Chapter Summaries

Gu Yang wounded Hao Lie after finding that Hao Lie had beaten his father, and the confrontation drew the Martial Academy and Government Office into the dispute. At the academy, Hong Tao learned that Gu Yang’s family had been attacked despite his promise to protect them and demanded that the County Magistrate address the matter.

• A newcomer’s silver strike forced Gu Yang to dodge, but Gu Yang severed one of Hao Lie’s arms before Qin Hu arrived to support him.
• Li Hao accused Gu Yang of attacking Hao Lie without cause and demanded that Gu Yang and the others come to the Government Office.
• Hong Tao arrived and prevented Li Hao from taking Gu Yang away, then brought the confrontation to the Martial Academy’s Training Ground with the County Magistrate and Hao Mansion members.
• Gu Yang explained that he had attacked after discovering Hao Lie had beaten his father, Gu Dashan.
• Hong Tao confronted the Hao Mansion members and reminded the County Magistrate that Gu Yang had been recruited by Canglong Island and that he had personally promised to keep Gu Yang’s family safe.

After Gu Yang’s father was beaten by the Hao Family, County Magistrate Li Jun ordered an investigation and arranged compensation to appease Gu Yang. Li Jun then advised Li Hao to punish the Hao Family lightly enough to preserve the loyalty of his own people, while Gu Yang went home to see his father.

• Li Jun ordered Li Hao to investigate powerful households, especially the Hao Family, and had constables take away the Hao Family members and Hao Lie.
• Gu Yang accepted the authorities’ handling of the matter and told Hong Tao he held no resentment.
• Hong Tao promised Gu Yang’s family would be safe after moving to Tianquan Workshop, and Gu Yang left to visit his father.
• Li Hao asked Li Jun how severely to punish the Hao Family, and Li Jun proposed imprisoning them temporarily, taking ninety percent of their property for Gu Yang’s family, then sending the clan away from Wan City.
• Li Jun explained that punishing the Hao Family too harshly would alienate his subordinates, and Li Hao understood his reasoning.

After telling his parents about his growing strength and status, Gu Yang moved his family into a spacious residence in Tianquan Workshop, though his coming departure for Canglong Island worried them. A day later, Li Hao visited with compensation seized from the Hao Family, which Gu Yang urged Gu Dashan to accept.

• Gu Yang gave Gu Mother Golden Jade Paste for Gu Dashan's injuries, explained what had happened, and announced that the family would move to Tianquan Workshop the next morning.
• Gu Yang told his parents he would leave Wan City after the New Year for Canglong Island, and they reluctantly accepted his decision.
• The family moved into a large three-courtyard residence in Tianquan Workshop, where Gu Dashan and Gu Mother realized how high Gu Yang had risen.
• Li Hao visited the new home and said the Government Office had taken the Hao Family into custody and awarded its confiscated wealth to Gu Dashan as compensation.
• Gu Dashan hesitated to accept the banknotes, house deeds, and land deeds, but Gu Yang pulled the gift box toward him and urged him to take them.

After Gu Yang’s victory over Hao Lie brought him wealth and recognition, he settled his family into a new life in Tianquan Workshop while preparing to leave Wan City. On the morning after New Year’s Day, he departed with his saber and luggage, leaving his family and the city behind.

• Li Hao delivered silver and gifts from the County Magistrate, and Gu Dashan decided to let the Hao Clan’s past bullying go.
• People from the Martial Academy, government office, City Guard, and other powerful circles visited Gu Yang with congratulatory gifts, keeping him home to receive them.
• Gu Yang finished his literacy lessons, thanked the old master with pork, and continued studying and practicing martial arts.
• The Gu Family celebrated New Year’s Day in their new residence, managed the Hao Family’s shops and farmland, and mourned Gu Yang’s deceased elder brother.
• After breakfast the next morning, Gu Yang strapped on his saber, took his luggage, and left Wan City.

Gu Yang traveled with Liu Qing from Wan City to Canglong Island, where he learned about the sect and its Genius Assessment. Liu Qing left him at a residence for the night, and Gu Yang awoke the next morning as the assessment was about to begin.

• Gu Yang noticed Liu Qing’s Soul Secret Power and compared his flying speed with Qin Wujiu’s as they traveled north.
• At the Azure Dragon River, Liu Qing arranged a boat crossing, then led Gu Yang across several islands to Canglong Island’s central island.
• Liu Qing explained that Gu Yang had to pass the Genius Assessment before he could go up the mountain, and said he would take him to it the next day.
• Gu Yang spent the afternoon practicing Stance Training, then noticed the moon looked unusually bright and directly overhead before going to sleep.
• Gu Yang woke the next morning as Canglong Island’s Genius Assessment was about to begin.

