Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou rallied the Dead Souls and the arriving Sequence Holders to attack the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, who was trapped inside a clay figure while refining the Sovereign. After Nagesi barely survived a counterattack, Zhang Xuezhou used an immortal flame Divine Stone to spur him into charging again.

• The mallard urged the red-skinned Dead Souls to rebel, and Zhang Xuezhou learned to direct them with gestures and commands.
• The Dead Souls sent chains through the clay figure and restrained the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon as Zhang Xuezhou called on the Sovereign to fight back.
• Nagesi arrived and asked about Mengtesi Badun, who had survived the backlash from his broken domain.
• At Zhang Xuezhou's urging, Nagesi attacked the clay figure with a flaming sword, but the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon melted it and burned him badly.
• Zhang Xuezhou threw an immortal flame Divine Stone at the clay figure, and Nagesi charged again with his spare sword.

Zhang Xuezhou and his allies continued to wear down the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, using a fire crystal to draw Nagesi into attacking and expose the demon’s skull. As the standoff shifted toward a coordinated assault, Zhang Xuezhou baited the demon into releasing mental force and threw the Doomsday Fragment at him.

• Zhang Xuezhou threw a fire crystal at the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, and Nagesi became fixated on it and slashed at the demon’s clay shell.
• Nagesi severed the clay figure’s head, exposing the demon’s red skull and allowing Nagesi to seize the crystal fused to it before retreating from the flames.
• Zhang Xuezhou urged Nagesi to keep attacking while he and Ren Anran relied on Dead Souls and chains to wear down the demon from a distance.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran moved toward the Throne of Eternal Life as Nagesi took position opposite them, and the demon’s internal thunder grew louder.
• Zhang Xuezhou called for a joint attack on the clay figure’s abdomen, withdrew his deterrent force when the demon answered, and hurled the Doomsday Fragment at him.

Nagesi’s Doomsday Fragment detonated, freeing the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon from the World Tree’s binding, and the demon escaped with Zhang Xuezhou into the tree chair. Left behind and unable to find his way home, the Thearch discovered inscriptions suggesting the tree god only needed to win.

• Nagesi’s Doomsday Fragment exploded, blasting Zhang Xuezhou, Ren Anran, and the others with its shock wave.
• Zhang Xuezhou used his control over fast and slow to push Ren Yisheng toward the hall’s entrance before the blast sent him flying.
• The Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon said the explosion had broken the World Tree’s binding and ended the affliction tormenting his divine soul.
• The demon entered the tree chair with Zhang Xuezhou, leaving the Thearch behind as his attempt to stop them failed.
• The Thearch searched the tree chair’s vast interior and deciphered inscriptions that read, “The tree god only needed to win.”

Zhang Xuezhou crossed back to Western Kunlun with the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, who took over the Divine Lord’s body and ordered Zhang seized. The Path of Favor pulled Zhang out of Kunlun, leaving him injured and uncertain how to expose the impostor or restore his Master.

• Zhang Xuezhou followed the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon through the crossing and prepared to draw the Fish Intestine Sword when they reached Western Kunlun.
• The Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, possessing the Divine Lord’s body, expelled Zhang Xuezhou from his tutelage and ordered him seized.
• The Divine Lady struck Zhang Xuezhou and searched for him after his body flickered out of reach.
• The mark of the Land of Favor pulled Zhang Xuezhou out of Kunlun’s hidden realm.
• Zhang Xuezhou realized the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon could impersonate the Divine Lord and struggled to stabilize his injuries.

After the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon seized the Sovereign’s body, Zhang Xuezhou raced to salvage resources and strengthen himself before the Three Realms turned against him. He discovered that nearly a month had passed during what felt like thirteen days, then secured Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root and prepared to use Cynomorium to break through.

