Chapter Summaries

Li Hao took Li Yuanzhao to the Entrance Stairway after buying breakfast, where Li Yuanzhao easily passed the first trial and Li Hao used his invitation to pass without climbing. Si Xiaolan joined them, and the group reached the second trial, a crossing over a ten-thousand-foot precipice on a single chain.

• Li Hao paid five times the price for Cotton Jade Crisps after Li Yuanzhao called ahead at Uncle Liu's stall, then shared the food with their attendants.
• Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao reached the Entrance Stairway, where Si Xiaolan registered and declared that making your way in the world depended on skill rather than family name.
• Li Yuanzhao raced up the thousand steps in three breaths, while Si Xiaolan dodged an Ape Demon and reached the summit in seven.
• Li Hao strolled up without being attacked and passed because he had an invitation, leaving Si Xiaolan furious after he showed it off.
• Li Hao, Li Yuanzhao, Si Xiaolan, and the other successful candidates reached the second trial, where chains crossed a sheer ten-thousand-foot precipice.

Li Yuanzhao carried Li Hao across the chain bridge and easily passed Tan Palace Academy’s final trial. Li Hao’s invitation did not exempt him from the required exchange, so he drew a sword and began the Falling Snow technique, leaving Si Xiaolan startled by an unexpected snowfall.

• Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao crossed the swaying chain bridge, with Li Yuanzhao carrying Li Hao and racing past the youth from the Yunzhou Su Family.
• Li Yuanzhao passed Tan Palace Academy’s final trial by trading punches with a student and forcing him to stagger backward.
• The youth from the Yunzhou Su Family, Si Xiaolan, and the other applicants arrived and learned they had to withstand one exchange with an academy student.
• Li Hao presented his invitation, but a stubborn Tan Palace Academy student insisted he complete the basic trial anyway.
• Li Hao drew a sword and used Falling Snow, making snowflakes appear before Si Xiaolan’s eyes.

Li Hao passed Tan Palace Academy’s sword trial with a display of the Falling Snow Sword Art that left the onlookers stunned. He and Li Yuanzhao reached the academy’s stone-stele plaza, where Shen Yunqing explained how students were sorted into classes, and Li Hao asked what happened if someone refused to withdraw.

• Li Hao defeated the burly young man at the trial without striking him, using the Falling Snow Sword Art to leave him unable to draw his sword.
• Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao continued along the path, while Si Xiaolan realized she had misjudged them and the other students reconsidered why they had invitations.
• Shen Yunqing remembered that one invitation holder was a cultivation cripple and hurried toward the second trial, then encountered Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao on the mountain path.
• Shen Yunqing brought the two young men to the plaza, where over a hundred candidates had gathered around three stone steles.
• Shen Yunqing explained that students entered Classes A, B, C, or D according to how quickly they comprehended cultivation methods of different grades, and Li Hao asked what would happen if someone refused to withdraw.

Li Hao recorded the Wind Severing Fist at the True State and reflected on the limits and mental states required to advance along different paths. He left the technique tablets and approached Shen Yunqing and the Gray-Robed Elder as they played a board game.

• Shen Yunqing urged Li Yuanzhao and Li Hao to study the technique tablets before admissions ended and explained that students could later challenge their way into Class A.
• Li Hao recorded the Wind Severing Fist at the True State and recalled that his various paths had reached sixth dan, while several arts had stalled at thresholds requiring Heart Entry or Entering Spirit.
• Li Hao watched the other students study the tablets, including Li Yuanzhao, Li Yun, and Li Yun’s sister, then spotted Shen Yunqing playing a board game.
• The Gray-Robed Elder defeated Shen Yunqing and drank nearly all of the Drunken Wind Brew they had wagered.
• Li Hao approached the players, and Shen Yunqing asked why he was not studying the techniques.

Li Hao showed Shen Yunqing and Zhao Zongyuan that he had mastered the Wind Severing Fist, then turned their nearly lost board game into a narrow victory. He left to complete his technique assessment, telling the elders to wait for him.

• Li Hao demonstrated a deft Wind Severing Fist move, convincing Shen Yunqing that he had already passed the technique test and directing him to the assessor.
• Li Hao read the board and showed Shen Yunqing and Zhao Zongyuan a sequence that could revive Shen Yunqing's losing position.
• Li Hao played Zhao Zongyuan and won by one and a half points after reversing the game.
• Li Hao declined to play another game until he had completed his assessment and hurried toward the middle-aged assessor in the square.

Li Yun and Li Zhining attempted the Wind Severing Fist admission test, but only Li Zhining passed. Li Hao demonstrated a far more advanced mastery, earned a Class A waist tag, and later left the mountain with Li Yuanzhao after playing several board games with two elders.

