Chapter Summaries

Zhao Xing and Feng Qiu faced off in their promotion match at Wind Thunder Canyon, drawing widespread attention and a massive wager. Zhao Xing seized the canyon’s elemental forces and opened with a rapid barrage of spells as Feng Qiu charged toward him.

• Zhao Xing reflected on the Solar Terms Decree and the Transformation of Seasons Art while preparing for his promotion match.
• The Earth Mirror matched Zhao Xing against Feng Qiu in Wind Thunder Canyon, and both fighters welcomed the chance to test themselves.
• Zhuang Ziqing, the reserve officials, and members of the Martial Offices gathered to watch, while Fu Ying and Xia Jing organized a wager exceeding seventy thousand points.
• Feng Qiu charged through the canyon’s Astral Wind as Zhao Xing stayed put and cast Swallowing Clouds, Mist Concealment, and Yin Wind.
• Zhao Xing followed with Heavenly Frost and Heavenly Fire, using five spells in two breaths and surprising the observers with his control and Mist Shadow.

Zhao Xing used layered spells and the canyon’s changing conditions to overcome Feng Qiu’s powerful Wind Art in their advancement battle. Zhao Xing defeated Feng Qiu and advanced, while the spectators erupted in response.

• Zhao Xing’s Heavenly Frost and Heavenly Fire failed to stop Feng Qiu, but Yin Wind disrupted Feng Qiu and Boundless Earth Palace made him misjudge his direction.
• Zhao Xing dispersed the mist before Feng Qiu crossed the boundary, then faced Feng Qiu’s renewed charge as the canyon’s conditions strengthened his spells.
• Zhao Xing condensed the mist into a raindrop that broke Feng Qiu’s defenses and overwhelmed his Wind Devours the World.
• Zhao Xing warned Feng Qiu against pursuing techniques without studying the Great Dao, then struck him with another raindrop and won the advancement battle.

Zhao Xing defeated Feng Qiu and advanced his Start of Spring Solar Terms Decree, gaining the high-level Water Drop spell. He studied secret techniques for developing it and prepared to continue his promotion matches.

• Peng Ran, Yu Chunwu, He Yu, and Yang Yang watched Zhao Xing defeat Feng Qiu and discussed how much he had improved.
• Zhuang Ziqing recognized that Zhao Xing’s raindrop showed high-level insight into the Dao and went to test its power.
• Fu Ying transferred fifty thousand points to Xia Jing after losing his bet on Feng Qiu.
• Cen Sanji explained to his students the difference between Feng Qiu’s technique-focused power and Zhao Xing’s understanding of the Dao.
• Zhao Xing’s Start of Spring Solar Terms Decree reached the Fourth-Turn of the Knowing Realm, and he comprehended the high-level Water Drop spell.
• Zhao Xing found the costly Water Drop Domain secret techniques on the Earth Mirror, decided to earn more points before buying them, and sought another opponent.

Zhao Xing advanced to Tier Three, defeated Wei Chen, and lost a private one-strike challenge against Zhuang Ziqing’s Celestial Silkworm Transformation. After further cultivation, he discovered a Straw Man Art Training Course offering fifty thousand points for first place, giving him a chance to earn the points he needed for Water Drop Domain.

• Zhao Xing defeated Wei Chen in one move, completed his Tier Three promotion, and received a Grade A evaluation from Cen Sanji.
• Zhao Xing accepted Zhuang Ziqing’s private challenge and was defeated after Zhuang Ziqing’s silken threads bound him and triggered the Guardian Barrier.
• Zhao Xing learned that Zhuang Ziqing had challenged him to test their high-level arts, and Zhuang Ziqing left to rest after discussing their progress and Shi Yong’s strength.
• Zhao Xing advanced his cultivation at Earth Vein Hall and Celestial Timing Academy, bringing Divine Swift Guard to the tenth turn and his Twenty-Four Solar Terms Decree to the third turn except for Start of Spring.
• Zhao Xing found a Straw Man Art Training Course at Tianning Estate, organized by Liu Tianning, that began that afternoon and offered fifty thousand points for first place.

Zhao Xing enrolled in the newly popular Straw Man Art training course to earn points and quickly passed its first two trials. He reached Liu Tianning’s estate for the third stage, where a remarkably lifelike straw puppet led him up the mountain.

