Chapter Summaries

Chen Chuan applied for the Infinite Defense Certificate and planned to begin courses for the Second Limit. Meanwhile, the Mutual Aid Society pressured Tai Dongwei, Geng Zheng, and Deng Fu to take the examination alongside Senior Wei and deliberately fail, leaving Geng humiliated after he agreed.

• Chen Chuan told Cheng Zitong he was ready to pursue the Second Limit, then filled out an application for the Infinite Defense Certificate.
• Tai Dongwei returned from a commission with Zhuang Zhi, Feng Sheng, and Zhuang Zhongshan, then was summoned to North Peak Villa with Geng Zheng and Deng Fu.
• Jiang Wei told the three students to take the Infinite Defense Certificate examination with Senior Wei and ensure they failed, offering money and other benefits in exchange.
• Deng Fu and Tai Dongwei agreed, but Geng Zheng asked to take the examination seriously and argued that he could pass.
• Jiang Wei threatened to withdraw the Mutual Aid Society's support and impose a penalty, so Geng Zheng reluctantly agreed to fail the examination.
• After the powerful students left, Geng Zheng rejected Tai Dongwei's comfort while Deng Fu took his check and advised him to abandon his aspirations.

Chen Chuan received approval to take the Infinite Defense Certificate examination, then received the sealed assessment materials at his aunt’s home. The assessment would take place in the wilderness outside the city, and he planned to attempt the Second Limit before setting out.

• After a month of waiting, Chen Chuan learned from Cheng Zitong that his application to take the Infinite Defense Certificate examination had been approved, with the assessment due before September.
• Cheng Zitong told Chen Chuan to stay at home while the assessment materials were delivered and warned him not to discuss them over the phone.
• Chen Chuan left school for his aunt’s home, where he read Three Mountains Legends while waiting for the assessment details.
• Commissioner Cao personally delivered the assessment briefcase to Chen Chuan after verifying his identity and obtaining his signature.
• Chen Chuan opened the briefcase and found maps, route information, and an assessment certificate; he concluded that the examination would take place in the wilderness and planned to attempt the Second Limit first.

Tai Dongwei received notice to take the Grade C Defense Certificate assessment, while Cheng Zitong arranged a Training Hall where Chen Chuan could prepare for the assessment and train discreetly. After reaching the First Limit’s plateau, Chen Chuan decided to enter the Second Limit and drank Elixir Water, leaving his attempt to begin.

• Tai Dongwei received an assessment notice and reflected on Shen Zheng’s past kindness and failed hopes of changing their circumstances.
• Chen Chuan visited the Training Hall Cheng Zitong had arranged, where Cheng Zitong explained how the venue would conceal his absences and provided Second Limit reference materials.
• Chen Chuan trained and studied at the Training Hall while occasionally visiting the academy and his company.
• After more than half a month, Chen Chuan found that his First Limit progress had nearly stalled and reviewed the requirements for the Second Limit.
• Chen Chuan prepared to begin the Second Limit and drank a specially strengthened dose of Elixir Water.

Chen Chuan used elixir water, force training, and the Guarding and Storing Breathing Method to awaken and connect the mutated tissue in his internal organs, reaching the second limit on the third day. His overlap with his second self increased to nearly three hours, and he began studying He Xiaoxing’s guidance on combat after the breakthrough.

• Chen Chuan drank a full cup of elixir water and spent the day stimulating the mutated tissue in his internal organs while his second self transferred the damage.
• Chen Chuan continued guiding the tissue’s growth over the next two days, carefully connecting it into a unified whole.
• Chen Chuan established a fragile cycle in his internal organs and officially entered the second limit of combat cultivation.
• Chen Chuan tested his improved strength and found that his overlap with his second self had increased by roughly forty minutes, to nearly three hours.
• Chen Chuan read He Xiaoxing’s notebook, which advised him to focus on using strength and speed in combat.

