Chapter Summaries

Zhong Ming joined Xue Yao’s team, drawing attention and stirring regret and unease among the other disciples. After recognizing his earlier sword strike as the source of Xue Yao’s admiration, he began explaining its principles to her, then asked her to cast the Ice Heart Curse on him.

• Xue Yao chose Zhong Ming as her teammate and treated him as captain, while Mo Shuying’s plan to recruit more companions stalled.
• Zhuang Yi hoped to spar with Zhong Ming after he grew stronger, while Jiang Yue and Jiang Xiaoyu regretted missing their chance to ally with him.
• Yi Yunya decided not to compete with Xue Yao for Zhong Ming, though she remained uneasy about Xue Yao calling him the strongest.
• Zhong Ming asked whether Xue Yao had seen his Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique, and she confirmed that she wanted to learn it.
• Zhong Ming explained the dragon-themed principles behind his sword strike, and Xue Yao went to practice after gaining new insight.
• Zhong Ming stopped Xue Yao and asked her to cast the Ice Heart Curse on him first.

Zhong Ming used the Ice Heart Curse to accelerate his cultivation and spent the seventh day preparing to break through, while Dragon Stream Peak's disciples gathered to see who would earn a Class A rating. As the final day began, Zhong Ming's Qi Sea Acupoint reached its limit, and he resolved to break through.

• Zhong Ming discovered that Ice Heart greatly improved his control of Spiritual Energy and helped him gain nearly 300 points of Dragon Creek Breathing Technique progress in one day.
• Zhong Ming continued cultivating single-mindedly until the seventh day after arriving at Dragon Stream Peak, the last day for receiving a Class A rating.
• Mo Shuying released an imposing aura at the cultivation grounds, but froze when Zhong Ming arrived, while other disciples watched him with complicated expressions.
• Xue Yao defended Zhong Ming from jealous disciples and challenged anyone who wanted to test him, worsening his reputation as a pretty boy.
• Zhong Ming checked his attributes and saw that his Qi Sea Acupoint had reached its limit, so he decided it was time to break through.

After seven days of cultivation, Zhong Ming opened his Qi Sea and became a Qi Practitioner, discovering how magical power enhanced his body and sword technique. Meanwhile, Mo Shuying worried that Dragon Stream Peak had too few Class A ratings, until she noticed Zhong Ming and was startled by what she saw.

• Zhong Ming used the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique to circulate Spiritual Energy until his Qi Sea Acupoint reached its limit and opened into a small dantian Qi Sea.
• Zhong Ming celebrated becoming a Qi Practitioner and found that magical power strengthened his body and senses and could empower his sword strikes with Sword Qi.
• At the Class A evaluation, Jiang Yue and Liu Wanyu admitted they had not broken through, and the other disciples with Second-Class Spiritual Roots had also failed to do so.
• Mo Shuying worried that Dragon Stream Peak would perform poorly in the Seven Peaks competition because only three disciples had earned Class A ratings.
• Mo Shuying looked toward Zhong Ming, dismissed the chance that he had broken through, then reacted with surprise.

Zhong Ming opened his Qi Sea Acupoint and received a Class A rating, becoming a prospective core member of Dragon Stream Peak. Yi Yunya regretted losing the chance to ally with him as Mo Shuying began explaining the resources he would receive.

• Zhong Ming told Mo Shuying that he had broken through, shocking the watching disciples.
• Mo Shuying examined Zhong Ming and confirmed that his Qi Sea Acupoint had newly opened, his foundation was undamaged, and he qualified for a Class A rating.
• Mo Shuying congratulated Zhong Ming and acknowledged that Xue Yao had chosen a strong teammate, while Xue Yao calmly praised him.
• Yi Yunya regretted hesitating to ally with Zhong Ming, realizing that his partnership with Xue Yao had nearly ended her hopes of leading Dragon Stream Peak's younger generation.
• Mo Shuying told Zhong Ming that his Class A rating granted him access to the first three floors of the Dragon Creek Peak Scripture Repository and resource support, including a specially forged Dharma artifact.