• Zhao Xing learned that court rewards had made the once-neglected Straw Man Art course highly popular and signed up for its generous point prizes.
• Lu Bang watched the crowds gather at the Great Granary Institute as Liu Tianning explained that his apparent companion was a straw puppet.
• Tian Yan cautioned Zhao Xing that the Straw Man Art was difficult to master, but Zhao Xing enrolled anyway and created a Swift Steps Straw Puppet.
• Zhao Xing passed the first trial and earned fifty points, then cleared the harder second stage and received four hundred more.
• Zhao Xing arrived at Liu Tianning’s estate and followed a lifelike straw puppet toward the mountain, hoping to learn Liu Tianning’s techniques.

Zhao Xing arrived at Liu Tianning’s Ten Thousand Laws Palace and discovered that the famed Agricultural Official was demonstrating intermediate Straw Man Arts through countless straw puppets modeled after himself. Zhao Xing learned the Invisibility Straw Figure after one observation, and Liu Tianning noticed his talent when Zhao Xing used the invisible puppet to tug at someone’s belt.

• Zhao Xing followed a straw puppet to Liu Tianning’s palace, where he saw numerous puppets that looked like Liu Tianning performing everyday tasks and practicing arts.
• Liu Tianning explained that students could study eighteen intermediate Straw Man Arts and earn points by mastering one to the Fourth-Turn within a month.
• Zhao Xing recognized Liu Tianning as the future Liu the Half-Mad and recalled how controlling millions of True Self Straw Puppets had driven him insane.
• Zhao Xing studied the Invisibility Straw Figure, understood its essence, and learned the art after watching its demonstration once.
• Zhao Xing made an invisible puppet and practiced correcting a brief visibility flaw as it moved between different surroundings.
• Liu Tianning noticed Zhao Xing’s unusual talent, then watched as Zhao Xing sent his invisible puppet to tug at someone’s belt.

Zhao Xing learned the Suicide Bombing Straw Figure and Dharma Protector Straw Figure in the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, then discovered that its guards were Soul Capturing Straw Figures. Lord Liu agreed to let him learn the forbidden art if he remembered three rules, which were not yet revealed.

• Zhao Xing and Cao Shuang joked together, then Cao Shuang showed him the Suicide Bombing Straw Figure made with Firecracker Bamboo.
• Zhao Xing studied and learned the Suicide Bombing Straw Figure, while Li Feng arrived and resolved to compete against Zhao Xing in Straw Man Art.
• Zhao Xing trained the Suicide Bombing Straw Figure to Fourth-Turn and learned the Dharma Protector Straw Figure by observing its demonstration.
• Zhao Xing recognized the guards outside a great hall as Soul Capturing Straw Figures and asked Lord Liu to teach him the art.
• Lord Liu agreed to teach Zhao Xing the Soul Capturing Straw Figure on the condition that he followed three rules.

Zhao Xing learned the Soul Capturing Straw Figure and several other Straw Man Arts, then passed the third assessment and earned 1,250 basic points. After Liu Tianning announced the remaining assessments and ranking rewards, Zhao Xing planned his training and brushed off Li Feng’s boastful challenge.

• Zhao Xing observed the Soul Capturing Straw Figure, comprehended the art, and declined Liu Tianning’s offer to practice on condemned criminals.
• Zhao Xing learned Divine Valor, Holy Shield, and Illusory Form, then returned to the plaza and passed the third assessment with his Suicide Bombing Straw Figure, earning 800 points and reaching 1,250 basic points total.
• After the first hundred candidates passed the third assessment, Liu Tianning announced that they would train for seven days before three more assessments, with first place earning 50,000 points.
• Zhao Xing decided to focus on one Straw Man Art for the fourth assessment and planned to study at the Ten Thousand Laws Palace and comprehend the Yin Yang True Self Scripture.
• Li Feng approached Zhao Xing to boast about his Straw Man Arts, but Zhao Xing repeatedly reminded him that he had lost their promotion battle, and Li Feng left in anger.

Zhao Xing studied the Primordial Dao Field’s plants and rapidly advanced his Straw Man Arts, then returned to the Great Granary Institute for the fourth trial. He left his classmates laughing with Cai Jin about Lu Bang’s punishing training regimen as the trial began.

