Chapter Summaries

Yang Jing defeated Huang Chao, cultivated with a Marrow Tempering Pill, and returned to Fu Mountain Square as the second round concluded. The new rankings placed him tenth, while Yuwen Mingjue continued to expect Chu Yunhai to punish him; Yang Jing then went to speak with Sun Ningxiang.

• Yang Jing defeated Huang Chao in one move and left for a Grade-C Training Room on Thunder Firmament Peak.
• Yang Jing used a Marrow Tempering Pill while practicing Crossing the River for more than six hours, and Chu Yunhai saw him leave the nearby training rooms.
• Lin Ziheng used a movement technique to defeat Zhao Jian, concluding the second round of the Fu Mountain Grand Competition.
• The elders announced the updated rankings, placing Yang Jing tenth and Lin Ziheng fiftieth.
• Yuwen Mingjue remained angry about Yang Jing's rise and anticipated Chu Yunhai defeating him, while Yang Jing approached Sun Ningxiang after the matches ended.

Bai Bing summoned Yang Jing and guided him in his three martial arts, then wondered whether he could advance “Crossing the River” to the Qi-Devouring Realm before the competition finals. Yang Jing defeated Li Mao in the third round, advanced to ninth place, and learned that his next opponent was Ma Guoliang, whom Si Jiawen wanted him to defeat to vent Bai Bing’s anger.

• Bai Bing summoned Yang Jing and gave him detailed guidance on “Mountain-Splitting Seal,” “Indestructible True Art,” and “Crossing the River,” then suspected he might be aiming to bring all three arts to the Qi-Devouring Realm.
• Yang Jing defeated Li Mao with one punch in the third round of the Fu Mountain Grand Competition.
• The competition eliminated all Internal Energy Realm contestants, and Yang Jing advanced to the fourth round in ninth place.
• Steward Xue announced that Yang Jing would face Ma Guoliang of Blazing Sun Peak in the next round.
• Si Jiawen recognized Ma Guoliang and welcomed the chance for Yang Jing to defeat him and vent Bai Bing’s anger.

Yang Jing trained intensely before Senior Sister Si Jiawen warned him about his fourth-round opponent, Ma Guoliang, and urged him to avenge Lingxi Peak’s past grievance. Ma Guoliang revealed his own determination to avenge his mother, and the fourth round began with Yang Jing and Ma Guoliang called to the arena.

• Yang Jing practiced “Crossing the River” and “Mountain-Splitting Seal,” then met Si Jiawen on his way back from the training rooms.
• Si Jiawen told Yang Jing that Ma Guoliang had left Lingxi Peak for Blazing Sun Peak after his mother had asked Bai Bing to take him as a disciple, and urged Yang Jing to be wary of his hidden strength.
• Ma Guoliang ate with Chang Xiaoyu, acknowledged Yang Jing as a dangerous opponent, and explained in his thoughts that he had chosen Blazing Sun Peak to gain strength and avenge his mother against the Ma Family.
• Ma Guoliang practiced spear techniques through the night, driven by hatred and his vow to kill the Ma Family members who had humiliated and killed his mother.
• The fourth round of the Fu Mountain Grand Competition began, and the early matches ended with victories for Chu Yunhai, Bai Ziyu, Lu Shaohua, Jiang Linyuan, Cui Yuan, Gu Changfeng, Li Cangwu, and Su Muyuan.
• Xue Kun announced the ninth match between Yang Jing of Lingxi Peak and Ma Guoliang of Blazing Sun Peak.

Yang Jing defeated Ma Guoliang after revealing that he had advanced both the Mountain-Splitting Seal and the Indestructible True Art to the qi-devouring realm. The fourth round concluded with Yang Jing ranked fifth among the top twelve, who were set to compete again the next day.

• Yang Jing and Ma Guoliang began their match, and Ma Guoliang’s spear techniques gradually gained the advantage over Yang Jing.
• Yang Jing fused the internal qi from his two martial arts, caught Ma Guoliang’s spear barehanded, and turned the fight around with a powerful assault.
• Yang Jing knocked Ma Guoliang off the arena, and Ma Guoliang acknowledged his defeat as Chang Xiaoyu helped him away.
• Steward Xue announced Yang Jing as the winner, while Bai Bing and Qin Gang watched his return from the arena.
• After the fourth round ended, Steward Xue announced the top twelve rankings, placing Chu Yunhai first and Yang Jing fifth, and declared that the next round would begin the following day.

