Chapter Summaries

Yang Jing reached true qi peak and comprehended the core-realm method recorded on Bai Bing’s first stone tablet, then began practicing its dangerous Origin True-Form Diagram. The chapter leaves him poised to activate hidden powers throughout his body as he starts the supreme scripture’s foundational cultivation.

• Yang Jing calmed his mind in Pingtian Academy's Martial Hall and reviewed the stages and vast gaps within the core realm.
• Yang Jing focused on the first stone tablet in his sea of consciousness, and its figure and characters revealed the method for entering the core realm.
• After two hours of contemplation, Yang Jing grasped the scripture’s core-condensation principles and decided he could begin cultivating.
• Yang Jing recognized that the scripture’s Origin True-Form Diagram refined the body’s foundation and could cause severe harm if practiced incorrectly.
• Yang Jing took the diagram’s posture and prepared to circulate distinct hidden powers throughout his tissues, organs, meridians, and body.

Yang Jing cultivated the Stone Tablet Scripture’s Origin True-Form Diagram, enduring severe backlash as its secret power replaced his old circulation and cleansed his body. After completing the first round of transformation, he saw that his physical foundation had grown stronger and checked his System Panel.

• Yang Jing activated the Origin True-Form Diagram, and its secret power tore open his flesh before he had completed one full circulation.
• Yang Jing kept his composure and adjusted his posture and breathing to guide the secret power through new routes in his body.
• Yang Jing understood that the blood and pain came from the scripture opening dormant meridians and tissues while replacing his old true qi circulation.
• Yang Jing completed the first outer-circuit cleansing, and spiritual light washed away the blood as his body emerged renewed and stronger.
• Yang Jing assessed his transformed body and summoned the System Panel.

Yang Jing discovered that the Stone Tablet Scripture was the Heavenly Imperial Scripture and continued cultivating it, transforming his body while carefully overcoming the dangers of tempering his organs. He repaired the hidden injuries caused by the process and was left with a sound foundation for continuing along the scripture’s new path.

• Yang Jing saw that his three former arts had merged into the Heavenly Imperial Scripture, whose first layer he had only just entered.
• As his cultivation reached his organs, Yang Jing slowed the secret power and studied the stone tablet’s true-form diagram before resuming the dangerous tempering.
• Yang Jing’s organs glowed with five-element light and produced immortal mist and hidden thunder, while the scripture’s secret power shattered illusory phenomena and refined them into nourishing energy.
• Yang Jing detected tiny injuries in his organs and used his secret power, sustained by a Marrow Tempering Pill, to repair them.
• Yang Jing completed the repair without remaining hidden injuries, aided by the resilient foundation he had built through the Indestructible True Art.

Yang Jing endured the Heavenly Imperial Scripture’s punishing cultivation, using Marrow Tempering Pills and the lingering medicinal power of the Six-Calamity Heaven Lotus to sustain his transformation. He completed the first layer of the scripture and forged a new martial foundation, leaving him to sense the power of his renewed body.

• Yang Jing learned that Qi Hong’s followers had been secretly targeting him and his companions to curry favor with the Inner Courtyard prodigy.
• Yang Jing resumed cultivating the Heavenly Imperial Scripture, and extraordinary manifestations appeared within his organs before his Heaven-Commanding Secret Power refined them into cultivation energy.
• The scripture’s demanding refinement injured Yang Jing and depleted the Training Room’s spirit energy, so he swallowed two Marrow Tempering Pills to replenish and heal himself.
• The Six-Calamity Heaven Lotus’s residual medicinal power emerged from Yang Jing’s body and joined the pills and Heaven-Commanding Secret Power in nourishing his transformation.
• Yang Jing completed a renewal of his blood and cleansing of his marrow, successfully establishing a new martial foundation with the first layer of the Heavenly Imperial Scripture.

After a month of cultivating the Heavenly Imperial Scripture, Yang Jing’s strength and foundation improved dramatically, and he emerged from seclusion eager to test himself against a Core-Realm expert. As Qi Hong’s followers began watching him for an opportunity to cause trouble, a powerful bird’s cry rang out over Pingtian Academy.

• Yang Jing reflected on how the Heavenly Imperial Scripture had transformed his body and secret power, leaving him confident he could kill Ma Biao in a single move.
• Yang Jing spent a month refining the scripture’s first layer, reaching 32/100 progress and adapting to its dangerous power.
• Yang Jing left the Martial Hall and sensed Qi Hong’s followers secretly tracking him after they had harassed Jiang Yun, Lü Chongrui, Si Jiawen, and Xiao Nu.
• Yang Jing welcomed the prospect of confronting anyone who provoked him so he could test his new strength.
• A piercing cry from the distant sky stopped the disciples on the mountain path, and Yang Jing looked up toward its source.

