Recaps

The eldest princess learned that the Ghost King army's commanders had visited Buddhist temples and that the Hong Household might still be trustworthy despite being affected by the Buddhist light. She headed to Great Azure Mountain to meet Hong Lie and his father, who were waiting to see whether the emperor would respond before the other deputy commanders made a move.

• Tian Heng told the eldest princess that Lan Shang had become commander of the Ghost King army and that the commanders had visited Buddhist temples.
• Tian Heng identified the Hong Household as the most reliable deputy commanders, though they too had visited the temples and might have been affected by the Buddhist light.
• The eldest princess decided to go to Great Azure Mountain and warned Tian Heng to watch out for the King of Qin.
• Hong Lie asked his father why they were on Great Azure Mountain, and his father explained that the other deputy commanders might attack them.
• Hong Lie's father said they would wait for His Majesty to react, since the other commanders might learn that the Thousand-Faced Fox was no longer on the mountain.

With Jiangnan weakened by the Buddha light and its enemies, A Li considered attacking Lan Shang, but Wei Gongcheng and Shen Er warned that she was still vulnerable. Shen Er revealed that the Grand Princess had arrived at Great Azure Mountain, and Wei Gongcheng was urged to meet her; there, she questioned the Hong father and son about the Buddha light.

• A Li proposed using her memory-altering ability to take down Lan Shang, but Wei Gongcheng refused because she had not recovered and might be bait for a trap.
• Shen Er arrived and warned that A Li's death would restore the dangerous woman's memories, while also admitting he could not recover without Master.
• Shen Er reported that the Grand Princess had passed through Nanming City and gone to Great Azure Mountain, prompting him to urge Wei Gongcheng to meet her and seek her help.
• The Grand Princess reached Great Azure Mountain and cautiously verified the Hong father and son were genuine before demanding to know what the Buddha light contained.

The Hong family head revealed that Buddhist light had awakened memories of nine past lives, including one as a Yaksha demon, and that his demonic bloodline and abilities were returning. The eldest princess reassured him of her trust, but the King of Qin appeared and interrupted them.

• The Hong family head told the eldest princess that Buddhist light had awakened memories of his past lives, and Hong Lie realized that his father's identity and loyalties might have changed.
• The Hong family head explained that he had lived nine past lives, including one as a Yaksha great general and man-eating demon, and insisted that he remained loyal to humanity.
• The eldest princess noticed the Hong family head's demonic scent, and Hong Lie saw scales covering his father's body.
• The Hong family head pleaded for the eldest princess to believe his loyalty, and she comforted him and affirmed her trust.
• The King of Qin arrived, startling Hong Lie and the others.

The King of Qin met the Hong Household Head and the eldest princess, offering to cooperate against the Buddha Kingdom and naming the Daoist School as his strength. Meanwhile, Wei Gongcheng inferred that the King of Qin had entered Great Azure Mountain and warned Wei Gongzhan that he might be targeting undefended Jiangnan.

• The Hong Household Head paid obeisance to the King of Qin, who reflected on their past disagreement and acknowledged why the Hong Household Head had opposed him.
• The King of Qin told the eldest princess he wanted to cooperate with her and her allies against the Buddha Kingdom, arguing that humans and demons had to coexist.
• The eldest princess challenged the King of Qin to explain what he could offer, and he answered, "The Daoist School."
• Wei Gongcheng brought Wei Gongzhan along to meet the eldest princess and praised his younger cousin's abilities.
• Wei Gongcheng tested Wei Gongzhan's judgment, and Wei Gongzhan concluded that the King of Qin might be the powerful intruder at Great Azure Mountain.
• Wei Gongcheng said the King of Qin would likely exploit Jiangnan's undefended interior and revealed that the soldiers Lord Ziyue had taken were in the King of Qin's hands.

At the pass, Tian Heng allowed the Grand Princess to proceed to Great Azure Mountain, while Lan Shang returned. The King of Qin met with Wei Gongcheng and explained how the Buddha Kingdom used dreams and fabricated past lives to tempt soldiers, leaving Wei to grasp the danger to the imperial army.

• Yan Lei questioned whether Tian Heng should let the Grand Princess enter Jiangnan, and Tian Heng said he could not stop her and hoped she might help counter the Buddha light.
• A captain reported that Lan Shang had returned, and Tian Heng went to see him.
• Wei Gongcheng arrived and met the Grand Princess and the King of Qin, who proposed a temporary cooperation.
• The King of Qin warned Wei that the imperial army's generals were being tempted by the Buddha light and could sway their troops into joining the Buddha Kingdom.
• Wei asked how the Buddha Kingdom could influence ordinary soldiers, and the King of Qin explained that its dreams could mix real and fabricated past lives.
• Wei realized the promise of a heroic past life could exploit frustrated soldiers' desires and potentially sway most of the imperial army within days.

