Chapter Summaries

Lu Changzhi persuaded Huo Zhen to leave the spatial rift open and send spirit beasts into the secret realm, while the resulting beast tide overwhelmed outsiders across the realm. He then took Qin Li, Gu Chen, and the others toward Eighteen City to hunt spirit beasts and deal with the danger gathering there.

• Lu Changzhi convinced Huo Zhen to keep the spatial rift open and bring in about five thousand spirit beasts for his disciples to fight.
• Huo Zhen entered the rift, while Lu Changzhi instructed Zhou Xun to reveal the secret realm's entrance so outsiders would be easier to drive away.
• Spirit beasts spread through the secret realm, killing people in a flying boat and engulfing those trapped outside a city's formation.
• Lu Changzhi called Qin Li, Gu Chen, and the others away from their studies and set out with them for the area around Eighteen City.
• Lu Changzhi planned to use the approaching beast tide to draw spirit beasts toward Eighteen City and wait for them there.

Xia Ya prepared a teleportation formation and beacon to summon the Xia Clan while spirit beasts drove people across the secret realm into cities and toward the exit. As the beast tide threatened Eighteen City, the beasts suddenly rushed toward a drop of essence blood in a nearby valley.

• People near Eighteen City worried that the overcrowded city and sealed neighboring cities left them nowhere safe from the approaching spirit beasts.
• Xia Ya established a defensive formation and teleportation beacon, then waited for the Xia Clan's experts to arrive.
• Night made the spirit beasts more violent, and people in the cities debated whether to leave the secret realm through the reappeared exit.
• The beast tide grew around Eighteen City, causing casualties as defenders struggled to hold their positions.
• The spirit beasts suddenly abandoned their assault and raced toward a drop of essence blood surrounded by formations in a nearby valley.

Mu Fan and his companions lured spirit beasts together with White Tiger essence blood, then unleashed the Iron Tree’s devastating power on them. As the blast’s dust storm reached Eighteen City, Jiang Yuanyin asked Lu Changzhi whether he had taught Mu Fan the technique.

• Mu Fan had Qin Li create more White Tiger essence-blood bait so the group could gather and attack spirit beasts in several areas.
• Qin Li and Gu Chen placed the bait while Mu Fan and the others exploited the beasts’ frenzy to kill them and collect their corpses.
• Xiao Ye retrieved the essence blood, and Mu Fan dropped the Iron Tree into the gathered spirit beasts and activated it.
• The Iron Tree erupted with a vast blaze and shock wave, killing nearby beasts and blasting dust and debris across dozens of li toward Eighteen City.
• Jiang Yuanyin asked Lu Changzhi whether he had taught Mu Fan the technique that had triggered the Iron Tree’s explosion.

Mu Fan’s talisman blast devastated the spirit beasts, and the group searched the battlefield for usable essence blood. Meanwhile, the Xia Clan prepared to investigate the Nine-Tower Secret Realm, while rumors and news of the reopened exit sent its frightened inhabitants fleeing; Qin Han followed the crowd toward escape.

• Lu Changzhi told Jiang Yuanyin that Mu Fan had devised the talisman technique himself, and Jiang Yuanyin judged its blast powerful but best suited to ambushes.
• Mu Fan and Gu Chen found that the blast had killed nearly half the gathered spirit beasts, then joined the others in collecting essence blood from the survivors and corpses.
• The Xia Clan discovered that none of its members qualified to enter the Nine-Tower Secret Realm and decided to wait for Xia Ya’s remnant will to return before negotiating.
• Five Symbols Sect elders spread rumors that the cities’ protection would vanish and stronger spirit beasts were emerging, then news spread that the secret realm’s exit had reopened for one day.
• Crowds rushed toward the exit, and Qin Han heard the news from inside a spirit beast, then controlled it to follow the fleeing people.

Qian Shenglin went to Eighteen City seeking the promised light and antidote, but found it deserted. Meanwhile, Eighteen City's people thanked Lu Changzhi by giving him their light before leaving the secret realm, and Lu Changzhi learned that Zhou Xun had found someone who might be Luo Zhen among a pile of corpses.

