Chapter Summaries

Meng Chuan completed a fusion of the Heart Demon Planting Root Chapter, gaining insight into its path toward a complete divine art and the Thunder Seed’s first ultimate move. He discovered the fusion slightly reduced the Seed’s demand for blood and qi, then left the North Foothills planning how to obtain the remaining chapters.

• Meng Chuan saw that the Root Chapter fusion had raised Heart Demon Planting’s completion by five percent and added three layers to its technique hierarchy.
• Meng Chuan realized that collecting the remaining eight chapters could give him a complete divine art inheritance with a path toward the Great Sage Realm.
• Meng Chuan learned that the Thunder Seed could gain a special ultimate move through its fusion with the Seed of Fear, but that comprehending it would be his responsibility.
• Meng Chuan tested his circulation and found that the Thunder Seed’s demand for blood and qi had decreased slightly.
• Meng Chuan concealed his true qi, took the form of a hunched old man, and cleared a path through the North Foothills before leaving; rustling sounds then came from the grass he had passed.

Meng Chuan was followed by Lin Yue, who attacked him with a wood-aspected Heavenly Demon’s multiplying doppelgangers. After destroying the encirclement, Meng Chuan released his disguise’s physical restrictions and prepared to counterattack.

• Qimu Lin Yue followed Meng Chuan through the forest using sensing mycelium beneath the ground.
• Meng Chuan spotted Lin Yue and tried to seize him, but Lin Yue evaded the attack and a headless Peach Blossom Robe corpse appeared instead.
• Countless Lin Yue doppelgangers surrounded Meng Chuan and attacked, while the true body prepared to consume him.
• Meng Chuan burst the doppelgangers’ dark green sphere with his black True Qi and realized Lin Yue had been possessed by an unfamiliar wood-aspected Heavenly Demon.
• Meng Chuan released Compression, transformed his body, and struck the ground with Heart Demon Planting True Qi as the doppelgangers charged.

Meng Chuan battled Qimu Lin Yue, a Heavenly Demon possessing Lin Yue, and tore away part of its true spirit before escaping. He blamed the fight on a fabricated figure, while United University’s investigators began searching for infiltrators and Luo Meng remembered the tortoise shell in Luo Guanyun’s private Martial Arts Training Room.

• Meng Chuan destroyed Lin Yue’s clones and attacked Qimu Lin Yue, overpowering it with Demon Planting True Qi.
• Qimu Lin Yue transformed into a huge Demonic Beast, and it and Meng Chuan tore through the mountain forest as they fought.
• Meng Chuan pierced Qimu Lin Yue’s brow, tore away part of its true spirit, and fled after taking a heavy blow.
• Meng Chuan claimed he was Ancient Adept Gu Chuan, subordinate to Lord Li Xiao, hoping to turn the demonic forces against each other.
• Luo Meng, Dong Yue, and other United University Grandmasters investigated the battlefield and ordered inspections for possible demonic infiltrators.
• Luo Meng thought of the tortoise shell in Luo Guanyun’s private Martial Arts Training Room.

Meng Chuan escaped detection after fighting the Heavenly Demon disguised as Lin Yue and reflected on how the battle advanced his martial arts. He planned to seek Demonic Path Martial Artists to cultivate fear while remaining alert to the enemy’s possible retaliation.

• Luo Meng sensed a suspiciously still aura in Meng Chuan’s dormitory but withdrew her perception when she heard him washing, then admired his early-morning training.
• Meng Chuan revealed that he had hurried back to United University to avoid being caught in an investigation and celebrated the benefits of fusing Heart Demon Planting with the Fear Chapter.
• Meng Chuan decided that Demonic Path Martial Artists were suitable targets for cultivating fear and planned to ask Chief Long to watch for opportunities.
• Meng Chuan practiced with his great spear and realized that insights from his Imaginary World training and battle with Lin Yue were improving his understanding of spear principles and fist techniques.
• Meng Chuan considered the Heavenly Demon’s escape and possible suspicions about his abilities, concluding that Principal Yang’s support made exposure unlikely.

