Chapter Summaries

The New Emperor visited Zhang Xuezhou to discuss Tian Fen’s failing health and offered him the chancellor’s position. Zhang Xuezhou refused, explaining that he wanted to explore the worlds beyond the stars, leaving the New Emperor wondering whether their paths might eventually diverge.

• The New Emperor asked Zhang Xuezhou whether Dao Lord had caused Tian Fen’s illness, and Zhang Xuezhou said Dao Lord no longer had the strength to target him.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that Tian Fen’s only current chance of escaping the curse was to sever his connection to his fleshly body and survive as a Yang Corporeal Soul Incarnation.
• The New Emperor asked Zhang Xuezhou to help Tian Fen and offered him the chancellorship, but Zhang Xuezhou refused the position.
• Zhang Xuezhou told the New Emperor that he wanted to explore other worlds and investigate the origins of the ancient demons.
• The New Emperor listened to Zhang Xuezhou’s earnest plans and felt that he might become a sage, while also sensing that they could part ways someday.

Zhang Xuezhou told the New Emperor he hoped to drive out Xiong State’s forces and destabilize its imperial family, then accepted access to the court’s inner treasury to search for materials for formation flags. The New Emperor also steered their conversation toward the profound sword formation diagrams they had seen in the Dragon City Ancestral Land and his lingering ailments.

• Zhang Xuezhou explained that the giant tree might eventually let him travel to another world, but said he first needed to improve his abilities and address Great Han’s troubles.
• Zhang Xuezhou proposed driving out the Xiong State Legion and defeating the Xiong State imperial family, and the New Emperor considered using internal conflict to split the invading forces.
• Zhang Xuezhou agreed to scout for an opportunity to lead great cultivators on a raid against Xiong State’s leaders.
• The New Emperor gave Zhang Xuezhou the inner treasury’s access token and a jade secret key, trusting him to choose supplies for himself.
• Zhang Xuezhou said he needed materials to make formation flags, and the New Emperor brought up Black Mountain’s formation and four sword formation diagrams from the underground palace.

The New Emperor discovered that entering the True Self Realm had given him an aptitude for sword formations, and he and Zhang Xuezhou tested it in the imperial inner treasury. His ability briefly controlled a Law Sword but left him groggy, so Zhang Xuezhou advised him to strengthen his spirit and soul with the Prajna Heart Sutra.

• Zhang Xuezhou explained that the New Emperor's ringing swords revealed a latent sword formation ability that could be used with four formation sword Law Artifacts.
• The New Emperor hurried Zhang Xuezhou to the imperial inner treasury to find suitable swords and discussed testing his ability against Celestial Venerable Yuanshi someday.
• The New Emperor selected four swords and discovered that he could sense and raise the Law Sword East Qie without touching it.
• East Qie shone with silver light for only a short time before the New Emperor's ability failed and left him groggy.
• Zhang Xuezhou advised the New Emperor to practice the Prajna Heart Sutra to improve his spiritual and soul strength.

Zhang Xuezhou gave the New Emperor the Prajna Heart Sutra and urged him to cultivate its divine-soul techniques so he could be ready for a future opportunity. He also prepared formation flags to activate Fortune Techniques, leaving the New Emperor more confident in the Great Han Dynasty’s prospects.

• The New Emperor searched the library for divine-soul cultivation methods but found none, then agreed to try the Prajna Heart Sutra.
• Zhang Xuezhou demonstrated his seventh wheel and explained that the New Emperor would need to reach the sixth wheel to join a possible scheme involving the Western sect leaders.
• The New Emperor accepted the scriptures and resolved to learn enough Sanskrit to cultivate the Prajna Heart Sutra quickly.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that his formation flags were intended to activate Fortune Techniques and might someday be used to sacrifice the Xiong State's Great Chanyu.
• The New Emperor acknowledged that defeating the Xiong State remained difficult but took confidence from Zhang Xuezhou’s preparations.

Zhang Xuezhou visited Mount Tai and learned that Zhu Jiuyin had forced Rong Tianding to cultivate the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture, giving Zhu Jiuyin a way to control him. Through Rong Tianding, Zhang Xuezhou discussed the Immortal Court’s predicament with Zhu Jiuyin and asked for guidance on the Yang Corporeal Soul Transformation Technique.