• Qian Shenglin headed to Eighteen City after learning the secret realm's exit was open, but found everyone gone and fled when a spirit beast was drawn by his outburst.
• Qin Li guided Eighteen City's people safely toward the exit, and one person urged the crowd to give their light to the city lords before leaving.
• The people of Eighteen City praised their city lords, gave their light willingly, and invited them to visit their homes.
• Lu Changzhi gathered the light and bid farewell to the crowd, who then departed through the secret realm's exit.
• Gu Chen said the group needed to continue collecting spirit beast essence blood, while Lu Changzhi wondered whether his three protégés might be stranded.
• Lu Changzhi received word from Zhou Xun, who had found someone resembling Luo Zhen among a pile of corpses and was going to confirm it.

Lu Changzhi learned that Zhou Xun had found the badly wounded Luo Zhen and let him take Luo Zhen back to the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty. As the beast tide drove the secret realm’s contestants toward the exit, Wujie fled a powerful spirit beast and the gathered forces learned that the trial would likely end early.

• Zhou Xun pulled the still-breathing Luo Zhen from a pile of corpses while a spirit beast played with another victim nearby.
• Lu Changzhi checked Luo Zhen’s condition, decided he would survive, and allowed Zhou Xun to take him to the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty.
• Lu Changzhi tracked Qin Jiuxiao and Qin Han near the exit and waited for Qin Li to finish her trial mission.
• Wujie reconsidered his failed plans to win the secret realm as the beast tide forced people to flee.
• A powerful spirit beast approached Wujie, who escaped with the Buddhist Order disciples; a little old man then recalled the beast and went to rest.
• Contestants poured out of the secret realm, and the forces outside learned that the beast tide had forced an early evacuation.

Xia Ya learned that the Land of the Four Directions was weak and reported the Nine-Story Tower’s appearance and unusual Qi fluctuations to Xia Kun. As Xia Ya and Xia Kun’s incarnation entered the secret realm, Dong Li detected a teleportation array and went to investigate.

• Dai Tianfeng’s body sent a token and information through the teleportation array, and Xia Ya learned that the Land of the Four Directions had only two Saint Kings and few people left in the secret realm.
• Xia Ya reported that the Nine-Story Tower had appeared and that unusual Qi fluctuations might have indicated Perfect Sudden Enlightenment.
• Xia Kun ordered Xia Ya to bring any promising genius into the Xia Clan as an attendant and decided to accompany him in an incarnation.
• Xia Kun’s incarnation entered Xia Ya’s body, and Xia Ya entered the teleportation array toward the secret realm.
• Dong Li sensed fluctuations that might have come from a teleportation array, asked Old Zheng to watch the Nine-Story Tower, and hurried toward the source.

Xia Ya entered the Nine-Tower Secret Realm and headed toward Lu Changzhi after his probe detected him and his disciples. Jiang Yuanyin returned to protect them as Xia Ya approached, while Lu Changzhi waited to learn the newcomer's intentions.

• Xia Ya left the formation after finding Dai Tianfeng's corpse and flew toward the Nine-Story Tower's former location.
• Dong Li reported that Xia Ya had entered the realm and was heading for the tower, prompting Jiang Yuanyin to leave Lu Changzhi with a storage ring of defensive means.
• Xia Ya's probing intent swept over Lu Changzhi and his disciples, then fixed on Lu Changzhi.
• Lu Changzhi asked the system for Xia Ya's information, but the system said Xia Ya was outside its detection range.
• Jiang Yuanyin returned and warned Lu Changzhi that Xia Ya seemed to be after him and his disciples, while people from the tower headed to help.
• Xia Ya learned that the Nine-Story Tower had acknowledged a new master and hurried toward Lu Changzhi, angry that someone had attacked him before.

Xia Ya demanded the Nine-Story Tower from Lu Changzhi after Lu refused to join the Xia Clan, and Jiang Yuanyin struck Xia Ya down with a hidden attack. Xia Kun emerged from Xia Ya and threatened Jiang Yuanyin and the Land of the Four Directions, while Lu Changzhi received a choice from his system.

