to kill Cihang and resolved to use Destiny mainly for deduction and other auxiliary purposes to avoid backlash.

Lord Tongtian confronted Yuanshi over his plan to attack the Three Xiao Sisters after they trapped the Chan Sect disciples in the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation. Lord Tongtian arrived in time to block Yuanshi’s deadly strike, and their clash shook the Primordial Continent.

• Lord Tongtian and Yuanshi argued in the chaos over the Jie Sect’s disciples and whether all beings were equal.
• Yuanshi rushed toward the Primordial Wilderness after learning that Yunxiao had trapped Chan Sect disciples, and Lord Tongtian pursued him.
• Yuanshi shattered the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation, freeing the Chan Sect immortals after it stripped away their cultivation.
• Yuanshi attacked the Three Xiao Sisters, but Lord Tongtian arrived and stood between them.
• Lord Tongtian and Yuanshi exchanged a powerful strike whose aftershocks shook the Primordial Continent.

Laozi interrupted Lord Tongtian and Yuanshi’s battle, but Lord Tongtian rejected his intervention and accused him of hypocrisy and favoritism. Yuanshi abandoned his attempt to kill the Three Xiao Sisters, and Lord Tongtian teleported them away while Yuanshi began plotting against the Jie Sect’s other disciples.

• Laozi arrived and used his Sage power to separate Lord Tongtian and Yuanshi before their clash could further damage the Primordial Wilderness.
• Lord Tongtian refused to answer Laozi’s reproach, condemned his bias toward Yuanshi, and challenged Yuanshi to continue fighting in the chaos.
• Lord Tongtian told Yunxiao, Qiong Xiao, and Bixiao to return to their cave abode and avoid getting too involved in their fellow Jie Sect disciples’ affairs.
• Lord Tongtian warned Yuanshi that he would retaliate against the Chan Sect disciples if Yuanshi harmed the Three Xiao Sisters, and Laozi declined to intervene.
• Yuanshi watched Lord Tongtian teleport the Three Xiao Sisters away and resolved to target Duobao, Hongxuan, or other Jie Sect disciples later.

Hongxuan rescued the Three Xiao Sisters from the aftermath of Lord Tongtian and Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning’s clash, then brought them to the Netherworld Underworld for safety. Sage Nüwa realized that Hongxuan’s Sub-Sage cultivation connected him to Lu Ya’s death.

• Hongxuan checked that Yunxiao, Qiong Xiao, and Bixiao were safe and urged them to leave the great tribulation by staying in the Netherworld Underworld.
• Yunxiao agreed, and Hongxuan confirmed that the Three Xiao Sisters’ death aura had vanished before transporting them from Three Immortals Island to the Netherworld Underworld.
• Yunxiao, Qiong Xiao, and Bixiao were astonished by Hongxuan’s power and asked whether he had become a Sage, but Hongxuan denied it.
• Hongxuan led the Three Xiao Sisters toward Houtu so he could inform her of what had happened.
• Sage Nüwa watched from the void and concluded that Hongxuan, a Jie Sect disciple in the Sub-Sage realm, was connected to Lu Ya’s death.