Meng Chuan continued training after the disturbance at Mount Li, while Qimu plotted to investigate him and infiltrate the Demon Summoning Hall. Yan Hua sent Feng Yue to question Meng Chuan about Lin Yue’s disappearance, and Meng Chuan truthfully described his recent movements without revealing what he knew.

• Qimu regretted losing its Mount Li Mycelial Network and planned to investigate Ancient Adept, possibly infiltrate the Demon Summoning Hall, and rebuild its strength.
• Meng Chuan continued his usual training while his Master was away, and the fake Lin Yue made no move.
• Yan Hua sent Feng Yue to United University to ask Meng Chuan whether he had contacted Lin Yue before Lin Yue disappeared.
• Meng Chuan told Feng Yue that he had not recently met Lin Yue and recounted his movements after returning to Yong'an.
• Feng Yue thanked Meng Chuan and returned to Yan Hua to report back.

Feng Yue verified that Meng Chuan had told the truth about Lin Yue’s disappearance and returned to report to Yan Hua, while Meng Chuan continued training and strengthening his body. The chapter ended with Meng Chuan realizing that the Tiger Fiend’s feedback had given his sinews and bones Gold Essence-Qi, bringing him closer to a golden body and jade bones.

• Feng Yue checked Meng Chuan’s answers with the Truth Shell, concluded that Meng Chuan had not harmed Lin Yue, and left to report to Yan Hua.
• Meng Chuan recalled Fang Jianxing, resolved to obtain his Demon-Seeding Scripture chapter, and vowed to avenge Sister Ru.
• Meng Chuan trained his Crimson Sand Palm, Boiling Fist Short Stance, and Scorched Tail Twelve Styles, raising the latter two to Mastery.
• Meng Chuan observed that the Dragon Demon had absorbed the Tiger Fiend’s residual aura and gained a few traces of dragon form.
• Meng Chuan fed the Dragon Demon Lin Yue’s true spirit fragment, then used its feedback to temper his sinews and bones.
• Meng Chuan recognized the Tiger Fiend’s feedback as Gold Essence-Qi and sensed that it had increased his strength and advanced his physique toward a golden body and jade bones.

Meng Chuan discovered that Gold Essence-Qi’s toughness enhancement let him raise his released state to 220%, then measured his Blood Qi and confirmed his second aperture was full. The chapter left him preparing for a mutation while Chen Jing recognized his extraordinary progress and renewed his own resolve to advance.

• Meng Chuan tested Gold Essence-Qi’s effect and pushed his released state to 220%, growing nearly six meters tall before shrinking back.
• Meng Chuan concluded that Earth Essence-Qi might improve defense and bought a mid-tier Earth Binding Spirit Core to test its effect later.
• A week later, Meng Chuan advanced Heart Demon Planting to Level Two and measured his Blood Qi at 1912.8, confirming that his second aperture was full.
• Meng Chuan spoke with Chen Jing, a powerful Martial Arts Grandmaster near the Third Great Limit, and praised his strength.
• Chen Jing studied Meng Chuan’s rapid progress, judged him a formidable talent, and renewed his fighting spirit by recalling his Master’s teaching about perseverance.

Meng Chuan told Luo Guanyun that the Thunder Seed was part of Heart Demon Planting and that fusing it with the Fear Chapter reduced its blood-draining effects. Luo Guanyun saw hope for his chronic illness, then planned to investigate the remaining chapters in the Island Nation while Meng Chuan stayed in Great Chu to train and gather information.

• Meng Chuan revealed to Luo Guanyun that the Primordial Spirit Thunder Seed Technique was the Foundation Chapter of Heart Demon Planting and explained how its nine emotional chapters worked.
• Meng Chuan demonstrated his purple-black true qi and reported that merging the Fear Chapter with the Thunder Seed had reduced the technique's blood-draining effects.
• Luo Guanyun tested Meng Chuan's true force, confirmed the reduced blood-draining, and responded with relief and pride.
• Luo Guanyun planned a covert investigation in the Island Nation and instructed Meng Chuan to stay in Great Chu, train, and seek information about the remaining eight chapters.
• Luo Guanyun told Meng Chuan that he might serve as acting head of the Infinite Martial Arts Academy during his absences, and the two trained together until near dawn.

