Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou used Zuo Denggao’s hidden monitors to eavesdrop on Zuo Quan and learned that he was searching for a Void Stone while trying to keep Zuo Luo occupied in Emperor Li of Luo’s Mausoleum. Zhang Xuezhou then asked Zuo Denggao to install listening devices in the Eastern Mountain Imperial Mausoleums so he could monitor Zuo Luo.

• Zhang Xuezhou visited Zuo Denggao’s research institute to obtain a concealed listening device for monitoring Zuo Quan.
• Zuo Denggao activated his hidden monitors and picked up Zuo Quan’s voice, though the screens showed no images.
• Zuo Quan muttered that the Void Stone had returned to the real world and might allow him to preserve his life, and he feared Zuo Luo would discover it.
• Zhang Xuezhou heard Zuo Quan plan to delay giving Zuo Luo Ba’er Bo’s corpse and keep him trapped in Emperor Li of Luo’s Mausoleum while searching for the Void Stone.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Zuo Denggao to place listening devices in the Eastern Mountain Imperial Mausoleums so he could eavesdrop on Zuo Luo.

Zhang Xuezhou realized that the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon's immortality might depend on a Void Stone and used the Immeasurable Jade Wall to protect his room. He then experienced his journey between worlds in expanded mental time before arriving in the brewery, drunk from twelve days of liquor fumes.

• Zhang Xuezhou decided to ask Huang to search the sinkholes around North Rehe for a treasure that could raise a divine throne and possibly break the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon's immortality.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Zhang Manqian he would use the Immeasurable Jade Wall to protect his room and discussed their upcoming international dispute and possible journey to Qinmeng.
• Zhang Xuezhou set the Immeasurable Jade Wall by the entrance and reflected that he needed to prove his value to the Imperial Lord and Empress by advancing the Evasion Technique.
• As he traveled between worlds, Zhang Xuezhou used his mental strength to experience the journey and recognized similarities between the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon's power and Yu's power of faith.
• Zhang Xuezhou arrived in the brewery and became drunk after breathing liquor fumes during the twelve days the Golden Toad Dharma King and the others had spent brewing.

The Emperor and Empress investigated Zhang Xuezhou’s Evasion Techniques while he remained unconscious and discovered that his Grain Avoidance Instruction had become a Divine Ability. Unable to decipher his cultivation or safely challenge Hongjun’s restriction, the Emperor was left with no clear path forward.

• The Emperor and Empress examined Zhang Xuezhou’s nine Evasion Techniques and found that his Grain Avoidance Instruction could sustain his body by absorbing usable things while he was unconscious.
• The Emperor and Empress failed to work out how Zhang Xuezhou’s unusual cultivation could help them derive the Divine Sense Strengthening Incantation.
• A hairy monkey urged the Emperor to break Hongjun’s restriction on Zhang Xuezhou, but the Emperor refused because leaving Kunlun could get him killed.
• The Empress warned that Zhang Xuezhou’s teachings were incomplete and that searching his soul would not provide the full method.
• The hairy monkey complained that their plans had failed, and the Emperor suggested drinking, only for the monkey to remind him that the Golden Crow Great Emperor’s death had ended the brewing of Nine Treasures Wine.

After twelve days of drunkenness caused by his Grain Avoidance Instruction absorbing wine fumes, Zhang Xuezhou suspected the Kunlun Sacred Land had examined and altered his body. He decided to escape the Sacred Land, while the Imperial Lord and Empress failed to notice that he might not return.

• Zhang Xuezhou staggered out of the brewery and realized his Grain Avoidance Instruction had passively absorbed enough Nine Treasures Wine to keep him drunk for twelve days.
• Zhang Xuezhou suspected the Sacred Land’s examination of his body had triggered the abnormal Grain Avoidance and decided to leave before anyone could study him further.
• The Imperial Lord and Empress watched Zhang Xuezhou wander away, assuming he would return after sobering up.
• The Imperial Lord vanished to look at the tombs, and the Empress left after arguing with Mind Ape about how to end the Imperial Lord’s despair.
• Mind Ape later realized Zhang Xuezhou had been gone for a long time and might already have left the Sacred Land.

