Chapter Summaries

Jiang Chen learned that the Great Zhou Royal Family wanted to make peace with him, then began the second round of the Great Zhou Martial Competition. He drew Hu Sheng of the Hu Family, who had arranged to face him by switching appearance numbers.

• The Dynasty Lord and the royal family's Martial Venerable Old Ancestors discussed Jiang Chen's power and decided to avoid offending him while warning him about Ye Yuntian's background.
• Jiang Chen received the royal family's letter, said he already knew about Ye Yuntian, and told the messenger he would leave the royal family alone as long as they did not provoke him.
• The Dynasty Lord felt relieved when he received Jiang Chen's reply, and the second round began after the contestants rested for a day.
• Jiang Chen drew Group Seven, Number Fifteen, and soon faced Hu Sheng, the Hu Family's number-one genius.
• Jiang Chen suspected something was wrong, and Hu Sheng had indeed switched appearance numbers to arrange a match against him.

Jiang Chen faced Hu Sheng in the Great Zhou Martial Competition and killed him after overpowering his attacks. He left the arena victorious, while the spectators recoiled from his strength and ruthlessness.

• Hu Sheng challenged Jiang Chen to avenge his younger brother Hu Hong and demanded that Jiang Chen kneel and beg for mercy.
• Jiang Chen broke Hu Sheng's Purple Blood Divine Hand with a punch, then struck him with a second punch that sent him flying and badly injured him.
• Jiang Chen engulfed Hu Sheng in Pill Fire, while the Hu family patriarch was stopped from intervening by Murong Ren.
• Jiang Chen prevented Hu Sheng from calling out his surrender, and Hu Sheng burned to ashes.
• The referee declared Jiang Chen the winner, and the spectators moved aside as he left the arena.

After Jiang Chen killed Hu Sheng, the other prodigies and the Tianyun Sect recognized his formidable strength, while the Hu Clan withdrew from the competition rather than risk another confrontation. Jiang Chen remained determined to win first place, and He Yushi hinted to Zhao Ruxue that he was already famous under another identity.

• Ye Yuntian, Hai Wuya, and the other prodigies grew wary of Jiang Chen after he killed Hu Sheng.
• Li Xingyun warned Jiang Chen that the Hu Clan might retaliate, but Jiang Chen said he would handle them and vowed to win first place.
• The Hu Clan Head ordered his people to leave the competition, and the Dynasty Lord warned that the Hu Clan would face consequences if it provoked Jiang Chen again.
• He Yushi told Zhao Ruxue she was confident Jiang Chen would defeat Ye Yuntian and win the competition.
• He Yushi hinted that Jiang Chen was famous throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty under another identity, but refused to reveal it.

After the second round of the prodigy competition, the Hu family discussed avenging Hu Sheng’s death until Dark Underworld’s Fu Tianzheng arrived and proposed joining forces against Jiang Chen. Fu Tianzheng revealed that Jiang Chen had killed thirty Dark Underworld experts and was far stronger than his apparent cultivation suggested.

• The judge announced that the third round would take place after a day of rest, with forty spots decided before eliminated prodigies fought for the remaining ten.
• Hu Beiluo vowed revenge on Jiang Chen for killing Hu Sheng, and Hu Jiafeng warned that Jiang Chen could become a threat to the Hu family.
• Fu Tianzheng entered the Hu family’s main hall, startling the gathered experts with his Martial Venerable Realm strength.
• Fu Tianzheng identified himself as a Dark Underworld member and proposed cooperating with the Hu family to eliminate Jiang Chen.
• Fu Tianzheng told the Hu family that Jiang Chen had killed thirty Dark Underworld Martial Emperor Realm experts and was himself a Martial Emperor, not a Martial King.

Fu Tianzheng warned the Hu Clan that Jiang Chen had destroyed powerful enemies and that the Dark Netherworld had sent more than twenty Martial Venerable experts to kill him. He offered to make the Hu Clan the Great Zhou Dynasty’s royal clan in exchange for half its tax revenue, leaving the clan to weigh the tempting deal.

• Fu Tianzheng told the Hu Clan that Jiang Chen had killed the Netherworld experts at Moonlight Lake and destroyed Ziyan Mansion and Senluo Sect.
• The Hu Clan Head realized Jiang Chen could destroy the clan, while Fu Tianzheng revealed the Dark Netherworld had sent more than twenty Martial Venerable experts to kill him.
• Fu Tianzheng proposed making the Hu Clan an affiliated force and supporting it in overthrowing the Murong Clan and taking the throne.
• Fu Tianzheng demanded half of the Hu Clan’s annual tax revenue and offered to let several clan members join the Dark Netherworld.
• The Hu Clan members were tempted by the promise of power, wealth, and protection.

