Chapter Summaries

A record-breaking SSS rating in the Bronze Man Formation drew the attention of the Martial Arts Simulator’s monitoring staff, who discovered that the user, “Dried Up Confusion,” was registered at Jingcheng Seventh Middle School. Team Leader Zhang reported the mystery to Teacher Li at Shenwu University, prompting the university to investigate.

• A-Ying and the monitoring staff discovered that someone had earned the rare SSS rating in the Bronze Man Formation, one of only twenty-three such ratings across all stages in the Simulator’s history.
• The staff identified the record-breaker as “Dried Up Confusion,” registered in Jing City, and learned the user was associated with Jingcheng Seventh Middle School rather than a university.
• Team Leader Zhang checked the user’s registration details and wondered how an aged, frail administrator of a Physical Testing Hall could have cleared the notoriously difficult stage.
• Team Leader Zhang called Teacher Li and explained the record and the possibility that the user was a high school student.
• Teacher Li said Shenwu University’s admissions office would verify the user’s identity, while Team Leader Zhang reflected on what a record-breaking high school student might be capable of.

Shen Qian focused on improving his academic scores as well as his martial arts before the college entrance exams, while a failed attempt to recruit a potential genius in Jing City led the middle-aged man to turn his attention to the Martial Arts Department. Shen Qian arrived for the final elite-class training assessment, where Liu Changqing’s presence suggested it would be challenging.

• In North Capital, a middle-aged man sent his black-clad student to find the Martial Arts Simulator user “Dried Up Confusion” in Jing City, but Jiang Huan stopped the student from going there.
• The middle-aged man told his student to visit the Martial Arts Department and find Director Lü, then looked toward the Heaven-Piercing Ancient Tower and called out Gao Wenyuan’s name.
• Shen Qian reviewed his martial arts progress and set his sights on becoming the provincial academic top scorer, encouraged by a mock exam score of 673 and his rapidly improving mental abilities.
• Shen Qian declined Wang Yangming’s invitation to play Martial God and gave him a VR Hall membership card to keep him from spreading rumors about Shen Qian and Huo Ling'er.
• Huo Ling'er brought Shen Qian his favorite Sanguo Maocai, and they entered the old Physical Testing Hall, where Chen Feng, Zhao Hanhai, and Liu Changqing were already waiting for the final elite-class assessment.

Liu Changqing told Shen Qian to stay out of the trial unless the students were in danger, while Zhou Xiaoguang challenged him to a fight and revealed his need for a new goal. As the Training Class assembled to leave for the trial, Shen Qian realized they might be heading outside the city.

• Liu Changqing warned Shen Qian not to interfere in the trial unless the situation got out of control, and said he would stay nearby.
• Shen Qian told Zheng Shaoyang that Liu Changqing was his senior brother, but the others dismissed the claim.
• Zhou Xiaoguang asked Shen Qian whether he was ranked above him at the Jiuzhou Martial Arts Hall, then challenged him to prove his strength.
• Zhou Xiaoguang explained that he had lost his direction after falling behind, but Shen Qian said he already had someone stronger in his sights: Wang Shuo.
• After receiving a phone call, Liu Changqing signaled Chen Feng to assemble the Training Class, and Shen Qian suspected they were heading out of the city.

Shen Qian and the Training Class entered a restricted-zone garbage dump for their final trial, where Police Warriors had supposedly contained a group of Scavengers. While exploring the ruins with the frightened Huo Ling'er, Shen Qian found fresh, fragrant blood on a doll’s clothing and suspected a Demonic Beast was nearby.

