Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ping'an visited Jiang Shuyue, who postponed opening the soap shop until she reached the Dragon Transformation Realm, then learned he would face Zhao Zhenming and Yuan Ruolan in a three-way top-ranking match. Jiang Ping'an and Yuan Ruolan agreed to target Zhao Zhenming first, as the match began and spectators debated Jiang Ping'an’s chances.

• Jiang Ping'an visited Jiang Shuyue with Jiang Yiyi and Chen Donglai, and Jiang Shuyue explained that dangers in Yujing had made her delay opening the soap shop.
• Jiang Ping'an drew Platform C for the top-ranking matches and found that Zhao Zhenming and Yuan Ruolan were his opponents.
• Zhao Zhenming threatened Jiang Ping'an and insulted his mother, but Jiang Ping'an rebuked him before Zhao Zhenming walked away.
• Jiang Ping'an and Yuan Ruolan stepped onto Platform C and agreed to join forces against Zhao Zhenming.
• Zhennan Marquis Estate descendants mocked Jiang Ping'an, while Princess Bailing defended him and rebuked Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng for underestimating him.

Jiang Ping'an defeated Zhao Zhenming by knocking him out of the arena after Zhao Zhenming left himself open while attacking Yuan Ruolan. Zhao Zhenming publicly accepted the loss, then took Zhao Jinglian away as the match between Jiang Ping'an and Yuan Ruolan continued.

• Jiang Ping'an protected Yuan Ruolan from Zhao Zhenming's diving sword strike and sent Zhao Zhenming flying out of the arena.
• Zhao Zhenming protested that Jiang Ping'an had ambushed him, while Zhao Jinglian and Zhennan Marquis Estate disciples also challenged the result.
• The referee ruled that Jiang Ping'an had won fairly and told Jiang Ping'an and Yuan Ruolan to continue their match.
• Princess Bailing and other students condemned Zhao Jinglian and the Zhennan Marquis Estate disciples for refusing to accept the result.
• Zhao Zhenming admitted that he had lost, apologized for Zhao Jinglian's outburst, and asked the crowd to excuse her as a child.
• Zhao Zhenming embraced his sobbing sister and took her away from the martial arts plaza.

Jiang Ping'an defeated Yuan Ruolan after she deliberately conceded, then advanced to the top eight when Wu Daoming failed to appear for their match. His lucky victories drew envy and ridicule as he went to watch Princess Bailing win on Platform D.

• Jiang Ping'an dodged Yuan Ruolan's Kan Water Dragon and defeated her after she surrendered, preserving his strength and hidden cards.
• Hong Feng congratulated Jiang Ping'an on reaching the top sixteen, while Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng mocked his victory as luck.
• Wu Daoming failed to arrive for Jiang Ping'an's match, so the referee declared Jiang Ping'an the winner and advanced him to the top eight.
• Jiang Ping'an told Yuan Ruolan that reaching the top eight earned better rewards, then went to Platform D to watch Princess Bailing's matches.
• Jiang Ping'an told Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng that an injured opponent had let him advance by luck, leaving them visibly jealous.
• Princess Bailing won her match, and students later spread news of Jiang Ping'an's luck, Zhao Zhenming's defeat, and Zhao Jinglian's protest.

Jiang Ping'an defeated Han Shanshi in the Platform C final by revealing his mastery of the Xun Wind Blade Art, becoming Platform C champion. Princess Bailing recognized the spell’s formidable power and warned Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng to stop spreading rumors about him.

• Jiang Ping'an took the platform while spectators mocked his supposed luck, and Han Shanshi arrived boasting that Jiang could not harm him.
• Han Shanshi invited Jiang Ping'an to strike first, and Jiang unleashed repeated waves of Xun Wind Blade Art that wounded him until he conceded.
• The referee declared Jiang Ping'an the winner and Platform C champion, stunning the spectators who had not known he could cast spells.
• Princess Bailing explained that Jiang Ping'an had mastered the high-grade Xun Wind Blade Art beyond her former teacher's level and admitted she could no longer see through him.
• Princess Bailing ordered Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng to stop spreading rumors about Jiang Ping'an, and they agreed in embarrassment and fear.

Princess Bailing won Platform D and warned Jiang Ping'an that she would unleash her phoenix cry immediately in their semifinal, while Jiang Ping'an claimed he could resist it. The next morning, he proved immune to the cry and charged at her with his elusive movement technique, drawing the academy’s senior figures to recognize his strength as the match continued.

