Chapter Summaries

Shi Yan defeated Zhai Leida of Jiangnan Martial School while demonstrating precise control of his flame abilities for Gu Feng to observe. After Jiangnan Martial School surrendered, Shi Yan received 289 Martial Virtue Points for the victory and nearly eight hundred prompts granting him ten points each for promoting martial virtue.

• Shi Yan asked Gu Feng to watch as he faced Zhai Leida, and he canceled Zhai Leida's lightning attack with his flames.
• Shi Yan struck Zhai Leida with a powerful flaming fist, then evaded his Thunderous Sky Cannon and overwhelmed him with Flowing Fire Thousand Jin Fist.
• Shi Yan dodged Zhai Leida's lightning kicks and hit him with six heavy punches while Gu Feng studied the fight.
• Shi Yan gathered the flames on Zhai Leida's clothes and blasted him down, prompting Jiangnan Martial School to surrender.
• Nie Lingshan healed Zhai Leida as Shi Yan received 289 Martial Virtue Points for defeating a Fourth-Order Warrior and nearly eight hundred additional prompts worth ten points each.

Shi Yan spent his Martial Virtue Points to raise Blazing Flame Divine Needle to Minor Accomplishment, then led Magic Martial University through the semifinals and faced Tianfu Martial School. As Tianfu’s Satu Brothers activated their Gravity Domain, the evenly matched battle was just beginning.

• Shi Yan gained eight thousand Martial Virtue Points after defeating Zhai Leida and spent thirty thousand to improve Blazing Flame Divine Needle to Minor Accomplishment.
• Shi Yan let Nie Lingshan and the other teammates fight in Magic Martial University’s semifinal victory over Jincheng Martial School, earning fewer Martial Virtue Points than before.
• Tianfu Martial School also won its semifinal match, setting up a clash with Magic Martial University.
• At the packed semifinal venue, Shi Yan fielded Meng Kaixuan, Chen Zhaodi, Lei Gang, and Nie Lingshan alongside himself instead of Magic Martial University’s strongest lineup.
• Ye Xinghe judged the matchup even because Chen Zhaodi was A-Class, while Bai Yuyao hoped Magic Martial University would lose.
• The Satu Brothers activated Tianfu’s Gravity Domain, weighing down Shi Yan and his teammates as the battle began.

Magic Martial University faced Tianfu Martial School’s Gravity Domain, while Shi Yan deliberately endured its pressure and Nie Lingshan healed him so the force could temper his body. The match continued with Shi Yan bleeding but convinced his strength was growing, as spectators debated whether he was being defeated or wearing down the Satu Brothers.

• The Satu Brothers activated their Gravity Domain, and both teams began attacking as Magic Martial University tried to disrupt their formation.
• Meng Kaixuan targeted the brothers with his sniper rifle while Chen Zhaodi fired her Energy Cannon, but Tianfu’s fighters pressured them and Lei Gang.
• Shi Yan endured the gravity without protective Battle Qi, and Nie Lingshan healed him as Qi Ziyue and Qiao Jiu watched anxiously.
• Shi Yan told the Satu Brothers to increase the gravity, explaining that he wanted to use their ability to strengthen his body.
• After Shi Yan mocked the brothers’ embrace, Satu Yu intensified the pressure until Shi Yan’s skin cracked and blood covered him.
• Shi Yan felt his body growing stronger despite his injuries, while spectators wondered whether he was being overwhelmed or wearing the Satu Brothers down.

Shi Yan recovered from his battered state with a powerful transformation, then defeated the Satu Brothers and their shield soldier to secure Magic Martial University's victory over Tianfu Martial School. As the crowd celebrated and the onlookers assessed Shi Yan's rapid progress, the second semifinal between Kyoto Martial School and Lingnan Martial School began.

