Chapter Summaries

Lin Chen rejected the three visiting academies’ offers because he wanted to keep challenging Martial Path Mountain, but Instructor Liu Ru agreed to let the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy wait for him and improve his terms. Lin Chen signed its Disciple Letter, while the other instructors left angrily.

• Lin Chen asked Ye Yuan, Song Zhixue, and Luo Wen to postpone recruiting him until after he reached Organ Tempering, hoping to keep challenging Martial Path Mountain, but they refused to make an exception.
• Jia Nanzhu cited Pei Qingming’s exception, and the three instructors offered Lin Chen another two hundred academy credits while insisting he decide soon.
• Instructor Liu Ru arrived from the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy and praised Lin Chen, saying he had recruited Jiang Qing partly because she was close to him.
• Liu Ru agreed to wait for Lin Chen and improve his terms according to his future achievements on Martial Path Mountain, despite the other instructors’ protests.
• Lin Chen chose the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy and signed its Disciple Letter while Jia Nanzhu prevented the other instructors from interrupting.
• Ye Yuan, Song Zhixue, and Luo Wen left the rear mountain in anger and criticized Jia Nanzhu and the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy.

Lin Chen joined the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy and asked Liu Ru to stay while he prepared to break through to twenty awakened apertures and challenge Martial Path Mountain. Liu Ru agreed to wait and planned to seek better treatment for Lin Chen if he left his name on the mountain a third time.

• Lin Chen signed the Disciple Letter, officially joining the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy, and told Liu Ru he expected to break through to twenty awakened apertures soon.
• Liu Ru agreed to stay in Lakeside Village while Lin Chen cultivated and prepared to challenge Martial Path Mountain after his breakthrough.
• Qu Feng arrived and learned that Lin Chen had joined the academy and intended to challenge Martial Path Mountain immediately after breaking through.
• Liu Ru showed Qu Feng Lin Chen's official document, and Qu Feng felt ashamed for suspecting Lin Chen had been putting on an act.
• Liu Ru resolved to return to the academy and seek the best treatment for Lin Chen if he left his name on Martial Path Mountain a third time.
• The three pleasure boats traveled to Hongdu Prefecture to visit the Martial Affairs Hall and meet recommended students, including Li Zhe.

Li Zhe brooded over his rejection by Jiangnan Province’s students, while academy instructors clashed with the Martial Affairs Hall over Lin Chen’s recruitment. Lin Chen opened his twentieth aperture and appeared on Martial Path Mountain, where Pei Qingming’s name was announced and a blue-robed figure materialized.

• Li Zhe learned that only three youths had attended his gathering, then assaulted a woman in his manor.
• Yu Fei refused to attend Li Zhe’s gathering and told his younger sister that he regarded Lin Chen as the true senior among their generation.
• Ye Yuan, Luo Wen, and Song Zhixue told Zhang Dingfeng they had issued only three academy invitations and criticized Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy’s offer to Lin Chen.
• Zhang Dingfeng received Jia Nanzhu’s letter and learned that the academies had once waited for Pei Qingming, who left his name on Martial Path Mountain after opening twenty apertures.
• An Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy elder defended Liu Ru’s offer to Lin Chen and suggested the Martial Arts Administration Department was waiting to see whether Lin Chen would match Pei Qingming.
• Lin Chen opened his twentieth aperture, used his Martial Path Seal to return to Martial Path Mountain, and saw Pei Qingming’s name announced before a blue-robed figure appeared.

Lin Chen challenged the twentieth aperture on Martial Path Mountain and defeated Pei Qingming after awakening the sixth move of his Wind Cloud Palm. His seal rose to three stars, and his victory drew the attention of Kong Qifeng, who decided to travel to Jiangnan Province in person.

• Lin Chen fought Pei Qingming, endured his swift sword-finger techniques, and awakened the sixth move of the Wind Cloud Palm during their battle.
• Lin Chen defeated Pei Qingming with Palm Six, Threefold Layered Force, and had his name carved onto Martial Path Mountain for the third time.
• Lin Chen received a three-star Martial Path Seal with three Martial Points and two strands of low-grade Martial Path Battle Intent, then returned to Lakeside Village.
• Lin Chen told Liu Ru, Jia Nanzhu, and Qu Feng that he had defeated Pei Qingming at the twentieth aperture, astonishing Qu Feng.
• Kong Qifeng saw Lin Chen's name replace Pei Qingming's at the twentieth aperture and announced that he would travel to Jiangnan Province in person.

Lin Chen left his name on Martial Path Mountain for the third time, defeating Pei Qingming at the twentieth acupoint-opening level. The three martial academies that had planned to pressure Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy reversed course and offered Jiangnan Province invitations, while news of Lin Chen’s achievement spread across Great Liang.