Yang Jing recognized Shangguan Qing as a formidable Upper Academy disciple before spending another half month cultivating. When he went with Si Jiawen and Xiao Nu to Folly Tower, Zhang He blocked their path and disguised a planned confrontation as an offer of guidance, and Yang Jing challenged him to explain how he should train.

• Yang Jing saw Shangguan Qing riding a Black-Crowned Golden Eagle and learned from other disciples that she was a leading disciple of Pingtian Academy's Upper Academy.
• Yang Jing returned to Jade Bamboo Courtyard and spent the next half month refining the Heavenly Imperial Scripture.
• Si Jiawen and Xiao Nu invited Yang Jing to visit Folly Tower, and he agreed to go with them.
• As the three walked along the road, they sensed hostile attention from Qi Hong's followers, and Xiao Nu warned them to be careful.
• Zhang He stepped into their path, criticized Yang Jing's solitary cultivation, and claimed he wanted to offer guidance.
• Yang Jing saw through Zhang He's provocation and asked him to explain how he should train.

Yang Jing confronted Zhang He, a veteran half-step core realm disciple, and revealed overwhelming strength by defeating him in front of the academy disciples. Zhang He ended the chapter badly injured and sprawled on the ground after Yang Jing countered his second attack.

• Zhang He attacked Yang Jing with a full-strength palm strike after Yang Jing refused to submit to his discipline.
• Yang Jing met Zhang He's palm strike head-on and remained standing, while Zhang He staggered backward, shocked that a true qi realm newcomer had overpowered him.
• Zhang He launched a second attack to reclaim his standing, but Yang Jing anticipated it and punched him in the chest.
• Yang Jing's punch fractured Zhang He's breastbone and sent him flying across the bluestone ground.
• Zhang He lay battered and bleeding, nearly passing out, while the watching disciples stared in shock.

Yang Jing defeated the renowned Zhang He with one restrained punch, revealing that he could match Core Realm fighters while still at the True Qi peak. As Yang Jing walked toward Folly Tower with Si Jiawen and Xiao Nu, news of his victory began spreading through the Outer Courtyard, and his companions questioned him about his strength.

• Yang Jing decisively wounded Zhang He in their fight, then left with Si Jiawen and Xiao Nu while the onlookers watched in shock.
• Outer Courtyard disciples declared that Yang Jing's victory could make his name known throughout Pingtian Academy and mark him as an extraordinary Heavenly Prodigy.
• On the way to Folly Tower, Xiao Nu asked whether Yang Jing had reached the Core Realm, and Yang Jing said he remained at the True Qi peak.
• Yang Jing attributed his strength to refining his martial foundations, leaving Xiao Nu and Si Jiawen astonished by how casually he described his progress.

Yang Jing studied the Great Qi Gazetteer and the Chronicles of Jianghu in Folly Tower, learning about the kingdom’s powers, secret realms, and famous martial artists. When he found Shangguan Qing’s name, he recalled her overwhelming presence and focused on the strength that had impressed him.

• Yang Jing, Si Jiawen, and Xiao Nu entered Folly Tower and split up to browse its books.
• Yang Jing read the Great Qi Gazetteer, learning about Great Qi’s major powers, Pingtian Academy’s territory, and the nature of secret realms.
• Yang Jing realized his Azure Lake Seal could open passages to Azure Lake Grotto-Heaven and resolved to explore secret realms.
• Yang Jing finished the gazetteer and began reading the Chronicles of Jianghu to learn about famous experts and young prodigies.
• Yang Jing found Shangguan Qing’s entry and remembered seeing her atop a Black-Crowned Golden Eagle, recognizing her strength as the reason she stayed in his mind.

Yang Jing read about the fearsome Heavenly Prodigies of Great Qi and learned that the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion Trial offered Outer Courtyard disciples a chance to earn resources and training opportunities. After returning to Jade Bamboo Courtyard, he resolved to strengthen himself before the trial and headed back to the Martial Hall to cultivate.

• Yang Jing read the Chronicles of Jianghu and learned that Shangguan Qing had slain more than ten Core-Realm powerhouses, along with the battle records of other leading Heavenly Prodigies.
• Yang Jing, Si Jiawen, and Xiao Nu finished reading in Folly Tower and walked back toward their lodgings, discussing the books they had read.
• Xiao Nu explained that the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion Trial assessed all Outer Courtyard disciples and awarded top-ranked competitors resources, guidance, and training opportunities.
• Yang Jing recognized that the trial could provide the resources his cultivation of the Heavenly Imperial Scripture required, but resolved that he first needed to improve his own strength.
• Yang Jing returned to Jade Bamboo Courtyard, settled his mind, and left for the Martial Hall to cultivate.

