Chapter Summaries

After spending what he thought was eleven days cultivating the Yang Corporeal Soul Incarnation, Zhang Xuezhou sought a faster method and decided to visit the Xieluosi River Holy Land. Ren Anran persuaded him to leave the mausoleum and rest, and they sat together among visitors at the newly opened scenic area.

• Ren Anran told Zhang Xuezhou that he had spent eleven days cultivating, prompting him to seek a faster way to refine his Yang Corporeal Soul Incarnation.
• Ren Anran explained that detailed knowledge of his body was essential, and Zhang Xuezhou wondered how his Venerable Superior had formed a nearly perfect incarnation so quickly.
• Zhang Xuezhou decided to visit the Xieluosi River Holy Land to look for quick-cultivation methods and stopped cultivating for the day.
• Ren Anran suggested that they leave the imperial mausoleum and rest, and Zhang Xuezhou agreed after noticing her unusual wish to relax.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran explored the trial-operation scenic area, then sat on a bench to listen to platform streamers.

Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran learned that Ning Que had recovered the golden tortoise and used it to find them. Ning Que hoped to trade it for help mastering the Sequence Lock, while Zhang Xuezhou suspected the artifact still held traces connecting them to its owner.

• Zhang Xuezhou reflected on how quickly time seemed to pass and on the many obligations crowding his schedule.
• Ren Anran spotted Ning Que approaching, and he greeted Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran before showing them a bronze golden tortoise.
• Ning Que explained that he had bought the tortoise at a roadside stall in Weiyuan County after Lin Qingyu spotted it in a video, and that he and others had kept it in a backpack.
• Zhang Xuezhou examined the tortoise, sensed it move, and concluded that someone or something could control it, though its power was weak.
• Ning Que admitted he had hoped to trade the tortoise for help mastering the Sequence Lock and said he had used its direction to locate Zhang Xuezhou.
• Zhang Xuezhou suspected the tortoise had stored their traces and realized their connection to its owner had not ended with their victory over Huang Daoxian.

Ning Que chose to build his own Sequence Lock, and Zhang Xuezhou arranged for Luo Burang to help him. Luo Burang introduced the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art, which Zhang announced to the committee for internal testing, leaving Zhong Rang hopeful that his place in the Seventh Sequence was secure.

• Ning Que chose to construct his own Sequence Lock, and Zhang Xuezhou arranged for him to work with Luo Burang.
• Luo Burang told Zhang Xuezhou that he had developed the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art, a technique that removed a Sequence Lock’s restrictions to strengthen Gene Fighting Techniques.
• Zhang Xuezhou agreed to practice the art and asked Luo Burang whether it could be learned quickly; Luo Burang said each level took at most half an hour.
• Zhang Xuezhou announced the technique in the committee communications group and offered the complete set free to capable Sequence Holders for internal testing.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that the art could let lower Sequence Holders break through Resistance Layers, and Zhong Rang felt reassured about securing his place in the Seventh Sequence.

Ren Anran used the bronze turtle Ning Que had sent to contact its owner, Xuanming, who began reclaiming her Profound Qi Heavy Armor. She stopped the armor from vanishing by claiming she had a Karmic Fortune Pearl and could introduce Xuanming to Zhang Xuezhou, then left the negotiation unresolved for him to handle.

• Ren Anran sensed a connection to the bronze turtle and found herself standing on its back as it carried her into darkness.
• Xuanming lamented losing the Karmic Fortune Pearl and began reclaiming the Profound Qi Heavy Armor from Ren Anran.
• Ren Anran’s attempts to communicate failed until she claimed she had a Karmic Fortune Pearl.
• Xuanming stopped reclaiming the armor and asked whether Ren Anran truly had a Karmic Fortune Pearl.
• Ren Anran said Zhang Xuezhou had defeated Huangdao and could take Huangdao’s place in dealing with Xuanming.

Zhang Xuezhou arranged voluntary internal testing of the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art and reassured Ren Anran after she encountered Xuanming through the bronze turtle. He negotiated from a position of confidence, and Xuanming revealed that even the greater world was difficult for powerful beings to rule.

• Zhang Xuezhou offered the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art to an initial group for free testing, then calmed Li Yingbo and the others who feared its effects.
• Ren Anran told Zhang Xuezhou that she had seen the bronze turtle’s owner, Xuanming, and described how his immense appearance and power had frightened her.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that dimensional differences made Xuanming appear gigantic and suggested Ren Anran could use the Heavenly Form Technique to counter such intimidation.
• Xuanming spoke through Ren Anran and praised Zhang Xuezhou for being even more obnoxious than Huangdao.
• Zhang Xuezhou challenged Xuanming about his need for cooperation, and Xuanming explained that establishing a nation and gathering Fortune in the greater world was difficult, though he had access to Karmic Fortune Pearls from three lower-dimensional worlds.