• Li Yun and Li Zhining approached the demonstration area, where Li Zhining passed the Wind Severing Fist test but Li Yun was told to keep practicing.
• Li Hao demonstrated the Wind Severing Fist at an adept or possibly perfected level and received a Class A waist tag.
• Li Hao returned to Shen Yunqing and Zhao Zongyuan, then played several close games with them while they told him about other talented Class A recruits.
• Li Yuanzhao told Li Hao he had earned his waist tag and that the others were waiting below, but Li Hao chose to stay and play longer.
• As evening fell, Li Hao finished his game, thanked the elders, and headed down the mountain with Li Yuanzhao.

Li Hao returned from the Leaping Immortal Gate trial with Li Yuanzhao, shared street food with the others, and settled into the Class A Institute at Tan Palace Academy. The chapter ended with Institute Head Su Yehua beginning the first lesson by introducing the martial dao’s eight realms.

• Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao bought street food after the trial and shared it with the people waiting at the carriage.
• Li Yun refused the food at first, while Li Zhining tried it and later told Gao Qingqing that she and Li Yun had entered the Class A Institute.
• Li Hao returned to Mountains and Rivers Courtyard and told Li Fu, Uncle Zhao, and Qingzhi that he had entered the Class A Institute.
• Tan Palace Academy began classes after its 825 places were filled, and Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao sat together in the Class A Institute.
• Su Yehua introduced herself as the institute head and principal Instructor, then named the eight realms of the martial dao.

Su Yehua explained the Soul Inheritance and spirit wandering realms, their cultivation methods, and the limits their practitioners could reach. Li Hao privately recognized that his own soul-condensation and Spirit Roaming limits far exceeded her estimates, while the chapter ended with a student asking about the latter four realms.

• Su Yehua explained that Soul Inheritance practitioners condensed their souls according to their methods and the strength of the Soul Thought they inherited.
• Su Yehua described Tan Palace Academy’s Black White Hall as an opportunity to inherit the Soul Thought of a four establishments realm expert.
• Su Yehua explained the spirit wandering realm and said Tan Palace Academy possessed a supreme Spirit Refining Method that could extend Spirit Roaming to eighteen li.
• Su Yehua estimated that the spirit wandering realm’s maximum reach might be twenty-five or thirty li, while Li Hao privately recalled reaching fifty li with multiple supreme methods and the Great Yu First Spirit Refining Method.
• Su Yehua explained that talent mattered less in the latter four realms and that temperament, comprehension, and fortunate encounters helped practitioners reach the grandmaster domain.
• A student asked Su Yehua what the latter four realms were like.

Su Yehua explained the upper Martial Dao realms and the Mo River Battle Realms, while Li Hao reflected on how close he was to becoming a grandmaster. The chapter ended after half a month at the academy, where Li Hao ignored most attempts to make connections.

• Su Yehua described the Fifteen Li, Heaven and Man, Three Immortalities, and Four Establishments realms, then said Class A students could enter Black White Hall through the Martial Dao Ranking or the Mo River Battle Realm trial.
• Li Hao considered his mastery of supreme Object Control Arts, which let him cover forty li in one breath, and recognized that he still needed a grandmaster's heart to enter the Grandmaster Realm.
• Su Yehua explained that the Five Divine General Residences protected the realm and called on Wang Han to describe the dangerous Mo River Battle Realms, where the dead awaited and those killed inside truly died.
• Su Yehua urged the students to cultivate and promised equal treatment at the academy, regardless of their status outside it.
• After class, Li Hao spoke with students who shared his interests and quickly lost interest in those who could neither play chess nor paint; half a month passed.

Li Hao spent his days avoiding martial practice, amusing himself with games, cooking, and wine while his classmates climbed the Martial Dao Ranking. After Zhao Zongyuan and Shen Yunqing recognized his talent, they realized he was heading toward the Mo River.

• Du Yueqiu asked Li Yuanzhao why Li Hao never joined the Martial Dao Ranking, and Li Yuanzhao insisted he would challenge anyone who targeted Hao Ge.
• Du Yueqiu warned that Li Hao would need to rely on himself in the Mo River Battle Realm trial a year later, and Li Yuanzhao said he would tell him about it.
• Li Hao brought roasted wild rabbits to Zhao Zongyuan and Shen Yunqing, then played a board game and won two mouthfuls of Shen Yunqing's wine.
• Zhao Zongyuan and Shen Yunqing noticed Li Hao had mastered the White Phoenix Skill to the Perfect Level in half a month and speculated that the Li Family had concealed his abilities.
• After Li Hao left, Zhao Zongyuan and Shen Yunqing realized he had taken the path leading to the Mo River.