Chen Chuan continued consolidating his mutations while preparing to travel to the wasteland for his assessment. After declining to advise Min Lan about an unknown cult, he told Cheng Zitong he planned to leave at the end of the month, and Cheng Zitong agreed to prepare his supplies and cover his absence as training.

• Chen Chuan trained with his mutated tissue and reviewed the wasteland map, deciding to spend another half month consolidating his gains before taking the assessment.
• Min Lan asked Chen Chuan for help with a cult whose members had repeatedly disappeared, but he said he could not advise her without evidence of a supernatural connection.
• Chen Chuan decided not to involve Director Lei or pursue Min Lan's problem because he needed to prepare for his assessment.
• Chen Chuan told Cheng Zitong he intended to leave at the end of the month and could carry only necessary travel supplies and equipment.
• Cheng Zitong gave Chen Chuan a Departure Form and a phone number, offered to cover his absence as training, and warned him to avoid getting involved in other matters.

Chen Chuan traveled from Yangzhi City to the remote Land of Chaos to begin his assessment, following the Review Group’s instructions and meeting examiner Hu Qian. Hu Qian settled him at her inn and gave him the assessment targets, leaving him to prepare for the trial.

• Chen Chuan left Yangzhi City with Cheng Zitong and received a train ticket from a Review Group member in Shangbu City.
• Chen Chuan traveled overnight by train, discovered his mutated organs could alternate between resting and remaining alert, and noticed other passengers who might be heading to the Land of Chaos.
• Chen Chuan arrived at the snowy final station and called Hu Qian, who came to collect him in an off-road vehicle.
• Hu Qian brought Chen Chuan to her inn, explained the lodging arrangements, and gave him the assessment target booklets.

Chen Chuan studied the fugitives he had been assigned to eliminate and learned that they possessed a dangerous Tayana Battle Spider. After deciding to approach them as a potential buyer, he offered Hu Qian a Wan Sheng Gold Note to prove his sincerity.

• Hu Qian described Fist Lion, Painter, Ran Xiaoli, and the conjoined brothers Tuo Qi, warning Chen Chuan about their abilities and the Battle Spider they planned to sell.
• Hu Qian showed Chen Chuan the fugitives’ nearby location and agreed to help him obtain weapons, while privately discussing her concerns with a middle-aged man.
• Chen Chuan studied the map and concluded that he should attack quickly, but first needed to confirm that all the main fugitives were present.
• Hu Qian reported that the main members were still together, and Chen Chuan proposed posing as their buyer.
• Chen Chuan gave Hu Qian a Wan Sheng Gold Note as a deposit and claimed he had more, leaving Hu Qian to decide how to approach Fist Lion’s group.

Chen Chuan arranged to meet Fist Lion’s crew over a potential deal, while Hu Qian supplied him with smoke bombs and reported his actions to the assessor. Fist Lion planned to pit Chen Chuan against another buyer and considered seizing Fox Immortal’s territory; the next morning, Hu Qian arrived to take Chen Chuan to the meeting.

• Hu Qian accepted Chen Chuan’s introduction fee and arranged for Fist Lion’s crew to meet him, while the middle-aged assessor recorded a favorable evaluation of Chen Chuan.
• Hu Qian told Chen Chuan that Fist Lion’s crew had agreed to meet the next day, and Chen Chuan bought four smoke bombs, receiving two more free.
• Fist Lion learned that both Mr. Blue Jay and Fox Immortal’s contact would inspect the goods the next day, and he planned to judge their sincerity and possibly overpower a weak buyer.
• Chen Chuan prepared for the meeting by maintaining the Snow Monarch Blade, packing marching powder, and waiting for Hu Qian’s message.
• Hu Qian arrived around ten in the morning, and Chen Chuan took his blade and set out with her.

Chen Chuan went to Fist Lion’s hideout to inspect the goods, but attacked without warning and slaughtered Fist Lion and his armed men. Hu Qian and Old Wan rushed inside after hearing his roar and found Chen Chuan standing amid the corpses.

