Chapter Summaries

The final match of the 199th Session Freshman Grand Competition began as Shi Yan and Ye Xinghe faced each other in the arena. Ye Xinghe revealed a golden Light Gun, Shi Yan summoned the Lava Spirit Devouring Saber, and the referee started the fight.

• Wu Qiang outlasted Situ Zhou, giving Lingnan Martial School third place in the competition.
• Shi Yan prepared for the final and joined Ye Xinghe on the arena screen as the audience gathered to watch.
• Shi Yan and Ye Xinghe walked to the center of the arena, drawing cheers from their divided supporters.
• Ye Xinghe said he had prepared methods to defeat Shi Yan and formed a golden Light Gun.
• Shi Yan summoned the Lava Spirit Devouring Saber, and the referee began the match.

Ye Xinghe and Shi Yan began their long-awaited duel, with Ye Xinghe using his simulation ability to imitate several fighters’ techniques and catch Shi Yan off guard. After their attacks failed to settle the match, Ye Xinghe launched a relentless barrage of varied Martial Arts, leaving Shi Yan to face what seemed like countless opponents.

• Ye Xinghe opened by simulating Qi Ziyue’s Moon Wheel Profound Meaning, but Shi Yan shattered it with his saber and a Thrusting Punch.
• Ye Xinghe charged into close combat, using the Satu Brothers’ gravity before switching to Wei Ming’s Thirty-Six Paths of Flaming Wind Saber; Shi Yan countered both with his perfected techniques.
• Ye Xinghe fought Shi Yan with his own spear techniques, then simulated Zhai Leida’s lightning to blast Shi Yan and briefly paralyze him.
• Ye Xinghe tried to follow up with a real Light Gun attack, but dodged Shi Yan’s concealed Burning Stick counterattack at the last moment.
• Ye Xinghe announced that he had prepared a feast for Shi Yan and began firing Light Guns that transformed into a continuous succession of different Martial Arts.

Ye Xinghe used a barrage of attacks against Shi Yan, but their exchange left him at a disadvantage in the battle of attrition. He revealed Po’s Flying Dagger Technique as his trump card, and the spectators learned that Gods Martial Arts Hall had helped him obtain it.

• Ye Xinghe’s simulated champion techniques and Returning Blades pushed Shi Yan back, but they inflicted little damage while exhausting Ye Xinghe.
• Lu Xingzhou explained that Ye Xinghe needed to reveal a trump card because his lower cultivation made a prolonged fight unfavorable.
• Ye Xinghe unleashed nine Light Guns that multiplied into a torrent, and Shi Yan put away his saber to counter them with Sky Dragon Blazing Flame and Fiery Thousand Jin Fist.
• Ye Xinghe seized the apparent opening and formed a golden Flying Dagger, prompting elderly spectators to recognize Po’s legendary technique.
• Wang Changfu inferred that Ye Xinghe had trained with Po’s imitator at Gods Martial Arts Hall, and Wu Bangning revealed that the help had been free.

Shi Yan defeated Ye Xinghe in the tournament’s final clash, revealing that his spiritual power and martial foundation had let him control the fight. Ye Xinghe conceded and vowed to defeat Shi Yan next time as Magic Martial University celebrated its victory.

• Wu Bangning and other spectators congratulated Jingwu after learning that Gods Martial Arts Hall was interested in Ye Xinghe.
• Ye Xinghe threw his golden flying dagger at Shi Yan, who triggered Flame Explosion at nearly the same moment.
• Shi Yan’s flaming saber collided with Ye Xinghe’s dagger, and the blast damaged the arena and wounded Shi Yan.
• Ye Xinghe conceded when Shi Yan’s saber stopped inches from his glabella, then asked how Shi Yan had won.
• Shi Yan attributed his victory to his foundation and explained that his spiritual power had let him anticipate Ye Xinghe’s moves.
• Ye Xinghe left the arena promising to win next time, and the referee declared Magic Martial University the victor.

