Chapter Summaries

Celestial Venerable Yuanshi entered the gap of reincarnation to confront Pingxin, who overwhelmed him with the power of reincarnation after he unleashed the Great Dao of Yuanshi. She spared him, but Ao Changsheng concluded that her intervention would make Yuanshi the last of the Sages who had yet to sever their three corpses to attain the Dao.

• Pingxin told Celestial Venerable Yuanshi that she had returned Huanglong, Taiyi, Yuding, and Yang Jian to the Primordial World, and he confirmed that they were safe.
• Celestial Venerable Yuanshi summoned the Heavenly Dao's power and attacked Pingxin with the Great Dao of Yuanshi.
• Pingxin invoked the power of reincarnation, overwhelming Celestial Venerable Yuanshi and shattering his Great Dao before he could make a second move.
• Pingxin chose not to kill Celestial Venerable Yuanshi, then returned to the Realm of Reincarnation and withdrew her suppression.
• Celestial Venerable Yuanshi resolved to sever the three corpses and truly prove his Dao, while Ao Changsheng concluded that Pingxin's intervention would make him the last Sage to attain the Dao.

Human Race elders planned to bring the Phoenix Clan and Dragon Race into their alliance, but Fuxi announced that an Immortal Slaughter Tribulation was coming. After reassuring them that it mainly targeted Sage disciples, Fuxi left Dayu to prepare the Human Race while the older rulers turned to a more urgent task.

• Dayu and the Human Race elders planned for the Zhou Dynasty to replace Yin Shang, with the Phoenix Clan’s Karmic Luck helping the Human Race, and Shang Tang accepted the cost to his lineage.
• Shennong raised the Dragon Race as the next alliance target, and Fuxi assured the elders that bringing it in would not be a problem.
• Fuxi announced that Dao Ancestor Hongjun had declared an Immortal Slaughter Tribulation, prompting the elders to fear that an Immeasurable Tribulation had arrived early.
• Fuxi explained that the tribulation was limited in scale and chiefly aimed at the Sages’ disciples, then ordered Dayu and the Council of Elders to plan for its effects on the Human Race.
• Fuxi and the other senior rulers left Dayu to manage preparations, while Fuxi said they had more important matters to attend to.

Ao Changsheng learned that the Investiture of the Gods Immeasurable Tribulation might let Haotian attain the Dao, then received Haotian, who asked to trade for supreme Yellow Center Plums for Yaoji. Ao Changsheng agreed in principle but pointed out that Haotian would have to pay a price, leaving their negotiation unresolved.

• Ao Changsheng considered how Hongjun’s restrictions on the Great Daos made the Immeasurable Tribulation a rare chance for Haotian to attain the Dao.
• Haotian visited Changsheng’s Dao Field and thanked Ao Changsheng for his earlier guidance.
• Haotian asked Ao Changsheng for several supreme Yellow Center Plums, intending to use them for Yaoji.
• Ao Changsheng said he could part with the fruits, but asked Haotian what price he was prepared to pay.
• Ao Changsheng joked that he might demand Haotian’s position as Heavenly Emperor, then explained that he had only nine supreme Yellow Center Plums and had already tasted one.

Ao Changsheng traded Haotian six supreme-grade Yellow Center Plums for twelve Chaos Demon Gods, which Haotian confidently promised to capture. Haotian left newly impressed by Ao Changsheng’s insight, while Ao Changsheng privately anticipated how difficult the search would be.

• Ao Changsheng offered Haotian all six remaining supreme-grade Yellow Center Plums, and Haotian eagerly accepted after considering how they could improve Yaoji’s foundation.
• Ao Changsheng demanded twelve Chaos Demon Gods in exchange, specifying their minimum cultivation levels and that they had to be delivered alive or with intact corpses.
• Haotian accepted the terms and confidently promised to capture the twelve Chaos Demon Gods, despite the difficulty of subduing them alive.
• Ao Changsheng handed over the six Yellow Center Plums and told Haotian he could deliver the Chaos Demon Gods after attaining the Dao, before the epoch ended.
• Haotian interpreted Ao Changsheng’s words as proof that he knew about the Immortal Slaughter Tribulation and departed with greater respect for him.
• Ao Changsheng privately noted that Chaos Demon Gods were no longer found near the Primordial World and smiled at the prospect of Haotian’s difficult search.