• Song Ye told the students that Scavengers were hiding in the garbage dump, and Zhao Hanhai and Chen Feng agreed to accompany them while warning that they might not prevent every danger.
• The students traveled through the restricted zone to the ruins, where Song Ye deployed Police Warriors around the perimeter and Chen Feng and Zhao Hanhai went ahead to monitor the trial.
• Zhou Xiaoguang entered the ruins alone, while Shen Qian refused Zheng Shaoyang’s offer to team up and stayed with Huo Ling'er.
• Shen Qian found a doll among the garbage and discovered fresh, faintly fragrant blood on its clothing.
• Huo Ling'er suggested the blood might belong to a Demonic Beast, so Shen Qian became serious and went to find Song Ye.

Shen Qian and the others discovered a wounded W-Class Silver-Dyed Beast in the dump, where Zhou Xiaoguang broke through to become a Martial Artist. As Chen Feng attacked the beast, Wang Shuo shot him and ordered everyone to stay away from his cat.

• Song Ye and Shen Qian learned that the blood trail came from a demonic beast likely ranked X-Class or W-Class, while Liu Changqing confronted Nie Han in the stormy sky above the dump.
• Shen Qian and Huo Ling'er found Zhou Xiaoguang fighting two Scavengers; Zhou Xiaoguang absorbed spiritual energy, broke through, and defeated them.
• A Silver-Dyed Beast ambushed Zhou Xiaoguang, but Shen Qian knocked him clear and fought off the beast until Chen Feng arrived.
• Chen Feng identified the beast as a wounded W-Class Silver-Dyed Beast and struck it with a powerful punch.
• Wang Shuo shot Chen Feng in the leg as he pursued the beast, then told everyone to stay away from his cat.

Wang Shuo shot and badly wounded Chen Feng with a Psionic Gun, then claimed the Silver-Dyed Beast and left despite the students’ protests. As Shen Qian wondered whether he could stop Wang Shuo, Liu Changqing suddenly urged him to attack, though Liu himself did not appear.

• Shen Qian helped Chen Feng up and learned that Wang Shuo had wounded him with an enchanted Psionic Gun.
• Song Ye explained that Wang Shuo’s Intermediate Hunter badge allowed him to carry weapons in restricted zones, while Wang Shuo dismissed the students’ objections.
• Zhao Hanhai blocked Wang Shuo’s attack on the group, and Wang Shuo took the weakened Silver-Dyed Beast and walked away.
• Shen Qian considered Wang Shuo’s strength and realized he had likely waited in hiding to disable Chen Feng before claiming the beast.
• Liu Changqing’s voice suddenly urged Shen Qian to stop Wang Shuo and hit him in the face, but Liu did not show himself.

After Shen Qian's system activated Auto-Grind Mode, he struck Wang Shuo in the face with a hidden pebble and challenged him. Their first exchange ended with Shen Qian sent flying, but Wang Shuo's trembling hand hinted that the fight was not one-sided.

• Shen Qian lost consciousness when Auto-Grind Mode activated, then opened his eyes and told Huo Ling'er to wait for him.
• Shen Qian hurled two pebbles in sequence and struck Wang Shuo's cheek with the hidden second pebble.
• Wang Shuo set down the Silver-Dyed Beast and approached Shen Qian, while Zhao Hanhai tried to protect him.
• Shen Qian pushed Zhao Hanhai aside and clashed with Wang Shuo in midair.
• Wang Shuo's punch sent Shen Qian flying onto ruins, but Wang Shuo's left hand trembled after the exchange.

Shen Qian fought Wang Shuo despite their disparity in strength, exploiting Wang Shuo’s injured shoulder to turn the battle around. After Wang Shuo aimed an apparently empty Psionic Gun at him, Shen Qian exposed the bluff and slapped him, even as someone ordered him to stop.

• Wang Shuo dismissed Shen Qian as weaker, while Shen Qian’s attention stayed on Wang Shuo’s wounded left shoulder.
• Wang Shuo repeatedly knocked Shen Qian down, but Shen Qian deflected the force and avoided serious injury.
• Shen Qian struck Wang Shuo’s injured shoulder and grappled him until he pinned Wang Shuo beneath him.
• Wang Shuo pressed a Psionic Gun to Shen Qian’s forehead and threatened to kill him.
• Shen Qian said the gun had no bullets, then struck Wang Shuo across the face despite a sharp voice ordering him to stop.

