Chapter Summaries

In the Earth Dao Secret Realm, Ming Fang questioned Xu Zheng about whether Bai Yu had concealed the truth behind the sacrifices and the Black Lotus Marks. Xu Zheng defended Bai Yu but began to waver as Ming Fang connected her warnings about the Sea Pavilion to the New Heaven Project’s past actions.

• Xu Zheng and Ming Fang solved another puzzle in the Earth Dao Secret Realm, but Xu Zheng noticed that Ming Fang had been distracted repeatedly.
• Ming Fang asked whether Xu Zheng and Bai Yu were hiding something, and Xu Zheng said they had known nothing about the sacrifices before setting out.
• Ming Fang pointed out that the Black Lotus Marks vanished with their bearers and erased their memories, unlike the marks on captives tied to the Upper Cultivators.
• Ming Fang told Xu Zheng that Bai Yu had warned him not to let compassion disrupt the operation and had stressed the importance of not alerting the Sea Pavilion.
• Ming Fang asked whether Bai Yu’s reference to their efforts meant the Immortal Estate operation or everything the New Heaven Project had done, leaving Xu Zheng visibly uncertain.

Xu Zheng struggled with what Ming Fang had revealed about the Devil Master’s plans, while Chen Yang went to ask Bai Di about the demonic cultivators’ secret arrangements. Bai Di led Chen Yang into the rebuilt Demon Emperor’s Burial Mound, where Chen Yang noticed a coffin that suggested Bai Di had once prepared for death.

• After Xu Zheng and Ming Fang tampered with the formation, Xu Zheng wondered whether the Holy Maiden and the Devil Master were concealing their true purpose in the Five Elements Secret Realms.
• Chen Yang, unable to infer Bai Di’s intentions, arrived at the Demon Emperor’s Burial Mound to ask him directly.
• Bai Di greeted Chen Yang and led him inside the burial mound while the Poison-Extinguishing Demon Venerable and Ghostly Soul Demon Venerable remained outside to keep watch.
• Chen Yang saw that Bai Di had rebuilt the burial mound as a lifeless city centered on a black stone coffin resembling those Wu Chang had made.
• Chen Yang realized Bai Di had prepared the coffin before the Great Competition of Two Daos had decided its victor.

Chen Yang reflected on Bai Di’s role in directing the New Heaven Project and realized that the strain had left her with only a little over thirty years to live. After answering Bai Di’s questions, he asked whether she had any special arrangements for the Yang Clan cultivators in the Immortal Abode Secret Realm.

• Chen Yang recalled how Bai Di and Yang Lingqing had been targeted during the Upper Realm Cultivator Descent and how Bai Di’s survival had enabled the New Heaven Project to proceed efficiently.
• Chen Yang considered the decade of exhausting planning Bai Di had undertaken and concluded that her remaining lifespan was likely only a little over thirty years.
• Chen Yang checked the Yang Clan cultivators in the Immortal Abode Secret Realm through the soul flame and asked Bai Di whether she had made any special arrangements for them.

Bai Di explained why he had spared Bai Yu and showed Chen Yang a childhood painting that revealed their past. He left Chen Yang with the account that Bai Yu had survived only because another descendant had been chosen as Dao Material, before a heavenly calamity interrupted his plans.

• Chen Yang questioned how Bai Di knew what Bai Yu had done after waking from her dream and whether she might have defected to Sea Pavilion True Lord.
• Bai Di brought out three objects and showed Chen Yang a painting of young Bai Yu playing with her parents.
• Bai Di explained that he had once considered Bai Yu as Realm-Breaking Dao Material and had inspected her in a secret realm before she achieved Dao Entry.
• Bai Di said another descendant proved superior as Dao Material, so he spared Bai Yu and planned to refine her into a bloodline dharma treasure later.
• Bai Di said a heavenly calamity arrived just as his cultivation reached a critical juncture.

Chen Yang examined Bai Di’s cultivation manual and discovered that Bai Yu had transformed the Five-Colored Extreme Demon Art into a powerful new technique. Bai Di revealed that Bai Yu revised it only after cultivating the original art, leaving Chen Yang stunned.

