Chapter Summaries

The Empress and the others tried to summon the Emperor’s soul, but Celestial Venerable Yuanshi and Divine Lord Zhenyuan found no trace of it. Zhang Xuezhou summoned Bai from the Emperor’s body instead, raising suspicions about the Emperor’s death, while the souls of other Kunlun gods also appeared to be missing.

• Celestial Venerable Yuanshi failed to summon the Emperor’s soul and taught the Eighteen Hands of Floating Slaughter to the Empress and the others.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan learned the soul-summoning levels of the technique and concluded that the Emperor’s body felt long dead.
• Zhang Xuezhou used the technique and summoned Bai from the Emperor’s demon body, not the Emperor’s soul.
• The Empress recognized Bai, and the Jade Emperor suggested the Emperor might have feigned death to escape danger.
• Xuannü and the others found that the souls of Wangliang, Taowu, Chong, and Changqin had also vanished.

Zhang Xuezhou and the others realized the Heaven and Earth Thrones could be connected, and the empress used the Heavenly Emperor Throne to locate the Human Emperor Throne. The group prepared to investigate the site, hoping to find Donghua and learn why he had targeted Zhang Xuezhou.

• Zhang Xuezhou concluded that Bai's soul had been summoned because of their connection and suspected Donghua had sealed himself within the bronze throne.
• The empress explained that the Heaven and Earth Thrones had once linked the Heavenly Court and human emperors, then tried to locate the Human Emperor Throne through the Heavenly Emperor Throne.
• After tapping the throne for nearly a quarter of an hour, the empress's soul vanished, leading Zhang Xuezhou to realize the thrones could transport souls.
• The empress returned and revealed that the Human Emperor Throne was eighteen hundred li away, beneath a thatched shelter in a valley where the Supi Kingdom offered sacrifices.
• The Jade Emperor proposed that they investigate the site, while Zhang Xuezhou checked whether dangerous secret realms were nearby.
• The empress said the nearby secret realms were small, and the Jade Emperor and others set aside their plans against the Western Sect to investigate Donghua's trail.

The New Emperor, Zhang Xuezhou, and the great cultivators searched the Supi Kingdom for Donghua after his divine soul escaped the Human Emperor Throne. They found he had vanished from the sacrificial hall, and the group suspected he might seek a new body through the Western Sect’s Eight Treasures Merit Pool.

• The New Emperor learned that Donghua had escaped by dissipating his divine soul and traveled with Zhang Xuezhou and the great cultivators toward the Supi Kingdom.
• The group arrived at a sacrificial hall where the Supi people worshipped a statue resembling Zhang Xuezhou and found the former Human Emperor Throne.
• Celestial Venerable Yuanshi found no trace of Donghua’s divine soul, while the high priest said Wisdom King Peng, Qu, had manifested and flown away.
• The Jade Emperor and the others debated whether Donghua would seize a body or reincarnate, but Xuannü argued that reincarnation would take too long.
• After Lady Bixia spoke, the group considered that Donghua might use the Western Sect’s Eight Treasures Merit Pool to create a powerful new body.

The Jade Emperor and the other cultivators grew suspicious that Donghua’s Immortality Elixirs concealed a means of control and planned to confront the Western Sect for answers, the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, and the imprisoned immortals. As they prepared a shuttle formation to gather their forces, Zhang Xuezhou avoided helping and headed west with Yang Jian to search for Nezha’s remains.

• The Jade Emperor questioned whether Donghua had hidden a danger in the Immortality Elixirs, and the cultivators resolved to investigate the pills and confront the Western Sect.
• Zhang Xuezhou connected Donghua’s cold spring and the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, suspecting together they could create a new individual and pass on cultivation.
• The Jade Emperor and the other leaders decided to gather their forces and build a Western Heavenly Gate shuttle formation near Spirit Mountain.
• The Jade Emperor called Zhang Xuezhou over to help build the formation, but Zhang refused and said he and Yang Jian would search for Nezha’s remains and try to revive him.
• The Jade Emperor argued that Nezha could not be saved, then let Zhang Xuezhou leave.

Zhang Xuezhou, Divine Lord Zhenyuan, and the New Emperor traveled to Mount Meru to seek Laojun’s Technique Pure One Body and investigate whether Nezha could help break the deadlock between Houtu and Hongjun. Divine Lord Zhenyuan attacked the secret land’s entrance and held off its defenders while demanding to see Zhunti.

