Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning tested his newly liquefied True Essence, cultivated the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill under the midday sun, and confirmed a path toward Perfected Realm and the Heavenly Human Grandmaster threshold. After learning the Martial Academy admissions date, he prepared to begin marrow refinement and left his courtyard for the cliffs east of Dongling City.

• Jiang Ning discovered that his transformed inner breath had become True Essence, which was immensely powerful but rapidly depleted during bursts.
• Jiang Ning inhaled Great Sun Essence Qi at noon and gained twenty-six Experience Points in the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill, confirming that sustained practice could bring it to Perfected Realm.
• Jiang Ning learned that the Martial Academy admissions assessment would take place in four days and planned to bring Jiang Yiming to enroll.
• Jiang Ning concluded that his Fifth Grade cultivation had reached its limit and prepared to draw Heaven and Earth Force into his body to refine his marrow.
• Jiang Ning tested his Third Level Blade Intent with Dragon Abyss, saw the destructive force of his strike, and headed toward the cliffs east of Dongling City to practice.

Jiang Ning began Marrow Refinement on an unnamed peak, completed several marrow cleansings, and discovered that he could alter how his panel displayed a trait. After Xiao Emei warned him that Yu Manyun planned to abduct one of his relatives, Jiang Ning resolved to stop her, leaving the panel’s connection to his will newly revealed but unexplained.

• Jiang Ning drew Heaven and Earth Force into his marrow with his blade and completed his first cleansing, entering the Fourth Rank.
• At the Water Moon Sword Palace Station, Yu Manyun told Xiao Emei she planned to abduct Jiang Ning’s nephew or niece to lure him to the palace.
• Xiao Emei sent Jiang Ning a message warning that Yu Manyun planned to abduct Jiang Yiming or Jiang Yuanyuan that night.
• Jiang Ning vowed to stop Yu Manyun, then continued practicing and completed six or seven marrow cleansings by sunset.
• Jiang Ning saw that his panel listed Fourth Grade Marrow Refinement as 8/1999 and suspected its number represented the cleansings needed for perfection.
• Jiang Ning changed the panel’s Water Control Technique trait into Water Control Divine Power (First Break), confirming that he could influence the display.

Jiang Ning refined his marrow by practicing Five Animal Frolics Fist and confirmed that its Third Level Fist Momentum accelerated the process. As Yu Manyun approached his residence to take Xiao Doubao, Xiao Emei followed her to the wall but refused to enter.

• Jiang Ning judged that his panel required 1,999 marrow cleansings to reach perfection and returned home to guard against Yu Manyun.
• Jiang Ning practiced Five Animal Frolics Fist, completed another marrow cleansing, and found its Fist Momentum more effective than his Blade Intent at drawing Heaven and Earth Force.
• Bai Luoyu saw Jiang Ning's fiery Fist Momentum from a distance and resolved to seek a Thunderclap Fruit at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion auction.
• Yu Manyun insisted on taking Xiao Doubao while Jiang Ning was occupied, despite Xiao Emei warning her about his strength.
• Xiao Emei accompanied Yu Manyun to Jiang Ning's residence, then told her she would not enter as Yu Manyun vaulted over the wall.

Yu Manyun infiltrated Jiang Ning’s residence to seize Liu Wanwan and Xiao Doubao, but Jiang Ning revealed his Fourth Rank strength and killed her. He rewarded Xiao Emei for warning him, allowed her to bury Yu Manyun, and left her free to remain loyal to Xiao Qiushui.

• Yu Manyun entered Jiang Ning’s residence while Xiao Emei stayed outside after receiving Jiang Ning’s warning.
• Yu Manyun found Liu Wanwan and Xiao Doubao, but Jiang Ning arrived surrounded by Divine Radiance Protection, revealing he had reached the Fourth Rank.
• Yu Manyun attacked Liu Wanwan and the others, and Jiang Ning killed her with Gang Qi before taking her body away.
• Xiao Emei returned to Jiang Ning, received two drops of his blood as a reward, and felt their effects strengthen her.
• Xiao Emei asked to bury Yu Manyun and admitted she would not betray her master, Xiao Qiushui; Jiang Ning accepted and told her to contact him if Water Moon Sword Palace acted.