• Bai Di gave Chen Yang the Five-Colored Extreme Demon Art and explained that Bai Yu had been taught it after awakening from the descending spell.
• Chen Yang realized the manual’s original incantations let Bai Di read a cultivator’s thoughts, while its handwritten revisions removed that influence.
• Chen Yang found that Bai Yu had named her revised body-and-soul cultivation art the Extreme Demon Ascension Formula.
• Bai Di confirmed that Bai Yu had revised the art herself and revealed she did so only after cultivating its original version.

Chen Yang agreed to let Bai Yu go undercover among the Upper Cultivators and reincarnated True Lords, despite the danger of being suspected by both sides. He and Bai Di began discussing the plan as Bai Di shared what he had learned about the dreams and the Upper Realm’s restrictions.

• Chen Yang decided that Bai Yu’s double-agent mission was risky but feasible, and Bai Di thanked him for his support.
• Chen Yang reasoned that other Canglan cultivators had likely been bewitched by Sea Pavilion True Lord, but the New Heaven Project lacked a safe way to identify them.
• Chen Yang concluded that Bai Yu could infiltrate the enemy and build a hidden intelligence line by earning the trust of the Upper Cultivators and reincarnated True Lords.
• Bai Di told Chen Yang that his review of Bai Yu’s dream suggested Sea Pavilion True Lord’s spells had been cast mainly after the Kunxu Secret Realm calamity.
• Bai Di said the later spells had been planted in advance within the Heaven Sealing Great Formation and carried the shared aura of the Azure Waves Dao Lineage, indicating the three Void Stepping Old Monsters of the Void Realm were responsible.

Chen Yang and Bai Di discussed the suspicious Xuanyuan Clan Radiant Heir and planned to use Bai Yu’s infiltration to trace hidden Reincarnated True Lords and Ascendant Wills. Bai Di revealed that making the plan convincing would require sacrificing nearly all the Demon Soil cultivators sent into the Immortal Abode Secret Realm.

• Chen Yang singled out Xuanyuan Jun, and Bai Di explained that the Xuanyuan Clan had named him its Radiant Heir for his extraordinary talent.
• Chen Yang told Bai Di that the New Heaven cultivators had found no Ascendant Will in the Wood Dao Secret Realm but had noticed a suspicious Xuanyuan Clan cultivator.
• Bai Di reasoned that the cultivator had likely encountered a Reincarnated True Lord and said Bai Yu could use the Secret Realm mission to follow the hidden thread.
• Chen Yang questioned Bai Di’s willingness to sacrifice his young followers, and Bai Di said no one was beyond sacrifice under the New Heaven Grand Plan.
• Bai Di estimated that thirty to sixty percent would die or be injured, and said all but five New Heaven cultivators among the Demon Soil group had to die to launch the Demon Corruption Plan.

Bai Di revealed that he intended to bear the karmic debts of the New Heaven Project and die as a sinner, entrusting his hopes to its descendants. Chen Yang honored his resolve, and the two discussed preparations for Chen Yang's Treading Void Tribulation as events in the Immortal Abode Secret Realm reached their final trial.

• Bai Di told Chen Yang that he would bear the blood debts and karmic sins tied to the struggles between the two Daos and the New Heaven Project, then let his death extinguish their lingering resentment.
• Chen Yang praised Bai Di as someone meant to be the lord of a Dao, and Bai Di explained how he hoped to fuel New Heaven's cause and pass his aspirations to its descendants.
• Chen Yang and Bai Di exchanged formal salutes, then discussed preparations for Chen Yang's ascension and the support other peak cultivators could provide.
• The righteous cultivators reached the core regions of the Five Directions Secret Realm and began the final trial under Chen Huai'an and the other foremost heavenly geniuses.
• The demonic cultivators lurking in the shadows began to make their move.

The Righteous Path defeated the Demonic Dao uprising in the Five Directions Secret Realm after destroying the Blood Sacrifice Array and suppressing the demonic cultivators’ last attacks. Lin Qiao warned the New Heaven cultivators to clear the corpses and lingering souls, while she reassured Ming Fang about their next steps.