• The rejuvenated Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon attacked Zhang Xuezhou and took control of the Sovereign, leaving Zhang Xuezhou to plan for the coming hunt and build up his strength.
• Zhang Xuezhou checked his Karmic Fortune and found it was not as depleted as he had feared, then planned to visit several holy lands and the Immortal Court to gather resources and improve his cultivation.
• Zhang Xuezhou used lands of favor to reach the Western Sect and found Buddha Son Shigong, Vishnu, and Parvati waiting near the Cynomorium.
• Vishnu showed Zhang Xuezhou twenty-eight tally marks, revealing that almost a month had passed despite Zhang Xuezhou experiencing only about thirteen days.
• Buddha Son Shigong gave Zhang Xuezhou the half-length of Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root, and Zhang Xuezhou cut Cynomorium to consume as he prepared to break through.

Buddha Son Shigong recruited Vishnu into a plan to oppose the two sect masters after learning they might use cultivators as materials for reincarnation. He intended to hide his recovered body behind an apparent illness, while his suspicions about Zhang Xuezhou’s use of Cynomorium remained unresolved.

• Buddha Son Shigong accepted that no one would help him retrieve the Ruyi Vermilion Hairpin and vowed to climb to power and overthrow the old rulers.
• Buddha Son Shigong seized Vishnu by the throat and forced him to join the scheme; Vishnu agreed and proposed recruiting more allies.
• Buddha Son Shigong told Vishnu that the sect masters planned to use cultivators as materials for reincarnation, and Vishnu identified the spring in Bi Wind Cave as the likely pool.
• Vishnu suggested bringing Tathagata into the plan and blackmailing Zhang Xuezhou over his tampering with the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.
• Buddha Son Shigong explained that excess Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root had left his body limp and that he would pretend to be seriously ill at Spirit Mountain.
• Buddha Son Shigong wondered whether Zhang Xuezhou had used Cynomorium to advance his cultivation, then dismissed Wu Chao as an unworthy recruit.

Zhang Xuezhou reached Spirit Mountain and enlisted Wu Chao’s help while warning him about the Prajna Heart Sutra and advising him on the medicines needed to advance his Realm Technique. He then asked Wu Chao to help delay access to the Immortal Court as Zhang fled the crisis surrounding his Kunlun identity.

• Zhang Xuezhou used Mahabodhi Temple to request entry to Spirit Mountain and waited for Wu Chao to open the passage.
• Wu Chao recognized Zhang Xuezhou beneath his mask, and Zhang warned him to slow his Prajna Heart Sutra cultivation and avoid entering Divine Ability.
• Zhang Xuezhou advised Wu Chao to stockpile great medicines suited to a realm above the one he hoped to reach.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Wu Chao to accompany him to the Immortal Court and distract the Daoist boys guarding the Western Heavenly Gate.
• Wu Chao questioned how Zhang had fallen into trouble with Kunlun, and Zhang said that events had turned against him.

After Zhang Xuezhou escaped the Kunlun Ruins, the emperor and empress ordered a ritual search using the Seal-Bearing Divine Robe. As the robe moved thousands of li in moments, the emperor realized Zhang Xuezhou had acquired new abilities and ordered others to pursue him.

• The emperor told the empress that Zhang Xuezhou had ambushed him and ordered her to track the Seal-Bearing Divine Robe.
• Mi Fei and Lady Du Jiang used a ritual altar to locate Zhang Xuezhou, first placing him about three hundred and twenty li to the east.
• The empress ordered Laotong to capture Zhang Xuezhou, while the emperor declared they could replace him as Holy Son with Jiang Qi without abolishing the title.
• The tracking ritual showed the Seal-Bearing Divine Robe racing thousands of li away, so the empress sent Willow God and Cruelty Ghost after Zhang Xuezhou in the Eight-Scenery Carriage.
• The robe began moving rapidly again less than half a shichen later, and the emperor realized Zhang Xuezhou had gained new trump cards.

Zhang Xuezhou entered the Immortal Court to meet the Jade Emperor while Wu Chao gambled with two attendants to help keep the Western Heavenly Gate occupied. After Zhang Xuezhou left Wang Shan with honest advice, Wang Shan returned to his post, torn between loyalty to the Jade Emperor and hope for change.

