Chapter Summaries

Shi Ruyu taught the students the Sea-Skimming Body Movement Skill and demonstrated its techniques while Lu Chenzhou and Du Men tried to hit her. Ji Xuantong praised Shi Ruyu’s progress and arranged to discuss her possible admission to Dragon City University of Martial Arts, while Lu Chenzhou began training toward Initiation.

• Shi Ruyu explained that the students needed to focus on foundational training before expecting Movement Skills or weapons to make them powerful.
• Shi Ruyu demonstrated Sea-Skimming Body on the swaying wooden stakes and invited Lu Chenzhou and Du Men to attack her.
• Shi Ruyu evaded their attacks for fifteen minutes while explaining the Flying Step, Quaking Step, and other techniques.
• Ji Xuantong spoke with his daughter Ji Feiyan, who said she was coming home, and asked her to discuss a possible special admission exception for Shi Ruyu with Qingtian Cang.
• Lu Chenzhou began practicing Sea-Skimming Body and set himself the goal of reaching Initiation within a week.

Lu Chenzhou advanced his stance training, opened the Shangyang Acupoint, and improved his Blood Vitality while Su City continued to live under the threat of the Tai Lake Void Calamity. At Flying Swallow Martial Hall, he met Ji Xuantong’s daughter, Ji Feiyan, who was an Eighth Stage student at Dragon City University.

• Shi Ruyu had Lu Chenzhou practice Flying Step on rocking wooden posts, and he lasted one minute.
• Lu Chenzhou trained through the uncertainty surrounding the Tai Lake Void Calamity as his family gave up on buying a home and his martial arts supplement supply increased.
• By February 18, Lu Chenzhou had opened the Shangyang Acupoint and reached Initiation in Sea-Skimming Body.
• Lu Chenzhou tested at 1.60 Blood Vitality, then entered Ji Xuantong’s martial arts room to learn the stance training method for his next acupoint.
• Ji Xuantong introduced his daughter Ji Feiyan to Lu Chenzhou as his first true disciple, and Lu Chenzhou praised her Eighth Stage achievement.

Ji Xuantong suspected Lu Chenzhou might possess exceptional innate talent and considered bringing in a renowned teacher to examine him. Lu Chenzhou defeated Du Men in a spar, and Ji Feiyan introduced herself to the trainees by inviting them to dinner.

• Ji Xuantong taught Lu Chenzhou the Guanchong Acupoint Stance Skill and wondered whether his rapid progress pointed to an Innate Nine Apertures or another Martial Bone Dao Fetus.
• Ji Xuantong considered asking Qingtian Cang Li Shoukun to assess Lu Chenzhou and thought Dragon City University of Martial Arts might be the right school for him if his talent proved exceptional.
• Lu Chenzhou used the Sea-Skimming Body movement skill to fight Du Men atop wooden posts and knocked him down, winning their spar.
• Shi Ruyu and Ji Feiyan watched the fight, and Ji Feiyan recognized Lu Chenzhou's quick progress in the movement skill while reflecting on the challenges facing low-grade skeletal talent.
• Ji Feiyan leaped onto a wooden post, introduced herself to the trainees, and invited them to dinner.

Ji Feiyan hosted the Flying Swallow Martial Hall students, while Lu Chenzhou continued balancing martial arts practice with school and improved in both. By March 3rd, he had advanced his Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance to the Third Aperture.

• Ji Feiyan treated the students to dinner and encouraged them to regard Flying Swallow Martial Hall as a second home.
• Lu Chenzhou returned home and practiced the Heaven Stance, inspired by the talented students he had met.
• Ji Xuantong asked Ji Feiyan about Lu Chenzhou, and she judged him promising but advised caution about taking him as a true disciple.
• Lu Chenzhou finished his math exam and later placed thirteenth in his year, despite devoting more time to martial arts practice.
• After practicing the Heaven Stance on March 3rd, Lu Chenzhou opened the Guanchong Acupoint and reached the Third Aperture.

