Chapter Summaries

Shen Qian studied the formidable Nine Heavens Competition contestants and learned that Big Shot Gao’s divination had warned of a smooth journey shadowed by nine deaths and one life. As the competition began, he set off for the arena knowing his senior brothers and sisters had come to protect him from a possible calamity.

• Shen Qian read about Lin Sanmo’s legendary feats and learned from Qu Bai that the overseas Grandmaster Hunter Sha Bi could be equivalent to a Hunter God by local standards.
• Shen Qian considered the threat posed by Bai Fei and Ning Zhaoyi, then exchanged a challenge with Qu Bai before leaving the contestant list.
• Shi Dingyan told Shen Qian that Big Shot Gao had divined “Smooth sailing, nine deaths and one life” for him and that the danger might come during the Nine Heavens Competition.
• Shi Dingyan warned Shen Qian to withdraw rather than risk his life, since the competition’s entanglements with multiple Wang Hou made further divination impossible.
• On the morning of the competition, Shen Qian joined Jiangzhong Military University’s convoy to the arena and wondered why he felt as though he were going to risk his life.

Jiangzhong Military University’s freshmen entered the Nine Heavens Cup opening ceremony as the crowd questioned the university’s strength. The ceremony ended on a shocking reveal: national Martial Champion Shen Qian was listed as a substitute player.

• Shen Qian and the other nine Jiangzhong Military University freshmen rode to the stadium while joking about the public attention surrounding famous young geniuses.
• Cheng Qingqing gathered the team in the lounge and urged them to attend the packed two-day competition, while Ning Zhiyuan encouraged them to show the world what the rebuilt university could do.
• The ten students emerged before the enormous crowd, and Shen Qian calmed his nervous teammates by telling them to treat the moment as the beginning of a legend.
• Shen Qian spotted Wu Wei and Earl Pingyang in the VIP section as spectators discussed Jiangzhong Military University and wondered why Shen Qian was standing at the edge of the group.
• The host announced that Shen Qian, the national Martial Champion, would compete as Jiangzhong Military University’s substitute player, leaving the stadium stunned.

Jiangzhong Military University arrived at the Nine Heavens Cup, where Shen Qian’s substitute status drew scorn and attracted the attention of rivals Cao Qian and Wang Shuo. Overlord Military Martial University’s Long Yi provoked the team, and the chapter ended with their principal arriving after Shen Qian noticed Long Yi had used Mental Power to unsettle them.

• Cheng Qingqing explained that Jiangzhong Military University had a bye for the first two rounds and would need to win every match to claim the championship.
• Cao Qian challenged Shen Qian to take the field, while Wang Shuo recognized that Shen Qian’s substitute status might be an act and warned him not to fight.
• Long Yi confronted Shen Qian, insulted Jiangzhong Military University, and threatened to trample his teammates, while a braided girl suggested they might be eliminated before facing the team.
• Geng Qianqiu, Ye Shicong, Xiao Ye, and others volunteered to face Long Yi, and Shen Qian realized Long Yi had used Mental Power to provoke them.
• Jiangzhong Military Martial University’s principal appeared, prompting the teachers and students to bow.

Jiangzhong Military University prepared to answer Overlord Military University's provocations as Shen Qian selected two Mental Power techniques before the Nine Heavens Cup resumed. The draw paired Jiangzhong Military University against Overlord Military University in the opening match of the top-one-hundred round.

• Earl Pingyang encouraged Jiangzhong Military University's team and implied that they would face Overlord Military University soon.
• Other university teams provoked Jiangzhong Military University over Shen Qian, while its members reflected on his reputation and ability.
• Shen Qian exchanged contribution points for Hundred Ghosts Night Parade and Shadow Spear.
• The first two competition rounds ended, and the host began the draw for the top-one-hundred round.
• The draw matched Overlord Military University with Jiangzhong Military University, exciting the audience.

