Chapter Summaries

Bai Pu used his Gene Mindscape to rapidly train his Combat Expertise before Bai He invited him to join the God Strategy Squad as a substitute for Hua Xiong. Bai Pu refused the invitation, choosing to continue training independently.

• Bai Pu trained against five enemies in his Gene Mindscape and improved several combat skills, especially Long-Handled Weapons Expertise.
• Bai He confronted Bai Pu and introduced himself as a B+ Rank Special Operations Agent and member of the God Strategy Squad.
• Bai He invited Bai Pu to join the squad as Hua Xiong's substitute, promising a chance to receive guidance and eventually become a main team member.
• Bai Pu refused to report to the squad's training base because he preferred training with his Gene Mindscape.

Bai He learned that Bai Pu had killed the A-Rank wanted criminal Hidden Snake and changed his attitude after seeing Bai Pu promoted to an A-Rank Special Operations Agent. Bai Pu asked about repairing equipment and showed Bai He the Crown of Domination.

• Bai He tried to persuade Bai Pu to join the main team as a substitute by boasting about the power of High-Level Awakened.
• Bai Pu acknowledged Bai He's superior mastery of mysteries and explained that his own Combat Expertise had not truly reached the high-level threshold.
• Bai He received a Commendation Order confirming Bai Pu had killed Hidden Snake, then asked why Bai Pu had not mentioned it earlier.
• Bai Pu checked the order and learned he had received 50,000 Spirit Energy Points and been promoted from C+ to A-Rank Special Operations Agent.
• Bai He explained the privileges of A-Rank agents and offered to introduce Bai Pu to his Level 6 blacksmith teammate, Blood Lion.
• Bai Pu took out the Crown of Domination, and Bai He recognized it as Dark Gold Equipment.

Bai Pu sought expert help repairing Dark Gold Equipment and identifying a mysterious rune tablet, then spoke with Qing Mi about finding suitable skill books. Qing Mi offered a skill that might fit his needs, but Bai Pu had not yet accepted it.

• Bai He told Bai Pu that Blood Lion could not repair the Dark Gold Equipment and suggested asking the Special Operations Bureau for help from Chi Li, a Level 9 blacksmith.
• Bai Pu asked about Awakened who studied Spirit Realm runes, and Li Ling agreed to arrange help while telling him that Qing Mi wanted a video call.
• Bai Pu called Qing Mi, who greeted him while bathing and confirmed that he was the maker of Youthful Countenance Cream.
• Bai Pu described the skill books he wanted, and Qing Mi sent him three options that did not meet his requirements.
• Bai Pu specified that he wanted a stable single-target control skill usable with weapons, and Qing Mi sent another skill-book screenshot.

Bai Pu negotiated with Qing Mi over the Lasso Strike skill book and rejected her proposal to expand Youthful Countenance Cream into a beauty brand. He offered his Choke Slam skill book in exchange instead, leaving Qing Mi to haggle over the trade.

• Qing Mi offered Bai Pu the Lasso Strike skill book as a gift in exchange for partnering on Youthful Countenance Cream, arguing that her marketing resources could build a lucrative brand.
• Bai Pu declined the business proposal and offered his Choke Slam skill book for the Lasso Strike book instead.
• Li Ling privately told Bai Pu she would not mind if he worked with Qing Mi, and Bai Pu explained that he valued building connections over expanding sales.
• Bai Pu reasoned that Qing Mi would still trade because she wanted access to his hidden alchemist expertise and could not easily reproduce the cream.
• Qing Mi criticized Choke Slam's narrow weapon requirements, while Bai Pu argued that Lasso Strike lacked damage and that Choke Slam's damage and control made it valuable.
• Li Ling and Su Xiaoxiao thought Bai Pu's proposed exchange was a loss, but Qing Mi continued negotiating rather than refusing the trade.