• Hu Qian drove Chen Chuan and Old Wan near Fist Lion’s building, and Chen Chuan entered to negotiate while Old Wan accompanied him.
• Fist Lion stalled Chen Chuan’s request to inspect the goods until another buyer arrived, while his men surrounded the guests with guns.
• Chen Chuan suddenly drew the Snow Monarch Blade and cut Fist Lion in half, then swept through the lackeys and beheaded Tuo Qi.
• Chen Chuan struck down a hidden attacker and used a thunderous roar to stop Bee Woman from activating the Tayana Battle Spider.
• Old Wan told Hu Qian that Chen Chuan had sent him away because he intended to act alone, and Hu Qian rushed to the building with him after hearing the roar.
• Hu Qian and Old Wan entered the reception room and found Chen Chuan standing amid the bodies with vapor rising from him.

Chen Chuan completed his assessment by defeating Fist Lion’s group, and Special Commissioner Feng judged that he had met the requirements. After the Review Group confirmed Chen Chuan’s pass and authorized him to receive a Class B Infinite Defense Certificate, Lao Feng prepared to tell him the news that night.

• Hu Qian and Old Wan arrived to find Chen Chuan standing among the defeated assessment targets, and Lao Feng came downstairs to join them.
• Lao Feng confronted Blue Jay’s convoy and sent it away, while Blue Jay regretted losing the Combat Spider.
• Lao Feng told Chen Chuan that he had likely passed the assessment, and Hu Qian agreed to handle the remaining spoils while Chen Chuan kept the Combat Spider.
• Lao Feng sent a report to the General Affairs Bureau, which confirmed Chen Chuan had passed and authorized him to receive a Class B Infinite Defense Certificate.
• Lao Feng received the confirmation at eleven at night and decided to tell Chen Chuan immediately.

After completing his assessment in the Land of Chaos, Chen Chuan received the Infinite Defense Certificate from Commissioner Cao. He left for home, while Lao Feng and Hu Qian reflected on how his achievement might bring changes to the place.

• Chen Chuan maintained the Snow Monarch Blade and considered the battle in which he defeated Fist Lion’s group, while keeping the Tayana Battle Spider and its costly nutrient paste.
• Lao Feng told Chen Chuan that his assessment had been approved and that the Review Group would award his certificate in a few days.
• Three days later, Commissioner Cao arrived with a delegation and presented Chen Chuan with the Infinite Defense Certificate, warning him that its rights came with obligations.
• Chen Chuan accepted the certificate and learned that the Review Group had debated whether to let him take the assessment because he was a first-year student.
• After the Review Group booked his return ticket, Chen Chuan said goodbye to Hu Qian and Lao Feng and left for the station.
• Hu Qian said Chen Chuan would accomplish great things, and Lao Feng suggested his success might bring changes to her post in the Land of Chaos.

Chen Chuan returned to Yangzhi City after quickly obtaining the Infinite Defense Certificate and visited Ren Shu's company to review old records and commissions. He learned that the Skull-Cracking Demon had killed three Blood Scar Gang leaders, while Cheng Zitong had not yet arrived at their meeting place.

• Chen Chuan returned by train, stopped in Shangbu to sample local food and buy specialties for Cheng Zitong, then traveled by bus back to Yangzhi City.
• Chen Chuan found Cheng Zitong absent from their meeting place and went to Ren Shu's company to read its newly accessible records.
• Blood Scar Gang members gathered around Chen Chuan, but the company's security personnel confronted them and drove them away.
• Chen Chuan entered the Archive Room and reviewed old records and recent commission letters.
• Chen Chuan recognized a commission involving the Skull-Cracking Demon and learned that it had killed three Blood Scar Gang leaders in ten days.

Chen Chuan returned with his Infinite Defense Certificate, and he and Cheng Zitong began planning for his possible move to Central City. Meanwhile, Wei Jun checked whether anyone at Wu Yi Academy could threaten his own plans, while Deng Fu urged Geng Zheng to endure his setback and stay alive.