• Shao Jingshan told the Martial Affairs Hall officials that Lin Chen had left his name on Martial Path Mountain three times and that Lord Kong would visit Jiangnan Province.
• Zhang Dingfeng revealed to Ye Yuan, Song Zhixue, and Luo Wen that Lin Chen had defeated Pei Qingming at the twentieth aperture point.
• Ye Yuan, Song Zhixue, and Luo Wen offered Jiangnan Province thirty academy invitations and asked Zhang Dingfeng to help repair their relationship with Lin Chen.
• Zhang Dingfeng agreed to travel with the three instructors to Poyang County after they handed over the invitations without student names.
• Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy and the other academies sent orders to recruit Lin Chen, and the Martial Arts Administration Department announced his three inscriptions across Great Liang.

After Lin Chen defeated Pei Qingming’s record on Martial Path Mountain, Pei Qingming celebrated Great Liang’s new genius while Lin Chen chose to focus on cultivation and prepare for academy life. His achievement alarmed rivals and enemies across Great Liang, leaving the Huo Family plotting against him and Jiang Duanchao furious over the academy’s demand concerning his daughter.

• Pei Qingming rejected An Country’s invitation and learned that Lin Chen had surpassed his Martial Path Mountain record, giving him hope for Great Liang’s martial future.
• Lin Chen learned that he had defeated Pei Qingming at the twentieth aperture and told Jia Nanzhu he would refuse meetings and focus on reaching Organ Tempering within three months.
• Jia Nanzhu promised to supply Lin Chen with resources and explained why academies offered exceptional geniuses better medicines and a stronger cultivation environment.
• In the capital, Ye Feng urged Shen Ze to challenge Martial Path Mountain soon, while Yue Lingxu resolved to ascend it in ten days before Lin Chen could surpass him.
• Huo Zhong decided to arrange Lin Chen’s death and summoned his daughter Shu'er, planning to use information from the Li Family without asking them to join the plot.
• Jiang Duanchao denounced the academy’s demand concerning his daughter and declared that his spear had never been blunt.

Jiang Qing’s parents learned that Lin Chen had defeated Pei Qingming, making him the target of fierce competition among martial arts academies. Jiang Qing eagerly accepted the chance to visit Lin Chen on Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy’s behalf, while Jiang Duanchao reluctantly prepared to accompany her and grew jealous as she dressed up for the meeting.

• Jiang Duanchao grew angry at Senior Chen’s letter asking Jiang Qing to persuade Lin Chen to join Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy, but Zhuang Min agreed to the request.
• Jiang Qing brought home an official document reporting that Lin Chen had inscribed his name on Martial Path Mountain three times and defeated Pei Qingming.
• Zhuang Min explained that the academies were competing for Lin Chen, and Jiang Qing tried to learn what Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy might offer him.
• Jiang Qing read Senior Chen’s letter and eagerly agreed to act as an envoy to Lin Chen, then went to change clothes before setting off with Jiang Duanchao.
• Jiang Qing returned in an elaborate outfit, and Jiang Duanchao felt jealous and imagined burying Lin Chen at Dog Slope.

Jiang Duanchao returned to Lakeside Village, where the villagers welcomed him as their most accomplished son. He met Lin Chen’s mother and let Zhao Canghu arrange an ancestor-worship ceremony, despite knowing his family’s ancestral tablets were no longer in the Ancestral Hall.

• Gu Fei supervised the village youths’ martial arts training as a carriage led by Jiang Duanchao arrived.
• Zheng Xuan recognized Jiang Duanchao, while Teng Xing hurried to tell Zhao Canghu that Lord Jiang had returned.
• Zhao Canghu brought Jia Nanzhu and Liu Ru to meet Jiang Duanchao, and the news drew the villagers to the village entrance.
• Jiang Qing warmly spoke with Lin Chen’s mother about Lin Chen, prompting Second Madam to suspect their relationship was more than that of fellow disciples.
• Zhao Canghu suggested that Jiang Duanchao worship his ancestors at the renovated Ancestral Hall, and Jiang Duanchao agreed to let him arrange it.

Jiang Duanchao sparred with Lin Chen under the guise of giving him pointers, but Lin Chen endured the fight and entered a state of genuine insight. As Lin Chen refined his understanding of layered force in the Wind Cloud Palm, Jiang Duanchao warned Liu Ru that Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy would need to offer exceptional terms to recruit him.

• Jiang Qing introduced Lin Chen to her father, Jiang Duanchao, who challenged him to a sparring match while suppressing his strength.
• Lin Chen tested Jiang Duanchao with the Wind Cloud Palm, then unleashed his full strength and forced Jiang Duanchao to move aside.
• Jiang Duanchao raised his strength during the fight, but Lin Chen stopped the match by claiming he had comprehended something.
• Lin Chen recognized how weapon-like force appeared in Jiang Duanchao's palms and Pei Qingming's finger technique, then identified layered force as the principle behind his own Palm Six.
• Lin Chen practiced the Wind Cloud Palm as Jiang Duanchao, Jiang Qing, Jia Nanzhu, and Liu Ru watched, and Jiang Duanchao urged Liu Ru to offer exceptional terms if Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy wanted to recruit Lin Chen.

