Chapter Summaries

The Jade Emperor questioned Zhang Xuezhou about his rapid cultivation and urged him to investigate Mount Meru for the missing Investiture of the Gods Document. Zhang Xuezhou agreed to go, while the Jade Emperor was left bitter over how easily Zhang had gained a Golden Body.

• The Jade Emperor asked Zhang Xuezhou whether he had mastered the Prajna Heart Sutra, and Zhang admitted to reaching the True Self Realm but gave no reliable answer about the sutra.
• Zhang Xuezhou said he would not confront Donghua until he found the Investiture of the Gods Document, which the Jade Emperor suspected might be with Laojun's missing body.
• The Jade Emperor told Zhang Xuezhou that Mount Meru could be reached through the Western Heavenly Gate and that Sect Master Jieyin seemed physically weakened after the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly.
• Zhang Xuezhou agreed to investigate Mount Meru on his way and flew off.
• After Zhang Xuezhou left, the Jade Emperor cursed over how easily he had cultivated a nine-zhang Golden Body with mortal lightning.

Zhang Xuezhou traveled to the Western Sect’s territory with Divine Lord Zhenyuan, intending to strengthen his Fate Technique and investigate the sect. He revealed that the Prajna Heart Sutra had given him the beginnings of a domain, leaving Zhenyuan eager to understand the technique.

• Zhang Xuezhou recalled the Jade Emperor’s warning that his lightning-based cultivation method was flawed and decided to visit the Western Sect.
• Zhang Xuezhou followed the Path of Favor to Soul-Severing Ridge and found Divine Lord Zhenyuan preparing to name his temple.
• Zhang Xuezhou suggested that he and Divine Lord Zhenyuan travel together to West Ox Hezhou, where Zhang could heal him and Zhenyuan could confront Zhunti.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that he had entered the True Self Realm without a domain guided by the greater trend, but had developed the beginnings of a domain through the Prajna Heart Sutra.
• Zhang Xuezhou demonstrated his Thought Power radiance, which created overlapping images of himself and the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree, and Divine Lord Zhenyuan asked how to cultivate it.

Zhang Xuezhou reached the ninth level of the Fate Technique with help from the ancient tree, then traveled with Divine Lord Zhenyuan toward the Western Sect. During their journey, he revealed that Lady Houtu and Sage Hongjun had both become involved in his troubles, leaving Divine Lord Zhenyuan stunned by the scale of his opponents.

• Zhang Xuezhou cultivated the Fate Technique to its ninth level while the ancient tree offered him better Myriad Longevity Fruit and asked for Spirit Jade and Spirit Crystals.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Divine Lord Zhenyuan that the Myriad Longevity Fruit Tree had stopped eating corpses and could bear fruit in return for improved Spiritual Qi.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan decided to bring Spirit Jade to the tree and planned to search the Western Sect for more before setting out with Zhang Xuezhou.
• As they flew toward West Ox Hezhou, Divine Lord Zhenyuan asked Zhang Xuezhou what drove him to cultivate so relentlessly.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that he had become entangled with Lady Houtu and Sage Hongjun after handling the Reincarnation Stone and visiting Purple Cloud Palace.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan learned that Lady Houtu and Sage Hongjun had each made arrangements concerning Zhang Xuezhou and realized his troubles far surpassed the threat posed by Jieyin and Zhunti.

Divine Lord Zhenyuan told Zhang Xuezhou that finding a wondrous object capable of turning decay into wonder might let him transcend the mundane and enter sainthood. The two reached Mount Meru, where Zhang Xuezhou forced his way into the secret realm and ignited its defenses with the Southern Brightness Fire.

• Divine Lord Zhenyuan explained that a great fortuitous opportunity, perhaps an object without a fixed form, could help Zhang Xuezhou enter sainthood, and cited the Jade of Creation as Lady Houtu's opportunity.
• Zhang Xuezhou recalled several wondrous treasures and opportunities he had encountered, which made Divine Lord Zhenyuan marvel at his good fortune.
• Zhang Xuezhou guided Divine Lord Zhenyuan to the hidden Mount Meru secret realm and charged straight through its defenses despite Divine Lord Zhenyuan's concerns.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan swept aside the flames guarding the realm while Zhang Xuezhou pushed through them and became stuck in a deadly slime.
• Zhang Xuezhou identified the slime as a mixture of a great demon's fat, blood, Dead Souls, and Yellow Springs Water, then used the Southern Brightness Fire to set it ablaze.

Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan entered Mount Meru to investigate the Western Sect and found a desolate graveyard of great yao remains. Zhang Xuezhou reunited with Buddha Son Shigong, who learned that a Prajna Heart Sutra practitioner had escaped Sect Master Jieyin’s control and began suspecting Kunlun and the Immortal Court were conspiring against the Western Sect.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan surveyed Mount Meru’s scattered great yao remains and discussed the Western Sect’s experiments with Yao Treasures.
• Zhang Xuezhou announced that the Immortal Court had sent them to investigate Mount Meru and questioned the person emerging from an untouched area.
• Zhang Xuezhou recognized the mute woman as Parvati, and Buddha Son Shigong came out to greet him.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Buddha Son Shigong that the two sect masters were in trouble and urged him to seek freedom from their control through the Prajna Heart Sutra.
• Zhang Xuezhou revealed that a great cultivator of the Prajna Heart Sutra had injured Jieyin and escaped his control, leading Buddha Son Shigong to suspect the Kunlun Holy Son and a joint plot by Kunlun and the Immortal Court.

Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan searched Mount Meru’s dangerous secret grounds and broke into a chamber, where they took a pagoda. The pagoda released a white-haired Daoist, whose extraordinary escape and Yang Corporeal Soul Body left Zhang Xuezhou suspecting he had used Zhu Jiuyin’s method.

• Buddha Son Shigong guided Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan through the workshop and warned them about dangerous areas he could not enter.
• Zhang Xuezhou hinted that a rare opportunity might restore Buddha Son Shigong’s severed limbs, then pressed him to reveal what he knew about Mount Meru.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan ignored Buddha Son Shigong’s warnings, broke into Sect Master Zhunti’s hidden chamber, and took a mysterious pagoda.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan restrained Buddha Son Shigong when he tried to stop them from carrying off the pagoda.
• The pagoda grew to nine zhang tall and released a white-haired Daoist, who flew through Mount Meru’s Bifeng and vanished.
• Zhang Xuezhou recognized that the Daoist had a Yang Corporeal Soul Body and suspected he had cultivated it using Zhu Jiuyin’s method.

Buddha Son Shigong and Parvati fled Mount Meru as Zhang Xuezhou and his companions escaped, while Divine Lord Zhenyuan caught up with Zhang and found him confronting the white-haired cultivator. Zhang identified the man's failing Yang Corporeal Soul Body as likely belonging to Laojun's Technique Pure One Body, leaving its fate uncertain.

• Buddha Son Shigong pulled Parvati away from Mount Meru and decided they should find Brahma and Vishnu to discuss their next move.
• Parvati noticed someone else inspecting Mount Meru, while Buddha Son Shigong worried that the Western Sect's secrets and leaders would be exposed.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan failed to keep up with Zhang Xuezhou and the others, then wondered why Dongfang Shuo was pursuing the Western Sect figures.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan eventually found Zhang Xuezhou standing near the white-haired old man, whose body was leaking Qi.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that the man's Yang Corporeal Soul Body had a severe defect and identified him as likely being Laojun's Technique Pure One Body.

Zhang Xuezhou questioned Laojun's Technique Pure One incarnation about the Investiture of the Gods Document and learned how the Three Pure Ones split apart and how the Western Sect became involved. The white-haired elder told Zhang Xuezhou to ask Jieyin and Zhunti where the document was, and offered to unseal it if Zhang found it while he was still alive.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan discussed the collapsing white-haired elder and the investigation of the Western Sect at Mount Meru.
• Zhang Xuezhou told the white-haired elder that he had met Hongjun and asked for help finding the Investiture of the Gods Document.
• The white-haired elder explained that Li Xuan, Li Dan, and he had separated into the Three Pure Ones, each seeking a chance to become a sage, before his battle with Li Xuan drew in the Western Sect.
• The white-haired elder said Jieyin and Zhunti had profited from the battle and damaged his body, and advised Zhang Xuezhou to ask them about the Investiture of the Gods Document.
• The white-haired elder promised to remove the document's Incantation seal if Zhang Xuezhou found it and the elder was still alive.