The Empress and the goddesses worried over Zhang Xuezhou’s disappearance, while the Emperor reflected on the dying Heavenly Court and his own impending decline. Jiang Qi then offered the Emperor part of Zhu Jiuyin’s Six-Lifetime Reincarnation Method, hoping it would help turn the Kunlun Sacred Land against his lord before the Centennial Pact.

• The Empress learned that Zhang Xuezhou was nowhere within five hundred li, and the Kunlun Sacred Land decided Jiang Qi might be sent to bring him back.
• The Emperor considered Zhang Xuezhou’s connection to Mr. Ren and restrained the others from pursuing harsher measures.
• The Emperor visited the ruined council grounds of the fallen Heavenly Court and feared that he would soon lapse into the same deathlike state as its sleeping gods.
• Jiang Qi told the Emperor he had obtained the Six-Lifetime Reincarnation Method and described the substitute reincarnation technique Zhu Jiuyin had created.
• Jiang Qi withheld part of the incomplete technique, hoping the Emperor or others in Kunlun would confront Zhu Jiuyin before the Centennial Pact.

Zhang Xuezhou flew east from Western Kunlun toward the Great Han Dynasty, planning to return for the Centennial Pact and considering how his Evasion Techniques could help him win. On the journey, he met Divine Lord Zhenyuan, who was struggling to adapt to life outside Kunlun Sacred Land.

• Zhang Xuezhou set off toward the Great Han Dynasty and used the sun to establish his direction, expecting to reach the dynasty within twelve days.
• Zhang Xuezhou reasoned that he could return to Kunlun Sacred Land for the Centennial Pact and planned to exploit his Evasion Techniques against opponents who relied on one fighting method.
• While flying, Zhang Xuezhou reviewed his cultivation and considered how his techniques might protect him from most younger-generation opponents.
• Zhang Xuezhou met Divine Lord Zhenyuan while roasting food, and Divine Lord Zhenyuan accepted his offer to share the roe deer.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan explained that he had traveled over eight thousand li and was hungry, but his Fire Technique was too fierce to roast food, while smoke from firewood made the meat unpleasant.

Divine Lord Zhenyuan discussed the risks of the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree’s life-extending power with Zhang Xuezhou and sought his advice on reviving the wilted tree. After Zhang Xuezhou suggested bringing soil from its original home, Divine Lord Zhenyuan flew back to the Kunlun Sacred Land while Zhang Xuezhou stayed behind to guard the tree.

• Divine Lord Zhenyuan told Zhang Xuezhou that their extended lifespans might collapse once their original lifespans ran out, and Zhang Xuezhou examined the wilted Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree.
• Zhang Xuezhou suggested that Divine Lord Zhenyuan transplant soil from around the tree’s original roots to help it adjust to its new surroundings.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan decided to fetch soil from the Kunlun Sacred Land but worried about encountering the Imperial Lord and Imperial Lady in the Ten Thousand Peach Garden.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan asked Zhang Xuezhou to guard the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree and promised to escort him back to Chang'an City afterward.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan flew toward the Kunlun Sacred Land, while Zhang Xuezhou adjusted his bearings and set off to find a landmark.

Zhang Xuezhou tested his strengthened offensive techniques on three rabbit demons threatening the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree. After defeating them with the Yellow Sand Body-Entangling Technique, he discovered that their leader could speak Chinese.

• Zhang Xuezhou searched the desolate secret land for landmarks and spotted three muscular rabbit demons heading toward the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree.
• Zhang Xuezhou chose to practice his Sand Transformation and Yellow Sand Body-Entangling techniques instead of suppressing the demons with Deterrence.
• Zhang Xuezhou blinded the rabbit demons with swirling sand, then eroded their wooden spears and overwhelmed them by filling their senses with sand.
• Zhang Xuezhou stopped the technique before killing the demons, and their leader recovered and begged him for mercy in Chinese.