Jiang Ning used Source Energy to break through the Firewood Chopping Blade Technique twice, awakening and strengthening an Innate Blade Bone that contained a devastating Innate Treasure Art and greatly enhanced his Saber Intent. The chapter left him anticipating a clash with Xiao Qiushui while Bai Luoyu realized Jiang Ning had mastered the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill to Great Completion.

• Jiang Ning spent one thousand Source Energy Points to advance the Firewood Chopping Blade Technique to its Seventh Limit Break and awakened an Innate Blade Bone.
• Jiang Ning spent another two thousand Source Energy Points to reach the Eighth Limit Break, strengthening his blade talent and revealing an Innate Treasure Art within his bone.
• Jiang Ning triggered the Innate Treasure Art briefly, nearly unleashing enough power to destroy his house, then suppressed it and confirmed that his Saber Intent had grown stronger.
• At the Qinghe Earl Residence, the Earl of Qinghe refused He Jinsheng's pleas to act against Jiang Ning, saying the family could not oppose Zhao Yulong or withstand the trouble.
• Jiang Ning breathed in Great Sun Essence Qi at noon, and Bai Luoyu saw the Rosy Cloud Light and concluded that Jiang Ning's Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill had reached Great Completion.

Jiang Ning visited Medicine King Valley, gave Wang Jin Essence Nurturing Pills, and told him he had killed the woman who injured him. After demonstrating Third Level Momentum and completing another round of marrow refining, Jiang Ning considered advancing Water Fire True Force to improve his training efficiency.

• Jiang Ning arrived at Medicine King Valley and found Wang Jin recovering in bed.
• Jiang Ning gave Wang Jin a bottle of Essence Nurturing Pills, and Lu Qingshan confirmed they would aid his recovery and martial progress.
• Jiang Ning told Wang Jin that he had avenged him by killing the woman who had attacked him.
• Jiang Ning practiced in the courtyard, displaying Third Level Momentum before Lu Qingshan and Elder Huang and then producing the radiance of Marrow Refining.
• Jiang Ning reviewed his slow marrow-refining progress and decided to try advancing Water Fire True Force to grasp Water Fire Momentum.

Jiang Ning trained Water Fire True Force by the lake, broke through to its third level, and grasped Water Fire Grindstone Momentum. The breakthrough also granted him the Boiling Stones divine ability, while its overwhelming momentum left his companions and pets unconscious as he continued training.

• Jiang Ning cultivated Water Fire True Force at Medicine King Valley and found that his martial insights and stronger qi and blood greatly increased his training speed.
• Jiang Ning returned to Dongling City and found Liu Sansheng and Liu Wanwan's mother visiting his residence.
• Jiang Ning used 500 Source Energy Points to break through Water Fire True Force, grasped First Level Water Fire Grindstone Momentum, and gained the Boiling Stones divine ability.
• Jiang Ning tested his new momentum on Linglong, who fainted, and decided to try it on Old Turtle the next day; Old Turtle also fainted.
• Jiang Ning began cultivating beside the lake again, while Luyi glimpsed the immense grindstone behind him and the Dragon Carp retreated to the lake bottom.

On the day Jiang Yiming went to take the Martial Academy entrance assessment, Jiang Ning trained until Water Fire True Force reached its Fourth Limit Break and gained the Water Fire Harmony trait. He used the trait to merge his True Essence with his Blood Qi, leaving his power able to erupt throughout his body as he prepared to head to the academy.

• Jiang Yiming visited Jiang Ning before the Martial Academy assessment, leaped across the lake, and demonstrated strength sufficient to reassure Jiang Ning he could pass.
• Jiang Ning told Jiang Yiming to go ahead with Liu Wanwan while he continued training, then sat down to cultivate Water Fire True Force.
• Jiang Ning reached the Fourth Limit Break, spent one thousand Source Energy Points, and gained the Water Fire Harmony trait.
• Jiang Ning used Water Fire Harmony to merge his True Essence with his Blood Qi, turning his body into an additional vessel for True Essence and allowing power to erupt from any part of him.