Yang Jing spent a month cultivating the Heavenly Imperial Scripture, strengthening his foundation until he could suppress an ordinary first-level Core Realm expert while still in the True Qi Realm. His growing reputation reached Pingtian Academy’s secluded seniors, who began assessing him as a potential Upper Academy candidate.

• Yang Jing took two Marrow Tempering Pills and cultivated the Heavenly Imperial Scripture in a Martial Hall training chamber, refining his body and secret power.
• Yang Jing maintained a strict routine for a month, repeatedly tempering his foundation and consolidating his insights into the scripture.
• Yang Jing’s combat strength rose beyond that of ordinary first-level Core Realm cultivators, though he still could not match a second-level expert.
• Yang Jing concluded that perfecting the scripture before breaking through could bring his strength to the level of a veteran second-level Core Realm expert.
• Yang Jing’s victory over Zhang He spread through Pingtian Academy, drawing attention from Inner Courtyard disciples and secluded seniors.
• Pingtian Academy’s veteran seniors began observing Yang Jing as a potential entrant to the Upper Academy.

After a month of secluded cultivation, Yang Jing found his progress in the Heavenly Imperial Scripture slowing because it required real combat to temper its principles. He decided to enter a Secret Realm to fight, improve his cultivation, and replenish his dwindling resources, while the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion Trial also approached.

• Yang Jing completed his cultivation and saw that his progress in the Heavenly Imperial Scripture had reached 57/100.
• Yang Jing recognized that secluded cultivation could not overcome his stagnation and that he needed a Core-Realm opponent for meaningful combat.
• Yang Jing learned from passing disciples that the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion Trial would soon begin and saw it as a chance to earn resources.
• Yang Jing watched Outer Courtyard disciples spar and recalled that Secret Realms could provide challenging battles and valuable treasures.
• Yang Jing decided to prepare to enter a Secret Realm, train through combat, and seek resources, then returned to Jade Bamboo Courtyard for the night.

Yang Jing registered for a three-day training excursion to the Heavenly Origin Secret Realm, hoping to temper his martial skills and find resources. He reached the secret realm entrance, where Outer Courtyard disciples recognized him and made way after hearing of his victory over Zhang He.

• Yang Jing went to the Outer Courtyard's Affairs Hall and applied to train in the Heavenly Origin Secret Realm.
• The steward registered Yang Jing's access for three days and reminded him to enter before the permission expired.
• Yang Jing hurried to the northeastern secret realm trial area and arrived at the blackstone palace entrance.
• Disciples recognized Yang Jing for defeating Zhang He and watched him as he entered the hall.
• Outer Courtyard disciples moved aside to clear Yang Jing's path, and those unfamiliar with his reputation learned why others feared provoking him.

Yang Jing entered the Heavenly Origin Secret Realm and arrived at the outer reaches of the Heavenly Origin Mountains. He cautiously began exploring and training, killing several weak beasts while searching for greater challenges.

• Yang Jing presented his disciple token to the steward, passed the entry check, and entered the transport pillar at Blackstone Hall.
• Yang Jing traveled through the spatial passage and emerged in the Heavenly Origin Mountains, where he identified his location and confirmed that his token could return him to the academy.
• Yang Jing sensed exotic beasts nearby and proceeded cautiously, aware that more powerful beasts inhabited the mountains’ depths.
• Yang Jing encountered an injured Pattern-Condensing Beast shaped like an old donkey, which fled into the forest, and reflected on its survival instincts.
• Yang Jing killed several attacking Turbid Shadow Beasts with a small release of his power.

Yang Jing secretly watched a five-person team wear down a Golden-Maned Lion and identified the blue-robed fighter as a half-step core realm expert. As the exhausted beast tried to flee, the blue-robed young man struck its spine with a powerful palm.

• Yang Jing used his heightened senses to locate a fierce battle and silently approached it.
• Yang Jing watched five martial artists fight a Golden-Maned Lion, recognizing the blue-robed young man as the team's strongest fighter and a half-step core realm expert.
• The five-person team steadily wounded and exhausted the Golden-Maned Lion until it lost the strength to fight back.
• The Golden-Maned Lion turned to flee, but the blue-robed young man rushed after it and struck its spine with his full palm force.