After defeating Ma Guoliang, Yang Jing learned from Steward Zheng that his next opponent, Su Muyuan, could contend for the Fu Mountain Grand Competition’s top three. Yang Jing prepared to face Su Muyuan with confidence rooted in his two Qi-Devouring Realm true arts, while Steward Zheng left him to speak with Sun Ningxiang.

• Ma Guoliang accepted his defeat by Yang Jing and hurried back to Blazing Sun Peak to work on flaws in his spear technique, while Chang Xiaoyu followed him.
• Steward Zheng praised Yang Jing and warned him that Su Muyuan of Heavenly Evolution Peak was strong enough to challenge for the top three.
• Yang Jing reviewed Su Muyuan’s background and Flowing Cloud Swordplay as Steward Zheng compared it with Yang Jing’s Mountain-Splitting Seal.
• Steward Zheng recognized Yang Jing’s second, body-tempering true art and encouraged him, while Yang Jing privately relied on the Indestructible True Art as an equal to Su Muyuan’s art.
• Steward Zheng noticed Sun Ningxiang waiting nearby, then excused himself so Yang Jing could talk with her.

As the Fu Mountain Grand Competition reached its fifth round, Yang Jing prepared to face Su Muyuan while representatives from Jintai Prefecture’s lineages gathered to watch. The round began with the crowd focused on the arena, leaving Yang Jing’s match ahead.

• Chu Yunhai asked Su Muyuan whether he was confident against Yang Jing, and Su Muyuan vowed to cut him down in their match.
• Cao Zhen agreed to let Prefectural City lineages watch the remaining competition, limiting each lineage to five representatives and reserving the side dais for the Lin, Su, and Hong Families.
• Yang Jing trained Crossing the River overnight and saw that it was close to reaching the Qi-Devouring Realm.
• At Fu Mountain Square, Yang Jing greeted Miss Jin Lian and met her friend Wang Xiao, who praised Yang Jing’s potential but doubted he could defeat Su Muyuan.
• Steward Xue announced the official start of the fifth round of the Fu Mountain Grand Competition.

The fifth round of the Fu Mountain Grand Competition saw Chu Yunhai, Bai Ziyu, Lu Shaohua, and Jiang Linyuan advance before Yang Jing faced Su Muyuan. Yang Jing unleashed the power of his two true arts from the opening clash, forcing Su Muyuan to realize he had badly underestimated him as their battle began.

• Chu Yunhai defeated Li Cangwu with ease, and Bai Ziyu overcame Meng Fan to advance to the sixth round.
• Lu Shaohua overwhelmed Zhang Yunhao in seven exchanges, stunning the spectators and impressing Sect Master Cao Zhen and the visiting family elders.
• Jiang Linyuan won a prolonged spear-and-sword duel against Lin Jinghong after more than eighty exchanges.
• Steward Xue announced Yang Jing's match against Su Muyuan, whose family elder and supporters expected him to defeat the rising dark horse.
• Yang Jing met Su Muyuan's Flowing Cloud Swordplay with the fused power of the Mountain-Splitting Seal and Indestructible True Art, forcing Su Muyuan back and making him recognize Yang Jing's strength.

Yang Jing decisively defeated Su Muyuan, earning fourth place in the Fu Mountain Grand Competition rankings and drawing attention from the sect’s disciples. After learning that Lu Shaohua would be his next opponent, Yang Jing trained Crossing the River and brought it to the threshold of the Qi-Devouring Realm, preparing to break through.

• Yang Jing overwhelmed Su Muyuan with his strength, speed, and defense, then hurled him off the platform to win their match.
• Steward Xue declared Yang Jing the winner, while Lingxi Peak disciples cheered and Su Muyuan acknowledged Yang Jing’s formidable abilities.
• The Su Family Grand Elder comforted Su Muyuan, who regained his resolve after reflecting on his long-term martial prospects.
• Cui Yuan won the sixth match, and the elders ranked Chu Yunhai first, Bai Ziyu second, Lu Shaohua third, and Yang Jing fourth.
• Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang discussed the danger posed by his next opponent, Lu Shaohua, while Lu Shaohua looked forward to fighting Yang Jing.
• Yang Jing practiced Crossing the River and saw on his System Panel that it had reached Initiation (500/500), then prepared to push it into the Qi-Devouring Realm.

