Chapter Summaries

Hong Shixian decided to betroth his daughter Hong Qingzhu to the Profound Truth Sect prodigy Yang Jing to strengthen the Hong Family’s position. Qingzhu refused the match, and Hong Shixian revealed that the family faced threats from rival lineages, the Prefect, and the five great sects.

• Hong Shixian and the Hong Family Grand Elder discussed Yang Jing’s talent and the influence a marriage alliance with him could bring.
• Hong Shixian summoned Hong Qingzhu and told her he intended to betroth her to Yang Jing.
• Hong Qingzhu rejected the arrangement, saying she would not marry a man she disliked, but Hong Shixian insisted the decision was final.
• Hong Shixian explained that the marriage concerned the Hong Family’s future and warned Qingzhu that the family faced dangers from the Lin Family, the Su Family, the Prefect, and the five great sects.

Hong Shixian forced Hong Qingzhu to accept an arranged marriage with Yang Jing for the Hong Family’s protection and forbade her from seeing Xu Hong. Meanwhile, Yang Jing advanced his Mountain-Splitting Seal through intensive training, and Si Jiawen found a mysterious chest delivered to Bai Bing by Zhao Wenju.

• Hong Shixian explained the Hong Family’s danger and ordered Hong Qingzhu to marry Yang Jing, warning her to cut off contact with Xu Hong.
• Yang Jing rented a Grade-B Training Room and used Aperture-Nurturing Jade Marrow to heal his injuries and improve his Mountain-Splitting Seal.
• Yang Jing’s Mountain-Splitting Seal proficiency rose from 839 to 949 after four hours of training, and he immediately resumed practicing.
• Zhao Wenju hurried away from Lingxi Peak after delivering a rosewood chest to Bai Bing.
• Si Jiawen entered Lingxi Hall, saw the chest, and wondered what it contained.

Bai Bing gave Yang Jing upper-grade treasure armor, which Si Jiawen delivered to him at his courtyard. At the Main Peak, the sect’s leaders debated whether Yang Jing or Chu Yunhai should receive the sect’s foremost cultivation resources, with Li Zhihai arguing that Yang Jing could help restore the sect’s standing.

• Bai Bing sent Si Jiawen to deliver a suit of upper-grade treasure armor to Yang Jing, and Si Jiawen admired it before arranging for disciples to carry its chest.
• Si Jiawen met Yang Jing at his courtyard, explained that Bai Bing had sent the armor, and warned him to wear it and keep it hidden.
• Yang Jing put on the armor, found that it fit without hindering him, and felt more secure with its protection added to his Indestructible True Art.
• Cao Zhen convened the sect’s leaders to choose whether Chu Yunhai or Yang Jing would receive priority among the thirty-three disciples selected for focused cultivation.
• Xie Xuan supported Chu Yunhai because of his second-grade root bone and awakened battle body.
• Li Zhihai backed Yang Jing, citing his rapid progress, mastery of three true arts, and potential to help the declining Profound Truth Sect regain its influence.

The Profound Truth Sect’s leaders debated whether Yang Jing or Chu Yunhai should become the sect’s foremost potential seed, then postponed the choice for two months and finalized the other priority rankings. At the Cloudsoar Sect, Sect Master Ren An reviewed Yang Jing’s record and regretted that such a promising talent had joined another sect.

• Qin Gang and Xie Xuan backed Chu Yunhai, while Lei Lie and Li Zhihai argued that Yang Jing’s extraordinary progress justified taking a risk on his potential.
• Chief Elder Ouyang Jingxuan proposed waiting to evaluate both disciples’ growth, and Zhou Yunyi suggested two months as a suitable period before deciding.
• Cao Zhen postponed the choice between Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai, named them the top two priority cultivation disciples, and approved Bai Ziyu and Lu Shaohua for third and fourth.
• Cao Zhen, the peak masters, and Ouyang Jingxuan finalized the rankings of the other key cultivation disciples.
• Ren An read the Cloudsoar Sect’s dossier on the Fu Mountain Grand Competition, was astonished by Yang Jing’s rapid progress, and lamented that he had not joined the Cloudsoar Sect.

