Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou captured Daniel and Omega, then learned Omega belonged to the British Alliance State’s force that was helping the Montes Lineage suppress the rebellion. He declared the Scarlet Alliance State’s group was backing the rebels for a higher price and held Omega as a prisoner to exchange if needed, leaving her to contact Nagesi.

• Zhang Xuezhou and his companions used Realm Suppression to restrain Daniel and put a locking collar around Omega’s neck.
• Omega tried to remove the collar, but Zhang Xuezhou warned that tampering with it could trigger an explosion.
• Zhang Xuezhou questioned Daniel, who first denied being a rebel and then claimed to be an ally of the Alliance States.
• Omega explained that the British Alliance State’s force had been officially invited to suppress the rebellion, and Zhang Xuezhou said his group had chosen the side offering more money.
• Zhang Xuezhou declared Omega a prisoner who could be exchanged for any captured members of his group.
• Omega used a communicator Zhang Xuezhou returned to contact Nagesi at the Grian Lineage.

Zhang Xuezhou negotiated with Nagesi to cooperate with the rebels and establish a new parliament in the Aomeijia Alliance. They chose Grian as a potential leader, leaving Daniel and Omega with hope of surviving and gaining influence.

• Daniel claimed he was a rebel to persuade Zhang Xuezhou and his companions to spare him.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Genas that the Scarlet Alliance State planned to cooperate with the rebels, and Genas realized they could appoint their own rebel leader.
• Zhang Xuezhou invited Nagesi to join the plan, and Nagesi agreed to help occupy Bulanpeida City and target the Montes Lineage.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Nagesi agreed that Grian could serve as the new parliament's speaker, and Nagesi said Grian was already in his custody.
• Daniel and Omega realized that the deal could save them and potentially raise the Grian Lineage's standing.

Zhang Xuezhou planted the fifth flag of the Fortune Condensation Formation in Bulanpeida City and arranged plans for Grian’s televised speech while preparing to travel between worlds. The chapter ended with Zhang Xuezhou waking on Spirit Mountain.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran discussed the difficulty of catching up with powerful rivals and how much they relied on fortune.
• Zhang Xuezhou planted the fifth formation flag in the bombed ruins of Bulanpeida City and activated it.
• Zhang Xuezhou chose a relatively safe place in a residential district for the final flag and told Zhang Manqian and Ren Anran to prepare for Grian’s arrival.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Zhang Manqian to arrange a televised speech for Grian, and Ren Anran suggested hiring university students to write it.
• Zhang Xuezhou lay down in the truck, then shuddered and woke on Spirit Mountain.

After emerging from the spirit spring, Zhang Xuezhou discovered that it had rejuvenated his body but stripped away most of his strength. He restored his former appearance with the Aging Technique and realized that his Heaven and Earth Bridges had also been renewed.

• Zhang Xuezhou crossed paths with the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon during his transition from the spirit spring and felt an intense, soul-chilling cold.
• Zhang Xuezhou emerged from the spring and found that his body had shrunk to the size of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old.
• Zhang Xuezhou discovered that the spring had renewed his body but erased nearly ninety percent of his strength, leaving him hungry and weakened.
• Zhang Xuezhou absorbed Spiritual Qi from the spring, then used the Aging Technique to regain his former size and fit his Seal-Bearing Divine Robe.
• Zhang Xuezhou noticed that the Aging Technique flowed more smoothly and discovered that his Heaven and Earth Bridges had also been renewed.

Zhang Xuezhou discovered that the spirit spring had renewed his body and opened up new potential, while wondering whether the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon had suffered the spring’s adverse effects. As the Bifeng swept him toward the cave entrance, he heard someone collide with something in the darkness and realized the grand gathering was still underway.

• Zhang Xuezhou found that his Heaven and Earth Bridges had regrown and that his Law Power and techniques flowed more smoothly, though his physical strength was nearly exhausted.
• Zhang Xuezhou felt his rejuvenated body had regained vast potential and considered whether Senior Brother Rulai and other Western Sect figures had been test subjects for Sect Leaders Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Zhang Xuezhou wondered whether the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon had benefited from or suffered the clear spring’s effects, and hoped the demon had been harmed.
• Zhang Xuezhou concealed the glow from his body and drifted through the Wind Cave as the Bifeng carried him toward the entrance.
• Zhang Xuezhou heard an impact and a weak grunt in the darkness, then realized the grand gathering on Spirit Mountain had continued for twelve days.