Tian Heng and Lan Shang each suspected the other of disloyalty after learning that the Eldest Princess had returned, and both prepared to seize control of the army. Lan Shang decided to act that night, planning to break through the pass and head north with the Heavenly Python.

• Tian Heng noticed Lan Shang's wariness when he mentioned the Eldest Princess and concluded that Lan Shang might rebel before she returned.
• Tian Heng told Lan Shang that the Eldest Princess was coming to bring the army back to the capital, while privately ordering his troops to prepare for a possible attack.
• Tian Heng explained to his deputy general that he intended to use Lan Shang's move as justification to take control of the imperial army and claim half its troops.
• Lan Shang and his deputy general agreed to advance their plan, seize the army, break through Cheng Pass with the Heavenly Python, and head north that night.

Lan Shang used the soldiers’ shared dreams to rally them against Tian Heng, while Tian Heng hesitated to act. By the time Wei Gongcheng reached the border, Lan Shang had ordered his troops to break out.

• Tian Heng watched the Buddhist light and delayed attacking Lan Shang’s camp despite his deputy’s urging.
• Lan Shang judged that the shared dreams alone would not convince the soldiers, so he decided to use the threat of Tian Heng’s army to unite them.
• Lan Shang’s deputies roused the soldiers and spread word that Tian Heng’s forces were surrounding them.
• Lan Shang told the soldiers that their past lives made them heaven’s chosen and urged them to fight for survival, winning enough support to form up the troops.
• Lan Shang ordered Lan Shan to lead five thousand Flying Dragon riders and Hou Lie to lead five thousand sharpshooters as the army prepared to break out.
• Wei Gongcheng reached the border through the Underworld temple and realized the worst outcome had already begun.

Wei Gongcheng and Wei Gongzhan rushed to the pass after learning that Tian Heng had taken the West Sea Army to suppress the imperial troops. Tian Heng revealed his plan to capture Lan Shang and force the Ghost King Army to surrender, but the confrontation remained poised to erupt.

• Wei Gongcheng learned that Tian Heng had led troops against the imperial army, and he and Wei Gongzhan hurried to the pass.
• Wei Gongcheng refused to bring the eldest princess or the King of Qin into the Underworld, fearing the King of Qin's power to replace people and endanger Jiangnan's foundation.
• Wei Gongcheng and Wei Gongzhan reached the pass and found the two armies facing each other.
• Tian Heng explained that he planned to expose Lan Shang's claim that Jiangnan threatened the imperial army, then seize Lan Shang and make the Ghost King Army surrender.
• Tian Heng said he had not previously been confident of capturing Lan Shang but could try now, as sword intent flashed in his eyes.

Tian Heng departed with an unfamiliar sword power, while the King of Qin froze Wei Gongcheng to keep their plan secret. The King of Qin and the eldest princess decided to wait and let Lan Shang test Tian Heng, and Wei Gongzhan woke in an unknown black-and-white space beside Wang Ye.

• Tian Heng assured Wei Gongcheng of his confidence and left to carry out their plan.
• The King of Qin used Flying Star to reach Wei Gongcheng, froze him, and killed him before he could alert the Shen Family.
• The King of Qin and the eldest princess discussed Tian Heng’s newly revealed power and agreed to let Lan Shang test him.
• Wei Gongzhan woke in an unfamiliar black-and-white space and recognized the man beside him as Wang Ye.

Tian Heng confronted Lan Shang after the imperial army’s attempt to break through Jiangnan’s defenses failed, but Lan Shang rejected his offer of a peaceful surrender and sought control of the imperial troops. The armies began their battle, with Lan Shang and Tian Heng leading their forces toward a direct clash.

• Tian Heng reminded Lan Shang that Jiangnan had sheltered and provisioned the imperial soldiers, while Lan Shang accused him of plotting against them and demanded safe passage.
• Tian Heng offered to spare the imperial army if it returned to camp and waited for the Eldest Princess, but Lan Shang convinced his troops that the offer was a trap.
• Lan Shang ordered the imperial army to form its battle formation, and Tian Heng answered by raising the West Sea Army’s formation.
• Lan Shang led the Flying Dragon Cavalry into a charge, while Tian Heng personally advanced with powerful guards whose strength surprised Lan Shang.

