Chapter Summaries

Head Instructor Guo Mo explained the five gates of the Heavenly Ladder, the scoring system, and the rewards for the God General Training Camp. Lin Zhen drew a late starting number and watched the first fifteen trainees begin climbing.

• Guo Mo explained that trainees would face tests of morality, courage, willpower, strength, and choice on five platforms, with the first four gates shown on a public screen.
• Guo Mo described the individual and Base City rankings, announced cash rewards for the top three in each group, and had the trainees draw their starting numbers.
• Lin Zhen drew number 298, while Zhang Yue drew number 20 and joined him with the Ice City group.
• Lou Qingfeng reconsidered his orders from Li Wanfeng and decided he would only kill Lin Zhen if a suitable opportunity arose.
• Lou Qingfeng, Wu Ming, Shen Tuohua, and twelve other trainees began climbing after Guo Mo prohibited flight.

The Martial Artists began a character trial in virtual scenarios that tempted them to steal from a little girl, and several competitors faced the consequences of their choices. The chapter ended with Shen Tuohua secretly stabbing the girl and receiving a score of zero, leaving him eliminated.

• Lou Qingfeng resisted stealing the little girl's money, passed with 6.2 points, and continued climbing.
• The other Advanced War Generals passed, while most Intermediate War Generals also passed their tests.
• A Tianfu Intermediate War General stole the backpack and was eliminated with a score of 3.0.
• Shen Tuohua initially pretended to help the girl, then drew his sword and stabbed her from behind.
• The system gave Shen Tuohua zero points and eliminated him.

Shen Tuohua’s killing of a helpless girl disgraced Ice City, while Lou Qingfeng and Wu Ming faced moral tests on the Heavenly Ladder and helped restore some of the city’s reputation. Lou Qingfeng reached the third layer, where National Hero Yan Qi Ye’s overwhelming mental pressure left him unable to move.

• Shen Tuohua’s actions in the virtual test drew condemnation, and he hid away rather than return to Ice City’s group.
• Lou Qingfeng hesitated before attacking Russian Martial Artists who were assaulting a girl, then passed the second gate with a score of 6.5.
• Wu Ming ambushed one of the Russian Martial Artists and earned the highest score so far, while other contestants were eliminated.
• Ten contestants continued climbing, and Lou Qingfeng used his stamina and Mind Power to pull ahead and reach the third-layer platform first.
• Lou Qingfeng encountered Yan Qi Ye in the third-layer test, and Yan Qi Ye’s mental pressure made him tremble and begin to kneel.

The God General Training Camp assessments reshuffled the rankings as contestants from different Base Cities took turns claiming the top spots. Tang Yu appeared in the tenth round, greeted Su Mingyue, and Lin Zhen remained certain she would not fall for him.

• Lou Qingfeng endured Yan Qi Ye's mental pressure and cleared the third stage, then passed the Mutated Beast siege and final stage to take first place in the Advanced War General Group.
• Wuming and Bai Chuan also cleared the trial and temporarily led the Intermediate and Beginner War General Groups, while later Zhang Yue overtook Bai Chuan to take first place for Ice City.
• Huang Yinglie, Song Tianming, and Zhou Xiangbei successively claimed the advanced group's top ranking, pushing Lou Qingfeng down to fourth and leaving Ice City without anyone in the top three.
• Tang Yu and Sui Changlong appeared in the tenth round, and Tang Yu detoured to greet Su Mingyue, saying he wanted to chase after her in the assessment.
• Zhang Yue wondered whether Su Mingyue might fall for Tang Yu, but Lin Zhen said she would not.

Tang Yu passed all five gates with 41 points, but Sui Changlong and then Li Changying surpassed him, leaving Li Changying atop the rankings with 45 points. Ice City’s hopes of taking first place faded as Northwest Military Martial Hall continued to dominate.

• Tang Yu passed all five gates and scored 41 points, taking first place among the Advanced War Generals.
• Sui Changlong passed all five gates with 42 points and briefly claimed first place overall.
• Shi Sheng mocked Guan Shanyue about Ice City’s poor results as Li Changying began Round 13.
• Li Changying earned 9.5 points at the First Gate, a perfect ten at the Second Gate, and nine points at the Third and Fourth Gates.
• Li Changying passed the final gate with 7.5 points, finishing with 45 points and pushing Tang Yu into second place.

Lin Zhen entered the Heavenly Ladder competition’s final round and matched Su Mingyue with perfect scores in the first two gates, drawing attention as he raced to challenge her. In the Third Gate, Su Mingyue challenged him to prove who was better, and Lin Zhen faced Yan Qi Ye in the illusion.

