Chapter Summaries

Reborn three years before the launch of Battle Through the Heavens, Yang Shan used his memories of the game to plan a new path toward wealth and power. He entered the game with a focus on Lightning, then arrived at the opening scene where his character was mocked for being stuck at Dou Qi Stage 1.

• Yang Shan recorded what he could remember about the game before its servers opened and locked his notes away.
• Yang Shan entered character creation and put all ten Spiritual Root points into Lightning, intending to pursue the Northern Falling Seven Star Thunder.
• Yang Shan allocated his initial attributes as Constitution 4, Bone Root 2, and Agility 4, then named his character Yang Shan.
• Yang Shan logged in and pressed his hand against a stone tablet that displayed his character as Dou Qi Stage 1.
• Nearby clan members mocked Yang Shan for failing to advance, but he smiled at the familiar scene.

Yang Shan exploited the Novice Realm’s system benefits and arena challenges to level rapidly, becoming the first Player to reach Fighter. The global announcement awarded him a title and attributes, and he added Spiritual Root points that qualified him to become an Alchemist.

• The system tried to reward Yang Shan for being mocked, but he concealed his level and left the assessment without triggering the staged praise from the clan elders.
• Yang Shan provoked the clan youths, accepted Song Rentou’s challenge, and defeated him with a kick to the face, reaching Dou Qi Level 4.
• Yang Shan taunted his peers into a series of arena matches and won twenty-one consecutive fights by exploiting his speed and their weak points.
• Yang Shan condensed a Dou Qi Cyclone and became a Fighter, prompting a global announcement that named him the first Player on the server to reach Fighter.
• Yang Shan received the title “Number One Fighter Under Heaven” and bonus attributes, then added his Spiritual Root points to Fire and Wood.

After leaving the Novice Realm, Yang Shan chose Cloud Frost City as his descent location and tried to avoid joining either of its rival families. When he rejected their female recruiters by claiming he had no interest in women, Pang Yan brought out two male NPCs instead, leaving him facing another choice.

• Yang Shan perfectly cleared the Novice Realm, learned the Basic Thunder Skill, and chose Cloud Frost City in the Jia Ma Empire as his descent location.
• At Cloud Frost City's gates, Yang Shan decided to avoid the Chai and Pang Families and seek the Mittel Yunshuang Branch instead.
• Pang Yan and Chai Wenjing both tried to recruit Yang Shan, arguing over which family he should join and competing for his attention.
• Yang Shan tried to escape their invitations, but Pang Yan hooked her arm through his while Chai Wenjing pretended to twist her ankle and fell into his arms.
• Yang Shan told the women he had no interest in women, so Pang Yan summoned two male NPCs, including a muscular man who asked Yang Shan whether he wanted to fence.

Yang Shan exploited a system loophole to enter the city and accepted Cloud Frost City's unique gold quest and a purple quest from the Mercenary Guild. As he set off for the Yao Family's tasks, a burly man accepted two other purple quests connected to the same family.

• Yang Shan used a provocative questionnaire to frighten the gate NPCs into letting him enter the city.
• Yang Shan went to the Mercenary Guild and bribed the clerk to accept both the Qingfeng Bird Egg gold quest and the Bamboo Snake Gall purple quest.
• Yang Shan learned that Madam Yao needed a Second-Order Qingfeng Bird egg and Master Yao needed one hundred Green Bamboo Snake gallbladders.
• Yang Shan checked that the two quest locations were close together and left the guild, confident he could complete both quests.
• A burly man arrived at the guild, accepted two purple quests involving Master Yao's concubine Xiao Juan and the Yao Family's eldest young master, and left pleased with his rewards.

Yang Shan used bait and Raging Qi Powder to provoke a battle between Green Bamboo Snakes and a Clear Wind Bird, then stole the bird's egg and pursued the badly injured Green Bamboo Python. He encountered Chao Bafang, who claimed the boss and was immediately killed by it.

• Yang Shan lured Green Bamboo Snakes toward the Clear Wind Bird's nest with Rat Stench Powder and drove them into a frenzy with Explosive Pellets loaded with Raging Qi Powder.
• The Clear Wind Bird fought the snakes and wounded the Green Bamboo Python, giving Yang Shan a chance to climb the tree and take the egg and nest.
• Yang Shan chased the fleeing Green Bamboo Python, whose Qi and Blood had fallen from 4,800 to 270.
• Chao Bafang appeared and claimed the Green Bamboo Python, so Yang Shan let him try to fight it.
• The Green Bamboo Python suddenly sprang up and bit Chao Bafang's head off.

Yang Shan killed the First-Order King of Beasts, the Green Bamboo Python, earning three Fighter levels and a second Global Announcement that made him the focus of the forum. After consuming its rare Heart Blood Meat for five more Free Attributes, he headed back toward the Clear Wind Bird Habitat to collect the Green Bamboo Snake Gall.