• Shi Yan recovered from his injuries, revealed a deeper and more powerful aura, and summoned the Blazing Flame Divine Needle.
• Shi Yan's flame attack blasted the Satu Brothers and their shield soldier off the arena, while the remaining Tianfu Martial School members withdrew.
• The host declared Magic Martial University the winner, and the crowd erupted in cheers as Shi Yan helped his teammates off the arena.
• Qiu Xiamai explained Shi Yan's transformation, while Yuan Tai marveled at how quickly he had mastered the Blazing Flame Divine Needle.
• Wu Bangning regretted not recruiting Shi Yan earlier, and Wang Changfu celebrated Magic Martial University's success.
• The host announced the second semifinal between Kyoto Martial School and Lingnan Martial School.

Jingwu defeated Lingnan Martial School in the semifinal, then Lingnan took third place by narrowly beating Tianfu. Magic Martial University and Jingwu entered the championship final, where the battle began with both teams unleashing their powers.

• Ye Xinghe defeated Wei Ming, and Bai Yuyao then defeated Wu Qiang, securing Jingwu’s semifinal victory over Lingnan Martial School.
• Lu Xingzhou proposed a lineup and tactics for Magic Martial University’s final against Jingwu, while Shi Yan chose Meng Kaixuan over Nie Lingshan and warned the team to guard against Bai Yuyao.
• Tianfu and Lingnan fought the third-place match, and Lingnan narrowly won after Wei Ming’s saber technique disrupted the Satu Brothers’ coordination.
• Magic Martial University and Jingwu entered the championship final amid roaring cheers, and the referee started the match as all ten contestants released their auras and abilities.

Magic Martial University and Jingwu battled in the championship match, where Jingwu’s coordinated tactics trapped Shi Yan inside Bai Yuyao’s Doomsday Ice House and threatened to push him off the stage. Shi Yan stopped the ice house and triggered a massive explosion, leaving everyone on the arena in danger.

• Both teams traded ineffective long-range attacks before charging into close combat, and Jingwu assigned its fighters to target Magic Martial University’s members.
• Qi Ziyue defeated her Third Order opponent in seconds, putting Jingwu at a numerical disadvantage.
• Ye Xinghe blinded Shi Yan with a technique while Bai Yuyao trapped him inside a Doomsday Ice House and pushed it toward the edge of the arena.
• Magic Martial University’s fighters fought back, but Jingwu maintained control as the ice house neared the edge.
• Shi Yan stopped the ice house, and his teammates retreated behind their defenses as Bai Yuyao and Ye Xinghe sensed danger.
• A flaming bullet struck Shi Yan’s protruding staff, detonating a powerful explosion that shattered the ice house and swept across the arena.

Shi Yan’s Flame Explosion devastated the arena but Yuan Tai protected the fighters and spectators, allowing Modu Martial School to win the team battle final. Yuan Tai suspended Shi Yan for two matches, and Shi Yan accepted the punishment as the competition moved on without him for the next two matches.

• Shi Yan’s Flame Explosion injured fighters from both schools, while Yuan Tai shielded Bai Yuyao and the arena from the blast.
• Ye Xinghe found Bai Yuyao unharmed and watched Shi Yan receive the crowd’s cheers as the Fire God.
• The referee declared Modu Martial School the winner, and the medical teams carried the injured fighters away.
• Shi Yan realized the explosion was stronger than he had expected and gained roughly twelve thousand Martial Virtue Points.
• Yuan Tai suspended Shi Yan for two matches because his unmastered technique had nearly caused an irreparable disaster, and Shi Yan accepted the punishment.

After the Freshman Grand Competition, Huaxia’s leaders and organizations reacted to the freshmen’s exceptional performances by accelerating talent evaluations and competing to recruit the strongest students. The Shadow Organization also moved to pursue Shi Yan’s blade before his rising fame made it harder to obtain.

• Martial Emperor Du Shouliang ordered Little He to move the nationwide talent evaluations forward and double the support resources.
• Wu Yanfeng showed Cheng Batian highlights from the competition, prompting Cheng Batian to request information on the fire-wielding genius.
• The Golden Main God called a meeting of the Gods Martial Arts Hall’s leaders and ordered them to contact the freshmen before the Extreme Martial Arts Hall could recruit them.
• Organizations across Huaxia and abroad began moving to approach the standout freshmen.
• The Shadow Emperor decided to spend heavily on help to obtain Shi Yan’s blade before Shi Yan’s prominence made it harder.

