Chapter Summaries

Huan Dan and Yelü Hongji led eighty thousand wolf cavalry in an avalanche attack against the weakened forces near City of Freedom. Leonid chose to defend the humans rather than aid the barbarians, while Yang Yao and her allies stayed behind to buy time for the evacuation.

• The wolf race’s taming skill and formation attacks made the Ice Demon Wolf cavalry’s approaching avalanche a lethal threat to the weakened forces.
• Leonid realized the barbarians were retaliating for his abandoned plan and ordered the City of Glaciers participants to hold off both wolf armies while the others crossed the Guan River.
• Yang Yao ordered an evacuation, and Yan Fuhai, Ye You, and Niu Dali organized the retreat across the river.
• Leonid’s ice specialists raised a massive wall to slow the avalanche, while Yang Yao, Sikong Ting, Shen-bao, and Guo Jing stayed to defend the crossing.
• Yang Yao called Komodo into battle as the avalanche and wolf cavalry advanced.

The City of Glaciers survivors and City of Freedom trial-takers were devastated by a surprise avalanche and the ensuing cavalry assault. Yang Yao was struck down by Yelü Hongji’s trap, just as an unseen attacker launched a Severing Void Slash.

• Komodo tried to halt the avalanche but was frozen and shattered by the wolf cavalry’s combined attack.
• Yang Yao shielded the City of Glaciers group from the snow, but Huan Dan’s barbarians attacked survivors as they emerged.
• Sikong Ting, Shen-bao, and Guo Jing joined the fight, but Yelü Hongji and the Khitan Iron Cavalry turned the battle against them.
• Yelü Hongji’s forces slaughtered trial-takers crossing the Guan River, while Leonid was captured and Andrei fell gravely wounded.
• Yang Yao killed Yelü Hongji’s paper substitute, but hidden cavalry speared her and brought her to her knees.
• Yelü Hongji approached Yang Yao for a Decapitation Strike, then sensed danger as someone unleashed Severing Void Slash.

Xu Kun arrived in time to devastate the invading wolf army and found Yang Yao safe, then joined her, Xiao Ting, and Shen-bao in turning the battle around. Reinforcements from the Beggar Clan, the Corpse Control Sect, the City of Freedom, and the City of Glaciers poured in, and the Wolf Race collapsed.

• Xu Kun annihilated tens of thousands of Ice Demon Wolves and cavalrymen, gained new skills through the Myriad Races Bestiary, and stomped Huan Dan to death.
• Xu Kun found Yang Yao safe after her apparent body dissipated, and Yang Yao froze the wolf cavalry while Xiao Ting and Shen-bao attacked them with lightning and soul-strangling skills.
• Yelü Hongji rallied the remaining Khitan cavalry, but the Beggar Clan arrived and formed its battle formations against the invaders.
• Shan Yanguai led the Corpse Control Sect's water ghouls into battle, while Niu Dali and the Night Ape Valley and Flame Dragon Valley forces crossed the Guanjiang River to join the fight.
• The remaining factions from the City of Freedom and the trial-takers from the City of Glaciers arrived, and Andrei and Leonid joined the battle as the allied forces overwhelmed the Wolf Race.

After the allied forces defeated the Wolf Clan Khitan and Barbarian Tribe, Xu Kun’s accumulated baleful aura nearly overwhelmed him, but Yang Yao’s embrace helped him regain control. Xu Kun then addressed the victorious factions and assigned the aftermath of the battle.

• The allied forces wiped out the Wolf Clan Khitan and Barbarian Tribe army, captured Yelü Hongji, and left him under guard as his stamina ran out.
• Shen-bao explained that Xu Kun’s slaughter and the toxins he absorbed had triggered a dangerous backlash from baleful aura.
• Yang Yao braved the aura to embrace Xu Kun, prompting him to regain control and drive the aura back into himself.
• Xu Kun healed Yang Yao, then accepted Leonid’s apology and heard his pledge to atone by fighting Wolf Clan members.
• Xu Kun ordered Shan Yanguai to turn the enemy corpses into war corpses for Ice Wolf Fortress, and assigned Yan Fuhai and Ye You to collect spoils and distribute compensation.