Cloudsoar Sect leaders studied Yang Jing’s rapid rise and circulated his information as a warning to their disciples. Qin Ligang realized that he had once rejected Yang Jing in Yuhe County, and was overwhelmed by regret as he considered the rewards and breakthrough resources he had lost.

• Ren An ordered Wang Yunfei to circulate Yang Jing’s dossier so Cloudsoar Sect disciples and officials could prepare for the Jintai Grand Tournament.
• Wang Yunfei and Ren An agreed that the cautious Profound Truth Sect might favor Chu Yunhai over Yang Jing, leaving Yang Jing’s potential underused.
• Qin Ligang told two fellow deacons that he planned to make his third Qi-Nourishing Realm breakthrough attempt despite having only about a twenty-percent chance of success.
• Deacon Ma brought the sect’s report on Yang Jing, and Qin Ligang recognized him as the young man Jin Lian had recommended from Yuhe County.
• Qin Ligang realized that rejecting Yang Jing may have cost him both a prodigy for the Cloudsoar Sect and the resources that could have improved his own breakthrough chances.

Yang Jing accepted Lin Ziheng’s invitation to dine with the Lin Family and planned to bring Sun Ningxiang along. The next morning, Si Jiawen visited him, reminded him to speak at the upcoming Dharma Lecture, and challenged him to a spar in his courtyard.

• Sun Ningxiang heard disciples debate Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai’s talent and hurried on without defending Yang Jing.
• Yang Jing practiced the Mountain-Splitting Seal, saw his progress on the System Panel, and confirmed his injuries had healed enough to plan for taking the Heart-Questioning Pill soon.
• Lin Ziheng invited Yang Jing to dinner at the Lin Family estate, and Yang Jing accepted while asking to bring Sun Ningxiang.
• Yang Jing considered the benefits of visiting the Lin Family and looked forward to taking Sun Ningxiang around the city before returning to cultivate.
• Si Jiawen reminded Yang Jing to share his cultivation insights at the Dharma Lecture and proposed a spar, which Yang Jing eagerly accepted.
• Yang Jing and Si Jiawen took positions across his courtyard and prepared to fight.

Yang Jing tested his strength against Si Jiawen, whose Qi-Nourishing Realm power exposed the gap between them while giving him valuable combat experience. Later, he and Sun Ningxiang traveled with Lin Ziheng to the Lin Family banquet in Jintai Prefectural City.

• Yang Jing attacked Si Jiawen with the Mountain-Splitting Seal, and she blocked his strikes while recognizing his exceptional strength for someone in the Qi-Devouring Realm.
• Si Jiawen urged Yang Jing to use Crossing the River, then switched to offense and sent him staggering back with a single palm strike.
• Si Jiawen advised Yang Jing to improve his cultivation and internal qi control, and reminded him to prepare his insights for the Peak Lecture in three days.
• Yang Jing picked up Sun Ningxiang, and the two met Lin Ziheng at the wharf before boarding the Lin Family carriage.
• Lin Ziheng explained that his family had arranged an elaborate banquet, and the carriage carried Yang Jing, Sun Ningxiang, and Lin Ziheng toward Jintai Prefectural City.

Hong Qingzhu told Lin Shuhua that she refused her father’s plan to marry her to Yang Jing and asked Shuhua to pass on her rejection when he visited the Lin estate. Yang Jing arrived at the Lin family’s banquet with Sun Ningxiang, leaving Shuhua wondering whether Qingzhu had misunderstood his circumstances.

• Lin Shuhua managed preparations for the Lin family’s banquet honoring Yang Jing while Hong Qingzhu confessed that her father intended to marry her to him.
• Hong Qingzhu refused the arranged marriage and asked Lin Shuhua to tell Yang Jing she would never agree to it; Shuhua said she would try if an opportunity arose.
• Lin Weiyuan and the Lin family elders personally welcomed Yang Jing, who arrived with Sun Ningxiang and Lin Ziheng.
• Lin Shuhua watched Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang enter together and questioned whether Hong Qingzhu’s account of the marriage arrangement told the whole story.