Shi Yan stayed with Qi Ziyue as she recovered, then joined the Magic Martial University team to discuss the competition and the missing Ye Xinghe. He and Qi Ziyue set out on a date around Lingnan Martial School, but fans repeatedly interrupted their attempts to find a quiet hotel.

• Shi Yan stayed beside Qi Ziyue in the medical building while she recovered from her injuries.
• Lu Xingzhou reported that Magic Martial University and its rivals had won their matches, and said Ye Xinghe had disappeared after being injured.
• Shi Yan dismissed Lu Xingzhou's concerns about Ye Xinghe and treated the team to lunch after their discussion.
• Shi Yan and Qi Ziyue went on a walk around Lingnan Martial School together.
• Fans recognized Shi Yan and Qi Ziyue at several hotels, forcing the pair to flee each time.

Shi Yan defeated Zhang Shan in the individual match, then advanced Blazing Flame Divine Needle to great accomplishment after his Martial Virtue Points passed forty thousand. He led Magic Martial University to first place in Group One, and the chapter ended as he faced Youzhou Martial School’s Wei Sili in the cross-group knockout round.

• Shi Yan entered the arena against Zhang Shan and suppressed his strength to the Third Order before defeating him.
• Shi Yan helped the battered Zhang Shan to his feet, gained nearly six thousand Martial Virtue Points, and advanced Blazing Flame Divine Needle to great accomplishment.
• Shi Yan won four more individual matches, securing first place in Group One for Magic Martial University.
• Qi Ziyue noted that Ye Xinghe still had not appeared, and Magic Martial University and Jingwu exchanged tense looks.
• Shi Yan faced Wei Sili of Youzhou Martial School as the cross-group knockout matches began.

Shi Yan helped Magic Martial University reach the top eight, while officials assessed him as an exceptional but difficult-to-rate talent. After the competition, a sudden mist filled the arena and a black shadow abducted Qi Ziyue, leaving Shi Yan to draw his saber and pursue the attacker.

• Shi Yan defeated Wei Sili in a deliberately prolonged match, earning nearly twelve thousand Martial Virtue Points and helping Magic Martial University advance.
• Assessors from the National Talent Management Center upgraded Shi Yan's character rating to S-Class but left his combat power and overall rating pending.
• Shi Yan checked his Martial Virtue Points, then watched Bai Yuyao quickly defeat her opponent and challenge Qi Ziyue with a hostile look.
• After the top eight teams were decided, Shi Yan took Qi Ziyue for a walk through Lingnan Martial School's arena.
• A thick mist suddenly engulfed Shi Yan and Qi Ziyue, and a black shadow abducted her as Shi Yan summoned the Lava Spirit Devouring Saber.

Shi Yan tried to save Qi Ziyue from Liang Xiang, a peak Sixth Order martial artist who held her hostage to seize his A-Class blade. Wang Changfu and the National Talent Management Center's Aunt Zhao and Uncle Yun arrived, rescued Qi Ziyue, and restrained Liang Xiang, leaving Shi Yan surprised by her powerful connections.

• Shi Yan pursued Liang Xiang, but stopped his Blazing Flame Divine Needle when Liang Xiang used Qi Ziyue as a shield and threatened her life.
• Liang Xiang demanded Shi Yan's blade and warned that his ability had invaded Qi Ziyue's meridians, so Shi Yan threw the blade toward him.
• A woman froze the area, then Wang Changfu, Yuan Tai, Director Yun, and the woman arrived as the black mist shattered.
• Yuan Tai identified Liang Xiang as Qiling Specialized Martial School's vice principal, while Director Yun removed the black mist from Qi Ziyue and Aunt Zhao restrained Liang Xiang.
• Qi Ziyue thanked Aunt Zhao and Uncle Yun, introduced them to Shi Yan as National Talent Management Center officials, and explained their ties to her parents.