Shi Yan led Magic Martial University to defeat Jingwu and win the Freshman Grand Competition, ending the school’s Perennial Second Place record. After the team celebrated and the school increased its reward, Shi Yan chose cash instead of the champion’s equipment and cultivation resources.

• Shi Yan defeated Ye Xinghe, earned a large number of Martial Virtue Points, and received healing from Nie Lingshan as Magic Martial University celebrated its championship.
• Magic Martial University’s team members and supporters celebrated the victory, which ended years of consecutive championships by other schools.
• Principal Liu Xiuyuan ordered an extra twenty percent added to the team’s reward, bringing Shi Yan’s personal allocation to 720 million Huaxia currency.
• Principal Wei Qingtian offered Shi Yan the champion’s rewards, and Shi Yan chose money instead of martial arts, equipment, pills, and demon beast essence blood.

Shi Yan received his championship money and extra medicine from Wei Qingtian, then joined his companions as Wang Changfu prepared them for their return. Wang Changfu revealed that Shi Yan’s saber was bait in a plan to draw Dongying martial artists into a conflict involving at least ten Martial Kings.

• Wei Qingtian gave Shi Yan a black card containing five hundred million and ten bottles of Special Grade Body Tempering Medicine as extra rewards.
• Shi Yan calculated that he still needed to find more money to reach his goal of eight hundred million.
• Wang Changfu planned for the group to spend two days training with the medicine before taking a bus back.
• Wang Changfu warned the students that enemies wanted Shi Yan’s saber and that they should rely on their own strength if attacked.
• Wang Changfu revealed that Dongying martial artists were being drawn in by Shi Yan’s saber as bait for a confrontation involving no fewer than ten Martial Kings.

Lei Gang and several of Shi Yan’s teammates used Special Grade Body Tempering Medicine to attempt advancement, while Qi Ziyue grew closer to Shi Yan and her family watched from outside. Shi Yan left to learn the S-Class Body Tempering Cultivation Method after it arrived at Lingnan Martial School.

• Wang Changfu had seven Magic Martial University teammates take the fierce medicine while Shi Yan, Qi Ziyue, and healer Nie Lingshan waited.
• Shi Yan and Qi Ziyue flirted in the training room as Qi Zhan and Afu watched and discussed Shi Yan’s potential ties to Fang Ziwei’s lineage.
• Afu told Qi Zhan that Huang Qizheng’s plan against Japanese martial artists was likely to cause another major event.
• Lei Gang, Lu Xingzhou, Qiao Jiu, and Meng Kaixuan advanced toward the Fourth Order, while Jian Chen, Cao Wuji, and Chen Zhaodi failed to break through.
• Shi Yan left before Nie Lingshan took the medicine after learning that the Talent Center’s Body Tempering Cultivation Method had arrived at Lingnan Martial School.

Shi Yan used the Nine Revolutions Vajra Art while taking Special Grade Body Tempering Medicine, greatly increasing his Blood Vitality and Spiritual Power. As the Magic Martial University team prepared to leave Lingnan Martial School, Wang Changfu warned Shi Yan to prioritize survival and avoid traveling together, while Martial King Qian Manlou served as their driver.

• Wang Changfu told Shi Yan that Lu Xingzhou and three others had reached the Fourth Order, while Nie Lingshan had not advanced.
• Shi Yan took the Special Grade Body Tempering Medicine and circulated the Nine Revolutions Vajra Art, enduring hours of intense pain as his body was tempered.
• Shi Yan's Blood Vitality rose by 300 calories and his Spiritual Power by 50 Hz, and Wang Changfu explained that the Cultivation Method improved the medicine's absorption.
• Wang Changfu warned Shi Yan to preserve his life and split up if they had to leave the bus, then took him to the waiting vehicle.
• Shi Yan joined Lu Xingzhou and the Magic Martial University team at Lingnan Martial School's bus and discovered that Martial King Qian Manlou was driving.