Meng Chuan mutated his Danzhong Acupoint and gained precise control over his qi and blood. Meanwhile, Lin Yue infiltrated the Yong'an Demon Summoning Hall and began turning its stronghold into an extension of itself.

• Luo Guanyun gave Meng Chuan the tortoise shell to hide at home and told him to leave Primordial Spirit and Heart Demon Planting matters to his Master.
• Lin Yue killed a guard, offered to cultivate fresh blood for Li Xiao, and was appointed Deputy High Priest of the Yong'an Branch.
• Lin Yue's mycelium consumed the mark Li Xiao planted and secretly kept some sacrificial nutrients, spreading through the Demon Summoning Hall stronghold.
• Meng Chuan successfully mutated his Danzhong Acupoint and tested its control by concentrating qi and blood in his hands and legs.
• Meng Chuan visited Dong Yue to ask how to regulate qi on his own, and Dong Yue was surprised by how quickly he had advanced.

Meng Chuan learned how to regulate his qi from Dong Yue and bought a large supply of Qiao Jia Spirit Pills as Yong'an City entered Level Two combat readiness. He broke the limits of three fire-element martial arts and gained new traits, leaving him eager to keep improving despite running low on credits.

• Dong Yue taught Meng Chuan how to guide his qi and blood through his acupoints and promised to help him cultivate the Precious Image Golden Body Skill later.
• Meng Chuan learned that Demon Nest riots and the Mount Li Shadow Incident had prompted Yong'an City to activate Level Two combat readiness.
• Meng Chuan spent nearly ten thousand credits on freshly stocked Qiao Jia Spirit Pills at the United University Dan Chamber.
• Meng Chuan practiced fire-element fist arts at Huaqing Pool and broke the limits of the Boiling Fist Short Stance, Scorched Tail Twelve Styles, and Crimson Sand Palm.
• Meng Chuan gained the Boiling Blood, Burning Scar, and Scorching Sand traits and examined their combat effects.

Meng Chuan advanced the Five Elements Universe Art to its second limit break and discovered that his Five Elements True Qi, comprehension, and defensive abilities had all improved. He returned his completed manuals to the Myriad Scrolls Martial Repository and borrowed nineteen more to continue cultivating.

• Meng Chuan tested the Scorching Sand trait and found that its Fire Toxin could corrode wood and would grow stronger with his body.
• Meng Chuan combined Boiling Blood and Scorching Sand in the Five Elements Wheel, advancing the Five Elements Universe Art to its second limit break.
• Meng Chuan found that Five Qi Unification improved his qi conversion, combat strength, recovery, and comprehension of Five Elements fist arts.
• Meng Chuan used True Qi to cover his head and upper body, then tested its increased power by churning the distant Starfall Springs pool with his fist wind.
• Meng Chuan added a Boiling Blood trait to Five Qi Unification, raising the Five Elements Universe Art's proficiency by five percent.
• Meng Chuan returned his completed fire-element manuals to the Myriad Scrolls Martial Repository and borrowed nineteen more manuals.

Meng Chuan discussed the year-end Demon Nest conscription mission and his plans to earn credits and improve his strength. He left his friends to continue training, hoping they would find him a suitable mission against Demonic Path Martial Artists.

• Meng Chuan ate lunch with Xu Qingfeng and Meng Jiaolong, then invited the Dragon-Tiger Brothers to join them.
• Meng Chuan discussed the conscription mission, where he would serve as deputy captain under She Yu, and reassured Chu Yanhu about the dangers.
• Xu Qingfeng teased Meng Chuan about She Yu's appearance and yoga pants, and Meng Chuan told him to shut up.
• Meng Chuan explained that he needed credits and stronger martial arts before the December mission, and asked the Dragon-Tiger Brothers to find him suitable work.
• The Dragon-Tiger Brothers agreed to watch the mission system for opportunities, and Meng Chuan left to practice regulating his qi with Master Dong.

