Festival of Lights · Diwali
After eating demon meat, Zhang Xuezhou cultivated in his dream world, learned techniques, and discovered that the meat carried Yao Qi tied to the Ten Yin Holy Son. He returned to the mountains with Zhang Zhong and Lady Yourong, who carried Zou Bugui toward the temple as Jin Wanliang attacked.
Zhang Xuezhou and the Rong family reach Hibiscus City, where Rong Tianding’s fake ghost-protecting paintings draw them into a murder investigation. After exposing Constable Lord Li’s ghost act, Zhang Xuezhou and his companions begin searching Dragon Gate Village for Wang Fu’an’s killer.
Zhang Xuezhou was trapped in the Golden Toad Dharma King’s grotto-heaven, helped him survive and escape, and became his adopted son after reaching the Demon Race’s Holy Land. Back in reality, Zhang Xuezhou recovered from a near-fatal fall in time to take his exam, while his parents continued pursuing a better life.
Zhang Xuezhou entered the Yedie River Holy Land, gained a place among its disciples, and began studying under Hongku while managing his strange dream effects in waking life. The arc ended with his provincial exam success drawing public attention as Song Fengying sought to rebuild her livestreaming app.
Zhang Xuezhou navigated the dangers of Hongku’s curse while pursuing cultivation, food, and help for his illness in the waking world. Ren Yisheng studied the Heart Incantation, but when it failed to change Zhang Xuezhou’s cultivation, Wu Chao proposed finding Zou Bugui to resolve the problem and strengthen their chances against Hongku.
Zhang Xuezhou was taken from the Western Border to Chang'an, where the crown prince and his ministers used him as a medium to search for Zou Bugui. Their attempts advanced Zhang Xuezhou’s cultivation and finally revealed Zou Bugui being beaten by Jin Chang, while the crown prince prepared to act on what they had learned.
Zhang Xuezhou survived the Crown Prince’s clash with Kong Ning and reunited with Wu Chao and Zou Bugui, then secured Zou Bugui’s teaching while Jin Chang ensnared Wu Chao in a dangerous bargain. The group crossed the Northern Border and recruited Zhufu Yan for their journey into the mountains.
Zhang Xuezhou navigated a hidden sequencing arena, reunited with Zhang Manqian, and received Ren Yisheng’s reassurance and a new mental cultivation method. Meanwhile, Zhu Jiuyin sent Zhang and Wu Chao to investigate Emperor Jing, and Zhang began exploring genetic sequencing as a way to strengthen himself.
Zhang Xuezhou advanced through medicinal experimentation and cultivation while joining Ren Yisheng’s research group, and Zhang Manqian entered the Meridian Circulation Realm. On Supreme Peak, Wu Chao and Jin Chang prepared to confront Hongku, but reconsidered their plan after Hongku summoned Zhang Xuezhou and Jin Chang urged Wu Chao to learn what Hongku wanted.
Hongku survived an assault by the Venerables and won a place among them, while Zhang Xuezhou left for Vermilion Clouds Palace to study the Technique Within the Clouds. The stretch ended with Zhang recovering from the Heavenly Thunder Fruit and preparing to cultivate more seriously.
Wu Chao and Zhang Xuezhou survived the Yedie River Holy Land’s deadly scheme, fled toward Xiong State, and then returned to Zhang Xuezhou’s modern life, where Zhang Manqian disappeared and Ren Yisheng faced a crisis. The stretch ended with Zhang Xuezhou breaking into Ren Yisheng’s home and finding him bleeding before a blank scroll.
Zhang Xuezhou survived Ren Yisheng’s Qi Deviation and helped secure Zhang Manqian’s release from the Zuo Household. While Wu Chao and Jin Chang fled pursuit in the other world, Zhang Xuezhou returned to recovery, and Ren Yisheng adapted the Kunpeng Combat Technique for him.
Zhang Xuezhou survived a battle at the Western Sect temple, then returned to Canglan Academy as Ren Yisheng’s experiments helped Ren Wuyang break through. After reconnecting with his family, Zhang learned Song Fengying might be in danger from rapidly depleted mental energy and began trying to bring his family to Canglan Academy.
Zhang Xuezhou entered the Kunlun Ruins secret realm, where he gained access to Nine Treasures Wine and became entangled in the Emperor’s conflict with powerful beings. He left the arc alive and newly presented as the Emperor’s student, while the Emperor resolved to make that claim real.
Zhang Xuezhou strengthened his ties with Ren Yisheng and helped his family and allies pursue cultivation while Flying Entertainment Livestream sought powerful backing. At the Ren Household, he helped Ren Anran through a dangerous breakthrough, then faced Wang Jiangtao’s attack and tried to get her to safety.
Zhang Xuezhou survived the Ren Household fire and returned to the secret place, where the Emperor and Empress taught him defensive formulas and he rapidly advanced his cultivation. Back in the hospital, he cultivated during X446 treatment and witnessed Wang Yi'an defeat Wang Haoran as the Wang Household assets came under dispute.
Zhang Xuezhou left Kunlun under orders to investigate Emperor Jing and reached Shu, where Dong Zhongshu suspected the emperor in Chang’an was an impostor. He joined Dong Zhongshu and Wen Weng’s hunt for a Ba Snake, which survived the battle and fled into the Jian River as Zhu Shiyin resolved to forge his own fate.
Zhang Xuezhou helped Dong Zhongshu and Wen Weng hunt the Ba Snake, seized its eye, and learned Confucian cultivation from Dong Zhongshu. Back in reality, he advanced his mental power while the Ren family explored Realm Entry, treated Wang Haoran, and prepared for the Sequencer Grand Gathering, as Zhang Manqian suffered a disturbing hallucination.
Zhang Xuezhou survived Song Xianzhong’s rampage and returned to the Han world, where he recovered, pursued Grain Avoidance Powder, and relayed intelligence about Emperor Jing. The stretch ended with Dong Zhongshu witnessing righteous Qi rise from Zhang Xuezhou as he recited the Vast Righteous Qi Instruction.
Zhang Xuezhou learned Confucian cultivation, treated the injured in Shu Commandery City, and helped expose the Ba Snake behind Zhao Liang’s curse. After earning money and trading for Wen Weng’s Immobilize Character Scroll, he left with Dong Zhongshu toward the Northern Border, where Ren Yisheng began a customized treatment to advance his cultivation.