Chapter Summaries

Jiang Xiao endured Prince Bino’s water-based assault and escaped a deadly trident attack before splitting apart the enormous water block with Diamond Green Glow. He defeated Bino without killing him, then vomited up the water he had swallowed during the fight.

• Prince Bino flooded the Green Field inside the iron cage and sent water doubles and a vortex after Jiang Xiao.
• Jiang Xiao escaped the underwater vortex by teleporting into the sky, then landed outside the competition area near Xia Yan.
• Prince Bino hurled a charged trident at Jiang Xiao, who teleported away and returned to the field’s edge.
• Jiang Xiao cleaved through the water block with his giant blade, sending torrents across the arena and sweeping Prince Bino away.
• Jiang Xiao appeared behind the fallen Bino and stopped his blade at Bino’s nose, then vomited up the water he had swallowed.

Jiang Xiao defeated Prince Bino and advanced to the global top forty-one, then celebrated with Xia Yan and gave a post-match interview. Prince Bino warned him about captains from other regions who wanted to prove themselves against him.

• Prince Bino conceded after Jiang Xiao’s tactics turned his water attacks against him, then congratulated him and invited him to West Horse Kingdom to face Sophia.
• The referee announced Jiang Xiao’s victory, and Prince Bino warned him that Lancy, Will, and Apennines’ captains were eager to challenge him.
• Xia Yan rushed onto the field to congratulate Jiang Xiao, and he carried her away from the arena before reuniting with Fang Xingyun and reporter Yang Yang.
• Jiang Xiao explained his strategy in the interview, then introduced Xia Yan as his teammate and teacher in the Xia Family Blade Art.
• Xia Shanhai watched the interview at home and approved of Jiang Xiao’s influence on Xia Yan.

After Jiang Xiao defeated the Sea Burial King and advanced to the World Cup’s top forty-one, he reviewed the other Chinese contestants’ results and prepared for the next rounds. He ended the chapter by posting a line about wishing for calm seas and mountains, which made Xia Yan suspect he had deliberately teased her.

• Jiang Xiao listened to Xia Yan read news celebrating his victory, then discussed his upcoming opponent research and Xia Shanhai’s message with her.
• Jiang Xiao watched the fourth-round results and learned that Wu Xiaojing had lost to Mexico’s Great Owl, while Xie Yan, Yu Jin, and Hou Mingming had won their matches.
• Jiang Xiao saw news coverage praise his narrow victory over Prince Bino and his defeat of the Sea Burial King.
• Jiang Xiao drafted a post about slaying gods, changed “rivers and seas” to “mountains and seas,” and published the revised line.
• Xia Yan read Jiang Xiao’s post at the airport and suspected it was a deliberate reference to his earlier teasing.

Jiang Xiao returned to the National Team’s hotel as the World Cup narrowed to its top forty-one, where the draw matched Yu Jin against Xie Yan, Hou Mingming against Camelita, and Jiang Xiao against George Star. As the chapter ended, Jiang Xiao promised Hou Mingming he would not lose, while she vowed to defeat Camelita and claim the hunting goddess’s title.

• Jiang Xiao returned to the hotel, where Hou Mingming urged him not to lose before they could face each other, then repeatedly stole his attention—and an egg—at breakfast.
• Song Chunxi’s team defeated the Pampas Eagles to reach the top thirty-three, while Wu Xiaojing finished fifth in the losers’ bracket and forty-sixth overall.
• Wu Xiaojing returned to Edo City for the top-forty-one draw, which matched Yu Jin against Xie Yan in a Huaxian civil war.
• Hou Mingming drew Camelita, setting up a long-range battle between the two renowned bow users.
• Jiang Xiao drew George Star, prompting concern among the National Team members because of George’s terrifying strength.
• Hou Mingming asked Jiang Xiao to promise he would not lose, and Jiang Xiao hooked little fingers with her before challenging her to defeat Camelita.

Jiang Xiao joined a live broadcast before Hou Mingming’s World Cup match against Camelita, where he analyzed Hou Mingming’s strengths and predicted the fight would depend on speed. He watched from the locker room as the two archers traded powerful attacks, then stared in disbelief when Camelita charged into close combat.

• Wan Ming and Ye Xunyang introduced the World Cup matches in Hachiman City, where a large Huaxia crowd cheered for Hou Mingming and Jiang Xiao.
• Hou Mingming beat Jiang Xiao repeatedly at rock-paper-scissors before he left the locker room to appear on the live broadcast.
• Jiang Xiao told Wan Ming and Ye Xunyang that Hou Mingming could win by trading attacks, but Camelita might gain an advantage by closing the distance quickly.
• Hou Mingming and Camelita exchanged arrows, with Hou Mingming using her petrification and Blue Feather Arrow to withstand and counter Camelita’s attacks.
• Camelita turned a Translucent Arrow into herself and charged Hou Mingming, who met her with her battle bow as Jiang Xiao watched in shock.