Yang Jing advanced "Crossing the River" to the Qi-Devouring Realm, fused its internal qi with his other two arts, and prepared for the Fu Mountain Grand Competition. After Si Jiawen mistakenly inferred that he and Sun Ningxiang were being intimate, the sixth round began with Yang Jing set to face Lu Shaohua.

• Yang Jing advanced "Crossing the River" to the Qi-Devouring Realm, fused its internal qi with his other two currents, and tested the increased power of the "Mountain-Splitting Seal."
• Yang Jing returned to Azure No. 4 Courtyard, where Sun Ningxiang had prepared dinner and sewn him two new outfits; Si Jiawen arrived, misread the scene, and left without offering her planned sparring advice.
• Sun Ningxiang said she was going home for the night, then laughed at Yang Jing's bewildered reaction.
• At Fu Mountain Square the next morning, Yang Jing sensed Chu Yunhai's gaze and felt eager to test his strength; Ma Qiang, Fang He, and Ma Guoliang discussed his coming fight with Lu Shaohua.
• Cao Zhen and the seven peak masters took their seats, and Steward Xue announced the start of the sixth round of the Fu Mountain Grand Competition.

Chu Yunhai overwhelmed Cui Yuan to demonstrate the vast strength of the Hidden Dragon Ranking's top disciple, while Bai Ziyu defeated Jiang Linyuan in a harder-fought match. Yang Jing then took the arena to face Lu Shaohua, as Cao Zhen and Xie Xuan discussed their predictions for the bout.

• Chu Yunhai intercepted Cui Yuan's twenty attacks without moving, then defeated him with two palm strikes and sent him out of the arena.
• Yang Jing watched Chu Yunhai's performance and judged that the two were far stronger than Cui Yuan, though he still considered Chu Yunhai a formidable opponent.
• Bai Ziyu wounded Jiang Linyuan with a claw strike and followed with a palm blow; Jiang Linyuan conceded after falling against the arena railing.
• Steward Xue announced Yang Jing's match against Lu Shaohua, and Yang Jing walked onto the arena as his companions cheered.
• Cao Zhen asked Xie Xuan who would win, and Xie Xuan predicted that Lu Shaohua would prevail because Yang Jing's recent rise left him with weaker foundations.

Yang Jing faced Lu Shaohua in the Fu Mountain Grand Competition semifinals and concealed his full strength until he fused all three streams of internal qi, turning the fight around. He defeated Lu Shaohua and stood poised to rise from twenty-third to third on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, while the sect leaders watched in astonishment.

• Yuwen Mingjue brooded over Yang Jing's success, while Jia Yuliang regretted misjudging him and failing to mend their relationship.
• Yang Jing and Lu Shaohua began their match, and Lu Shaohua gained the advantage in their opening exchanges.
• Yang Jing merged the hidden third stream of internal qi with the other two, greatly increasing his strength without revealing his improved movement technique.
• Yang Jing drove Lu Shaohua back with a powerful punch, stunning the crowd and drawing the attention of Sect Master Cao Zhen and the peak masters.
• Yang Jing overwhelmed Lu Shaohua with a sustained assault, broke through his defense, and sent him out of the ring with a final punch.

Yang Jing defeated Lu Shaohua, rose to second place in the Fu Mountain Grand Competition, and became the talk of Jintai Prefecture before facing Bai Ziyu in the semifinal. Yang Jing gained the upper hand in their fight, while Chu Yunhai identified Yang Jing’s speed as a possible weakness ahead of their likely final.

• Yang Jing defeated Lu Shaohua, who accepted the loss and wished him success against Chu Yunhai.
• Steward Xue announced Yang Jing in second place behind Chu Yunhai and scheduled his semifinal against Bai Ziyu; Si Jiawen praised Yang Jing and asked him to lecture Lingxi Peak disciples.
• Yang Jing’s victory spread his fame throughout Jintai Prefecture, while Miss Jin Lian recognized that Wang Xiao’s warmer attitude and invitation to Miss Lin’s banquet stemmed from her connection to Yang Jing.
• Yang Jing and Bai Ziyu began the semifinal, and Yang Jing’s powerful internal qi and fists overwhelmed Bai Ziyu’s Profound Yin Claw, forcing him to retreat and suffer injuries.
• Chu Yunhai watched Yang Jing fight and concluded that Yang Jing’s speed might be a weakness he could exploit in the final.