Gu Yang arrived at Canglong Island’s Genius Assessment, where Elder Fan summoned the Cangjiang Codex and transported the contestants into the Water Realm. The assessment began with Gu Yang and Canglan among the youths facing the Three Trials of the Water Realm.

• Qin Hu told Hong Tao that he expected Gu Yang to earn at least a Bing-middle assessment result, possibly higher.
• Liu Qing led Gu Yang up the mountain and advised him to show his full abilities during the assessment.
• Gu Yang spotted the young Canglan among the contestants, and Elder Fan introduced him as a new Canglong Island disciple.
• Elder Fan announced the start of the Genius Assessment and summoned the Cangjiang Codex, which manifested a Water Flow Giant.
• The Codex transported Gu Yang, Canglan, and twelve other youths into the Water Realm, where Canglan marveled at the World Artifact.

Gu Yang escaped the Water Realm’s first trial in six breaths, placing fifth among the fourteen participants, while three contestants were eliminated. The second trial began as a towering tide approached the remaining eleven.

• The assessment began, and Gu Yang discovered that repeated bursts of strength weakened the currents trapping him.
• Canglan easily broke free from his water prison, while Steward Cang explained that he had joined Canglong Island to restore the glory of the Cangjiang Lineage.
• Gu Yang broke out of his water prison in six breaths, earning fifth place among the fourteen contestants.
• Three youths failed to escape before the first trial’s time limit, leaving eleven participants in the arena.
• The ancient voice announced the Strength and Technique Trial, and a towering tidal wave swept toward the contestants.

Gu Yang relied on Power Burst to overcome the escalating waves in the Water Realm trial and remained until the forty-breath limit. He finished first, while trial officials were astonished by his ten-thousand-jin strike.

• Gu Yang realized the Water Realm trial forced each examinee to face the waves alone and split the incoming waves with powerful palm strikes.
• As the waves grew taller, Gu Yang judged that his initial method would only let him endure about twenty breaths, so he used Power Burst to smash them apart with six thousand jin of force.
• When a ten-zhang wave approached, Gu Yang combined his physical strength and Vitality Force to unleash a ten-thousand-jin punch, injuring his capillaries with the recoil.
• Gu Yang continued stopping the waves until the trial ended after forty breaths, and the other examinees, including Canglan, appeared after the water receded.
• Gu Yang realized he had taken first place, while three trial officials watched his performance and excitedly discussed his strength.

The elders debated Gu Yang’s talent and assigned him two Grade A+ evaluations and one Grade A- evaluation, while Canglan’s failure to top the second trial unsettled his attendants. The third trial began with the Tidal Bewitching Sound, leaving Gu Yang and the other examinees to face a test of mental will.

• Xiang Dongliu and the elders discussed Gu Yang’s Azure Dragon Force and assigned him ratings of Grade A+, Grade A-, and Grade A+.
• Elder Xin said Canglan should be treated as an ordinary Genius Disciple, despite concerns about the Cang Clan’s intentions.
• Liu Qing celebrated Gu Yang’s performance, while Steward Cang and Elder Fan reassured themselves that Canglan could win the final trial.
• The examinees reappeared in the Water Realm, where the voice announced that they had to endure thirty breaths beneath the Tidal Bewitching Sound.
• The Tidal Bewitching Sound made Gu Yang imagine standing by the sea, relaxing his mind and making him feel sleepy.

Gu Yang and Canglan endured the Water Realm’s Tidal Bewitching Sound thanks to their awakened Soul Secret Power, drawing attention from the observers. As the trial intensified, both were ultimately overwhelmed and vanished from the Water Realm.

• Gu Yang realized the sound relaxed him because his soul had awakened Soul Secret Power, while Canglan was born with the same ability through Lord Cang’s bloodline.
• Two purple-robed Deacons recognized their unusual calm and speculated that they had awakened Soul Secret Power from birth, like Hall Master Qin.
• Liu Qing noticed Gu Yang’s relaxed state and concluded that Gu Yang would pass, then began planning how to spend his Contribution Points.
• After thirty breaths, only Gu Yang, Canglan, and two other examinees remained; a powerful demonic sound then eliminated the other two.
• Gu Yang and Canglan faced illusions drawn from their fears, and Gu Yang endured with his mental will until the sound overwhelmed him at one hundred breaths.
• Gu Yang lost consciousness and vanished from the Water Realm, and Canglan disappeared one breath later.

Elder Xin, Xiang Dongliu, and Liang Chu finalized the assessment grades, with Canglan receiving Grade A- and Gu Yang receiving Grade A-- after Xiang Dongliu invoked Hall Master Qin’s promise to raise Gu Yang’s result by one rank. Gu Yang awoke on the platform, heard the results announced, and left with Liu Qing for the Ascending Dragon Pavilion.