Lan Shang overpowered Tian Heng in their first clash, but Tian Heng revealed he had been holding back a dangerous power. The Grand Princess and the King of Qin recognized its arrival as the confrontation shifted.

• Lan Shang and Tian Heng clashed in personal combat, each seeking to end the battle quickly and limit casualties.
• Lan Shang shattered Tian Heng’s halberd and killed his warhorse with one strike, sending Tian Heng tumbling across the ground.
• Lan Shang mocked Tian Heng and believed he had the chance to kill him, while Tian Heng realized Lan Shang’s skill far exceeded his own.
• Tian Heng warned Lan Shang that he had lost his only chance to kill him and admitted he had been careless in trying to fight without using his power.
• Tian Heng’s presence changed and filled Lan Shang with an unfamiliar sense of danger, while the Grand Princess and the King of Qin recognized the power awakening.

Tian Heng unlocked overwhelming sword power and killed Lan Shang, prompting the imperial army to falter and consider returning to barracks. As Tian Heng’s deputy tried to secure their surrender, the eldest princess unexpectedly appeared and praised the speech.

• Lan Shang recognized the sword intent that suddenly surrounded Tian Heng and ordered his forces to retreat, but he could not escape.
• Tian Heng drew his sword and killed Lan Shang with a single strike that neither the eldest princess nor the King of Qin could clearly see.
• The eldest princess and the King of Qin suspected Tian Heng had manifested a Dao Fruit, while the eldest princess approached the battlefield.
• Tian Heng’s deputy urged the imperial troops to return to their barracks and lay down their weapons, and the soldiers began to hesitate.
• The eldest princess called out in approval, startling Tian Heng and the deputy generals with her unexpected arrival.

The Eldest Princess took command of the pass after exposing Tian Heng's weakened state, while concealing her larger plan to buy time for the Daoist School's power. Wang Ye met Wei Gongzhan and reflected on how Chen Qing had arranged for him to disappear from the world's attention while carrying the supercomputer's seed.

• The Eldest Princess revealed that Tian Heng had been set up and used his exhaustion to claim command of the pass and the imperial army.
• The Eldest Princess praised both armies and promised to defend the pass, leaving Tian Heng too weak to refuse her command.
• The King of Qin explained that taking command would let the imperial army defend the city and divert suspicion while the Daoist School prepared its power.
• The King of Qin told the Eldest Princess that Wei Gongcheng's absence would keep the Shen Family occupied and that they only needed a few days before the divine mechanism descended.
• Wang Ye met Wei Gongzhan and said his appearance was part of an arrangement by Wei Gongzhan's mysterious master.
• Wang Ye recalled that Chen Qing had arranged his departure from Data City and his apparent split with Chen Qing so others would overlook him and the supercomputer's seed in his possession.

Nie Xingjun activated the supercomputer to protect his newborn child from becoming like the inhuman ancestors, while Chen Qing reached the capital and explained the path to becoming a Venerable. He revealed that he had brought a new slot, leaving the emperor to learn what it could mean.

• Nie Xingjun told his secretary that the ancestors and other powerful beings saw humans as food, unlike Chen Qing.
• Nie Xingjun activated the supercomputer after deciding he would not let his child inherit that inhuman outlook.
• Chen Qing arrived at the capital and assured the emperor that the revived monsters were unlikely to risk attacking him.
• Chen Qing explained that a Dao Fruit alone could not make someone a Venerable without the necessary talent and hardware support.
• Chen Qing told the emperor that he had brought a new slot.

Chen Qing told the emperor that supercomputers had enabled the nobles to become super life-forms, and asked him to cover for a secret trip to Data City so Chen Qing could try to recreate the process. Elder Liu learned that Chen Qing had evaded the blockade and headed toward the Buddha Kingdom, where the Xiao Household’s emperor made an attack too dangerous to risk.

• Chen Qing explained that super life-forms depended on powerful supercomputers, whose development and use the nobles had secretly controlled.
• Chen Qing told the emperor he had found the necessary hardware but lacked an engineer, then offered to attempt the process himself.
• Chen Qing asked the emperor to conceal his movements while he secretly returned to Data City, warning that the emperor might face increased pressure and that the Grand Princess in Jiangnan was also involved.
• Elder Liu learned that Chen Qing had left no trace despite the blockade and suspected he had changed direction toward the Buddha Kingdom.
• Elder Liu and his grandson considered attacking the Xiao Household, but recognized that its emperor’s fortune made the mission dangerous for anyone short of a Venerable.

