Chapter Summaries

Shen Qian discovered that the Celestial Palace Spirit Stone held King Yanling’s sealed consciousness, and she offered him her complete inheritance in exchange for three promises. She began teaching him how to use Mental Power to overturn rules, leaving him with a warning that he was not a god.

• Shen Qian entered the Celestial Palace Spirit Stone but found only an empty inner space until Earl Pingyang arrived and broke King Yanling’s seal.
• King Yanling appeared, froze Earl Pingyang’s consciousness, and offered Shen Qian her complete inheritance if he accepted three promises.
• Shen Qian agreed not to call King Yanling his master and to obtain the White Emperor literary rank in the Sea of Learning within one year; they left the third promise for later.
• King Yanling touched Shen Qian’s forehead and guided him to see the rules connecting the world, then taught him to overturn one by plucking its line.
• King Yanling warned Shen Qian that stronger Mental Power would let him overturn more rules, but that he must remember he was not a god.

Shen Qian learned the King Yanling’s Word of Law technique, then received her soul fusion, which raised his Mental Power to the Second Restriction. After finding that his main body’s Mental Core had changed in an unexpected way, he planned to travel to Jiangzhou to certify his Mountain Sea Martial Artist badge.

• The King Yanling taught Shen Qian to perceive and pluck the rules of the world, and he cracked a city wall by invoking destruction.
• The King Yanling fused with Shen Qian and greatly strengthened his Mental Core, allowing him to break through to the Second Restriction before her consciousness avatar disappeared.
• Earl Pingyang regained consciousness, and Shen Qian told him the King Yanling had passed on cultivation methods without revealing their soul fusion.
• Shen Qian examined his main body’s Mental Core and found it had grown while becoming smoother, unlike the soul formed by his avatar.
• Shen Qian called Dao Jiu and arranged to go to Jiangzhou the next morning to certify his Mountain Sea Martial Artist badge.

Shen Qian left Jiangzhong Military University to certify as a Mountain Sea Martial Artist, and his test confirmed he had reached the Fourth Heaven. When he activated his new badge, he was transported into the Core World and faced the vast cavern before him.

• Shen Qian met Wan Ning and Dao Jiu outside the university, learned Dao Jiu had reached the Mountain Sea Fourth Heaven, and reviewed a financial report showing his assets had reached 16.2 billion.
• Shen Qian's armored vehicle passed a checkpoint sealing off the restricted zone and continued to the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Association headquarters.
• Shen Qian met Zheng Lei and passed a test confirming his realm as a Mountain Sea Fourth Heaven martial artist.
• Zheng Lei explained the benefits and obligations of Mountain Sea certification, then presented Shen Qian with an engraved golden badge.
• Shen Qian activated the badge, was welcomed to the Core World, and found himself inside a vast stone cavern.

Shen Qian arrived in Earth's Core, a vast city beneath the planet reserved for Mountain and Sea Martial Artists, and learned why millions could live there. After Zheng Lei explained its population and steep residency fee, Shen Qian gave Dao Jiu his remaining free days and asked how ordinary people entered the city.

• Shen Qian arrived in Earth's Core with Zheng Lei and Dao Jiu and discovered that the teleportation emblem had brought his physical body beneath the Earth's surface.
• Zheng Lei led Shen Qian across a bridge into a vast metropolis filled with Mountain and Sea Martial Artists, and explained that the number announced upon entry was a sequential designation.
• Zheng Lei explained that generations of martial arts graduates across China and the world had accumulated into millions of Mountain and Sea Martial Artists.
• Shen Qian noticed Earth's Core's dense spiritual energy, while Dao Jiu eagerly absorbed it and explained that he had rarely been able to afford entry.
• Zheng Lei told Shen Qian that staying in Earth's Core cost one hundred thousand Huaxia Coin per day and that newly promoted Mountain and Sea Martial Artists received ten free days.
• Shen Qian gave Dao Jiu his remaining eight free days, then asked Zheng Lei how ordinary people had entered Earth's Core City.