• Princess Bailing defeated her Platform D opponent and told Jiang Ping'an she would use her full strength from the start of their semifinal; he said he could withstand her phoenix cry.
• Jiang Ping'an spent the afternoon refining pills, and an instructor’s comments sparked rumors that Jiang Ping'an expected to surrender to Princess Bailing.
• At the semifinal, Princess Bailing flew onto the platform and immediately unleashed the Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon after the referee began the match.
• Jiang Ping'an ignored the phoenix cry and used the Flowing Willow movement technique to rush at Princess Bailing, startling the spectators.
• Taiwu Academy’s senior figures praised Jiang Ping'an’s movement technique and began to suspect that his easy victories came from genuine strength rather than luck.

Jiang Ping'an defeated Princess Bailing after revealing his powerful palm technique and flight ability, overturning rumors that his earlier victories came from luck. The crowd and Taiwu Academy's leaders recognized his strength, and many students expected him to become Chief Student.

• Princess Bailing empowered by the Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon attacked Jiang Ping'an with fireballs and the Li Fire Xuan Dragon, but he shattered the dragon with the Wind and Rain Life-Stealing Palm.
• Jiang Ping'an chased Princess Bailing through the air, broke her Three Revolutions Earth Shield with the Xun Star Swordplay, and pointed his sword at her chest.
• Princess Bailing admitted defeat, while Zhao Zhenming realized Jiang Ping'an could use the Flight Technique and began doubting his own superiority.
• The referee declared Jiang Ping'an the winner, and the spectators praised him as the crowd's shock gave way to excitement and admiration.
• Taiwu Academy's higher-ups discussed nurturing Jiang Ping'an, and students traced the false rumor about his expected defeat to distorted word of mouth.
• After Jiang Ping'an's victory, the rumors that he relied on luck collapsed, and many students regarded him as the strongest student and a likely Chief Student.

Zhao Zhenming tried to stop his family from killing Jiang Ping'an, but Zhao Jinglian secretly sent her own order to have him eliminated. At Taiwu Academy, Yan Ruyu faced Jiang Ping'an in the Chief Student contest and was stunned when he shattered her mountain technique with one punch.

• Zhao Zhenming told Zhao Jinglian to deliver a letter recalling the people sent to kill Jiang Ping'an, but Zhao Jinglian burned it and wrote her own order urging their mother to have him killed.
• Li Wenzheng told Yan Ruyu not to break through to the Divine Treasury Realm during her match, so Jiang Ping'an could become Chief Student as a disadvantaged, formerly unknown student.
• Princess Bailing won the Third Seat Student contest, and Jiang Ping'an and Yan Ruyu began their Chief Student match.
• Yan Ruyu used her Primordial Sea Phenomenon and Confucian verses to summon a raging river, stubborn pines, and a towering mountain against Jiang Ping'an.
• Jiang Ping'an broke the mountain apart with one punch, leaving Yan Ruyu bleeding from the backlash and shocked by his strength.

Jiang Ping'an defeated Yan Ruyu to become Taiwu Academy's Chief Student, then brought the news to Jiang Shuyue. The chapter ended with Jiang Shuyue embracing him and weeping with relief and joy.

• Jiang Ping'an overwhelmed Yan Ruyu with the Rapid Xun Wind Blade Art, and Li Wenzheng intervened to carry her out of danger before declaring Jiang Ping'an the winner.
• Li Wenzheng presented Jiang Ping'an with the Chief Student's rewards, and Taiwu Academy announced the tournament rankings and upcoming resource allocations.
• Jiang Ping'an left the academy with Jiang Yiyi to visit Jiang Shuyue and agreed that they should raise a horse for future journeys.
• Jiang Yiyi revealed that Jiang Ping'an had become Taiwu Academy's Chief Student, and Jiang Ping'an confirmed the news to Jiang Shuyue.
• Jiang Shuyue broke down in tears and embraced Jiang Ping'an, overwhelmed by his achievement and the sacrifices she had endured.

After Jiang Ping'an won Chief Student, Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng visited him with gifts to apologize, and he accepted their offerings while declining to take Zhang as a follower. The next day, Jiang Ping'an exchanged Merit Points for the Azure Essence Pill recipe and began choosing a Supreme Spell at Taiwu Academy.