Mo Shuying explained the benefits and conditions of Zhong Ming’s Class A rating, then outlined the Hundred Day Assessment and the rankings that determine Inner Sect and True Disciple appointments. Zhong Ming resolved to lead Dragon Creek Peak to first place and earn the chance to improve his Third-grade Spiritual Root.

• Mo Shuying described Zhong Ming’s Class A benefits, including access to techniques, a flying sword, monthly resources, followers, a cave residence, and Merit Points.
• Mo Shuying warned Zhong Ming that his benefits would last only three months unless he met the requirements for becoming an Inner Sect Disciple.
• Mo Shuying explained that the Young Dragon Ranking rewards individual achievement and that first place three months in a row could persuade the sect to raise Zhong Ming’s Spiritual Root.
• Mo Shuying described the Seven Peaks Point Ranking and the monthly newcomer competitions that determine peak rankings and Inner Sect positions.
• Zhong Ming pledged to give his all for Dragon Creek Peak and resolved to win first place to improve his Spiritual Root.

After seeing the Young Dragon Ranking, Zhong Ming learned why Dragon Stream Peak had so few high-ranked disciples: sword cultivators had to fight Demons and Monsters on the front lines, where many died or were crippled. Mo Shuying explained that the sect was divided over whether to keep supporting Dragon Stream Peak, and that the disciples’ performance could determine its future.

• Zhong Ming vowed to help Dragon Stream Peak win the Seven Peaks Grand Competition, but Mo Shuying urged him to aim for the top three or at least the top five.
• Mo Shuying entered Zhong Ming’s Class A rating into the Young Dragon Ranking, where he appeared in thirty-ninth place beneath three Mid Qi Condensation disciples from prominent families.
• Zhong Ming noticed Dragon Stream Peak had few ranked disciples, and Yi Yunya explained that swordsmen and body cultivators had to fight Demons and Monsters while specialists in other arts served in logistics.
• Yi Yunya explained that sword cultivation was perilous, and Zhong Ming realized the danger discouraged powerful families from sending their children to Dragon Stream Peak.
• Mo Shuying told Zhong Ming, Xue Yao, Yi Yunya, and Zhuang Yi that the sect’s factions disagreed over supporting Dragon Stream Peak because past disciples had died or been crippled.
• Mo Shuying warned the disciples that their performance could influence the sect’s decision and bring them more than ten times their current resources if they proved their abilities.

Zhong Ming rallied Dragon Stream Peak’s disciples to fight for a top-three finish in the Seven Peaks Grand Competition, then returned to cultivation to improve his strength. He obtained several complementary techniques from the Scripture Pavilion, including Spirit Stream Finger: Meridian Severing.

• Mo Shuying warned Zhong Ming, Zhuang Yi, Yi Yunya, and Xue Yao that Dragon Stream Peak faced a difficult contest, and the four vowed to aim for the top three.
• Zhong Ming returned to a crowd of disciples seeking his favor, turned them away, and encouraged Jiang Yue by telling him Dragon Stream Peak could have five Inner Sect Disciple slots if it placed third.
• Zhong Ming went to the Dragon Creek Peak Scripture Repository to find methods that complemented the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique.
• Zhong Ming took out the Leaping Wave Dragon Creek Steps, Dragon Creek Swordplay, and Spirit Stream Finger: Water Dragon Art, then discovered Spirit Stream Finger: Meridian Severing on the third floor.

Zhong Ming studied Dragon Creek Swordplay while Yi Yunya reconsidered his potential and Mo Shuying wrestled with having spent Dragon Stream Peak’s remaining resources on Xue Yao. The chapter ended with Zhong Ming grasping the first stage, Sword Harmonizes with Stream, and how it turned an opponent’s force into his own momentum.

• Zhong Ming took the Meridian Severing manual and cultivation insights, then focused on studying Dragon Creek Swordplay.
• Yi Yunya told Youlan that Xue Yao’s claim that Zhong Ming was the strongest might be true and considered joining his team as a collaborator.
• Mo Shuying recalled Dragon Stream Peak’s decline and explained that she had devoted its remaining resources to Xue Yao, though she wanted to find Zhong Ming compensation.
• Mo Shuying went to Molten Fire Peak to see Senior Brother Xie, where a woman told her he was still recovering from his injuries.
• Zhong Ming used Intent Reading to understand Dragon Creek Swordplay’s water-like defense, its ability to borrow an enemy’s strength, and its first stage, Sword Harmonizes with Stream.