• Jiang Huai scored 44.5 points, half a point behind Li Changying, and Northwest Military Martial Hall retained all three group leads through the nineteenth round.
• Su Mingyue and Lin Zhen reached the first platform at nearly the same time, where both earned ten points by carrying a little girl and her money home.
• Lin Zhen and Su Mingyue each received ten points in the Second Gate after immediately attacking the Russian Martial Artists harassing a Huaxia girl.
• Su Mingyue told Lin Zhen they would settle who was better in the Third Gate, then entered the illusion ahead of him.
• Lin Zhen entered the Third Gate, encountered Yan Qi Ye by the lake, and faced the pressure of Yan Qi Ye’s mental power.

Lin Zhen earned a perfect score at the Third Gate by resisting Yan Qi Ye’s mental pressure and attempting to strike him, then scored 9.5 at the Fourth Gate after fighting Mutated Beasts. He reached the Fifth Gate still narrowly ahead of Su Mingyue, but faced the fear he was least confident he could overcome.

• Lin Zhen and Su Mingyue resisted Yan Qi Ye’s Mental Power pressure, but Lin Zhen earned 10 points by thrusting his spear at him while Su Mingyue scored 9.5.
• Guo Mo revealed that Lin Zhen was only the third person in the God General Training Camp’s history to attack Yan Qi Ye, after a contemporary of Yan Qi Ye and Chen Fenglie.
• Lin Zhen and Su Mingyue fought through a Mutated Beast siege at the Fourth Gate, each scoring 9.5 points; Lin Zhen led by 0.5 overall.
• Lin Zhen reached the Fifth Layer, where a staff member gave him a helmet for the test of his deepest fear, and he admitted he lacked confidence in overcoming it.

Lin Zhen overcame a vision of the Cosmic Black Hole to pass the Heavenly Ladder Tournament, while Su Mingyue won the junior group and the rankings of several Base Cities shifted. The eighty successful contestants gathered before entering the Star Fruit Tree’s crown, where Guo Mo warned them about stranded War Generals who guarded rare Star Crystals.

• Lin Zhen resisted the Cosmic Black Hole in his trial and passed with six points, while Su Mingyue passed with seven and took first place in the junior group.
• Su Mingyue told Lin Zhen she wanted to save him because he had shown disrespect toward the True God, and said she would find him once they entered the tree crown.
• The final scores placed Northwest Military Martial Hall second overall, Modu Base City third, Ice City Base City fourth, Southern Base City fifth, and Tianfu last; Lin Zhen’s comeback helped Ice City avoid last place.
• The 220 eliminated contestants were sent away, and the eighty who passed received their awards, including Lin Zhen’s three billion cash prize and Zhang Yue’s three hundred million.
• Guo Mo explained that Tree Heart Lake was the way back to the platform and that War God-level experts could not enter the Tree Crown Zone.
• Guo Mo warned that long-stranded War Generals guarded immature Special Star Crystals and could be stronger than ordinary War Gods, advising the contestants to avoid them.

The new Elite War Generals prepared to enter the Star Fruit Tree, where Guo Mo warned them that survival depended on strength. Their confidence vanished when Liang Feng, a newly promoted War God who had spent eight years inside the tree, easily defeated Huang Yinglie and Song Tianming before leaving to find Guo Mo.

• Guo Mo and Guan Shanyue warned the Martial Artists about the dangers inside the Star Fruit Tree and explained that they could not leave without giving up or reaching the War God stage.
• After the Instructors departed, Huang Yinglie and Song Tianming dismissed the danger and boasted about their strength.
• Liang Feng emerged from the tree, revealed that he had spent eight years inside as a Level Nine War General, and mocked the newcomers' arrogance.
• Huang Yinglie and Song Tianming challenged Liang Feng, who knocked them off the platform, rescued them, and pinned them down with ease.
• Liang Feng warned the group that stronger veterans lived inside the tree, gave Jiang Huai his name, and left to find Guo Mo.

Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue entered the Star Fruit Tree, found shelter in a withered flower, and cultivated through the night. When a newly bloomed Star Crystal appeared, Lin Zhen went to claim it, but a black shadow swooped down just as he reached for it.