• Zhang Jingtian offered Jiang Ping'an two Superior Spirit Stones and asked forgiveness, but Jiang Ping'an accepted the gift and told him they would leave each other undisturbed.
• Lu Zhaisheng arrived after Zhang Jingtian and gave Jiang Ping'an spirit stones, pills, and money; Jiang Ping'an forgave him and asked Chen Donglai to sell the pills.
• Jiang Ping'an refined two bottles of Pinnacle Grade Essence Pills overnight, swallowing ten pills at a time without noticeably changing his Essence Sea.
• Jiang Ping'an exchanged a thousand Merit Points for the Azure Essence Pill recipe after Instructor Wang recommended it over the costly Ten Thousand Year Ginseng Pill recipe.
• Jiang Ping'an entered the Spell Pavilion and began browsing introductions to Taiwu Academy’s Supreme Spells so he could choose one.

Jiang Ping'an studied Supreme Spell introductions, mastered and successfully refined Azure Essence Pills, then witnessed Yan Ruyu open her Lung Divine Treasury. Princess Bailing challenged his confidence in keeping the Chief Student position, and he accepted her challenge.

• Jiang Ping'an read introductions to Supreme Spells and planned to study all of them to prepare for future enemies.
• Jiang Ping'an used Proficiency Points to master the Azure Essence Pill recipe, bought its ingredients, and refined a batch containing three perfect quality pills.
• Jiang Ping'an took a perfect quality Azure Essence Pill and cultivated with it, finding its essence gentle and balanced.
• Jiang Ping'an and Princess Bailing saw a Heavenly Essence vortex over Jia-Si Residence as Yan Ruyu opened her Lung Divine Treasury, alarming the residents of Taiwu Academy.
• Princess Bailing suggested Yan Ruyu might have beaten Jiang Ping'an if she had advanced during their match, and Jiang Ping'an insisted he would remain Chief Student.
• Princess Bailing vowed to enter the Divine Treasury Realm within two months and challenge Jiang Ping'an, who accepted.

Jiang Ping'an collected his monthly allowance and learned that Taiwu Academy had publicized the Great Qian Prodigy List, where he ranked first. As his name spread through Yujing, Zhao Jinglian and Zhao Zhenming reacted angrily to their low placements and vowed to improve before the next tournament.

• Jiang Ping'an read about Supreme Spells with Yan Ruyu, then collected one hundred and fifty Merit Points, three bottles of Pinnacle Grade Essence Pills, and a cultivation syllabus from the Academy Lord Hall.
• Jiang Yiyi told Jiang Ping'an that he ranked first on the Great Qian Prodigy List, which Taiwu Academy had erected beside its main gate.
• He Zhengbiao publicized Jiang Ping'an's victory over Princess Bailing and Yan Ruyu at the Welcome Inn, while a storyteller began recounting Jiang Ping'an's rise to a packed teahouse.
• Zhao Jinglian told Zhao Zhenming that Jiang Ping'an topped the public rankings and that she and Zhao Zhenming had placed low.
• Zhao Zhenming comforted Zhao Jinglian and vowed to train with her daily, while privately swearing to defeat Zhao Ping'an at the next tournament.

Jiang Ping'an exchanged his valuables for Essence Stones, sold pills, bought alchemy ingredients, and refined a highly profitable batch of Azure Essence Pills. At the Martial Arts Field, he helped Jiang Yiyi and offered to advise Yuan Ruolan after watching her demonstrate her movement technique.

• Jiang Ping'an read Taiwu Academy’s cultivation syllabus and learned how students earned Merit Points and chose martial skills, spells, and crafts.
• Jiang Ping'an and Jiang Yiyi exchanged gold, silver, and Silver Notes for Essence Stones, sold Azure Essence Pills, and bought twenty sets of premium ingredients.
• Jiang Ping'an refined six perfect quality and four Superior Azure Essence Pills, then consumed two perfect pills to strengthen his Essence Sea.
• Jiang Ping'an guided Jiang Yiyi in the new Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows technique at the Martial Arts Field.
• Yuan Ruolan asked Jiang Ping'an for guidance and performed her family’s movement technique for him.
• Jiang Ping'an checked his panel and found that it had recorded Yuan Ruolan’s Seven Stars Return Step as a High-grade martial skill.

Jiang Ping'an used his insight into martial skills to guide Yuan Ruolan and Qin Suyue, drawing more female students to seek his help. As his popularity spread across the Martial Arts Field, Zhao Zhenming grew jealous and warned Zhao Jinglian to watch her words.