Meng Chuan endured Commander Qi’s spear attacks in the Imaginary World and advanced Qi Jiguang’s Thirty-Two Form Long Fist to Perfection. He left the chapter close to breaking the fist art’s limit, but chose to recover and practice rather than spend money rushing back in.

• Meng Chuan entered the Imaginary World and fought Commander Qi through three hundred moves, improving his Eight-Step Cicada Chase footwork along the way.
• Meng Chuan countered Commander Qi’s spear with Reverse Wave Boat Crushing and held his ground against Reverse-Riding Dragon, but fell to the three hundred and first move.
• Meng Chuan’s panel showed Qi Jiguang’s Thirty-Two Form Long Fist reaching Perfection at 67%, with the Battle Soul limit-breaking trait awaiting a limit break.
• Meng Chuan reasoned that the fist art’s essence was transformation through battle and resolved to break its limit within three more attempts.
• After recovering, Meng Chuan endured twenty-one moves beyond the first three hundred before falling, raising his fist art’s proficiency to 88%.
• Meng Chuan considered buying a mental-strength recovery pill but decided to recover naturally while thinking and practicing.

Meng Chuan practiced regulating qi and hard skills, then arranged for Dong Yue to teach him the Precious Image Golden Body Skill. Dong Yue prepared to pass on the rare art and recalled the vows he had made to its dying master.

• Meng Chuan tempered his body by regulating qi and striking the acupoints for his horizontal-training skills, confirming that Rainbow Light Body still activated during the process.
• Meng Chuan called Dong Yue to arrange training in the Precious Image Golden Body Skill, and Dong Yue agreed to begin the next day.
• Meng Chuan carried a truckload of craft beer up Mount Li before dawn, and Dong Yue set aside the day to teach him.
• Dong Yue recalled receiving the Precious Image Golden Body Skill from the dying Precious Appearance Zen Master, who required him to preserve the method and find it a successor if he could not master it.

Dong Yue taught Meng Chuan the Precious Appearance Golden Body, an external training method whose successor needed the Three Tribulation Body. Convinced that Meng Chuan had the talent to master it, they prepared to begin cultivation together.

• After reflecting on the Zen master's final requirements, Dong Yue decided Meng Chuan was a suitable candidate to inherit the Precious Appearance Golden Body.
• Meng Chuan arrived with a truckload of beer, and he and Dong Yue drank before discussing the method and the Zen master's requirements.
• Dong Yue gave Meng Chuan the original bamboo scroll and explained the method's powers, difficulty, and stages of mastery.
• Meng Chuan decided to learn the method, listened closely to Dong Yue's explanation, and considered whether his Three Tribulation Body aptitude would suffice.
• Dong Yue and Meng Chuan undressed to begin practicing, and Dong Yue felt inferior after comparing their physiques.

Meng Chuan learned the entry postures of the Precious Image Golden Body Skill from Dong Yue and awakened the advanced trait Lesser Tathagata Avatar. After Dong Yue sent him off to continue studying alone, Meng Chuan began practicing in his room the next day.

• Dong Yue taught Meng Chuan the breathing method and nine postures of the Precious Image Golden Body Skill.
• Meng Chuan practiced for five hours, completed the first cycle, and received the advanced trait Lesser Tathagata Avatar.
• Dong Yue explained the Embodied Form Method, cautioned Meng Chuan against arrogance, and advised him to study Buddhist scriptures and visualize Shakyamuni.
• Dong Yue told Meng Chuan to cultivate from the manual on his own, and Meng Chuan left after thanking him.
• The next day, Meng Chuan tried practicing the skill alone in his room.