Li Hao entered the Mo River through the shrine behind a waterfall and found himself in the Feng Mountain Fallen River, a battle realm filled with monstrous villagers. He slaughtered his way through the village, raising completion to 89%, and continued toward the stronger Black Robed Scholar.

• Li Hao slipped behind the waterfall and found a tiny shrine, where a sheet of divine light struck him and transported him into the Mo River.
• Li Hao registered the name Two and learned that he had entered the Feng Mountain Fallen River, with completion at 0%.
• Li Hao scouted the realm with his divine soul, spotted a Black Robed Scholar with a female soul avatar, and saw that darkness surrounded the far reaches.
• Li Hao entered the village and killed the attacking villagers with a dead branch, freezing and severing them as he advanced.
• Li Hao raised the Mo River's completion to 89% but realized that killing the villagers would not fully unravel it, then continued onward without leaving through the shrine.

Li Hao confronted the Black Robed Scholar in the Mo River and used his painting skill to fulfill the scholar’s wish of seeing A Yue again. The scholar and A Yue disappeared, and the Golden Paper declared Feng Mountain Fallen River cleared while warning Li Hao to leave before the Mo River vanished.

• Li Hao found the Black Robed Scholar painting A Yue’s portrait and learned that the scholar considered the villagers his slaves.
• Li Hao criticized the scholar’s painting, took his brush, and painted a lifelike portrait of A Yue using the scholar’s blood.
• The Black Robed Scholar recognized A Yue in Li Hao’s painting, thanked him, and knelt in gratitude as A Yue’s soul avatar began to change.
• The scholar’s wish was fulfilled, and he and A Yue faded away peacefully.
• The Golden Paper announced that Li Hao had cleared Feng Mountain Fallen River, awarded him 100 merit, and warned him to leave the Mo River immediately.

Li Hao cleared the Feng Mountain Fallen River, earning merit points and a place on the Great Yu Merit Board. After seeing the sacrifices behind the rankings and recognizing Master Feng and Sword Wudao among them, he realized the shrine and the planned student test had disappeared with the Mo River.

• Li Hao placed the Golden Paper in the shrine and escaped the collapsing Mo River Battle Realm as it vanished.
• The Golden Paper revealed that Li Hao, under the name Chong Er, had earned 100 merit points and ranked ninety-ninth in the Great Yu Dynasty.
• Li Hao examined the Merit Board, saw many Wang Family members among the leaders, and reflected on the sacrifices made to suppress Mo Rivers.
• Li Hao found Master Feng listed as Bu Liuxing in thirty-fifth place and Sword Wudao in seventy-sixth, and wondered about their dangerous work.
• Li Hao noticed the shrine sinking, realized he had erased the Mo River intended for next year’s student test, and fled.

Sword Wudao and others noticed a new Merit Board entry, Chong Er, after a Nether Domain Level Mo River was destroyed. At Tan Palace Academy, Song Yufeng learned that the Feng Mountain Fallen River had vanished and sent Song Yueyao and Lin Feifei to find the person responsible, who appeared to be an Outer Institute Disciple.

• Sword Wudao's third disciple asked to descend the mountain to spar with the new Grandmaster Chong Er, but Sword Wudao ordered him to train instead.
• People across the world noticed Chong Er's Merit Board entry and began investigating the newcomer or considering recruitment.
• Song Yufeng learned that the Feng Mountain Fallen River had vanished, and Song Yueyao and Lin Feifei reported seeing an unidentified Outer Institute Disciple nearby.
• Song Yufeng sent Huang Licai with Song Yueyao and Lin Feifei to identify the person and announced a reward, including the Crimson Firmament Sword.
• The academy's announcement stirred Black White Hall and the Four Institutes, while Lin Feifei questioned whether the person who cleared the Mo River could really have been an Outer Institute Disciple.

Song Yueyao and Lin Feifei searched the academy for the person who cleared Feng Mountain Fallen River but failed to identify Li Hao. Several days later, Su Yehua assigned the Class A Institute disciples demon-slaying missions, and Li Hao noticed an assignment in Qizhou.

• Song Yueyao and Lin Feifei inspected the gathered disciples but did not find the person they sought, then briefly mistook Li Hao for him when they encountered him carrying a rabbit.
• Li Hao learned from Li Yuanzhao that the academy had been searching for the person who cleared the trial and felt relieved that no one was blaming him.
• Shen Yunqing and Zhao Zongyuan discussed who might have cleared Feng Mountain Fallen River and noted that its disappearance meant the academy would need another test site.
• Several days later, Su Yehua announced that the Class A Institute disciples would begin slaying demons and distributed missions that awarded academy points.
• Li Hao noticed mission 23, which sent students to Qizhou to assist local demon-slaying teams.