Jiang Yiming’s enrollment at the Martial Academy was threatened by a scheme to provoke and frame him, but he exposed the plot and displayed his strength to attract the academy’s attention. Jiang Ning watched from a distance as Jiang Yiming prepared to break the stalemate with a powerful blow.

• Jiang Ning discovered that Water Fire Harmony let his True Essence and qi and blood merge, greatly increasing his strength and endurance.
• At the Martial Academy entrance, Jiang Yiming arrived with his family to register while Wang Qingtan oversaw the enrollment.
• Liu Boming and the Young Earl arranged to provoke Jiang Yiming so a Martial Academy Student could use the disturbance to disqualify him.
• A sturdy youth cut in front of Jiang Yiming and attacked him, but Jiang Yiming blocked the attack and injured his shin; a Martial Academy Student then broke the youth’s shin and accused Jiang Yiming of viciousness.
• Jiang Yiming publicly accused the Martial Academy Student of framing him and unleashed his qi and blood, preparing a mighty hammering blow to demonstrate his talent before the academy’s important figures.

Jiang Yiming defeated a Martial Academy Student in three hammer blows, drawing the attention of Instructor Xu Nianqing and Wang Qingtan. Jiang Ning arrived with Bai Luoyu, revealed his Candidate Inspector status, and requested an investigation into the attack on his family; Xu Nianqing recognized Jiang Ning’s Marrow Refinement traits.

• Jiang Yiming defeated the Martial Academy Student with three powerful hammer blows, and Xu Nianqing ordered Wang Qingtan to investigate his identity and the interference at the Academy.
• Wang Qingtan checked Jiang Yiming’s registration and questioned how a constable’s son had reached Martial Dao Entry Rank at fifteen.
• Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu arrived, and Jiang Yiming greeted his uncle as Jiang Ning praised him.
• Jiang Ning identified himself as a Candidate Inspector and asked Bai Luoyu to investigate the attack on his family, alarming the students involved.
• Xu Nianqing met Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu, then recognized that Jiang Ning had attained Marrow Refinement traits.

Xu Nianqing accepted Jiang Yiming as her disciple after Jiang Ning and Jiang Li agreed, then helped expose the people behind the trap against him. Jiang Ning had them detained until the upcoming Imperial Examination and entered the Martial Academy, where Wang Qingtan was assigned to show him around.

• Xu Nianqing asked to take Jiang Yiming as her disciple, and Jiang Li agreed on behalf of the family.
• Xu Nianqing confirmed that Zeng Cheng had injured the burly youth, while Jiang Ning seized Liu Boming and the effeminate youth as the suspected instigators.
• The accused blamed one another before Liu Boming claimed responsibility, and Jiang Ning arranged through Bai Luoyu to have them detained until after the Imperial Examination.
• Xu Nianqing continued overseeing enrollment and accepted Jiang Yiming as her disciple.
• Jiang Ning used his passage Token to request training at the Martial Academy, and Xu Nianqing assigned Wang Qingtan to receive him.

Jiang Ning toured the Martial Academy with Wang Qingtan and Wang Qinghan, learning about its training facilities and discounted elixir pills while considering how to gather Source Energy for his next breakthrough. When he touched Wang Qingtan, his panel detected her owned Divinity Points and the damaged Authority of the Lord of Myriad Fires, leading him to realize she was a Divine Maiden.

• Wang Qinghan reminded Jiang Ning that she had seen him jump into the river, and he recalled their earlier meeting.
• Wang Qingtan explained the Earth Vein Secret Chamber and offered to lend Jiang Ning credits, but he declined to use it.
• At the Pill Tower, Jiang Ning examined the elixir prices while Wang Qingtan offered him a loan at Nine Out Eleven Return.
• Jiang Ning considered buying Embracing Origin Qi Pills to build Source Energy for a future limit break, but decided to learn more about the academy first.
• When Jiang Ning took the Pill Tower booklet from Wang Qingtan, his panel detected her owned Divinity Points and damaged Authority of the Lord of Myriad Fires.
• Jiang Ning concluded that Wang Qingtan was a Divine Maiden unlike the deities he had encountered before.