Xu Kun uncovered the wolf race’s role in the attack and imprisoned Yelü Hongji, while the battle united the City of Freedom’s factions with the former City of Glaciers survivors. After Yang Yao woke, Xu Kun suspected that Yang Jian had secretly orchestrated events, and Yang Yao asked how he had used Spatial Severance.

• Xu Kun questioned Yelü Hongji, who revealed the alliance between Leonid and Huan Dan, Ice Wolf City’s spies, and orders to exploit the rain’s effects before the City of Freedom understood them.
• Xu Kun decided Yelü Hongji was telling the truth but sent him to prison to use later.
• The former City of Glaciers trial-takers settled at Ice Wolf Fortress, which became the City of Freedom’s eighth major faction, and both groups began working together.
• Xu Kun stayed beside Yang Yao until she woke, then told her he suspected an old schemer had helped set the events in motion.
• Yang Jian watched the outcome with satisfaction, while Xu Kun and Yang Yao privately suspected him of orchestrating the scheme.

Xu Kun explained how he used the Poison Source Gestation Disc to accelerate his fusion with the Gu Toad Poison Seed, then struck a deal with the Divine Wood King Cauldron to feed it materials in exchange for its continued cooperation. The cauldron consumed the disc and repaired about one-tenth of its damage, then revealed that its status had changed.

• Xu Kun showed Yang Yao the Poison Source Gestation Disc and his 50% Gu Toad fusion progress, explaining how he had absorbed the city’s poison to cleanse the people and nearly lost control.
• Yang Yao learned that the disc had exhausted its power after nurturing Komodo and the Gu Toad, while the Divine Wood King Cauldron tried to snatch it.
• Xu Kun used his Taming skill to negotiate a deal: he would find nourishment for the cauldron, and it would stay with him and cooperate without becoming his owner.
• Xu Kun let the Divine Wood King Cauldron eat the disc, repairing about one-tenth of its damage.
• The cauldron suggested that eating the Gu Toad could fully repair it, but Xu Kun refused and noticed a new change in its status panel.

Xu Kun discovered the Divine Wood King Cauldron’s new protective ability, gave it to Yang Yao for her safety, and gained a poison pill from its refining. After leaving the Poisonous Mistlands, he reviewed his rewards and prepared to travel with Yang Yao to Imperial Capital Academy.

• The Divine Wood King Cauldron unlocked Divine Wood Qi, which could revive its protected user at low health once fully charged, and Xu Kun entrusted it to Yang Yao.
• Yang Yao found a Myriad Poisons Demon Pill inside the cauldron, and Xu Kun swallowed it to gain Poison Attack.
• Xu Kun discovered that the cauldron favored poisonous materials and could produce poison pills, then left the Haotian Pagoda after resting with Yang Yao and notifying Shen-bao and the others.
• Xu Kun reflected on his coming journey to Imperial Capital Academy and noted that Zhan Rourou had been away for two days without contacting him.
• Xu Kun reviewed his Poisonous Mistlands gains: he had reached Level 8 of Tier 10 and acquired an A-tier Taming skill alongside several combat skills.

Xu Kun reviewed the skills and treasures he had gained in the Poisonous Mistlands, then slept until Chi woke him by smashing his bed. He hurried to Yu Ji Airport to join the students bound for the Imperial Capital, where the others resented his late arrival.