After Shen Qian defeated Wang Shuo, Nie Han rescued him, and the crowd learned that Shen Qian was Liu Changqing’s junior brother. Wang Shuo left the Silver-Dyed Beast behind to remember his humiliation, then discovered that his Martial Practice Token was missing.

• Nie Han and Liu Changqing intervened as Wang Shuo fell, and Wang Shuo declined revenge before leaving with Nie Han.
• Shen Qian introduced himself to Wang Shuo, then asked Liu Changqing who Nie Han was after confirming Nie Han had never appeared in his AFK Record.
• Liu Changqing treated Chen Feng’s wounds, while Shen Qian’s classmates celebrated and demanded that he treat them to a meal.
• Zhao Hanhai pointed out that Wang Shuo had left the Silver-Dyed Beast behind, and Liu Changqing explained it was the price of defeat.
• Nie Han told Wang Shuo that Shen Qian was believed to be an Intermediate Martial Artist, while Wang Shuo said he would soon break through to that realm.
• Wang Shuo discovered that the Martial Practice Token Master had given him was gone.

As Shen Qian walked back through the restricted zone with Liu Changqing, he learned about Path Seeking, the challenge of opening a new path, and Liu Changqing’s unusual strength. Liu Changqing revealed that wind had become part of his vital energy when he first became a martial artist, leaving the Wind Blades around him calm and obedient.

• Shen Qian asked Liu Changqing about Plum Garden and learned that Duke of Yanshan was a powerful rival of their teacher who had taken in Wang Shuo.
• Liu Changqing explained that becoming a titled martial artist required a great contribution to humanity or successfully opening a new path.
• Liu Changqing told Shen Qian that Path Seeking came before Mountain Sea and that their fellow disciples had chosen to walk their own paths.
• Liu Changqing asked whether Shen Qian was nearing a breakthrough, then explained that an unexpected change had occurred when he became a martial artist.
• Liu Changqing revealed pale green vital energy infused with wind, and the surrounding Wind Blades gathered around him without causing harm.

Liu Changqing told Shen Qian how he awakened the storm origin in his Origin Energy and urged him to attempt the dangerous process himself. Shen Qian sold his Silver-Dyed Beast to Shi Dingyan for 1.2 million Huaxia Coins and learned that his senior brothers considered such wealth modest; he left embarrassed by how poor he had assumed Liu Changqing was.

• Liu Changqing explained that he gained the storm origin in his Origin Energy while breaking through inside a tornado and gave Shen Qian a USB drive of cultivation notes.
• Liu Changqing explained that academy disciples praised Shen Qian because personal disciples received yearly credits to distribute.
• Liu Changqing brought Shen Qian to meet Shi Dingyan, who offered to buy the juvenile Silver-Dyed Beast for 1.2 million Huaxia Coins.
• Shen Qian received the payment and saw that Shi Dingyan had a balance of nearly ninety million Huaxia Coins.
• Liu Changqing revealed that his Space Crystal Stone had cost sixty million, leaving Shen Qian embarrassed about mistaking him for a poor man.

Shen Qian learned that the Martial Practice Token he found on Wang Shuo was a rare ticket to the Myriad Manifestations Tower, then decided not to visit Big Shot Gao. He left the Sky-Reaching Tower with his university choice still ahead of him, knowing he would have to study beyond Jing City.

• Shen Qian showed Shi Dingyan and Liu Changqing the Martial Practice Token, and they explained that it granted access to the Myriad Manifestations Tower and was exceptionally rare.
• Shi Dingyan and Liu Changqing said Big Shot Gao would likely give Shen Qian a token and would advise him, but not choose his university for him.
• Liu Changqing insulted Jingcheng Martial University, and Big Shot Gao sent him away for three days.
• Shen Qian decided against visiting Big Shot Gao and left the Sky-Reaching Tower, recalling that his master expected him to attend university outside Jing City.