Fu Tianzheng secured the Hu Family’s support for Dark Nether’s plan to kill Jiang Chen and seize control of the Great Zhou Dynasty. As the third round began, Dark Nether assassins concealed themselves among the spectators, waiting to strike.

• Fu Tianzheng persuaded the Hu Family to help Dark Nether kill Jiang Chen after he won the Great Zhou Martial Competition and to take control of the dynasty.
• Fu Tianzheng warned the Hu Family to obey his orders, and the Hu Family Head ordered his clansmen to keep the plan secret.
• At Tianyun Sect, Jiang Chen and Wu Liqiao celebrated advancing to the third round, while the disciples praised Jiang Chen’s strength.
• Li Xingyun asked Jiang Chen about his grudge with Ye Yuntian, and Jiang Chen said he would handle it himself and had nothing to fear from Chaohai Sect.
• The third round began, and masked Dark Nether experts gathered among the spectators while hiding their Martial Venerable Realm cultivation.

Jiang Chen confronted Ye Yuntian and Liu Yun as the third round of the Great Zhou Martial Competition began, while Dark Nether’s experts continued watching for a chance to attack him. Zhao Ruxue won her match and hoped to secure a place in the Genius Trial before she aged out of eligibility.

• Dark Nether’s Martial Venerable Realm experts, including Fu Tianzheng, watched Jiang Chen and planned to attack after the competition ended.
• Jiang Chen challenged Ye Yuntian and Liu Yun to face him in the arena, and Liu Yun apologized for her past actions.
• Ye Yuntian defended Liu Yun and threatened to kill Jiang Chen, who answered defiantly.
• The third-round matches began, and Zhao Ruxue defeated her Martial King Realm, Eighth Level opponent.
• Zhao Ruxue told An Qingyue and the others that she needed one more win to claim a spot and pursue the Genius Trial.

Jiang Chen defeated Hai Wuya in their tournament match, overwhelming the Heavenly Sword Sect’s top prodigy with his saber and forcing him to admit defeat. Hai Wuya returned to his sect under pressure to compete for a remaining quota.

• Jiang Chen and Hai Wuya stepped onto the platform, and Hai Wuya vowed to defeat him despite recognizing his strength.
• Hai Wuya attacked with the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Great Sword Chaos Slash, but Jiang Chen’s Demonic Soul Chaos Slash shattered the sword phantoms and drove Hai Wuya back.
• Jiang Chen rushed Hai Wuya with Ghost Shadow Steps, knocked him flying, and held the Demonic Soul Blade to his neck.
• Hai Wuya admitted defeat, and the referee declared Jiang Chen the winner.
• The Heavenly Sword Sect Master questioned Hai Wuya, who admitted Jiang Chen was stronger and promised to do his best to secure a later quota.

The Great Zhou Martial Competition reached its final stage, and Jiang Chen agreed to face Ye Yuntian in the battle for the top five. As the other finalists prepared for their matches, Jiang Chen and Ye Yuntian were grouped together to settle their grudge.

• The Hu Family and Ye Yuntian recognized Jiang Chen’s formidable strength, while Mo Qingyan worried that killing Ye Yuntian could bring the Great Yan Sect after him.
• The top forty contestants were decided, and Fu Tianzheng told the Hu Family Head to wait before acting against Jiang Chen.
• After two hours, ten contestants stepped forward to compete for the top five, including Jiang Chen, Ye Yuntian, and Hai Wuya.
• Ye Yuntian challenged Jiang Chen to settle their grudge, and Jiang Chen agreed.
• The referee placed Jiang Chen and Ye Yuntian in the same group and left the other eight contestants to draw lots.

Jiang Chen faced Ye Yuntian in the final top-five elimination match and revealed that he had reached the Martial Emperor Realm, Tenth Level. He seized Ye Yuntian and crippled his limbs, leaving him unable to surrender or fight back.

• Murong Jue, Hai Wuya, Zhao Qingtian, and Shi Tiansheng won the first four matches and entered the top five.
• Jiang Chen and Ye Yuntian took the arena, each intent on killing the other over their long-standing grudge.
• Ye Yuntian attacked with Great Thunder Sacred Light, but Jiang Chen emerged unharmed as his aura surged.
• Jiang Chen revealed his cultivation at the Martial Emperor Realm, Tenth Level, shocking Ye Yuntian and the audience.
• Jiang Chen grabbed Ye Yuntian by the neck and pierced the joints of his four limbs with streams of force, stopping him from fighting or surrendering.