• A Xuanyuan Clan cultivator offered two cornered demonic cultivators a chance to surrender, but they refused and showed him shattered Life Tablet fragments belonging to captured allies.
• The Righteous Path cultivators fought the demonic forces for three days and destroyed the Blood Sacrifice Array on the second day.
• On the third day, demonic cultivators detonated their Black Lotus Marks, but five New Heaven cultivators suppressed the blasts and kept Righteous Path casualties low.
• After the unrest ended, Lin Qiao sent a Dragon-Scale Transmission to the New Heaven cultivators in the other four Secret Realms, telling them to dispose of the demonic corpses and lingering souls.
• Ming Fang thanked Lin Qiao for conveying his message, and Lin Qiao reassured him that they could deal with the Upper Cultivators in the independent space atop Five Elements Mountain after entering the Land of Supreme Treasures.

Lin Qiao recruited Gu Yan into the group that would enter the Land of Supreme Treasures early, presenting the opportunity as a reward for his service. Across the five Secret Realms, the other leaders assembled similar advance parties, while the hidden infiltrators believed their plans were succeeding.

• Ming Fang and Bai Yu left Lin Qiao's cave abode to perform Buddhist rites for the demonic cultivators' remains, and Lin Qiao invited Gu Yan inside.
• Lin Qiao praised Gu Yan's performance in the Earth Dao Secret Realm and offered him an early place in the group entering the Land of Supreme Treasures.
• Gu Yan gratefully accepted Lin Qiao's offer, while she privately recognized the Ascendant Will's controlled cultivator as a skilled actor.
• Chen Huai'an and the other leaders recruited controlled cultivators, Xuanyuan Clan members, and other promising young cultivators into advance parties across the Secret Realms.
• In the Fire Dao Secret Realm, Chu Jingxiao selected Chi Tian and his companion, who had taken new identities, for the advance party.
• The five Upper Cultivators received the news and believed their scheme was succeeding and that they would soon return to collect their rewards.

After Bai Yu and Ming Fang received word that the Trial Illusion Realm had appeared, they headed to join Xu Zheng as the five Secret Realms prepared to qualify for the Land of Supreme Treasures. In the Gold Dao Secret Realm, Ning Jiu swiftly passed the trial and chose Liao Xin as the next challenger.

• Bai Yu questioned Ming Fang about reciting an extra Buddhist true word, and Ming Fang said it was a blessing for the departed souls.
• Bai Yu and Ming Fang received Xu Zheng's message that the Trial Illusion Realm had appeared and flew to meet him.
• The remaining four Secret Realms solved their puzzles, and cultivators learned that enough successful challengers were needed to clear each trial and open the Land of Supreme Treasures.
• The chapter recounted how Wu Xingqiu had passed the Fire Dao trial during the previous Secret Realm opening despite carrying the hopes of Xi Yan Immortal Mansion.
• Ning Jiu passed the Gold Dao trial in less than a quarter of an hour, then called on Liao Xin to enter next.

Yan Zhuohua recognized Yang Xuanqing despite her disguise and persisted until she admitted who she was. Chen Yang saw potential in Yan Zhuohua and told Yang Xuanqing to reveal her identity, leaving Yan Zhuohua eager to explain how much her rescue had changed his life.

• Yang Xuanqing recalled rescuing Yan Zhuohua in the Kunxu Secret Realm, where her help let him reach an opportunity that transformed his fortunes.
• Yang Xuanqing asked Chen Yang whether she should fake her death to shake Yan Zhuohua off, and Chen Yang judged the young cultivator interesting and worth recruiting.
• Chen Yang instructed Yang Xuanqing to reveal her identity and, if needed, explain the ancient cultivator's evil technique behind her disguise.
• Yang Xuanqing admitted to Yan Zhuohua that she was Yang Xuanqing and said she had only helped him in passing.
• Yan Zhuohua rejoiced privately at confirming her identity and insisted that her rescue had given him a new chance at his Dao destiny.