Guiling led Holy Mother Jinling and the Three Xiaos through Avici Hell toward coordinates Sage Pingxin had given her, enduring a crushing force in the void beyond it. Ao Changsheng revealed that Pingxin’s coordinates led directly to the center of reincarnation, where he could grant Guiling a share of the Authority of Reincarnation, while Jinling and the Three Xiaos might gain a brief glimpse of the forbidden realm.

• Holy Mother Jinling explained that Avici Hell confined souls forever, and the Three Xiaos grew fearful when they learned it could imprison even Daluo Golden Immortals.
• Guiling located the coordinates beneath Avici Hell, guessed that the real trial lay ahead, and prepared with Jinling and the Three Xiaos.
• Guiling enclosed Jinling and the Three Xiaos in her inner world and forced her way beyond Avici Hell, where the void blinded them and its oppressive force intensified.
• Guiling pushed onward toward the coordinates as Jinling and the Three Xiaos struggled to withstand the pressure within her world domain.
• Ao Changsheng confronted Sage Pingxin about the difficult route she had given Guiling, and Pingxin explained that the coordinates led directly to the Authority of Reincarnation at the center of reincarnation.

Jinling and the Three Xiaos emerged from a mysterious trial in the East Sea, where Jinling gained insight into the Great Dao of the Stars and the Three Xiaos reached Perfection Daluo, while Guiling continued on alone to receive her opportunity. After Tongtian learned what happened and warned his disciples to prepare for the approaching Immortal Slaughter Tribulation, he celebrated the Three Xiaos’ rapid advancement.

• Jinling awoke in a strange space, glimpsed the Great Dao of the Stars, and gained a deeper understanding of it before finding herself back in the East Sea with the Three Xiaos.
• Houtu told Jinling that Guiling had completed her trial and was entering a secret place for a safe fortuitous opportunity that others could not access.
• Jinling woke Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao, then discovered that all three had advanced to Perfection Daluo Golden Immortal.
• Tongtian announced that the Immortal Slaughter Tribulation was approaching and ordered the Jie Sect disciples to cultivate in seclusion until it passed.
• Jinling recounted their experiences to Tongtian, who inferred that the tribulation involved his senior brother’s scheme concerning Haotian and Yaoji.
• Tongtian gave the Three Xiaos spirit fruits and advised them to refine their cultivation, urged Jinling to ponder her gains, and laughed that his sect now had three more near-Quasi-Sages.

Cult Master Tongtian told Holy Mother Jinling that more than three hundred star gods were destined to be listed in the Investiture of the Gods, threatening the star gods she cherished. He urged Jinling to seek their sliver of hope, and she returned to the Primordial World to wait for Guiling while pondering what it might be.

• Cult Master Tongtian recalled the Investiture of the Gods and summoned Jinling to discuss its threat to the star gods.
• Cult Master Tongtian explained that nearly three hundred of the 365 Orthodox God positions were for star gods, and Jinling feared the appointments would strip the star gods of their chance to emerge.
• Cult Master Tongtian said the Jie Sect's doctrine was to seize a sliver of hope and told Jinling that only she could find hope for the star gods.
• Jinling remarked that Cult Master Tongtian had not found the hope himself, then returned to the Primordial World near Ghost Gate Pass.
• Jinling settled on a rock to await Guiling and search for a way to save the star gods, while Guiling awoke in the Realm of Reincarnation and wondered where she was.

Guiling awakened and immersed herself in the Great Dao of the World while Pingxin transferred the authority over reincarnation to her. Ao Changsheng kept Heavenly Dao Hongjun from interrupting, then destroyed his body after the transfer, though the Heavenly Dao remained unharmed.

• Guiling woke after traveling through the void and became absorbed in a profound pattern of flowing light that revealed the Great Dao of the World.
• Pingxin approached Guiling and began merging the authority over reincarnation with her while she was immersed in its mysteries.
• Heavenly Dao Hongjun attacked Pingxin and Guiling, but Ao Changsheng blocked his attempts with Great Thousand Worlds as the two exchanged thousands of blows.
• Pingxin announced that the transfer was complete, and the authority over reincarnation entered Guiling's Primordial Spirit.
• Ao Changsheng trapped Heavenly Dao Hongjun in a powerful Great Thousand World and drove it toward annihilation, reducing Hongjun's body to ash while the Heavenly Dao suffered virtually no damage.

