Chapter Summaries

Si Jiawen received news that the 50th Jintai Grand Tournament had been moved up to May fifth, disrupting her plan to prepare for a breakthrough into the true qi realm. The chapter left her weighing whether to risk an early breakthrough despite the danger of failure and lasting injury.

• Ren An told the gathered faction leaders that selected tournament participants would enter the Stone Mountain Secret Realm after the tournament to fight the Demon Cult and receive rewards based on their performance.
• News of the tournament spread across Jintai Prefecture as martial artists anticipated the May fifth gathering on Moonwatch Mountain.
• Si Jiawen continued traveling through Jintai Prefecture to investigate the Demon Cult and train rather than return to the Profound Truth Sect after her defeat by Yang Jing.
• A messenger spirit bird brought Si Jiawen news that the tournament had been moved forward from June to May fifth.
• Si Jiawen realized the change had cut short her planned two-month preparation for a breakthrough and worried that attempting it early could damage her meridians and cultivation.

Yang Jing completed an intensive cultivation session and learned from Sun Ningxiang that the Jintai Grand Tournament would be held early, on May fifth. Lin Ziheng gave him a detailed information sheet, which he and Sun Ningxiang began reading together.

• Yang Jing practiced the Indestructible True Art in his Grade-A Training Room for four hours, drawing closer to the peak of the Qi-Nourishing Realm.
• Yang Jing returned to Azure No. 4 Courtyard, where Sun Ningxiang told him the 50th Jintai Grand Tournament would take place on May fifth at Moonwatch Mountain.
• Sun Ningxiang explained that Yang Jing would qualify for the tournament directly and that its rewards were expected to be especially generous.
• Yang Jing called over Lin Ziheng and asked for detailed information about the tournament.
• Lin Ziheng handed Yang Jing a sheet of gathered information, and Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang began reading it together.

Yang Jing was summoned to the Main Peak Hall, where Profound Truth Sect’s leaders unanimously decided to reward him with the imperial extremity lotus for his achievements and talent. He arrived at the hall and paid his respects, not yet learning of the decision.

• A Main Peak disciple delivered the Sect Master's summons, and Yang Jing left Sun Ningxiang to go to the Main Peak Hall.
• Sect Master Cao Zhen proposed bestowing the imperial extremity lotus on Yang Jing, and Lei Lie argued that Yang Jing's merit and talent made him the right recipient.
• Qin Gang and the other leaders supported the proposal, and Bai Bing also voiced her approval.
• Cao Zhen finalized the decision to give Yang Jing the imperial extremity lotus, while the leaders discussed its potential to improve his innate root bone.
• Yang Jing arrived at the hall and respectfully greeted Cao Zhen, Bai Bing, the Peak Masters, and Chief Elder Ouyang Jingxuan.

The Profound Truth Sect awarded Yang Jing an imperial extremity lotus for his merit in exterminating the Demon Cult, a treasure that could greatly improve his root bone and cultivation. Cao Zhen, Bai Bing, and Ouyang Jingxuan brought him to the Inner Treasury, where two senior guardians received them as Cao Zhen requested entry.

• Cao Zhen announced that Yang Jing would receive an imperial extremity lotus, and Ouyang Jingxuan explained its many benefits.
• Yang Jing thanked the sect leaders and learned that Bai Bing would accompany him to the Inner Treasury for the bestowal.
• Cao Zhen, Bai Bing, and Ouyang Jingxuan led Yang Jing toward the Inner Treasury while discussing the upcoming Jintai Grand Tournament and Stone Mountain Secret Realm.
• Yang Jing reflected on how the imperial extremity lotus could improve his fifth-grade root bone and help advance his cultivation arts.
• The group reached the Inner Treasury, where Yang Jing sensed that its two white-haired guardians were true qi peak experts.
• Cao Zhen addressed the guardians as Uncle-Master Ming and Uncle-Master Huang and asked to enter the Inner Treasury.