Shi Yan and the students were dropped off on a damaged highway to serve as bait while Wang Changfu’s plan unfolded. They witnessed several Martial Kings unleash their manifestations in a fierce battle, which continued as Wang Changfu struck the black shadow with his Moon Wheel Profound Meaning.

• Dean Qian flew the students to a damaged highway and told them to jump out before driving away.
• Shi Yan put on his B-Grade Alloy armor and divided the students into three groups to hold their positions for half an hour.
• A distant clash between crimson and black energy sent a shockwave across the highway and revealed Yuan Tai’s Mountain-moving Giant Ape fighting a colossal black shadow.
• Wang Changfu appeared with a vast white moon behind him and sent spinning Battle Qi blades at the black shadow.
• The black shadow retreated after Wang Changfu’s attack, and Wang Changfu shouted after it.

Shi Yan and the Magic Martial University students faced an escalating attack from Shadow Organization Martial Kings, until Feng Xiaotian arrived and saved him. Feng Xiaotian and Qi Zhan then confronted two powerful figures in the sky as the operation spiraled out of control.

• Wang Changfu and Yuan Tai fought two Shadow Organization Martial Kings, while Shi Yan’s group split up and remained on guard for more enemies.
• A Seventh Tier black shadow ambushed Shi Yan, but Feng Xiaotian appeared and crushed it before introducing himself as Shi Yan’s Sixth Senior Brother.
• Feng Xiaotian warned Shi Yan, Qi Ziyue, and the others that beneath Martial Emperors, all were ants, prompting Qi Zhan to object and reassure the students.
• Qi Zhan explained that he and Feng Xiaotian had been sent to intercept Dongying Country’s Martial Kings, but Huaxia traitors had complicated the mission.
• Feng Xiaotian and Qi Zhan flew up to confront two powerful auras, and one figure demanded that Feng Xiaotian surrender a blade and leave.

As Martial Kings began fighting above the highway, Shi Yan decided he needed Fifth Tier strength and spent Martial Virtue Points advancing the Nine Revolutions Vajra Art. His cultivation left him writhing on the ground, and just as his companions gathered around him, an enormous energy hand descended to crush them.

• Feng Xiaotian and Qi Zhan each started battles against enemy Martial Kings, bringing the number of Martial King battles to four.
• Shi Yan decided to pursue Fifth Tier strength and used Martial Virtue Points to advance the Nine Revolutions Vajra Art through its Third Revolution, raising his Blood Vitality to 4,986 calories.
• Shi Yan explained his golden glow and pain as a reaction to the Special Grade Body Tempering Medicine, though Nie Lingshan remained unconvinced.
• Shi Yan spent another 32,000 Martial Virtue Points to reach the Fourth Revolution, causing him to collapse and tremble in agony.
• Nie Lingshan, Qi Ziyue, Lu Xingzhou, and the others rushed to Shi Yan, but an enormous energy hand formed overhead and slammed toward them.

Shi Yan reached Early Fifth Order and broke the Sixth Order attacker’s energy palm, while Afu arrived after defeating more than a dozen Martial Generals. After Afu left to confront another Martial King, armed Huaxia students appeared as enemies, stirring Baleful Intent in Shi Yan.

• Shi Yan advanced to Early Fifth Order and destroyed the giant energy palm with his flaming punches.
• Qi Ziyue and the others realized Shi Yan had survived and reached the Fifth Tier.
• Afu appeared, explained that he had been fighting more than a dozen Martial Generals, and revealed that the attackers would not return for now.
• Afu sensed another Martial King and left to join the battle in the sky, warning the group to be ruthless toward their enemies.
• More than twenty armed people, including Huaxia martial arts school students, emerged from the hills, and Shi Yan felt Baleful Intent toward them.

Shi Yan confronted a group trying to seize his blade and used his Blazing Flame Divine Needle to kill them all. After revealing his Fifth-Tier strength and powerful Spiritual Power, he and his companions were left facing the battle still raging overhead.