Ao Changsheng accepted Hongjun’s request to transform the shattered Primordial World into exactly three thousand Great Thousand Worlds, receiving four Great Daos as payment. After they left, Pingxin concealed her store of Sha Qi and left Guiling information about reincarnation, which revealed that Guiling had become its little mistress.

• Hongjun reformed his body after Ao Changsheng defeated Heavenly Dao Hongjun, then asked Ao Changsheng to act on his behalf.
• Hongjun secretly told Ao Changsheng that the Primordial World would shatter before the Immortal Slaughter Tribulation ended and asked him to turn its fragments into exactly three thousand Great Thousand Worlds.
• Ao Changsheng agreed and received the Great Daos of Light, Darkness, Illusion, and the Five Elements as payment.
• After Hongjun and Ao Changsheng left, Pingxin concealed the Sha Qi hidden in the deepest reaches of reincarnation.
• Pingxin left Guiling information about reincarnation and the events that had occurred, then departed.
• Guiling awakened, absorbed Pingxin's information, and realized she had become reincarnation's little mistress.

Jinling worried over how to save the unborn Star Gods and protect the Jie Sect’s disciples from the Investiture of the Gods. Guiling proposed reincarnating the Star Gods into the Human Race so they could retain their divine positions, leaving Jinling relieved and Cult Master Tongtian questioning himself as a master.

• Jinling told Guiling about the Immortal Slaughter Tribulation and the Star Gods’ names on the Investiture of the Gods.
• Guiling reminded Jinling that the Star Gods could reincarnate, then argued that they could keep their divine positions by becoming participants in the tribulation themselves.
• Guiling suggested reincarnating the Star Gods as humans, who could grow quickly and might be suited to their own positions.
• Guiling said she had a way to help the Star Gods escape the Investiture’s control, and Jinling hugged her as she wept with relief.
• Cult Master Tongtian watched Jinling cry and felt that he had fallen short as her master.

Guiling secured Fuxi's consent to reincarnate the star gods as humans so their reincarnations could enter the Investiture of the Gods, advancing both their protection and the Human Race's influence in the Heavenly Court. Fuxi then divined the calamity's connection to Shang's fall and Zhou's rise, discovered an opportunity for his own breakthrough, and called for careful planning.

• Guiling explained to Jinling how she could restore wisps of the star gods' true spirits and reincarnate them as humans to limit the Investiture of the Gods' control over the original star gods.
• Fuxi approved the reincarnations and agreed that the Human Race would help them enter the Investiture of the Gods.
• Fuxi recognized that the reincarnated star gods would strengthen the Human Race's influence within the Heavenly Court.
• A female Human Race elder reported that the Wind Clan had agreed to join the Human Race, following the Black Bird Clan.
• Fuxi used the Eight Trigrams to divine that the Investiture of the Gods would unfold during Shang's fall and Zhou's rise, revealing a chance to advance his own Great Dao.
• Fuxi sent his true body into seclusion and left an incarnation to lead discussions on exploiting the coming War of the Investiture of the Gods.

Celestial Venerable Yuanshi told the Chan Sect that the Immortal Slaughter Tribulation was coming and ordered his disciples to take Human Race followers who could bear the calamity for them. As the disciples left Kunlun to carry out his order, some quietly resisted, while Daoist Randeng returned to his cave and fell asleep.

• Celestial Venerable Yuanshi reassured the Chan Sect disciples that he had a plan and instructed them to recruit Human Race disciples to face the coming tribulation.
• After his disciples left, Celestial Venerable Yuanshi considered putting some second-generation disciples on the list and decided to seek additional followers himself through spiritual guidance.
• Yuding True Person told Huanglong True Person and True Person Taiyi that he would take no more disciples, while Huanglong and Taiyi indicated they would accept disciples only if they found suitable ones.
• Yun Zhongzi remained unconcerned about the tribulation and treated his trip to find a disciple as a chance to see the sights.
• Daoist Randeng returned to Perfect Enlightenment Cave on Vulture Peak, activated its defensive formation, and fell asleep.