Cao Zhen, Bai Bing, Ouyang Jingxuan, and Yang Jing passed through the Profound Truth Sect’s guarded Inner Treasury to reach its core chamber. Cao Zhen revealed the Imperial Extremity Lotus and told Yang Jing to enter the Aperture-Nurturing Jade Pool so he could refine and absorb it.

• Two peak true qi realm elders opened the Inner Treasury’s outer stone door for Cao Zhen and his companions.
• Ouyang Jingxuan used the Black Iron Token to unlock a series of restricted chambers filled with increasingly precious weapons, pills, and treasures.
• Cao Zhen used the sect master’s token to open the final door, releasing dense origin energy from the forbidden chamber.
• Yang Jing entered the chamber and saw two Imperial Extremity Lotus blossoms growing in a pool of pure Aperture-Nurturing Jade Marrow.
• Cao Zhen told Yang Jing to enter the pool naked and refine the Imperial Extremity Lotus while Cao Zhen, Bai Bing, and Ouyang Jingxuan guarded him.

Cao Zhen prepared an imperial extremity lotus for Yang Jing and left him alone in the Aperture-Nurturing Jade Pool to refine it. Yang Jing began drawing out the lotus’s medicinal power, and its golden essence surged back toward his body.

• Cao Zhen shielded one imperial extremity lotus with astral qi and instructed Yang Jing to refine the other.
• Cao Zhen, Ouyang Jingxuan, and Bai Bing left the chamber, while Yang Jing stayed inside to cultivate undisturbed.
• Yang Jing entered the pool, reviewed his martial arts progress, and steadied his mind and true qi.
• Yang Jing circulated the Mountain-Splitting Seal and absorbed the Aperture-Nurturing Jade Marrow’s origin energy to prepare for refining the lotus.
• Yang Jing enveloped the unshielded imperial extremity lotus in gentle true qi, causing its petals to shine gold as its medicinal power rushed back along the qi pathways toward him.

Yang Jing refined the Imperial Extremity Lotus in the Profound Truth Sect's Aperture-Nurturing Jade Pool, enduring intense pain as its power transformed his root bone and greatly strengthened his cultivation. After two hours, the lotus dissolved completely, and Yang Jing opened his eyes feeling stronger than ever, with the Jintai Grand Tournament approaching.

• Yang Jing absorbed the Imperial Extremity Lotus's medicinal power, enduring severe pain as it scoured and tempered his bones.
• Yang Jing's root bone rapidly improved as impurities were purged, his affinity for origin energy increased, and his internal qi and qi sea expanded.
• Yang Jing circulated Crossing the River, Indestructible True Art, and Mountain-Splitting Seal together, rapidly strengthening all three streams of internal qi.
• Yang Jing grew confident that the lotus's effects could help him advance Indestructible True Art and Crossing the River to the true qi realm before the Jintai Grand Tournament.
• After two hours, the Imperial Extremity Lotus dissolved completely, and Yang Jing finished circulating the three mental methods.
• Yang Jing opened his eyes, released beams of golden light, and felt unprecedented strength in his transformed body.

Yang Jing refined the imperial extremity lotus, advancing his root bone to the fourth grade and greatly strengthening his cultivation before returning to Lingxi Peak to train for the approaching Jintai Grand Tournament. As he cultivated in seclusion, sects and martial artists across Jintai Prefecture began preparing for the tournament.

• Yang Jing discovered that refining the imperial extremity lotus had improved his root bone to the fourth grade and greatly advanced all three of his true arts.
• Ouyang Jingxuan confirmed Yang Jing's improved root bone, while Cao Zhen and Bai Bing praised his progress and urged him to prepare carefully for the tournament.
• Bai Bing took Yang Jing back to Lingxi Peak, where she instructed him on stabilizing his cultivation and assimilating the lotus's medicinal power.
• Yang Jing entered his Grade-A Training Room and devoted himself to consolidating his gains and advancing his three true arts before the tournament.
• The Jintai Grand Tournament drew near, prompting the Five Great Sects and other martial factions across Jintai Prefecture to hold selections and make preparations.

