Chapter Summaries

Yang Shan offered Chao Bafang a Freelancer Contract, and Chao Bafang signed after Yang Shan added pills as a signing bonus. Chao Bafang learned he was Yang Shan’s first hire and that Yang Shan had no guild, leaving him worried he had boarded a pirate ship.

• Yang Shan explained that he wanted to sign exceptional players like Chao Bafang instead of establishing a guild.
• Chao Bafang revealed that a previous guild contract had cost him his earnings and account, making him wary of signing again.
• Yang Shan offered Chao Bafang a Freelancer Contract with a monthly base salary of two thousand.
• Yang Shan presented a Body Tempering Pill and three bottles of Gathering Yuan Pills as a signing bonus, and Chao Bafang immediately completed the contract.
• Chao Bafang asked about their guild, and Yang Shan said he planned to start a company later but had signed no one else.

Yang Shan met Chao Bafang at the East Gate and took him to hunt NPCs at a secret grinding spot tied to the hidden Azure Cloud Association. The pair set out to exploit the faction’s hidden status for experience and valuable drops, while the association remained unknown to Players.

• Jin Shankao encouraged Xiao Zhuang to reach Second Grade Alchemist by promising him a lavish reward, and Xiao Zhuang resumed grinding pills.
• Yang Shan celebrated his earnings at Golden Splendor, refused a therapist’s offer, reviewed his notebook, and logged into the game.
• Yang Shan met Chao Bafang at the East Gate, where Players admired Chao Bafang’s Fine Weapon halberd and a female Player tried to get close to him.
• Yang Shan told Chao Bafang they would hunt NPCs rather than magical beasts and claimed Ya Fei had revealed the secret.
• Yang Shan explained that the Azure Cloud Association secretly captured Alchemists for the Vulture Protector and that killing its members could yield experience and valuable drops without attracting faction retaliation for now.

Yang Shan and Chao Bafang entered the Azure Cloud Association's Yun Shuang Branch territory and ambushed a patrol squad in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Yang Shan killed the squad captain with Boiling Itch Powder and a surprise attack, then the two cleared out the remaining guards.

• Yang Shan and Chao Bafang reached the Yun Shuang Branch territory, where the system warned them of its extreme danger level.
• Yang Shan and Chao Bafang hid as twelve Azure Cloud Association patrol members approached, and Yang Shan identified their captain, Cai Yan, as a One-Star Great Fighter.
• Yang Shan scattered Boiling Itch Powder over the patrol, causing Cai Yan and the other guards to itch uncontrollably.
• Yang Shan killed Cai Yan with Thunder Cleaving Slash and gained experience and skill proficiency.
• Chao Bafang emerged too late to fight Cai Yan, and he and Yang Shan quickly killed the remaining patrol members.

Yang Shan taught Chao Bafang how Great Fighters could be killed without their Dou Qi Armor, then shared the spoils and explained the value of keeping Spirit Stones. The pair ambushed another patrol, and Chao Bafang proved his strength before Yang Shan finished the captain with a handful of Lime Powder.

• Chao Bafang considered Yang Shan’s warning that Great Fighters without Dou Qi Armor were vulnerable, while Yang Shan collected Spirit Stones and Essence Gauntlets from Cai Yan.
• Yang Shan let Chao Bafang keep drops from kills he helped secure and advised him to save Spirit Stones for opportunities to trade with NPCs.
• Yang Shan and Chao Bafang ambushed a second patrol led by a Two-Star Great Fighter, and Chao Bafang damaged the captain’s Dou Qi Armor with Mountain Piercing Spear Art.
• Yang Shan and Chao Bafang attacked together until the captain’s Dou Qi Armor shattered, then Yang Shan threw Lime Powder into his face as he tried to retreat.

Yang Shan and Chao Bafang spent half a month grinding Azure Cloud Association lackeys, leveling up and sharpening their combat skills. When they spotted two NPCs escorting the pregnant Madam Yao, they prepared to rescue her but discovered a powerful steward leading the group.

• Yang Shan used Lime Powder and other dirty tactics to kill a Two-Star Great Fighter squad leader and his lackeys alongside Chao Bafang.
• Yang Shan taught Chao Bafang how to use traps, poison, and other tricks, earning his admiration and wariness.
• The pair spent half a month grinding enemies near the Azure Cloud Association branch; Chao Bafang reached Three-Star Dou Shi and Yang Shan reached Eight-Star Dou Shi.
• After logging in again, Yang Shan and Chao Bafang hid when they heard muffled sobbing nearby.
• They saw two Azure Cloud Association NPCs escorting the pregnant Madam Yao and decided to rescue her.
• Yang Shan inspected the escorts and found that the leading man was Cheng Yuan, a Five-Star Great Fighter and External Affairs Steward.