Yang Jing visited the Lin Residence, where Lin Weiyuan hosted him privately and praised his martial talent and connection to the Lingxi Peak Master. Lin Shuhua grew convinced her father might be considering a marriage alliance between her and Yang Jing as they left for the banquet.

• Lin Weiyuan introduced his wife to Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang, then invited Yang Jing to his Study while asking Lin Shuhua to accompany them and serve tea.
• Lin Weiyuan praised Yang Jing's achievements at the Fu Mountain Grand Competition and asked about his apprenticeship under the Lingxi Peak Master.
• While serving tea, Lin Shuhua admired Yang Jing and wondered whether to relay Hong Qingzhu's wish to refuse her proposed marriage to him.
• Lin Shuhua suspected Lin Weiyuan had arranged her duties because he intended her to marry Yang Jing, and she blushed at the possibility.
• Lin Weiyuan ended his conversation with Yang Jing, and the group headed to the Main Hall for the banquet.

Yang Jing attended an elaborate Lin Family banquet, where Lin Weiyuan and the family elders treated the Profound Truth Sect prodigy with great respect. As Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang prepared to leave, Lin Weiyuan stopped him with an earnest request.

• Lin Shuhua ushered Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang to their honored seats as the Lin Family gathered for the banquet.
• Yang Jing noticed a goateed painter staring at him, while Lin Ziheng wondered why the renowned Jintai Prefectural City artist had attended.
• Lin Shuhua introduced the imperial chef's eggplant pottage, which Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang praised after tasting it.
• Lin Weiyuan, the Grand Elder, and other Lin Family members toasted Yang Jing, showing how highly they valued his potential and sect affiliation.
• After the banquet, Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang said farewell, and Lin Weiyuan personally walked them toward the gate.
• Lin Weiyuan stopped Yang Jing near the gate and said he had a request to make.

Yang Jing left the Lin Residence with Sun Ningxiang after Lin Weiyuan offered him pills to look after Lin Ziheng, while Lin Weiyuan considered a closer tie between their families through Lin Shuhua. After notices warned that Demon Cult remnants had appeared in Jintai Prefecture, Yang Jing returned to Duck Mountain Island determined to cultivate faster and protect those close to him.

• Lin Weiyuan asked Yang Jing to watch over Lin Ziheng and offered him five Marrow Tempering Pills each month, which Yang Jing reluctantly accepted after Lin Weiyuan insisted.
• After Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang departed, Lin Weiyuan summoned Lin Shuhua and Lin Ziheng to the study while considering how to strengthen his connection with Yang Jing.
• Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang strolled along Champion Street, where Sun Ningxiang chose a plain gold bracelet engraved with the character for Ning.
• Soldiers searched Champion Street, and Yang Jing heard that notices had reported the appearance of Demon Cult remnants in Jintai Prefecture.
• On the carriage ride back to Duck Mountain Island, Yang Jing worried that renewed conflict could threaten his loved ones and resolved to become stronger.
• The next morning, Yang Jing practiced the Mountain-Splitting Seal, ate breakfast, and hurried to the Training Room to continue cultivating.

Cao Zhen gathered the Profound Truth Sect’s leaders to address Demon Cult activity in Jintai Prefecture and the Cloudsoar Sect’s growing advantage after Chen Chu entered the true qi realm. The leaders agreed to launch the Grade-A Training Room Plan, though they still needed to decide how many rooms to build and how to allocate them.

• Cao Zhen told the leaders that the Heavenly Sword Sect had discovered Demon Cult members in Rosy Cloud Mountain, including a true qi realm cultivator, but they had escaped.
• Cao Zhen ordered stronger patrols throughout the sect’s territory, especially around Hidden Dragon Lake, and warned the leaders to prepare their disciples for the Demon Cult’s methods.
• Cao Zhen reported that Chen Chu of the Cloudsoar Sect had entered the true qi realm, prompting the leaders to worry about their sect’s widening gap with its rivals.
• Huang Zhen and Li Zhihai urged Cao Zhen to implement the Grade-A Training Room Plan immediately to cultivate the sect’s most talented disciples.
• Cao Zhen approved launching the plan but said the leaders still had to determine how many rooms to build and how to allocate them given the sect’s limited exotic beast musk incense.