• Zhang Xuezhou handed over his duties to Yi Shuo, then flew to Mount Tai to check the situation.
• Zhang Xuezhou found Rong Tianding on Jade Emperor Peak and learned that Zhu Jiuyin had captured him and forced him to rapidly cultivate the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture.
• Rong Tianding explained that the Immortal Court had few cultivators capable of confronting Zhu Jiuyin, leaving the conflict close to a deadlock.
• While Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding tested the scripture, Zhu Jiuyin took control of Rong Tianding and questioned Zhang Xuezhou about Kunlun Sacred Land moving to High Heaven Hall.
• Zhu Jiuyin suspected that something had happened to the Sovereign, but did not realize that he himself was the target; Zhang Xuezhou then asked him for guidance on the Yang Corporeal Soul Transformation Technique.

Zhang Xuezhou negotiated with Zhu Jiuyin, who was controlling Rong Tianding, over the original Yang Corporeal Soul Transformation Technique and a possible meeting with Ren Anran. Zhu Jiuyin gave Zhang a contact mark, and the chapter ended with Rong Tianding free of Zhu Jiuyin’s control and Zhang hoping Zhu Jiuyin could help Ren Anran reach their world.

• Zhu Jiuyin questioned Zhang Xuezhou about his research after Zhang asked to hear the original Yang Corporeal Soul Transformation Technique.
• Zhang told Zhu Jiuyin that a cultivator had improved the technique into a Divine Ability that created one true body and two independent Yang Corporeal Soul Bodies.
• Zhu Jiuyin asked to meet the cultivator, and Zhang explained that she could not travel there and would be cautious about meeting him.
• Zhu Jiuyin gave Zhang a fiery scale bearing a contact mark, while Zhang advised him to arrange a meeting place in the void.
• Zhu Jiuyin abandoned the mark controlling Rong Tianding, who regained control of his body and asked whether Zhang really knew such a cultivator.
• Zhang confirmed that Ren Anran existed and said Zhu Jiuyin might be able to help her reach their world.

Zhang Xuezhou rapidly completed the Proper Five Elements and Reverse Five Elements Formations on Mount Tai while Emperor Jing and Shi Wudao discussed the danger posed by Zhu Jiuyin. The old man arrived at Jade Emperor Peak, and Shi Wudao retreated into Zhang Xuezhou’s Reverse Five Elements Formation.

• Rong Tianding brought Zhang Xuezhou materials for the Proper Five Elements and Reverse Five Elements Formations, which could be combined into the Yin-Yang Two Instruments Formation.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained his methods for surveying the land and quickly arranged the Reverse Five Elements Formation, impressing Rong Tianding, Emperor Jing, and Shi Wudao.
• Emperor Jing and Shi Wudao discussed Zhu Jiuyin’s resilience and the threat facing the Great Han Dynasty, while Emperor Jing admitted he had no way to stop him.
• Zhang Xuezhou completed the Proper Five Elements Formation, whose radiance shone in harmony with the Reverse Five Elements Formation.
• A demonic crane brought an old man to Jade Emperor Peak, and Shi Wudao pulled back the Flying Jiangshi body and retreated into the Reverse Five Elements Formation.

Zhang Xuezhou persuaded Zhu Jiuyin to imprint void coordinates on his divine soul so he could contact Ren Anran and help draw her over. Zhu Jiuyin agreed, then tried to recruit Zhang Xuezhou to refine pills and help advance his cultivation.

• Zhu Jiuyin entered the depleted Yin-Yang Secret Land and asked Zhang Xuezhou how to imprint the void coordinates.
• Zhang Xuezhou offered to carry Zhu Jiuyin's imprint and contact Ren Anran in the void in exchange for learning the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture.
• Zhu Jiuyin questioned Zhang Xuezhou's familiarity with the void but agreed that the plan posed little risk and accepted.
• Zhu Jiuyin praised his unique ability to handle the task, then complained about his injuries from the Qingzhou Cauldron and his need for Qi and Blood Fortune Pills.
• Zhu Jiuyin offered to return Zhang Xuezhou's godfather and promised other benefits if Zhang Xuezhou helped him refine pills.
• Zhang Xuezhou suspected that Zhu Jiuyin's rapid mastery of the Yang Corporeal Soul Transformation Technique relied on his own Great Wilderness Creation Scripture.