After returning to Mount Meru, Zhang Xuezhou found Nezha attacking Daoist Randeng and accusing Jieyin and Zhunti of stealing Laojun’s pagoda. Primordial Lord Golden Rosy Clouds dissolved inside it, and Nezha’s assault left Daoist Randeng injured before Zhunti moved to counter him with the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan returned to Mount Meru and found Nezha fighting Daoist Randeng near a pagoda containing Primordial Lord Golden Rosy Clouds.
• Nezha accused Jieyin and Zhunti of taking Laojun’s Heaven and Earth Black and Yellow Exquisite Treasure Pagoda, while Zhunti claimed it was their Thunder Sound Treasure Pagoda.
• Jieyin tried to reach the pagoda but its mystic Qi stripped the Law Power from his hand, and Primordial Lord Golden Rosy Clouds dissolved inside it.
• Nezha charged past Daoist Randeng, struck him with his treasures, and left him unable to raise his body.
• Zhunti brought out the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree to block Nezha’s attack, and the injured Daoist Randeng warned Nezha not to let it counter his treasures.

Nezha and the Immortals fought Sect Master Zhunti and Sect Master Jieyin as the battle around the secret land escalated. Divine Lord Zhenyuan captured Sect Master Jieyin with the Blood-Transforming Box, but Sect Master Jieyin broke Nezha’s defenses and killed him.

• Nezha attacked Sect Master Zhunti with his Law Treasures, but Zhunti countered with the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree and Peacock Great Wisdom King seized Nezha’s golden brick.
• Sect Master Jieyin sealed the secret land’s exit, attacked Southern Dipper Star Lord, and was intercepted by Divine Lord Zhenyuan.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan captured Sect Master Jieyin with the Blood-Transforming Box and handed the box to Zhang Xuezhou before confronting Sect Master Zhunti.
• Sect Master Zhunti used the Six Roots Purity Bamboo to influence Peacock Great Wisdom King, who swept away Nezha’s Heaven and Earth Ring and Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover.
• Sect Master Jieyin struck Nezha’s exposed Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover, then hit Nezha on the head with the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree and killed him.

Zhang Xuezhou struggled to protect the Blood-Transforming Box while Divine Lord Zhenyuan fought Sect Master Zhunti and Kong Xuan attacked. As the battle worsened, the Merit Officer in Charge of Time and the Southern Dipper Star Lord decided to use Mount Meru’s Law Treasures to survive.

• Sect Master Zhunti killed Nezha with the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree, and Divine Lord Zhenyuan took over the fight against him.
• Zhang Xuezhou shook the Blood-Transforming Box to hinder Sect Master Jieyin, who threatened him from inside.
• Kong Xuan attacked Zhang Xuezhou with his Five-Colored Divine Light, but Zhang dodged and kept hold of the box.
• Kong Xuan knocked the Merit Officer in Charge of Time’s flying treasure away, and the officer realized the Peacock Great Wisdom King seemed to be under someone’s control.
• The Merit Officer in Charge of Time and the injured Southern Dipper Star Lord decided to use nearby Law Treasures as weapons and rushed toward a workshop.

Divine Lord Zhenyuan and the Immortal Court cultivators kept Sect Master Zhunti under attack while Zhang Xuezhou evaded Peacock Great Wisdom King with the Blood-Transforming Box. As Sect Master Jieyin struggled to escape the box, the Western sect masters called for reinforcements, but Buddha Son Rulai might bring Yang Jian with him.

• Zhang Xuezhou struggled to evade Peacock Great Wisdom King while carrying the heavy Blood-Transforming Box and adjusting whenever Sect Master Jieyin emerged.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan attacked Sect Master Zhunti relentlessly, while the Merit Officer in Charge of Time and Southern Dipper Star Lord weakened Zhunti's protective robe with bone Law Treasures.
• Sect Master Zhunti called for Sect Master Jieyin to escape the Blood-Transforming Box and for Buddha Son Shigong and Parvati to help, but Shigong was away hunting demons with Vishnu.
• Sect Master Jieyin said Buddha Son Rulai was at Mount Meru and urged Zhunti to summon him, warning that Yang Jian would likely follow.