Jiangzhong Military University and Overlord Military University faced off in the Nine Heavens Cup’s opening battle, while Jiangzhong’s contestants shocked the arena by playing a mobile game before the match. Xiao Ye confronted his old rival Tian Shixian and swiftly seized him by the throat, leaving the outcome of their fight unresolved.

• Jiangzhong Military University chose Xiao Ye as its first contestant after the team played rock-paper-scissors, and Overlord Military University mocked them before selecting Tian Shixian.
• The arena audience saw Jiangzhong Military University’s contestants and Cheng Qingqing playing Martial God in their waiting room, then watched them hurriedly pretend to discuss tactics.
• Tian Shixian and Xiao Ye entered the arena, and Tian Shixian taunted Xiao Ye about choosing Jiangzhong Military University over the Education Department’s offer to keep him.
• Shen Qian learned that Xiao Ye and Tian Shixian had a shared history, and that his teammates had deliberately let Xiao Ye win the draw so he could take the first match.
• Tian Shixian attacked Xiao Ye with a powerful wind-and-sand beast, but Xiao Ye moved at blinding speed and caught him by the throat.

Xiao Ye defeated Tian Shixian and Han Yan in succession, using Han Yan’s Mental Power spellcraft to stabilize his newly formed Dao Heart before knocking him out. As the venue celebrated Xiao Ye’s victories, Overlord Team captain Long Yi entered the arena and threatened to cripple him.

• Xiao Ye effortlessly subdued Tian Shixian, who surrendered before he could die, and Xiao Ye’s state of mind advanced toward the Dao.
• Han Yan challenged Xiao Ye and used a Nine Phoenix feather to amplify his Mental Power spellcraft, leaving Xiao Ye unable to move.
• Xiao Ye endured Han Yan’s final attack, used it to stabilize his Dao Heart, then kicked Han Yan unconscious and won the match.
• Long Yi leaped onto the arena and threatened to cripple Xiao Ye within ten moves.

Xiao Ye overcame Long Yi’s superior cultivation by entering the Extreme Realm and won the match for Jiangzhong Military University. Overlord Military University withdrew its remaining contestants, giving Jiangzhong the first victory of the top 250 championship.

• Long Yi used the Northwest Army’s Eagle Soars technique to drive Xiao Ye back and injure his arm.
• Xiao Ye dodged Long Yi’s fifth strike by a hair and kicked him off balance.
• Xiao Ye entered the Extreme Realm, outmaneuvered Long Yi, and defeated him despite the gap in their cultivation.
• Xiao Ye explained the Extreme Realm to Long Yi, who collapsed from his hidden injuries.
• The referee announced Xiao Ye’s victory, and Overlord Military University withdrew its remaining contestants, securing the match for Jiangzhong Military University.

After Xiao Ye’s victory made him the center of attention, Shen Qian watched Wang Shuo and other top students follow his example by becoming substitutes, then tested a system-enhanced spell on Cheng Qingqing. As the fourth-round draw began, Jiangzhong Military University received a bye and advanced directly into the Top 63.

• Xiao Ye refused to go to the medical room, while his teammates teased him about his brief rest and watched the remaining matches.
• Wang Shuo and several other top students gave up their captain positions to become substitutes, apparently following Shen Qian’s example.
• Shen Qian found that cultivating spells normally would take too long, so he used the system to cast a Flawless-level Shadow Spear at Cheng Qingqing.
• Cheng Qingqing’s instinctive spiritual defense triggered, and Shen Qian collapsed before recovering and explaining that he had seen an inappropriate vision.
• The fourth-round draw began, and Jiangzhong Military University received the bye and advanced directly into the Top 63.

Jiangzhong Military University received a bye into the top sixty-three while its students watched Hua Martial University face East Martial University. Xiang Zhi forced Hua Martial University to send out Sima Xing, then Tan Kaifei and Sima Xing prepared to clash as Yue Dakuan made a boast that Cheng Qingqing posted online.