The eldest princess and the King of Qin discussed the Buddhas waiting in the black fog and doubted that Chen Qing had run out of plans. In the imperial palace, Chen Qing and Ziyue struggled to recover as the Victorious Fighting Buddha arrived, leaving Chen Qing gravely worried about the emperor’s chances.

• The King of Qin told the eldest princess that awakened Buddhas were hiding in the fog and explained how they fed on outstanding beings across the races.
• The eldest princess worried that Chen Qing had no way back, while the King of Qin guessed he would seek help from her younger brother.
• Chen Qing told the emperor that forbidden techniques had damaged his and Ziyue’s origins, and that they needed the superpower’s activation to recover.
• A powerful aura appeared above the imperial city, alarming Chen Qing and the emperor as the black fog closed around the capital.
• Chen Qing warned the emperor that the newcomer was the Victorious Fighting Buddha, whose power rivaled the Future Buddha’s.

The newly awakened emperor of the human race accepted Sun Xing, the Victorious Fighting Buddha’s, challenge despite his weakened state. Their clash left the emperor seemingly at his limit, but he suddenly unleashed a surge of power that shattered Sun Xing’s arm.

• Sun Xing appeared above the capital and challenged the emperor, prompting Chen Qing to worry about the emperor’s incomplete recovery.
• The emperor answered Sun Xing’s challenge and launched himself into the sky, where the two fighters collided.
• Sun Xing praised the emperor’s command of the Golden Crow Flame but taunted him over his innate deficiency.
• The emperor told Sun Xing to shut up and released a startling burst of power, causing Sun Xing’s arm to crack and then explode.

The Xiao Household's emperor faced Victorious Fighting Buddha again after taking his arm, but the Buddha used his greater battle experience to turn the next exchange against him. The emperor’s body cracked under the returning energy, and Chen Qing feared he was about to lose.

• Elder Liu reconsidered the emperor’s strength after Victorious Fighting Buddha lost an arm to him.
• Victorious Fighting Buddha welcomed a second round and promised the Buddhas would not challenge the emperor if he won.
• The emperor unleashed another powerful punch, but Victorious Fighting Buddha received it without injury and made the emperor’s fist crack.
• Chen Qing realized Victorious Fighting Buddha had used overlapping-wave force to disrupt the emperor’s energy and damage his body.
• The emperor’s skin and meridians began to fail, leading Chen Qing to conclude that he would probably lose.

The emperor fought Victorious Fighting Buddha, who used wave-like force to disrupt the emperor’s Golden Crow power and nearly destroy his meridians. The emperor recovered and resisted, then declared that he and the human race would refuse to accept their fate as the capital began to resonate with him.

• Victorious Fighting Buddha countered the emperor’s second punch with layered, wave-like power that disrupted his Golden Crow energy and damaged his meridians.
• Chen Qing stopped Ao Zhen from intervening and warned her that acting could damage her Dao heart; he realized Victorious Fighting Buddha was trying to obtain her Dao Fruit of the Sword.
• The emperor recovered, unleashed his power again, and forced Victorious Fighting Buddha to retreat with a force-dissipating technique, dislocating his arm.
• The emperor told Victorious Fighting Buddha he had adapted to the waves of force and used them to calm his meridians.
• The emperor rejected Victorious Fighting Buddha’s claim that the strong could exploit the weak and declared that he and the human race would not accept their fate.
• The capital trembled as heaven and earth resonated with the emperor, while Victorious Fighting Buddha saw something bulging beneath the ground and heard dragons roaring.

The Xiao Household's emperor drew on the Dragon Vein's fortune to overpower Victorious Fighting Buddha, but both sides believed the Buddha could still win by exploiting the emperor's inexperience. As the battle threatened to reshape the balance of power, a familiar voice called for it to stop, and Chen Qing concluded that the Buddha Lord still did not dare gamble.

• Victorious Fighting Buddha recognized that the emperor had merged with the continent's Dragon Vein and gained its fortune.
• The emperor's power overwhelmed Victorious Fighting Buddha, but the Buddha remained confident he could exploit the emperor's poor control of it.
• Chen Qing restrained Ao Zhen and agreed she should attack if the emperor fell, while the watching Buddhas feared Victorious Fighting Buddha would lose.
• A familiar voice called for the battle to stop, and Chen Qing smiled, believing the Buddha Lord still did not dare gamble.

Chen Qing and the emperor survived Elder Liu’s refusal to risk Victorious Fighting Buddha, but Elder Liu warned that the emperor could not keep guarding the royal city forever. Seeing that their plan had worked despite Data City’s surveillance, Chen Qing concluded that someone was secretly directing events and was still alive.