• The New Emperor left with Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan rather than stay and be recruited to help Celestial Venerable Yuanshi.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan discussed their plans to visit Mount Meru and find a way to help Nezha.
• Zhang Xuezhou used Bai’s Favor Mark to locate the Mount Meru Secret Land, and Divine Lord Zhenyuan battered through its entrance mechanisms.
• The defenders recognized Divine Lord Zhenyuan and warned one another that their usual restraints would not stop him.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan threw Jeweled Banner Tathagata Buddha out of the secret land, where Bifeng injured him and took his banner.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan challenged the gathered cultivators and warned that he would kill the third person to attack, leaving them afraid to act.

Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan raided Mount Meru, where they captured Vishnu and searched for the Immortality Elixir and Spirit Jade. After finding Spirit Jade but no elixir, Zhang Xuezhou discovered Li Shaojun among the Immortal Court prisoners.

• Divine Lord Zhenyuan destroyed Mount Meru's poisonous-fire mechanism and learned that Jieyin and Zhunti had gone to Spirit Mountain.
• Zhang Xuezhou urged the Western Sect cultivators to release the Immortal Court prisoners, then challenged Vishnu and swiftly captured him.
• Zhang Xuezhou demanded the prisoners, the Immortality Elixir, and Spirit Jade, and Vishnu agreed to help search Mount Meru's secret chambers.
• Divine Lord Zhenyuan found sixteen pieces of Spirit Jade, while the New Emperor was injured after grabbing a flat crutch that the jade had nourished.
• Zhang Xuezhou found Li Shaojun among the Immortal Court prisoners held at Mount Meru.

After years in West Ox Hezhou, Li Shaojun reunited with Zhang Xuezhou and joined his group as they escaped the Mount Meru Secret Land. With the rescued immortals still trapped by the broken shuttle formation, Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan split up to search for allies and prepare an attack on Spirit Mountain.

• Zhang Xuezhou found Li Shaojun in the Mount Meru Secret Land, and Li Shaojun eagerly joined him after years of hiding and failed efforts to make progress.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned that Venerable Lei had likely been killed and that the rescued immortals could not leave because their Law Treasures were gone and the shuttle formation was damaged.
• Zhang Xuezhou told the immortals to wait for the Jade Emperor and Emperor to build a new Western Heavenly Gate shuttle formation, then helped Vishnu and Li Shaojun leave the secret land.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan agreed to search separately: Zhang Xuezhou would look for Yang Jian or Laojun, while Divine Lord Zhenyuan would take the New Emperor toward Spirit Mountain and watch for an opening to attack.
• The New Emperor reflected that flight gave Zhang Xuezhou a major advantage over martial artists, while Zhang Xuezhou prepared to take Li Shaojun along to help with his search.

Zhang Xuezhou and Li Shaojun searched West Ox Hezhou for Spiritual Qi with Vishnu, who eventually led them to Brahma and Buddha Son Shigong. They agreed to cooperate through a staged fight when the factions clashed, and Shigong joined despite his resentment toward Zhang Xuezhou.

• After three days of searching, Vishnu admitted he knew no more places with Spiritual Qi nearby and suggested finding Brahma farther west.
• Vishnu told Zhang Xuezhou that Brahma was at Spirit Rhinoceros Cave with Buddha Son Shigong, and Zhang agreed to cooperate with the Western Sect Buddha Sons.
• Li Shaojun joined the plan, and Vishnu proposed that he, Brahma, and Shigong stage a fight with Zhang Xuezhou and Li Shaojun to survive the faction conflict.
• Zhang Xuezhou brought the Heaven-Riding Shuttle to Spirit Rhinoceros Cave, where Shigong recognized him as the man previously known as Honest and Reliable Young Gentleman.
• After Vishnu explained the plan, Shigong set aside his resentment over Zhang Xuezhou's past deception and agreed to cooperate.

Zhang Xuezhou followed Brahma to the hidden place where Brahma had found his serpent staffs and discovered Laojun's Technique Pure One Body inside. Laojun reclaimed one serpent grass and offered to help Zhang Xuezhou if his divination question was answered to his satisfaction.