Meng Chuan reorganized his cultivation, advanced his Earth Stance and meridian training, and considered testing a powerful fire fist technique. Chief Long then invited him to join an operation against the Demon Summoning Hall's Yong'an Branch, and Meng Chuan agreed to gather strong friends and take part.

• Meng Chuan practiced Body-Containing Form Dharma, then adjusted his hard-skill schedule to prioritize Locking Dragon Body, Bone Bloom, and Duo Mo Iron Body.
• Meng Chuan advanced his Earth Stance to 22%, opened his fourth great acupoint at Yongquan, and made progress toward mutating Guanyuan.
• Meng Chuan practiced Five Elements Fist and considered learning Professor Li's Melting Core Flame Burst Fist to test the trait gained from breaking a true technique's limit.
• Chief Long told Meng Chuan that the police had uncovered a new Demon Summoning Hall base in Yong'an and were preparing a suppression operation.
• Meng Chuan agreed to join the operation, and Chief Long advised him to bring strong friends because several Vice Priests had strength comparable to the First or Second Limit.

Meng Chuan accepted a police-station mission to destroy a Demon Summoning Hall branch with the Dragon-Tiger Brothers, then attended Chen Qiushui’s lesson on the Martial Dao True Resonance required for true art fist techniques. He began studying Melting Core Flame Burst Fist but struggled to grasp its resonance and considered finding a teacher.

• Meng Chuan decided to bring the Dragon-Tiger Brothers on a mission after learning that Chen Jing was busy advancing.
• Meng Chuan accepted a United University mission to wipe out a Demon Summoning Hall branch and added the Dragon-Tiger Brothers to his team.
• Chen Qiushui explained that true art fist techniques depended on Martial Dao True Resonance, which copies lacked unless practitioners comprehended it themselves.
• Meng Chuan studied Melting Core Flame Burst Fist after class and glimpsed its true resonance, but stopped practicing because he lacked guidance.
• Meng Chuan wondered whether Teacher Lu could teach him the fire element and found Five Thunders Strike the Summit even harder to understand.

Meng Chuan began learning the Melting Core Flame Burst Fist from Lu Zhuxiao and, guided by his exceptional comprehension, quickly grasped its true essence. Meanwhile, Lin Yue listened in on the chief priest’s crisis and anticipated a chance to rise in the Demon Summoning Hall.

• Meng Chuan arranged to meet Lu Zhuxiao, checked his finances, and found no public reports about Yong'an’s demonic path.
• At the hidden stronghold, Lin Yue overheard the chief priest being ordered to make up a shortfall in nourishment or face being used as nourishment himself.
• Lu Zhuxiao watched Meng Chuan practice, agreed to teach him the basics of the Fire-aspect true martial art, and guided him through the Melting Core Flame Burst Fist.
• Meng Chuan practiced until his punches showed traces of an Intent Manifestation Prototype, while the courtyard heated and nearby leaves curled.
• Meng Chuan’s Fire Aspect True Qi condensed, and he began delivering punches that gathered and compressed fire qi into explosive blasts.

Meng Chuan realized the Melting Core Flame Burst Fist manual was incomplete and suspected Li Zhenyue had given it to test his talent. He abandoned it for other training, then improved his Precious Appearance Golden Body Skill and learned more about the Buddhist meaning of the Lesser Tathagata Avatar.

• Meng Chuan practiced the Melting Core Flame Burst Fist, sensed missing techniques, and found the panel identified the manual as incomplete at 66% completion.
• Meng Chuan reasoned that Li Zhenyue had likely left out parts of the art to test his talent, then set the manual aside and returned to practicing Five Elements traits.
• Meng Chuan wondered whether Li Zhenyue had also misled him about Five Thunders Strike the Summit, but decided to bring it to the beginner stage before judging it.
• Three days later, Meng Chuan advanced his Precious Appearance Golden Body Skill from 3% to 4% and reflected that it would take time for the art to change his already strong physical foundation.
• Meng Chuan learned that a Lesser Tathagata Avatar was an emanation body rather than a lesser version of a true body, though he did not yet know what power its trait would grant.