Chapter Summaries

After Kong Wenxuan advanced to the Fifth Tier Nascent Soul Realm, his power helped the Kong Household’s Peacock True Spirit Star break through the Seventh-Grade True Spirit Heaven and begin its trial for the Sixth-Grade. The Kong Household and its subordinate lineages defended Peacock County Seat from the trial’s opening demon assault.

• Kong Wenxuan’s mind, consciousness, Nascent Soul, and Dharma-form power joined the Five-Colored Peacock True Spirits to lift the Peacock True Spirit Star through the firmament into chaos.
• Kong Changgeng, Kong Yushuo, Kong Yuyan, and other Kong Household members took positions around Peacock County Seat, supported by returning fighters and members of subordinate lineages.
• Tens of thousands of Demon Beasts and demonic birds formed Ten Thousand Demons Formations and charged the county seat as the Sixth-Grade Rank Advancement Trial began.
• Kong Changgeng ordered the city-protecting formation activated, and its Five Elements Sword Formation destroyed the attacking formations and killed many Demon Beasts.
• Members of the Yan Household, Ma Household, and Yun Household eagerly charged the scattered survivors to prove their loyalty and seek the Kong Household’s future support.

The Kong Household defended Peacock County Seat against a demon army as Kong Wenxuan used his Peacock Dharma Manifestation and Great Five Elements Primordial Magnetism Sword Formation to counter a Fifth-Tier Seven-Colored Peacock’s illusion attack. The city-protecting formation joined the battle, while Kong Wenxuan faced the peacock’s newly formed seven-colored elemental domain.

• Patriarch Kong Changgeng ordered the Peacock Dao Soldiers to help the Yan, Ma, and Yun Households kill the demons and Demon Beasts left outside Peacock County Seat.
• The demons launched an all-out assault, led by a Fifth-Tier Seven-Colored Peacock that swept the county seat with Seven-Colored Illusion Light.
• Kong Wenxuan sent out his Peacock Dharma Manifestation and used the Great Five Elements Primordial Magnetism Sword Formation to grind away the illusion light, freeing the bewitched defenders.
• Patriarch Kong Changgeng activated the Fifth-Tier Five Elements Grand Formation at full power and ordered the defenders to return to their ranks and attack.
• The Fifth-Tier Seven-Colored Peacock formed a seven-colored elemental domain and sent visions of elemental demons and giant beasts against Kong Wenxuan.

Kong Wenxuan and the Peacock Dharma Manifestation overwhelmed the Fifth-Tier Seven-Colored Peacock demon by combining their domain with the Great Five Elements Primordial Magnetism Sword Formation. When the demon escaped through a spatial rift, Kong Wenxuan teleported out to join the fight and stop it from escaping.

• The Peacock Dharma Manifestation drove the Sword Formation Domain into the demon's domain, whose illusion-born elemental behemoths could not withstand its force.
• The Sword Formation Domain crushed the demon's domain, scattering its elemental constructs and leaving the Seven-Colored Peacock demon exposed.
• The demon unleashed its abilities, treasures, and power borrowed from the Ten Thousand Demons Formation, but the Sword Formation Domain crushed each attack.
• The Seven-Colored Peacock demon tore open space and teleported away after realizing it could not win.
• Kong Wenxuan teleported out of the Peacock County Seat and joined the Peacock Dharma Manifestation in attacking the fleeing demon from all sides.

Kong Wenxuan and his Peacock Dharma Manifestation killed the Fifth-Tier Seven-Colored Peacock Demon during the Peacock True Spirit Star’s ascension trial. After the remaining demons were defeated and the cultivators recovered, a vast martial cultivator army appeared and charged toward the star.

• Kong Wenxuan and his Peacock Dharma Manifestation trapped the fleeing Fifth-Tier Seven-Colored Peacock Demon in their merged Sword Formation Domains and tore it apart.
• The demon’s starlight merged into the Peacock True Spirit Star, accelerating its ascent toward the Sixth-Grade True Spirit Heaven.
• Kong Wenxuan and his manifestation returned to the Peacock County Seat to recover and reflect on their first battle against a Fifth-Tier opponent.
• Kong Wenxuan left the lower-tier demons and Demon Beasts to the Peacock Dao Soldiers, lineage descendants, and servant cultivator teams, who defeated them using the city-protecting formation.
• After the cultivators rested, war drums sounded and a vast martial cultivator army formed in the chaos and charged aboard flying boats and war chariots.