• Xu Kun admired his newly acquired skills, especially War Fury and Formation Piercer, and took stock of his gains from the Poisonous Mistlands.
• Exhausted, Xu Kun fell asleep without reporting to his master, and Chi woke him by destroying the bed and surrounding houses with his hammer.
• Xu Kun learned that his master had already left for the Imperial Capital and said goodbye to Chi before flying off at tremendous speed.
• Xu Kun contacted Yang Yao, learned the flight was boarding at Yu Ji Airport, and arrived there in less than two minutes.
• Xu Kun joined Yang Yao and the other students bound for the Imperial Capital, while some complained that his late arrival had delayed their departure.

Xu Kun reunited with Yang Yao at Yu Ji Airport, where Tao Hongjing revealed that Xu Kun’s master had delayed the students’ departure so he could rest. Xu Kun and Yang Yao boarded a Silver Emperor Falcon for their journey to Imperial Capital Base City, leaving the other students to fly aboard four Gale Griffins.

• Xu Kun met Yang Yao at the airport and learned that someone had postponed departure because he had not arrived.
• Tao Hongjing, an Imperial Realm expert and disciple of Xu Kun’s senior brother, revealed that Xu Kun’s master had asked him to allow Xu Kun time to recover.
• Tao Hongjing escorted Xu Kun and Yang Yao to their own Heavenly King-level flying beast while the other students boarded four Gale Griffins.
• Tao Hongjing identified their flying beast as a Silver Emperor Falcon with an S-rank bloodline and power approaching the Imperial Realm.
• The five flying beasts took off for Imperial Capital Base City after the students boarded.

The new leaders of the Dragon, Black Tortoise, and Flood Dragon Races plotted to kill Xu Kun by using Xuan Shiba’s mystic mark to track him and turning humans against him. As Xu Kun traveled to Imperial Capital Academy aboard the Silver Emperor Falcon, he rejected Yang Yao’s invitation to swim and began a video call with Sikong Ting to start their preparations.

• The new Tortoise Lord Spandam brought Xuan Shiba to the new Dragon Lord Sakazuki Akainu, who healed Xuan Shiba’s soul so he could monitor Xu Kun with his mystic mark.
• Sakazuki Akainu, Spandam, and the new Jiao Lord Ao Zhizhu agreed that Xu Kun must die and planned to use human agents rather than risk violating the Azure God’s decree.
• Sakazuki Akainu ordered Xuan Shiba to watch Xu Kun and wait until he entered the planned encirclement.
• Xu Kun boarded the Silver Emperor Falcon and found a lavish cabin prepared by Tao Hongjing.
• Yang Yao invited Xu Kun to swim, but he declined and called Sikong Ting, who reported that the Sikong Family’s preparations were complete.

Xu Kun and Yang Yao arranged for secret-realm guides to be sold at fair prices, with the proceeds supporting those in need, and Xu Kun accepted the Pill Sect’s invitation to study alchemy. As Tao Hongjing left to oversee the flight near Mount Tai Ghost Race territory, the Silver Emperor Falcon cried out and the ground trembled, signaling an attack or other trouble.

• Yang Yao advised Xu Kun against giving the secret-realm guides away for free, and they agreed with Sikong Ting to sell them and direct the proceeds toward public needs.
• Xu Kun, Yang Yao, and Sikong Ting completed and uploaded guides for Blazing God's Tomb and the Ancient Sea Ruins to the human forum.
• Tao Hongjing visited Xu Kun and invited him to pursue alchemy with the Pill Sect; Xu Kun accepted an invitation to visit Jiangshui Holy Land.
• Tao Hongjing left to monitor the flight as it approached Mount Tai Ghost Race territory, where the ground began to tremble and the Silver Emperor Falcon cried out.

As the Silver Emperor Falcon crossed the Mount Tai Ghost Race’s territory, Yang Yao explained the region’s dangers and revealed that Xu Kun would need the Kong family’s recognition to enter Qufu Academy. Their journey continued toward Imperial Capital Base City through a perilous stretch of territory.