Li Hao and four companions accepted the Qizhou mission and rode out from Qing Prefecture. Two hidden demon cultivators learned that Li Hao was on the road and prepared to resume their long-delayed assassination attempt.

• Li Hao chose the Qizhou mission, and Li Yuanzhao, Du Qiuyue, Ren Qianqian, and Yu Wei joined him while Zheng Bai withdrew.
• Li Hao told Li Yun and Li Zhining to be careful as the group prepared to leave.
• Li Hao ordered five Crimson Blood Horses, and the group set off toward Qizhou.
• A black bird spotted two figures secretly following the riders and reported their presence to a jiaolong at Blackwater Pool.
• Two jiaolongs revealed they had waited four years to assassinate Li Hao and decided to act now that he had left the residence.

As Li Hao and his companions stopped at a roadside tea stall, he spoke about the Li Family’s duty to protect ordinary people and shared a meal with the group. When a Black Jiaolong Beauty attacked him from fifteen li away with a scale, Li Hao caught it and rushed off to confront her.

• Li Hao and his companions stopped at a tea stall, where Li Hao explained that the Li Family defended the borders for the people, not for praise.
• Yu Wei paid for the group’s tea and snacks, while Ren Qianqian explained that she kept her sword close because it was part of her.
• Li Hao caught a scale hurled at him from far away and used his divine soul to locate the Black Jiaolong Beauty on a tree fifteen li away.
• Li Hao told the others to wait and vanished from the tea shop to deal with the attacker.

Li Hao chased down and subdued the Black Jiaolong Beauty, who had tried to assassinate him, and questioned her about the Demon Race’s plans in Northern Yan. When her husband threatened Li Fu and another fighter thirty li away, Li Hao killed the male Jiaolong by hurling her scale into his eye.

• Yu Wei, Du Qiuyue, Ren Qianqian, and Li Yuanzhao watched in shock as Li Hao vanished from the tea stall at incredible speed.
• Li Hao caught the fleeing Black Jiaolong Beauty, crushed her into a crater, and pinned her in her true form.
• Li Hao questioned the Black Jiaolong Beauty about the assassination and Northern Yan, and she revealed that taking Northern Yan was only the Demon Race’s first step.
• The Black Jiaolong Beauty called for her husband, and Li Hao used his divine soul to locate him fighting Li Fu and another man thirty li away.
• Li Hao tore a scale from the Black Jiaolong Beauty’s head and hurled it thirty li, killing her husband with a strike through the eye.

Li Hao killed the Black Jiaolong and her mate, but learned only that the Demon Race was bound by a Heart Oath to the Saint Palace. As he rode toward Qizhou with his companions, a bird carried news of his suspected Grandmaster strength to Northern Yan.

• Li Fu and Wei Feng searched for the unseen expert who had killed the Black Jiaolong's mate, then thanked the unknown rescuer.
• Li Hao questioned the Female Black Jiaolong about the Demon Race's attacks, but she revealed that a Heart Oath prevented the demons from betraying the Saint Palace.
• After learning that Li Hao had killed her husband, the Female Black Jiaolong attacked him, and he killed her without learning more about Northern Yan.
• Li Hao returned to the tea stall, confirmed to Li Yuanzhao that he had undergone Soul Inheritance, and told his companions he had dealt with a monster.
• Li Hao and his companions rode toward Qizhou as a bird carried word to the White God Lord that the Li Family had a fourteen-year-old son suspected of being a Grandmaster.
• Li Fu and Wei Feng followed the scent of blood into the woods and found the Female Black Jiaolong's corpse.

Li Hao and his companions reached Cangyu City for their demon-slaying mission, where they learned Song Yueyao had arrived as a Provincial Governor and recently slain an old demon. After Li Yuanzhao insisted they be assigned real danger, Li Hao asked Cui Fan for reports on demon sightings across the territory.

• Li Fu and Wei Feng found a dead Jiaolong and realized Li Hao’s group might have been targeted, then confirmed the travelers were safe and hurried to resume their duties.
• Li Hao and his companions arrived in Cangyu City and reported to the local Demon Suppression Division.
• The group encountered Song Yueyao leaving on a mission, and Cui Fan explained that she had slain a demon hundreds of years old shortly after arriving.
• Cui Fan offered to keep the newcomers out of danger, but Li Yuanzhao insisted they be assigned as usual so they could fight demons.
• Li Hao requested a report from Cui Fan on recent demon sightings throughout the territory.