Bai Pu traveled to Snowfield Ancient City to trade with the Graceful Auction House, learned Lasso Strike, and collected his Special Operations Bureau reward. He left Yuan Yue arranging experts to repair the Crown of Domination and investigate the Dim Divine Rune’s charging method.

• Bai Pu traveled to Jiangnan Base City and entered Snowfield Ancient City, where he completed a barter exchange with Qing Mi’s representative.
• Bai Pu learned Lasso Strike, tested the skill, and decided to seek another skill book through other channels.
• Bai Pu collected 50,000 Spirit Energy Points from the Jiangnan Special Operations Bureau.
• Bai Pu asked Yuan Yue for help with repairing the Crown of Domination and deciphering the Dim Divine Rune’s charging method, and she contacted a master blacksmith and a runesmith.

Bai Pu consulted the inscription master Qing Yang about charging the Dim Divine Rune, but suspected she was hiding the real method to obtain the tablet. After Qing Yang left, Bai Pu concluded that some of her instructions might still be true and prepared to seek another expert.

• The General Affairs Department arranged for Qing Yang to examine Bai Pu's clay tablet bearing the Dim Divine Rune.
• Qing Yang said the tablet could only be charged in a High-Level Spirit Realm and offered to do it for two hundred thousand Spirit Energy Points.
• When Bai Pu refused to sell the tablet, Qing Yang claimed she could charge it by watering it with the heart's blood of a powerful leader-level lifeform from a region with World Intensity above 4.0.
• Bai Pu asked Qing Yang to guarantee her statements through the Spirit Realm Will, but she refused, so he withheld the consultation fee.
• Yuan Yue threatened to report Qing Yang and blacklist her, and Qing Yang left.
• Bai Pu told Yuan Yue that Qing Yang's instructions might be partly true, including the need for a leader's heart's blood.

Bai Pu had Chi Li repair his incomplete Dark Gold crown under a Spirit Realm-notarized contract, supplying refined gold that Chi Li sold at market price. After Iron Anvil helped prepare the workshop and Bai Pu trained, the crown’s main structure was successfully repaired, though it still needed three top-grade gemstones.

• Bai Pu met Chi Li, who explained that repairing the crown’s metal structure required about twenty grams of refined gold and that three top-grade gemstones would later be needed to complete it.
• Chi Li offered to sell Bai Pu the refined gold for fifty thousand Spirit Energy Points and waived his labor fee; Bai Pu agreed to proceed under a notarized contract.
• Chi Li said he wished Iron Anvil were present, and Yuan Yue explained that Iron Anvil was returning and could learn from the repair as he prepared to advance to Level 4 blacksmith.
• After Yuan Tang, Iron Anvil, You Bai, and the others returned, Iron Anvil helped Chi Li prepare the workshop while Bai Pu went to practice combat skills.
• Two hours later, Yuan Yue notified Bai Pu that Chi Li had successfully repaired the crown’s main structure, restoring some of its Dark Gold attributes.

Bai Pu traded the Demon General Hunter Scythe's paired Arthropod Scythes for a skill book rather than trying to have them forged into weapons. Chi Li revealed she had a three-star skill book that matched his needs.

• Bai Pu inspected the restored Crown of Domination, paid 50,000 Spirit Energy Points for restoration materials, and learned that gems could awaken its power while raising its requirements.
• Bai Pu kept the crown unequipped and showed Chi Li and Iron Anvil the Scarlet Wing's Tendon and paired Arthropod Scythes.
• Iron Anvil eagerly sought the scythes as materials for forging a golden-grade weapon, and Chi Li explained their value.
• Bai Pu offered an equal-value trade and requested a skill book instead of herbs or weapons.
• Chi Li produced an ancient-looking silk scroll, surprising Iron Anvil and Yuan Yue because it was a three-star skill book.

Bai Pu traded for and learned the three-star skill Divide the World into Three, then received new armor and an invitation to an evening showdown between Xi Polytechnic and Jiangnan University. He agreed to meet the school team, while Yuan Yue predicted a major fight at the exchange.