• Chen Chuan showed Cheng Zitong his Infinite Defense Certificate, and Cheng Zitong congratulated him before they agreed to keep their account of the exam consistent.
• Cheng Zitong advised Chen Chuan to wait until his second year before pursuing a place in Central City, and Chen Chuan said he wanted to improve further first.
• Chen Chuan used their code phrase to tell Gao Ming he had earned the certificate, and they agreed to discuss their plans when Gao Ming returned.
• Wei Jun reviewed records of students who had left school and learned Chen Chuan had recently returned, but he dismissed him as no immediate threat.
• Tai Dongwei, Deng Fu, and Geng Zheng accepted that they had to give up their chance to take the Defense Certificate exam, and Deng Fu told Geng Zheng to keep living and wait for circumstances to change.

Cheng Zitong visited Qiao Linhu to discuss teaching and learned about his plans for his disciple, while Chen Chuan continued secretly advancing his training at the second limit. Back at his aunt’s home, Chen Chuan heard that the Blood Scar Gang’s feud with the Iron Chain Gang was worsening, then received a call from Ren Shu saying the Blood Scar Gang had sent people to the company.

• Cheng Zitong visited Qiao Linhu, praised his teaching, and asked for advice about guiding a student.
• Qiao Linhu offered Chen Chuan a Knife Manual if he assisted Qiao Linhu’s disciple for three years, and said his disciple might go to Central City after passing certification exams.
• Chen Chuan trained at the private Training Hall, using second-limit drugs from Cheng Zitong’s supply while concealing his progress.
• Chen Chuan returned to his aunt’s home and learned from Nian Fuli that the Blood Scar Gang and Iron Chain Gang were clashing after the Blood Scar Gang’s leaders were killed by a Skull-Cracking Demon.
• Ren Shu called Chen Chuan and said the Blood Scar Gang had sent people to the company.

Chen Chuan reviewed the Blood Scar Gang’s request to investigate the Skull-Cracking Demon but had not yet accepted the commission when someone warned him to stay away. He used the Taiana Spider to pursue the crossbow shooter, while the shooter returned to his group and said they were arranging to obtain better weapons.

• Chen Chuan met Li Hui of Crossing Bird Company, who gave him records and photographs of three Blood Scar Gang members killed by the Skull-Cracking Demon.
• Chen Chuan examined the gang’s case materials and past reports, then decided to wait for another incident before investigating the demon further.
• On the ride back to school, Chen Chuan caught a crossbow bolt carrying a blood-red warning and spotted a figure escaping across the rooftops.
• Chen Chuan asked Xiao Wei to pull over, then took out the Taiana Spider’s box and told it to lead the way.
• Xin Ge told several young men that he had warned Chen Chuan to stay away, while one of them questioned the plan and Xin Ge said they would soon have better weapons.

Chen Chuan tracked the group to an abandoned hideout, but they had already escaped by vehicle. At a wasteland smuggling camp, Xiao Xiao accepted an experimental Hunting Implant Surgery and emerged alive, eager to gain more implants and confront his enemies.

• Chen Chuan followed the Taiana spider to an abandoned house and found wheel tracks showing that its occupants had fled.
• Mr. Zero explained to Su Xin and the young people that they had to leave because Chen Chuan could trace them, then brought them to a wasteland gang camp.
• Mr. Zero revealed Hunting Series Bio-Implant Bodies, and Xiao Xiao volunteered for implantation instead of Su Xin.
• Mr. Zero told the implant doctor that Xiao Xiao had only a limited time to live, but ordered the experimental surgery to proceed.
• The doctor implanted a Bio-Implant Body into Xiao Xiao, who emerged the next morning gaunt but able to bend a steel pipe.
• Xiao Xiao agreed to further implant procedures and vowed to kill his enemies and confront Chen Chuan.

Chen Chuan investigated Fu Shouxin’s death at a Blood Scar Gang arena and found no sign that an urban legend was involved. When Zhuo Bao demanded that he find the killer anyway, Chen Chuan made clear that the gang’s affairs were none of his concern.