Randeng met Sage Jieyin in a dream to discuss joining the Western Sect and escaping the Immortal Slaughter Tribulation. Jieyin revealed that the tribulation held Randeng’s chance to attain the Dao, and Randeng resolved to enter it.

• Sage Jieyin appeared in Randeng’s dream, and Randeng agreed to join the Western Sect.
• Jieyin said he would welcome Randeng only after the Immortal Slaughter Tribulation, prompting Randeng to refuse and consider joining the Heavenly Court instead.
• Jieyin claimed the tribulation contained a chance for Randeng to attain the Dao and explained that Sainthood did not require Primordial purple Qi.
• Jieyin argued that the Sages would not suppress the Primordial World forever and urged Randeng to prepare for the future chance to attain the Dao.
• Randeng resolved to join the Immortal Slaughter Tribulation so he could pursue Sainthood.

Jieyin secretly recruited Randeng as a future pillar of the Western Sect, while the Wude Divine Phoenix merged with Western Zhou’s fortune and its prosperity surged. Celestial Venerable Yuanshi received the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip from Dao Ancestor Hongjun after finding a human and a black panther who both bore the Flying Bear Aspect, leaving him confident that the Chan Sect would gain the upper hand in the coming Immortal Slaughter Tribulation.

• Jieyin saw Randeng’s potential through the Great Dao of Cause and Effect and hoped to find Zhunti a chance to attain the Dao.
• The Wude Divine Phoenix revealed his true form above Xiqi, then merged with Western Zhou’s fortune as the people hailed his appearance as an auspicious omen.
• Ji Chang divined that the phoenix’s appearance meant great fortune for Western Zhou and took it as a sign that his state could rise among the vassals.
• Celestial Venerable Yuanshi found a mortal and a black panther with identical Flying Bear Aspect destinies and sent them a Divine Ability guiding them to Mount Kunlun.
• Dao Ancestor Hongjun sent Celestial Venerable Yuanshi the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, and Yuanshi identified the pair as connected to the one destined to confer godhood.
• Celestial Venerable Yuanshi celebrated that the Chan Sect had the Investiture of the Gods, the God-Beating Whip, and the destined god-conferrer, giving it an advantage over the Jie Sect.

Ao Changsheng watched Celestial Venerable Yuanshi take Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao as disciples, then observed Di Xin’s preparations to offer incense at Nüwa Palace. After a strange wind and a silvery light in his eyes, Di Xin wrote an insulting poem about Nüwa’s statue, leaving his actions poised to provoke the goddess.

• Ao Changsheng watched Celestial Venerable Yuanshi secretly guide Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao toward the Jade Void Palace on Mount Kunlun.
• Di Xin boasted of Yin Shang’s conquests, and Shang Rong urged him to visit Nüwa Palace and offer incense.
• Di Xin questioned Nüwa’s merits, and Fei Zhong persuaded him to approve the visit while omitting that she was the Human Race’s Holy Mother.
• Di Xin learned that Nüwa was the Holy Mother of the Human Race and a Sage, then traveled with his court to Nüwa Palace.
• A strange wind lifted the curtains before Nüwa’s statue, and Di Xin, his eyes flickering with silvery light, wrote a poem expressing his desire to take her as his consort.

Nüwa decreed that Yin Shang would fall in Di Xin’s generation, and Caiyun Tongzi summoned three demons and ordered them to enter the palace and lead the king astray. At the Fire Cloud Cave, the Human Emperors discovered that Daoist Zhunti had bewitched Di Xin, though they still condemned the king for failing to resist.

• Nüwa declared that Yin Shang would perish in Di Xin’s generation, ending the fortune black bird’s ability to pass on its legacy.
• Caiyun Tongzi summoned the nine-tailed fox spirit, the nine-headed pheasant spirit, and the jade pipa spirit, then ordered them to enter the palace and lead the king astray without harming the people.
• Caiyun Tongzi concealed the three demons’ forms, and the nine-tailed fox spirit welcomed the others as sisters while seeing the mission as a chance to gain power.
• The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors watched a Round Light Mirror replay of Di Xin’s actions at Nüwa Palace and saw Daoist Zhunti’s strange wind bewitch him.
• Zhuanxu and the other Human Emperors judged that Di Xin’s weak Dao heart had kept him from resisting Zhunti, and they refused to acknowledge him as their Human King.