• Xia Ya arrived and offered Lu Changzhi a place in the Xia Clan’s training after asking about the Perfect Sudden Enlightenment.
• Lu Changzhi refused the offer, and Xia Ya demanded the Nine-Story Tower and threatened the group.
• Jiang Yuanyin appeared after blocking Xia Ya’s pressure, then wounded Xia Ya with a sudden blade strike.
• Xia Kun emerged from Xia Ya and threatened to destroy the Land of the Four Directions unless Jiang Yuanyin killed himself.
• Lu Changzhi received a system choice about how to respond to Xia Kun’s threat.

Lu Changzhi watched Jiang Yuanyin and the other Saint Realm patriarchs attack Xia Kun’s Saint King clone, then heard Jiang Yuanyin order them to capture it alive. Xia Kun chose to self-destruct, and Dong Li called for the countermeasure.

• Lu Changzhi considered the system’s lightning-tribulation option and asked whether he could watch from the sidelines.
• Jiang Yuanyin summoned hidden Saint Realm patriarchs, who surrounded Xia Kun and launched a coordinated attack.
• Xia Kun used a formation plate to defend himself, but a hidden dagger shattered the formation and Jiang Yuanyin struck him with his saber’s flat.
• Xia Kun threatened the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty, while Jiang Yuanyin revealed that they had deliberately given him time to recover before ordering his capture.
• Xia Kun began to self-destruct, and Dong Li told everyone to use the countermeasure.

The patriarchs crippled Xia Kun’s clone, and Lu Changzhi used the Dual-Purpose Lightning Tribulation against Xia Ya. At the Xia Clan, a vast tribulation gathered over Xia Kun and began sending taunting words through the clouds.

• The patriarchs disrupted Xia Kun’s attempt to gather power, and Jiang Yuanyin pierced his dantian with a saber, causing his spiritual power to drain away.
• Lu Changzhi told the system to use the Dual-Purpose Lightning Tribulation on Xia Ya as an enemy.
• Xia Kun awoke at the Xia Clan, realized that the Land of the Four Directions had brought true Saint Realm cultivators into the secret realm, and suspected the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty was hiding secrets.
• A lightning tribulation gathered over the Xia Clan and appeared to target Xia Kun, though he could not understand why.
• The clouds spread across three thousand miles, and Xia Kun’s light tore open a rift spelling “Scram.”
• The tribulation expanded again, and Xia Kun’s light opened another rift spelling “That’s it?”

Xia Kun’s lightning tribulation grew into a world-ending threat after Lu Changzhi’s light provoked it repeatedly. As the clouds expanded toward thirty thousand miles, the Xia Clan’s ancestor sent Xia Kun beyond the clan grounds and appealed to the heavens to spare the clan.

• Xia Kun’s light provoked the lightning tribulation again, expanding the clouds to ten thousand miles and turning the lightning purple.
• Lu Changzhi asked the system about the taunting characters and learned that the light was insulting the will of heaven and earth.
• The tribulation intensified with golden lightning as the Xia Clan’s members struggled under its pressure and Xia Kun froze in terror.
• The Xia Clan’s ancestor arrived, learned that Xia Kun had provoked the tribulation himself, and sent him toward the clan’s outskirts.
• The ancestor bowed to the heavens and declared that Xia Kun’s personal actions did not represent the Xia Clan.

Lu Changzhi’s scheme drew down golden tribulation lightning that destroyed Xia Kun and erased his karma, while the Xia Clan’s ancestor salvaged a damaged mouth from the blast. Jiang Yuanyin and the others set out to investigate the Xia Clan, and Xia Wentian traced the mystery to the Land of the Four Directions and the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty.