• Shen Qian recognized that the tournament draw favored strong teams through an unseen convergence of luck, and Jiangzhong Military University spent the break gaming and watching other matches.
• Shangguan Ting bet one million on East Martial University after Shen Qian chose them, and Hua Martial University took the first match against East Martial University.
• Xiang Zhi defeated Sun Tianshi and two more Hua Martial University fighters with her exceptional speed, bringing East Martial University to match point.
• Sima Xing stepped onto the arena, but Xiang Zhi immediately conceded, having forced him out and gained a momentum advantage for East Martial University.
• Tan Kaifei entered the arena to face Sima Xing, while Yue Dakuan claimed he could beat either one and Cheng Qingqing posted after hearing him.

Tan Kaifei defeated Sima Xing with a concealed leg technique, while Shen Qian profited from his bets and surprised his teammates with his wealth. After Yue Dakuan’s edited boast sparked online outrage, Jiangzhong Military University drew East Martial University for its next match.

• Tan Kaifei revealed his powerful leg technique and defeated Sima Xing, eliminating Hua Martial University from the tournament.
• Shangguan Ting received 4,750,000 Huaxia Coin from her bet, and the team discovered Shen Qian had wagered 150 million and spent hundreds of millions.
• Shen Qian offered his teammates Psionic Equipment to ease their resentment over his wealth.
• Yue Dakuan found that Cheng Qingqing had posted an edited voice message that made him appear to boast he could defeat Tan Kaifei and Sima Xing together.
• The draw paired Jiangzhong Military University against East Martial University in the round of sixty-four to the round of thirty-two.

Shen Qian wondered whether fortune could be influenced, then watched Jiangzhong Military University draw East Martial University in the top sixty-four. Yue Dakuan opened the match with a stunning win over Xiang Zhi and faced Tan Kaifei next.

• Shen Qian tried to influence the draw through fortune, but could not tell whether he had affected the result that matched Jiangzhong Military University against East Martial University.
• Jiangzhong Military University realized Yue Dakuan was their only competitor in the seventh match, while Shen Qian watched Ding Yi defeat all five Jiangnan Martial University competitors in three minutes.
• Yue Dakuan dramatically took the stage as Jiangzhong Military University's first competitor and challenged East Martial University to send out Tan Kaifei.
• Yue Dakuan defeated Xiang Zhi almost instantly with his folding fan, prompting the venue to erupt in surprise.
• East Martial University sent Tan Kaifei out for the second match, and Yue Dakuan greeted him before the fight began.

Yue Dakuan defeated Tan Kaifei with the mysterious “Demon Descent” technique, then fainted from the strain of keeping himself airborne. Jiangzhong Military University’s substitutes and Ye Shicong went on to win their next two rounds, setting up a semifinal-qualifying match against Suke Martial University.

• Yue Dakuan and Tan Kaifei fought at extraordinary speed, and Tan unleashed his Eight Extremes technique while Yue used Demon Descent.
• Tan Kaifei briefly surpassed the ten-thousand-jin limit, but Yue outmaneuvered him and knocked him out with a flourish of his folding fan.
• Yue Dakuan collapsed after returning to the lounge; Shen Qian found that his legs had swollen from keeping his blood and qi trapped there to stay airborne.
• Shangguan Ting, Li Jiaqi, and Ouyang Fei defeated Huake Martial University in eight minutes despite being outnumbered.
• Ye Shicong defeated all five Central Martial University opponents in a twenty-nine-minute one-versus-five match.
• Jiangzhong Military University advanced to face Suke Martial University for a place in the semifinals.

Suke Martial University’s quarterfinal against Jiangzhong Military University turned into a series of friendly skill exchanges and voluntary concessions, baffling spectators. Captain Qu Xiangyun then called Shen Qian onto the stage, only to invite him to visit Earl Luoshen’s home after the Nine Heavens Cup.