Zhang Xuezhou negotiated with Xuanming over a Karmic Fortune Pearl and protection for his divine soul, insisting that they swear a Great Heart Demon Oath. He recited a passage from the Tomb Scripture instead, curious whether it would provoke a real response from Xuanming.

• Zhang Xuezhou told Xuanming he preferred ruling East Mountain to entering Great Thousand and living beneath others.
• Xuanming warned Zhang Xuezhou that rivals could threaten his rule and offered to use Profound Qi Heavy Armor to protect his divine soul.
• Zhang Xuezhou proposed exchanging a Karmic Fortune Pearl for Xuanming's protection and demanded that they swear a Great Heart Demon Oath.
• Xuanming said he did not know the oath Zhang Xuezhou meant, so Zhang Xuezhou asked him to repeat the vow using his own name.
• Zhang Xuezhou recited a passage from the Tomb Scripture and waited to see whether Xuanming's Karmic Fortune would make it respond.

After Zhang Xuezhou had Xuanming recite the Tomb Scripture through Ren Anran, Xuanming abruptly lost control of her body and fled. Ren Anran reflected on how she and Zhang Xuezhou could complement each other, then discovered that Xuanming had left remnants that restored some of her old memories.

• Zhang Xuezhou led Xuanming in reciting the Tomb Scripture and urged him to pray for protection and promise not to change things at will.
• Xuanming struggled to speak as the golden turtles in Ren Anran's eyes vanished, and Ren Anran regained control of her body.
• Ren Anran compared herself with Zhang Xuezhou, and they discussed their different strengths, weaknesses, and ways of working together.
• Ren Anran leaned her head on Zhang Xuezhou's shoulder and recalled their past, then realized Xuanming had left remnants that brought back her memories.

Ren Anran discovered that Xuanming had left mental power in her brain, bringing her close to the seventh chapter of the Mental Strengthening Chapter. Zhang Xuezhou was then drawn into contact with Xuanming, who angrily complained that their Great Heart Demon Oath had unexpectedly involved his ancestors and might bind him.

• Ren Anran sensed that Xuanming's residual mental power could help her enter the seventh chapter if she used gene medicine.
• Zhang Xuezhou urged Ren Anran to return to the institute and try the transformation, but the bronze turtle drew him into contact with Xuanming.
• Xuanming accused Zhang Xuezhou of tricking him with an unfamiliar Great Heart Demon Oath that had stirred the souls and power of his ancestors.
• Xuanming realized he had left his avatar mind bead in Ren Anran and worried that the oath might bind him, leaving him convinced he had suffered a loss.

Zhang Xuezhou explained that the strange phenomena Xuanming triggered came from their recitation of the Tomb Scripture and assured him the Heart Demon Oath posed no danger. Xuanming agreed to continue their exchange, but grew frustrated when Zhang Xuezhou could not explain how to obtain Karmic Fortune Pearls or use Profound Qi Heavy Armor, and stopped him from ending their cooperation.

• Xuanming demanded to know what Fortune Technique Zhang Xuezhou had used to draw him in, and Zhang warned that their communication could soon be interrupted.
• Zhang told Xuanming that their Heart Demon Oath was only a safeguard for their transaction and suggested that he could pass the recitation on to others.
• Xuanming worried that the strange phenomena might carry hidden costs, but eventually agreed to continue their mutually beneficial exchange.
• Xuanming questioned Zhang about Karmic Fortune Pearls and how to use Profound Qi Heavy Armor, then complained that Zhang was less reliable than Huangdao.
• When Zhang appeared ready to end their cooperation, Xuanming stopped him because he wanted to recover the cost of the strange phenomena he had triggered.

Zhang Xuezhou learned Xuanming’s method for seizing Karmic Fortune and negotiated over helping him avenge a slain member of his Lineage. The chapter ended with Xuanming granting Zhang Xuezhou three strands of Profound Qi to protect him from danger.

• Xuanming explained that Karmic Fortune Pearls could be obtained by destroying dynasties and outlined the steps for planting, nurturing, sacrificing, and seizing Fortune.
• A golden light gave Zhang Xuezhou knowledge of how to craft a formation implement, which reminded him of techniques from the Literary Excellence Pavilion.
• Xuanming offered Zhang Xuezhou the Profound Qi Heavy Armor if he killed Zhou Ye and Zhou Qing’s descendants, Zhou Xin and Zhou Na, but Zhang Xuezhou said they were too powerful to fight.
• Xuanming sent Zhang Xuezhou information about armor-breaking and armor-protection methods, but Zhang Xuezhou remained reluctant to take on either task without protection.
• Xuanming drew three strands of Profound Qi from his true body and placed them on Zhang Xuezhou’s divine soul to protect him from three disasters.