During the twelve-day steadfastness test in the Wind Cave, Zhang Xuezhou learned that only four contestants remained and confronted the weakened Brahma. Zhang accused Brahma of using a hidden arhat robe, and Brahma withdrew before anyone could investigate.

• Zhang Xuezhou fought an opponent who surrendered, while Kong Ning’s directions revealed that Brahma was to the left and Vishnu to the right.
• Sect Master Jieyin announced that Kong Ning of the Xieluosi River Holy Land had withdrawn, leaving four contestants.
• Zhang Xuezhou searched for Brahma and taunted him while Brahma’s weak strikes failed to hurt him.
• Zhang Xuezhou accused Brahma of hiding an arhat robe and threatened to bring someone into the Wind Cave to search.
• Brahma panicked, surrendered to secure fourth place, and ran toward the cave entrance.
• Zhang Xuezhou suspected Brahma had cheated in the grand gathering.

Zhang Xuezhou agreed to protect Vishnu in exchange for help obtaining the complete Prajna Heart Sutra and learning from the Western Sect’s Buddha Sons. Vishnu also warned him that Sect Master Zhunti might have consumed the core of Brahma’s innate Wood Spirit treasure, so Zhang Xuezhou abandoned his plan to have his own staff crafted by the sect master.

• Vishnu asked Zhang Xuezhou to protect him, promising to steal the complete Prajna Heart Sutra in return.
• Zhang Xuezhou considered making a second request of the Western Sect: having Sect Master Zhunti craft his innate Wood Spirit staff.
• Vishnu warned Zhang Xuezhou that Brahma’s serpent staff had lost its core after being handed to the sect master, possibly eaten by the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree.
• Vishnu recommended Laojun of Tushita Palace as a safer treasure crafter, and Zhang Xuezhou decided not to entrust his staff to the Western Sect.
• Vishnu offered to have the Buddha Sons teach Zhang Xuezhou what they knew, and Zhang Xuezhou agreed to protect him while pursuing the Prajna Heart Sutra.

Zhang Xuezhou and Vishnu teamed up to flush out the last Immortal Court contestant in the Wind Cave using feigned fighting and Soul-Severing Powder. After the opponent knocked Zhang down, he revealed himself as Wang Shan, gatekeeper of the High Heaven Hall.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Vishnu agreed to work together against the hidden Immortal Court contestant, with Zhang fighting head-on and Vishnu attacking by surprise.
• Zhang and Vishnu staged a quarrel and chased each other through the Wind Cave while Zhang scattered Soul-Severing Powder to draw out their opponent.
• The Bifeng spread the powder through the cave, and the Immortal Court contestant began coughing, allowing Zhang and Vishnu to charge toward him.
• Vishnu struck the contestant with a short pestle, and Zhang threw a bottle of Soul-Severing Powder into the fight.
• The contestant endured the powder and struck Zhang down with waves of dark light before identifying himself as Wang Shan.
• Vishnu recognized Wang Shan as the gatekeeper of the High Heaven Hall, a position held by the Immortal Court's strongest military officer.

Zhang Xuezhou fought Wang Shan in the Wind Cave, using the Bifeng and his Seal-Bearing Divine Robe to withstand the spirit official’s attacks while Vishnu interfered. Wang Shan eventually mistook Zhang Xuezhou’s sudden shrinkage for victory and fled the cave in agony.

• Zhang Xuezhou shouted Xuannü’s Nine-Character Instruction to confuse Wang Shan, then charged him while using the Halt Warfare Formula to blunt his weapon strikes.
• Zhang Xuezhou battered Wang Shan with his robe’s heavy sleeves as the Bifeng carried Soul-Severing Powder over them, while Vishnu circled nearby.
• Vishnu grabbed the clasp of Wang Shan’s golden-thread armor and stripped it off, but Wang Shan struck him down as Zhang Xuezhou removed Wang Shan’s mask.
• Wang Shan switched to punches, palm strikes, and finger strikes, overwhelming Zhang Xuezhou until the Aging Technique made Zhang shrink to half his size.
• Wang Shan believed he had won, then regained his senses, howled in pain, and stumbled toward the Wind Cave’s exit without retrieving his armor.