Lu Chenzhou’s martial arts progress impressed Shi Ruyu, while Du Men broke down after losing to him. On his ride home, Du Men was attacked by a Void Entity but was rescued by the martial hall’s hall master.

• Lu Chenzhou tested his Blood Vitality at Flying Swallow Martial Hall and demonstrated his improving Sea-Skimming Body for Shi Ruyu.
• Shi Ruyu decided to tell Ji Xuantong about Lu Chenzhou’s talent, while Lu Chenzhou reviewed his progress on the Martial Dao Tree.
• Lu Chenzhou defeated Du Men in a spar, and Du Men tearfully admitted he felt useless; Lu Chenzhou comforted him before they parted.
• Du Men discovered a Void Entity inside his self-driving taxi and escaped onto a deserted street, where it terrorized him.
• A helmeted rider attacked the Void Entity with a saber and defeated it using Dark Swallow: Reverse Sea; Du Men recognized him as the Hall Master.

After Ji Xuantong rescued Du Men from a Drift Grade Void Entity, Su City issued emergency precautions as fear spread. Lu Chenzhou’s family stayed safe, and he continued training while preparing for the dangers ahead.

• Ji Xuantong rescued Du Men from a Drift Grade Void Entity hiding in a driverless car, then warned Lu Chenzhou, his family, Ji Feiyan, and Officer Lu about the threat.
• Lu Chenzhou told his parents about Du Men’s attack and switched on their Sunfire Lamp while continuing to practice the Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance.
• Su City police ordered residents to use Sunfire Lamps, avoid going out at night and riding in driverless cars, and announced that schools would suspend classes.
• Lu Chenzhou learned that another woman had died in a Void Entity attack, while his parents worried about their finances during the work stoppage.

With school suspended, Lu Chenzhou devoted himself to training for the Shaochong Acupoint while preparing for Pingjiang Martial University's June examination. Du Men returned to the martial arts hall after his encounter with a Void Entity, and his account taught Lu Chenzhou about the power Martial Artists used to fight them.

• Lu Chenzhou sparred with Qin Zheng and knocked him onto the padded mat, while saying he was still short of reaching Third Stage.
• Du Men returned to Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall, announced he had taken leave from school to focus on boxing, and sparred with Lu Chenzhou, who kicked him off the wooden stakes.
• Lu Chenzhou asked Du Men about the Void Entity he had encountered, and Du Men warned him to run if he ever saw one.
• Du Men explained that Martial Artists could use Innate Force, gained after the First Shackle Breakthrough, to strike Void Entities, and that Innate True Qi was even more powerful.

At Flying Swallow Martial Hall, Ji Xuantong taught students how to respond to Void Entities and revealed that specially forged Void Blades could harm them. Lu Chenzhou learned that obtaining one required Fourth Stage cultivation, an official assessment, and a great deal of money, leaving his goal of protecting his family still distant.

• Ji Xuantong explained that students should avoid isolated, dark places and keep their emotions stable to reduce the risk of Void Entity attacks.
• Lu Chenzhou asked how ordinary people could damage Void Entities, and Ji Xuantong explained that forceful bearing and shouting could slow an invasion while they sought to escape.
• Ji Xuantong displayed his saber Yan Yun and revealed that Void Blades used C9 Alloy and material taken from dead Void Entities, but their radiation could contaminate the minds of weaker wielders.
• Lu Chenzhou asked how he could qualify for a Void Blade, and Ji Xuantong said he needed Fourth Stage cultivation, an assessment from the Su City Void Suppression Bureau, and enough money to pay several hundred thousand or more.
• Du Men asked the price of Yan Yun, and Ji Xuantong said it had cost ten million.

Lu Chenzhou pursued the goal of obtaining a Void Blade while advancing his martial arts and learning about Shi Ruyu’s weapon and qualification. After Su City completed its Void Entity sweep, he reached Minor Accomplishment in Black Tiger Fist.