• Chi Li valued the Arthropod Scythes above a three-star skill book, and Bai Pu traded for and successfully learned Divide the World into Three.
• Chi Li advised Bai Pu to focus his Class Energy on his main combat skills rather than spreading it across all five skills.
• Iron Anvil gave Bai Pu River Crocodile Leather Armor, which Bai Pu planned to sell for Honor Points.
• Li Ling called Bai Pu and introduced him to Cai Cai, the Xi Polytechnic team teacher, and Blood Spider Wu Qingyun.
• Cai Cai invited Bai Pu to meet the Xi Polytechnic team at Jiangnan University's training grounds at seven that evening, and Bai Pu agreed.
• Yuan Yue explained that the exchange was a showdown between school teams and said he would go watch.

Bai Pu joined Xi Polytechnic's team for the High School Hegemony Competition and spoke privately with Blood Spider and her aunt, Wushan Goddess. Wushan Goddess offered him a rare item to thank him for helping Blood Spider complete her profession change.

• Bai Pu arrived at Jiangnan University Stadium with Yuan Yue and met Teacher Cai Cai and the Xi Polytechnic team, including Blood Spider and Senior Xuan Pin.
• Teacher Cai Cai explained that the competition had five one-on-one matches and a final team battle, while Bai Pu advised Blood Spider not to rush into a High-Level Spirit Realm after reaching level 7.
• Blood Spider told Bai Pu that her aunt wanted to speak with him, and he accepted Wushan Goddess's video call in the contestants' tunnel.
• Wushan Goddess described Blood Spider's dangerous profession-change ordeal and said she would give Bai Pu a rare item to show her thanks.

Bai Pu rejected the Wushan Goddess’s Three Arrows Oath, recognizing that it was meant to bind him to Blood Spider and make him responsible for her safety. After Blood Spider went missing before the competition, Bai Pu’s team prepared to compete without her, but she returned as the match was about to begin.

• The Wushan Goddess offered Bai Pu the Three Arrows Oath as a thank-you gift, but Bai Pu declined it and asked to exchange it for cash.
• The Wushan Goddess refused and ended the call, while Blood Spider quietly slipped away.
• Bai Pu realized the gift was intended to encourage him to form a fixed team with Blood Spider and take responsibility for her safety.
• Teacher Cai Cai and other teammates searched for Blood Spider, while some players blamed Bai Pu for her disappearance.
• With the match about to start, Teacher Cai Cai arranged a lineup without Blood Spider, but Blood Spider appeared at the doorway and said she would go first.

Blood Spider faced Jiangnan University's Black Blade in the opening duel, using her Dragon Hunter abilities and equipment to keep him at range despite his attempts to close in. She interrupted his attack with Evil Ghost Howl, leaving the match unresolved as Black Blade fled in fear.

• Cai Cai's intelligence revealed Xi Polytechnic's apparent disadvantage against Jiangnan University, which had three Heroic Professions.
• Black Blade identified Blood Spider as a level 6 Heroic Profession but assumed her archer class would be vulnerable in close combat.
• Blood Spider kited Black Blade with crossbow bolts that inflicted stackable speed reductions, while he pursued her using Phantom Sprint and Shadow Flash.
• Black Blade used his Dragon Binding Rope to pull himself toward Blood Spider and began Demon Blade Barrage.
• Blood Spider summoned the Ghost Warrior's Skin phantom and used Evil Ghost Howl, interrupting Black Blade's attack and forcing him to flee.

Blood Spider defeated Black Blade in the opening match, and Jiangnan University forfeited Bai Pu’s match. Bai Pu recognized Long Xiang, Feng Xiang, and Qilin among Jiangnan’s team and suspected they had arranged the forfeit.