• Elder Xin and the other elders gave Canglan and Gu Yang Grade A+ marks for the third trial and assigned the other two passing disciples lower overall grades.
• Elder Xin proposed Grade A- for Canglan, and Xiang Dongliu and Liang Chu agreed.
• Liang Chu objected to giving Gu Yang Grade A--, but Xiang Dongliu used Hall Master Qin’s promised one-rank increase to secure that final grade.
• Gu Yang woke on the Black Steel Rock platform and learned that Canglan had already left with Steward Cang.
• Elder Fan announced Canglan in first place with Grade A- and Gu Yang in second with Grade A--, then instructed Liu Qing to take the successful disciples to the Ascending Dragon Pavilion.
• Liu Qing invited Gu Yang to go with him to the Ascending Dragon Pavilion.

After Gu Yang earned a Grade A rating, Wan City's academy leaders argued over how to divide the contributions Canglong Island would award them. Liu Qing brought Gu Yang to Ascending Dragon Pavilion, where an elder began explaining his special privileges.

• Hong Tao, Qin Hu, Lu Yao, and Wang Qiang argued over the contribution distribution, and Lu Yao decided that half would go to Gu Yang while the rest would be divided as previously agreed.
• Wang Qiang accepted Lu Yao's offer to lend him any contributions he still needed for a Spirit Fusion Pill.
• Liu Qing led Gu Yang into Ascending Dragon Pavilion and explained that Grade A geniuses received exceptional treatment.
• A Pavilion Elder examined Gu Yang with a lightning-filled gaze, then sent Liu Qing away and invited Gu Yang to sit.
• The Pavilion Elder began telling Gu Yang what treatment and permissions came with his Grade A rating.

Gu Yang learned the lavish benefits granted to Grade Jia geniuses and moved into a private island residence, where he discovered that Canglong Island’s resources and cultivation methods were accessed through the Dragon River Realm. His assigned guide, Helian Feng, praised Gu Yang’s foundation and advised him to cultivate Fish Dragon Transformation and Azure Dragon Force, then broaden his knowledge through reading.

• An old man explained that Grade Jia geniuses received ten thousand Contribution Points, free access to Fish Dragon Transformation, and major discounts on cultivation methods.
• Liu Kui escorted Gu Yang to his private island, introduced his head servant Sun Zhe, and explained that Gu Yang could enter the Dragon River Realm to exchange Contribution Points for real-world items.
• Gu Yang learned that the Water Realm used in the assessment was part of the Dragon River Realm, where Canglong Island disciples exchanged resources and cultivated their methods.
• After learning that his meals nourished Blood Qi, Gu Yang stopped taking Military Rations Pills and practiced the Blood Nourishing Stance Art while awaiting his assigned master.
• Helian Feng arrived, watched Gu Yang demonstrate his techniques, and recognized that he had fused three foundational methods and comprehended Azure Dragon Force.
• Helian Feng recommended that Gu Yang cultivate Fish Dragon Transformation and Azure Dragon Force, then read Brief Introduction to Cultivation and Vast Continent in the Dragon River Realm’s Library.

Gu Yang entered the Dragon River Realm and learned about the dangers of seeking knowledge beyond his cultivation level. He chose Azure Dragon Force and Fish Dragon Transformation, then remained in the Hall of Technique Transmission to browse other manuals.

• Helian Feng explained that the Dragon River Realm was Lord Cang's World Artifact and warned Gu Yang not to investigate matters tied to higher-level existences.
• Gu Yang entered the Dragon River Realm, received a residence and a jade token showing 13,600 Contribution Points, and wondered where the extra points came from.
• Gu Yang went to the Hall of Technique Transmission, where the Spirit of the Cangjiang Codex granted him access to its first three floors.
• Gu Yang exchanged 500 Contribution Points for Azure Dragon Force and Fish Dragon Transformation using his Grade A Disciple discount.
• Gu Yang began reading another cultivation manual instead of leaving the hall.

Gu Yang studied the cultivation stages and the Vast Continent’s races, then discussed what he had learned with Helian Feng. Helian Feng warned him that he would eventually fight on the Human Race’s border battlefields, and left him with a question about the hardest Body Realm breakthrough.

• Gu Yang read about the Body Realm stages and learned that his Qi and Blood cultivation was still far from the Body Tempering realm.
• Gu Yang studied the Vast Continent’s regions and races, including the Natural Divine Clan and the Human Race’s three border conflicts.
• Gu Yang returned to Helian Feng and said that the races fought constantly and that falling behind meant perishing.
• Helian Feng told Gu Yang to take the Human Race’s side and warned that he would eventually join the alien battlefields and must show no mercy.
• Helian Feng asked Gu Yang which Body Realm barrier he thought was hardest to break through.

