Chapter Summaries

Zhu Ganglie taunted the Western Zhou camp after killing Liang Kuan, while Jiang Ziya repeatedly fainted and warned the generals to be cautious. Xing Rong went out to fight Zhu Ganglie, who recognized him as a former acquaintance and continued pretending to be badly weakened.

• Zhu Ganglie cursed the Western Zhou forces after killing Liang Kuan, despite suffering severe wounds.
• Jiang Ziya suddenly fainted, recovered, and cautioned the generals not to underestimate Zhu Ganglie.
• The Western Zhou generals dismissed Jiang Ziya’s warning and competed for permission to fight the apparently weakened demon.
• Jiang Ziya fainted again, and the generals carried him into the main tent.
• Xing Rong went out to challenge Zhu Ganglie, who recognized him from their time in the Western Zhou camp and baited him with insults.
• Xing Rong charged Zhu Ganglie with his great axe as Zhu Ganglie swayed through the fight, while the generals worried over Jiang Ziya in the tent.

Huang Xian used a straw figure and a silver needle to curse Jiang Ziya to death. Yuanshi Tianzun revived him with golden pills, and Jiang Ziya identified the Yin Shang curse as the cause of his death.

• Jiang Ziya awoke in agony and began vomiting blood, prompting Yang Jian and Lei Zhenzi to carry him toward Heaven Beyond Heaven for help.
• Huang Xian stabbed a silver needle into a straw figure bearing Jiang Ziya's name and believed his curse had killed him.
• Jiang Ziya died while Yang Jian carried him, and his true spirit drifted outside the Fengshen Terrace because his name was absent from the Investiture of the Gods.
• Yang Jian and Lei Zhenzi brought Jiang Ziya's body to Yuanshi Tianzun at the Jade Void Palace, where he gave them seven golden pills and called Jiang Ziya's true spirit back.
• Jiang Ziya revived, reached the Golden Immortal realm, and explained that an Yin Shang curse had linked his life to the straw figure.

Yuanshi Tianzun sent Jiang Ziya and his companions back to the battlefield with treasures and promised the Twelve Golden Immortals would join Western Zhou. At Sishui Pass, Zhu Ganglie baited a Western Zhou general into reckless attacks and killed him.

• Yuanshi Tianzun reassured Jiang Ziya and the others that the curse-killing ability was limited, warned them that Yin Shang’s fortune remained strong, and gave them treasures.
• Yuanshi Tianzun said the Twelve Golden Immortals would go to Western Zhou and help in the great tribulation.
• Yuanshi Tianzun watched Yin Shang with killing intent and turned a vicious Innate Supreme Treasure coffin as he vowed to control the Investiture of the Gods tribulation.
• Jiang Ziya, Lei Zhenzi, and Yang Jian left the Jade Void Palace and headed for Sishui Pass.
• Zhu Ganglie taunted General Zhang until he abandoned defense and attacked wildly, then killed him with a sudden strike from his rake.

Zhu Ganglie pretended to be weak and provoked Western Zhou’s generals into fighting him, killing five in succession before returning to Sishui Pass. Jiang Ziya recognized the ruse too late, and Western Zhou withdrew after suffering another devastating loss.

• Zhu Ganglie taunted the Western Zhou camp, drawing out a fifth general while Grand Tutor Wen and Yuan Hong trusted his plan.
• Jiang Ziya, Yang Jian, and Lei Zhenzi returned, and Jiang Ziya warned that Zhu Ganglie had been pretending to be weak after learning four generals had already died.
• Jiang Ziya ordered the gong sounded to recall Pan Fenghuang, but Pan Fenghuang ignored it and continued attacking.
• Zhu Ganglie stopped pretending, smashed Pan Fenghuang’s axe, and killed him with the Nine-Toothed Rake.
• Jiang Ziya ordered the fallen generals’ bodies retrieved and led Western Zhou’s troops to withdraw from the fight.
• Grand Tutor Wen and Shen Gongbao welcomed Zhu Ganglie at Sishui Pass and praised him for killing five enemy generals through his scheme.

After Zhu Ganglie celebrated his victories at Sishui Pass, Jiang Ziya welcomed five of the Twelve Golden Immortals and their followers into the Western Zhou camp. Tu Xingsun insulted the spirits among the newcomers, and Juliusun struck him down and apologized on his behalf.