• Chao Bafang was killed by the Green Bamboo Python's desperate attack, while Yang Shan struck the beast's exposed vital spot and killed it with several punches.
• Yang Shan advanced from One-Star Fighter to Four-Star Fighter and received a Global Announcement reward for the first kill of a First-Order King of Beasts.
• Players flooded the forum with reactions to Yang Shan's achievement, and Chao Bafang regretted losing his chance to claim the kill.
• Yang Shan allocated his new attributes, then collected a Wood Attribute Magic Core, Green Bamboo Python Gall, and Green Bamboo Python Heart Blood Meat from the beast's drops.
• Yang Shan consumed the Heart Blood Meat, gained five Free Attributes, picked up the Clear Wind Bird Nest, and set off to collect the Green Bamboo Snake Gall.

Yang Shan returned to Cloud Frost City with the Qingfeng Bird Egg quest items and used a Green Bamboo Python gallbladder to win Master Yao’s favor and better rewards. He gained access to quests from the Mittel Yunshuang Branch and left with an elite storage ring, a powerful blade, and a Thunder-element cultivation method.

• Yang Shan collected one hundred Bamboo Snake Galls from the Green Bamboo Snake corpses and hurried back to Cloud Frost City before they could respawn.
• Yang Shan skipped the Mercenary Guild queue by presenting the golden Qingfeng Bird Egg quest token, and the guard captain escorted him to Master Yao.
• Yang Shan gave Master Yao a Green Bamboo Python gallbladder, gaining 10 Affinity and an upgraded reward that included an Elite Storage Ring and one hundred Spirit Stones.
• Yang Shan received the Refined Cold Blade and the Yellow Rank High-Level Thunderclap Skill, and he unlocked the qualification to accept quests from the Mittel Yunshuang Branch.
• Yang Shan checked into an inn, admired his improved attributes, and logged off satisfied.

Yang Shan rested after an unusually long session, recorded notes about valuable early-game opportunities, and returned to the game to pursue a quest that could help him level and earn a powerful Dou Technique. He prepared to hunt Man Bulls on the Great Prairie and left for the area with tools to make the fight easier.

• Yang Shan ate, exercised, and rested after spending seventeen hours in the Game Pod, then wrote down his memories of the Alchemist Qin Wu encounter and other profitable game opportunities.
• Yang Shan used Spirit Stones to accelerate his AFK Cultivation and decided to level up before attempting the Alchemist Qin Wu encounter.
• Yang Shan visited the Mittel Yunshuang Branch, where Master Yao offered him a quest to obtain Man Bull Root in exchange for the right to buy a Yellow-Rank Intermediate Dou Technique at thirty percent of its price.
• Yang Shan recognized the Great Prairie as a good place to hunt Man Bulls for experience and valuable drops, accepted Master Yao's quest, and bought five large red cloths before setting out.

Yang Shan rescued Chao Bafang from a Man Bull and defeated the beast with a series of precise, acrobatic attacks. Afterward, Chao Bafang offered to buy the Man Bull Root for 800 RMB, and Yang Shan asked whether he wanted it too.

• Yang Shan reached a grassland and found Chao Bafang fleeing from a Man Bull after it rammed him.
• Yang Shan attacked the Man Bull, exploiting its wounds and using his blade and kicks to kill it.
• Chao Bafang marveled at Yang Shan’s unconventional fighting moves and insisted he had only been careless.
• Chao Bafang spotted the Man Bull Root and offered Yang Shan 800 RMB for it.
• Yang Shan asked Chao Bafang whether he wanted the Man Bull Root too.

Yang Shan helped Chao Bafang obtain the Man Bull Root needed for his purple quest while grinding Man Bulls and advancing to Seven-Star Fighter. Chao Bafang returned to Cloud Frost City to turn in the quest, and Yang Shan stayed behind to hunt more Man Bulls and pursue Dou Master.

• Yang Shan told Chao Bafang that Man Bull Root had a low drop rate, then agreed to help him while continuing to hunt Man Bulls for experience.
• Yang Shan taught Chao Bafang how to lure a single Man Bull from a herd, and the charging beast knocked Chao Bafang down as Yang Shan ran clear.
• Yang Shan used a red cloth to draw the Man Bull's attacks and killed it, earning experience and a Tier 2 Earth Attribute Magic Core.
• Yang Shan hunted more Man Bulls, reached Seven-Star Fighter, and eventually obtained another Man Bull Root along with a second-tier magic core.
• Yang Shan gave Chao Bafang the Man Bull Root, accepted his friend request, and told him to repay the favor someday.
• Chao Bafang headed back to Cloud Frost City to turn in his quest, while Yang Shan continued hunting Man Bulls and wondered whether he could reach Dou Master.