Shi Yan and the others confronted Liang Xiang after Zhao Hongying freed him from his restraint, and Liang Xiang died by severing his own meridians rather than fighting Shi Yan. The black mist vanished, and Shi Yan was left reflecting on his weakness while Wang Changfu offered a vague explanation for why the Lava Spirit Devouring Saber had been targeted.

• Zhao Hongying introduced herself and Yun Ye, then released Liang Xiang and told Shi Yan that Liang Xiang would be forced to defend himself if they fought.
• Liang Xiang apologized to Qi Ziyue, begged her to transfer his assets to his daughter, and revealed that enemies had threatened his daughter into studying in Dongying Country.
• Liang Xiang argued with Yuan Tai about the unfairness of Huaxia's hierarchy, then severed his own meridians and died after telling Shi Yan that he envied him.
• The black mist dispersed, and Wang Changfu explained that Zhao Hongying had distorted the space so bystanders would not notice the incident.
• Shi Yan admitted that his strength was inadequate to protect himself and others, then asked Wang Changfu why anyone would steal the Lava Spirit Devouring Saber.
• Wang Changfu claimed the saber was valuable because its material came from Dongying Country, while privately thinking that Shi Yan's senior brother had used it as bait.

After Liang Xiang’s death, Shi Yan returned to the hotel and called Li Yuqing, who hoped he would earn a Two-Star combat rating. Li Yuqing received a Five-Star Talent medal and met with senior officials, asking Wu Bowen to help infuse a Demon Soul into a blade so it could reach S-Class.

• Yuan Tai collected Liang Xiang’s corpse and belongings, and promised Wang Changfu that Lingnan Martial School would explain the incident.
• Zhao Hongying and Yun Ye regretted that Shi Yan had not fought Liang Xiang, leaving them unable to assess his strength.
• Shi Yan called Li Yuqing after returning to the hotel, while Li Yuqing hoped he would pass the combat assessment and earn a Two-Star rating.
• Li Yuqing revealed that her rating had risen to Five-Star, crediting her exceptional spiritual power and other achievements.
• Wu Bowen and Wu Yanfeng arrived to meet Li Yuqing, and Wu Bowen offered the Talent Center’s support.
• Li Yuqing asked Wu Bowen to find a Demon Soul for a blade whose Blade Soul had been lost, hoping to raise it to S-Class.

Li Yuqing asked Wu Bowen to help raise Shi Yan’s blade to S-Class and bind a soul to it, but he deferred the decision because the blade was connected to Po. Wu Yanfeng then revealed the secret Heaven-Seizing Spirit-Locking Great Array Project and invited Li Yuqing to join, and she agreed after asking to make one phone call.

• Li Yuqing asked Wu Bowen to raise Shi Yan’s blade to S-Class and bind a Blade Soul, and Wu Bowen recognized it as the blade in Shi Yan’s hand.
• Wu Bowen said he would discuss the request because it involved Po, then sent Li Yuqing to speak with Wu Yanfeng.
• Wu Yanfeng used a Memory Eraser and explained that Huaxia had arranged for experts and specialists to conceal their identities for a major project.
• Wu Yanfeng revealed the Heaven-Seizing Spirit-Locking Great Array Project, which aimed to build an array along Huaxia’s borders and lock spiritual energy within the country.
• Wu Yanfeng invited Li Yuqing to join the project and warned that she would have to conceal her identity and cut off outside contact; Li Yuqing agreed and asked to make a phone call first.

Qi Ziyue and Bai Yuyao won their semifinal matches, sending Magic Martial University and Jingwu into the final, where Ye Xinghe appeared and challenged Shi Yan. Shi Yan was absent because he was testing himself in Lingnan Martial School’s demonic beast range to earn a Three-Star talent rating, and he faced a group of Fifth-Level beasts in the fifth mountain.