Zhong Ming practiced Streamflow Swordplay while seeking to unite his swordsmanship with the Dragon Creek Breathing Art. He reached Stage 2: Proficient and ended by stirring the creek through the resonance of heaven, mana, and sword.

• Zhong Ming realized Water Flow could help him master Dragon Creek Swordplay and read that its next stage required Qi Meridian Unity and Dynamic-Static Harmony.
• Zhong Ming inferred that he could cultivate the sword art alongside the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique and went to a secluded creek to practice.
• Zhong Ming rapidly mastered the sword forms and advanced Dragon Creek Swordplay to Stage 2: Proficient, gaining the Stream Sword Convergence trait.
• Zhong Ming worked to synchronize his swordplay with his breathing and mana, gradually aligning their rhythms.
• Zhong Ming harmonized his breath with the creek, resonated his mana with his Long Sword, and stirred the creek water through swordsmanship alone.

Zhong Ming discovered that practicing Dragon Creek Swordplay beside a stream could greatly strengthen his sword strike and accelerate his mana refinement. His connected techniques also advanced together, giving him confidence in the end-of-month assessment and hope of claiming first place for Dragon Stream Peak.

• Zhong Ming unleashed a powerful water-infused sword strike that rivaled his earlier attack empowered by the Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme, then resolved to keep training toward triggering that Dao Rhyme again.
• Zhong Ming found that uniting his sword movements, breathing, and the stream’s rhythm increased his mana refinement efficiency by sixty percent.
• Zhong Ming practiced swordplay and mana circulation together, eventually drawing stream water with a casual sword stroke.
• Zhong Ming received a notification that Leaping Wave Dragon Creek Steps had reached the beginner level despite his not having read its manuals.
• Zhong Ming realized that progress in one Dragon Stream Peak technique could advance the others and grew confident about the assessment and his chance of taking first place.

After earning a Class A rating, Zhong Ming discovered that his Heaven, man, and sword resonance let him cultivate several linked techniques at once, while Yi Yunya resolved to seek him out rather than hesitate again. The next day, Senior Disciple Sister Mo Shuying arranged a light-duty post and offered Zhong Ming a chance to receive a Flying Sword forged by her niece, Xie Yuzhu, if he passed her test.

• Zhong Ming realized his resonance improved four interconnected techniques at once and spent the day cultivating beside a secluded stream until Dong Hai had to take him away.
• Yi Yunya inspected Zhong Ming's sword marks and, remembering her earlier missed opportunity, decided to visit him the next day.
• Zhong Ming returned to his spacious Class A cave dwelling and saw its practice rooms, courtyard, spirit fields, and rich Spiritual Energy.
• Mo Shuying assigned Zhong Ming to supervise Dragon Stream Peak's A-1 Sword Testing Platform for one or two hours a day.
• Mo Shuying explained that her niece Xie Yuzhu could forge him a Flying Sword with precious materials, but Zhong Ming would have to pass her test to use it.

Zhong Ming accepted Yi Yunya’s offer to join his team and agreed to help her rise within the Golden Jade Tower in exchange for resources. Yi Yunya then offered to take him to view a True Intent Diagram, giving him a new way to rapidly improve his strength.

• Mo Shuying warned Zhong Ming that Xie Yuzhu might challenge him in swordsmanship and promised to choose a Flying Sword for him if he failed her test.
• Yi Yunya asked to join Zhong Ming’s team, and he accepted her alliance after she said she believed he was the strongest.
• Yi Yunya advised Zhong Ming to delay seeking a Golden Jade Tower retainer position so he could improve his rating, and offered to cover his expenses.
• Zhong Ming agreed to help Yi Yunya advance within the Golden Jade Tower, hoping to gain access to its rare resources.
• Yi Yunya gave Zhong Ming resources worth at least two hundred spirit stones and offered to take him to view the Raging River Waves Diagram.
• Zhong Ming realized that using Intent Reading on True Intent Diagrams could rapidly increase his cultivation technique experience and help him comprehend Dao Rhyme.