Yang Shan and Chao Bafang ambushed Cheng Yuan and his men using Berserk Blood Pills, aiming to defeat the Azure Cloud Association deacon and rescue Madam Yao. They killed one escort and broke through Cheng Yuan’s Vitality Shield, leaving him blinded by lime powder as the fight continued.

• Yang Shan and Chao Bafang took Berserk Blood Pills and prepared to attack Cheng Yuan’s group.
• Chao Bafang ambushed Cheng Yuan, but Cheng Yuan blocked his opening strike and began overpowering him.
• Yang Shan killed the Green Word Seal Great Fighter escorting Madam Yao before he could fully activate his Dou Qi Armor.
• Yang Shan used Thunder Spirit Flash and repeated attacks to weaken Cheng Yuan’s Dou Qi Armor while Chao Bafang tied him down.
• Chao Bafang struck Cheng Yuan with the Mountain Piercing Spear Art, depleted his Vitality Shield, and threw lime powder into his face.

Yang Shan and Chao Bafang defeated Cheng Yuan while rescuing Madam Yao, though Chao Bafang was killed by Cheng Yuan’s Thousand Rock Shattering Palm. Yang Shan reached Nine Star Dou Shi and found the Purple Low Xuan Rank technique, then asked Chao Bafang how much it might sell for.

• Chao Bafang blinded Cheng Yuan with powders and stabbed him, while Yang Shan immobilized him with two Animal Traps.
• Cheng Yuan unleashed Thousand Rock Shattering Palm, but Yang Shan ignited flames beneath him with a mutated magic core.
• Cheng Yuan struck Chao Bafang dead with his palm, and Yang Shan killed Cheng Yuan with successive blade attacks.
• Yang Shan gained enough experience to advance to Nine Star Dou Shi and agreed to escort Madam Yao back to Cloud Frost City.
• Yang Shan collected Cheng Yuan’s Spirit Stones and the Thousand Rock Shattering Palm manual, then asked Chao Bafang what the technique might sell for.

Yang Shan escorted Madam Yao back to Master Yao and received a valuable Barrier Breaking Pill recipe as thanks. With Chao Bafang now equipped with a powerful combat technique and new opportunities for crafting experience pills, Yang Shan prepared to build on their gains before the next version.

• At the city gate, Chao Bafang gave Yang Shan a debt contract for the Thousand Rock Shattering Palm, and Yang Shan signed it and handed over the technique and Refined Long Halberd.
• Yang Shan and Chao Bafang escorted Madam Yao to Master Yao at the Mittel Yunshuang Branch, where she and Master Yao reunited.
• Master Yao's favorability toward Yang Shan rose by 20 points, and Ya Fei's rose by 3 points.
• Master Yao gave Yang Shan a Tier 3 Barrier Breaking Pill recipe that granted 5,000 experience points to Dou Shis.
• Ya Fei offered to help Yang Shan obtain ingredients and mentioned that the Mittel Family also kept the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill recipe.

Yang Shan became a Tier-3 Alchemist, consumed a Barrier Breaking Pill, and unlocked the Heart Demon Trial to break through to Great Fighter. He entered the trial and began fighting a Black-Clothed Man whose ambush and strength differed from what he remembered, but Yang Shan quickly gained the advantage.

• Yang Shan successfully refined a Barrier Breaking Pill after repeated failures, reached Tier-3 Alchemist, and gained enough experience to unlock the Heart Demon Trial.
• Yang Shan activated the trial, which required him to kill the Black-Clothed Man, and appeared alone in a forest.
• The Black-Clothed Man ambushed Yang Shan as a One-Star Great Fighter, surprising him because he remembered facing a Nine Star Dou Shi.
• Yang Shan parried the Black-Clothed Man's dagger and used Thunder Cleaving Slash with repeated normal attacks to rapidly drain his opponent's Vitality Shield.

Yang Shan defeated the Black-Clothed Man in the Heart Demon Trial and became the server’s first Great Fighter, earning a major Global Announcement. At Tian Yao Company, Ma Ru Long and Xiao Yan accepted that Yang Shan had achieved his feat legitimately and approved a citywide selection tournament for the next version.

• Yang Shan outpaced the Black-Clothed Man’s ambush with Thunder Spirit Flash and defeated him in the Heart Demon Trial.
• Little Baldy informed Xiao Yan and Ma Ru Long that Yang Shan had become a Great Fighter, prompting them to discuss his unexpected success.
• Xiao Yan proposed city tournaments ahead of the next version’s Faction Wars, and Ma Ru Long approved the plan.
• The server announced Yang Shan as its first Great Fighter and awarded him a title and attribute rewards.
• Yang Shan returned to the alchemy room, allocated his new attributes, and considered saving his remaining Spiritual Roots for future strategies.