As the Jintai Grand Tournament approached, Yang Jing learned more about the sect selections and the fierce competition ahead before returning to secluded cultivation. At the Cloudsoar Sect, Jiang Yun demonstrated his overwhelming strength, and its elders expected him to defend his tournament title.

• Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang discussed the tournament’s hidden talents, the sect’s selections, and the danger of its preliminary round.
• Yang Jing left for his Grade-A Training Room, determined to advance his martial arts before the tournament, after seeing Yan Chenglong and Ma Qiang sparring.
• Across Jintai Prefecture, martial artists eagerly discussed the coming tournament and its leading contenders.
• At the Cloudsoar Sect, Jiang Yun easily countered Chen Chu’s attacks during a sparring match.
• Ren An and the Cloudsoar Sect elders praised Jiang Yun’s strength and predicted he would win the tournament again.

Jiang Yun decisively defeated Chen Chu in a public spar, confirming his overwhelming strength ahead of the Jintai Grand Tournament. After learning of Jiang Yun’s progress, Lü Chongrui abandoned his planned rest and returned to secluded cultivation as the tournament drew near.

• Jiang Yun overwhelmed Chen Chu throughout their spar and ended it by placing his sword against Chen Chu’s throat.
• Chen Chu recognized the vast gulf between himself and Jiang Yun, while Ren An and the elders watched with satisfaction.
• Martial artists across Jintai Prefecture discussed the approaching tournament and widely regarded Jiang Yun as its favorite after his victory five years earlier.
• Lü Chongrui emerged from seclusion still unable to break through to the Core Realm and read an urgent report about Jiang Yun’s victory over Chen Chu.
• Lü Chongrui returned to secluded cultivation, and May arrived as the Jintai Grand Tournament approached.

Yang Jing pushed Crossing the River to its peak and broke through into the True Qi Realm on the eve of the Jintai Grand Tournament. With all Three True Arts now in that realm, he fused their true qi and discovered the immense strength of his combined cultivation.

• Yang Jing trained Crossing the River in his Grade-A Training Room, using Marrow Tempering Pills to speed his progress.
• On May 4, Yang Jing reached the peak of the Qi-Nourishing Realm in Crossing the River and continued practicing to force a breakthrough.
• Yang Jing broke through into the True Qi Realm, completing his goal of advancing Mountain-Splitting Seal, Indestructible True Art, and Crossing the River.
• Yang Jing practiced the newly advanced Crossing the River for nearly four more hours to stabilize his cultivation.
• Yang Jing fused the true qi of all Three True Arts and felt his strength surge far beyond what he had possessed before.

After advancing all three of his True Arts into the True Qi Realm, Yang Jing prepared for the Jintai Grand Tournament and joined Bai Bing’s party as it departed for Moonwatch Mountain. The chapter ended with the Lingxi Peak procession on its way to the tournament, while the remaining disciples hurried to secure places to watch.

• Yang Jing sensed the immense power of his merged true qi after stabilizing his breakthrough in the Grade-A Training Room.
• A disciple summoned Yang Jing to Lingxi Square, where the Lingxi Peak party was gathering to depart for Moonwatch Mountain.
• Yang Jing packed his belongings, greeted his fellow competitors, and told Bai Bing that he was ready for the tournament.
• Si Jiawen reported that the competitors, elders, stewards, and supplies were assembled, and Bai Bing ordered the party to depart.
• Bai Bing led Yang Jing, Si Jiawen, and the assembled Lingxi Peak party down the mountain toward Moonwatch Mountain.
• The disciples and stewards who remained at Lingxi Peak gathered their belongings and set out to find viewing spots at Moonwatch Mountain.

Yang Jing and the Lingxi Peak party traveled to Moonwatch Mountain for the Jintai Grand Tournament and settled into the Profound Truth Sect’s temporary quarters. Bai Bing told the disciples to rest, then visit the summit tournament grounds to prepare for tomorrow’s matches.