Shen Qian discovered that the system had copied romantic dialogue from a television drama, then returned to school and continued preparing for the college entrance examination. The chapter ended with him finding Grandpa Xu back at the Physical Testing Hall, looking troubled.

• Shen Qian tried to persuade Shen Liang and Wang Xiaojuan to move, but they refused because they liked Xingfu Residential Area.
• Shen Qian recognized lines from his AFK Record in Love Across Time and Space and realized the system had borrowed dialogue from the drama.
• Shen Qian completed the Silver-Dyed Beast paperwork with Song Ye, but postponed applying for a Hunter badge because he lacked a sponsor.
• Shen Qian learned that the martial arts center was full, declined an invitation from Xiao Xuan, and cultivated at Third Senior Brother's place instead.
• Shen Qian went to the Physical Testing Hall after class and saw that Grandpa Xu had returned and appeared troubled.

Shen Qian visited Grandpa Xu, thanked him for his help, and learned that Grandpa Xu’s grandniece hoped to get into Jingcheng Martial University despite falling short of its martial arts requirements. When Shen Qian realized the universities’ messages might be genuine rather than scams, he used Grandpa Xu’s email link to claim a Martial Arts Department reward.

• Shen Qian gave Grandpa Xu mountain ginseng as thanks, but Grandpa Xu returned the Qi Condensing Potion and advised him to spend carefully.
• Grandpa Xu told Shen Qian that his grandniece wanted to attend Jingcheng Martial University despite her martial arts score being below the admission threshold, and Shen Qian considered asking the Marquis of Jingcheng to help.
• Grandpa Xu complained that callers and messages claiming to represent universities and the Martial Arts Department were scams, and Shen Qian recognized his chat username, “Dried Up Confusion,” as the ID used in the Martial Arts Simulator.
• Zhang Chuan told Grandpa Xu that Old Zhao and two strangers were waiting, and Grandpa Xu left the office before Shen Qian could explain the messages.
• Shen Qian followed the email link, entered Grandpa Xu’s information, and received a reservation confirmation for the Martial Arts Department reward.

Huang Tao attended a citywide principals' meeting after learning that Wang Shuo had withdrawn from the exams and left for North Capital. City Lord Chai Haotian warned that Jing City might be excluded from the major universities' second round of early admissions.

• Huang Tao arrived at the meeting and learned from Li Ziyan that Wang Shuo had left for Northern Martial University and withdrawn from the exams.
• Xu He explained to Chai Haotian that Wang Shuo had gone to North Capital after acknowledging a teacher, who she suspected was the Duke of Yanshan.
• Chai Haotian accepted that the agreement with No. 1 Middle School could not prevent Wang Shuo from leaving and shifted the meeting to this year's college entrance examinations.
• Chai Haotian warned the principals that major universities might bypass Jing City in their second round of early admissions.

Chai Haotian learned that Wang Shuo’s departure threatened Jing City’s university admissions plans, but major universities’ admissions officials unexpectedly arrived in the city. He reached Xuanwu Grand Hotel and found them fighting and arguing, where Huang Tao spotted Zhao Hanhai bewildered in a corner.

• Chai Haotian questioned Jing City’s school principals about their efforts to cultivate martial arts talent, but their results fell short of his expectations.
• Shao Weiyuan received repeated calls from Sikou Duan, who urgently asked him to come because university admissions officials were causing trouble.
• Chai Haotian took Shao Weiyuan’s wristband, identified himself to Duan He, and learned that the visitors were at Xuanwu Grand Hotel across from No.7 High School.
• Chai Haotian and the others arrived to find admissions officials from major universities fighting, arguing, and divided into factions.
• Huang Tao noticed Zhao Hanhai huddled in a corner with a bewildered expression.