• Lu Chenzhou decided to keep working toward a Void Blade, though its cost was beyond his family’s means.
• Shi Ruyu praised Lu Chenzhou’s Sea-Skimming Body demonstration, and he easily outlasted Qin Zheng on the wooden stakes.
• Shi Ruyu showed Lu Chenzhou her Void Blade possession certificate and Voidbreaker Gloves, which had cost more than five hundred thousand.
• Police announced the clearance of Void Entities in Su City, reporting thirteen killed and four victims dead.
• On March 30, Lu Chenzhou completed a set of Black Tiger Fist and advanced from Proficient to Minor Accomplishment.

Lu Chenzhou continued advancing his martial arts and vitality, while learning that his father’s pay had been cut because of the Void Calamity. The chapter ended with Lu Chenzhou opening his fourth acupoint and reaching the Third Stage.

• Lu Chenzhou reached Minor Accomplishment in Black Tiger Fist and considered using the Martial Dao Tree to build his martial comprehension through ordinary arts.
• Li Xianghua told Lu Chenzhou that Lu Guoping’s salary had been cut amid the disruption caused by the Void Calamity.
• Lu Chenzhou measured a vitality-and-blood value of 1.72, leaving him 0.01 short of the Third Stage and astonishing Qin Zheng.
• Lu Chenzhou taught the Sea-Skimming Body and beat Du Men in most of their sparring matches.
• Lu Chenzhou opened his fourth acupoint at the Shaochong Acupoint and reached the Third Stage.

Lu Chenzhou confirmed that he had reached Third Stage and was preparing to take Pingjiang Martial University's special admissions exam, while his teacher offered encouragement and a possible scholarship. At the martial arts hall, he and Shi Ruyu met Qingtian Cang Li Shoukun, who had come to investigate their unusually rapid progress and possible special talent.

• Lu Chenzhou opened the Shaochong Acupoint and found that it helped him improve his Sea-Skimming Body practice faster.
• Lu Chenzhou told his math teacher that he planned to take Pingjiang Martial University's special admissions exam, and the teacher offered support and explained the new Hidden Dragon Scholarship.
• Lu Chenzhou told Qin Zheng that he had met the exam requirements, then confirmed through a blood vitality test that he had reached Third Stage.
• Shi Ruyu congratulated Lu Chenzhou and brought him to meet the hall master, Ji Xuantong.
• Ji Xuantong introduced Qingtian Cang Li Shoukun, a martial arts grandmaster, who said he had come to investigate the students' rapid progress and possible Martial Bone Dao Fetus.

Lu Chenzhou and Shi Ruyu were questioned by Qingtian Cang as Dragon City University of Martial Arts assessed their cultivation aptitude. Lu Chenzhou learned that he might have a chance to enter the school, but the review process and admissions requirements remained uncertain, and Ji Xuantong called him to his martial arts room afterward.

• Qingtian Cang questioned Shi Ruyu about her cultivation and sent her information for review by Dragon City University of Martial Arts experts.
• Qingtian Cang questioned Lu Chenzhou in detail about his training, breakthroughs, supplements, and physical examinations.
• Qingtian Cang told Lu Chenzhou that he might have a chance at Dragon City University of Martial Arts but should continue applying to Pingjiang Martial University while the review proceeded.
• Qingtian Cang departed after warning Ji Xuantong to stay safe and asking when he would achieve the Second Shackle Breakthrough.
• Shi Ruyu and Lu Chenzhou compared their questioning experiences, then Ji Xuantong called Lu Chenzhou to his martial arts room.

Lu Chenzhou became Ji Xuantong’s third true disciple at Flying Swallow Martial Hall, with his teaching-assistant wages offsetting the apprenticeship fee. He shared the news with his parents, who were astonished and celebrated his progress.