• Bai Bing led Lingxi Peak’s disciples and elders from Duck Mountain Island to Hidden Dragon Town, where they boarded carriages for Moonwatch Mountain.
• Yang Jing saw Chu Yunhai with the Heavenly Evolution Peak party at the docks, but paid his former rival little attention.
• The Lingxi Peak party arrived at Moonwatch Mountain and climbed through the vast crowd of martial artists gathered for the tournament.
• Ma Qiang explained that the competitors would stay in the former Glory Prosperity Gang stronghold, which had been destroyed during the Demon Cult calamity.
• Steward Wang welcomed Bai Bing and Yang Jing, guided Lingxi Peak to its prepared quarters, and showed them the rooms arranged for the party.
• Bai Bing instructed the disciples to settle in, rest, and visit the summit tournament grounds to prepare for the next day’s matches.

Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang inspected Moonwatch Mountain’s tournament grounds and heard spectators discuss the competitors, including Yang Jing’s recent breakthrough to the True Qi Realm. After resting overnight, Yang Jing prepared for the Jintai Grand Tournament as it began.

• Yang Jing met Yan Chenglong and the Lingxi Peak disciples, then stayed behind to greet Sun Ningxiang when Yunxi Peak arrived.
• Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang climbed to the summit and examined the arena and crowded tournament plaza.
• Sun Ningxiang explained that only thirty-two of roughly eight or nine hundred entrants would advance, while spectators debated Jiang Yun and other favorites.
• Spectators discussed Yang Jing’s True Qi Realm breakthrough, and Yang Jing remained unconcerned about their judgments.
• Yang Jing returned to camp, cultivated lightly, slept, and woke at dawn ready for the tournament to begin.

Yang Jing and the Profound Truth Sect delegation arrived at Moonwatch Mountain’s summit for the Jintai Grand Tournament, where spectators discussed the leading contenders. After Commandant Tan Wei took the stage, he announced the tournament’s opening and called all competitors into the preliminary round.

• Yang Jing ate breakfast, joined Bai Bing and the Lingxi Peak delegation, and followed them to the summit square.
• The Profound Truth Sect party took its seats as the crowd discussed Jiang Yun, Yang Jing, and Chen Chu as prominent contenders.
• Cao Zhen and the other leaders of the Five Great Sects arrived with the Prefect of Jintai Prefecture and took their places beside the arena.
• Ma Qiang identified the tournament host as Commandant Tan Wei, a core-realm expert overseeing the competition for the prefectural government.
• Tan Wei silenced the crowd with his aura and declared the 50th Jintai Grand Tournament open, calling all competing martial artists to the stage for the preliminary round.

Yang Jing took his place among the 896 competitors as the first preliminary round of the 50th Jintai Grand Tournament approached. While Hong Qingzhu reconsidered her feelings toward him and Xu Hong, Lin Shuhua resolved to pursue him despite her fears that he already loved Sun Ningxiang.

• Yang Jing joined Fang He, Ma Qiang, Yan Chenglong, and the other Profound Truth Sect disciples on the arena, where 896 competitors awaited the tournament's first preliminary round.
• Sun Ningxiang silently wished Yang Jing good luck, and he acknowledged her encouragement before taking his place.
• Commandant Tan announced that the first preliminary round would begin after one stick of incense burned out, while spectators focused on the true qi realm prodigies, including Yang Jing.
• Hong Qingzhu reflected on her former rejection of Yang Jing and her disillusionment with Xu Hong, then admitted she would no longer oppose a possible marriage so fiercely.
• Lin Shuhua recalled her father's warning that a family alliance could no longer win Yang Jing and resolved to draw closer to him, even if she had to share his affections with Sun Ningxiang.
• Hong Qingzhu told Lin Shuhua that her thoughts were muddled, and she imagined Xu Hong's image disappearing as Yang Jing's grew clearer.