• After a strong air current passed, Tao Hongjing stayed outside to watch over the flying beasts as they entered the Mount Tai Ghost Race’s territory.
• Yang Yao showed Xu Kun the lakes, marshes, and territory controlled by the Mount Tai Ghost Race, including its connection to the underworld.
• Yang Yao explained that Kong Changyan’s family was a powerful clan and that Kong Youde had long sought to return to its ancestral bloodline.
• Yang Yao told Xu Kun that entry to Qufu Academy required him to gain the Kong ancestor’s recognition at the ancestral temple in the Kong family’s private city of Qufu.
• Yang Yao described the dangerous route through Qilu Land and across the Yellow River toward Hebei Territory, where Imperial Capital Base City offered greater safety.

Yang Yao explained Huaxia’s six major base cities, their geography, defenses, and specialties to Xu Kun. She then asked him to choose which of three regions should host Huaxia’s proposed seventh base city, leaving him to consider the question.

• Yang Yao mapped Imperial Capital Base City’s territory and described the natural barriers and neighboring races around it.
• Yang Yao outlined the locations, strategic roles, and specialties of Huaxia’s six major base cities.
• Yang Yao named the Central Plains, Lianghuai, and Jingchu regions as possible locations for a seventh base city and asked Xu Kun which he favored.
• Xu Kun recognized the question as a serious matter and studied the map to consider humanity’s future direction.

Xu Kun weighed where to establish Huaxia’s seventh base city and argued that Jingchu Land offered the best long-term gains despite the difficult campaign against the River Race. Yang Yao revealed that Sky Eye had deliberately left the task for the next generation, but their discussion was interrupted when a black whirlwind blocked their way and demanded a toll.

• Xu Kun compared the Central Plains, Lianghuai Region, and Jingchu Land as possible locations for the seventh base city, explaining the strategic advantages and risks of each.
• Yang Yao said her father believed the Central Plains and Lianghuai Region would become costly military quagmires, while Jingchu Land would require a major initial campaign against the River Race.
• Xu Kun chose Jingchu Land, arguing that the Human Race should accept losses to secure a greater future advantage rather than settle for an unstable expansion.
• Yang Yao revealed that Sky Eye had delayed the seventh base city so Xu Kun and the next generation could establish its foundations and prove themselves before he left Blue Star.
• A black whirlwind suddenly stopped the Silver Emperor Falcon, and a thunderous voice demanded a toll from Xu Kun and Yang Yao.

Li Kui of the Mount Tai Ghost Race ambushed the Silver Emperor Falcon and demanded Xu Kun, but an illusory figure emerged and struck him down with a single punch. The figure praised Xu Kun’s interpretation of its words, leaving Xu Kun, Yang Yao, and the others stunned.

• Li Kui revealed himself as the Heavenly Slaughter Star and demanded that Tao Hongjing hand over Xu Kun.
• Tao Hongjing refused, so Li Kui wounded him and overwhelmed the other two human Emperor Realm experts with his black whirlwind.
• Li Kui reached for the Silver Emperor Falcon, but a beam of clear light shattered the whirlwind and formed an illusory figure.
• The figure dodged Li Kui’s axes and punched him senseless, then returned to its refined demeanor.
• Xu Kun tried to explain the figure’s saying to Yang Yao, and the figure praised him for understanding.

Confucius intervened to save Xu Kun and personally touched his crown, granting him two rare blessings and recognition as a personal disciple. After learning what those honors meant, Xu Kun wondered what practical benefits they would bring.

• Confucius dismembered Li Kui with a carving knife, but a demonic gale carried Li Kui's remains away before Confucius could finish him.
• Confucius restored calm, then touched Xu Kun's crown and bestowed clear light upon him before vanishing.
• Tao Hongjing explained that Xu Kun bore Confucius's personal-transmission mark and had received the Sage's appraisal and hand upon the crown.
• Yang Yao told Xu Kun that Mister Yangming had received the same honor and described Confucius's lasting influence and the opportunities available at Qufu's Confucian Temple.
• Xu Kun recalled the unusual ways he had interpreted Confucius's sayings and asked what benefits the Sage's touch had given him.