Jiang Chen overwhelmed Ye Yuntian in the Great Zhou Martial Competition and refused to let the Chaohai Sect intervene. Wei Tiansheng gathered the sect’s experts to rescue Ye Yuntian, while Jiang Chen prepared to face them.

• Jiang Chen severely injured Ye Yuntian, threw him into the arena floor, and pinned him beneath his foot.
• Wei Tiansheng ordered Jiang Chen to stop, but Jiang Chen argued that the match could not end until Ye Yuntian conceded.
• The Dynasty Lord backed Jiang Chen by insisting that outsiders could not interfere, prompting Wei Tiansheng to threaten the royal family.
• Wei Tiansheng summoned dozens of Chaohai Sect Martial Emperor experts to rescue Ye Yuntian.
• Jiang Chen faced the assembled experts without fear and warned Ye Yuntian that they would not save him.

Jiang Chen threatened Chaohai Sect after Wei Tiansheng tried to protect Ye Yuntian, then proved his power by killing several of its Martial Emperor experts and breaking Wei Tiansheng’s Great Might Battle Spear. Wei Tiansheng’s attack failed, leaving him stunned as Jiang Chen declared him too weak to defeat him.

• Jiang Chen warned Wei Tiansheng to withdraw and claimed he would destroy Chaohai Sect if it stood in his way.
• Wei Tiansheng rejected Jiang Chen’s threat and ordered Chaohai Sect’s experts to attack while sparing Ye Yuntian.
• Jiang Chen summoned the Demonic Soul Blade and killed several charging Martial Emperor experts with one strike.
• Wei Tiansheng attacked Jiang Chen with his Great Might Battle Spear.
• Jiang Chen used Magic Dragon Hand to shatter the phantom spear and mocked Wei Tiansheng for lacking Martial Venerable Realm strength.

Jiang Chen overwhelmed Chaohai Sect and revealed that he was the famous mercenary Demonic Dragon. After Wei Tiansheng and his men begged for mercy, Jiang Chen killed them, leaving Ye Yuntian helpless and the Hong Family relieved they had not challenged him.

• Jiang Chen struck Chaohai Sect with the Magic Dragon Hand, killing some Martial Emperor experts and leaving the survivors badly injured.
• Jiang Chen revealed that his mercenary codename was Demonic Dragon, and Mo Qingyan confirmed his identity to the spectators.
• Wei Tiansheng begged Jiang Chen to spare Chaohai Sect, but Jiang Chen refused and attacked them with blade qi.
• Jiang Chen killed Wei Tiansheng and the remaining Chaohai Sect experts, while Ye Yuntian despaired and the Hong Family counted themselves fortunate.

Jiang Chen revealed his overwhelming strength against Miao Jun, the First Level Martial Venerable and Chaohai Sect's Old Ancestor, after defeating Chaohai Sect's other experts. He activated Magic Dragon Possession and killed Miao Jun, leaving the assembled forces terrified of him.

• Miao Jun arrived after receiving Wei Tiansheng's message and vowed to kill Jiang Chen for slaughtering Chaohai Sect's experts.
• Miao Jun attacked with Seven Kill Primordial Divine Slash, but Jiang Chen countered with Demonic Soul Slash and emerged unharmed.
• Jiang Chen activated Magic Dragon Possession and rushed Miao Jun, overpowering him with a blade strike that nearly cleaved his body in two.
• Miao Jun fell to the arena floor and died, while Ye Yuntian and the assembled spectators watched in horror.

Jiang Chen killed Ye Yuntian and won the Great Zhou Martial Competition after the other finalists forfeited. Liu Yun fled the royal capital, while Jiang Chen and Tianyun Sect celebrated his victory and his identity as the Demon Dragon became clear to Li Xingyun.

• Jiang Chen challenged anyone who would defend Chaohai Sect, then returned to Ye Yuntian and killed him after declaring that the Great Yan Sect could not save him.
• Liu Yun left the scene and planned to flee the royal capital, believing Ye Yuntian's death had given her a chance to escape.
• Jiang Chen asked the referee to announce his victory, and Murong Jue announced that the other four finalists were forfeiting first place.
• The referee declared Jiang Chen the winner of the Great Zhou Martial Competition, and the crowd and Tianyun Sect disciples cheered.
• Li Xingyun realized that Jiang Chen had been the Demon Dragon he had seen on the battlefield.