• Wu Chao showed Sanfei and Sanli a Life-Extending Golden Elixir and offered to wager it for spirit medicines, deciding to keep the attendants occupied.
• Zhang Xuezhou traveled through the Immortal Court, accepted gifts from Great Immortals, and exchanged polite greetings with them.
• Wang Shan led Zhang Xuezhou into the High Heaven Hall after telling him the Jade Emperor had summoned him.
• Wang Shan asked Zhang Xuezhou for guidance and offered him a rusty Law Artifact, but Zhang Xuezhou declined it and said Wang Shan had to rely on himself to advance.
• Wang Shan returned to his post, lamenting that his life had not improved and wavering between serving the Jade Emperor and hoping Kunlun would bring change.

Zhang Xuezhou asked the Jade Emperor to help him forget his cultivated Techniques so he could choose Techniques for a Divine Ability during his breakthrough. He began advancing his cultivation with dangerous medicines, and the Jade Emperor warned him that his body was in disarray and identified pills that could help stabilize him.

• Zhang Xuezhou told the Jade Emperor that Haotian could not come and that he was willing to forget his Techniques to pursue a Divine Ability.
• The Jade Emperor had Zhang Xuezhou sign a decree acknowledging that the forgotten Techniques might not be restored, then prepared to assist his breakthrough.
• Zhang Xuezhou swallowed large amounts of Chaos Poison Cynomorium and other cultivation resources, surprising the Jade Emperor.
• The Jade Emperor warned that Cynomorium would seal Zhang Xuezhou's power after the breakthrough and that forgetting his Techniques would leave him severely weakened.
• Seeing Zhang Xuezhou's body swell and his cultivation become disordered, the Jade Emperor told him to take the Nine Revolutions Purple Gold Pill and Nine Revolutions Great Returning Pills to regulate his body.

Zhang Xuezhou used Cynomorium and pills from Tushita Palace to force his cultivation from the middle stage to the late stage of the Divine Ability Realm. He asked the Jade Emperor to cast a technique as he prepared to evolve an Intermediate Divine Ability and attempt the Sole Self Realm.

• Zhang Xuezhou recalled the Nine Revolutions Purple Gold Pills and Nine Revolutions Great Returning Pills in his Lesser Heaven and Earth Bag after the Jade Emperor identified them as beneficial.
• Zhang Xuezhou swallowed half the pills, prompting the Jade Emperor to warn him and amend the decree to disclaim responsibility for the consequences.
• Zhang Xuezhou grew to seven zhang tall and consumed a vast quantity of Cynomorium and more than thirty pills to force a breakthrough.
• The Jade Emperor reflected on Zhang Xuezhou's reckless resolve and the Immortal Court's lack of capable cultivators.
• Zhang Xuezhou reached the late stage of the Divine Ability Realm and asked the Jade Emperor to cast a technique.
• The Jade Emperor activated the Great Heavenly Evolution Immeasurable Formation and sent a stream of multicolored light toward Zhang Xuezhou.

Zhang Xuezhou repeatedly cast techniques in the Great Heavenly Evolution Immeasurable Formation, forgetting them as the Jade Butterfly of Creation blurred their traces and unexpectedly connected with the Jade Emperor’s contact. After Zhang Xuezhou stopped and broke through to the Eighth Realm, the Jade Emperor was left unable to identify his new Intermediate Divine Ability or understand his choices.

• Zhang Xuezhou repeatedly cast his Technique Methods inside the formation and gradually forgot how to use them.
• The Jade Disc of Creation suddenly connected to Chonggong, but the Jade Emperor could not communicate clearly as the connection faded.
• The Jade Emperor noticed that Zhang Xuezhou’s Fleshly Body was shrinking after he forgot the technique sustaining it and considered summoning True Lord Erlang for help.
• The Jade Emperor watched Zhang Xuezhou cast techniques but could not identify them, while the Mirage Pearl made it difficult for him to focus.
• Zhang Xuezhou declared that he was finished, stopped casting, and rapidly formed an Intermediate Divine Ability as he broke through to the Eighth Realm.
• The Jade Emperor praised Zhang Xuezhou’s talent but could not understand his breakthrough or identify his new technique.