Tian Yao released the Version 1.1 expansion trailer and update plans, revealing that Jia Nan Academy would remain closed to Players while competitions and family factions opened new paths. After confirming the update mostly matched his memories, Yang Shan stuck to his original plan and headed out before the servers reopened.

• Tian Yao shut down the servers and released a trailer welcoming Players to Jia Nan Academy, prompting excited forum discussion about its handsome characters.
• Yang Shan worried that Jia Nan Academy's early appearance meant the Version 1.1 content had changed drastically from what he remembered.
• Tian Yao announced that Players could compete for future academy entry and join major-city family factions, while academy and sect life would officially begin in Version 1.2.
• Yang Shan reviewed the update, decided to pursue the competition rewards, and noted that Ya Fei might later give him an invitation from the Mittel Family.
• Yang Shan put his plans in the safe and left for Golden Splendor to get a foot soak and massage before the update.

After the game’s Version 1.1 update, Ya Fei invited Yang Shan to attend the Mittel Family’s auction in Gama Holy City, and he agreed while preparing to enter the Jia Nan Academy recruitment tournament. At registration, Yang Shan discovered that a huge queue had formed for Xiao Yu.

• Yang Shan logged in after the update and found Ya Fei waiting in the Alchemy Room; she invited him to the Mittel Family’s auction, and he accepted.
• Yang Shan gave Ya Fei pills and discussed the Jia Nan Academy tournament, while she remained hopeful that he might join the Mittel Family.
• Ya Fei’s affection for Yang Shan increased by one point after he teased her, and she accompanied him to the branch entrance before he went to register.
• Yang Shan saw other Players lining up for the tournament and joined the registration area, where he found Jin Shankao and Ye Suifeng waiting in a long queue.
• Ye Suifeng told Yang Shan that the queue was for Xiao Yu, and Yang Shan borrowed binoculars to admire her legs.

Yang Shan registered for the competition after breaking the testing stele and proving he was a Da Dou Shi, then faced Xiao Yu when she doubted the result. He demonstrated his strength, earned a chance to skip the preliminaries, and left Xiao Yu embarrassed while Jin Shankao and Ye Suifeng admired his screenshot of her kick.

• Yang Shan registered at Xu Jian's station, and his Dou Qi shattered the testing stele after revealing he was a Da Dou Shi.
• Xiao Yu suspected the stele had malfunctioned and chased Yang Shan to demand a second test, but he refused and argued with her.
• Xiao Yu challenged Yang Shan to spar and threatened to revoke his qualification, so he prompted a special scenario that offered direct entry to the second round if he proved his strength.
• Xiao Yu kicked Yang Shan, but his Dou Qi Armor shattered the Dou Qi around her foot and confirmed he was a Da Dou Shi.
• Xiao Yu returned to her station in embarrassment, while Yang Shan showed Jin Shankao and Ye Suifeng a screenshot of her kick.

Players signed up for the Cloud Frost City competition as Xiao Mei arrived with Xiao Aotian, an ambitious Eight-Star Dou Shi whom Yang Shan recognized from his past life. After Chao Bafang registered, Yang Shan took him out of the city to keep training before the registration period ended.

• Xiao Yu accepted Ye Suifeng's Eight-Star Dou Shi registration without showing interest, then greeted her cousin Xiao Mei.
• Xiao Mei introduced Xiao Aotian, an Eight-Star Dou Shi who had come to Cloud Frost City seeking stronger opponents, and Xiao Aotian exchanged competitive looks with Ye Suifeng.
• Yang Shan met the newly logged-in Chao Bafang, told him to register at another point, and heard that Xiao Mei had brought a Player named Xiao Aotian.
• Yang Shan recognized Xiao Aotian as one of the Three Sects from his previous life and recalled his ambition, past achievements, and ties to Xiao Mei.
• Yang Shan told Ye Suifeng to reach the finals, then took Chao Bafang out of the city to train during the remaining registration period.

Yang Shan entered Jia Nan Academy's tournament repechage and faced Chao Bafang, who surrendered immediately, followed by Jin Shankao, who did the same. The spectators grew angry at the lack of a fight, while Yang Shan waited for his next match; the chapter ended with an author note explaining the portrayal of Xiao Yu and promising to consider reader feedback.

• Tian Yao Company published tournament statistics showing Yang Shan was the server's only Da Dou Shi, and Chao Bafang celebrated his dominance.
• Chao Bafang won three preliminary matches, advanced to the repechage, and reached Nine Star Dou Shi after Yang Shan gave him a Barrier Breaking Pill.
• Yang Shan was matched against Chao Bafang, who recognized him and surrendered before they fought, drawing complaints from the spectators.
• Jin Shankao became Yang Shan's next opponent and also surrendered, further angering the spectators watching the match.
• The author explained that Xiao Yu's actions were based on her early characterization in the original novel and said he would consider reader suggestions.