• Brahma led Zhang Xuezhou to a concealed cave where his serpent staffs had grown.
• Zhang Xuezhou used the Stone Transformation Technique to break through three stone doors sealing the hidden place.
• Zhang Xuezhou found Laojun's Technique Pure One Body, who accused Brahma of taking two serpent grasses.
• Laojun's Technique Pure One Body turned Brahma's serpent staff back into a snake and learned that Zhunti held the other one.
• Laojun's Technique Pure One Body returned the serpent grass to Brahma and told Zhang Xuezhou he would help after answering a divination question.

Zhang Xuezhou failed to identify the three stars Laojun's Technique Pure One Body sought, which referred to three realms concealing an opportunity for sainthood. After seeing Zhang Xuezhou’s indifference to that opportunity, Laojun agreed to consider helping him with the Investiture of the Gods.

• Zhang Xuezhou offered several possible meanings for the three stars, then concluded they might represent the past, present, and future.
• Laojun's Technique Pure One Body revealed that the three stars referred to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World, and the Central Saha World, which held an opportunity to enter sainthood.
• Zhang Xuezhou said he had little interest in the Origins of the Three Realms and warned that Laojun might be unable to protect such a treasure.
• Laojun's Technique Pure One Body asked what Zhang Xuezhou wanted, and Zhang showed him the Investiture of the Gods.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that unsealing the Investiture would expose him to a dangerous spell and asked Laojun to conceal him and help Nezha take the calamity in his place.
• Laojun's Technique Pure One Body said he could help Zhang Xuezhou.

Zhang Xuezhou obtained the unsealed Investiture of the Gods from Laojun's Technique Pure One Body and prepared to confront his troubles at Spirit Mountain. He set out with Brahma and Li Shaojun, promising them gains if they cooperated.

• Zhang Xuezhou told Laojun's Technique Pure One Body that he planned to oppose Donghua and strike Zhunti and Jieyin, and received the unsealed Investiture of the Gods with a warning to return it.
• Laojun's Technique Pure One Body reflected on his missed chance to travel west through Hangu Pass before resealing his cave.
• Zhang Xuezhou decided to use the Void Heaven Hall to suppress Demon Venerable Hu Yu and rely on Nezha's saintly body to withstand attacks from Houtu and Hongjun.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Brahma they were heading to Spirit Mountain, where two of his friends had arrived, and warned him to cooperate with them.
• Zhang Xuezhou found three rhinoceros demons prepared as mounts at Spirit Rhinoceros Cave and told Li Shaojun that Bai had been sealed away, making his death-returning ability available again.
• Li Shaojun weighed the risk of testing his ability against the possibility of earning Immortal Court merit and obtaining an Immortality Elixir.

Zhang Xuezhou regrouped with Divine Lord Zhenyuan, the New Emperor, Xiaotian Dog, and three Western Sect Buddha Sons to plan how to infiltrate Spirit Mountain without launching a reckless attack. Yang Jian returned from his reconnaissance, agreed to use the Buddha Sons’ identities, and helped Buddha Son Shigong understand the dangers and potential of his Heavenly Eye.

• Zhang Xuezhou told Divine Lord Zhenyuan and the New Emperor that Nezha was stable, then learned from Xiaotian Dog that Yang Jian had searched Mount Meru and infiltrated Spirit Mountain.
• Zhang Xuezhou proposed that Yang Jian impersonate one of the three Western Sect Buddha Sons, and the Buddha Sons agreed to cooperate in exchange for a chance to claim credit if the plan was exposed.
• Zhang Xuezhou urged the group to wait for an opening or for Immortal Court and Kunlun reinforcements rather than attack Spirit Mountain directly.
• Yang Jian returned disguised as a Chongming Bird and explained why infiltrating Spirit Mountain had been difficult.
• Yang Jian examined Buddha Son Shigong’s Heavenly Eye and explained that its backlash came from his body’s inability to withstand it, advising him to strengthen his body or recovery and teaching him a way to control it.

Zhang Xuezhou discussed crossing worlds with Zhu Jiuyin and Yi Shuo while worrying that Donghua was pursuing the World Origin. After Zhang Xuezhou told Hongjun about Donghua’s destruction of Kunlun and the High Heaven Secret Lands, Hongjun recognized it as a plan to gather the scattered power of Origin and seek Dimensional Ascension and sainthood.