Zhang Xuezhou survived Wang Shan’s devastating attacks, then gave Vishnu credit for winning on Spirit Mountain’s home ground by using Soul-Severing Powder. After Xuannü carried Zhang out and Vishnu emerged injured, the contestants began to see Vishnu as a dangerous rival.

• Wang Shan’s finger strikes nearly destroyed Zhang Xuezhou’s body, but the Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique restored him.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Vishnu to claim first place, saying Vishnu’s Soul-Severing Powder had defeated both him and Wang Shan.
• Zhang Xuezhou covered himself in Soul-Severing Powder and called for Xuannü as he struggled toward the cave exit; Vishnu considered attacking him but held back.
• Xuannü entered the Wind Cave and carried Zhang Xuezhou out while Sect Master Jieyin and Sect Master Zhunti praised Vishnu’s victory.
• Vishnu emerged injured, and the contestants concluded that his reversal against Zhang Xuezhou made him an extremely dangerous rival.

After the Spirit Mountain grand event, Zhang Xuezhou recovered by eating enormous quantities of spirit rice and then went off to visit his friends in search of better food. Xuannü worried about the coming Immortal Court event and tried to advise Cai Ma, but both Kunlun representatives continued to frustrate her.

• Xuannü criticized Zhang Xuezhou for failing to bring Grain Avoidance Pills, while he explained that he needed real nourishment after bathing in the spirit spring.
• Zhang Xuezhou ate nineteen bowls of spirit rice, and Xuannü rebuked Spirit Mountain’s supervisor when he refused to serve more.
• After cleansing the Soul-Severing Powder from his body, Zhang Xuezhou said he would visit his friends to look for food and hurried out of the hall.
• Xuannü urged Cai Ma to prepare for the Immortal Court event by targeting the Holy Son’s strongest rival, and Cai Ma explained that her physical limits had hampered her at Spirit Mountain.
• Xuannü lamented that she could neither teach Cai Ma nor control Zhang Xuezhou, and settled down to eat slowly.

Zhang Xuezhou agreed to learn the Prajna Heart Sutra from Bodhisattva Contemplator of Freedom in exchange for pills, while Brahma delivered the scriptures he and Vishnu held. After examining the texts, Zhang Xuezhou pressed Brahma to obtain the remaining scrolls and watched him flee after the demon fish struck him.

• Zhang Xuezhou considered eating Bodhisattva Contemplator of Freedom's goldfish, then agreed to study the Prajna Heart Sutra while she taught him Sanskrit in exchange for pills.
• Bodhisattva Contemplator of Freedom offered to invite Manjushri and Samantabhadra to bring sweet potatoes and lotus roots for their study session.
• Brahma arrived with twelve scrolls belonging to himself and Vishnu, explaining that Shigong's six scrolls required his approval before they could be retrieved.
• Zhang Xuezhou accepted the two sets and told Brahma to obtain Shigong's scriptures and hurry Vishnu along.
• One of Bodhisattva Contemplator of Freedom's demon fish swelled to half a person's height and slapped Brahma, who fled the cottage.
• Zhang Xuezhou examined and compared the two sets of Prajna Heart Sutra scrolls.

Zhang Xuezhou and the Western Sect bodhisattvas compared the different Prajna Heart Sutras and decided to gather the Buddha sons' versions for study. Zhang Xuezhou invited the isolated Buddha Son Wu Chao to join them, but Wu Chao doubted he would be welcome.

• Zhang Xuezhou and the three bodhisattvas examined the twelve volumes of the Prajna Heart Sutra and discussed how its different versions suited different cultivators.
• Bodhisattva Contemplator of Freedom agreed to seek Buddha Son Rulai's volumes, while Zhang Xuezhou arranged to visit Buddha Son Wu Chao for his version.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Samantabhadra found Wu Chao living in a crude shelter, and Wu Chao crawled out using the Following Like a Shadow Technique.
• Zhang Xuezhou invited Wu Chao to discuss the Prajna Heart Sutras with Vishnu, Brahma, Shi Gong, and Buddha Son Rulai.
• Wu Chao said he feared the other Buddha sons would mock and ostracize him because he was weak and had little influence in the Western Sect.