• Jiang Ping'an comprehended Yuan Ruolan's Seven Stars Return Step and pointed out several flaws, greatly improving her movements.
• Yuan Ruolan returned to practice, and Qin Suyue demonstrated her Dust Cloud Palm so Jiang Ping'an could guide her.
• Jiang Ping'an comprehended Dust Cloud Palm, identified key improvements for Qin Suyue, and declined to watch another demonstration.
• Two more girls rushed to seek Jiang Ping'an's guidance as students watched from across the Martial Arts Field.
• Zhao Zhenming resented Jiang Ping'an's popularity, and Zhao Jinglian insulted the women before Zhao Zhenming covered her mouth and cautioned her.

Jiang Ping'an chose a High-grade Martial Skill and spell, then accepted Yuan Ruolan’s gift of an Azure Feather Bird egg after she asked him to guide her in spellcasting. He learned the bird would be costly to raise, but decided to keep the egg despite Jiang Yiyi’s warning about Yuan Ruolan’s intentions.

• Jiang Yiyi pulled Jiang Ping'an away from two female students seeking his guidance, but he planned to return to the Martial Arts Field with her the next morning.
• Jiang Ping'an registered for Dragon Grasp and chose Wind Lightning Invocation, then visited the Spell Pavilion to study Supreme Spell introductions.
• Yuan Ruolan visited Jiang Ping'an, gave him an Azure Feather Bird egg in thanks for his earlier guidance, and asked him to help her with a spell the next day.
• Jiang Ping'an learned the egg was an Azure Feather Bird's and asked Jiang Yiyi to find out its price and upkeep costs.
• Jiang Yiyi reported that the egg cost about thirty Inferior Spirit Stones and warned that Yuan Ruolan might be using the expensive bird to make Jiang Ping'an dependent on her.
• Jiang Ping'an dismissed the warning and decided to keep the egg, believing the grown bird would be useful for flying travel.

Jiang Ping'an gained two ultimate martial skills and spent the morning guiding students at Taiwu Academy, collecting new techniques and helping Yuan Ruolan complete a High-grade spell. His reputation spread through the academy, and curious students and instructors planned to watch him at the Martial Arts Field the next morning.

• Jiang Ping'an used Proficiency Points to comprehend the Big Dipper Striding Gait and Cloud Dispelling Palm.
• Jiang Ping'an guided Wang Jianyu in the Violet Lightning Soul-Seizing Whip and obtained the Hundred Step Sky-Splitting Fist while advising another male student.
• Jiang Ping'an kept his promise to guide Yuan Ruolan and learned the Kan Water Dragon after observing her cast and dismiss it.
• Jiang Ping'an’s advice helped Yuan Ruolan cultivate the Kan Water Dragon to completion, allowing her to ride it through the air above the Martial Arts Field.
• Jiang Ping'an’s guidance spread through Taiwu Academy, and curious students and instructors planned to watch him at the Upper Kun Courtyard the next morning.

Jiang Ping'an drew growing attention at Taiwu Academy as he guided students, learned new abilities, and began hatching an Azure Feather Bird egg. At the Zhennan Marquis Estate, Zhao Yingpeng learned that Zhao Zhenming ranked seventeenth and Zhao Jinglian fell outside the top thousand, then summoned the list's bearer to explain the rankings.

• Li Zaidao taught the first Literary Strategy Class at the Upper Kun Courtyard, and Jiang Ping'an later accepted gifts from students he had guided before sharing Pinnacle Grade Essence Pills with Jiang Yiyi.
• Jiang Ping'an exchanged for the Spirit Bird Hatching Art, began hatching the Azure Feather Bird egg, and comprehended Mystic Water Dragon and True Force Fist.
• Jiang Ping'an guided Chen Qianqian and two other students at the Martial Arts Field, prompting admiration and intense discussion among students and instructors at Taiwu Academy.
• Zhao Yingpeng read the Great Qian Prodigy List and found Zhao Zhenming ranked seventeenth and Zhao Jinglian ranked below the top thousand.
• Su Yingluo urged Zhao Yingpeng to suspect another reason for the rankings, and he questioned the person who delivered the list about how it had been compiled.

Zhao Yingpeng and the Zhennan Marquis Estate reacted with rage and humiliation after learning that Jiang Ping'an topped the Great Qian Prodigy List, while Jiang Ping'an continued his studies at Taiwu Academy. During a visit to his mother, a tall Elder sealed the courtyard and killed a maidservant, leaving Jiang Ping'an facing an unexpected attack.