• The Xia Clan’s ancestor moved Xia Kun away from the clan’s territory, leaving him to face the lightning tribulation alone.
• Lu Changzhi revealed to Xia Kun’s avatar that he had caused the tribulation, and golden lightning struck Xia Kun, destroying his body, soul, and karma.
• The Xia Clan’s ancestor caught a damaged mouth that flew from the blast site, but could not deduce its karma.
• Jiang Yuanyin, Dong Li, and Lu Changzhi headed for the teleportation array to deliver a token and try to lure another Xia Clan expert.
• Xia Wentian investigated Xia Kun’s recent information and uncovered a lead involving the Land of the Four Directions and the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty.

Zhou Mu awaited the secret realm’s survivors while Lu Changzhi and the ancestors investigated the destroyed teleportation array and received the Black Dragon’s tail. As more survivors emerged, Qin Jiuxiao celebrated his breakthrough and the Eastern Region’s factions mourned their losses, with Luo Zhen still missing.

• Zhou Mu felt an unexplained unease as he watched the secret realm’s survivors emerge, while Zhou Xun brought the injured Luo Zhen out.
• Jiang Yuanyin, Dong Li, and Huo Zhen examined the destroyed teleportation array and suspected the Xia Clan had used powerful lightning tribulation techniques.
• Huo Zhen gave Lu Changzhi the Black Dragon’s tail to help nourish the disciples, and Lu Changzhi took the group to hunt spirit beasts with Saint Realm ancestors following secretly.
• Qin Jiuxiao emerged from the secret realm after breaking through during a life-threatening fight, then hoped Luo Zhen would never return.
• Dongfang Jun gave Dongfang Yao medicine after hearing his account of the Dongfang Clan’s losses in the secret realm.
• The Eastern Region’s factions grieved as many smaller groups lost all their young members, and observers worried over Cang Wenyu and the region’s declining influence.

Zhou Mu brought the unconscious Luo Zhen to his father, who ordered Zhou Mu to strengthen Luo Zhen’s body so it could withstand his power. Meanwhile, Lu Changzhi’s group neared completion of the secret-realm trial, and Lu Changzhi obtained Qin Li’s beast-taming system and called her over to bind it.

• Zhou Xun delivered the unconscious Luo Zhen to Zhou Mu and reported that Luo Zhen’s injuries had healed rapidly despite his weak Qi.
• Zhou Mu took Luo Zhen to his father, who sensed Luo Zhen’s unusual recovery and ordered Zhou Mu to temper his body until it could withstand his power.
• The old man recalled his foreboding that calamity might befall the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty and decided he needed to prepare on two fronts.
• At the secret realm’s spatial rift, Lu Changzhi waited as the group continued killing spirit beasts and the completed trial tasks surpassed nine thousand.
• Lu Changzhi received Qin Li’s exclusive system, which let her subdue beasts, strengthen herself, and gain their combat abilities, along with the Five Elephants Heaven-Suppressing Seal.
• Lu Changzhi called Qin Li over so she could bind the system.

Lu Changzhi gave Qin Li the Five Elephants Heaven-Suppressing Seal, and gained a trait tied to her Beast-Taming System. He then considered how to accelerate his allies’ cultivation and learned he had to wait for Xiao Ye’s Tongtong to level up before his breakthroughs could be simplified again.

• Qin Li delivered the collected spirit beast essence blood, and Lu Changzhi gave her the Five Elephants Heaven-Suppressing Seal to claim with her blood and soul.
• Qin Li bound the seal and learned it contained a self-contained world, while Lu Changzhi gained the Beast-Loving Ambassador trait through her Beast-Taming System.
• After Qin Li left, Lu Changzhi worried that his disciples and allies were advancing too slowly and resolved to find ways to help them improve.
• Lu Changzhi asked when his realm breakthroughs could be simplified again, and the system said he had to wait for Xiao Ye’s Tongtong to level up.
• The system reported that Xiao Ye’s Tongtong had reached 94% progress, and Lu Changzhi decided to enter the Saint Realm before seeking simplified breakthroughs.

Lu Changzhi and several disciples left the secret realm while Gu Chen and Qin Li stayed behind, as the Struggle of the Heaven's Chosen ended. In the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty, Ji Bochang warned Zhou Mu that the dynasty's fortune might be declining and a calamity could soon threaten it.