Zhang Xuezhou traveled with Zhu Jiuyin and secured his help against Donghua in exchange for helping search for Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum. Zhu Jiuyin hoped Zhang Xuezhou’s connection to a practitioner of One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones might offer a chance to overcome his dwindling lifespan, and personally guided him toward the Xieluosi River Holy Land.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Zhu Jiuyin spoke as they traveled through the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, and Zhang asked whether Zhu had found Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum.
• Zhu Jiuyin agreed to help Zhang fight Donghua if Zhang helped search for the mausoleum.
• Zhang explained that he had avoided helping Lu Ya and Nine Spirits because he feared their tempers, and told Zhu that Liu Che had fought at Mayi.
• Zhu Jiuyin described true longevity as the Yang Spirit breaking free of the flesh and finding its home in Heaven and Earth, while Zhang questioned whether that was possible.
• Zhu Jiuyin revealed that his hope in Zhang’s fellow Daoist with One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones had led him to grant Zhang’s requests and personally guide him into the Xieluosi River Holy Land.

Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding traveled with Zhu Jiuyin to the Xieluosi River Holy Land, where they discussed the Great Han Dynasty’s long-term strength and the dangers of capturing Zhu Jiuyin. At the underground palace, Zhu Jiuyin welcomed Zhang and Zou Bugui to help refine pills, but made clear that their safe departure depended on the work going smoothly.

• Rong Tianding saw vast flocks of demon birds gathering medicinal herbs and worried that the Great Han Dynasty could not stay strong across generations.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Rong Tianding that the dynasty needed to develop its productive forces, population, education, and unity to sustain its strength.
• Zhu Jiuyin interrupted their discussion as they approached the Xieluosi River Holy Land, where His Eminence opened a passage through the lake to the secret place.
• Zhang Xuezhou examined Zhu Jiuyin, who was bound by heavy chains in the underground palace, and doubted that capturing him alive would be feasible.
• Zhang Xuezhou reunited with Zou Bugui and agreed to help His Eminence refine pills.
• Zhu Jiuyin said Zhang Xuezhou and Zou Bugui could leave once the pill refining went smoothly, while warning that he could use the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture or Zou Bugui’s life to control them.

Zhang Xuezhou examined Zhu Jiuyin’s collection of pill furnaces and tested the Yin-Yang School’s Water-Fire Pill Furnace. He found he could control it with ease and estimated it could produce Fortune Pills quickly and reliably, leaving him more confident about refining high-grade pills.

• Zhang Xuezhou learned that Zou Bugui had collected many pill furnaces because he struggled to control the Water-Fire Pill Furnace.
• Zhang Xuezhou compared the furnaces and judged that most were less suited than the Water-Fire Pill Furnace to producing large quantities of Fortune Pills.
• Zhang Xuezhou took the Water-Fire Pill Furnace and expanded it with his Law Power while Zou Bugui watched anxiously.
• Zhang Xuezhou estimated that the furnace could produce thirty-six pills at once in roughly a quarter or a fifth of the usual refining time.
• Zhang Xuezhou concluded that the furnace’s quality and success rate would give him more confidence in refining the Life-Extending Golden Elixir and the Elixir of Immortality.

Zhang Xuezhou refined Qi and Blood Fortune Pills for Zhu Jiuyin and received the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture. Zhu Jiuyin began teaching him its deeper cultivation method, which Zhang Xuezhou recognized as connected to Yang Corporeal Soul cultivation.

• Zhang Xuezhou operated the Water-Fire Pill Furnace and produced thirty-six low-grade Qi and Blood Fortune Pills, earning praise from Zou Bugui.
• Zhu Jiuyin consumed thirty-five pills, assessed Zhang Xuezhou’s heat control, and gave him a jade slip containing the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture pill formula.
• Zhang Xuezhou promised to keep refining pills, while Rong Tianding quietly questioned whether they should cultivate the scripture.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Rong Tianding the scripture’s abilities would become clear in magical combat and considered testing its role in his Yang Corporeal Soul Transformation Technique.
• Zhu Jiuyin declared the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture a supreme art of creation and imparted a deeper version through golden light, promising to guide Zhang Xuezhou to the sixth layer.