Shen Qian explored Earth's Core City with Zheng Lei, learning about its residents and encountering the Forest of Mountain Sea, where statues commemorated peak Mountain Sea experts. A violent disturbance drew them to a vast bronze gate bound by glowing chains, leaving Shen Qian wondering what lay behind it.

• Zheng Lei explained the three groups of ordinary residents in Earth's Core City and its martial-arts-centered life.
• An announcement reported that a Mountain Sea Martial Artist had entered the Four Forbidden Domain on the sixty-seventh floor of the Myriad Manifestations Tower, prompting Shen Qian to reflect on the gulf between his youth and veteran experts.
• Zheng Lei brought Shen Qian to the Forest of Mountain Sea and explained that its statues honored experts who had reached the peak of Mountains and Seas.
• Shen Qian recognized statues of the Heavenly Swordsman and other renowned figures, including a newly erected statue of his Eldest Senior Brother, Jiang Huan.
• A thunderous disturbance sent martial artists rushing toward the city’s depths, where Shen Qian saw a gigantic bronze gate bound by glowing chains.

Shen Qian learned that the ancient bronze gate in Earth’s Core City might be the first door on Earth and that the nine first-generation kings may have entered it before becoming Martial Kings. When the gate opened briefly and three mysterious white stones escaped, the system controlling Shen Qian summoned them to him.

• Zheng Lei told Shen Qian that the bronze gate predated the spiritual energy resurgence, and that the nine first-generation kings may have entered it and later sealed it with the original chains.
• The gate began shaking for the first time, then opened a crack despite the chains before closing again after three lotus-seed-shaped white stones escaped.
• Shen Qian and several Mountains and Seas martial artists raced after the stones, while the system controlled Shen Qian’s body and was quickly overtaken by four powerful pursuers.
• The system stopped and beckoned, summoning the three white stones past the pursuers and toward Shen Qian.

Shen Qian claimed the three lotus seeds from the Bronze Gate and rejected Ji You’s demand to hand them over. He defeated Ji You in a crushing aerial fight, but Ji You emerged from the crater and charged at him again.

• The three lotus seeds flew into Shen Qian’s hands, and he recognized Ji You among the martial artists confronting him.
• Shen Qian used the Eye of Truth to assess Ji You’s formidable strength as Ji You demanded that he surrender the seeds.
• Shen Qian refused, challenged the surrounding martial artists to take the seeds themselves, and learned that crippling someone in Earth’s Core City brought only minor punishment.
• Shen Qian struck Ji You first, then the system took over and relentlessly suppressed him with a precisely timed barrage of attacks.
• Shen Qian finished Ji You with Extreme Fist, driving him into a huge crater and silencing the crowd.
• Ji You climbed out of the crater and charged at Shen Qian in a fury.

Shen Qian and his senior brothers faced Ji You and the newly arrived Xu Nian, whose power and forbidden return threatened them over the treasure Shen Qian had obtained. Marquis Ling Tian appeared to stop Xu Nian, and Shen Qian learned the Marquis was only thirty-five and a legend of Liu Changqing’s generation.

• Ji You attacked Shen Qian with a divine ability, but Ling Xiao arrived and shattered the attack with his sword.
• Liu Changqing scolded Shen Qian for failing to finish Ji You, then provoked Ji You before Ling Xiao stopped his charge.
• A mysterious attacker used spatial cracks to assault Ling Xiao, Shen Qian, and Liu Changqing, until Ji You identified the cloaked figure as Xu Nian, his Second Senior Brother.
• Shen Qian probed Xu Nian with the Eye of Truth, but Xu Nian’s mental power struck back and gave Shen Qian a glimpse of his horrifying face.
• Xu Nian demanded that Shen Qian surrender his treasure and Ling Xiao sever an arm, but Marquis Ling Tian appeared and reminded Xu Nian that he was banned from Earth's Core City.
• Liu Changqing told Shen Qian that Marquis Ling Tian was a legend of his generation and had only just turned thirty-five.

Marquis Ling Tian ended the dispute in Voidland, then offered Shen Qian anything within his means for the three Chaos Stones, but Shen Qian refused to sell even one. After Shen Qian left with Ling Xiao and Liu Changqing, Xu Nian met with Ji You and the resurrected Wang Shuo, who said he wanted to trample Marquis Ling Tian beneath his feet.