Zhang Xuezhou persuaded Wu Chao to join the Buddha Sons’ gathering by showing him a supreme-grade pill and offering friendship rooted in their shared interests. At Contemplator of Freedom’s hut, the Buddha Sons began comparing their Prajna Heart Sutras, and their differing versions revealed how many cultivation paths the scriptures could encompass.

• Zhang Xuezhou failed to persuade Wu Chao to attend until he showed him a supreme-grade pill, prompting Wu Chao to leave his hut and bring six scripture scrolls.
• Samantabhadra led Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao to Contemplator of Freedom’s hut, where Rulai had already joined the gathering.
• Bodhisattva Manjushri explained that Vishnu was still trying to obtain Buddha Son Shigong’s Prajna Heart Sutra, so Contemplator of Freedom proposed starting with the twelve scrolls already gathered.
• The Buddha Sons examined four versions of the Prajna Heart Sutra and recognized that each reflected a different cultivation path, stirring Rulai’s interest in the scripture’s breadth.

Rulai, Wu Chao, and the bodhisattvas demonstrated their Thought Power and compared the results of their cultivation, while Zhang Xuezhou concluded that the Prajna Heart Sutra and other Western Sect scriptures were incomplete. Vishnu arrived and agreed to take Zhang Xuezhou and the others to meet Buddha Son Shigong and study his copy of the sutra.

• Rulai demonstrated his True Solar Fire manifestation, and Wu Chao, Bodhisattva Contemplator of Freedom, Samantabhadra, and Bodhisattva Manjushri showed and compared their own Thought Power.
• Rulai reassured the bodhisattvas that the Western Sect's leaders taught according to aptitude, but the group remained troubled by the differences in their scriptures and cultivation.
• Zhang Xuezhou said the Prajna Heart Sutra and other scriptures seemed incomplete, and Rulai explained that the missing teachings were meant for cultivators who had not reached the Ninth Realm.
• Vishnu appeared at the thatched hut, admitted he had failed to obtain Buddha Son Shigong's copy of the Prajna Heart Sutra, and said Shigong wanted to meet Zhang Xuezhou.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked to bring the others along so they could explain the Sanskrit scripture, and Vishnu agreed.

Zhang Xuezhou visited Buddha Son Shigong, who was being kept alive by Parvati’s ice after a bewitching technique and a severe wound left him near death. Zhang Xuezhou could not undo the technique, but offered to take him to obtain Cynomorium, a medicine that might stabilize his vital essence despite its serious drawbacks.

• Zhang Xuezhou followed Vishnu to Buddha Son Shigong’s cave and found Shigong with Parvati and their child, Skanda.
• Buddha Son Shigong asked Zhang Xuezhou to undo the technique on him in exchange for the Prajna Heart Sutra.
• Buddha Son Shigong explained that the empress’s phoenix hairpin and Kunlun’s bewitching technique had worsened his injury, and that Parvati’s ice was keeping his body together.
• Zhang Xuezhou admitted he could not undo the technique and said the sect masters had not been able to cure Shigong.
• Zhang Xuezhou offered to take Buddha Son Shigong to obtain Cynomorium, warning that it could lock his Qi and Blood and cause unpredictable complications.
• Buddha Son Shigong accepted the risk and agreed to try the medicine as a chance to survive.

Zhang Xuezhou traded a Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill for Buddha Son Shigong’s six Prajna Heart Sutra scrolls and used more pills to win favor with the bodhisattvas. After the others left, Buddha Son Shigong warned Vishnu that the Western Sect’s past Buddha sons had not simply died from lacking longevity methods, then offered Zhang Xuezhou a greater reward if he helped keep him alive and investigated further.