Daoist Zhunti used a mind-bewitching Divine Ability on Di Xin at Nüwa Palace, prompting him to write a provocative poem, while Ao Changsheng secretly recorded Zhunti’s involvement and sent the evidence to Fuxi. At Chentang Pass, Li Jing’s third son was born after forty-two months in the womb, and Li Jing named the gifted child Li Nezha.

• Daoist Zhunti went to the Human Race and used a strange wind to bewitch Di Xin as he offered incense at Nüwa Palace.
• Ao Changsheng recorded Zhunti’s actions in a Middle Thousand World and sent it to Fuxi in Fire Cloud Cave.
• At Chentang Pass, Li Jing waited as his wife labored with their third child after forty-two months of pregnancy.
• Li Jing mistook the newborn’s red-glowing flesh for a monstrous fiend and struck it with his treasured sword, but the flesh split open and revealed a child.
• Li Jing examined the child, found him human with extraordinary aptitude, erased the midwife’s and maids’ memories of the strange birth, and reassured Madam Li.
• Li Jing and Madam Li named their third son Nezha.

True Person Taiyi tracked an Innate Indestructible Spirit Light to Nezha and took the newborn as his disciple, giving him two Innate Spirit Treasures. Taiyi left for Mount Kunlun to ask Celestial Venerable Yuanshi about the light within Nezha.

• True Person Taiyi sensed an Innate Indestructible Spirit Light in Chentang Pass and followed it to Li Jing's residence.
• Li Jing told Taiyi that his sons Jinzha and Muzha were disciples of Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun and True Person Puxian.
• Taiyi realized the spirit light was inside Nezha and, believing Li Jing's family was destined for the Immortal Slaughter Tribulation, asked to take Nezha as his disciple.
• Li Jing agreed, then revealed Nezha had spent three years and six months in the womb; Taiyi explained that long gestation could give Human Race children exceptional talent.
• Taiyi gave Nezha the Universe Ring and Heaven-Chaos Sash, then flew to Mount Kunlun to consult Celestial Venerable Yuanshi about the spirit light.

Ao Changsheng prepared nascent Great Thousand Worlds for the Primordial World's eventual destruction while his Water Dao body slowly ground down a captured Chaos Demon God in the Water Dragon World. As Ao Changsheng studied the captive, an old acquaintance appeared outside the world.

• Ao Changsheng observed Nezha's innate indestructible spirit light, then left Chentang Pass to prepare for the coming calamity and create nascent Great Thousand Worlds.
• Ao Changsheng suspected Hongjun had arranged their deal to keep him occupied when the Primordial World shattered, and looked forward to seeing Hongjun's plans unfold.
• In the Water Dragon World, Ao Changsheng's Water Dao body suppressed a Chaos Demon God of Disorder and attacked his Great Dao to preserve his corpse.
• Ao Changsheng studied the captive's Great Dao to improve his method of grinding it away, hoping to discover what Dao Fruit the Tree of the Great Dao would bear.
• A figure appeared outside the Water Dragon World, recognized Ao Changsheng as an old friend, and greeted him with delight.

Ao Changsheng encountered Great Immortal Yangmei in the Chaos, and Yangmei attacked him with the Great Dao of Space. Ao Changsheng shattered Yangmei’s chains and the surrounding Chaos, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Great Immortal Yangmei recognized Ao Changsheng and assumed Hongjun had forced him out of the Primordial World because of Yangmei’s old scheme.
• Ao Changsheng rejected Yangmei’s friendly greeting and detected a concealed message Yangmei had sent into a distant world.
• Yangmei trapped Ao Changsheng and the Water Dragon World with divine chains of space, then approached to attack.
• Ao Changsheng transformed into his immense true dragon form and broke the chains with ease.
• Ao Changsheng seized the Water Dragon World, and cracks spread through the Chaos until its world shattered.