Zhang Xuezhou used the heavenly river in the Soaring Heavens Great Hall to forget several techniques before strengthening the Grain Avoidance Instruction. He broke through to the Sole Self Realm and noticed its similarity to the Gene Sequence.

• Zhang Xuezhou succeeded in using the Unity of Celestial Person and Heaven Technique and advanced the fusion of the Fleshly Body Technique and the Heavenly Form Technique.
• Zhang Xuezhou overheard a cultivator accuse Hongjun of taking a Fire Seed, then heard Hongjun explain how to repair a communication jade butterfly.
• Zhang Xuezhou reflected on his uncertain fate, the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, and the power struggles among the major factions as the heavenly river erased his technique memories.
• Zhang Xuezhou repeatedly demonstrated and forgot Evasion Techniques, then asked the Jade Emperor to withdraw the heavenly river before invoking the Grain Avoidance Instruction.
• Zhang Xuezhou strengthened the Grain Avoidance Instruction, opened the Heaven Bridge, and broke through to the Sole Self Realm.

After breaking into the Sole Self Realm, Zhang Xuezhou discovered he could control the power of “fast and slow” and reflected on how Control and domains could emerge from different cultivation paths. He left the High Heaven Hall unable to use his Law Power because of Cynomorium poison, while the Jade Emperor decided to keep watching him.

• Zhang Xuezhou entered the Sole Self Realm and gained control over “fast and slow” while advancing his Grain Avoidance Instruction Intermediate Divine Ability.
• He concluded that Control and domain abilities could appear in both the Gene Sequence and Realm Technique, depending on a cultivator’s chosen methods.
• The Jade Emperor congratulated Zhang Xuezhou, noticed that Cynomorium poison prevented him from using his Law Power, and asked about his Intermediate Divine Ability.
• Zhang Xuezhou declined to explain his cultivation method and asked to leave so he could restore his Law Power and Demon Power with Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root.
• The Jade Emperor let Zhang Xuezhou leave through a passage and resolved to keep an eye on him in case his cultivation could help the Jade Disc of Creation.

After leaving High Heaven Hall, Zhang Xuezhou learned that only twenty-seven shichen and two quarters had passed, then discovered that Kunlun had sent the Immortal Court a request to hunt for him. Wang Shan unknowingly helped the Poverty-Sending One spread Zhang Xuezhou’s portrait while the thief himself had already departed.

• Zhang Xuezhou borrowed coarse-cloth clothes from Wang Shan and explained that he could no longer maintain his usual appearance and voice.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned from Wang Shan that he had spent twenty-seven shichen and two quarters inside High Heaven Hall, then left after misleading Wang Shan about their earlier fight.
• The Poverty-Sending One arrived at High Heaven Hall in a heavenly-horse-drawn carriage and told Wang Shan that Kunlun had been robbed of its Immortality Elixir.
• The Poverty-Sending One showed Wang Shan a portrait identifying Zhang Xuezhou as the thief who had impersonated Kunlun’s holy son and stolen the elixir.
• Wang Shan assured the Poverty-Sending One that the Immortal Court hated thieves and would cooperate in the search.

With his powers sealed, Zhang Xuezhou reached the Southern Heavenly Gate on foot and bribed a heavenly king to send him to the lower realm. An elderly cultivator traveling on the Jade Emperor’s order joined him, and they descended together through the gate.

• Zhang Xuezhou ran to the Southern Heavenly Gate while hiding his anxiety about the Jade Emperor discovering he was no longer the Kunlun Holy Son.
• At the gate, Zhang Xuezhou gave a jade bead to the snake-bearing heavenly king, who granted him passage to the lower realm.
• An elderly cultivator arrived with the Jade Emperor’s decree and was pulled back to the gate when he tried to follow Zhang Xuezhou.
• The heavenly king introduced Zhang Xuezhou as a disciple of the Liu Household and sent both travelers through the gate.
• During their descent, the elderly cultivator complained about the journey while Zhang Xuezhou recognized him as the Poverty-Sending Ghost.

Zhang Xuezhou traveled with the Poverty-Sending Ghost toward the Yedie River Holy Land, where the ghost intended to deliver Kunlun’s decree naming Zhang a thief. Zhang learned how thoroughly his identity had been erased and persuaded the ghost to make sure the notice did not lead to innocent people being arrested.