• Li Changying and the Northwest Military Martial Hall group left, and the other Martial Artists dispersed into the tree, leaving Zhang Yue with Lin Zhen.
• Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue traveled deeper into the canopy and found a withered flower where a Star Core Stage Star Crystal had already been taken.
• Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue spent the night resting on the flower's petals, while Lin Zhen cultivated and increased his golden Mental Power from forty-two to forty-three percent.
• Lin Zhen sensed a newly bloomed Star Crystal and left Zhang Yue asleep to find it.
• Lin Zhen approached the Star Core Stage Star Crystal and reached for it, but a black shadow suddenly swooped down.

Lin Zhen killed a Mutated Moth and claimed its crystal, then fought Li Yuan over a Star Core Crystal. After a giant spider carried Li Yuan away, Lin Zhen hid in a tree hollow and prepared to absorb the Star Core Crystal.

• Lin Zhen killed the Mutated Moth with his Bright Silver Spear, recovered its Mutated Insect Crystal, and used it to clear the moth's dizzying dust from his mind.
• Lin Zhen found Li Yuan trying to take the Star Core Crystal and demanded that he return it, but Li Yuan refused and challenged him.
• Lin Zhen pulled the Star Core Crystal from Li Yuan's hand with Mind Power and deflected Li Yuan's attack with Immovable as a Mountain.
• Lin Zhen warned Li Yuan about a giant spider above him, but Li Yuan ignored the warning and was caught, poisoned, and wrapped in webbing.
• Lin Zhen climbed into a concealed tree hollow and took out the Star Core Crystal to absorb it.

Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue searched the Star Fruit Tree for Star Crystals, each advancing in strength while struggling to survive with little food. After three days of fruitless exploration, they discovered four Stranded Ones rushing toward a confrontation over several Star Crystals.

• Lin Zhen absorbed a Star Core Crystal, raising his Dantian Qi capacity to 980 and bringing him close to advancing to Intermediate War General.
• Morning dew flooded the stamen and soaked Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue, who then lost their spoiled food and ate emergency rations instead.
• Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue found a nearly Meteor Stage Star Crystal, which Zhang Yue absorbed to advance to early Level Four War General.
• Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue spent three days exploring, avoiding Mutated Insects, but found no more Star Crystals.
• Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue overheard four Stranded Ones from Class 496 hurrying toward a fight over several Star Crystals.

Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue followed several trainees to three Star Crystals, where Su Mingyue’s group became embroiled in a fight with older trainees. Lin Zhen secretly stole the crystals, leaving Su Mingyue furious and determined to find the thief as the battle continued.

• Lin Zhen and Zhang Yue spotted four Martial Artists rushing toward three Star Crystals, including one at the Meteor Stage, and followed them to a clearing where several groups had gathered.
• Tang Yu proposed dividing the crystals among groups that swore loyalty to God, but the older trainees mocked the Divine Sect and threatened Su Mingyue’s companions.
• Tang Yu attacked a member of Class 495, and the fighting spread as Su Mingyue faced the Class 496 trainees and wounded one of them.
• Two Advanced War Generals from Class 494 broke for the crystals, but Lin Zhen’s Flying Knives forced them to dodge while he secretly drew all three crystals away.
• Su Mingyue heard a familiar voice calling to an idol, realized someone from her class had stolen the crystals, and fought even more fiercely while vowing to catch the thief.

After escaping with Zhang Yue, Lin Zhen absorbed two Star Crystals and advanced to Level Four Initial Peak. He and Zhang Yue parted ways so Lin Zhen could train his Long River Spear Technique by a river, but a teasing female voice stopped him near Tree Heart Lake.

• Lin Zhen escaped the pursuing Advanced War Generals with Zhang Yue and hid with him inside a tree hollow.
• Lin Zhen gave Zhang Yue a Star Core Crystal, then absorbed a Star Core Stage crystal and a Meteor Crystal to break through to Level Four Initial Peak.
• Lin Zhen decided to train his Long River Spear Technique, and he and Zhang Yue agreed to split up and meet again later.
• Lin Zhen traveled for two days to Tree Heart Lake, found several rivers flowing into it, and chose to follow the northern river upstream.
• As Lin Zhen entered the undergrowth near the Platform Area, an unseen woman called out, teasingly asking where he was going.

Lin Zhen evaded Su Mingyue after she confronted him and urged him to join the Divine Sect, then found a secluded pool on the Star Fruit Tree and made it his base. After reflecting on the coming New Year, he entered the river to study its flow and cultivate the Long River Spear Technique.