• Zhao Xing observed Yuan Rice and other plants in the Primordial Dao Field, studying their five-element cycles and learning to imitate their natural forces in his straw figures.
• Zhao Xing practiced with the field’s many plants, raising his Suicide Bombing Straw Figure Art to Nine Turns in forty-eight hours and improving several other arts as well.
• On the seventh day, Zhao Xing left the field, ate after days without food or water, and headed to the Ten Thousand Laws Palace for the fourth trial.
• Zhao Xing told Cao Shuang, Zhuang Ziqing, Han Bing, and Cai Jin about his progress, while Cai Jin complained that Lu Bang’s lightning pendant forced him to train for twenty-two hours each day.
• A figure announced that the Rat Hour had arrived and the fourth trial was beginning.

Zhao Xing dominated the fourth trial by sending eighteen straw puppets into the palace and taking first place. Shi Yong saw the rankings and flew to the Great Granary Institute’s Primordial Dao Field to study the Straw Man Art more seriously.

• Liu Tianning began the fourth trial, requiring contestants to craft straw puppets and send them into the palace within fifteen minutes.
• Zhao Xing claimed scarce materials, made nineteen puppets, and successfully sent eighteen into the palace.
• Cao Shuang, Zhuang Ziqing, and Cai Jin compared their results with Zhao Xing while the remaining puppets were tested against the palace steps.
• The rankings placed Zhao Xing first, Cai Jin second, Feng Qi third, and Shi Yong fifth, with the top fifty advancing to the fifth trial.
• Li Feng resented Zhao Xing’s victory and hoped to surpass him in a later stage.
• Shi Yong saw Zhao Xing in first place, decided to study the Straw Man Art seriously, and flew to the Primordial Dao Field.

Zhao Xing dominated the Straw Man Training Course by perfecting a fusion of Flying and Sacrificial Explosion arts, while Shi Yong and the other geniuses struggled to catch up. In the final test, Zhao Xing defeated Li Feng in the opening duel with a concealed Divine Valor Invisibility Straw Figure.

• After Zhao Xing revealed his Straw Man Art progress, Zhuang Ziqing, Cao Shuang, and Cai Jin decided to train harder, while Shi Yong also entered the Primordial Dao Field.
• Zhao Xing studied the Flying Straw Puppet and fused it perfectly with the Sacrificial Explosion Straw Figure, drawing Liu Tianning’s attention and invitation to visit him.
• Zhao Xing experimented with additional Straw Man Art combinations and focused on their practical combat value instead of pursuing perfect fusions.
• In the fifth test, Zhao Xing took first place, Cai Jin came second, and Shi Yong rose to third; only twenty participants remained for the final duels.
• The final test paired Zhao Xing with Li Feng in the opening match, and Zhao Xing knocked Li Feng unconscious with a Divine Valor Invisibility Straw Figure.

Zhao Xing advanced through the Straw Man Art duels with ease, while several favored contestants lost because they struggled to control their straw figures in combat. In the second round, Zhao Xing defeated Qian Guang, but Feng Qi upset Shi Yong, and the chapter ended with a notice that the story would jump ahead by half a year.

• Zhao Xing swiftly defeated Li Feng, and the first-round matches produced several upsets as lower-ranked contestants beat favored geniuses.
• Liu Tianning explained that controlling multiple straw figures in combat imposed a burden that some contestants handled better than others, and Zhao Xing told Cao Shuang, Han Bing, and Jiang Tianming that their losses came from poor practical control.
• Shi Yong won his first-round match against Yin Yang, and the ten remaining contestants drew lots for the next elimination round.
• Zhao Xing used an Illusionary Form Straw Puppet to fool Qian Guang, then trapped him with a Sacrificial Explosion Straw Figure until Qian Guang surrendered.
• Cai Jin, Zhuang Ziqing, and Yu Hao won their second-round matches, while Feng Qi defeated Shi Yong in an unexpected upset.

Zhao Xing dominated the Straw Man Art selection course, earning first place and fifty thousand points before using his rewards to buy Preaching Paintings and plan his studies. He focused on preparing for the final half year of Military Sima Nong training, which would involve real combat, and six months passed in Ten Suns Grotto Heaven.