Zhang Xuezhou struck a deal with Xuanming and returned to the B13 Research Institute with Ren Anran, where they found the Void Furnace suffering from erased memories. The chapter ended with Zhang Xuezhou and the Void Furnace bonding over their mistaken accounts of Zuo Lianguang, while Ren Anran was relieved they did not compare conflicting details.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Xuanming exchanged knowledge and three strands of Profound Qi without either side feeling cheated.
• Ren Anran praised Zhang Xuezhou for staying calm, and he said the Profound Qi might become a variable in their future struggle with the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran discussed using Jingluo Vine to adapt to the distorted environment and as a possible ingredient in the Heavenly God General Medicine.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran arrived at the B13 Research Institute, where Ren Yisheng and the others were waiting for the Void Furnace.
• The bandaged Void Furnace complained that Zuo Lianguang had beaten him, and Zhang Xuezhou joined in denouncing Zuo Lianguang while Ren Anran listened in relief.

Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Yisheng calmed Void Furnace after his defeat by Zuo Lianguang, persuading him to work with their faction and help it grow stronger. As Void Furnace met Ren Anran, her face and name stirred an uncanny sense of familiarity.

• Zhang Xuezhou loudly vowed revenge on Zuo Lianguang, while Ren Yisheng urged Void Furnace to recover and learn Gene Sequence methods instead of breaking the king's rules.
• Void Furnace agreed to set revenge aside for now and resolved to help Zhang Xuezhou's faction become strong enough to defeat Zuo Lianguang's group.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Ren Yisheng to recruit reliable fighters and have Void Furnace advise them on purifying their bloodlines.
• Zhang Xuezhou introduced Ren Anran as the king's marriage gift and a potion maker at his institute.
• Void Furnace recognized Ren Anran's face and name as strangely familiar and greeted her warmly.

Ren Anran explained to Ren Yisheng that repeated mental strengthening, supported by resources such as a future medicine made from Jingluo Vine, could enable further transformations beyond the seventh chapter. Their discussion ended when Ren Yisheng received an urgent message that startled him.

• Ren Yisheng told Ren Anran that his Dragon Elephant Combat Technique had become less effective against powerful opponents and that he lacked confidence in reaching the Ninth Sequence.
• Ren Anran said she could attempt to enter the Seventh Sequence using the white elephant Ferocious Beast extract, crediting Xuanming's copper tortoise with helping her reach the seventh chapter of Mental Strengthening.
• Ren Anran explained that enough accumulated mental energy could trigger further transformations and suggested Jingluo Vine might help produce a second-generation Heavenly God General Medicine.
• Ren Yisheng considered how repeated mental strengthening and external resources might offer a path to continued growth beyond the seventh chapter.
• Ren Yisheng's communicator vibrated, and he checked it before reacting with alarm.

Zhang Xuezhou met his and A Qiao’s premature newborn son and learned that A Qiao was recovering safely. Zheng Wukong questioned Zhang Xuezhou’s supposed bewitchment illness and concluded that potent medicine was likely its true cause.

• Chunyu Tiying told Zhang Xuezhou that his premature son had been saved, and warned him to protect the fragile newborn.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Chunyu Tiying about caring for the baby and agreed to find a wet nurse because A Qiao was too thin to provide enough milk.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Zheng Wukong whether A Qiao was well, and Zheng Wukong said she would recover after a few days of rest.
• Zheng Wukong warned Zhang Xuezhou that repeated intercourse and childbirth would exhaust A Qiao’s Pure Yin, so Zhang Xuezhou would need another way to treat his illness.
• Zheng Wukong questioned Zhang Xuezhou about taking potent medicines and concluded that the medicines had caused his strange symptoms.

Zhang Xuezhou agreed to bring Zheng Wukong a piece of Cynomorium in exchange for the Hanging Gourd Sect’s diagnostic technique for assessing women’s constitutions. He then reassured A Qiao that she and her child would be provided for and that she would not have to return to the King of Huainan’s Household.

• Zhang Xuezhou described the enormous Cynomorium to Zheng Wukong, who asked him to bring back a piece.
• Zheng Wukong offered to teach Zhang Xuezhou the Hanging Gourd Sect’s technique for diagnosing women in exchange for the herb, and Zhang agreed.
• Zhang Xuezhou planned to visit the Western Kunlun Holy Land and gather Cynomorium along the way.
• Zhang Xuezhou found A Qiao anxious about her place in his household and promised to arrange her and her child’s future.
• A Qiao agreed that she would not return to the King of Huainan’s Household and would use caring for the child as her reason to stay away.

Zhang Xuezhou visited the new emperor to arrange support for A Qiao and their newborn son, secure A Qiao’s change of status, and take leave for cultivation and travel. He also heard about Xiong State’s peace demands, but left the debate over war and peace unresolved, suspecting someone familiar had influenced the terms.