• A bald leader demanded Shi Yan hand over the blade, and Shi Yan tossed it down and dared the group to take it.
• A Fourth-Order fighter picked up the blade and admitted the group knew Dongying Country was backing their operation; Shi Yan killed him with the Blazing Flame Divine Needle.
• The bald leader accused Shi Yan of murdering his countryman, then ordered his group to attack when Shi Yan refused to cooperate.
• Shi Yan pierced every attacker, including the two Fifth-Order Grandmasters, with a single strike of the Burning Stick.
• The bald leader realized Shi Yan’s Spiritual Power was exceptionally strong before the flames consumed him, and Shi Yan explained how his needle and Heavenly Fire Guidance had enabled the kills.

Shi Yan and his allies ambushed Dongying Country’s forces, while Lu Xingzhou persuaded him to let the enemy steal his saber as a pretext for future raids. After Nie Lingshan began livestreaming, Shi Yan staged a desperate defense and let the saber be taken; he then prepared to fight in earnest.

• Shi Yan defeated more than twenty attackers and recovered nearly seven thousand Martial Virtue Points.
• Lu Xingzhou told Shi Yan to let Dongying Country steal the A-Class saber so he could later use retrieving it as an excuse to plunder the country.
• Shi Yan asked Nie Lingshan to record and livestream him, then pretended he was being hunted for his saber.
• Qiu Xiamai deployed a vast trapping formation that weakened the enemy Martial Kings as Huaxia’s fighters gained the upper hand.
• Shi Yan charged the attackers while the livestream was running, then let the saber slip away and be stolen after he was sent flying.
• Nie Lingshan ended the livestream, and Shi Yan landed safely and declared that he would now make his move.

Shi Yan and the Magic Martial University team defeated an Eastern Island ambush, and Wang Changfu explained that the battle was retaliation for the Shadow Organization’s attack on Shi Yan. After returning to school, Shi Yan watched news reports framing the incident as a robbery and the loss of his saber.

• Shi Yan killed nearly all the attackers with the Southern Bright Blazing Fire, while Yamaguchi Takuro survived and fled with the saber.
• Wang Changfu told Shi Yan to return to school and consolidate his cultivation, while other school deans tried and failed to recruit him.
• Wang Changfu explained that forces from several schools had helped kill six Martial Kings, more than thirty Martial Generals, and over a thousand lower-tier martial artists.
• Wang Changfu and Dean Qian revealed that the battle was retaliation for the Shadow Organization’s attack on Shi Yan, leaving Yamaguchi Takuro alive to spread fear.
• Wang Changfu taught the students about the weaknesses of the Eastern Island cultivation system during their journey back.
• A day later, Shi Yan watched news reports claim Eastern Island martial artists had ambushed the freshmen and stolen his Tang Heng Saber.

Shi Yan prepared to exchange his rewards for Eightfold Collapse, but Li Tao reported that Li Yuqing had disappeared. After learning her absence resembled Principal Bai’s mission-related disappearance, Shi Yan continued to the library with Qi Ziyue, unaware that Zhang Yunya was watching them and had been asked by Li Yuqing to take her place.

• Shi Yan and Qi Ziyue headed for the library so Shi Yan could spend his rewards on Eightfold Collapse, but Li Tao called to say he could not reach Li Yuqing.
• Shi Yan and Qi Ziyue returned to the villa, where Li Tao and Ding Le waited anxiously, and Shi Yan asked Zhang Yunya about Li Yuqing.
• Zhang Yunya told Shi Yan that Li Yuqing’s disappearance resembled Principal Bai’s and the others’ departures, easing Li Tao’s fears.
• Shi Yan admitted to Qi Ziyue that he worried about Li Yuqing’s safety, then continued toward the library with her.
• Zhang Yunya watched Shi Yan and Qi Ziyue and recalled that Li Yuqing had asked her to temporarily take her place.
• At the library, Shi Yan said he planned to exchange for a martial arts technique, while Qi Ziyue offered to wait at the hotel and give him a massage.