• Marquis Ling Tian confirmed that Xu Nian’s thousand-year ban had been lifted and ordered the dispute in Earth’s Core City to end.
• Ling Xiao and Liu Changqing told Shen Qian about Xu Nian’s massacre of eighteen thousand people and the circumstances of his expulsion.
• Marquis Ling Tian spoke with Liu Changqing about their former classmates, then offered Shen Qian a price for his three Chaos Stones.
• Shen Qian refused to sell any of the Chaos Stones, and Marquis Ling Tian left after a tense standoff.
• Liu Changqing and Ling Xiao escorted Shen Qian away from Voidland while Xu Nian and Ji You went to meet Wang Shuo.
• Wang Shuo revealed his ambition to defeat Marquis Ling Tian, and Xu Nian said that day might not be far away.

After Shen Qian and his senior brothers escaped Marquis Ling Tian, Liu Changqing revealed his history with the Marquis and Ren Lingxi. Ling Xiao then explained the dangerous kinds of Mountain Sea Martial Artists, leaving Shen Qian eager to learn more about the third kind.

• Ling Xiao and Liu Changqing brought Shen Qian to Jiang Huan's luxurious apartment and warned him about provoking Marquis Ling Tian.
• Shen Qian asked Liu Changqing about his feud with Marquis Ling Tian, and Liu Changqing revealed that Ren Lingxi, the woman he loved, was now the Marquis's fiancée.
• Ling Xiao described Marquis Ling Tian's extraordinary rise to Wang Hou, making Shen Qian suspect that his own Wang Hou clone had broken through incorrectly.
• Ling Xiao explained that Behind-the-Gate Mountain Sea Martial Artists and Prison Guards were two especially dangerous kinds of Mountain Sea Martial Artists.
• Shen Qian asked Ling Xiao to explain the third kind of Mountain Sea Martial Artist.

Ling Xiao explained Ancient Mountain Seas and warned Shen Qian that greater upheaval might be coming while their teacher was away. After leaving Earth's Core City and handling his affairs in Jiangzhou, Shen Qian entered the restricted zone to temper his body with the Ancestral Dragon Inverse Scale, drawing down a massive purple lightning bolt.

• Ling Xiao told Shen Qian that Ancient Mountain Seas included people awakened from ancient times and powerful souls reborn through other bodies, and cautioned him to avoid Wang Hou and prepare for upheaval.
• Shen Qian visited Earth's Core City's gravity field and trading market, accepted Dao Jiu as his permanent Mountain Sea attendant, bought cultivation supplies, and left without challenging the Forest of Mountain Sea.
• Shen Qian returned to Jiangzhou, met Yuan You, and gave her nearly nine billion from selling treasures he had brought back from ancient times.
• Shen Qian entered the restricted zone and chose a remote, storm-scarred mountain to begin body tempering with the Ancestral Dragon Inverse Scale and Jade Pond Immortal Water.
• Shen Qian struck the inverse scale as instructed, causing it to expand above him as dark clouds gathered and a huge purple lightning bolt descended.

Shen Qian used the Ancestral Dragon Inverse Scale and Jade Pond Immortal Water to survive repeated Purple Firmament Divine Thunder strikes, breaking through the Second Restriction and strengthening his body, Mental Power, and Origin Energy. As he returned to Jiangzhou City, he found it devastated by a vast Black Hole and was confronted by Wang Shuo, who had supposedly died.

• Shen Qian endured the first lightning strike, using the Jade Pond Immortal Water’s vitality to regenerate while cultivating his Mental Power.
• Shen Qian summoned more lightning strikes and broke through the Second Restriction, transforming his body and strengthening his Origin Energy.
• Shen Qian stopped after four strikes, put away the Ancestral Dragon Inverse Scale, and flew back toward Jiangzhou City.
• Shen Qian discovered that a huge Black Hole and widespread destruction had devastated Jiangzhou City, and he worried about Jiang Xuan’s safety.
• A mysterious attacker struck at Shen Qian, who dodged and recognized the black-clothed figure as Wang Shuo, believed to have died in the Nine Heavens Cup arena.