• Duan Yuanlong challenged Yue Dakuan, apologized for their past conflict, and exchanged martial arts advice with him before conceding.
• Li Qing requested to face Ye Shicong instead of Yue Dakuan, and the two traded techniques before Li Qing conceded.
• Suke Martial University sent two more contestants against Wei Huai and Ouyang Fei, and both conceded after friendly bouts.
• Qu Xiangyun took the stage and asked Ouyang Fei to call Shen Qian out.
• Qu Xiangyun told Shen Qian that her aunt had asked her to invite him to their home after the tournament, prompting a commotion among the spectators.

Geng Qianqiu made his debut in Jiangzhong Military University's top-four match against Shenwu University and overwhelmed two opponents, revealing himself as another peerless talent. As the arena chanted his name, a shadowy figure appeared near Shenwu University's lounge.

• Qu Xiangyun conceded to Jiangzhong Military University after inviting Shen Qian to visit Earl Luoshen, and the university advanced to the top four.
• The draw matched Jiangzhong Military University against Shenwu University, but Shen Qian declined to compete and sent Geng Qianqiu instead.
• Ding Yi led Northern Martial University to victory over Chuanwu University, and Shen Qian worried that her unfamiliar swordsmanship hinted at troubling changes.
• Geng Qianqiu entered the arena as Earl Kunhu's final disciple and defeated Yuan Junyi with a single devastating attack.
• Geng Qianqiu exposed Zhong Wen's Twin Shadow Blade, battered him into unconsciousness, and won their match.
• A shadowy figure appeared beside Shenwu University's lounge as the crowd cheered for Geng Qianqiu.

Geng Qianqiu fought Cao Qian in the Nine Heavens Cup after reflecting on how Shen Qian’s overwhelming strength had driven him to improve. Cao Qian repeatedly battered Geng Qianqiu, who finally landed a counterattack, and Cao Qian’s furious strike toward Geng Qianqiu’s dantian was interrupted by a figure who appeared between them.

• Geng Qianqiu recalled his repeated defeats by Shen Qian’s simulation image and how accepting the gap between them helped him advance.
• Cao Qian entered the arena and challenged Geng Qianqiu, then overwhelmed him with a windless movement technique and a powerful opening collision.
• Cao Qian continued striking Geng Qianqiu while Geng refused to concede, leaving him severely injured.
• Geng Qianqiu seized Cao Qian’s arm and headbutted his back, making Cao spit blood.
• Cao Qian charged at the airborne Geng Qianqiu and aimed a devastating punch at his dantian, but a figure appeared between them.

Shen Qian intervened when Cao Qian attacked the defeated Geng Qianqiu, then yielded the fight to Zhao Keyi. As Earl Kunhu watched, Zhao Keyi fought Cao Qian and appeared to dominate him, leaving their battle ongoing.

• Shen Qian stopped Cao Qian from striking Geng Qianqiu, but the referee declared Cao Qian the winner after Geng Qianqiu lost the ability to fight.
• Cao Qian challenged Shen Qian, who declined and left with Geng Qianqiu as Zhao Keyi entered the arena in his place.
• Earl Kunhu arrived in Jiangzhong Military University's lounge, treated Geng Qianqiu, and revealed that Cao Qian and Cao Wen were Earl Minnan's children.
• Zhao Keyi asked whether Cao Qian needed time to recover, then taunted him as the match began.
• Zhao Keyi repeatedly caught and dragged Cao Qian back into their fast-moving fight, leaving Cao Qian mostly on the defensive.

Zhao Keyi overwhelmed Cao Qian, but Cao Qian began an extraordinarily dangerous Path Seeking breakthrough during their match. With Earl Minnan’s intervention through the Gate of Creation, Cao Qian’s failing life force recovered and his attempt continued.