As Five Elements Mountain expanded, cultivators divided between gathering plentiful resources in the lower regions and risking the middle regions for greater opportunities. Zhou Chunsheng and Yan Zhuohua found the hidden cave abode they believed contained an Immortal Treasure, and Zhou asked Yan to open its door with true fire.

• Many cultivators stayed in the lower regions to gather treasures, and two temporary barter markets appeared on the mountain's northern and southern sides.
• Zhou Chunsheng and Yan Zhuohua reached the middle regions, where Zhou's treasure-seeking method pointed to an Immortal Treasure.
• Yan Zhuohua kept Yang Xuanqing under a supposed sealing technique, though he knew she was only pretending to be affected.
• After half a day of searching, Zhou Chunsheng and Yan Zhuohua found and excavated a hidden cave abode in a rocky cliff.
• Zhou Chunsheng's firestone glowed crimson at the cave's stone door, and he asked Yan Zhuohua to open it with true fire.

Zhou Chunsheng and Yan Zhuohua broke through a formation to obtain a Fire Jade Pearl, while the Ascendant Wills prepared to use it to brainwash Yan Zhuohua. Yan Zhuohua refused to inspect the pearl or honor their bargain, and his provocation left Zhou Chunsheng furious.

• Zhou Chunsheng sent his incarnation ahead through the passage, and he and Yan Zhuohua found a treasure box behind a powerful defensive formation.
• The Ascendant Wills secretly sent a Dreamscape Method through the formation, planning to brainwash Yan Zhuohua when he examined the treasure.
• Zhou Chunsheng and Yan Zhuohua attacked together until the formation shattered, and Yan Zhuohua reached the box first.
• Yan Zhuohua found a Fire Jade Pearl, promised Zhou Chunsheng he would teach him its technique, then sealed the pearl away without examining it.
• Yan Zhuohua said he would only teach Zhou Chunsheng after they left the Secret Realm, then taunted him about who had the power to decide what happened to the treasure.

The Ascendant Wills attacked Chi Tian through Zhou Chunsheng, but Chi Tian’s Blood Corpse nature let him regenerate even after his arm and shoulder were severed. The Ascendant Wills sacrificed Zhou Chunsheng’s foundation and lifespan to unleash stronger techniques, leaving Chi Tian’s body withered as the chapter returned to Yang Xuanqing and Yan Zhuohua climbing toward the mountaintop.

• The Ascendant Will severed Chi Tian’s right arm and shoulder, then destroyed the remnant to keep him from controlling it.
• Chi Tian regenerated his arm within moments, revealing the extraordinary life force of his Blood Corpse body.
• The Ascendant Wills sacrificed Zhou Chunsheng’s Dao foundation and lifespan to use Myriad Laws Bane and Heavenly Demon Cage, immobilizing Chi Tian.
• The Dao Academy ancestral grandmaster’s divided soul used Square-Inch Withering, withering Chi Tian’s flesh while leaving his head intact, and recognized the name Qian Chou.
• Outside the Heavenly Sea Wandering Fire, Yang Xuanqing continued leading Yan Zhuohua toward the mountaintop.

Yang Xuanlang questioned Yang Xuanqing about Yan Zhuohua’s interest in her before explaining the New Heaven Operation and Yan’s assignment. Meanwhile, Yang Yuanling, Xuanyuan Zeyuan, and a Penglai Palace disciple wandered through a poisonous secret realm, where the disciple’s repeated doubts about Xuanyuan Zeyuan’s guidance sparked an argument.

• Yang Xuanlang asked Yang Xuanqing whether she had drugged Yan Zhuohua, and she explained that she had revealed the Ancient Cultivator Evil Art to him after consulting the Immortal Venerable.
• Yang Xuanlang suggested Yan Zhuohua might feel more than gratitude toward Yang Xuanqing, but quickly changed the subject when she threatened him.
• Yang Xuanlang explained the New Heaven Operation and Yan Zhuohua’s assignment as the three traveled toward the western region of Five Elements Mountain.
• Yang Yuanling, Xuanyuan Zeyuan, and a Penglai Palace disciple continued through violet-red poisonous miasma, unable to find an exit or use their spiritual senses.
• The Penglai Palace disciple challenged Xuanyuan Zeyuan’s claim that the dangerous route led to survival, and Xuanyuan Zeyuan told him to find his own way out.
• The Penglai Palace disciple retorted that he and Yang Yuanling had repeatedly saved Xuanyuan Zeyuan from traps and poisonous creatures.