• Zhang Xuezhou returned to Chang'an, spoke with Zhang Hao, and summoned Zhu Jiuyin to stabilize Ren Yisheng's Yang Corporeal Soul.
• Zhu Jiuyin asked to cross into the other world, and Zhang Xuezhou promised to seek an opportunity for him.
• Zhang Xuezhou, Zhang Hao, and Zhu Jiuyin considered whether Donghua could use the cold spring and World Origin to form a new body and enter sainthood.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Yi Shuo to come with him to the other world, and she said she was willing if she could obtain the Clone Technique.
• Zhang Xuezhou crossed over with Yi Shuo and listened as Hongjun repeated his lesson on the Cloud-Probing Hand.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Hongjun that Donghua had made the Kunlun and High Heaven Secret Lands collide, and Hongjun said Donghua was gathering the scattered power of Origin to pursue Dimensional Ascension and sainthood.

Zhang Xuezhou pieced together Donghua’s plan to seize the World Origin but set aside the Three Realms crisis to confront Demon Venerable Hu Yu in the real world. He arranged for Zhang Manqian to train with Yi Shuo so she could wield the Wind and Thunder Saber, then left to locate Hu Yu.

• Zhang Xuezhou concluded that Donghua had destroyed the secret lands and provoked conflict to gather the World Origin and eliminate rivals.
• Zhang Xuezhou restored Yi Shuo’s spirit at Sinkhole No. 2, and Ren Anran shaped her body while Zhang Manqian gave her clothes.
• Zhang Xuezhou proposed that Zhang Manqian use the Wind and Thunder Saber to strip Hu Yu of the World Origin while he attacked Hu Yu in support.
• Zhang Manqian agreed to learn the Wind Avoidance Instruction from Yi Shuo using silver needles so she could wield the saber with less harm.
• Zhang Xuezhou left Sinkhole No. 2 and appeared in North Rehe to find Hu Yu.

Hu Yu slowly crossed the sea toward the Scarlet Alliance State, while Zhang Xuezhou visited the B13 Research Institute to study the Innate One Qi Technique and investigate the Heavenly Eye. He learned that the Heavenly Eye was an organ everyone possessed and resolved to develop its abilities.

• Li Yingbo and the others tracked Hu Yu's ship and predicted he would run out of power and have to travel through the water toward Tuer District.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Li Yingbo he planned to study the Innate One Qi Technique with Luo Tianming, then went to the B13 Research Institute.
• Zhang Xuezhou saw Luo Tianming demonstrate control over sharp metal objects, impressing the researchers and troubling Qimeng Haige.
• Zhang Xuezhou called Luo Burang to discuss the Heavenly Eye, and Luo Burang explained that he had been studying the organ through dissections.
• Zhang Xuezhou realized everyone possessed a Heavenly Eye and believed he could develop its abilities by combining mental power with Yang Jian's methods.

Zhang Xuezhou and Luo Burang developed a breath-based attack and began cultivating the Heavenly Eye, but repeated attempts left them dizzy and injured. Zhang Xuezhou formed a hidden vertical eye and considered testing whether it could penetrate Demon Venerable Hu Yu’s defenses.

• Luo Burang demonstrated that he could shatter glass with his breath, while Zhang Xuezhou injured his forehead trying to form a Heavenly Eye.
• Zhang Xuezhou went to Sinkhole No. 2 to practice, and Luo Burang recovered at X432 Medical after his attacks left him muddled.
• Repeated attempts made Zhang Xuezhou dizzy and blurred his vision, while Ren Anran noticed that his forehead had split open.
• Zhang Xuezhou saw a hidden, flesh-colored vertical eye in Ren Anran’s mirror and found that closing it cleared his abnormal vision.
• Zhang Manqian suggested that the forehead might be a sensitive entry point for soul power, and Zhang Xuezhou considered using the technique against Demon Venerable Hu Yu.

Zhang Xuezhou and his companions traveled toward the Thousand Islands Alliance while Ren Anran explained her approach to the True Self Realm and demonstrated her Yang Corporeal Soul’s transformations. En route, they received a live feed of Zhang Huang meeting Hu Yu, whose hostile scrutiny softened after Zhang Huang revealed his purpose.