After the Great Zhou Martial Competition ended, Dark Nether’s Li Feipeng and twenty-three other Martial Venerable experts revealed themselves and confronted Jiang Chen. Li Feipeng threatened Jiang Chen and announced Dark Nether’s plan to destroy the Murong Royal Family and install the Hu Family as rulers.

• The Dynasty Lord announced that the top fifty competitors could choose to attend the Genius Trial and seek entry into a Great Sect.
• Li Feipeng appeared and challenged Jiang Chen, revealing that he was a fourth-level Martial Venerable from Dark Nether.
• Twenty-three more Dark Nether experts took to the air, displaying their Martial Venerable auras and surrounding Jiang Chen.
• Li Feipeng accused Jiang Chen of killing Dark Nether members and declared that Dark Nether would kill him for it.
• Mo Qingyan realized she could not intervene, while the Dynasty Lord was shocked by Dark Nether’s overwhelming force.
• Fu Tianzheng declared that Dark Nether would erase the Murong Royal Family and have the Hu Family take over the Great Zhou throne.

Dark Nether turned against the Murong Royal Family and ordered Jiang Chen’s death, but Jiang Chen proved far stronger than expected. After killing seventeen Martial Venerable Realm experts, he left Li Feipeng as his remaining opponent.

• Li Feipeng dismissed the spectators and had Dark Nether surround the Murong Royal Family while Jiang Chen’s allies withdrew.
• Dark Nether experts attacked Jiang Chen, but he used Magic Dragon Fist to injure several Martial Venerable Realm opponents.
• Li Feipeng asked Jiang Chen about the Nether Fruit and attacked him with Ruthless Profound Iron Emperor Hand.
• Jiang Chen countered Li Feipeng with Magic Dragon Hand and the Demonic Soul Blade, forcing him back.
• Dark Nether’s Martial Venerable Realm experts joined the fight, but Jiang Chen killed all seventeen with Shadowless Slash.

Jiang Chen killed seventeen Martial Venerable Realm experts, then fought Li Feipeng after he transformed using the Asura Incarnation Art. By devouring the blood essence of the dead, Jiang Chen broke through into the Martial Venerable Realm, First Level.

• Jiang Chen killed seventeen Martial Venerable Realm experts with a single move, shocking the Murong Royal Clan and the other onlookers.
• Li Feipeng used the Asura Incarnation Art, transforming into an armored monster and greatly increasing his strength at the cost of his lifespan.
• Jiang Chen entered a demonic state and traded dozens of blows with Li Feipeng, whose transformed claws could withstand the Demonic Soul Blade.
• Jiang Chen activated Infinite Devour and absorbed the remaining blood essence from the corpses around him.
• Jiang Chen broke through into the Martial Venerable Realm, First Level, astonishing Li Feipeng.

Jiang Chen reached the Martial Venerable Realm, killed Li Feipeng and the remaining Dark Nether experts, and watched the Murong Clan destroy the Hu family. He left to erase the Chaohai Sect and secured the Murong Clan’s promise to protect the Tianyun Sect.

• Jiang Chen broke through to the Martial Venerable Realm, First Level, after absorbing the energy of his enemies.
• Jiang Chen killed Li Feipeng with one enhanced slash, then pursued and burned the six fleeing Dark Nether experts to death with Pill Fire dragons.
• The Murong Clan surrounded and slaughtered the Hu family after the Dark Nether threat was gone, and Murong Ren killed the Hu family head.
• The Dynasty Lord and Murong Clan thanked Jiang Chen, who announced that he would destroy the Chaohai Sect and asked them to protect the Tianyun Sect.
• The Dynasty Lord promised to protect the Tianyun Sect, and Jiang Chen departed.

After surviving Dark Nether’s attack and advancing to the Martial Venerable Realm, Jiang Chen flew to the Chaohai Sect to fulfill his promise to destroy it. He confronted the sect at its mountain gate, where its disciples still did not know that its leaders had fallen.

• Jiang Chen emerged from the arena alive, and onlookers realized he had reached the Martial Venerable Realm.
• Cloud Pill Fairy admired Jiang Chen but decided to report his survival to Dark Nether and leave the Great Zhou Dynasty.
• Jiang Chen flew to the Chaohai Sect, where the leaders were secretly grieving the deaths of their Old Ancestor, sect master, and other experts.
• Jiang Chen called the Chaohai Sect’s people out, and the gatekeeper disciples challenged him without knowing their leaders had fallen.
• Jiang Chen declared that the Chaohai Sect would cease to exist after that day.