After Confucius intervened against the Mount Tai Ghost Race, Tao Hongjing explained the benefits of a saint’s blessing and identified the powerful ghosts who had appeared at Mount Tai. As the group continued toward the Imperial Capital, Xu Kun considered the danger posed by the Book of Life and Death and decided to strengthen himself through Thunder Comprehension.

• Tao Hongjing told Xu Kun that a saint’s blessing enhanced comprehension and described how Yangming had reached the Saint Realm after studying the Dao at Longchang.
• Tao Hongjing explained that Dai Zong had rescued Li Kui and that Lu Zhishen, a peak Saint Realm expert, had bowed to Confucius.
• Tao Hongjing said the Mount Tai Ghost Race would not obstruct them further because Lu Zhishen favored peaceful relations with the Human Race.
• Xu Kun worried that the Mount Tai Ghost Race had sensed the Book of Life and Death and might track its growing aura as he collected more pages.
• Yang Yao asked about Xu Kun’s recovering fire-element ability, and he announced that he would improve his strength through Thunder Comprehension.

After receiving Tao Hongjing’s head pat, Xu Kun learned how Thunder Comprehension worked and repeatedly shaped lightning into a new skill. He left the chapter still experimenting, having produced a skill he considered a gourmet success.

• Xu Kun realized Thunder Comprehension let him shape lightning elements into skills, with the possible skill tier depending on his lightning attack, aptitude, and luck.
• Xu Kun chose to create an attack skill because his strongest abilities were unavailable and he feared facing Li Kui.
• Xu Kun attempted to form a Lightning Whip, but the first result was only an E-tier skill, upgraded by his Child of Fortune bonus into the D-tier Lightning Five-Hit Combo.
• Xu Kun discarded the weak skill and made repeated attempts, producing more D-tier and even F-tier results.
• After dozens of tries, Xu Kun finally made a bowl of dumplings he considered perfect, and a notification began to appear.

Xu Kun comprehended two lightning skills, gaining an S-tier thunder cannon and an SS-tier Thunderous Bagua. He continued his journey with Yang Yao, unaware that danger was approaching and that their sense of time was being disrupted.

• Xu Kun comprehended Infinite Thunder Cannon and considered how advancing it might let him summon more cannons.
• Xu Kun struggled to construct another lightning skill until he stopped pursuing complexity and let the lightning elements combine freely.
• Xu Kun comprehended Thunderous Bagua, an SS-tier skill that boosted weapon attacks and damaged enemies around him.
• Xu Kun noticed they had not passed the Mount Tai range, while Yang Yao checked the map and said they were nearing the ancient city of Wuyan.
• Xu Kun began another attempt at lightning comprehension as Yang Yao watched for anything unusual.

Xu Kun comprehended the S-rank skill Great Dao Thunder Sound, but the group discovered that their sense of time and location had been distorted. As Tao Hongjing tried to break through the black fog, shadowy attackers surrounded the flying beasts and a hidden enemy struck at Xu Kun.

• Xu Kun endured a lightning storm during his Thunder Comprehension and gained the S-rank skill Great Dao Thunder Sound.
• Yang Yao found that the positioning device no longer worked and that mist had gathered beneath the Silver Emperor Falcon.
• Xu Kun compared his divine power backlash timer with Yang Yao’s estimate and realized that more time had passed than they remembered.
• Xu Kun asked the Heavenly King-level pilot how long the journey and the Mount Tai Ghost Race’s attack had lasted, then summoned Tao Hongjing.
• Tao Hongjing unleashed his Emperor Realm might, but black fog enveloped the surroundings and shadowy figures attacked the five flying battle beasts.
• An unseen assailant pierced Tao Hongjing with black throwing knives and sent a massive pitch-black hand crashing down toward Xu Kun.