• Zhao Yingpeng learned that Jiang Ping'an was the top-ranked prodigy and flew into a rage over his son changing his surname, while Su Yingluo tried to soothe him.
• The Zhennan Marquis Dowager discovered that Zhao Zhenming ranked seventeenth, Zhao Jinglian ranked past thirteen hundredth, and Jiang Ping'an stood first, then erupted in disbelief and anger.
• Members of the Zhao family mocked Zhao Yingpeng, and news of Jiang Ping'an's history and ranking spread through White Emperor City.
• Jiang Ping'an mastered Dragon Grasp and Wind Lightning Guide, chose to study formations, and spent his time reading Supreme Martial Skill introductions.
• Jiang Ping'an visited Jiang Shuyue during the Ten-Day Rest, but a tall Elder sealed the courtyard with formation flags and killed the maidservant.

Jiang Ping'an and Jiang Shuyue faced Chen Yishan, who had come to kill them, but Jiang Ping'an’s Golden Dragon Binding Cord restrained the Dragon Transformation Realm expert. With Old Black’s help, Jiang Ping'an killed Chen Yishan and confirmed that his sword strike had not truly killed Kong Nian.

• Jiang Shuyue revealed that she had reached the Dragon Transformation Realm and confronted Chen Yishan, who had sealed the courtyard with a Four Spirits Formation and refused to spare them.
• Jiang Ping'an used the Golden Dragon Binding Cord to bind Chen Yishan, but Jiang Shuyue’s sword could not penetrate his Bloodfiend Protective Aura.
• Jiang Ping'an and Jiang Shuyue discussed having the cord strangle Chen Yishan, while Jiang Ping'an explained that it could bind him for about a day.
• Old Black arrived after tracking Jiang Ping'an through the urine he had left on him earlier, and agreed to help in exchange for half of Chen Yishan’s treasures.
• Old Black bit Chen Yishan and broke through his protection, allowing Jiang Ping'an to pierce his head with a sword.
• Jiang Ping'an confirmed that his earlier sword strike had not caused Kong Nian’s death, while Jiang Shuyue regarded Old Black warily.

After killing Chen Yishan, Jiang Ping'an and Jiang Shuyue dealt with the aftermath and learned the Zhennan Marquis Estate was unlikely to retaliate openly. Jiang Ping'an then bought Violet Lightning Liquid and tested his newly empowered "Thunderclap Guide," discovering it could unleash devastating, near-instant lightning several times at full strength.

• Jiang Ping'an took Chen Yishan's Mystic Treasure Sword and Essence Stones, gave the sword to Jiang Shuyue, and received the Storage Thumb Ring from Old Black, who destroyed the corpse.
• Jiang Shuyue worried that the Zhennan Marquis Estate would retaliate, but Old Black told Jiang Ping'an that the estate had violated a taboo and would not dare investigate the killing in Yujing.
• Old Black offered to introduce Jiang Ping'an to palace figures who could support his rise, but Jiang Ping'an refused; the two joked and chased each other through the street before Old Black departed.
• Jiang Ping'an returned to Taiwu Academy by way of Myriad Treasures Pavilion and bought a drop of Violet Lightning Liquid for his "Thunderclap Guide."
• Jiang Ping'an refined the Violet Lightning Liquid and tested "Thunderclap Guide" at the Martial Arts Field, shattering a massive bluestone and startling the students.
• Jiang Ping'an found that the spell could strike almost instantly and that his refined lightning could power seven full-strength casts, or more than twenty weaker ones.

Jiang Ping'an gave Jiang Shuyue four Supreme techniques and continued building his strength, while Zhao Jinglian revealed her connection to the attempt on his life. The chapter ended with Jiang Ping'an choosing a Supreme Martial Skill or spell to cultivate and wondering whether Zhao Zhenming had been involved in the assassination.

• Jiang Ping'an tested Dragon Grasp and Dragon Slayer Hand, then spent thirty Superior Spirit Stones cultivating and slightly expanded his Essence Sea.
• Jiang Ping'an gave Jiang Shuyue four secret manuals, including Fallen Kill Swordplay, and they agreed to wait a year or two before passing the techniques to the Jiang Manor.
• The Zhennan Marquis received an imperial reprimand and salary penalty for sending a Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator to assassinate someone, then punished Zhao Yingpeng with a year of confinement.
• Jiang Ping'an continued cultivating and teaching at the Martial Arts Field as his standing among the students grew, and the Azure Feather Bird egg hatched after eighteen days.
• Zhao Jinglian told Jiang Ping'an that Zhao Zhenming had entered the Divine Treasury Realm, then betrayed her involvement in the assassination when Jiang Ping'an confronted her.
• Seven or eight days later, Jiang Ping'an selected a Supreme Martial Skill or spell to cultivate.