• Black Blade broke free of Blood Spider’s control effect and spent several skills to rush into close combat.
• Blood Spider parried Black Blade’s blades, wounded him, and defeated him with a High-Frequency Rotary Thrust.
• Xi Polytechnic celebrated Blood Spider’s win, while Bai Pu learned he was scheduled for the second match.
• Jiangnan University forfeited Bai Pu’s match before his opponent entered the arena.
• Bai Pu spotted Long Xiang, Feng Xiang, and Qilin among Jiangnan’s competitors and suspected they had stopped his opponent from fighting.

Xi Polytechnic and Jiangnan University tied their solo matches, forcing a team battle in which Bai Pu joined the field as the team’s supposed tank. The battle began with Bai Pu revealing his chainsaw greatsword and Xuan Pin summoning Poisonous Vine Ms. Kerila.

• Long Xiang warned Jiangnan University's competitors that Steel Heart was powerful and urged them to prepare for the team battle.
• Xi Polytechnic lost its third and fourth duels, tying the solo-match score at 28 points apiece and triggering the team battle under the supplementary rules.
• Teacher Cai Cai rallied Xi Polytechnic by planning to protect Xuan Pin while he summoned Natural Partners, and Bai Pu accepted his assigned role without objection.
• When a teammate questioned why Steel Heart had no shield, Blood Spider lent Bai Pu a blue Small Buckler, which he put into his Storage Space.
• Bai Pu summoned his Chainsaw Greatsword as the teams took their positions, and Xuan Pin introduced Poisonous Vine Ms. Kerila, who gave Bai Pu her Natural Mark.

Xuanpin summoned Ms. Kerila and opened the Dreamland Gate to bring animal partners into the arena while Jiangnan University's team attacked. Bai Pu revealed his armored form and overwhelmed Black Blade, who was left facing a lethal chainsaw strike.

• Xuanpin summoned Ms. Kerila to protect him while he gathered energy, as Jiangnan University's team advanced and Long Xiang used Dragon Qi to hinder Xi Polytechnic's Plain-Faced Men.
• Feng Xiang and Black Blade eliminated one Plain-Faced Man, and the other was soon eliminated as their attack bought Xuanpin time to open the Dreamland Gate.
• Two Silverback Wolves and four crows emerged from the gate, while a huge creature named Mr. Miley began squeezing through.
• Black Blade ignored Long Xiang's warning and attacked Xuanpin, but Bai Pu intercepted his Cross Slash in his golden armor.
• Bai Pu activated Blood River Territory, disarmed Black Blade with a powerful strike, and followed with a chainsaw swing aimed at cutting him down.

Bai Pu dominated the battle against Jiangnan University, breaking Long Xiang’s shield and then trapping the opposing team in his Blood River Territory while Xuanpin’s summoned beasts joined the fight. The chapter left Black Blade badly injured and Long Xiang’s team slowed as Bai Pu hurled Black Blade into their ranks.

• Long Xiang used Aid to protect Black Blade from Bai Pu’s Chainsaw Blade, but the strike shattered Long Xiang’s shield before the team retreated with Dragon Qi Impact.
• Xuanpin summoned Mr. Miley, three Silverback Wolves, a poisonous vine, and ravens, then strengthened them with Wild Mark as Jiangnan University tried to wear down the summons.
• Bai Pu expanded his Blood River Territory to its maximum range, speeding up his allies and slowing the entire Jiangnan University team.
• Black Blade charged Bai Pu again but was overwhelmed by their strength difference and staggered after repeated clashes.
• Long Xiang used Dragon Qi Impact to weaken the territory’s slowing effect, but Bai Pu charged forward, struck Black Blade into the air, and hurled him into Long Xiang’s group with Divide the World into Three.

Xi Polytechnic University defeated Jiangnan University in the team battle after Bai Pu and Blood Spider eliminated key opponents. The victory secured Xi Polytechnic University the sparring exchange and left its team celebrating a major qualifying-stage upset.