• Zhu Ganglie received praise for killing five enemy generals and joined the victory feast at Sishui Pass.
• Jiang Ziya lamented Western Zhou's losses until five of the Twelve Golden Immortals arrived with their disciples and other followers.
• Guangchengzi told Jiang Ziya that the remaining Golden Immortals would join them later, and Jiang Ziya hosted the newcomers in the command tent.
• Hu Lei and other followers introduced themselves, revealing that many were spirits subdued by the Golden Immortals along the way.
• Tu Xingsun mocked the spirits, angering them, so Juliusun knocked him down and apologized for his disciple.

Yuan Hong challenged the Western Zhou camp, and Jiang Ziya pressured King Yinshi into fighting him. King Yinshi appeared on the battlefield, where Yuan Hong recognized his Quasi-Saint presence and prepared to face him despite his injuries.

• Tu Xingsun apologized to the gathered immortals, and Jiang Ziya restored the celebratory mood with toasts.
• Grand Tutor Wen sent Yuan Hong to challenge Western Zhou, and Yuan Hong taunted the camp for keeping its no-battle placard raised.
• Jiang Ziya, unable to find a suitable fighter, demanded that King Yinshi take the field or leave the camp.
• King Yinshi threatened Jiang Ziya but agreed to fight, holding back because Jiang Ziya was Yuanshi Tianzun's disciple.
• King Yinshi emerged to confront Yuan Hong, who sensed that the Quasi-Saint was badly injured and believed he could fight him.

Yuan Hong battled King Yinshi but could not overcome the Quasi-Saint, who transformed into a vast black-smoke beast and tried to devour him. As Yuan Hong faced capture, Kong Xuan appeared to confront King Yinshi.

• Yuan Hong attacked King Yinshi with the Sea-Spanning Purple Gold Beam, but King Yinshi blocked his blows with black-smoke tentacles.
• Yuan Hong revealed his Long-Armed Ape true form, and King Yinshi lured him away from the battlefield to fight in the sky.
• King Yinshi transformed his smoke into a colossal beast and tried to swallow Yuan Hong, who failed to escape its reach.
• Yuan Hong challenged King Yinshi to face his side's Quasi-Saint, and Kong Xuan appeared amid the Five-Colored Divine Light.

Kong Xuan confronted King Yinshi, who had joined the Western Zhou camp and transformed the remains of nine Golden Crows into a black divine bird. Their battle shook the Primordial World as Haotian Shangdi and Yaochi Golden Mother set out to witness it.

• Kong Xuan recognized King Yinshi and recalled how he had gained power from sinister Qi and the corpses of nine Golden Crows.
• King Yinshi revealed his enormous Golden Crow skeleton fused with black smoke and challenged Kong Xuan to a fight in their divine-bird forms.
• Kong Xuan transformed into a peacock, and the two Quasi-Saint birds charged at each other.
• Kong Xuan and King Yinshi fought fiercely in the sky, scattering black smoke and knocking loose Kong Xuan's feathers.
• Haotian Shangdi sensed the battle's power and set out with Yaochi Golden Mother to see who was fighting.

Kong Xuan gained the upper hand against King Yinshi, who fought while retreating to protect his power. Haotian Shangdi and the Holy Mother of Yaochi arrived, identified the combatants, and Yaochi explained King Yinshi’s history and how he made his skeletal form from nine Golden Crow corpses.

• Kong Xuan overwhelmed King Yinshi, tearing away his black smoke and forcing him to enlarge his body and flee.
• Haotian Shangdi and the Holy Mother of Yaochi arrived and recognized the peacock as Kong Xuan.
• The Holy Mother of Yaochi identified the black-smoke bird as King Yinshi and wondered why he had appeared during the Investiture of the Gods tribulation.
• The Holy Mother of Yaochi explained that King Yinshi had loved the Queen Mother of the West and grown jealous of the King Father of the East, who once defeated him.
• The Holy Mother of Yaochi said King Yinshi emerged from seclusion after Hou Yi shot down the Golden Crows, collected nine corpses, and used them to refine his skeletal form.

Haotian Shangdi and the Holy Mother of Yaochi discussed King Yinshi and Peacock’s histories and the Heavenly Court’s lack of talent while watching their battle. As Peacock drove King Yinshi to the brink of defeat, Haotian intervened and asked her to spare him in exchange for a future debt of karma.

• The Holy Mother of Yaochi explained that King Yinshi had returned because of his debt to the last Golden Crow and that he belonged to the Western Zhou camp, while Peacock supported Chaoge.
• Haotian Shangdi considered recruiting King Yinshi and Peacock, but the Holy Mother of Yaochi warned that King Yinshi would taint the Heavenly Court and Peacock would be difficult to recruit.
• Peacock relentlessly attacked King Yinshi, whose shrinking body and desperate pleas failed to help him escape as his foundation began to dissipate.
• Haotian Shangdi appeared on the battlefield, and King Yinshi begged him to intervene and save his life.
• Haotian Shangdi stopped Peacock and asked her to release King Yinshi, offering to repay her with a future debt of karma.