Jiang Ning toured the Martial Academy with Wang Qingtan and Wang Qinghan, learned about the Martial Training Tower, and decided to challenge it for credits. As Wang Qingtan faced off verbally with Yan Youhu while Lin He tested the Ninth Floor, Liu Sansheng recognized Jiang Ning and greeted him.

• Jiang Ning looked for a suitable bow at the Divine Weapon Tower but found none, and Wang Qinghan mentioned that her family owned their father's old battlefield bow.
• Wang Qingtan explained that the Martial Training Tower rewarded climbers with benefits and credits, and Jiang Ning paid to enter with his hundred-credit token.
• The group learned that Lin He was challenging the Ninth Floor, and Wang Qingtan said his success would not affect her own chance at special admission.
• Yan Youhu challenged Wang Qingtan's confidence, but she dismissed him and described Lin He as a formidable rival.
• Jiang Ning watched the academy students discuss Wang Qingtan, Lin He, and Yan Youhu, then Liu Sansheng arrived and called out to him as Commander Jiang.

Jiang Ning arrived at the Martial Academy and entered the Martial Training Tower after Lin He emerged from a failed attempt to clear its Ninth Floor. Outside, Wang Qingtan learned that Jiang Ning was about her age and had already reached the Fourth Grade, leaving her stunned and questioning her earlier assessment of him.

• Liu Sansheng greeted Jiang Ning at the tower and offered to show him around, while Yan Youhu wondered about Jiang Ning’s identity.
• Jiang Ning waited for Lin He to finish challenging the Ninth Floor; Lin He emerged bloodied, admitted his attempt had failed, and left after Wang Qingtan rebuffed him.
• Wang Qingtan explained how to enter the tower, and Jiang Ning went inside with his token, sensing that the tower could perceive him and deciding not to use certain methods.
• Outside, Wang Qingtan asked Liu Sansheng about Jiang Ning, who revealed that Jiang Ning was around her age and had defended a city from the Black Mountain Rebels.
• Wang Qingtan recalled that Jiang Ning appeared to possess Fourth Grade Marrow Refinement and was shocked by his age, then began to doubt her judgment.

Jiang Ning cleared all nine floors of the Martial Training Tower, earning 330 credits and substantial qi-and-blood rewards. After he emerged, Wang Qingtan entered the tower to attempt the climb herself, while Jiang Ning wondered whether she and her sister had unusual origins.

• Jiang Ning defeated the opponents on the first eight floors, absorbing their Blood Qi and earning increasing credit rewards as he climbed.
• Outside the tower, Yan Youhu identified Jiang Ning as the former Deputy Commander of the Patrol Office from Luoshui County and described his rapid rise; the onlookers watched him reach the ninth floor.
• Jiang Ning defeated the ninth-floor trial opponent, received nine strands of Blood Qi, and finished with 330 credits after clearing the tower.
• Jiang Ning emerged to congratulations from Liu Sansheng, while Lin He recognized how far Jiang Ning surpassed him and Wang Qingtan suspected Jiang Ning might be more than he appeared.
• Wang Qingtan entered the tower to challenge the ninth floor, and Jiang Ning reassured Wang Qinghan before noticing that she had no unusual prompt while her sister did.

Wang Qingtan cleared the Martial Training Tower’s Ninth Floor with ease, then took Jiang Ning to the Library and offered him a high-interest loan of credits. After practicing through noon, Jiang Ning accepted her offer, and they arrived at the Library, where its martial arts collection awaited them.

• Wang Qingtan cleared the Ninth Floor in less than ten breaths, astonishing the Martial Academy students and leaving Lin He to depart in discouragement.
• Wang Qingtan offered Jiang Ning credits for the Library, and he agreed to borrow one thousand at a rate of Nine Out Eleven Return.
• Jiang Ning postponed signing the IOU until after his noon practice, while Wang Qingtan and Wang Qinghan waited and shared a roasted pheasant with him.
• Jiang Ning finished his practice, accepted a chicken leg from Wang Qinghan, and praised her sister’s cooking.
• Wang Qingtan brought Jiang Ning and Wang Qinghan to the Library, whose third floor held Middle Grade martial arts and seven superior-grade martial arts.