• Feng Qi defeated Shi Yong, while Cai Jin narrowly lost to Feng Qi and Yu Hao defeated Zhuang Ziqing, setting up a final contest among Zhao Xing, Feng Qi, and Yu Hao.
• Zhao Xing overwhelmed Yu Hao with stronger straw figure control and won their match, then defeated Feng Qi to secure first place and fifty thousand points.
• Feng Qi beat Yu Hao for second place and thirty thousand points, while Yu Hao received ten thousand points.
• Zhao Xing returned to Locust Willow Courtyard and opened his purchased Preaching Paintings for the Water Drop Domain, Swift Travel Earth Palace, and Mystic Earth Guard.
• Zhao Xing revised his cultivation plan around the three secret classics, advanced arts, spell practice, and gathering resources ahead of the final six months of real-combat training.
• Another half year passed as Zhao Xing trained intensively in Ten Suns Grotto Heaven.

Zhao Xing led Recruit Battalion Nineteen through the final mandatory training’s breakout route, earning top evaluations as the first camp to escape. After the exercise ended and the reservists prepared to take up their posts, Helian Lie arrived to recruit Zhao Xing into the Blazing Sun Army with an offer of an elite camp and a lucrative territory.

• Zhao Xing stopped Xia Jing and Cao Shuang from fighting while the Intelligence Reduction Method clouded their judgment, then explained the camp’s breakout plan and timing to Xia Jing.
• Zhao Xing and Xia Jing rallied the scattered recruits, awakened them ahead of further spells, and guided the camp toward the escape route through Longevity Worship Peak, Line of Sky, and Jade Curtain Waterfall.
• After seventeen days, Zhao Xing, Xia Jing, and the other members of Recruit Battalion Nineteen completed the breakout; their camp received Grade A evaluations across the board.
• The final large-scale training ended on the fifteenth day of the third month, and the reservists prepared to leave Ten Suns Grotto Heaven for their assigned posts.
• Helian Lie visited Zhao Xing on behalf of the Marquis and offered him a place in any of the Blazing Sun Army’s ten elite camps, along with a territory yielding income equivalent to a third-rank count.

Zhao Xing rejected the Blazing Sun Army’s offer because its promised fief lay in the unstable Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture, while the Black Armor Army recruited Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming to help poach him. As more armies arrived to compete for Zhao Xing, Huang Chengzhi learned that reinforcements had been summoned to Xier County.

• Zhao Xing refused Helian Lie’s offer of a third-rank baron’s fief and a choice among the Blazing Sun Army’s elite camps, citing his debt to the Divine Might Army.
• Zhao Xing judged the offer insincere because the proposed fief was in the war-torn Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture rather than Martial Marquis Yang’s prosperous territory.
• A Black Armor Army Ritual Cultivator persuaded Ge Jinsong to join Cheng Qingming in recommending Zhao Xing, arguing that Zhao Xing’s future success could turn their past misjudgment into a story of recognizing talent.
• Huang Chengzhi learned that three more groups had gone to recruit Zhao Xing, including a major from the Tigron Army, and ordered a soldier to watch for news.
• Swift Travel Dai Zong’s statue confirmed that Huang Chengzhi’s letter had reached Xier County, and Huang Chengzhi urged Old Chen and Long Xiao to arrive quickly.

Wei Yuan tried to recruit Zhao Xing into the Tigron Army, but Zhao Xing said he would stay with the Divine Might Army unless Chen Shijie released him from his debt. After days of waiting and reviewing his progress, Zhao Xing was considering leaving when Chen Shijie and Long Xiao arrived.

• Wei Yuan visited Zhao Xing and offered him support and a commandant post if he joined the Tigron Army.
• Zhao Xing said he would reconsider only if Chen Shijie told him to leave the Divine Might Army, and Wei Yuan departed to settle the matter.
• Zhao Xing spent several quiet days studying and reviewing his cultivation, spells, equipment, and Fate Soul.
• After another seven days without a reply from Chen Shijie, Zhao Xing decided he would leave for the Tigron Army if Chen Shijie did not come before assignments were issued.
• Chen Shijie and Long Xiao arrived outside Zhao Xing's courtyard and called to him.