Zhong Ming exchanged resources for another chance to view a True Intent Diagram and took up his post as leader of the Sword Testing Platform. As Dragon Stream Peak disciples reacted to Yi Yunya joining his team, Zhong Ming began studying the platform’s fighters with Intent Reading.

• Zhong Ming returned Yi Yunya’s resources and asked to exchange them for a chance to view the Flood Dragon True Intent Diagram, which Yi Yunya agreed to arrange.
• After Yi Yunya left to make arrangements, Dragon Stream Peak disciples discussed her joining Zhong Ming’s team, and Liu Wanyu considered asking to join as well.
• Zhuang Yi realized Zhong Ming was the core of the team and decided to challenge him later, after Zhong Ming had time to build up his strength.
• Zhong Ming arrived at the Sword Testing Platform with Youlan, received a respectful welcome, and let her handle administrative matters.
• Zhong Ming watched the fighters and activated Intent Reading to study their sword techniques and learn from their strengths and weaknesses.

Zhong Ming watched Qi Hong defeat a Green Fragrance Mountain disciple and gained insight into the Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique. Qi Hong began instructing Zhong Ming, but was astonished when the new disciple resisted his demonic aura and showed Mastery of his sword-drawing stance.

• Zhong Ming realized Dragon Stream Peak's veterans had advanced slowly because cultivation required correct practice, comprehension, and Fortuitous Encounters.
• He Bin challenged Dragon Stream Peak's sparring partners, but Qi Hong's killing intent frightened him before Qi Hong struck him off the platform with one sword.
• Zhong Ming recognized the intent in Qi Hong's sword strike, and Qi Hong offered to teach him the Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique without payment.
• Qi Hong revealed that Demonic Evil Power had damaged his meridians and warned Zhong Ming that his instruction would be difficult.
• Zhong Ming assumed his sword-drawing stance and resisted Qi Hong's strange aura, shocking Qi Hong with his composure and apparent Mastery.

Qi Hong trained Zhong Ming in the Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique, repeatedly defeating him while Zhong Ming improved at a frightening pace. After an intense exercise in the bamboo grove, Qi Hong decided to bring Yang Chen and Shi Yun in to train Zhong Ming too.

• Qi Hong defeated Zhong Ming in their first sword-drawing exchanges and taught him to draw without hesitation while accounting for counterattacks.
• Zhong Ming kept challenging Qi Hong, gaining insight with each defeat until Qi Hong was startled by how quickly his technique improved.
• Qi Hong shifted their training to a guarded walk through a bamboo grove, where both drew their swords repeatedly as they moved.
• Zhong Ming's final strikes in the grove became difficult for Qi Hong to block, and Zhong Ming emerged exhausted from the exercise.
• Qi Hong called for Yang Chen and Shi Yun to help train Zhong Ming.

After Zhong Ming’s duel with Qi Hong, Qi Hong arranged for Dragon Stream Peak disciples to teach him, and Zhong Ming resolved to give his all in the coming competition. Zhong Ming planned to improve several water-based skills to stack five Water Flow traits, while Qi Hong’s companions remained unsure whether Zhong Ming was truly a genius.

• Qi Hong told Zhong Ming to rest, promised to find Dragon Stream Peak disciples to teach him, and asked him to help improve the peak at the Seven Peaks Grand Competition.
• Zhong Ming accepted Dragon Stream Peak as his home and promised to give everything in the end-of-month assessment.
• While recovering, Zhong Ming reviewed his skills and reasoned that the True Intent Diagram might accelerate his Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique.
• Zhong Ming planned to raise Dragon Stream Swordplay, Leaping Wave Dragon Creek Steps, and Spirit Stream Finger: Water Dragon Art to Stage 3 so their five Water Flow traits might strengthen his Dragon Creek Breathing Technique.
• Qi Hong gathered Yang Chen, Shi Yun, and Lin Shuyu to teach Zhong Ming, but they doubted he could be a supreme genius like Xiao Yichen.