• Lu Changzhi decided to return to Hidden Origin Peak to prepare for his Saint Realm breakthrough, and Mu Fan piloted the Void Shuttle carrying Xiao Ye, Luo Ling'er, and Jin Fugui toward the exit while Gu Chen and Qin Li stayed in the secret realm.
• People in Heaven's Chosen City watched the secret realm close and speculated about the final rankings, Dai Tianfeng's disappearance, and the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty's losses.
• Zhou Mu rejected a proposal to reclaim resources from other factions immediately and said they could take them back later, after his father advanced using Luo Zhen's body.
• Ji Bochang told Zhou Mu that his observations suggested the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty's fortune might be in danger and that a calamity could threaten it soon.
• Zhou Mu asked Ji Bochang to investigate whether the other factions' fortune had changed, considering plundering a faction whose fortune was improving.

After the secret realm closed, the Cloud Heaven Holy Land learned that its fortunes were improving, while Huang Yunya suspected Luo Zhen had caused its decline. Back on Hidden Origin Peak, Lu Changzhi warned Cang Wenyu away from the doomed Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty, rewarded the Iron-Armored Brown Ape, and then saw a huge red bird rush toward him in the Heavenly Azure Secret Realm.

• Qin Jiuxiao told the Cloud Heaven Holy Land elder that he had not seen Luo Zhen, then considered whether a building in Heaven's Chosen City could help him.
• Huang Yunya confirmed that Luo Zhen's soul jade remained intact and asked Elder Xuan to check the Holy Land's fortunes; Elder Xuan reported that they were improving, though Luo Zhen no longer appeared among its celestial signs.
• Huang Yunya concluded that Luo Zhen had caused the Holy Land's fortunes to worsen, while Elder Xuan kept his doubts to himself.
• Lu Changzhi told Cang Wenyu that he had warned the Five Symbols Sect to leave because the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty faced bad luck, then gave him a storage ring of gifts.
• Lu Changzhi visited the Heavenly Azure Secret Realm, praised the Iron-Armored Brown Ape's spirit-beast production line, and rewarded him with spirit-beast essence blood.
• A fiery red bird spread its wings and swept toward Lu Changzhi as Mu Fan watched the production line.

Lu Changzhi watched Xiao Ming outgrow and outpace Mu Fan, who ended up feeding the bird and imagining how useful it could be as a bomber. After returning to Hidden Origin Peak, Lu Changzhi heard that the level-four shop upgrade reward was being distributed.

• Xiao Ming returned to Lu Changzhi, ate Saint Rank spirit fruits, and asked Mu Fan for food.
• Xiao Ming challenged Mu Fan to a race, but Mu Fan bolted early with his Wind Wings and Saint Artifact boots.
• Xiao Ming caught up, sucked Mu Fan into his beak, then spat him out toward the ground.
• Mu Fan gave Xiao Ming a pile of fruit and began thinking of using it to carry Iron Trees for explosions.
• Lu Changzhi returned to Hidden Origin Peak and heard the system announce the level-four shop upgrade reward.

Lu Changzhi received the Seed of Chaos as a reward and began communicating with it after learning the system could not refine it for him. Five days passed with him still immersed in the process, leaving Mu Fan, Luo Ling’er, and Xiao Ye wondering whether he had entered seclusion.

• Lu Changzhi learned that the Seed of Chaos could evolve into a world of his own and potentially suppress opponents, though the system warned that doing so would take considerable effort.
• The system said nobody had ever refined a Seed of Chaos, then claimed Lu Changzhi would succeed because of who he was, hinting that something about him might be hidden.
• Lu Changzhi set aside his questions about his past and decided to focus on reaching the Saint Realm before asking the system to refine the seed.
• The system admitted it could not handle the Seed of Chaos, so Lu Changzhi entered it with his consciousness and began communicating with it.
• Five days later, Mu Fan, Luo Ling’er, and Xiao Ye noticed Lu Changzhi was absent from the dining table and wondered if he had gone into seclusion.
• Cang Wenyu and Xu Kun hurried toward the group on Hidden Origin Peak.