The Profound Truth Sect leaders approved five Grade-A Training Rooms and ordered Ouyang Jingxuan to select a Top Potential Seed between Chu Yunhai and Yang Jing in three days. Yang Jing took the Heart-Questioning Pill, gained major insights into his martial arts, and learned that Bai Bing wanted to see him through Si Jiawen.

• Cao Zhen assigned four Grade-A Training Rooms to the top four on the Profound Truth Ranking and reserved the fifth for the Top Potential Seed.
• Cao Zhen ordered Ouyang Jingxuan to assess Chu Yunhai and Yang Jing in three days and choose the Top Potential Seed.
• The sect leaders began dividing patrol areas and planning defenses against the Demon Cult.
• Yang Jing took the Heart-Questioning Pill and gained deep insights that improved his Mountain-Splitting Seal, Indestructible True Art, and Crossing the River.
• Yang Jing practiced the Mountain-Splitting Seal for more than two hours, then met Si Jiawen outside the training room.
• Si Jiawen told Yang Jing that Bai Bing wanted to see him.

Yang Jing learned that he and Chu Yunhai would compete for the Profound Truth Sect’s Top Potential Seed position, which came with exclusive access to a Grade-A Training Room and the sect’s finest resources. As the sect prepared for Chief Elder Ouyang Jingxuan’s assessment, excitement spread, and June twenty-sixth arrived with the contest still ahead.

• Bai Bing told Yang Jing that he and Chu Yunhai would be assessed in three days for the Top Potential Seed position and urged him to prepare.
• Bai Bing explained that the sect would build five Grade-A Training Rooms, with one reserved for the Top Potential Seed and the others for the top four on the Profound Truth Ranking.
• Si Jiawen told Bai Bing she would wait until Yang Jing’s assessment was over before challenging for a place in the top four.
• News of the training rooms and the contest spread through the Profound Truth Sect, stirring disciples to discuss Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai.
• June twenty-sixth arrived, the day Ouyang Jingxuan would assess Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai and choose the Top Potential Seed.

Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai began the Profound Truth Sect’s tests to choose its Top Potential Seed, with Ouyang Jingxuan assessing their root bones before moving on to comprehension. Yang Jing’s poor root bone put him at a disadvantage, but he entered the next test with renewed confidence from the Heart-Questioning Pill.

• Yang Jing left for Feather Peak with Sun Ningxiang, who stayed behind as he climbed to the testing ground.
• Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai met at the summit and agreed to fight again at the Fu Mountain Battle Arena in two months.
• Ouyang Jingxuan began the tests and examined both candidates’ root bones, finding Chu Yunhai’s second-rank root bone far superior to Yang Jing’s seventh-rank root bone.
• Ouyang Jingxuan announced a comprehension test in which Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai would study and reproduce a martial art after watching his demonstration.

Ouyang Jingxuan tested Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai’s comprehension of the Green Mountain Fist, then ordered them to fight at full strength to uncover their hidden potential. The chapter ended with their battle raging evenly across Feather Peak’s square.

• Ouyang Jingxuan demonstrated the Green Mountain Fist and gave Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai one hour to study it.
• Yang Jing practiced the fist art and grasped part of its essence, while Chu Yunhai quickly mastered its mountain-like intent and outperformed him in comprehension.
• Ouyang Jingxuan judged Chu Yunhai ahead in comprehension but withheld the result and announced a full-force combat assessment.
• Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai began fighting, combining their martial arts with their respective movement technique, battle body, and defensive arts.
• Yang Jing’s speed and fierce attacks met Chu Yunhai’s strength and defenses, and they remained evenly matched as Ouyang Jingxuan observed their improved abilities.

Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai fought to a draw in the assessment for Top Potential Seed, but Ouyang Jingxuan chose Chu Yunhai because his battle body and second-rank root bone offered a more certain potential. Yang Jing accepted the setback and resolved to keep cultivating, while Sun Ningxiang and the others saw Chu Yunhai descending Feather Peak in triumph.

• Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai fought evenly until Ouyang Jingxuan stopped the match and questioned Yang Jing about any hidden constitution or talent.
• Yang Jing denied having a special constitution or hidden talent, keeping the System Panel secret.
• Ouyang Jingxuan told Yang Jing to return to Lingxi Peak and took Chu Yunhai to the Main Peak Hall to report the assessment results.
• Yang Jing realized the sect had chosen Chu Yunhai as Top Potential Seed, then steadied himself by resolving to keep improving with the resources he had.
• Sun Ningxiang, Lin Ziheng, Yan Chenglong, and Fang He waited at the foot of Feather Peak and grew alarmed when they saw Ouyang Jingxuan and a triumphant Chu Yunhai descending.

Chu Yunhai was officially chosen as the Profound Truth Sect's Top Potential Seed over Yang Jing, prompting reactions across the Sect and beyond. The Lin Family decided to continue sending Yang Jing the promised cultivation resources despite his defeat.

• The Profound Truth Sect announced that Chu Yunhai would receive the Top Potential Seed position, exclusive use of the Grade-A Training Room, and priority access to its finest resources.
• Si Jiawen reflected on Yang Jing's loss and worried that she had placed too much hope in him, though she recognized how far he had risen in only half a year.
• Yuwen Mingjue rejoiced at Yang Jing's defeat, believing the gap between the Top Potential Seed's resources and ordinary priority support would limit Yang Jing's prospects.
• Bai Ziyu and Lu Shaohua discussed Yang Jing's defeat while recovering from their sparring match, acknowledging Chu Yunhai's overwhelming advantages.
• Lin Weiyuan told the Lin Family's Grand Elder to keep sending Yang Jing the promised five Marrow Tempering Pills, judging that his potential still made him worth supporting.

After Yang Jing lost the Profound Truth Sect's Top Potential Seed assessment to Chu Yunhai, the Lin and Hong families reconsidered marriage alliances with him. Yang Jing calmed his disappointment in a Grade-B Training Room, reaffirmed his confidence in his own path, and resolved to reach the Qi-Nourishing Realm.

• Lin Shuhua wondered whether the failed assessment would end the proposed marriage alliance and felt unexpected disappointment at the possibility.
• Hong Shixian and the Hong Family Grand Elder decided to set aside Hong Qingzhu's marriage alliance with Yang Jing because Chu Yunhai had won the Top Potential Seed position.
• Hong Shixian told Hong Qingzhu she no longer had to marry Yang Jing, and she gladly ended her hunger strike before learning why the decision had changed.
• Hong Shixian explained that Yang Jing's prospects had diminished after losing to Chu Yunhai, and Hong Qingzhu felt hurt that her father treated her as a family bargaining chip.
• Yang Jing entered a Grade-B Training Room and reflected on his frustration, his wavering mindset, and the gap between himself and Chu Yunhai.
• Yang Jing regained his composure, trusted that the System Panel could help him advance, and resolved to reach the Qi-Nourishing Realm without relying on Top Potential Seed resources.

Yang Jing devoted himself to training after losing the contest for Top Potential Seed, bringing the Mountain-Splitting Seal close to the peak of the qi-devouring realm. After half a month of relentless practice, he encountered a striking woman in a moonlit pavilion and recognized her.

• Yang Jing resolved to focus on cultivation and practiced the Mountain-Splitting Seal, determined to advance without dwelling on his defeat.
• Si Jiawen defeated Zhang Hongmeng to claim fourth place on the Profound Truth Ranking and the right to use a Grade-A Training Room.
• Yang Jing trained daily in a Grade-B Training Room, aiming to reach the peak of the qi-devouring realm and eventually challenge stronger disciples.
• After half a month, Yang Jing's Mountain-Splitting Seal progress reached 1921/2000, bringing him close to the peak of the qi-devouring realm.
• Yang Jing left the training room after dark and saw a woman in white standing in a moonlit pavilion; he stopped when he recognized her.