Zhang Xuezhou subdued three rabbit demons and learned that the wilted tree they called an Immortal Tree had leaves that enhanced recently used Technique Methods but were poisonous. After the rabbits mistook his actions for permission to eat the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree, they died from its poison, leaving Zhang Xuezhou to realize both trees were poisonous.

• Zhang Xuezhou used the Yellow Sand Entangling Technique to torment the rabbit demons until they begged him for mercy.
• Rabbit Third Brother, Rabbit Fifth Brother, and Rabbit Sixth Brother told Zhang Xuezhou that Zhang Xu, an envoy who had fled from Xiong State, had taught them the Great Han Dynasty’s language before dying.
• The rabbit demons led Zhang Xuezhou to the wilted Immortal Tree, and he discovered that its leaves were poisonous but improved Technique Methods he had recently used.
• Zhang Xuezhou returned to find the rabbit demons dead after they had eaten leaves and bark from the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree.
• Zhang Xuezhou realized the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree was poisonous throughout and considered how difficult it would be to find a compatible species to improve it.

While waiting for Divine Lord Zhenyuan, Zhang Xuezhou improved his techniques by eating leaves from the secret land’s old trees. Zhenyuan returned with soil while fleeing the Golden Crow Great Emperor’s remains, then the ladies of Kunlun arrived and set off to pursue him, leaving Zhang Xuezhou caught up in their dispute.

• Zhang Xuezhou practiced his techniques after eating immortal tree leaves, then used the soil to tend the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree when Zhenyuan arrived fleeing the Golden Crow Great Emperor’s remains.
• Zhenyuan dumped soil over Zhang Xuezhou and urged him to put it around the tree before luring the Golden Crow’s corpse toward the sea; the corpse fire scorched the tree and burned the surrounding ground.
• Zhang Xuezhou buried the soil beneath the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree and watched its roots drag in rabbit carcasses.
• Mi Fei arrived in the Eight-Scenery Carriage with the other ladies of Kunlun, including Xuannü and Bixia, and asked Zhang Xuezhou where Zhenyuan had gone.
• Xuannü declared that Zhenyuan must answer for digging up the Ten Thousand Peach Garden, while Shangyuan warned that pursuing him farther east could provoke a dispute.
• Zhang Xuezhou offered to let the ladies take back the soil Zhenyuan had dumped, hoping to avoid being blamed for the affair.

The ladies found the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree dying at Soul-Severing Ridge and learned that Divine Lord Zhenyuan had taken soil from the Ten Thousand Peach Garden to try to save it. Lady Xuannü agreed to postpone confronting him, and the ladies returned to investigate problems in the garden; before parting, they asked Zhang Xuezhou to bring back Great Han brewing techniques in exchange for sparring with him.

• The ladies examined the dying Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree and concluded that Zhenyuan had transplanted it to save it.
• Lady Xuannü threatened to settle her grievances with Zhenyuan later, while the other ladies debated whether to let him tend the tree.
• Lady Shangyuan asked Zhang Xuezhou to send word when Zhenyuan returned, and he agreed awkwardly.
• The ladies abandoned their pursuit of Zhenyuan and headed back to the Ten Thousand Peach Garden to investigate the wood ants and possible formation trouble.
• Lady Xuannü returned to her normal form and told Zhang Xuezhou that he owed her and Lady Bixia wine.
• The ladies asked Zhang Xuezhou to bring back Great Han brewing techniques and promised to practice and spar with him in return.

Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan revived the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree with soil from the Ten Thousand Peach Garden and discussed how to prepare for Lady Xuannü’s possible return. After hearing Zhenyuan’s advice to master one method thoroughly, Zhang Xuezhou chose to advance his Grain Avoidance Instruction Divine Ability.

• Divine Lord Zhenyuan discovered that the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree had recovered after Zhang Xuezhou packed peach garden soil around it.
• Zhenyuan told Zhang Xuezhou that Golden Crow’s remains had turned into black stone after he led them into the sea, and he planned to borrow Law Treasure cloth and formation stones from Dao Lord Lu Ya.
• Zhenyuan explained that vast Law Power could suppress opponents and advised Zhang Xuezhou to specialize in one method before developing others.
• Zhang Xuezhou reflected on his incomplete cultivation and decided to take his Grain Avoidance Instruction Divine Ability to the extreme of the Divine Ability Realm.

Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan tested how poisonous leaves improved cultivation while flying back to Chang'an, and Zhenyuan discovered that Zhang's Cloud Soaring Technique rivaled a Divine Ability despite not being one. Their discussion of Zhang's Grain Avoidance Divine Ability led Zhenyuan to suggest that Zhang might transform the same technique into a Divine Ability again when he entered the Sole Self Realm.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan tested poisonous leaves and flew back toward Chang'an, with Zhenyuan carrying Zhang to conserve his Law Power.
• After a thousand li, Zhang explained that his growing reliance on Zhenyuan had not increased because his Cloud Soaring Technique was improving as he flew.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan praised Zhang's flying as comparable to a powerful Divine Ability, then learned that Zhang's actual Divine Ability was Grain Avoidance.
• Zhang told Divine Lord Zhenyuan that his unusual Grain Avoidance ability came from being infused with Spiritual Qi at the Xieluosi River Holy Land, and Zhenyuan expressed interest in witnessing the formation's movement.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan proposed that Zhang might choose Grain Avoidance again as a Divine Ability upon entering the Sole Self Realm, since repeatedly strengthening the same technique might deepen his other techniques.

While flying together, Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan discussed their cultivation methods, and Zhenyuan shared the Yin Talisman Scripture and Yang Talisman Scripture as a guide for Zhang Xuezhou’s path toward the True Self Realm. Zhenyuan revealed that a transcendent realm existed above the True Self and named Hongjun as someone who had reached it, prompting Zhang Xuezhou to connect Hongjun’s rumored sanctuary to the purple-lit hidden realm in the sea.

• Divine Lord Zhenyuan explained how he balanced the Yin Talisman Scripture and Yang Talisman Scripture, and Zhang Xuezhou compared their principles with his own Realm Technique.
• Zhenyuan recommended that Zhang Xuezhou use the two scriptures as an overall guide, and Zhang Xuezhou decided to write them down for reference.
• Zhenyuan said that fusing the scriptures might enable a transcendent transformation above the True Self Realm.
• Zhenyuan identified Hongjun as someone who had undergone that transformation and recounted that Yuanshi, Lingbao, and Laojun had been his students.
• When Zhenyuan mentioned Hongjun’s Purple Firmament sanctuary, Zhang Xuezhou recalled the purple-lit hidden realm in the sea.

Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan reached Shu Commandery City after flying in a straight line from Kunlun, giving Zhang Xuezhou a useful landmark for future journeys. They discovered that the city’s residents eagerly studied because Commandery Governor Wen Weng offered students practical benefits, and Divine Lord Zhenyuan resolved to learn from the city’s customs and affairs.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan spotted a city below and landed near Shu Commandery City.
• Zhang Xuezhou recognized the place where he had previously been struck by lightning and realized its location would simplify future trips to Kunlun.
• Zhang Xuezhou led Divine Lord Zhenyuan into the city, where they saw vendors and children reading and practicing arithmetic.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned from a vendor that students at Wen Weng’s academy received exemption from corvée labor and other benefits for their families.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan questioned how the academy’s rewards could be sustained and said he wanted to learn from the myriad affairs of the world.

Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan visited Shu Commandery and waited at the commandery governor's residence to see Wen Weng. Wen Weng returned and, after sensing Divine Lord Zhenyuan's imposing presence, suspected that an ancient power had returned.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan arrived at the commandery governor's residence, where Zhang Shu recognized Zhang Xuezhou and welcomed them inside.
• Zhang Shu served the visitors food, and Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan ate enough to astonish him.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked about Zhao Liang and explained that their Grain Avoidance practice required them to replenish their strength after going without food.
• Wen Weng returned from the academy, recognized Zhang Xuezhou, and felt Divine Lord Zhenyuan's powerful presence when he examined him.
• Wen Weng recalled ancient history and began to suspect that Divine Lord Zhenyuan belonged to a group that had returned.