Shen Qian fought off Wang Shuo, discovering that an Ancient Mountain Sea soul was hidden inside him, then hurried toward Jiangzhou as Scavengers and demonic beasts ravaged the city. The chapter ended with Jiangzhou in chaos and the dangerous presence within Wang Shuo still looming.

• Shen Qian recognized that Wang Shuo had returned from the dead, but Wang Shuo blocked his way and proved far stronger than before.
• Shen Qian saw tens of thousands of Scavengers pour from a sinkhole in Jiangzhou and tried to leave to help defend the city.
• Wang Shuo refused to let Shen Qian pass, so Shen Qian overwhelmed him with a barrage of attacks and exposed his concealed Eighth Heaven of Mountain Sea realm.
• Wang Shuo rose from the crater with a tremendous aura as the shadow of the being within him grew, while Shen Qian hurried away.
• Shen Qian realized Wang Shuo housed a powerful Ancient Mountain Sea soul that had resurrected by taking over his body.
• Shen Qian reached Jiangzhou's outskirts and saw fires, fleeing civilians, and battles against Scavengers and underground demonic beasts.

Shen Qian rescued Jiang Xuan from the Scavengers overrunning Jiangzhou, then joined the battle and helped the army reclaim the city. Afterward, he wondered why the Scavengers had fought without retreating and why no Wang Hou had appeared.

• Jiang Xuan hid in her martial arts gym, then killed the Scavengers who found her with the B-grade spirit-energy dagger Shen Qian had given her.
• Shen Qian arrived, praised Jiang Xuan for surviving, and took her to the City Lord's Manor shelter after she retrieved her photo album.
• Jiang Xuan told Shen Qian that the strange voice in her mind had spoken again about a “door” being pushed open.
• Shen Qian joined the fight against the Mountain Sea Scavengers and killed thirteen of them as the Jiangzhong Army pushed through the city.
• After the Scavengers were eliminated, Shen Qian questioned their apparent lack of purpose and refusal to flee, and noted that no Wang Hou had appeared or answered him.

After learning that six cities had sunk and Ancient Prisons overseas had fallen, Shen Qian returned to school and pursued greater strength. He cleared Ten Thousand Bandits Mountain for the third time, met the requirements for the Myriad Manifestations Tower, and entered its pagoda.

• Shen Qian received delayed reports that six cities had sunk and Scavengers had attacked, then learned from No. 9 that most Wang Hous had gone overseas after Ancient Prisons fell.
• Shen Qian stayed in Jiangzhou until reconstruction began, then returned to school and heard from Earl Pingyang that Prison Guards had rebelled at three overseas Ancient Prisons and released their prisoners.
• Earl Pingyang told Shen Qian that Marquis Tuodong might have helped cause the rebellion, while the cause of the Scavenger attacks remained under investigation.
• Shen Qian cleared Ten Thousand Bandits Mountain for the third time and earned an SSS-Class rating, securing the requirements to enter the Myriad Manifestations Tower.
• Shen Qian reached the ancient pagoda that served as the Tower's entry point and strode inside.

Shen Qian entered the Myriad Manifestations Tower, drawing Qu Bai, Feng Manlin, Niu Ziguo, Lin Sanmo, and Bai Fei there to watch his first challenge. As they approached the tower’s entrance, Qu Bai explained how its gates divided martial artists by realm while its floors tested everyone on the same scale.

• Feng Manlin told Niu Ziguo that Shen Qian had entered the Myriad Manifestations Tower, and Qu Bai ended his cultivation session to join them.
• Qu Bai revealed that his body had entered the First Restriction and explained the Forbidden Domain to Feng Manlin and Niu Ziguo.
• Lin Sanmo and Bai Fei renewed their bet that Shen Qian would reach at least the sixtieth floor, with Lin Sanmo agreeing to join Bai Fei overseas if he did.
• Shen Qian arrived at the Myriad Manifestations Tower’s vast plaza and met Qu Bai, Feng Manlin, and Niu Ziguo, followed by Lin Sanmo and Bai Fei.
• Qu Bai explained that the nine gates had different cultivation-level entry thresholds, but the tower’s challenge remained equally difficult for everyone.