Kong Wenxuan learned that advancing the Peacock True Spirit Star to the Sixth-Grade True Spirit Heaven required the Kong Household to withstand an organized assault by martial cultivators, preparing it for the duties of a Middle-Grade True Spirit Lineage. Armies of the True Martial World then emerged from the chaotic void and attacked from every direction, leaving the trial’s decisive battle underway.

• Kong Wenxuan’s forces defeated the Demon Race and Demon Beasts, advancing the Peacock True Spirit Star halfway through its rank advancement assessment.
• Kong Wenxuan learned that Middle-Grade True Spirit Lineages had to fight on the Outer Heaven Battlefield and that the trial simulated those battles to test whether a lineage could bear that responsibility.
• Organized armies of True Martial World martial cultivators emerged from the chaotic void and attacked from all sides.
• Jumang, Zhurong, Rushou, and Gonggong forces advanced in battle formations, while Houtu forces gathered behind them, poised to strike.

Four True Martial armies attacked the Peacock True Spirit Star, but the Kong Household used its formations and Soul-Bewitching Illusion Techniques to rout them. A fifth army joined the fight and struck the county seat’s defenses as a Fifth-Tier True Lord charged at Kong Wenxuan.

• The Jumang, Zhurong, Rushou, and Gonggong armies attacked the Peacock True Spirit Star, corroding its land as the Five-Colored Peacock True Spirit cried out in pain and anger.
• Kong Changgeng activated the Five Elements Grand Formation, suppressing the damage and using the Five Elements Sword Formation to break the armies’ formations and kill martial cultivators.
• Kong Changgeng and the Kong Household unleashed Five-Colored Peacock illusions, making scattered martial cultivators fall under the Soul-Bewitching Illusion Technique and attack one another.
• The Kong Household, Peacock Dao Soldiers, True Spirit Battle Formations, and Peacock Flying Boats attacked the confused armies, killing many and restoring the Peacock True Spirit Star with their starlight.
• The Houtu army joined the four armies, forming a Five Elements Martial Cultivator Grand Formation whose five-colored giant struck the county seat’s defenses with an axe.
• Kong Wenxuan prepared to act, but a three-headed, six-armed Fifth-Tier martial cultivator True Lord emerged from the chaos and charged at him.

Kong Wenxuan fought a Fifth-Tier martial cultivator True Lord during the Sixth-Grade True Spirit Heaven Rank Advancement Trial, but their matching domains left him unable to gain the upper hand. As the Five Elements Grand Formation protecting Peacock County Seat neared collapse, Kong Wenxuan conceived a dangerous way to break the deadlock.

• The Peacock Dharma Manifestation clashed with the martial cultivator’s Three-Headed Six-Armed True Martial Dharma Manifestation, and neither could overpower the other.
• Kong Wenxuan checked that the Kong Household’s forces were holding off the invading army under the protection of the Five Elements Grand Formation.
• Kong Wenxuan summoned his Five Elements Divine Swords and charged the martial cultivator, but his Fourth-Tier Law Treasures struggled against the enemy’s Fifth-Tier Spirit Treasures.
• Kong Wenxuan and the Peacock Dharma Manifestation fought their opponents for hours without defeating them.
• The Five Elements Grand Formation began to crack under the five-colored giant’s axe, and Kong Wenxuan thought of a dangerous way to break the stalemate.

Kong Wenxuan borrowed the Five Elements Grand Formation to kill the Fifth Tier Three-Headed Six-Armed martial cultivator True Lord, but the tactic left Peacock County Seat devastated and caused catastrophic casualties. With the enemy armies still attacking the survivors, he turned his Sword of the Domain against the Five-Colored Giant and the five martial cultivator armies.