Divine Lord Zhenyuan continued battling Sect Master Zhunti while Zhang Xuezhou’s flight and the other Immortal Court officials kept the Western Sect under pressure. Buddha Son Rulai arrived and began dismantling the Mount Meru Secret Land’s mechanisms, revealing a hidden passage filled with treasured light.

• Zhang Xuezhou’s speed and maneuverability alarmed Sect Master Zhunti as he fought alongside Divine Lord Zhenyuan and the Immortal Court officials.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan wounded Sect Master Zhunti and refused to stop fighting, while Zhunti held back from using a dangerous trump card.
• Buddha Son Rulai arrived, and Sect Master Zhunti ordered him to enter the formation and help kill their opponents.
• Sect Master Jieyin urged Rulai to destroy the poison dragon mechanisms, while True Lord Erlang and a dog arrived and the Immortal Court officials called for help.
• As Rulai dismantled the mechanisms, the Merit Officer in Charge of the Year and Southern Dipper Star Lord spotted a newly revealed passage with treasured light inside.

Zhang Xuezhou kept the Peacock Great Wisdom King chasing him while Divine Lord Zhenyuan fought Sect Master Zhunti, and the Yearly Duty Officer and Southern Dipper Star Lord tried to help with Laojun’s Heaven and Earth Diagram. Yang Jian entered the battle impaired by Zhang Xuezhou’s wine, leaving Sect Master Zhunti unsure whether to use his hidden trump card.

• The Yearly Duty Officer and Southern Dipper Star Lord threw Laojun’s Heaven and Earth Diagram at Sect Master Zhunti, distracting him as Divine Lord Zhenyuan struck him.
• Buddha Son Rulai charged at the two men, and Yang Jian urged them to board the Law Treasure boat, but they instead asked him to help defeat Zhunti.
• The Heaven and Earth Diagram’s talisman-wrapped arm grabbed Zhunti’s leg, giving Divine Lord Zhenyuan time to knock off his crown and tear his robe.
• Zhang Xuezhou revealed that Yang Jian was weakened by his mind-bewildering wine, and Yang Jian cursed him and threatened revenge.
• Zhang Xuezhou threatened to bring the muddle-headed Peacock Wisdom King to Randeng, then leaped onto Randeng and maneuvered the pursuing demon into crashing into the stone house.
• Buddha Son Rulai pursued Zhang Xuezhou while Yang Jian remained unable to fight, leaving Sect Master Zhunti uncertain whether to unleash his trump card.

Sect Master Zhunti struggled to hold off Divine Lord Zhenyuan while Sect Master Jieyin remained trapped in the Blood-Transforming Box. Yang Jian used the fight as cover to cultivate the seventh and eighth levels of the Prajna Heart Sutra, leaving his recovery and the battle’s outcome uncertain.

• Sect Master Zhunti endured Divine Lord Zhenyuan’s attacks while Jieyin worked to break the treasure holding him.
• Xiaotian Dog distracted Zhunti instead of attacking Zhenyuan, as Yang Jian pretended that his impaired vision had made him misdirect the dog.
• Yang Jian attempted to advance beyond the first six levels of the Prajna Heart Sutra, and Jieyin supplied the missing teachings of the seventh level.
• Yang Jian quickly broke through the seventh level and began advancing toward the eighth, prompting Jieyin to reveal its missing contents as well.
• Zhunti explained that the seventh level could clear Yang Jian’s divine soul and the eighth could dispel the poisoned wine, while Yang Jian’s Thought Power moon began flickering.

Zhang Xuezhou and Yang Jian argued over the Investiture of the Gods while the battle between Divine Lord Zhenyuan and Sect Master Zhunti continued. Yang Jian avoided joining either side, collected Nezha’s remains in the document, and carried the injured Daoist Randeng out of Mount Meru, with Zhang Xuezhou pursuing him.

• The Investiture of the Gods appeared, and Zhang Xuezhou urged Yang Jian to take it while he kept hold of the Blood-Transforming Box.
• Yang Jian judged that he could not safely intervene in the battle and considered whether the Investiture might restore Nezha’s soul.
• Zhang Xuezhou identified himself as Shuo Immortal of the Jade Void Palace, convincing Sect Master Jieyin that the Immortal Court was targeting the Western Sect.
• Yang Jian collected the damaged Heaven and Earth Diagram and used the Investiture of the Gods to wrap Nezha’s remains.
• Yang Jian carried Nezha’s remains and the barely breathing Daoist Randeng out of Mount Meru, and Zhang Xuezhou chased after him.