Zhong Ming trained in Dragon Creek Swordplay against Yang Chen, who repeatedly defeated him but watched his skill improve at an astonishing pace. By the end, Zhong Ming had held his own for over a hundred moves, leaving Yang Chen, Shi Yun, and Lin Shuyu convinced that Qi Hong had found a peerless prodigy for Dragon Stream Peak.

• Qi Hong introduced Zhong Ming to Yang Chen, Shi Yun, and Lin Shuyu, who each specialized in a different technique and had been injured in the Demon Suppressing Division.
• Zhong Ming chose to learn swordplay, and Yang Chen challenged him to prove he deserved their instruction.
• Yang Chen easily defeated Zhong Ming by using Dragon Creek Swordplay to redirect his force, but Zhong Ming recognized the technique's undercurrents and attacked again.
• Across repeated duels, Zhong Ming rapidly improved and integrated his breathing, footwork, and water techniques into his swordplay.
• Zhong Ming lasted more than a hundred moves against Yang Chen, prompting Shi Yun and Lin Shuyu to recognize his extraordinary talent.

Yang Chen defeated Zhong Ming in a spar, revealing the power of his living sword and deepening his respect for Zhong Ming’s talent. The other Dragon Stream Peak disciples then trained Zhong Ming in their techniques, and he ended the day with major progress and hopes of advancing all three skills the next day.

• Yang Chen struck Zhong Ming with Extreme Shark, Slash, sending him flying and leaving him too exhausted to continue, while Zhong Ming praised Yang Chen’s living swordsmanship.
• Yang Chen gave Zhong Ming Hundred Flowers Brew to recover and urged his fellow disciples to teach Zhong Ming everything they knew.
• After Zhong Ming recovered, Lin Shuyu began teaching him the Leaping Wave Dragon Creek Steps beneath a waterfall, while the others helped guide his training.
• Shi Yun taught Zhong Ming the Spirit Stream Finger · Water Dragon Art through exercises shaping stream water into weapons and creatures that fought.
• Zhong Ming trained throughout the day and made significant progress in Dragon Creek Swordplay, Spirit Stream Finger · Water Dragon Art, and Leaping Wave Dragon Creek Steps, hoping to gain three more Water Flow the next day.

Qi Hong and the other senior brothers devoted themselves to training Zhong Ming, convincing Yi Yunya that he had exceptional potential and prompting her to consider increasing her investment in him. After a grueling day of cultivation, Zhong Ming brought his three skills close to Stage 3 but chose to rest before advancing.

• Qi Hong and the other senior brothers escorted the exhausted Zhong Ming home and stayed until he fell asleep, leaving Youlan impressed by their concern for him.
• Youlan told Yi Yunya that Qi Hong, Shi Yun, Lin Shuyu, Yang Chen, and the others highly valued Zhong Ming, and Yi Yunya concluded they believed in his future potential.
• Youlan judged Zhong Ming's talent likely to be at the True Disciple level, and Yi Yunya considered investing more in him before he became too important for her to approach.
• After a night's sleep, Zhong Ming was taken by Qi Hong and the others through intensive sword, movement, and combat training.
• Zhong Ming brought his three focused skills close to their Stage 3 breakthroughs, but decided to wait until he had recovered before advancing.

Zhong Ming practiced by the stream and broke through three cultivation arts to Realm 3: Mastery, gaining the Water Flow trait and new abilities based on water’s transformations. After discovering he could create visual clones and briefly turn invisible, he considered what might happen if he combined all five Water Flows.

• Zhong Ming ignored the planned sparring and practiced swordplay by the stream, while Qi Hong and the others trusted that he was developing his own path.
• Zhong Ming’s Dragon Creek Swordplay reached Realm 3: Mastery, and he used Water Flow to create a powerful current that pulled in and swept away nearby debris.
• Zhong Ming’s Spirit Stream Finger · Water Dragon Art reached Realm 3 as he learned to transform water into clouds and mist, which he could sense through.
• Zhong Ming’s Leaping Wave Dragon Creek Steps reached Realm 3, and its Water Flow resonated with the Water Dragon Art to create flickering phantom figures and conceal his true body.
• Zhong Ming realized the figures were illusions and his invisibility only fooled sight, then wondered what combining all five Water Flows could accomplish.