• The Poverty-Sending Ghost asked Zhang Xuezhou for directions to the Yedie River Holy Land, then offered to carry him there in his Treasure-Gathering Basin.
• Zhang Xuezhou accepted the ride and asked why the Poverty-Sending Ghost was going to the Holy Land.
• The Poverty-Sending Ghost explained that Kunlun had accused Zhang Xuezhou of impersonating its Holy Son and stealing the Immortality Elixir, while the real Holy Son remained in seclusion in the Wondrous Dharma Palace.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned that Kunlun’s decree ordered the arrest of anyone using either Zhang Xuezhou or Dongfang Shuo’s name.
• Zhang Xuezhou urged the Poverty-Sending Ghost to use the portrait to identify suspects and avoid arresting innocent people, and the ghost agreed.

Zhang Xuezhou distracted the Poverty-Sending Ghost with fabricated Immortal Court titles while they traveled toward the Yedie River Holy Land. Hoping to gain enough Demon Power to arrive first, he swallowed a shriveled Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root, but it released no Law Power.

• Zhang Xuezhou invented long names and stories about Immortal Court officials to keep the Poverty-Sending Ghost from learning much about the court.
• The Poverty-Sending Ghost criticized Zhang Xuezhou for relying on his cultivation realm instead of learning Techniques, then landed the Treasure-Gathering Basin beside a river for the night.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned that the Poverty-Sending Ghost preferred fresh cultivator blood and tomb-dwelling yin creatures, and decided he should part ways with him quickly.
• While the Poverty-Sending Ghost searched nearby for ancient tombs, Zhang Xuezhou soaked the shriveled Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root in the river and swallowed it to gain Demon Power.
• The Poverty-Sending Ghost caught Zhang Xuezhou chewing the nearly unbreakable root, and Zhang Xuezhou forced it down, but felt no Law Power afterward.

Zhang Xuezhou’s attempt to restore his powers with the Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root failed, so he abandoned his plan to exploit the Centennial Gathering and accompanied the Poverty-Sending Ghost to the Yedie River Holy Land. After the Dao Lord humiliated the envoy, Zhang Xuezhou stayed behind when the Dao Lord secretly summoned him.

• Zhang Xuezhou waited three days after eating the Spirit Silk Jade Lotus Root, but his Law Power and Demon Power did not return.
• Zhang Xuezhou guided the Poverty-Sending Ghost to the Yedie River Holy Land, where the Dao Lord refused to come out and told him to leave the decree.
• The Poverty-Sending Ghost challenged the Dao Lord, who appeared beside him, threatened him, and sent him tumbling to the ground.
• Zhang Xuezhou emerged with minor injuries, and the Poverty-Sending Ghost asked him for directions to the Xieluosi River Holy Land.
• After the Dao Lord secretly contacted Zhang Xuezhou, Zhang Xuezhou made an excuse to stay behind and recover in the tents outside the Holy Land.

Zhang Xuezhou told the Dao Lord about his visits to Kunlun and the shadow that entered the Sovereign, prompting the Dao Lord to take his warning seriously. After discovering Zhang Xuezhou’s Law Power was blocked, the Dao Lord sent him to stay under Venerable Hongku’s watch instead of placing him in a strict prison.

• The Poverty-Sending Ghost left for the Xieluosi River Holy Land after promising to return for Zhang Xuezhou.
• The Dao Lord recognized Zhang Xuezhou as Wu Jin and questioned him about the Immortality Elixir and the divine decrees.
• Zhang Xuezhou recounted his visits to Kunlun and described seeing a shadow enter the Sovereign and take control of him.
• The Dao Lord challenged Zhang Xuezhou’s account but believed his remarks about Heaven Beyond Heaven and the greater world.
• The Dao Lord examined Zhang Xuezhou and found his Law Power blocked, leaving him unable to use Techniques.
• The Dao Lord called Venerable Hongku and arranged for Zhang Xuezhou to stay with him under house arrest.