Helian Feng explained that Gu Yang’s awakened Soul Secret Power would let him bypass the usual obstacles to the Longevity Realm, but required him to cultivate Martial Dao Will and complete trial missions. Reading Fish Dragon Transformation, Gu Yang gained insight into Martial Dao Will through its creator’s lifelong aspiration to help the Human Race.

• Gu Yang said that condensing Martial Dao Will and opening the Mystic Gate One Aperture marked the Mortal Transformation Realm, and Helian Feng explained the spiritual cultivation involved.
• Helian Feng told Gu Yang that his awakened Soul Secret Power would let him refine a Martial Dao Golden Body and enter the Longevity Realm once his body reached perfection.
• Helian Feng warned Gu Yang that Canglong Island required annual trial missions and resources, then ordered him to condense Martial Dao Will while still in the Leakless Realm.
• Helian Feng ended the lesson and said he would guide Gu Yang every seven days before flying away from the island.
• Gu Yang read Fish Dragon Transformation and reflected on its creator’s goal of making every commoner of the Human Race a dragon, gaining insight into Martial Dao Will as a lifelong conviction.

Gu Yang studied the Fish Dragon Transformation manual, practiced its Stance Training until the skill reached Entry Level, then read the Azure Dragon Force manual. As he recognized how its force-exerting movements related to his talents, a notification revealed that Azure Dragon Dance, Power Surge, and Power Burst had fused.

• Gu Yang learned that the Fish Dragon Transformation required nine transformations but promised twice the strength and toughness of other martial artists, and he decided to cultivate it.
• Gu Yang practiced two sets of Fish Dragon Transformation Stance Training, corrected his flaws, and raised the skill to Entry Level before his Blood Qi ran low.
• Gu Yang confirmed that the Fish Dragon Transformation could not yet fuse with the Blood Nourishing Stance, then returned to his room to read the Azure Dragon Force manual.
• Gu Yang discovered that the Azure Dragon Force could multiply strength up to tenfold and recognized its familiar movements as part of the Azure Dragon Dance.
• Gu Yang saw a notification that the Azure Dragon Dance skill had fused with the Power Surge and Power Burst talents.

Gu Yang’s Azure Dragon Dance fused with his Power Surge and Power Burst talents to become Azure Dragon Force: Second Layer, while he bought Blood Replenishing Pills and trained intensively. Seven days later, Helian Feng found Gu Yang had mastered the Fish Dragon Transformation but was only beginning to grasp Azure Dragon Force.

• Gu Yang discovered that Azure Dragon Dance and his two power talents had fused into Azure Dragon Force: Second Layer, while retaining the talents’ effects.
• Gu Yang exchanged contribution points for five hundred Blood Replenishing Pills and began using them to support his cultivation.
• Gu Yang cultivated the Fish Dragon Transformation day and night, raising its proficiency alongside the Blood Nourishing Stance Art.
• After seven days, Helian Feng guided Gu Yang in Azure Dragon Force and explained that his strength was too scattered to execute the second layer.
• Gu Yang demonstrated the Fish Dragon Transformation, and Helian Feng said Gu Yang had thoroughly mastered it and had nothing more to teach him.

Gu Yang devoted himself to cultivating Fish Dragon Transformation and Azure Dragon Force on Canglong Island, eventually triggering his first physical transformation after reaching 100 proficiency in Fish Dragon Transformation. He gained skin as tough as oxhide and began considering what to do as two servants approached.

• Gu Yang practiced Fish Dragon Transformation, used Blood Replenishing Pills to sustain his training, and continued his daily cultivation routine on Canglong Island.
• Helian Feng's guidance helped Gu Yang improve his Azure Dragon Force and raise the success rate of his twofold Power Burst.
• After half a month, Gu Yang's Blood Qi tempered his fascia and skin until his first transformation ended.
• Gu Yang saw that Fish Dragon Transformation had reached 101 proficiency and concluded that its 100, 200, and 300 milestones might mark three Skin Grinding transformations.
• Gu Yang recognized his new skin as tough like oxhide, then noticed Passerby A and Passerby B approaching and formed an idea.

Gu Yang tested the defense gained from his first Fish Dragon Transformation and found that his skin and fascia could disperse powerful blows, though a sharp thrust could still pierce them. After practicing Azure Dragon Force, he found his punches no longer caused the tearing sensation they once had, then received a letter from outside the island addressed to him.

• Gu Yang had two servants strike him with wooden clubs and discovered his transformed skin and fascia spread the force across his body without causing pain.
• Gu Yang tested his defense with a longsword, finding that slashes required great force to mark his skin and that thrusts could pierce both skin and fascia.
• Gu Yang ate dinner, rewarded the cook with five taels of silver, and returned to practice Azure Dragon Force.
• Gu Yang repeatedly unleashed powerful punches and realized his flesh no longer felt as though it were tearing.
• Passerby A and B gave Gu Yang a letter from outside the island, addressed for his personal attention.