Senior Brother Li and four companions killed a Golden-Maned Lion and discovered it had begun forming a beast core. They debated whether to risk facing a pride to seize the nearly ripe Golden Sun Fruit before its lion king could eat it, when an unseen person offered to join them.

• Senior Brother Li struck down the Golden-Maned Lion after the five companions fought it together.
• The group discovered a newly formed beast core in the lion and collected it along with the valuable remains.
• A companion warned that a pride of Golden-Maned Lions and its powerful king guarded a cave deeper in the forest.
• Senior Brother Li explained that they had to act before the lion king ate the nearly ripe Golden Sun Fruit, or abandon the opportunity and retreat.
• As the group struggled to decide, an unseen person offered to join them, and the young man in black demanded to know who was there.

Yang Jing convinced Li Zheng and the other Four Seas Sect disciples of his strength by demolishing a towering cliff with one palm, then joined their approach toward the Golden-Maned Lion pride’s cave. The group reached a point near the den and began discussing how to prevent the two guards and the lion king from attacking them together.

• Yang Jing introduced himself to Li Zheng’s group and assessed the Golden-Maned Lion King as a Half-Step Core Realm threat.
• Qin Hu doubted Yang Jing could help, so Yang Jing demonstrated his power by shattering a cliff with a casual palm strike.
• Li Zheng introduced himself and his companions—Qin Hu, Zhang Long, Zhao Gang, and Qiu Chiyun—and accepted Yang Jing into their group.
• Li Zheng led the group stealthily through the forest toward the lions’ den and warned Yang Jing that two high-tier Golden-Maned Lions guarded its entrance.
• Qin Hu and Qiu Chiyun discussed the danger of being attacked by the entrance guards and the lion king at once, while the group considered how to divide the beasts.

Li Zheng’s group used Blazing Sun Grass to lure away and kill the two Golden-Maned Lions guarding the cave, with Yang Jing finishing both effortlessly. The Golden-Maned Lion King emerged from the cave, and the group launched a coordinated attack against it.

• Li Zheng revealed that Blazing Sun Grass could lure the Golden-Maned Lions away from the cave, and the six approached the entrance under cover.
• The group drew one guard into the forest, surrounded it, and Yang Jing killed it with a single palm strike.
• They repeated the tactic to lure out and kill the second guard, leaving the cave entrance undefended.
• Qiu Chiyun asked Yang Jing about his cultivation method, but Li Zheng warned her that such questions were intrusive; Yang Jing kept the Heavenly Imperial Scripture secret.
• The Golden-Maned Lion King emerged from the cave after hearing the fighting, and Li Zheng, Qin Hu, Zhang Long, Zhao Gang, and Qiu Chiyun attacked together.

Yang Jing killed the Golden-Maned Lion King with one punch after it drove the others back with its Golden Flame, then entered the cave with the Four Seas Sect members and found a spirit spring and a tree bearing Golden Sun Fruits. Yang Jing recognized the fruits as rare cultivation treasures, especially valuable because his own resources were nearly exhausted and his progress had slowed.

• The Golden-Maned Lion King unleashed its Golden Flame, injuring Li Zheng and forcing the others to retreat.
• Yang Jing charged the lion king and killed it instantly with a punch powered by the Heavenly Imperial Scripture.
• Li Zheng and the others marveled at Yang Jing's strength, and Yang Jing modestly credited their teamwork.
• Li Zheng led Yang Jing and the others into the cave to search for the Golden Sun Fruit.
• The six discovered a spirit spring and a tree bearing eight or nine Golden Sun Fruits in the cave's innermost chamber.
• Yang Jing recognized the fruits' value and considered how they could support his cultivation as his resources dwindled.

Yang Jing and the Four Seas Sect disciples waited for the Golden Sun Fruits to ripen, then harvested and divided them, with Yang Jing receiving three for his decisive role in defeating the Golden-Maned Lion King. As the group left the cave, Yang Jing detected someone nearby and warned the others, leaving them on alert in the forest.

• Li Zheng determined that the Golden Sun Fruits would ripen within half a day, and the six agreed to wait until their medicinal potency peaked.
• The Golden Sun Fruits ripened, and Li Zheng carefully harvested all nine and sealed them in spirit boxes.
• Li Zheng awarded Yang Jing three Golden Sun Fruits in recognition of his decisive contribution, and Yang Jing accepted them.
• The six left the cave and returned to the Heavenly Origin Mountains forest.
• Yang Jing detected a faint sound nearby and warned the others that someone was there, prompting them to form a guarded formation.