Zhang Xuezhou introduced Divine Lord Zhenyuan to Governor Wen Weng and asked him to arrange a travel tally. Governor Wen Weng discovered Zhang Xuezhou was the newly appointed Grand Palace Counselor and urged him not to resign before using the post to advance educational reforms.

• Governor Wen Weng probed Divine Lord Zhenyuan and recognized his formidable cultivation, while Zhenyuan gauged the Great Han Dynasty’s strength.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Governor Wen Weng that Divine Lord Zhenyuan was a friend from the west, not his master, and asked for help obtaining a travel tally.
• Governor Wen Weng agreed to arrange Zhenyuan’s tally and mentioned that the new Grand Palace Counselor was also named Dongfang Shuo.
• Zhang Xuezhou revealed that he was the Grand Palace Counselor and said he planned to resign.
• Governor Wen Weng urged Zhang Xuezhou to keep the post long enough to promote academies and other reforms across the dynasty.

Wen Weng explained how the Great Peace Weir’s fertile farmland had enabled Shu Commandery to expand education, and Zhang Xuezhou agreed to recommend the academies’ success to the emperor without promising when it would happen. He urged Wen Weng to send talented young people to Chang'an City, leaving the governor to consider how Shu Commandery could fund and organize the effort.

• Wen Weng credited Zhang Xuezhou’s role in dealing with the snakes at the Great Peace Weir, which brought water to Puyang and created nearly two hundred thousand mu of fertile farmland.
• Wen Weng described how the new prosperity helped him promote academies and spread literacy throughout Shu Commandery.
• Wen Weng worried that other commanderies lacked Shu Commandery’s advantages, while Zhang Xuezhou offered to recommend Wen Weng’s achievements to His Majesty when the timing was right.
• Zhang Xuezhou suggested that Wen Weng send groups of young people to Chang'an City to answer recruitment notices and demonstrate Shu Commandery’s talent.
• Wen Weng weighed the expense and delays involved, then considered how Shu Commandery could take the initiative and send its young people to the imperial court.

Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan flew from Shu Commandery City to Chang'an City, where Zhang reunited with his family after three months away. Hearing that powerful visitors had repeatedly searched the Zhang residence, Zhang decided to seek an audience with the emperor at dawn and resign from his post.

• Divine Lord Zhenyuan questioned why Commandery Governor Wen Weng had ended up doing the work, while Zhang Xuezhou defended his part in securing the tally.
• Zhang Xuezhou assured Divine Lord Zhenyuan they could reach Chang'an City that night, and the two flew northeast without taking a significant detour.
• After landing near Chang'an City, Divine Lord Zhenyuan marveled at its scale and development as Zhang led him toward the Zhang residence.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan noticed the lingering smell of pork near the Zhang residence, and Zhang explained its cause before knocking on the door.
• Lady Yourong opened the door after Zhang called her Mom and told him that visitors, including formidable cultivators, had repeatedly come searching for him during his three-month absence.
• After hearing Lady Yourong and Zhang Zhong describe the visitors, Zhang decided to enter the palace at dawn using his appointment as attendant and ask to resign.

Zhang Xuezhou waited with Divine Lord Zhenyuan as an intruder entered the Zhang residence, and Zhenyuan swiftly captured him. The visitor proved to be Jin Chang, Zhang Xuezhou’s martial uncle, whose unexpected arrival hinted at the designs powerful factions had on Zhang’s court position.

• Zhang Xuezhou discussed his neglect of court duties and hoped to be dismissed from his post as Grand Master of the Palace.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan noticed someone climbing into the courtyard and volunteered to handle the intruder.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan seized the blue-robed scholar before Zhang Xuezhou recognized him as Jin Chang.
• Jin Chang confirmed his identity by recalling that he had helped Zhang Xuezhou enter the Divine Ability Realm.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Jin Chang to knock next time, while suspecting he had come as a lobbyist for the King of Huainan's Household.