• Zhang Xuezhou asked the new emperor for a wet nurse, an official document to remove A Qiao from the base-born register, and permission to be away while he cultivated.
• The new emperor promised to place gifts on Zhang Xuezhou’s son’s account and let the boy study alongside the emperor’s daughter when he was older.
• Zhang Xuezhou told the new emperor that only two days seemed to have passed for him since they last spoke, though half a month had passed for the emperor.
• The new emperor described Xiong State’s demands for livestock, cloth, unrestricted border trade in ironware, and medicinal ingredients, and explained the court’s divided positions on peace and war.
• Zhang Xuezhou declined to involve himself in the debate and suspected that someone he knew had helped shape Xiong State’s demands.

Zhang Xuezhou spoke with Dong Zhongshu before they parted, discussing family, the emperor’s growing power, and the danger posed by Immortal Court spies in Chang’an. Dong warned that spies had approached Grand Princess Dou, leaving Zhang Xuezhou wary as he prepared to travel to Western Kunlun.

• Dong Zhongshu congratulated Zhang Xuezhou on the birth at his residence and revealed that he had nine children.
• Dong Zhongshu advised Zhang Xuezhou to build a family and estate, and warned him that the new emperor would act ruthlessly once he consolidated power.
• Dong Zhongshu told Zhang Xuezhou that Immortal Court spies had infiltrated the court and used the names of the twelve earthly branches.
• Dong Zhongshu said he had heard the spies mention the Princess of Guantao, and Zhang Xuezhou realized they had likely approached Grand Princess Dou.
• Zhang Xuezhou resolved to visit Grand Princess Dou's residence after returning from Western Kunlun.

Zhang Xuezhou flew west toward the Centennial Pact, advancing the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique with medicinal pills as he traveled. He reached Divine Lord Zhenyuan’s temple at Soul-Severing Ridge to recover his Demon Power, break through a Technique Method, and discuss new Great Han techniques.

• Zhang Xuezhou chose to fly west rather than carry the new emperor north, planning to attend the Centennial Pact and seek a Life-Creating Fortune Pill.
• Zhang Xuezhou used Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pills during his journey and completed the sixth revolution of the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique overnight.
• Zhang Xuezhou considered the technique’s increasingly powerful effects but decided against testing them on himself.
• Zhang Xuezhou arrived at Divine Lord Zhenyuan’s newly built temple at Soul-Severing Ridge and explained that he needed a place to stay, recover, and cultivate.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan directed Zhang Xuezhou to the main hall’s cultivation cushion, where his Demon Power recovered several times faster.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan asked what Technique Method Zhang Xuezhou could cultivate without Law Power, then realized the many medicinal pills made it too expensive for him to imitate.

Zhang Xuezhou advanced to the seventh revolution of the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique, but his body became both hard and fluid as the Technique clashed with his Fleshly Body Technique. With Divine Lord Zhenyuan’s guidance, he used the Five Elements Technique to adjust his body and unexpectedly fulfilled the conditions for the Following Like a Shadow Technique.

• Zhang Xuezhou swallowed handfuls of Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pills while advancing, and Divine Lord Zhenyuan helped him circulate the Poison Avoidance Instruction to clear pill toxins.
• Zhang Xuezhou’s body turned soft and fluid during the seventh revolution, and he tested the state by letting his body collapse into a puddle.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan suggested that Zhang Xuezhou use the Five Elements Technique to balance the conflicting effects of his techniques.
• Zhang Xuezhou chewed poisonous tree leaves, quickly understood the Five Elements Technique, and slipped beneath a small stool like flowing water.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan gave Zhang Xuezhou more poisonous leaves, but their effects faded quickly because Zhang Xuezhou’s cultivation and Poison Avoidance Instruction were too advanced.

Zhang Xuezhou completed the seventh revolution of the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique, gaining a body that could seal and unite Qi but consuming most of his pill supply. He then asked Divine Lord Zhenyuan to help him develop a Divine Ability Technique and find a way to selectively forget existing techniques, and their discussion led Zhenyuan to think of someone who might help.

• Zhang Xuezhou finished the seventh revolution and explained to Divine Lord Zhenyuan how the technique made his body transform and withstand injury.
• Zhang Xuezhou used up most of his Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pills and hesitated to test his new resistance by stabbing himself with the Fish Intestine Sword.
• Zhang Xuezhou shifted to his third purpose for visiting Soul-Severing Ridge: seeking guidance on a Divine Ability Technique and changing a Qi refiner's Realm Technique.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan discussed selectively forgetting techniques to reduce confusion, weighing the risks and the difficulty of forgetting ingrained skills.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan explained that the Haotian Divine Mirror could restore memories but erased them by destroying the three souls and seven spirits, then recalled someone who might be able to help Zhang Xuezhou.