Yang Shan leveled on the Great Prairie while browsing the forums, then faced down Wang Tianhao's group when they tried to claim his hunting area and buy his Refined Frost Blade. Wang Tianhao eventually offered one million RMB, and Yang Shan accepted.

• Yang Shan reached Eight-Star Fighter while hunting Savage Bulls and considered raising his level before pursuing Alchemist Qin Wu's opportunity among the Ironhide Rats.
• Yang Shan read forum discussions about the game, its magical beasts, and guilds as he rested on the Great Prairie.
• Wang Tianhao's group arrived, and Xiao Ji tried to drive Yang Shan away from the Savage Bulls.
• Wang Tianhao offered Yang Shan one thousand RMB to leave, then revealed he wanted to buy Yang Shan's Refined Frost Blade.
• Wang Tianhao raised his offer from one hundred thousand to five hundred thousand RMB, then offered one million, which Yang Shan accepted.

Yang Shan refused Wang Tianhao’s attempt to buy his Refined Frost Blade and fought off his group, killing Xiao Ji and taking his dropped weapon. As he prepared to face the remaining Players, Chao Bafang arrived to help.

• Wang Tianhao threatened to kill Yang Shan unless he sold the Refined Frost Blade for one hundred thousand, and Yang Shan refused.
• Yang Shan killed the first lackey to attack him, then dodged Xiao Ji’s strikes and beheaded him before he could use Collapsing Blade Slash.
• Xiao Ji dropped his Blue Word Seal blade, which Yang Shan kicked up and stored in his Storage Ring.
• Wang Tianhao ordered his remaining men to attack Yang Shan and recover Xiao Ji’s equipment.
• Chao Bafang arrived with his long halberd and charged in to help Yang Shan.

Yang Shan and Chao Bafang defeated Wang Tianhao’s underlings and faced off against Wang Tianhao, but a wounded Fire Cloud Leopard interrupted them. Nalan Yanran arrived to confront the beast, leaving Yang Shan stunned by her appearance.

• Yang Shan stopped Chao Bafang from attacking Wang Tianhao’s men, but Chao Bafang joined the fight after Wang Tianhao ordered his group to seize their equipment.
• Yang Shan and Chao Bafang defeated all twenty-two of Wang Tianhao’s Players, leaving Wang Tianhao alone.
• Wang Tianhao offered Yang Shan a paid position in the Tian Hao Alliance, then challenged him when Yang Shan refused.
• A Fire Cloud Leopard charged at the group and launched a fireball, forcing Yang Shan and Chao Bafang to fight back after they could not escape.
• Nalan Yanran arrived on horseback and attacked the wounded Fire Cloud Leopard, stunning Yang Shan.

Yang Shan encountered Nalan Yanran, who fought off the Fire Cloud Leopard and offered compensation in Cloud Frost City. After she left, Yang Shan killed Wang Tianhao, collected his dropped armor, and headed toward the city with Chao Bafang.

• Yang Shan recognized Nalan Yanran and wondered why she had appeared before the time he remembered from his previous life.
• Nalan Yanran fought the Fire Cloud Leopard to a standstill, drove it off, and promised to compensate the group at the Floating Cloud Inn in one day.
• Wang Tianhao introduced himself to Nalan Yanran, but she dismissed him after learning he came from the Pang Family.
• Yang Shan secretly photographed Nalan Yanran as she mounted her horse and rode away, leaving Wang Tianhao infatuated.
• Yang Shan killed Wang Tianhao and equipped the inner armor he dropped, while Chao Bafang collected the other players' loot.
• Yang Shan accepted Chao Bafang's help and invited him to visit the Mitier branch after they returned to Cloud Frost City.

Yang Shan obtained the fast-activating Thunder Cleaving Slash and helped Chao Bafang earn Master Yao’s favor and access to quests at the Yunshuang Branch. Realizing that events were diverging from his past-life memories, Yang Shan sought Nalan Yanran and overheard that she was trying to kill a Fire Cloud Leopard as part of a trial.

• Master Yao learned that his son had been involved with a maidservant, then forgave Yang Shan for discreetly avoiding the scandal and rewarded Chao Bafang with an Elite Storage Ring and quest access.
• Master Yao gave Yang Shan the Thunder Cleaving Slash Dou Technique, whose standard activation time was one second.
• Yang Shan reflected that Chao Bafang’s early development and the timing of the Global Announcement differed from his memories, suggesting events had already begun to change.
• Yang Shan went to find Nalan Yanran and collect his compensation, then overheard her practicing with Ge Ye at the Floating Cloud Inn.
• Nalan Yanran told Ge Ye she needed to kill the Fire Cloud Leopard to complete her trial, and Yang Shan realized this explained her early appearance.