Yang Jing defeated Bai Ziyu in the semifinal and prepared to face Chu Yunhai in the Fu Mountain Grand Competition final. As the sect and Jintai Prefecture’s major powers gathered to watch, Yang Jing trained through the night and arrived at Fu Mountain Square, where an influential Misty Rain Tower representative also appeared.

• Yang Jing overwhelmed Bai Ziyu, who conceded before Yang Jing’s final punch could land, and Steward Xue declared Yang Jing the semifinal winner.
• Steward Xue announced that Yang Jing would face Chu Yunhai in the final the next day; Yuwen Mingjue criticized Bai Ziyu’s concession, while Chu Yunhai promised to teach Yang Jing a lesson.
• Yang Jing escorted Sun Ningxiang to Yunxi Peak, then trained at Lingxi Peak to stabilize his strength and prepare for the final.
• Hong Shixian and Lin Weiyuan decided to attend the final, and Lin Weiyuan told the Lin Family Grand Elder to strengthen Ziheng’s friendship with Yang Jing.
• The next morning, the three great clans’ family heads and a veiled Misty Rain Tower representative arrived at Fu Mountain Square as the crowd gathered for the final.
• Bai Bing watched Yang Jing from the raised dais with quiet anticipation.

Yang Jing faced Chu Yunhai in the Fu Mountain Grand Competition final, and the two traded powerful blows as Chu Yunhai gradually gained control with his speed. When Yang Jing finally unleashed Crossing the River, his speed matched Chu Yunhai’s, leaving the battle’s outcome uncertain.

• Yang Jing prepared to win the competition and credited Sun Ningxiang’s Marrow Tempering Pills with helping him reach the qi-devouring realm.
• Steward Xue began the final between Chu Yunhai and Yang Jing, and both stepped into the arena amid cheers from their supporters.
• Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai opened with a direct clash, then exchanged dozens of attacks as Yang Jing’s Mountain-Splitting Seal met Chu Yunhai’s Astral-Refining Palm and Limitless Body.
• Chu Yunhai increased his speed and began pressing Yang Jing’s defense, prompting spectators to predict that Chu Yunhai would win.
• Yang Jing unleashed Crossing the River to its limit, surged to Chu Yunhai’s speed, and restored the balance of the fight.

Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai fought an increasingly brutal final, with Yang Jing revealing strength in all three of his true arts and Chu Yunhai awakening his Battle Body. Cao Zhen stopped the badly injured fighters before either could damage their foundation and declared them joint first-place winners of the Fu Mountain Grand Competition.

• Yang Jing gained the advantage over Chu Yunhai with his speed, forcing Chu Yunhai to reveal his awakened Battle Body and surge in strength.
• Chu Yunhai’s Battle Body let him turn the fight around, but Yang Jing’s Indestructible True Art and powerful defenses allowed him to keep pace.
• Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai exchanged heavy blows until both were gravely injured and continued fighting despite their wounds.
• Cao Zhen intervened to prevent the fighters from damaging their foundations and halted the match.
• Cao Zhen declared Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai joint first-place winners of the Fu Mountain Grand Competition.

Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai ended the Fu Mountain Grand Competition in a tie for first after Cao Zhen stopped their evenly matched battle. As the final rankings were announced, Bai Bing received Qin Gang’s wagered Heart-Questioning Pill, while the Peak Masters left discussing their prodigious disciples.

• Cao Zhen declared Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai joint first-place winners to prevent their injuries from worsening.
• Yang Jing returned to cheers from the Lingxi Peak disciples, while Bai Ziyu and Lu Shaohua recognized how far he and Chu Yunhai surpassed them.
• Steward Xue announced the final rankings, placing Bai Ziyu second and Lu Shaohua third, and said other promising disciples would also receive support.
• Qin Gang gave Bai Bing the Heart-Questioning Pill he had wagered, and Bai Bing teased him about betting again to win back it and the Bone Jade Pill.
• Huang Zhen congratulated Bai Bing on Yang Jing, Bai Bing praised Chu Yunhai in return, and Zhou Yunyi stepped away from their exchange.