• Chen Chuan received Ren Shu’s call about Fu Shouxin’s death and went to the Blood Scar Gang’s underground arena.
• Chen Chuan examined Fu Shouxin’s hollow skull and questioned the gang members about the victim’s recent movements and visitors.
• Chen Chuan tested the corpse with hair left by the Flying Head Monster and detected no reaction, concluding the death was probably unrelated to an urban legend.
• Chen Chuan told the Blood Scar Gang to look for someone they had offended and started to leave.
• Zhuo Bao stopped Chen Chuan and demanded that he find the killer, but Chen Chuan said the gang’s affairs had nothing to do with him.

Chen Chuan fought Zhuo Bao after the Blood Scar Gang leader accused him of murder and refused to let him leave. Chen Chuan defeated Zhuo Bao, and Wei Laohu arrived with the Patrol Bureau to arrest the gang members, leaving Chen Chuan free to go.

• Zhuo Bao accused Chen Chuan of being the killer and attacked him when Chen Chuan refused to take the blame.
• Chen Chuan caught Zhuo Bao's charge, kicked him away, and then fought him with the sheathed Snow Monarch Blade.
• Zhuo Bao launched a barehanded attack, but Chen Chuan sliced off part of his arm and knocked him unconscious with a punch.
• Blood Scar Gang members drew their guns as Chen Chuan tried to leave, so he shut the door and waited.
• Wei Laohu arrived with armed Patrol Bureau officers and surrounded the gang members, who put down their weapons.
• Chen Chuan told Wei Laohu he was unharmed and that Zhuo Bao was still alive, then left the rest to Wei Laohu.

After learning of coordinated attacks on the Blood Scar Gang and Liu Zhan’s impending transfer, Chen Chuan prepared for the Mutual Aid Society’s retaliation and sought accelerated training. Elsewhere, a violent incident delayed the Infinite Defense Certificate assessment, angering Wei Jun while Tai Dongwei and Geng Zheng wondered whether Deng Fu had known it would happen.

• Chen Chuan learned that the Iron Chain Gang and another force had struck the Blood Scar Gang, then returned to his dormitory and prepared for bed.
• Director Lei warned Chen Chuan that Liu Zhan might soon be transferred, prompting Chen Chuan to alert Gao Ming and Cheng Zitong about the threat to his evaluations.
• Chen Chuan agreed to prepare escape routes, and Cheng Zitong offered to arrange intensive training with He Xiaoxing.
• In Wu Bian City, Wei Jun learned that an examinee and an assessment target had been attacked and that the Infinite Defense Certificate assessment might be postponed for two months.
• Wei Jun ordered the Butler to request more security and decided to visit people to seek a way to reverse the delay.
• Tai Dongwei and Geng Zheng questioned Deng Fu about the assessment delay, but Deng Fu denied knowing about it and urged them to train and stay alive.

After Zhuo Bao was released, Chen Chuan prepared to face the Mountain Ghost strange tale to strengthen himself before the Mutual Aid Society could act against him. He reached the mountain shrine, where the Flying Head Monster's hair began reacting faintly, and set out with the Snow Monarch Blade.

• Zhuo Bao was released with a severed hand, but Uncle Han warned him not to retaliate against Chen Chuan until the Blood Scar Gang's problems were settled.
• Cheng Zitong told Chen Chuan that Liu Zhan might soon be transferred and that the Mutual Aid Society could learn of Chen Chuan's evaluation; Chen Chuan decided to accept the Mountain Ghost commission.
• Chen Chuan prepared for the commission and traveled with Xiao Wei to a remote village near Xie Mountain, where villagers arranged for a hunter to guide him.
• Chen Chuan learned about the Mountain Ghost's history and reached a slope overlooking the shrine while the hunter returned to the village.
• Chen Chuan noticed the Flying Head Monster's hair reacting faintly, gripped the Snow Monarch Blade, and headed toward the shrine.