Divine Lord Zhenyuan fought Sect Master Zhunti at Mount Meru, then escaped before either could finish the other. Sect Master Jieyin emerged from the transit array and planned to fortify the Western Sect while the Peacock Wisdom King pursued Shuo Immortal.

• Sect Master Zhunti realized Yang Jian was not returning and struggled against Divine Lord Zhenyuan’s punishing close-quarters attacks.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan feinted with Same Longevity as Heaven and Earth, then fled the Mount Meru Secret Land, and Sect Master Zhunti stopped pursuing him.
• Sect Master Jieyin arrived carrying the Blood-Transforming Box and told Sect Master Zhunti that the Peacock Wisdom King and Yang Jian were chasing Shuo Immortal.
• Sect Master Jieyin planned to heal their injuries, recall the approaching immortal officials, cut off the Western Heavenly Gate’s transit array, and use captured officials as bargaining chips.
• Sect Master Jieyin warned Sect Master Zhunti to kill Divine Lord Zhenyuan if they got another chance, then flew back to Spirit Mountain.

Zhang Xuezhou stopped fleeing the Peacock Great Wisdom King and fought him, discovering that Zhunti’s control had made the demon unable to resist his orders. After Zhang spared him, Buddha Son Rulai offered to remove the karmic force controlling him in exchange for supervision, and the Peacock Great Wisdom King agreed.

• Zhang Xuezhou realized he could confront the Peacock Great Wisdom King, swallowed the Lesser Heaven and Earth Bag, and attacked him at close range.
• Zhang Xuezhou subdued the Peacock Great Wisdom King, who recognized him and revealed that Zhunti’s control prevented him from choosing his actions.
• Zhang Xuezhou left the Peacock Great Wisdom King alive and warned him that conflict among the Immortal Court, Kunlun, and the Western Sect might soon begin.
• The Peacock Great Wisdom King found himself unable to disobey Zhunti or even harm himself, and suffered as his conditioned behavior forced him to obey.
• Buddha Son Rulai offered to remove the Peacock Great Wisdom King’s karmic control if he accepted supervision, and the Peacock Great Wisdom King agreed.

After the battle on Mount Meru, Zhang Xuezhou and Yang Jian discussed how to repair Nezha’s body and locate his missing divine soul, while Divine Lord Zhenyuan prepared to fight the Western sect masters again. Zhang Xuezhou left with Zhenyuan to recruit another helper, and Yang Jian returned to Mount Meru to search for clues.

• Zhang Xuezhou found Yang Jian beside Nezha’s broken body and the Investiture of the Gods, then suggested the Western Sect might have spirit silk jade lotus root to repair him.
• Zhang Xuezhou said he had not seen Nezha’s divine soul and promised to search for Laojun’s Technique Pure One Body, while Yang Jian agreed to seek repair materials.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan said he would fight the Western sect masters again after recovering, and Zhang Xuezhou offered to bring a capable swordsman from Chang'an City as a helper.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan departed together, while Yang Jian took the Heaven and Earth Diagram back toward Mount Meru to investigate Nezha’s remains.

Zhang Xuezhou returned to Chang'an with the Investiture of the Gods and Nezha's remains, then discussed with Ren Anran how to avoid becoming a pawn in Hongjun's plans. He arranged to travel to Western Aparagodaniya with the New Emperor in half a month, while the palace remained consumed by political turmoil.

• Zhang Xuezhou returned to Chang'an with the Investiture of the Gods and Nezha's remains, and Ren Anran approved his attempt to find a way to use Nezha's undying divine soul.
• Ren Anran advised Zhang Xuezhou to seek Laojun's Technique Pure One Body before contacting Hongjun, arguing that it might help him escape Hongjun's control or become a participant in their contest.
• Zhang Xuezhou agreed to stay on good terms with Hongjun while using influential figures as buffers to make his choices seem reasonable.
• Zhang Xuezhou visited the imperial palace, where investigations over the empress dowager's witchcraft poisoning had embroiled the empress and Grand Princess Dou.
• Zhang Xuezhou and the New Emperor agreed to travel to Western Aparagodaniya in half a month, giving the New Emperor a chance to escape his burdens briefly.