After tying for first place in the Fu Mountain Grand Competition, Yang Jing returned toward Lingxi Peak with Sun Ningxiang and received congratulations and invitations from several powerful families. Chu Yunhai met him on the mountain path, acknowledged their rivalry, and warned him that Yuwen Mingjue had tried to provoke trouble.

• Yang Jing declined Fang He and Yan Chenglong's invitation to celebrate, then comforted Sun Ningxiang and arranged a simple meal at their courtyard.
• Miss Jin Lian invited Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang to a banquet, while Wang Xiao began considering a marriage alliance with Yang Jing through Jin Lian.
• Lin Weiyuan told Lin Ziheng to invite Yang Jing to the Lin residence for a banquet, and they agreed to wait until the competition's excitement subsided.
• Yang Jing paid for extra food at the Dining Hall and continued toward Lingxi Peak with Sun Ningxiang.
• Chu Yunhai praised Yang Jing as a worthy rival, proposed fighting again after mastering his battle body, and warned him that Yuwen Mingjue had asked Chu to teach him a lesson.
• Yang Jing dismissed Yuwen Mingjue as a threat for now but resolved to act if he continued plotting against him.

Yang Jing tied with Chu Yunhai for first on the Hidden Dragon Ranking after the Fu Mountain Grand Competition, earning praise from Lingxi Peak Master Bai Bing. That night, Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang nearly confessed their feelings, but Si Jiawen interrupted them and left their affection unspoken.

• Steward Zhang posted the updated Hidden Dragon Ranking, placing Chu Yunhai and Yang Jing jointly in first.
• Disciples across the Profound Truth Sect celebrated Yang Jing's achievement, while Bai Bing considered his rise and planned to reward him with the Heart-Questioning Pill.
• Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang shared dinner and wine, and both prepared to confess their feelings.
• Si Jiawen interrupted them to tell Yang Jing to visit Lingxi Hall the next morning and meet the sect master to receive his competition rewards.
• Si Jiawen teased them about exercising restraint, and Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang let the moment pass without confessing.

Yang Jing visited Bai Bing after tying for first place in the Fu Mountain Grand Competition and received a Heart-Questioning Pill from her. She accompanied him to Main Peak, where the Sect Master began distributing the competition rewards, including the Aperture-Nurturing Jade Marrow.

• Yang Jing climbed to Lingxi Hall, where Bai Bing checked on his injuries from his fight with Chu Yunhai.
• Bai Bing gave Yang Jing a Heart-Questioning Pill as a congratulatory gift for his performance in the competition.
• Bai Bing took Yang Jing to Main Peak to collect his sect reward, while Fang He, Shi Xin, and the others watched them leave.
• Yang Jing and Bai Bing joined the Peak Masters, Chief Elder Ouyang Jingxuan, Chu Yunhai, Lu Shaohua, and Bai Ziyu in Main Peak Hall.
• Sect Master Cao Zhen announced the rewards for the competition's top three, and Ouyang Jingxuan brought out nine bottles containing the Aperture-Nurturing Jade Marrow.

Cao Zhen rewarded Yang Jing, Chu Yunhai, Bai Ziyu, and Lu Shaohua for their performances in the Fu Mountain Grand Competition and urged them to prepare for the Jintai Grand Tournament. Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai agreed to fight again in two months, then drew a crowd when they arrived at the Stewards' General Hall to collect their contribution points.

• Cao Zhen gave Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai three drops of Aperture-Nurturing Jade Marrow each, unlimited access to the Grade-B Training Room, and three hundred thousand contribution points apiece.
• Cao Zhen awarded Bai Ziyu two drops of jade marrow, two months of training-room access, and two hundred thousand contribution points, then gave Lu Shaohua one drop, one month's access, and one hundred thousand points.
• Cao Zhen urged all four disciples to cultivate for the Jintai Grand Tournament, which was less than a year away.
• Chu Yunhai proposed regular matches with Yang Jing, and Yang Jing agreed to meet him at Fu Mountain Arena in two months.
• The Peak Masters discussed watching their match, then parted from the disciples as Yang Jing, Chu Yunhai, and Lu Shaohua headed to the Stewards' General Hall.
• Yang Jing, Chu Yunhai, and Lu Shaohua entered the hall to collect their contribution points, and the gathered disciples recognized the top three on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.