Shen Qian learned about the Myriad Manifestations Tower’s mysteries and prepared to enter it in search of a breakthrough. When Rogue Martial Artists mocked him and his companions, he silenced them by revealing that he possessed nearly thirty Martial Practice Tokens.

• Qu Bai and Bai Fei explained that no one knew how many floors the Myriad Manifestations Tower had, and that King Zhouyi had repeatedly explored it despite reaching the ninety-ninth floor.
• Qu Bai told Shen Qian that the tower could help him understand the “door,” and Shen Qian joined the queue to enter its fourth-level gate, hoping to advance his cultivation.
• Qu Bai explained that the square around the tower served as a meeting place and an illegal market for Martial Practice Tokens.
• A group of Rogue Martial Artists mocked Shen Qian and his companions for being sheltered students, and Bai Fei insulted them in return.
• Feng Manlin identified the men as Rogue Martial Artists, and Shen Qian understood their resentment toward martial arts students.
• Shen Qian produced nearly thirty Martial Practice Tokens, stunning the crowd and silencing the Rogue Martial Artists.

Shen Qian entered the Myriad Manifestations Tower and, while searching its empty first floor, experienced a memory of the first-generation Wang Hou creating the tower to seal a Dao Fruit. The chapter left him wondering what the tower was really hiding when a voice announced that Developer Mode had been activated.

• Qu Bai explained the Myriad Manifestations Tower's rewards and completion rules to Shen Qian as he waited to enter.
• Shen Qian presented his identity emblem and Martial Practice Token, crossed the bridge, and entered the tower's first-floor mist.
• Shen Qian found multicolored light in the mist and passed through it into a vision of Old Earth and the first-generation Wang Hou.
• The White-robed Man revealed that the Wang Hou were creating the Myriad Manifestations Tower to seal a Dao Fruit and named it the Myriad Manifestations Tower.
• Shen Qian returned to the mist, where a female voice announced that Developer Mode had been activated.

Shen Qian discovered that Developer Mode let him monitor the Myriad Manifestations Tower and adjust some of its fundamental rules, though he could not bypass its original rules or travel directly to the hundredth floor. He planned to limit the tower to one challenger, lower its difficulty, and maximize its rewards so he could clear it alone.

• Shen Qian used the crystal screens to observe challengers across the tower, including Liu Changqing, and noticed that the hundredth-floor screen showed only darkness.
• Shen Qian questioned the tower's will and learned that he could adjust fundamental rules but could not alter the original rules or go directly to the hundredth floor.
• Shen Qian inspected the difficulty settings and learned that even King Zhouyi had only reached 52% completion on the ninety-ninth floor at Normal Difficulty.
• Shen Qian examined the reward settings and learned about the limited Myriad Coin rewards and the special Wishing Pool reward for near-perfect clears.
• Shen Qian devised a plan to set the tower's capacity to one, choose Trial Difficulty, and maximize rewards so he could challenge it alone.

Shen Qian secretly altered the Myriad Manifestations Tower into a one-person secret realm with the lowest difficulty and maximum rewards. The tower expelled everyone else and announced a temporary shutdown, while Shen Qian remained inside and began the second floor.

• Qu Bai, Cao Yi, and Bai Fei wondered why Shen Qian's second-floor clearance record had not appeared when the Myriad Manifestations Tower erupted with light and machinery-like sounds.
• The tower expelled the martial artists inside, and Golden Tower Marquis explained that it was undergoing temporary maintenance before ordering the crowd to disperse.
• Qu Bai and the others realized Shen Qian had not been expelled, and Liu Changqing joined them to wait outside the tower.
• Shen Qian revealed that he had set the tower to one-person capacity, test-mode difficulty, and maximum rewards so he could improve his cultivation.
• Shen Qian entered the second floor and faced a miniature stone man at peak Advanced Martial Artist, then charged at it confidently.