Hou Mingming defeated Camelita after turning a brief opening into a decisive barrage, and Huaxia’s victory was officially confirmed. Back in the locker room, she reminded Jiang Xiao of their agreement and demanded that he take his turn.

• Camelita switched between her battle spear and Spirit Bow as she drove Hou Mingming toward the withered-grass trap, but Hou Mingming used explosions and her stone transformation to survive the close-range exchange.
• Hou Mingming seized Camelita’s moment of disorientation and hit her with successive volleys of Black Feather Arrows, continuing the second volley after the referee’s whistle because the arrows had already been fired.
• The referee consulted the judges before raising the flag to declare Huaxia victorious, and Hou Mingming told reporters that Jiang Xiao should remember their agreement.
• Hou Mingming returned to the locker room and asked Jiang Xiao to keep his promise; he called her the strongest champion, and she asked for Zhou Cang’s contact information.

Jiang Xiao faced the unpredictable George Star, whose balloon tricks and mist-based illusions turned the opening seconds into a trap. After George dodged Jiang Xiao’s attack and knocked him aside, he grabbed his puppet and charged toward the eastern half of the field.

• Jiang Xiao entered the field with Hou Mingming and warmed up while George Star sat alone, blowing bubbles and then inflating an ordinary balloon.
• At the start of the match, George Star’s balloon burst into mist, and Jiang Xiao used Blessing to strike what appeared to be George with his giant blade.
• The impaled figure exploded as a puppet, while the real George laughed from the mist; Jiang Xiao used Silence to locate him, and Hou Mingming realized Jiang Xiao had been tricked.
• Jiang Xiao summoned Domain Tear and Purifying Tear, clearing the mist and revealing George Star and his puppet.
• George dodged Jiang Xiao’s Green Glow attack, knocked him away with a body check, grabbed the puppet, and ran toward the eastern half while laughing.

Jiang Xiao fought George Star, whose Star Skill let him switch between a real body and a puppet while filling the arena with explosive balloons. After figuring out the trick, Jiang Xiao tried to attack both at once, but George’s balloons sent him ricocheting across the arena.

• Jiang Xiao struck George Star while George used Puppet George as a shield, then George shot Jiang Xiao and exploded his real body to blast him away.
• Jiang Xiao realized that George could switch between his real body and puppet, with only one able to act at a time.
• Jiang Xiao struck George through the mist, but the stabbed George vanished into starlight as the other one came alive.
• Jiang Xiao attacked the puppet and pursued George through the mist, trying to kill both at once as George released more balloons.
• George detonated the puppet, and the balloons scattered across the arena exploded on contact, sending Jiang Xiao ricocheting through the air.

Jiang Xiao survived George Star’s suicide explosion and struggled to his feet, leaving the match’s outcome to be announced. George Star was dead, and Jiang Xiao stood badly injured but alive.

• Jiang Xiao pierced George Star’s heart, but George Star’s mist-bound field prevented Jiang Xiao from teleporting away.
• George Star detonated himself, triggering explosions across the Green Field and devastating the arena.
• The spectators feared another mutual-kill ending until Jiang Xiao’s Bell Chime sounded from the crater.
• Fang Xingyun urged the judges to declare the match and get Jiang Xiao medical treatment, while the crowd demanded a decision.
• Jiang Xiao used Blessing to recover and painfully rose to his feet, confirming he was still alive.

After defeating George Star in a match that ended with George’s self-destruction, Jiang Xiao returned to his hotel and recovered while reflecting on the battle. He learned that Xie Yan had advanced after a grueling Huaxia match against Yu Jin.

• Wan Ming and Ye Xunyang announced Jiang Xiao’s victory and praised his resolve as staff carried him from the arena.
• Fang Xingyun watched over Jiang Xiao at the hotel, and Hou Mingming left after saying Jiang Xiao had earned her respect.
• Jiang Xiao got up after Fang Xingyun left, washed, and sent a Decoy into the Calamity Shadow Ruins, where two Ghost Face Monks were eating their fallen companion.
• Han Jiangxue called Jiang Xiao, confirmed he was safe, and arranged to meet him in Edo City after her match the next day.
• Jiang Xiao saw reports that Xie Yan had defeated Yu Jin after the judging panel deliberated for seventeen minutes.

After returning to Edo City, Jiang Xiao reunited with Han Jiangxue and Xia Yan, who were shaken by the danger he had faced. He tried to reassure Han Jiangxue and proposed taking her to Star Pet Amusement Park, while joking about getting past their bodyguards.