• Chen Qing explained that Elder Liu would not risk losing Victorious Fighting Buddha, and Elder Liu refused to let him fight the emperor.
• Victorious Fighting Buddha withdrew, and Elder Liu warned Chen Qing that the emperor’s strength would eventually run out.
• Chen Qing admitted he had a plan that might fail under normal circumstances, then revealed that hidden superphone access had been activated without Elder Liu noticing.
• Chen Qing concluded that a living person was controlling the World Will’s actions.

Wang Ye told Tian Heng that Wei Gongcheng had tried to mislead the Grand Princess and King of Qin, but his fate was uncertain, and hinted that his experiment might reveal a major enemy in the coming ancient era. Meanwhile, the Grand Princess and King of Qin argued over whether to remain at the pass until the Daoist School contacted them, before an unexpectedly powerful woman appeared and startled them both.

• Wang Ye told Tian Heng that Wei Gongcheng had appeared to mislead the Grand Princess and King of Qin, but something may have gone wrong.
• Wang Ye said his conjecture and experiment concerned a top-tier power that could become their most pressing enemy in the coming ancient era.
• The Grand Princess complained that the Daoist School had not contacted them after three days, while the King of Qin urged her not to risk taking her troops beyond the pass.
• The King of Qin argued that he and Chen Qing opposed one another over ideals but would not destroy each other, unlike the ancient beings outside.
• A woman approached the Grand Princess and King of Qin without being detected, and the King of Qin recognized something about her face.

Yunyue explained that Ziyue had used the Daoist technique Severing the Three Corpses, which split her into a Good Corpse, an Evil Corpse, and a true self who reincarnated. She warned that Hongyue, the Evil Corpse, had gone to find Ziyue, and another Yunyue appeared before Chen Qing and the emperor in the capital.

• Yunyue introduced herself to the Eldest Princess and King of Qin, and King of Qin identified her as part of the Severing the Three Corpses technique.
• Yunyue explained that the technique created Good and Evil Corpses while the true self reincarnated, and that the three could eventually become experts of equal strength.
• The Eldest Princess asked Yunyue to teach the technique, but Yunyue said Great Jin could not risk either the princess or the emperor reincarnating.
• Yunyue revealed that the Evil Corpse, Hongyue, had gone to find Ziyue and might upset the balance by devouring her.
• After Chen Qing and the emperor returned to the imperial palace, they met a woman who introduced herself as Yunyue.

After learning how factions on the Yin-Yang Road managed reincarnation, Chen Qing reconsidered Elder Liu’s account and concluded that the events surrounding Ziyue had not all been part of one precise plan. He identified the captain of the guard as a likely Daoist School operative and challenged Yunyue about her identity and the school’s leader.

• Chen Qing learned that the Ghost Kings and Ghost Venerables controlled competing routes to Samsara, making safe reincarnation risky and difficult to conceal.
• Chen Qing suspected that Elder Liu had initially reincarnated copied designers to disrupt the deadlock, then exploited the results to target the master of the Demon Domain.
• Chen Qing inferred that Ziyue’s role may have been prepared in advance and that the captain of the guard had helped create and raise her future Symbiosis partner.
• Chen Qing asked Yunyue whether the captain of the guard had served the Daoist School, and Yunyue praised his deduction.
• Yunyue claimed that the evil corpse was out of control and that she needed to reunite with Ziyue, but Ziyue stepped behind the emperor as Chen Qing questioned Yunyue about the Daoist School’s leader and whether she was truly the good corpse.

Yunyue revealed the Daoist School’s support for the emperor and demonstrated her authority over the Dragon Vein, while Ziyue remained unsure whether she was truly her good corpse. Chen Qing suspected Pu Yunchuan controlled the Daoist School, as Elder Liu prepared to act and the chapter ended with Chen Qing warning Ziyue not to trust Yunyue.

• Ziyue questioned whether she was the reincarnation of Heavenly Venerable Ziwei, and Yunyue said the Daoist School had sent her into Samsara at great cost but did not know what happened to her there.
• Yunyue revealed a mark that resonated with the Dragon Vein and explained that the Daoist School could control certain innate Dao Fruits; she declared the school an ally of the world and the emperor.
• The emperor accepted Yunyue as an envoy after she caused spiritual energy to flood the capital, and Ziyue became less guarded toward her.
• The Victorious Fighting Buddha told Elder Liu that the Daoist School had withdrawn from the previous era’s struggle, and Elder Liu ordered the Future Buddha awakened so he could confirm his suspicions.
• Chen Qing told Ziyue that Pu Yunchuan was likely behind the Daoist School, then warned her that Yunyue could not be trusted.