Yang Shan dominated the tournament with effortless one-hit kills, leaving the spectators begging to see his skills. When Ji Fengchun became his fifth opponent, Yang Shan offered to demonstrate techniques for the audience, and Ji Fengchun prepared to fight him.

• Hu Feiqiang charged at Yang Shan with a Rock Breaking Hammer technique, but Yang Shan killed him with a single slash.
• Yang Shan reflected that Hu Feiqiang had attacked without scouting or activating Dou Qi Gauze, while Yang Shan's speed and power far surpassed other Players'.
• Zhong Shitian entered the match, and Yang Shan killed the Five-Star Fighter with a plain slash before using Dou Qi.
• Ji Fengchun appeared as Yang Shan's fifth opponent after losing to Xiao Aotian, and he grew furious when Yang Shan treated him as a teaching example.
• Yang Shan invited the spectators to watch his moves, while Ji Fengchun vowed to deal with him when the countdown ended.

Yang Shan defeated Xiao Ji and eleven other opponents to secure a place in the finals after twelve consecutive wins. He returned to grinding in Thorny Blood Forest, where he recalled several third-order King of Beasts.

• Yang Shan shattered Xiao Ji's Dou Qi Gauze with one Thunder Cleaving Slash, then defeated him despite Xiao Ji briefly parrying and dealing one point of damage.
• Players in the stands marveled at Yang Shan's overwhelming strength, while Wang Tianhao left before the match ended.
• Yang Shan won against seven more opponents, usually breaking their Dou Qi Gauze with one slash and quickly draining their HP.
• The game announced that Yang Shan had earned twelve straight victories and qualified for the finals the next day.
• Yang Shan returned to his grinding spot, blocked a wolf-type magical beast's attack, and remembered the third-order King of Beasts in Thorny Blood Forest.

Yang Shan and Chao Bafang fought a Tier 3 Black Mysterious Tiger while waiting for the finals, with Yang Shan taking the lead and Chao Bafang supporting him. As the tiger neared death, an unknown attacker leaped from the trees and struck at Yang Shan from behind.

• Chao Bafang joined Yang Shan in the Thorny Blood Forest after qualifying for the semifinals.
• Yang Shan led Chao Bafang southeast to hunt a Tier 3 King of Beasts, the Black Mysterious Tiger.
• Yang Shan drew the tiger's attacks while Chao Bafang dealt damage with Thousand Rock Shattering Palm.
• The two wore down the tiger with repeated strikes, and Yang Shan avoided its attacks.
• When the tiger had only five hundred health remaining, a fast figure leaped from the canopy and attacked Yang Shan from behind, prompting him to activate Dou Qi Armor.

Yang Shan and Chao Bafang fought a black-clothed assassin after Chao Bafang killed the Black Mysterious Tiger. Yang Shan defeated the assassin despite Chao Bafang's death, then collected the assassin's Secret Manual.

• Yang Shan inspected the black-clothed assassin and saw that he was a Seven Star Great Fighter, while Chao Bafang engaged the Black Mysterious Tiger.
• Yang Shan fought the assassin, dodging his attacks and forcing him to activate Dou Qi Armor as Chao Bafang killed the Black Mysterious Tiger and Yang Shan advanced to Two-Star Great Fighter.
• Yang Shan and Chao Bafang combined their attacks to break the assassin's Dou Qi Armor, and Chao Bafang struck his weak point with a spear.
• With their Dou Qi nearly exhausted, Chao Bafang charged the assassin and was killed by his powerful lightning slash, giving Yang Shan an opening.
• Yang Shan evaded the assassin's follow-up slash with Thunder Spirit Flash and killed him with a strike to the throat.
• Yang Shan collected the assassin's Spirit Stones and Secret Manual, which revealed the Xuan-tier Low Grade skill Thunder Arc Three-Stage Slash.

Yang Shan accepted a hidden opportunity that made him a target of the Chai Family and Pang Family in exchange for experience and drop bonuses when he killed their assassins. He returned to Cloud Frost City, then prepared to profit from the Jia Nan Academy finals by auctioning Barrier Breaking Pills, ending by lighting a cigarette with beast flame.

• Yang Shan learned Thunder Arc Three-Stage Slash from the black-clad assassin’s drop and found a token engraved with “Chai.”
• Yang Shan accepted the hidden opportunity to face periodic assassins from the Chai Family and Pang Family for extra experience and drop-rate bonuses.
• Yang Shan returned to Cloud Frost City without telling Ya Fei or Master Yao about the assassination attempt, then logged off to rest before the finals.
• Yang Shan refined and listed 36 Barrier Breaking Pills on the Auction House, where bids quickly climbed into five figures.
• Yang Shan watched one pill’s bid pass 30,000 RMB and lit a He Tianxia cigarette with beast flame.