Yang Shan collected compensation from Nalan Yanran and enlisted Chao Bafang to help with a plan involving her. He then sold equipment looted from Wang Tianhao's group at the Stall Area, where a furious voice suddenly accused him of selling stolen gear.

• Yang Shan reasoned that Nalan Yanran's presence fit the game's usual events, then went with Chao Bafang to meet her and Ge Ye.
• Ge Ye gave Yang Shan and Chao Bafang three hundred Spirit Stones each as compensation, and Yang Shan left without trying to speak with Nalan Yanran.
• Yang Shan asked Chao Bafang to help with a plan involving Nalan Yanran and sent him several pictures to use on the Game Forum.
• Yang Shan set up a stall and sold equipment and magic cores looted from Wang Tianhao's group, attracting a crowd of buyers.
• Someone in the crowd roared at Yang Shan for selling his equipment.

Yang Shan taunted Wang Tianhao by offering to sell the Tian Hao Alliance’s dropped gear back to them, then left the city to level up. At a street corner, he encountered Ye Suifeng, a powerful figure from his past life, who wanted to buy the gear and urged him to move before Wang Tianhao spotted them.

• Yang Shan offered Wang Tianhao discounted equipment and Magic Cores taken from the defeated Tian Hao Alliance Players.
• Wang Tianhao forbade his guild members from buying anything and threatened Yang Shan, who said he would kill more guild members outside the city to replace the losses.
• Yang Shan left Wang Tianhao behind and headed out to level up, while Wang Tianhao stayed in the city and vowed to gather his guild members.
• Yang Shan recognized Ye Suifeng as the Wind-Riding Sword Emperor, who had overwhelmed him in a past-life encounter.
• Ye Suifeng asked to buy Yang Shan’s equipment and Magic Cores, then hurried him away because Wang Tianhao was approaching.

Yang Shan sold his loot to Jin Shankao, declined an offer to join his guild, and left Cloud Frost City’s Players buzzing after Chao Bafang’s viral post about Nalan Yanran. The Players seized on the Fire Cloud Leopard’s hide as a way to win Nalan Yanran’s favor, setting off a rush to hunt the beast.

• Yang Shan sold his magic cores and equipment to Jin Shankao for 300 Spirit Stones and cash, then added him as a friend.
• Jin Shankao recognized Yang Shan from the Global Announcements and invited him to join Hero King Manor, but Yang Shan declined.
• Ye Suifeng wanted to challenge Yang Shan to a PK, while Jin Shankao guessed that Yang Shan either belonged to another guild or did not need money or women.
• Chao Bafang posted screenshots and an account of meeting Nalan Yanran, claiming she wanted the Fire Cloud Leopard’s hide to make clothing.
• Players flooded the forum thread with comments about Nalan Yanran and began planning to obtain the Fire Cloud Leopard’s hide to raise her favorability.

Yang Shan and Chao Bafang waited near Fire Rock Hills while players and major guilds gathered to kill the Fire Cloud Leopard. As a black leopard sprang from beneath their tree and a five-player party appeared nearby, the contest for the boss was about to begin.

• Wang Tianhao ordered Xiao Ji to gather the Tian Hao Alliance and target the Fire Cloud Leopard, hoping to win Nalan Yanran over by obtaining its hide.
• Players learned the Fire Cloud Leopard's location and stats, prompting large numbers of them to head to Fire Rock Hills.
• Tang Baizhan assembled two hundred War Soul Hall members and planned to let other players weaken the area before his guild attacked.
• Jin Shankao and Ye Suifeng discussed Hero King Manor's plans and the threat posed by rival guilds.
• Yang Shan and Chao Bafang hid near Fire Rock Hills, where Yang Shan estimated he had a seventy percent chance to steal the boss kill.
• A black leopard leapt from beneath Yang Shan and Chao Bafang's tree as a five-player party appeared nearby.

Yang Shan and Chao Bafang watched guilds converge on the Fire Rock Hills, where the Fire Cloud Leopard was being hunted. Jin Shankao hired small guilds to stir up the area and provoke Tang Baizhan and Wang Tianhao into acting.

• A five-person Player team killed a Wind Claw Leopard, but Xiao Ji then claimed the hunting grounds for Wang Tianhao’s Tian Hao Alliance.
• Yang Shan judged Wang Tianhao too weak to compete for the Fire Cloud Leopard, while Chao Bafang admitted he was only a Four-Star Fighter and Yang Shan had reached Nine-Star Fighter.
• Jin Shankao and Tang Baizhan exchanged messages about joining forces, though Tang Baizhan said he would wait and see.
• Ye Suifeng offered to handle Tang Baizhan for Jin Shankao, showing off his Blue Word Seal sword and Seven-Star Fighter level.
• Jin Shankao paid ten small guilds to send Players toward the Fire Cloud Leopard, hoping to provoke Tang Baizhan and Wang Tianhao into a fight.