Jiang Ning toured the Martial Academy Library with Wang Qingtan, borrowed 1,000 credits from her, and discovered that reading its martial arts manuals raised his Literacy Experience Points four times faster. After making rapid progress on the second floor, he decided to visit the third floor.

• Jiang Ning struck Wang Qingtan's outstretched hand by mistake, then gave her a Gold Leaf to make amends and again sensed her damaged divine Authority.
• Wang Qingtan explained the Library's floors and rules, then lent Jiang Ning 1,000 credits in exchange for an IOU.
• Wang Qingtan left the Library, and Jiang Ning spent about one and a half double-hours reading Lower Grade Martial Arts manuals on the second floor, gaining over 200 Literacy Experience Points.
• Jiang Ning noticed the second floor's reading efficiency was about four times higher than usual and decided to go up to the third floor to see its more advanced techniques.

Jiang Ning paid to read Wind Thunder Step in the Martial Academy Library and used his understanding of wind and thunder to reach Initiation. He spent the rest of the day reading martial arts fragments to raise Literacy, then left the Library eager to test how quickly Wind Thunder Step gained experience.

• Jiang Ning paid fifty credits to read Wind Thunder Step and learned that Initiation required comprehending the artistic conceptions of wind and thunder.
• Jiang Ning practiced in the Library, reached Initiation in Wind Thunder Step, and drew a warning from the Tower Guardian after his thunderous breakthrough startled disciples below.
• Jiang Ning read fragments of Middle Grade martial arts until the Tower Guardian told him the Library was closing, raising Literacy to 6077 experience points.
• Jiang Ning spoke with the one-eyed Tower Guardian, revealed that he worked for the Patrol Office, and left without visiting the Pill Tower for Elixir Pills.
• Jiang Ning noticed that Wind Thunder Step had gained fourteen experience points and anticipated that the Superior Grade Movement Technique could improve his speed efficiently.

Jiang Ning practiced Wind Thunder Step until it reached Minor Completion, then spent his Martial Academy credits on Embracing Origin Qi Pills. Wang Qingtan noticed his rapid progress and became more convinced that he was no ordinary person, while Jiang Ning wondered whether Xiao Qiushui knew of Yu Manyun’s death.

• Jiang Ning gained Wind Thunder Step experience while traveling to the Pill Tower, then returned home and shared a meal and wine with Jiang Li, Jiang Yiming, and Liu Wanwan.
• Jiang Ning encouraged Jiang Yiming after learning that Xu Nianqing had accepted him as a disciple, and told him to treat Bai Luoyu as an uncle.
• Jiang Ning practiced Water Fire True Force in his courtyard, then the next morning broke through to Minor Completion in Wind Thunder Step while walking to the Martial Academy with Jiang Yiming.
• Jiang Ning spent most of his credits exchanging for fourteen bottles of Embracing Origin Qi Pills at the Pill Tower.
• Wang Qingtan and Wang Qinghan met Jiang Ning, and Wang Qingtan was shocked by how quickly he had mastered Wind Thunder Step.
• Wang Qingtan privately concluded that Jiang Ning was like her, while Wang Qinghan teased her about being attracted to him.

Jiang Ning used gravity and Embracing Origin Qi Pills to raise his power, then read martial arts manuals until Literacy reached its limit. The next morning, he spent Source Energy to break Literacy through again, awakening a stronger Heavenly Eye and expanding his Spiritual Force Field to one li in every direction.

• Jiang Ning pushed the Earth Vein Quiet Chamber’s gravity to its limit, refined ten Embracing Origin Qi Pills, and raised his power to 141 years.
• Jiang Ning read every fragmented Middle Grade Martial Art manuscript on the library’s third floor, bringing Literacy to 7000/7000 and Wind Thunder Step close to Great Completion.
• Jiang Ning woke with 16146 Source Energy Points and spent 1000 to break Literacy through to its seventh limit.
• Jiang Ning’s breakthrough gave him Heavenly Eye (First Break), which appeared as a glowing vertical line on his forehead and let him see farther when activated.
• Jiang Ning unfolded his Spiritual Force Field and found it now covered one li in every direction.