Kong Xuan confronted Haotian Shangdi and mocked his authority, provoking him to summon his treasures for battle. Ye Xuan suddenly appeared and challenged Haotian Shangdi over meddling in the Primordial World, leaving their confrontation poised to escalate.

• Kong Xuan refused to give Haotian Shangdi face and insulted him as a boy attendant who relied on Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
• King Yinshi urged Haotian Shangdi to join him in killing Kong Xuan, but Haotian Shangdi ignored him and demanded she show respect.
• Haotian Shangdi summoned the Haotian Mirror, Haotian Sword, and Haotian Pagoda, while Kong Xuan prepared to fight.
• Ye Xuan appeared unexpectedly, surprising everyone and drawing Haotian Shangdi's attention away from Kong Xuan.
• Haotian Shangdi sensed Ye Xuan's formidable pressure and asked which Human Dao Saint had helped him cultivate.
• Ye Xuan challenged Haotian Shangdi for coming to the Primordial World and asked whether he intended to meddle in its affairs.

Ye Xuan mocked Haotian Shangdi and the Heavenly Court, then revealed the power of a Human Dao Saint by suppressing Haotian and the Holy Mother of Yaochi. Haotian was left pinned before Ye Xuan, reduced to an ant.

• The Holy Mother of Yaochi appeared to defend Haotian Shangdi and demanded that Ye Xuan kneel.
• Ye Xuan insulted the Holy Mother of Yaochi, while Lu Chuan held back Kong Xuan from intervening.
• Ye Xuan ridiculed Haotian Shangdi's authority and called the Heavenly Court a place where he played house.
• Ye Xuan's divine power pinned Haotian Shangdi and the Holy Mother of Yaochi in place.
• Ye Xuan approached Haotian Shangdi as golden lotuses bloomed beneath his steps, leaving Haotian unable to resist.

Ye Xuan suppressed and humiliated Haotian Shangdi, then used Words Followed by Law to force him to kneel before the Primordial World's living beings. Haotian's public humiliation shook the world and left the watching powerhouses stunned.

• Ye Xuan rebuked Haotian Shangdi for his past actions against the Human Clan and blew smoke in his face while keeping him pinned down.
• Ye Xuan slapped Haotian Shangdi twice, alarming the onlookers and stirring dark clouds across the Primordial World.
• Haotian Shangdi struggled helplessly and wondered why Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the other Saints had not intervened.
• Ye Xuan declared that his will was the will of all living beings and used Words Followed by Law to command Haotian Shangdi to kneel.
• Haotian Shangdi's knees buckled, and he knelt in midair before Ye Xuan, shocking the mighty figures who witnessed it.

After Haotian Shangdi knelt before Ye Xuan, Saint Jieyin sent Saint Zhunti to intervene and rescue him. Zhunti arrived from the West in a blaze of golden light, while Ye Xuan looked on with disappointment that the Saint he wanted had not appeared.

• Haotian Shangdi's humiliation damaged his power and Dao heart as beings across the Primordial World watched him kneel.
• Saint Jieyin worried that Haotian's defeat would disrupt the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods and the West's rise.
• Saint Jieyin asked Saint Zhunti to go resolve the crisis, and Zhunti agreed to save Haotian and incur karmic debts from him and Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
• Ye Xuan waited for the other Saints to intervene, wondering whether he would have to kill Haotian or leave him kneeling.
• Saint Zhunti arrived from the West amid golden light and lotuses, and Ye Xuan sneered because he had hoped someone else would come.

Zhunti appeared while Ye Xuan held Haotian and tried to persuade him to let the Great Heavenly Venerable visit the West. Ye Xuan rejected Zhunti’s appeal and openly challenged him to fight, leaving the watching mighty figures to wonder what he was relying on.

• Zhunti emerged from the golden light and addressed Ye Xuan as a fellow Daoist Saint Emperor.
• Zhunti claimed Haotian had an affinity with the West and asked Ye Xuan to let him take Haotian to the Western Paradise.
• Ye Xuan mocked Zhunti’s claim that everyone could have an affinity with the West and refused to release Haotian.
• Zhunti invoked the suffering of the Primordial World and urged Ye Xuan to abandon his hold on Haotian and come to the West.
• Ye Xuan accused the Saints of causing the world’s suffering and provoked Zhunti to show his power if he wanted to save Haotian.
• The watching mighty figures wondered whether Ye Xuan had a hidden source of confidence or a way to create more Human Dao Saints.