Shi Yan bought the dangerous Eightfold Collapse manual, spent the night with Qi Ziyue, and later met with his Magic Martial University companions to discuss Nie Lingshan’s plan to advance her healing ability. He decided that only he and Nie Lingshan would enter the Tianshan Mountains to seek the Sacred Healing Fire.

• Shi Yan discovered that the Eightfold Collapse required him to collapse his body before advancing through each of its eight stages, but kept the manual after spending 800 million on it.
• Shi Yan visited Qi Ziyue at her hotel, and they spent the night together; the next day, he replied to worried acquaintances and learned that Nie Lingshan wanted his help.
• Qi Ziyue woke, recalled Li Yuqing’s warning that Shi Yan might eventually need another partner, and later accompanied him to meet Nie Lingshan and the Magic Martial University group.
• Nie Lingshan explained that soaking in the Sacred Healing Fire in the Tianshan Mountains could advance her Healing Holy Water ability to S-Class, and Lu Xingzhou described the dangers of entering the forbidden zone.
• Nie Lingshan revealed that she had a route map and a pill that could help conceal the group from monster beasts, while Qi Ziyue offered to accompany her and Shi Yan.
• Shi Yan refused to bring anyone else, saying that only he and Nie Lingshan would go to the Tianshan Mountains.

Shi Yan and his companions planned a cautious trip to the Tianshan Mountains, while he continued studying and training at school. Zhang Yunya then took him to help families of martyrs and active Monster Suppression Bureau members, revealing her long-standing dedication to them.

• Shi Yan persuaded the others that only he and Feng Xiaotian should enter the restricted zone, and they agreed to prepare carefully and go after New Year's Day.
• Shi Yan continued his studies and training while Qi Ziyue worried that he and Nie Lingshan were growing close too slowly.
• Zhang Yunya called Shi Yan out for a mission and took him by sports car to an old residential complex.
• Zhang Yunya explained that the residents were families of martyrs and active Monster Suppression Bureau members, then visited them and helped with chores and repairs.
• Shi Yan joined Zhang Yunya in helping the residents throughout the day, and she said she would invite him to another residential complex in a few days.

Shi Yan broke eight freshman records at Magic Martial University and earned credits to buy equipment for his trip to the Tianshan Mountains. After preparing, he planned to say goodbye before setting out with Nie Lingshan, accompanied by Huang Qizheng and his Sixth Senior Brother.

• Shi Yan broke the freshman records in eight events, earning 160,000 credits and causing an uproar across Magic Martial University.
• Shi Yan went to the Materials Building and used his school discount to buy an A-Class Tang Heng Saber, A-Class armor, and two Fifth Tier Vitality Restoration Pills.
• Qiu Lianchen gave Shi Yan the saber named Phantom Blood and a set of Ink Scale Soft Armor, which could withstand attacks from Seventh Level demonic beasts.
• Shi Yan left the Materials Building with his equipment and prepared to say goodbye before traveling to the Tianshan Mountains.
• Magic Martial University arranged for Huang Qizheng to accompany Shi Yan, and Shi Yan's Sixth Senior Brother agreed to escort them to the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.

After seeing Shi Yan off, Qi Ziyue urged Zhang Yunya to stop treating him only as a younger brother, and Zhang Yunya decided to graduate early so she could work with him. On the way to the Tianshan Mountains, Shi Yan learned that Feng Xiaotian had been whipped by Huang Qizheng because his negligence had allowed someone to steal Shi Yan’s saber.

• Qi Ziyue worried about Shi Yan’s journey and advised Zhang Yunya to pursue him more directly.
• Zhang Yunya decided to graduate early and confess to Shi Yan after completing a graduation project with him.
• Shi Yan and Nie Lingshan met Feng Xiaotian at a pavilion while waiting for Huang Qizheng.
• Huang Qizheng whipped Feng Xiaotian dozens of times despite Shi Yan’s attempt to intervene.
• Feng Xiaotian explained that he had been punished because his negligence led to Shi Yan’s saber being stolen.