• Kong Wenxuan lured the Fifth Tier Three-Headed Six-Armed martial cultivator True Lord over Peacock County Seat and ordered the formation masters to prepare the Five Elements Grand Formation.
• The Five Elements Grand Formation withdrew its protection from the county seat, allowing the Five-Colored Giant to split the city and Peacock True Spirit Star while killing Fourteenth Uncle Kong Yuyan and many defenders.
• Kong Wenxuan used the Five Elements Grand Formation to trap and attack the True Lord while the Peacock Dharma Manifestation stopped the enemy's True Martial Dharma Manifestation from reaching him.
• Kong Wenxuan's Domain Divine Sword broke through the True Lord's defenses and cleaved him in two, killing him as his unleashed power repaired and strengthened Peacock True Spirit Star.
• Kong Wenxuan turned his Sword of the Domain against the rampaging Five-Colored Giant and the five martial cultivator armies to stop them from slaughtering more survivors.

Kong Wenxuan and the Kong Household defeated the remaining martial cultivator forces in the Rank Advancement Trial, allowing the Peacock True Spirit Star to ascend into the Sixth-Grade True Spirit Heaven. Sixth-Grade True Spirits from nearby and distant lineages welcomed the Kong Household’s arrival.

• Kong Wenxuan destroyed the Five Elements True Martial Grand Formation and used his illusion technique to rout the remaining martial cultivator armies.
• The surviving enemies were slain, and their starlight raised the Peacock True Spirit Star to the brink of ascending.
• The Peacock Dharma Manifestation destroyed the weakened Three-Headed Six-Armed True Martial Dharma Manifestation.
• Kong Wenxuan’s Nascent Soul power and the gathered starlight carried the Peacock True Spirit Star through the boundary into the Sixth-Grade True Spirit Heaven.
• The Huodou, Dangkang, Zhuyan, Xuanniao, and other Sixth-Grade True Spirits called out to welcome the Kong Household.

Kong Wenxuan and the Kong Household faced a new Sixth-Grade True Spirit Heaven trial as a True Emperor Realm army attacked their Peacock True Spirit Star. A general invoked the Human Emperor’s decree, turning the star’s land into territory infused with Human Dao Destiny and forcing Kong Wenxuan and the others toward submission.

• Kong Wenxuan and the Kong Household continued the Rank Advancement Trial, aiming to raise their newly transformed Peacock True Spirit Star above Lower-Class status.
• The Celestial Stars True Spirit Diagram manifested True Emperor Realm chariots, soldiers, and battle formations advancing on the Peacock True Spirit Star.
• Kong Wenxuan recognized the attackers and recalled that True Emperor Realm cultivators wielded destiny to strengthen themselves, suppress enemies, and alter battlefields.
• A general leading the charge raised his official seal and proclaimed the Human Emperor’s decree that all land and subjects belonged to the king.
• The seal flooded the Peacock True Spirit Star with Human Dao Destiny, distorted its terrain, and pressed Kong Wenxuan and the others to kneel and submit.

Kong Wenxuan used the Peacock True Spirit Star’s new starlight defense to withstand a True Emperor Realm invasion and fight its general. After Kong Wenxuan killed the general, the star advanced from Lower-Class to Middle-Class Sixth-Grade.

• The True Emperor Realm general used an imperial edict to suppress Kong Wenxuan and the Kong Household, but the Peacock True Spirit resisted with Five-Colored Starlight.
• The Peacock True Spirit bestowed starlight defense on Kong Wenxuan, the Kong Household, and their allies.
• Kong Wenxuan and his Peacock Dharma Manifestation trapped the general in their combined Sword Formation Domain, while Kong Changgeng and the others fought the enemy troops.
• After nearly two hours of fighting, Kong Wenxuan killed the general inside the Sword Formation Domain.
• The general’s death released starlight that raised the Peacock True Spirit Star from Lower-Class to Middle-Class Sixth-Grade.

Kong Wenxuan faced the final additional trial, battling a Fifth-Tier sword cultivator whose Body and Sword as One overwhelmed his defenses. He won through a mutual destruction of their sword attacks, advancing the Peacock True Spirit Star to the Sixth-Grade Upper-Class level.