Zhang Xuezhou studied Zhu Jiuyin’s Great Wilderness Creation Scripture and compared its effects with the Yang Corporeal Soul Incarnation Technique. After teaching Rong Tianding to summon his Yang Corporeal Soul Body, Zhang Xuezhou recognized its benefits, while Zhu Jiuyin remembered a lesson from Hongjun about knowing what to keep and what to give up.

• Zhang Xuezhou suspected that the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture came from Hongjun and wondered why Zhu Jiuyin and the Three Pure Ones had failed to match Hongjun’s achievements.
• Rong Tianding told Zhang Xuezhou that Zhu Jiuyin had pulled a Yang Corporeal Soul Body from him and forced it back into his body when teaching him the scripture.
• Zhang Xuezhou had Rong Tianding circulate the Yang Corporeal Soul Incarnation Technique, and Rong summoned a fully formed Yang Corporeal Soul Body.
• Zhang Xuezhou compared Rong Tianding’s incarnation with his own and realized Rong’s could cultivate using the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture, while his own depended on his original body’s Law Power.
• Zhu Jiuyin sent a speck of red light toward Zhang Xuezhou’s Yang Corporeal Soul Body and recalled Hongjun’s teaching that cultivators had to know what to keep and what to give up.

Zhang Xuezhou explored how he could use the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture to strengthen the link between his body and Yang Corporeal Soul Incarnation, and planned to study the technique with Ren Anran and others. As he and Rong Tianding examined Zhu Jiuyin’s pill ingredients, a distant wail sounded within Zhang Xuezhou’s soul, reminding him of another troublesome mark connected to the Favor Technique.

• Zhang Xuezhou explained that he pursued rapid strength rather than perfection because he could not afford to wait, reassuring Zhu Jiuyin.
• Zhang Xuezhou discovered that the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture let him establish a faint connection between his fleshly body and Yang Corporeal Soul Incarnation.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding agreed to study the scripture after returning, with Ren Anran and possibly Dong Zhongshu helping interpret it.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Zou Bugui examined Zhu Jiuyin’s medicinal ingredients and discussed how Ancestral Dragon Blood might help advance Zhu Jiuyin’s bloodline or medicine.
• Zhang Xuezhou heard a distant wail within his soul and remembered another mark linked to the Favor Technique.

Zhang Xuezhou learned through Bai’s cries that the Western sect leaders had nearly exhausted their heavenly fire trying to destroy Zhu Jiuyin’s divine soul, and were preparing to confront Haotian. Trapped in Zhu Jiuyin’s underground palace, Zhang noticed Bai’s Favor Mark in the water and resolved to finish refining the pills and leave as soon as possible.

• Bai’s wails revealed that the two Western sect leaders had failed to destroy Zhu Jiuyin’s mark and planned to face Haotian after their heavenly fire ran low.
• Zhang Xuezhou completed a batch of thirty-six Great Wilderness Fortune Pills with Zou Bugui’s help, then went to wash his face and think through his options.
• The Five Lakes Dragon Kings refused to let Zhang Xuezhou leave the underground palace or wander the holy land, but drenched him with water when he demanded it.
• Zhang Xuezhou spotted Bai’s Favor Mark in the water and worried that Bai might appear in Zhu Jiuyin’s territory, putting him between them.
• Zhang Xuezhou decided to finish the pill-refining work quickly and asked the Dragon Kings to summon helpers, so they called for the Goat Strength Demon King.

Zhang Xuezhou finished refining nearly ten thousand Qi and Blood Fortune Pills in Zhu Jiuyin’s underground palace and negotiated permission to leave by promising a share of a future Elixir of Immortality. He and his companions departed, while Zhu Jiuyin prepared a technique before their next meeting.

• Zhang Xuezhou urged the demon kings to continue working as he refined pills, while the Goat Strength Demon King lamented that he lacked the talent to match him.
• Rong Tianding wondered why Zhang Xuezhou was so eager to leave, suspecting that his plans involved Zhu Jiuyin.
• Zhu Jiuyin asked Zhang Xuezhou to stay, but Zhang Xuezhou said he needed to return to the Great Han Dynasty and offered him a share of the Elixir of Immortality he planned to refine with Yang Jian.
• Zhu Jiuyin agreed to let Zhang Xuezhou take medicinal herbs from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, and Zhang Xuezhou and his companions left.
• After watching them depart, Zhu Jiuyin had a figure emerge from his body and began preparing a technique for their next meeting.