Xuanyuan Zeyuan separated from Yang Yuanling and the Penglai Palace disciple, secretly intending to kill them after sending them down dangerous paths. Alone, he used the True Lord’s incantation to restore his power and raise his cultivation to the peak of the Twelfth Layer of Spiritual Connection.

• The Penglai Palace disciple panicked at the plan to split up, and Yang Yuanling warned him to stop resisting Xuanyuan Zeyuan’s guidance.
• Xuanyuan Zeyuan explained the forks and gave Yang Yuanling and the Penglai Palace disciple technique crystals, while planning to send them along false routes and attack them later.
• The three exchanged farewells and entered separate forks.
• After roughly a quarter of an hour, Xuanyuan Zeyuan stopped once he was beyond the others’ perception and chanted the True Lord’s incantation.
• Xuanyuan Zeyuan quickly recovered his spiritual power and true essence, then rose from the first level to the peak of the Twelfth Layer of Spiritual Connection.

Xuanyuan Zeyuan survived a corpse explosion and attacked the hidden cultivator with spatial magic, but the target evaded him using a magic treasure and revealed himself as a Demon Soil cultivator. They fought in the air, with Xuanyuan Zeyuan's powerful Upper-Realm Method pressing his opponent while the demonic cultivator relied on his treasure's dwindling reserves to hold out.

• Xuanyuan Zeyuan survived the corpse explosion with his Upper-Realm Method and sensed a cultivator hiding underground.
• Xuanyuan Zeyuan sent spatially empowered wooden spikes at the hidden cultivator, but the target evaded them with a magic treasure.
• A demonic cultivator emerged from a black-purple cloud, and Xuanyuan Zeyuan recognized him as an infiltrator from the Demon Soil.
• Xuanyuan Zeyuan attacked the demonic cultivator, who rode his cloud into the sky, and the two began fighting in midair.
• Xuanyuan Zeyuan's spells overwhelmed his opponent, but the demonic cultivator stalled for time by draining his magic treasure's reserves.

Xuanyuan Zeyuan survived a fatal attack when the Technique Spirit preserved his consciousness, but Yang Yuanling and the Demon Soil cultivator continued their assault. Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Jun studied the conflict between the Reincarnated True Lord faction and the Azure Waves cultivators through a game of chess against himself.

• The Technique Spirit transferred Xuanyuan Zeyuan's consciousness from his pierced brain onto its spirituality, keeping him alive but in urgent need of a new body.
• Yang Yuanling and the Demon Soil cultivator attacked Xuanyuan Zeyuan with the Azure Gleam Origin Core and a Lotus Magic Seal.
• Xuanyuan Jun corrected a pink-clad woman for speaking while he played chess, and she knelt in fear of punishment.
• Xuanyuan Jun played both sides of a chess game, using the white pieces for the Reincarnated True Lord faction and the black pieces for the Yang Clan's Azure Waves cultivators.
• Xuanyuan Jun paused a corner battle and played toward the center, considering how the opposing faction would respond.

Xuanyuan Jun reflected on his agents’ mission in the Five Directions Immortal Mansion and spared his frightened maid. He asked her to explain how an opponent could repeatedly overcome dangerous situations, and her answer led him to consider hidden expert guidance.

• Xuanyuan Jun judged Xuanyuan Zeyuan’s premature strike and accepted that he might die, while waiting to see whether the three Void Realm cultivators could gain anything from the operation.
• Xuanyuan Jun told the woman in pink to brew fresh tea, and she realized he had spared her life.
• Xuanyuan Jun asked the woman in pink what might let a chess opponent repeatedly break deadlocks and seize opportunities.
• The woman in pink suggested that an expert could be guiding the opponent from behind, based on how Xuanyuan Jun had guided her.
• The woman in pink proposed that the opponent’s guide was either an unseen Outsider Expert or a great recluse hidden within the chessboard.