• After defeating the True Emperor Realm forces, Kong Wenxuan restored himself and the surviving Kong Household members before continuing the trial.
• A Fifth-Tier sword cultivator True Lord attacked Kong Wenxuan with Body and Sword as One, shattering his Sword Formation Domain and nearly cutting him down.
• Kong Wenxuan combined his Sword Formation Domains with the Peacock Dharma Manifestation, but the agile sword light repeatedly evaded his attempts to contain it.
• Kong Wenxuan condensed his Sword Formation Domain into a Domain Divine Sword and met the sword cultivator in a series of direct clashes.
• The Domain Divine Sword and the sword cultivator's sword light shattered together; Kong Wenxuan survived severely injured, while the sword cultivator perished and became starlight that advanced the Peacock True Spirit Star to Sixth-Grade Upper-Class.

After the Kong Household survived the Sixth-Grade True Spirit Heaven advancement trial with fewer than one in ten participants remaining, Kong Wenxuan reflected on the cost of their success. His official seal was then upgraded, making him governor of Peacock Commandery and signaling the Kong Household’s rise in status.

• Kong Wenxuan and fewer than five hundred surviving clansmen withdrew from the Peacock True Spirit Star after completing the advancement trial, which had killed more than nine-tenths of its participants.
• Kong Wenxuan concluded that the Lineage would need greater reserves before attempting the more dangerous Fifth-Grade advancement trial.
• The Extended Net Moon Deer True Spirit Star and Vermilion Bird True Spirit Constellation sent starlight into Kong Wenxuan’s official seal, transforming it into the Peacock Commandery Governor’s Official Seal.
• Kong Wenxuan accepted his promotion and thanked the Extended Net Moon Deer Lu Household and Vermilion Bird Zhu Household for their favor.
• The Bifang True Spirit design vanished from the seal, marking the Kong Household’s increased status relative to the Bifang Bi Household.

The Kong Household advanced to a Sixth-Grade True Spirit Lineage, and cultivators from across the prefecture and neighboring regions came to celebrate. Kong Wenxuan’s teaching held Peacock County Seat silent through the night, and he was left receiving thanks from cultivators of every rank.

• The Kong Household’s Peacock True Spirit Star rose to Sixth-Grade True Spirit Heaven, confirming its advancement and drawing congratulations from across the region.
• The Kong Household hosted an advancement celebration, welcoming lineages from nearby commanderies and members of the Lu Household with a feast.
• Kong Wenxuan taught the Dao of the Five Elements, speaking to cultivators and ordinary people throughout Peacock County Seat and its surroundings.
• Kong Wenxuan’s teaching continued until dawn, leaving the city and its creatures silent as listeners absorbed his words.
• Cultivators, including Nascent Soul True Lords from the Bi, Geng, and Lu Households, bowed to Kong Wenxuan and thanked him for his teaching.

Kong Wenxuan observed contests between the Kong Household and established Sixth-Grade True Spirit Lineages to study their combat methods and compare them with the Kong Household’s Five Elements techniques. The Kong descendants won more often than they lost, impressing the other Households as Kong Yushuo’s Golden Core battle continued.

• Kong Wenxuan and other Nascent Soul True Lords watched Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, and Golden Core contests in the Peacock Secret Realm.
• Kong Wenxuan studied the methods of the Kang, Yan, Xuan, and Huo Households while assessing how their abilities matched the Kong Household’s techniques.
• Kong Yushuo used a crimson peacock illusion against a Zhuyan Yan Household Golden Core True Person, but the opponent’s mind-guarding treasure resisted it.
• Kong Yushuo struck down the opponent’s incoming Law Treasure with the Crimson Fire Divine Sword, and their battle continued.
• The Kong descendants won more contests than they lost, while the established Sixth-Grade Households gained respect for the newly advanced Kong Household.