• Ji Xuantong praised Lu Chenzhou’s rapid progress and accepted him as his true disciple without an apprenticeship fee, assigning him to teach Sea-Skimming Body classes.
• Ji Xuantong introduced Lu Chenzhou as his third disciple and invited the disciples to an apprenticeship banquet.
• Lu Chenzhou told Li Xianghua that he had become Ji Xuantong’s true disciple and asked her to keep the fee confidential.
• Li Xianghua told Lu Guoping that Lu Chenzhou had reached the third stage and become a true disciple, leaving Lu Guoping stunned.

Lu Chenzhou celebrated becoming Ji Xuantong’s true disciple at the academy’s apprenticeship banquet, where Ji also announced a Martial Arts Academy Exchange Tournament. Lu Chenzhou was named a teaching assistant, while the students prepared to compete or continue pursuing discipleship.

• Lu Chenzhou told his parents that becoming Ji Xuantong’s true disciple had cost nothing and asked them to keep it secret.
• Lu Chenzhou assessed his Martial Dao Tree progress and continued training his Black Tiger Fist and Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance.
• Shi Ruyu announced a Pingjiang District exchange tournament with separate age divisions and a 100,000 prize for each division’s first-place winner.
• Ji Xuantong announced that Lu Chenzhou was his third true disciple and appointed him a teaching assistant responsible for teaching the Sea-Skimming Body.
• Lu Chenzhou toasted his fellow disciples, who joined him in the academy’s rallying cry.

Lu Chenzhou mastered the Sea-Skimming Body and signed up for the Martial Arts Academy Exchange Tournament, where he planned to use his Black Tiger Fist to surprise opponents. After Ji Xuantong warned him about the other academies’ strength, Shi Ruyu drove him home and met his mother.

• Lu Chenzhou reached mastery in the Sea-Skimming Body and considered learning the Black Tiger Fist’s matching Mountain-Crossing Body.
• Ji Xuantong told Lu Chenzhou and Shi Ruyu to enter the exchange tournament and explained which academies and fighters they might face.
• Ji Xuantong warned Lu Chenzhou that tournament opponents would not go easy on him, and Shi Ruyu noted they would likely expect him to use Swallow Return Fist rather than Black Tiger Fist.
• Shi Ruyu offered to drive Lu Chenzhou home because he lacked a Void Blade, and they talked about their future plans on the way.
• Li Xianghua saw Shi Ruyu drop Lu Chenzhou off, learned she was his Seventh Stage senior sister, and Lu Chenzhou urged his mother not to go out late.

Lu Chenzhou studied the opponents he might face in the upcoming exchange competition, then went with Shi Ruyu and Ji Xuantong to register as a direct disciple at the Martial Artists Association. Ji Xuantong gave him valuable supplements and explained the responsibilities and standards expected of martial artists, leaving Lu Chenzhou determined to live up to his master's trust.

• Lu Chenzhou reviewed information on ten Third Stage competitors and identified Rien, Liu Qingyuan, and Wang Chong as his biggest threats, especially wary of Rien's powerful White Elephant Combat Art.
• After receiving Shi Ruyu's message, Lu Chenzhou went to Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall, where Ji Xuantong invited him and Shi Ruyu to the Martial Artists Association.
• Ji Xuantong let his disciples use his car and gave Lu Chenzhou a gift box of Qi-Nourishing No. 1 supplements to support his training before the exchange competition.
• Ji Xuantong explained that direct disciples had to be registered and that masters were responsible for their conduct; Shi Ruyu described how martial artists who broke the law could be punished.
• Lu Chenzhou and Shi Ruyu agreed to conduct themselves properly as Ji Xuantong warned them about Black Warriors who committed crimes and evaded the law.