• Bai Pu and Blood Spider eliminated Black Blade, while the slowed Jiangnan University team was forced to fight Mr. Miley’s beast pack.
• Feng Xiang attacked Xuanpin, but Xuanpin shared her damage with Mr. Miley and Bai Pu pulled her away with Lasso Strike.
• Bai Pu and Blood Spider eliminated Feng Xiang, leaving Long Xiang as Jiangnan University’s last fighter.
• Long Xiang surrendered, and the host announced Xi Polytechnic University’s victory with a total score of 58 points.
• Teacher Cai Cai and the substitutes celebrated as the team crowded around Bai Pu, Xuanpin, and Blood Spider after the match.

After Xi Polytechnic defeated Jiangnan University, Bai Pu secured permission to skip away matches and team training, while West Capital University’s Wan Zhen and Overlord discussed whether their veteran Level 6 players could defeat him. The chapter ended with Wan Zhen explaining that the gap between Level 6 Heroes could be immense because the strongest had spent years preparing for the Profession Plane.

• At Jiangnan University's review, Long Xiang and the team blamed Black Blade's unauthorized attack and acknowledged Steel Heart's overwhelming Blood River Territory.
• At Xi Polytechnic's review, Teacher Cai Cai named Bai Pu and Blood Spider main starters and warned the team about its busy upcoming schedule.
• Bai Pu requested leave from away matches and training to focus on cultivation; Teacher Cai Cai agreed on the condition that he play if the team's qualification chances became slim.
• Blood Spider insisted the team would not lose without Bai Pu, and Bai Pu accepted Teacher Cai Cai's conditions.
• At West Capital University, Overlord Zhou Tianyou asked Wan Zhen whether he could defeat Steel Heart, and Wan Zhen pointed to their stronger Level 6 veterans and captain.
• Wan Zhen explained that the Level 6 Heroes had spent the past one or two years polishing themselves and preparing for the Profession Plane rather than advancing to Level 7.

Bai Pu spent a month training in Xi City while his newly released Steel Heart Character Card became a sensation in the Virtual Spirit Realm. Its first-day card-pool revenue reached 14.5 million, earning Bai Pu a 20% share.

• Lan Feng dismissed Borderland Swordsman's offer to help her deal with Steel Heart, saying he was difficult to handle.
• Experts from the Eight Famous Schools learned that Bai Pu was an Intermediate Reinforced Hero, though they doubted he could threaten them.
• Bai Pu trained in his Gene Mindscape and the God Strategy Army's underground grounds, studied alchemy and potion-making, and streamed reading and sleeping.
• Bai Pu released his Blood Armor Shield Guard Steel Heart Character Card, and the Virtual Spirit Realm featured it as an SSR card.
• Players praised Steel Heart's Self-Adaptive Evolution and Pure Blood Guard abilities and used the card to tackle difficult solo content.
• The card pool earned 14.5 million on its first day, with Bai Pu entitled to 20% of the revenue.

Bai Pu’s character card generated huge revenue, while Blood Spider carried their team through the Jiangnan District qualifiers and Bai Pu spent the month improving his skills. His dark-gold giant cocoon finally reached 100% progress, though its next development was not revealed.

• Bai Pu converted his first day’s earnings into 49,153 Spirit Energy Points, and the Blood Armor Shield Guard Steel Heart card pool later earned roughly 350,000 Spirit Energy Points over seven days.
• Cloud Among Moon lost eleven consecutive 50/50 pulls, visited Bai Pu’s stream to invite The Venerable One, then won her twelfth Gold pull and two duplicate pulls.
• Blood Spider dominated the Jiangnan District qualifiers, securing qualification for the team while Bai Pu stayed away from the matches.
• Bai Pu raised his weapon and combat specializations and trained several skills, including Wind Riding Slash, to higher levels.
• Bai Pu used his Limit Breaker title to choose the Desperate Gamble effect for Whirling Throw.
• Bai Pu saw that the progress bar on the dark-gold giant cocoon in his Storage Space had reached 100%.