• Zhang Xuezhou, Zhang Manqian, and Ren Anran set out for the Thousand Islands Alliance by low-altitude aircraft after making progress in their cultivation.
• Ren Anran showed Zhang Xuezhou how she could reshape her Yang Corporeal Soul Bodies into convincing likenesses, including Hu Hao’s, and offered to impersonate Hu Yu if needed.
• Ren Anran advised Zhang Xuezhou to let his body and mind relax when seeking the True Self, and suggested that the True Self Realm might be only a new starting point for cultivation.
• Zhang Xuezhou considered whether even cultivators who entered sainthood still pursued further growth and struggled over their interests.
• Li Yingbo connected Zhang Xuezhou to Zhang Huang’s monitored meeting with Hu Yu, who questioned Zhang Huang sternly before softening when he heard Zhang Huang’s purpose.

Zhang Huang mediated between Hu Yu and Zhang Xuezhou, who had been at odds over Hu Yu’s Cloud Wings and their threat to each other. Hu Yu transformed a mountain into Magic Stone as half of a proposed covenant, and Zhang Xuezhou agreed to come negotiate in person.

• Hu Yu reunited with Zhang Huang and asked him to arrange a fast route to the Scarlet Alliance State.
• Zhang Huang explained that Zhang Xuezhou led the Gene Sequence organization and had acted against Hu Yu because he feared being targeted.
• Hu Yu demanded the return of his Cloud Wings and Hu Hao, while Zhang Huang insisted that neither side threaten the other.
• Zhang Huang offered to return Hu Yu’s Cloud Wings if Hu Yu promised not to alter the climate or pursue Zhang Xuezhou.
• Hu Yu transformed a coastal mountain into Magic Stone as half of a covenant and said he would complete it when Zhang Xuezhou came with the Cloud Wings.
• Zhang Huang contacted Zhang Xuezhou, who agreed to come negotiate in person.

Zhang Xuezhou and his allies coordinated a plan to negotiate with Hu Yu, use the Cloud Wings as bait, and attack him while he was distracted. After splitting up, Zhang Xuezhou headed to the coast to try to enter the True Self Realm before Hu Yu's confrontation with Ren Anran.

• Zhang Huang secured Hu Yu's agreement by arranging to return the Cloud Wings, and Zhang Xuezhou chose Laiyata City as the negotiation site because explosives had been planted there.
• Zhang Xuezhou, Ren Anran, and Zhang Manqian coordinated their roles: Ren Anran would delay Hu Yu, Zhang Xuezhou would use a sacrifice to draw him away, and Zhang Manqian would attack with the Wind and Thunder Saber before escaping.
• Zhang Xuezhou warned Zhang Manqian to flee in a straight line after attacking Hu Yu, while Ren Anran said her divine soul could escape even if her Yang Corporeal Soul Body was killed.
• The aircraft reached the Thousand Islands Alliance, and Zhang Xuezhou and the others split up; Zhang Xuezhou returned to the Tuer shrine and told Tuer Kelanduo to prepare for another sacrifice.
• Ren Anran's video call prompted Hu Yu to finish converting two mountains while he waited for the Cloud Wings, giving Zhang Xuezhou time to race toward the coast and attempt to enter the True Self Realm.

Zhang Xuezhou used Hu Yu’s World Origin creation to draw on an amplified supply of Spiritual Qi and continue advancing his cultivation, but his spirit encountered a long-stranded cultivator in the void. Their conversation revealed that Zhang Xuezhou’s body, untouched by the Five Elements, might prevent him from refining the elements needed to enter Sainthood.

• Zhang Xuezhou used the Magic Stone Mountain to amplify the Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Jade Mountain and resumed fusing his body and Yang Corporeal Soul Body.
• In the void, Zhang Xuezhou met a cultivator who remembered only that his surname might be Zhou and learned that the man’s body had died after years passed unnoticed.
• Zhou warned Zhang Xuezhou to track time in the void and described other cultivators who had perished after losing their way there.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Zhou discussed their worlds and discovered overlapping ties to the Hundred Schools of Thought and the Yin-Yang School.
• Zhou told Zhang Xuezhou that his body’s isolation from the Five Elements could keep him from refining wind, fire, water, and earth to enter Sainthood.