Zhang Xuezhou, Rong Tianding, and Zou Bugui traveled back toward Chang'an City after leaving the Xieluosi River Holy Land. Along the way, Zhang gave Zou a Life-Extending Golden Elixir and agreed to retrieve Jin Chang's inheritance jade in Huainan.

• Rong Tianding regretted leaving the holy land without collecting Qi and Blood Fortune Pills, but Zhang Xuezhou said the risk outweighed the reward and advised him to focus on cultivating himself.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding decided to return to Chang'an City, where Zhang hoped to seek Karmic Fortune and find a way to preserve Ren Anran's Yang Corporeal Soul Form.
• Zou Bugui told Zhang about his old agreement with Tang Cai to provide her an Appearance-Preserving Pill, and Zhang promised to ask about her.
• Zhang Xuezhou gave Zou Bugui a Life-Extending Golden Elixir, easing Zou's anxiety about his shortened lifespan.
• Zou Bugui asked about Jin Chang, and Zhang said he had beaten him; Zou then urged Zhang to obtain Jin Chang's inheritance jade and combine it with their branch's jade.
• Zhang Xuezhou agreed to go to Huainan in a few days and retrieve Jin Chang's inheritance jade.

Zhang Xuezhou stayed in Chang'an and avoided drawing attention while recovering from his journey, until the New Emperor summoned him to a banquet at Long Gate Garden. He cautiously approached the Demon-Revealing Mirror, suspecting the New Emperor wanted his help against Grand Princess Dou.

• Zhang Xuezhou settled Zou Bugui at Zheng Wukong's home and spent his days resting, eating, and checking on people in Chang'an.
• Wei Shao'er told Zhang Xuezhou that Guo Jie had bought Surpass Xi Shi, but Zhang Xuezhou said he did not care who owned her.
• An imperial guard summoned Zhang Xuezhou to Long Gate Garden, where the New Emperor was holding a wild boar banquet with Grand Princess Dou and Zhufu Yan.
• Zhang Xuezhou suspected the New Emperor meant to take control of the Huang-Lao Way from Grand Princess Dou and had called him to help.
• Zhang Xuezhou approached the banquet hall slowly, feeling threatened by the Demon-Revealing Mirror standing inside.

The Demon-Revealing Mirror struck Zhang Xuezhou when it detected the Eye of the Ba Snake, shattering the Yao Treasure but leaving him unharmed. The New Emperor blamed Grand Princess Dou’s household and summoned Dong Yan, while Grand Princess Dou realized the incident had become a dangerous political confrontation.

• Zhang Xuezhou approached the side hall, and the Demon-Revealing Mirror attacked him after sensing the Eye of the Ba Snake.
• Zhang Xuezhou’s defenses kept him from being injured, but the Eye of the Ba Snake shattered and ended the mirror’s attack.
• The New Emperor rushed to Zhang Xuezhou and pretended the mirror had blown apart his kidney to conceal what had really happened.
• The New Emperor demanded to know who controlled the mirror, and Grand Princess Dou admitted her household retainers were responsible.
• The empress identified Dong Yan as the mirror’s controller, and the New Emperor ordered the guards to summon him.
• Grand Princess Dou considered her family’s political position and feared the consequences of the incident.

After the Demon-Revealing Mirror struck Zhang Xuezhou, he realized its power could help him cultivate and urged Dong Yan to use his contingency with Grand Princess Dou. The New Emperor pressed Grand Princess Dou over control of the Huang-Lao Way, and Dong Yan’s heartfelt performance left her defenses broken as he drew his sword.

• Zhang Xuezhou compared the Demon-Revealing Mirror’s strike to heavenly lightning and considered using its power to advance his cultivation.
• The New Emperor summoned Dong Yan and demanded to know what punishment he deserved for striking Zhang Xuezhou.
• The New Emperor threatened to present Grand Princess Dou with a horn bow, forcing her to choose between two dangerous outcomes.
• Zhang Xuezhou secretly told Dong Yan to use his arrangement with Grand Princess Dou and promised to protect him in exchange for information about the Immortal Court.
• Dong Yan stopped begging, gazed at Grand Princess Dou with affection, and recited Sima Xiangru’s “The Phoenix Seeks His Mate.”
• Dong Yan drew his sword toward his neck, and Grand Princess Dou cried out as her defenses broke.