• Jiang Xiao returned to Edo City after watching Han Jiangxue's team advance, and learned that the Magic Capital Star Warrior University team had lost to the North Road Kingdom team.
• Jiang Xiao watched Xiangnan Military School defeat the Egyptian team and advance to the top seventeen.
• Jiang Xiao met Han Jiangxue and Xia Yan at a café, where Han Jiangxue held his arm and revealed her worry about his safety.
• Jiang Xiao reassured Han Jiangxue and suggested they go out together to help her relax.
• Jiang Xiao joked about knocking out their bodyguards, and Xia Yan suggested he take them away using his space ability; Han Jiangxue smiled and stopped their bickering.

Jiang Xiao, Han Jiangxue, and Xia Yan visited Star Pet Amusement Park with their bodyguards and bought two Swaying Chimes. They wandered through the forest among the floating creatures, and the chapter left them preparing to ride a mine-cart attraction while carefully holding their new pets.

• Jiang Xiao, Han Jiangxue, and Xia Yan arrived at Star Pet Amusement Park, where Gu De handed them tickets and their bodyguards scattered through the crowds.
• Xia Yan chose a Swaying Chime, and Jiang Xiao bought one for her and one for Han Jiangxue.
• Jiang Xiao tied one Swaying Chime to Han Jiangxue's wrist and gave the other to Xia Yan, who happily stroked it.
• The trio walked through the forest filled with colorful Swaying Chimes, and Jiang Xiao photographed Han Jiangxue admiring the scene.
• As they approached a mine-cart ride, Han Jiangxue worried about the Swaying Chimes, and Xia Yan and Han Jiangxue discovered that the creatures enjoyed having their bells gently flicked.

Jiang Xiao, Han Jiangxue, and Xia Yan visited a Star Beast amusement park, where they rode through a mushroom forest, sailed across a lake, and enjoyed a rare break from training. On the bus ride home, Jiang Xiao watched Han Jiangxue sleep and wished he could give her more peace amid their demanding goals.

• Jiang Xiao and his companions rode through a forest of giant mushrooms, where a floating flower settled on Jiang Xiao's head and repeatedly returned after Han Jiangxue tried to remove it.
• Jiang Xiao touched the Swaying Chimes with Blessing, causing them to fall unconscious, and Han Jiangxue and Xia Yan caught them before they hit the ground.
• The trio boarded a square duck boat and watched spherical fish leap from the lake, inflate, and spray water over the visitors.
• Jiang Xiao, Han Jiangxue, and Xia Yan left the amusement park after buying souvenirs and confirming the Swaying Chimes were unharmed.
• On the bus, Han Jiangxue rested her head on Jiang Xiao's shoulder, and Jiang Xiao kissed her hair while wishing he could help her sleep without worrying.

As the individual competition’s final 21 drew their opponents, Jiang Xiao learned he would face his teammate Xie Yan in a Huaxia civil war. Xie Yan urged him to ignore public pressure and fight without holding back, leaving Jiang Xiao wondering what had happened in Xie Yan’s earlier match against Yu Jin.

• The chapter described Jiang Xiao’s scarce Star Slots, his decision to pursue a powerful Star Pet, and his hope that Decoy would eventually develop its own Star Map.
• The draw matched Hou Mingming against Saito Nobuyuki, a fast and dangerous close-combat opponent.
• The draw matched Jiang Xiao against Xie Yan, prompting Jiang Xiao to curse as the auditorium fell silent over the prospect of a Huaxia teammate eliminating another.
• Xie Yan told Jiang Xiao to respect their profession and give everything to win, even if the fight came down to life and death.
• After Xie Yan left, Jiang Xiao wondered whether the earlier match between Xie Yan and Yu Jin had concealed a deeper story.

Jiang Xiao waited for his match against Xie Yan while the hosts introduced the day’s bouts and the contestants. The chapter ended as Neil Muller opened his fight against Jo Deng Smith with a powerful attack, leaving Jiang Xiao surprised by the Shield of Europe’s offense.

• Jiang Xiao reflected on the draw, his match with Xie Yan, and the possibility that Xie Yan could earn a place on the National Team.
• CCTV sent Ye Xunyang and Ma Ke to Quyu City to cover the matches, while Wan Ming remained suspended from hosting after his outburst.
• Ma Ke and Ye Xunyang introduced Neil Muller versus Jo Deng Smith and Jiang Xiao versus Xie Yan.
• Jiang Xiao watched Neil Muller summon a gigantic Kite Shield and a huge battle hammer before launching an attack at Jo Deng Smith.
• Jiang Xiao wondered whether Neil Muller or Jo Deng Smith was really the giant shield and the mage.