• Su Mingyue confronted Lin Zhen about stealing Star Crystals and offered to save him by recruiting him into the Divine Sect.
• Lin Zhen tricked Su Mingyue into closing her eyes to recite a prayer, then slipped away and lost her in the undergrowth.
• Lin Zhen followed a river upstream for three hours and found a secluded waterfall, pool, and tree hollow where he settled for the night.
• Lin Zhen spotted the moon through the tree canopy and thought about celebrating future New Years with his family.
• Lin Zhen entered the turbulent river with his Bright Silver Spear to experience its surging power and practice the Long River Spear Technique.

Lin Zhen overcame his fear of the river and mastered the second layer of Immovable as a Mountain, Body Like a Mountain. He then found three Star Crystals near his shelter, took the Comet Stage crystal, and left the two Meteor Stage crystals to mature.

• Lin Zhen repeatedly slipped and fell in the river before realizing that his fear and divided attention were undermining his footing.
• Lin Zhen let himself drift in the current, changed his focus from resisting the water to embodying a mountain, and stood firm against a powerful wave.
• Lin Zhen fully comprehended Body Like a Mountain through repeated practice and stopped fearing the river's waves.
• Lin Zhen explored the Tree Crown Zone and found three Star Crystals on a hidden branch near his shelter.
• Lin Zhen picked the Comet Stage Star Crystal and concealed the two Meteor Stage crystals so he could collect them after they matured.

Lin Zhen absorbed a Comet Crystal, advancing to the middle Level Four stage, then practiced Long River in the river. After realizing he had to understand and follow water’s nature, he unleashed consecutive spear strikes that cut off the river’s flow.

• Lin Zhen absorbed the Comet Crystal and advanced from the early-stage peak to the middle stage of Level Four.
• Lin Zhen tried to practice Lightning Long River with Waterfall, but he could not sustain consecutive strikes against the river’s waves.
• While resting and reflecting on his goals, Lin Zhen realized that he needed to understand water and flow with the current.
• Lin Zhen submerged himself, sensed the current, and let his body move with the water until he understood its rhythm.
• Lin Zhen attacked two consecutive waves with the Bright Silver Spear and cut off the river’s flow.

Lin Zhen mastered the basics of the Long River Spear Technique, then rested as Su Mingyue traced the river upstream after realizing someone had stopped its flow. Tang Yu and Yingying searched for Su Mingyue, unaware that two men from Class 494 were following them to seize her Divine Sect Token.

• Lin Zhen unleashed thirty consecutive spear strikes, grasped the essence of the Long River, and returned to his shelter to recover.
• Su Mingyue bathed downstream, was exposed when the river abruptly stopped, and later deduced that someone upstream had cut off the water.
• Su Mingyue followed the river north, suspecting Lin Zhen was responsible and hoping to settle their score.
• Tang Yu and Yingying encountered two Advanced War Generals from Class 494, fought them, and escaped toward Tree Heart Lake.
• Yingying found Su Mingyue's trail, and she and Tang Yu headed north along the river to find her.
• The two men from Class 494 revealed they wanted Su Mingyue's Divine Sect Token and secretly followed Tang Yu and Yingying.

Lin Zhen honed his Lightning Long River technique, killed a powerful Mutated Mantis, and obtained a Comet Crystal. When he returned to his nest to absorb it, he found Su Mingyue inspecting the place and embarrassing him because he was wearing only soaked boxer briefs.

• Lin Zhen increased the number of consecutive Waterfall attacks he could unleash and waited near the Meteor Crystals for one to mature.
• Lin Zhen spotted a camouflaged Mutated Mantis, fought it with his spear and Lightning Long River, and killed it by piercing its head.
• Lin Zhen took the mantis's crystal, Mantis Blades, and a leg, then collected the newly matured Comet Crystal.
• Lin Zhen returned to his nest carrying the Comet Crystal and mantis leg, where he found Su Mingyue examining his petal-covered shelter.
• Su Mingyue called Lin Zhen shameless after seeing him in soaked boxer briefs.

Lin Zhen stalled Su Mingyue long enough to retreat and recover, while she waited for him to explain himself. Tang Yu and Yingying arrived, but two Advanced War Generals confronted them, demanding Su Mingyue’s Star Gazing Mirror and threatening her.

• Lin Zhen used his shameless threats to convince Su Mingyue to give him an hour, then disappeared behind a tree to recover.
• Tang Yu and Yingying found Su Mingyue and told her that two Advanced War Generals had chased them.
• Su Mingyue realized the pair had likely led their pursuers straight to her, and the two Advanced War Generals emerged from the woods.
• Hua demanded Su Mingyue’s Star Gazing Mirror and proposed that she spend the night with him and his brother.
• Su Mingyue refused, and the two Advanced War Generals drew their weapons and charged at her and her companions.