Yuanshi Tianzun arrived in the East Sea and tried to stop Ye Xuan from punishing Haotian, invoking the Heavenly Dao and demanding his Three Treasures Jade Ruyi back. Ye Xuan rejected his arguments and declared the treasure was fated to belong to him, leaving the assembled powers in an uproar.

• Yuanshi Tianzun appeared in the East Sea after Haotian turned his gaze toward East Kunlun.
• Yuanshi Tianzun asked Ye Xuan and Saint Zhunti to end their conflict, and Zhunti yielded the decision to him.
• Ye Xuan rejected Yuanshi Tianzun's appeal to the Heavenly Dao and denounced Haotian and the Saints as its puppets.
• Yuanshi Tianzun accused Ye Xuan of violating heavenly principles by forcing Haotian to his knees and demanded the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi.
• Ye Xuan claimed the treasure was fated to be his, prompting an uproar among the living beings present.

Ye Xuan endured Yuanshi Tianzun’s attacks and seized the Yuqing Casket after Yuanshi’s magic failed to harm him. As Yuanshi charged at him, Ye Xuan drew an unnamed dark-gold greatsword.

• Yuanshi Tianzun struck Ye Xuan with a sky-spanning palm, but Ye Xuan emerged unharmed.
• Yuanshi Tianzun summoned the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan and burned Ye Xuan with its flames, but they had no effect.
• Yuanshi Tianzun sent the Yuqing Casket crashing down on Ye Xuan, who seized it using the power of merit and destiny.
• Yuanshi Tianzun demanded the Yuqing Casket back, but Ye Xuan refused and claimed it belonged to him.
• Yuanshi Tianzun charged at Ye Xuan, who drew an unnamed dark-gold greatsword.

Ye Xuan wounded Yuanshi Tianzun with the Xuanyuan Sword, then brought out the Kongtong Seal to withstand the Pangu Banner. The seal began to falter, and Ye Xuan waited for the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to answer his call.

• Ye Xuan struck Yuanshi Tianzun with the Xuanyuan Sword, breaking through his Saintly body and leaving him badly wounded.
• Yuanshi Tianzun recognized the Xuanyuan Sword and summoned the Pangu Banner.
• Ye Xuan replaced the Xuanyuan Sword with the Kongtong Seal and empowered it with the Human Clan's fortune.
• The Kongtong Seal blocked the Pangu Banner's first attack, and Ye Xuan taunted Yuanshi Tianzun about the treasure's power.
• Yuanshi Tianzun unleashed a stronger strike that made the Kongtong Seal shake as Ye Xuan waited for the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to respond.

Ye Xuan used the Nine Provinces Cauldrons to strengthen the Kongtong Seal and suppress Yuanshi Tianzun, prompting Zhunti to demand the seal and Xuanyuan Sword. As Zhunti attacked Ye Xuan, Nuwa arrived and blocked the blow with the Red Embroidered Ball.

• The Nine Provinces Cauldrons appeared and sent their power into the Kongtong Seal, allowing Ye Xuan to suppress Yuanshi Tianzun.
• Yuanshi Tianzun called on Zhunti to intervene, and Zhunti demanded that Ye Xuan hand over the Kongtong Seal and Xuanyuan Sword.
• Ye Xuan mocked Zhunti’s claim that the treasures belonged to the West, then insulted him when Zhunti threatened to act.
• Zhunti attacked Ye Xuan with the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, but Nuwa’s Red Embroidered Ball blocked the strike.
• Nuwa appeared before Zhunti, stunning the watching mighty figures.

Nuwa intervened to protect Ye Xuan and challenged Zhunti, who revealed his Ancient Bodhi Tree true form as she summoned a colossal world serpent. As the Saints prepared to fight, Taishang Laozi arrived and called for them to stop, unfurling his Taiji Diagram.

• Nuwa stopped Zhunti from attacking Ye Xuan, then rebuked him for taking advantage of others and agreed to fight him.
• Zhunti revealed his Ancient Bodhi Tree true form, and Nuwa summoned an enormous world serpent in response.
• Ye Xuan recognized the arriving Taishang Laozi and called him out from hiding.
• Taishang Laozi appeared riding a giant ox, urged everyone to stop fighting, and began unfurling his Taiji Diagram.