At the Jintai Grand Tournament, Yang Jing and the other competitors began the Arrow Rain Trial, the first preliminary round. As the arrows grew faster and more unpredictable, Yang Jing dodged effortlessly while the Profound Truth Sect’s weaker disciples were eliminated one by one.

• Chu Yunhai watched Yang Jing and accepted that their strength gap was too wide, focusing instead on surviving the preliminary rounds.
• Xiao Nu, Zhao Wenju, and Si Jiawen recognized that Yang Jing carried the Profound Truth Sect’s hopes of restoring its standing in the tournament.
• Commandant Tan announced the Arrow Rain Trial, and five Core-Realm experts, including Lei Lie, began firing chalk-tipped arrows at the competitors.
• Yang Jing used Crossing the River to evade the arrows without receiving a single white mark as the trial grew more difficult.
• Fang He received a fourth mark and was eliminated, followed by Ma Qiang, Yan Chenglong, and other Profound Truth Sect disciples.
• Yang Jing continued dodging calmly while the arrow rain eliminated competitors across the arena.

As the arrow trial eliminated competitor after competitor, Yang Jing effortlessly dodged the attacks and impressed the spectators and leaders of Jintai Prefecture. The chapter left the trial ongoing, with Cao Zhen hoping Yang Jing would restore the Profound Truth Sect’s standing and ordinary disciples reflecting on the gulf between themselves and the gifted.

• Fang He, Ma Qiang, Yan Chenglong, and other eliminated Profound Truth Sect disciples watched Yang Jing evade the arrows without seeming to exert himself.
• The prefect, Mu Rongxiao, and Wei Ran discussed the trial’s escalating difficulty and the many qi-devouring realm martial artists it had eliminated.
• Cao Zhen watched Yang Jing with hope but tempered his expectations because Yang Jing had only recently entered the true qi realm.
• Sun Ningxiang watched Yang Jing perform the Crossing the River movement technique and felt proud of his progress.
• Liu Rou and Su Qingyue discussed the dangers of the trial as Su Qingyue recalled how Yang Jing had risen from an unremarkable disciple to a leading young prodigy.

Chu Yunhai barely survived the arrow trial, while Yang Jing passed it without being touched, revealing the gap between them. After Commandant Tan announced that 150 contestants had advanced and explained the beast-combat trial, the second preliminary round began.

• Chu Yunhai held on until the arrow rain stopped, then saw Yang Jing emerge spotless and composed after dodging every arrow with his movement technique.
• Commandant Tan confirmed that 150 martial artists had passed the first preliminary round and said the second would select 32 contestants for the main competition.
• Yang Jing returned to the Profound Truth Sect seats as spectators recognized his performance, then learned that 18 of the sect's disciples had advanced.
• A white-robed man read the advancing contestants' names, and Ma Qiang noted that the Profound Truth Sect had sent two more disciples through than the Vajra Order.
• Commandant Tan announced that contestants would face Mid-Tier Patterned Beasts in groups of five, with judges assessing their overall performance, and gave them an hour to rest.
• Yang Jing regulated his breathing during the rest period, and the second preliminary round began.

The second preliminary round of the Jintai Grand Tournament began as five contestants faced mid-tier patterned beasts in arena combat. Three qi-nourishing realm contestants slew their beasts, while two peak qi-devouring realm contestants were defeated and injured, ending their tournament runs; the arena was cleared for the next group.

• Commandant Tan announced the start of the second preliminary round, and the clerk called Su Wanqing, Zhou Shi, Lin Feng, Liu Yuan, and Qin Ke as the first group.
• Five true qi realm experts brought five caged mid-tier patterned beasts to the arena and released them opposite the contestants.
• The five beasts attacked at once, and Yang Jing watched as the three qi-nourishing realm contestants fought evenly while the two peak qi-devouring realm contestants were overwhelmed.
• The three qi-nourishing realm contestants defeated and slew their beasts, while the two peak qi-devouring realm contestants were knocked down and injured before core-realm experts could protect them.
• The core-realm experts killed the two surviving beasts, and staff cleared the arena for the next group.