Huang Tao learned that the university admissions teams’ sudden arrival in Jing City was likely driven by a remarkable student at No.7 High School who had defeated Wang Shuo. At the restaurant, the City Lord discovered the universities were seeking someone at Jingcheng No.7 High School, not Jingcheng First High School.

• Zhao Hanhai told Huang Tao how admissions teams from several universities had gathered at a dinner after Hua Martial University contacted him.
• Huang Tao and Zhao Hanhai realized that the university teams’ arrival resembled the secret recruiting effort for Wang Shuo four years earlier.
• Zhao Hanhai explained that a No.7 High School student had defeated Wang Shuo and was an even more exceptional genius than Ding Yi.
• Chai Haotian mediated the dispute among the university admissions teams and gathered their representatives for a meeting.
• Tang Yuanjian admitted that the universities had come early to recruit someone, and Yang Xueshi clarified that the student was at Jingcheng No.7 High School.

After learning that Shen Qian was the new disciple of the Marquis of Jingcheng and had cleared the Bronze Men stage, Chai Haotian and Huang Tao discussed the uproar and agreed to let him choose his own university. Shen Qian began meeting university representatives together, and Professor Yang of Hua Martial University made him an offer.

• Chai Haotian and Huang Tao learned that Shen Qian was the Marquis of Jingcheng’s new disciple and had broken the Simulation Machine’s stage record.
• Chai Haotian said the university representatives should not leave Jing City empty-handed and asked Huang Tao to tell Shen Qian he would remember the favor.
• Shen Qian received advice from Shi Dingyan, then told Huang Tao that he planned to meet all the university representatives in one night.
• The university representatives agreed to Shen Qian’s group interview after learning of his new master, his past physical strength, and Chai Haotian’s praise.
• Shen Qian asked Professor Yang Xueshi what Hua Martial University could offer, and Yang promised him a free choice of school, mentor, and dormitory, waived tuition, and priority consideration for higher-tier scholarships.

Shen Qian heard increasingly generous offers from universities but insisted on taking the college entrance exam because he wanted to become the Martial Champion. After reviewing the schools’ benefits, he met Northern Martial University’s admissions team, including the unexpected appearance of Wei Sijian.

• Yang Xueshi offered Shen Qian tuition exemption, cash, housing, scholarship priority, and access to secret realms, but Shen Qian said he would decide after the college entrance exam.
• Shen Qian told Yang Xueshi that he wanted to become the Martial Champion, and Yang warned him that other monstrous talents were competing.
• Teacher Zhang offered Shen Qian a grant, a villa, and access to Huanan Martial University’s secret realms, then mentioned its female-majority student body.
• Shen Qian reviewed the offers from twelve universities and noted that he favored Northern Martial University, partly because of Ding Yi.
• Professor Huang Lizhi arrived with Northern Martial University’s admissions team, and Wei Sijian greeted Shen Qian.

Shen Qian met with Northern Martial University representatives, rejected Wei Sijian’s effort to recruit him into the School of Pharmacy, and discussed martial arts programs and admission terms with Huang Lizhi. He learned that Northern Martial University held one of the country’s only two six-star Secret Realms and asked about Ding Yi’s strength.

• Wei Sijian introduced Shen Qian to his senior brother Liu Kong and urged him to join Northern Martial University’s School of Pharmacy.
• Shen Qian refused to devote himself exclusively to medicine refinement, so Huang Lizhi sent Wei Sijian and Liu Kong away to speak with him privately.
• Huang Lizhi described Northern Martial University’s combat-focused schools and its six-star Secret Realm, then said the other one belonged to Jiangzhong Military University, where students had died ten years earlier.
• Huang Lizhi offered Shen Qian two hundred thousand in cash and a guaranteed third-class scholarship, with better rewards possible if he ranked among the provincial or national leaders.
• Huang Lizhi said Northern Martial University had offered Shen Qian better terms than Ding Yi, prompting Shen Qian to ask about her strength.