After the Kong Household proved its strength as a newly risen Middle-Grade True Spirit Lineage, True Lord Bi Yanhong invited Kong Wenxuan to join a Vermilion Bird Royal Court operation in the Heavenly Demon Grotto-Heaven. Kong Wenxuan suspected the operation concerned the Phoenix Demon Race and realized it could trigger a decisive battle within half a year.

• True Lord Bi Yanhong congratulated Kong Wenxuan and acknowledged that the Kong Household had demonstrated it could establish itself among the Middle-Grade True Spirit Lineages.
• True Lord Bi Yanhong invited Kong Wenxuan to join a Vermilion Bird Royal Court operation planned for the Heavenly Demon Grotto-Heaven in about half a year, saying it concerned the Phoenix.
• Kong Wenxuan considered the Phoenix’s history and the links between True Spirit Lineages and the Demon Races, and suspected the operation sought Phoenix bloodline inheritance.
• Kong Wenxuan reasoned that other royal courts might pursue the True Dragon and Qilin inheritances as well, potentially drawing the entire True Spirit Realm into a decisive battle.
• Kong Wenxuan realized the Kong Household had only half a year to strengthen itself before the coming conflict.

Kong Wenxuan accepted True Lord Bi Yanhong’s invitation to join the Vermilion Bird Royal Court’s operation, hoping to gain connections and access to the Phoenix bloodline inheritance. The Kong Household’s strong showing at its advancement celebration earned it greater respect and a larger share in the coming division of Extended Net Moon Deer Prefecture’s interests and Heavenly Demon Grotto-Heaven territory.

• Kong Wenxuan accepted True Lord Bi Yanhong’s invitation to join the Vermilion Bird Royal Court’s operation.
• Kong Changgeng and Kong Yushuo won their Golden Core contests, while Kong Yuyan lost to a member of the Xuanniao Xuan Household.
• The Kong Household’s victories impressed the Middle-Grade True Spirit Lineages, replacing their condescension with greater respect.
• The advancement contests helped determine how trade routes, resources, and other interests across Extended Net Moon Deer Prefecture would be divided.
• Kong Wenxuan and the Kong Household gained the chance to lead their own army, claim territory in the Heavenly Demon Grotto-Heaven, and secure Fifth-Tier resources.
• After the celebration, Kong Wenxuan and the patriarch negotiated with the other lineages under the Extended Net Moon Deer Lu Household’s auspices.

The Kong Household held its first bloodline awakening ceremony under the Sixth-Grade Peacock True Spirit Star to strengthen its depleted ranks and meet the demands of its new territories and obligations. Many clansmen awakened their bloodlines, but Kong Wenxuan’s parents showed no sign of awakening, leaving him disappointed.

• The Kong Household recognized that fewer than four thousand bloodline cultivators could not manage its new holdings, defend its lands, and serve on the Outer Heaven Battlefield.
• Kong Changgeng led tens of thousands of ordinary clansmen, including adults and elders whose earlier awakening had failed, in the household’s first ceremony under the Sixth-Grade Peacock True Spirit Star.
• The Peacock True Spirit Star sent Five-Colored Starlight into the gathered clansmen, and many awakened bloodlines as peacock-feather shapes appeared behind them.
• Kong Wenxuan watched his parents, but neither showed signs of awakening, and he sighed in disappointment.

Kong Wenxuan watched nearly a hundred thousand Kong Household members undergo a second bloodline awakening ceremony after the family’s Peacock True Spirit Star reached the sixth-grade Middle-Grade rank. More than ten thousand awakened their bloodlines, while Kong Yushuo killed those who succumbed to Demonic Nature Backlash.

• Kong Wenxuan accepted that his mortal parents had failed to awaken their bloodlines and let go of his regret, then turned his attention to the ceremony.
• Nearly a hundred thousand ordinary Kong Household members took part, and more than ten thousand awakened their bloodlines and condensed Peacock Feather Divine Abilities.
• Fewer than a hundred newly awakened clansmen suffered Demonic Nature Backlash and began turning into Peacock Demon Beasts.
• Kong Yushuo unleashed the Crimson Fire Divine Sword Law Treasure and killed the clansmen suffering backlash to end their agony.