Zhao Xing prepared to begin his Ministry of War duties in the Military Realm, while Chen Shijie and Long Xiao arranged companions, protection, and treasures for him. After receiving sealed letters from Tian Yan, Zhao Xing departed for the Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture as the coming war and factional struggles loomed.

• Chen Shijie told Zhao Xing that Wei Yuan had offered valuable weapons and Feng Qiu to recruit him, but he had refused to trade away his comrade.
• Long Xiao returned the mountain cat to Zhao Xing, revealing that it had grown into a Seventh Rank Exotic Beast and naming it Long Aotian.
• Zhao Xing explained the Military Realm mission stages and official ranks, then asked Chen Shijie to arrange for Yuan Yang, Wang Ji, Zhang Yi, and Xia Jing to be assigned near him.
• Chen Shijie arranged Long Xiao as Zhao Xing's protector and provided him with upgraded equipment, an Arrowfish Flying Boat, and seeds.
• Zhao Xing visited Tian Yan, who gave him three sealed letters and tokens backed by House Tian's connections, and then left to begin his duties.

After waking from a dream of his past-life execution, Zhao Xing left the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven for his first military assignment in Xier County. He learned that he had been ordered to inspect the Divine Might Army and judge 1,423 people accused of crimes, leaving him to weigh the court’s expectations against the backlash of punishing the army’s powerful members.

• Zhao Xing woke after sleeping for twenty-seven two-hour periods, washed with Palm Cloud Movement, and prepared to leave with Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, Old Chen, and Mountain Cat.
• Gao Ming delivered Zhao Xing’s mission box, which contained a secret seal, an Earth Mirror, and his assignment credentials.
• On the flight to Xier County, Zhao Xing learned that his first assignment was inspecting the Divine Might Army, and Chen Shijie and Long Xiao handed over their Earth Mirrors to protect the mission’s secrecy.
• Zhao Xing read the assignment and its list of 1,423 alleged offenders, including senior officers accused of sexual assault, murder, bribery, and theft.
• Zhao Xing considered the court’s likely preference for harsh punishments and the risks of angering the Divine Might Army and the Boping Marquis, then arrived in Xier County.

Zhao Xing led the Inspection Department and the War God Temple in a countywide crackdown on 1,423 corrupt and criminal officers in Xier County. After the remaining suspects confessed, he rejected leniency and ordered all 1,366 executed, leaving his stance toward the Divine Might Army’s discipline unmistakable.

• Zhao Xing asked Grand Inspector Qiu Mingyi to mobilize the Inspection Department and War God Temple to arrest 1,423 alleged offenders, and Qiu placed the department under Zhao Xing’s command.
• Zhao Xing explained to Long Xiao that the Military Realm had already gathered evidence against the suspects and refused to compromise, while Long Xiao recognized that former comrades had become criminals.
• Inspection teams arrested suspects throughout Xier County, including Hong Tai and Qi Shan, while Zhao Xing killed Zhang Ze after he resisted arrest and attempted to flee underground.
• By dawn, inspectors had arrested all 1,423 targets; 57 had been killed resisting arrest, and the other 1,366 confessed to their crimes.
• Qiu Mingyi suggested Zhao Xing could show leniency, but Zhao Xing declared the remaining crimes capital offenses, marked the document for execution, and ordered all 1,366 executed immediately.

Zhao Xing supervised the execution of 1,366 corrupt Divine Might Army officers, but Yang An arrived and heard their pleas before deciding their fate. Yang An killed them, severed his own arm and leg to accept responsibility, and demoted himself to a Bitter Soldier to atone.

• Zhao Xing signed the Execution Decree, stripping the 1,366 criminals of their rank, cultivation, and blessings from the Dynasty of Fate.
• Qiu Mingyi praised Zhao Xing's resolve, and Zhao Xing ordered the criminals executed while Long Xiao stood by in sorrow.
• Yang An stopped the falling command slip and asked Hong Tai to explain his grievance, but Qiu Mingyi exposed Hong Tai's crimes and the criminals admitted their guilt.
• Yang An declared that the law allowed no mercy and cut off his left arm and right leg to take responsibility for his subordinates' crimes.
• Yang An killed all 1,366 criminals, demoted himself to a Bitter Soldier, and vowed to kill 13,660 barbarians before carrying away the bodies.