Ji Xuantong registered Lu Chenzhou and Shi Ruyu with the Martial Artists Association and warned them against joining Carefree Wander or breaking the law. After touring the association’s bounty hall, Lu Chenzhou and Shi Ruyu heard about the fugitive Black Warrior Tang Zheng, while Ji Xuantong urged them to uphold the righteous way; elsewhere, Rikett trained his son Rien.

• Ji Xuantong accepted responsibility for his direct disciples and pledged to report them if they broke the law, remembering his former senior brother who had joined Carefree Wander.
• Shi Ruyu showed Lu Chenzhou the Judicial Task Bounty Hall, explained its police-supported commissions, and described the nationwide hunt for Tang Zheng.
• Lu Chenzhou and Shi Ruyu condemned Tang Zheng and discussed the danger posed by Black Warriors, and Shi Ruyu cautioned Lu Chenzhou to preserve his life.
• Ji Xuantong told his disciples to uphold the righteous way and never oppose the state.
• At the Giant Elephant Combat Hall, Rikett knocked Rien down during training, but Rien got up and claimed the listed opponents were all too weak for him.

The martial arts academy exchange tournament was scheduled for May 21 at Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall, while Lu Chenzhou planned to use the time before it to improve his skills. Qingtian Cang confirmed that both Shi Ruyu and Lu Chenzhou had been accepted for further study at Dragon City University of Martial Arts.

• Rikett scolded Rien for his weak cultivation and warned him that Lu Chenzhou’s rapid progress made him an unusual opponent.
• Chen Zhen told Liu Qingyuan to aim for the youth division’s top three but to avoid risking injury against Rien.
• Lin Jianxing and Wang Chong discussed their prospects in the tournament and the threat posed by Flying Swallow Martial Hall’s new seventh-stage disciple.
• The district association set the tournament for May 21, 2221, at Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall, and Lu Chenzhou planned to train hard for the prize money.
• Qingtian Cang told Ji Xuantong that Shi Ruyu’s enlightenment had been recognized and that Lu Chenzhou could transfer to Dragon City Martial Arts Affiliated High School in Su City.

Ji Xuantong told Lu Chenzhou and Shi Ruyu that both had been assessed as sudden-enlightenment talents and explained their paths to Dragon City University of Martial Arts. Lu Chenzhou shared the news with his parents and prepared to leave his regular high school for a martial academy.

• Ji Xuantong learned that Lu Chenzhou and Shi Ruyu had both passed their assessments, then told Ji Feiyan and his wife the good news.
• Ji Xuantong informed Lu Chenzhou and Shi Ruyu that they were both preliminarily assessed as sudden-enlightenment talents.
• Ji Xuantong told Lu Chenzhou he would transfer to the Su City Branch Campus martial academy, while Shi Ruyu would go directly to Dragon City University of Martial Arts.
• Ji Xuantong explained that the branch campus would open at the former Stone Lake University site by the end of the year.
• Lu Chenzhou told Li Xianghua and Lu Guoping about his transfer, and his parents wept with joy.
• Lu Chenzhou returned to his room to practice punches and considered how to say goodbye to his teachers and classmates.

Lu Chenzhou transferred from Wanhua High School to Dragon City University Affiliated High School after passing its assessment, and his classmates and school celebrated his achievement. The next day, he arrived at the affiliated school's Su City campus and was asked to introduce himself to his new class.

• Shi Ruyu shared news of her achievement with her mother, who remembered how her late father had loved the All-Nations Martial Arts Tournament.
• Lu Chenzhou showed his Dragon City University assessment notice to his math teacher and began arranging his transfer from Wanhua High School.
• Wanhua High School announced Lu Chenzhou's transfer, and his classmates gathered around to congratulate him while Qin Zheng learned he was leaving for the affiliated high school.
• The vice principal gave Lu Chenzhou fifty thousand yuan in scholarship funds, and the school community sent him off with praise and support.
• Lu Chenzhou arrived at Dragon City University Affiliated High School's Su City campus, where Yu Zheng asked him to introduce himself to Class One of Grade One.