• Zhao Keyi suppressed Cao Qian and urged him to surrender, leaving Cao Qian to reflect on his rivalry with Shen Qian.
• Cao Qian began Path Seeking on the spot, drawing the Dao Sea and risking his life to reach the Mountains and Seas Realm.
• The referee warned that Cao Qian was courting death, while Earl Kunhu explained that intervening after the Dao Sea appeared would bring severe backlash.
• Cao Qian’s life force began fading as his attempt seemed destined to fail.
• Earl Minnan’s projection appeared and used the Gate of Creation to restore Cao Qian’s life force and gather his Dao Rhyme.

Cao Qian received Earl Minnan's help and reached the Half-step Mountain Sea Realm, but Zhao Keyi revealed he had already reached the same realm and defeated him after a fierce battle. Jiangzhong Military University secured the match, and Earl Kunhu then ordered Geng Qianqiu to kneel before Shen Qian, leaving the reason unexplained.

• Earl Minnan's jade pendant helped Cao Qian complete his breakthrough into the Half-step Mountain Sea Realm, and Cao Qian realized his father had been protecting him.
• Zhao Keyi revealed that he was also a Half-step Mountain Sea Realm martial artist and fought Cao Qian at full strength.
• Cao Qian conceded after recognizing Zhao Keyi had held back, and the referee awarded the match and team victory to Jiangzhong Military University.
• Geng Qianqiu recovered from his injuries with Earl Kunhu's pill, after which Earl Kunhu ordered him to kneel before Shen Qian.
• Shen Qian stopped Geng Qianqiu and asked Earl Kunhu why he had issued the order.

After a video of Shen Qian’s overwhelming victory over Suke Martial University revealed how far he had surpassed his peers, Earl Kunhu confronted Geng Qianqiu about losing his focus and revealed the hidden beast talent implanted in him. As the Nine Heavens Cup final approached, Northern Martial University proposed deciding the championship in a single battle.

• A broadcast accidentally showed Geng Qianqiu appearing to kneel before Shen Qian, sparking widespread speculation about Shen Qian.
• Earl Kunhu explained that Geng Qianqiu had lost his way by treating Shen Qian as an unreachable figure instead of a target, and Geng Qianqiu defended his decision to give up surpassing him.
• Geng Qianqiu played a video of Shen Qian defeating Suke Martial University’s students and Bai Fei, insisting that nobody could catch up to Shen Qian’s progress.
• Earl Kunhu revealed a hidden formation in Geng Qianqiu’s body that granted him the talent of the exotic beast Zheng, and Shen Qian explained that the forbidden transfer had likely saved Geng Qianqiu’s life.
• Geng Qianqiu admitted his mistake and resolved to make use of his gift, while Zhao Keyi and the others urged Shen Qian to compete in the final.
• After Northern Martial University won its match, the host announced that it had proposed deciding the Nine Heavens Cup final in a single battle.

A mysterious shadow revived an aged Witch Clan servant and prepared a formation tied to Wang Hou, while the Nine Heavens Cup final began between Zhao Keyi and Ding Yi. Ding Yi asked Zhao Keyi whether Shen Qian knew Qu Xiangyun, then drew her sword as the battle started.

• A shadow awakened an aged body beneath a withered tree, tasked it with overseeing a formation, and revealed that the plan involved Wang Hou and the Witch Clan’s revival.
• Zhao Keyi entered the arena for Jiangzhong Military University, while Shen Qian watched from the waiting room and predicted Wang Shuo would not fight.
• Ding Yi appeared for Northern Martial University, and Shen Qian and Cheng Qingqing concluded that Wang Shuo’s one-battle proposal had been meant to force Shen Qian into competing.
• The host revealed that Ding Yi was Shen Qian’s childhood sweetheart and confirmed girlfriend, provoking an uproar among spectators.
• As the final began, Ding Yi asked Zhao Keyi whether Shen Qian knew Qu Xiangyun; after Zhao Keyi denied they were close, Ding Yi drew her sword.