• Qi Ziyue defeated Satu Yu with her Moon Wheel Profound Meaning, securing Magic Martial University’s place in the final and its overall championship.
• Bai Yuyao defeated Wei Ming and advanced Jingwu to the final, then collapsed from exhaustion as Ye Xinghe caught her.
• Ye Xinghe challenged Shi Yan through the cameras, announcing that he hoped Shi Yan would not disappoint him the next day.
• Shi Yan continued through Lingnan Martial School’s restricted demonic beast range in pursuit of a Three-Star talent rating, while Yuan Tai, Yun Ye, and Wang Changfu watched from above.
• On the fifth mountain, a Ghost Shadow Leopard Cat, a Crimson Flame Poisonous Snake, and a giant centipede attacked Shi Yan.

Shi Yan endured the attacks of three coordinated Fifth-Order Demonic Beasts while Yun Ye and Zhao Hongying completed his talent assessment, awarding him the highest freshman rating. After the beasts’ coordination broke down, Shi Yan set a trap with his Burning Sticks, leaving the outcome of the explosion unresolved.

• Shi Yan fought off the Black Thorn Centipede, Ghost Shadow Leopard Cat, and Crimson Flame Poisonous Snake, suffering light injuries as they attacked in turns.
• Yuan Tai and Yun Ye watched as Shi Yan continued fighting despite facing three powerful beasts above his level.
• Zhao Hongying recorded Shi Yan’s SSS-Class combat power and potential and his Three-Star Talent rating, the first such freshman award since the system began.
• Shi Yan waited for the beasts’ coordination to fail, then used his movement technique and flames to maneuver away from them.
• Shi Yan fired one Burning Stick at another he had left on the ground, triggering an explosion.

Shi Yan earned a Three-Star Talent rating after killing three Fifth-Order Demonic Beasts with a massive Flame Explosion. At Lingnan Martial School, he requested an S-Class body-tempering cultivation method, and Zhao Hongying let him choose from several manuals despite Yun Ye's warnings.

• Shi Yan detonated a compressed Flame Explosion that destroyed the surrounding forest and killed three Fifth-Order Demonic Beasts, earning three thousand Martial Virtue Points.
• Shi Yan told Dean Yuan he would go no farther, and Yuan Tai extinguished the flames before calling him a genius.
• At Lingnan Martial School, Zhao Hongying presented Shi Yan with his Three-Star Talent medal, which he accepted and thanked her and Yun Ye for.
• Shi Yan asked Zhao Hongying for an S-Class body-tempering cultivation method to strengthen his body and reduce the risk of injury from his dantian vortex.
• Zhao Hongying and Yun Ye warned Shi Yan that body-tempering was difficult, costly, and time-consuming, but Yun Ye eventually offered him several manuals to choose from.

Shi Yan chose the Nine Revolutions Vajra Art and recovered ahead of the final day of the Freshman Grand Competition, where he expected to face Ye Xinghe. The third-place match between Lingnan Martial School and Tianfu Martial School began with Situ Zhou and Wu Qiang taking the stage.

• Shi Yan chose Yun Ye's Nine Revolutions Vajra Art, and Yun Ye promised to deliver it after the competition.
• Shi Yan reunited with his teammates, where Nie Lingshan healed his injuries and Qi Ziyue warned him that Ye Xinghe had grown stronger.
• Shi Yan returned to the hotel to rest before the final day of the competition.
• Spectators filled Lingnan Martial School's Martial Practice Arena for the third-place match and the championship final.
• The host introduced Situ Zhou and Wu Qiang as the competitors in the third-place match.

Shi Yan predicted that external support would help Wu Qiang in his evenly matched battle with Situ Zhou. After both fighters exhausted themselves in a fierce exchange, Situ Zhou collapsed when he saw that his older brother was absent, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Shi Yan and his teammates debated who would win, and Shi Yan argued that the crowd and the fighters' supporters could affect their state of mind.
• Wu Qiang's arrows and Situ Zhou's gravity interference countered each other as Situ Zhou steadily advanced and Wu Qiang stood his ground.
• Wu Qiang used a Misleading Track Arrow to knock Situ Zhou's sword away, then struck him with a barrage of arrows.
• Situ Zhou used Directed Anti-Gravity to fire an arrow through Wu Qiang's chest, leaving both fighters standing but unable to move.
• Situ Zhou noticed his older brother was absent, lost consciousness, and fell.