Jiang Xiao watched Will Country captain Neil Muller overpower and defeat George Star, the Fire Mage from the Never Setting Sun Kingdom. Impressed by Neil’s strength, Jiang Xiao joked that he wanted to fight him next, while Fang Xingyun struggled to humor him.

• Jiang Xiao and Fang Xingyun watched Neil Muller relentlessly charge through George Star’s fire attacks and counterattacks.
• Neil struck George Star into a deep pit with an illusory hammer, but George answered by summoning a swarm of Fire Phoenixes.
• Neil unleashed a devastating hammer attack that smashed through the Fire Phoenixes and devastated the field, leaving George gravely injured.
• The referee declared Will Country the winner, and Neil displayed his undamaged National Team Uniform to the crowd.
• Jiang Xiao asked Fang Xingyun to predict that he would fight Neil next, then asked her to say he would lose to Xie Yan; Fang Xingyun angrily told him to get his affairs in order and die.

Jiang Xiao and Xie Yan fought in the National Team selection match, where their Silence and Black Flame Star Skills turned the cage into a battlefield of pain. As Jiang Xiao’s Rain of Tears exposed Xie Yan’s buried memories, Xie Yan roared in anguish, leaving the match unresolved.

• Jiang Xiao struck Xie Yan’s opening black-flame attack with Silence Judgment, and the two battled with the great blade inside the Silence Domain.
• Xie Yan escaped the domain, spread black flames across the cage, and used shadow Star Skills to conceal himself while Jiang Xiao’s rain revealed his position.
• Jiang Xiao endured the pain of Xie Yan’s flames through Wounding Tear and Domain Tear, then flashed back to retrieve his great blade as Xie Yan attacked.
• Xie Yan’s pain and Jiang Xiao’s mental attack brought back memories of his mother’s death, his father’s pride, and the last angry words he had said to his father.
• Xie Yan roared and punched toward the sky, his memories stopping on his father praising him over a cup of wine.

Jiang Xiao defeated Xie Yan after enduring his black flames, calming his mind, and choking him unconscious. Xie Yan recovered and thanked Jiang Xiao for pulling him back, while Jiang Xiao left him to face his own story.

• Xie Yan engulfed the arena in black flames and inflicted immense pain on Jiang Xiao, who trapped him with Silence and extinguished the flames.
• Seeing Xie Yan charge with blank white eyes, Jiang Xiao fought him at close range inside a Silence Domain, then healed and soothed him with Blessing and Bell Chime.
• Jiang Xiao locked Xie Yan in a chokehold until he passed out, winning the match for Huaxia, then restored his vitality.
• Xie Yan woke coughing, accepted Jiang Xiao's hand, and stood as the crowd applauded.
• Xie Yan murmured that Jiang Xiao had pulled him back, and Jiang Xiao replied that he had pulled him back up before walking away.

After Jiang Xiao defeated Xie Yan, he gave a provocative, humorous interview before Teacher Fang reprimanded him and asked him to act more composed. When Jiang Xiao learned that Hou Mingming had lost to Saito Nobuyuki, he realized why Teacher Fang had been so concerned.

• Jiang Xiao told Yang Yang that he would become the greatest support-type competitor in World Cup history after the next match.
• Jiang Xiao advised young Awakened to choose weapons suited to their talents, then joked that he had fallen in love with the great blade after seeing Xia Yan use it.
• Teacher Fang ended the interview and scolded Jiang Xiao for making careless remarks in front of a worldwide audience.
• Teacher Fang asked Jiang Xiao to behave more composedly in interviews, and Jiang Xiao agreed to do so for one match.
• Jiang Xiao checked the results of Hou Mingming's match and discovered that she had lost to Saito Nobuyuki.

After defeating Xie Yan, Jiang Xiao read about Hou Mingming’s loss and agreed to help her recover from the setback. He visited her room that night, where she confronted him as he tried to discuss the weaknesses that had cost her the match.

• On the shuttle bus, Jiang Xiao read reports about his victory and Hou Mingming’s defeat, while Fang Xingyun urged him not to let the news affect him.
• Fang Xingyun asked Jiang Xiao to persuade Hou Mingming, and he agreed to check on her after they arrived at the hotel.
• Jiang Xiao let the celebratory crowd surround Xie Yan, then teleported away and later brought egg-yolk pastries to Hou Mingming’s room.
• Hou Mingming let Jiang Xiao in but told him she was fine; she said her arrows had exploded against the wrong person during the match.
• Jiang Xiao compared Hou Mingming’s vulnerability to distance with the weaknesses she exploited in other contestants, and she grabbed him by the collar.
• Jiang Xiao asked Hou Mingming to identify his own fatal weakness and insisted that he was not mocking her.