• Zhang Xuezhou gave Buddha Son Shigong a high-grade Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill, and Buddha Son Shigong handed over his six Prajna Heart Sutra scrolls before being directed to meet Zhang Xuezhou at Soul-Severing Ridge.
• Zhang Xuezhou read Buddha Son Shigong’s sutra and gave mid-grade pills to Bodhisattva Contemplator of Freedom, Bodhisattva Manjushri, and Bodhisattva Samantabhadra.
• Wu Chao asked Zhang Xuezhou how to advance his cultivation, and Zhang Xuezhou urged him to keep trying a path of his own.
• Vishnu asked Zhang Xuezhou to return Moon-Gazing Corner, but Zhang Xuezhou refused and questioned Vishnu’s ability to obtain the sect master’s Prajna Heart Sutra.
• Buddha Son Shigong warned Vishnu that the Western Sect’s former Buddha sons had likely not survived because of a deeper cause, then asked Zhang Xuezhou for more pills and promised a top-tier treasure in exchange for his help.

Zhang Xuezhou agreed to help Buddha Son Shigong steal Spirit Mountain’s hybrid Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root after learning it might restore Shigong’s body and remove Cynomorium’s sealing power. Sect Master Zhunti visited Shigong, spoke with Zhang about Kunlun’s responsibility, and left; Shigong then suspected Zhunti wanted to dissect his corpse.

• Buddha Son Shigong offered to share Spirit Mountain’s Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root with Zhang Xuezhou if Zhang helped him steal it and switch it with a similar lotus root.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned the hybrid root might remove Cynomorium’s excess sealing power, so he agreed to help and gave Shigong ten pills to keep him alive.
• Sect Master Zhunti arrived at the grotto and asked Zhang whether he had cured Shigong’s affliction.
• Zhang told Sect Master Zhunti that Kunlun was willing to discuss the matter, and Zhunti praised his manners before examining and comforting Shigong.
• After Sect Master Zhunti left, Buddha Son Shigong sat up and said he suspected the sect master wanted to dissect his body.

Zhang Xuezhou and his companions left Spirit Mountain for the Immortal Court, where Xuannü learned that Great Emperor Gouchen was unwell. They visited Gouchen Palace, where Xuannü found the once-mighty emperor old and frail.

• Zhang Xuezhou ate spirit rice and Myriad Dharma Lotus seeds after finding little food on Spirit Mountain, then agreed to travel to the Immortal Court with Xuannü and the others.
• Xuannü led the group through the Western Heavenly Gate into the Immortal Court, where attendants told her that Great Emperor Gouchen could not greet them because he was unwell.
• An old attendant escorted Xuannü and her companions to Gouchen Palace, where they found Great Emperor Gouchen lying in a wicker chair in the courtyard.
• Xuannü sent her magic sword flying at Great Emperor Gouchen, who deflected it with his horsetail whisk and shouted for her not to fight.
• Great Emperor Gouchen recognized Xuannü's black-bird lineage and envied her lasting youth, while Xuannü saw how much age had changed him.

At Gouchen Palace, Great Emperor Gouchen hosted Xuannü and Zhang Xuezhou with fire jujubes while discussing the Immortal Court’s upcoming grand gathering. He revealed that the challenge would send participants into a formation to find the Jade Emperor, leaving Xuannü suspicious of the contest’s fairness.

• Great Emperor Gouchen lamented his aging body and offered Xuannü and Zhang Xuezhou fire jujubes, while Xuannü questioned his complaints and habits.
• Xuannü tossed a fire jujube toward Zhang Xuezhou, who retrieved it awkwardly and asked Great Emperor Gouchen for more.
• Great Emperor Gouchen warned that eating too many fire jujubes could cause bodily mutations, and Zhang Xuezhou privately asked Xuannü whether the warning was true.
• Great Emperor Gouchen invited Zhang Xuezhou to display his abilities at the grand gathering and explained that participants would enter a formation to find the Great Heavenly Venerable.
• Xuannü questioned whether the challenge favored Soaring Heavens, and Great Emperor Gouchen explained that the formation was difficult to escape and contained rewards and punishments.
• Great Emperor Gouchen said the Immortal Court had changed its planned challenge after its strongest young fighters were incapacitated, removing the Kunlun Holy Son and Holy Maiden’s combat advantage.