Lin Chen perfected Wind Cloud Palm, while the Huo Family was raided after its plot to assassinate him was exposed. After reaching twenty-one apertures, Lin Chen defeated another Martial Path Mountain opponent, and a new bell rang just as Shen Ze and Yue Lingxu prepared to challenge.

• Lin Chen comprehended Layered Wave Force, increasing Wind Cloud Palm's power, and Jiang Qing learned that he had created the technique by merging two palms.
• Jiang Duanchao left Lakeside Village without persuading Lin Chen to join the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy, and Jiang Qing warmly said goodbye to Mother Lin.
• Jia Nanzhu learned that the Li Family had reported the Huo Family's assassination plot and ordered Bu Wenbin to investigate the Huo Family's remnants.
• After reaching twenty-one apertures, Lin Chen entered Martial Path Mountain and defeated Yuan Yu, prompting the capital's officials to hear the bell marking his new record.
• Shen Ze and Yue Lingxu argued over who would challenge first, but a bell rang before either could climb, and Ye Feng suspected Lin Chen had left his name again.

Shen Ze challenged Martial Path Mountain and was defeated by Lin Chen in one move, while Lin Chen continued cultivating. Kong Qifeng arrived in Poyang County to meet Lin Chen, promised Jiangnan Province an explanation over the treatment of its martial talents, and left Lin Chen poised to ask for support.

• Shen Ze challenged Lin Chen on Martial Path Mountain and was thrown off in less than three breaths, then warned the other martial artists to act before Lin Chen advanced further.
• Lin Chen continued cultivating Gale Leg, while Poyang County prepared for the arrival of an important official and restricted students and visitors.
• Kong Qifeng arrived near Poyang County and questioned Zeng Qingyao about how Still Water Martial Arts Academy had admitted Lin Chen and provided him an Aperture Opening Pill.
• Shao Jingshan defended Jiangnan Province's sacrifices and condemned the pressure placed on Lin Chen, and Kong Qifeng promised the court would give the province an explanation.
• Jia Nanzhu prepared Lin Chen to meet Kong Qifeng and reminded him to ask for benefits, while Lin Chen said he was ready to plead poverty.

Kong Qifeng visited Lakeside Village and spoke privately with Lin Chen about Jiangnan Province’s history, the court’s debate over revealing the Demon Race, and the mysteries of Martial Path Mountain. After Lin Chen argued that Great Liang should reveal the demons’ past harm and rely on strength to secure its dignity, Kong Qifeng warned him to keep his words private and asked to see his self-created palm technique.

• Zhang Dingfeng refused to let Luo Wen, Ye Yuan, and Song Zhixue accompany him to welcome Kong Qifeng, explaining that Kong Qifeng had ordered them to stay behind.
• Lin Chen greeted Kong Qifeng as his grand-master, and Kong Qifeng laughed before asking Lin Chen to show him Lakeside Village alone.
• Lin Chen hinted at Jiangnan Province’s poverty and the Martial Academy’s treatment of him, and Kong Qifeng revealed that Jiangnan Province had suffered a great war against the Demon Race.
• Kong Qifeng asked Lin Chen whether Great Liang should tell its people about the Demon Race, and Lin Chen argued that the public should learn both the demons’ existence and the harm they had caused.
• Lin Chen said that kingdoms depended on strength rather than affection or treaties, and Kong Qifeng warned him to keep those remarks private so his admission to the Martial Academy would not be jeopardized.
• Kong Qifeng explained the benefits of the Martial Path Seal and Martial Points, then asked Lin Chen to demonstrate his self-created palm technique.

Kong Qifeng guided Lin Chen through the seventh move of Wind Cloud Palm, explained the politics surrounding martial arts academies, and asked him to make his name on Martial Path Mountain six times to defend opportunities for poor-born geniuses. After Lin Chen made his name for the fifth time, Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy offered him thirty drops of thousand-year Flood Dragon True Blood and comprehensive support, and Jia Nanzhu accepted on his behalf.

• Kong Qifeng helped Lin Chen unleash the seventh move of Wind Cloud Palm and praised the exceptional strength of his blood and qi.
• Lin Chen revealed that he had obtained Nine Revolutions True Blood Organ Refining from Martial Path Mountain, and Kong Qifeng warned him to keep the method's name secret.
• Kong Qifeng told Lin Chen to make his name on Martial Path Mountain six times to show that poor families could produce true geniuses, and Lin Chen agreed despite the resentment he expected from powerful lineages.
• Nine days later, Lin Chen opened twenty-two apertures and made his name on Martial Path Mountain for the fifth time, drawing attention across Great Liang.
• Three martial arts academy vice deans came to Lakeside Village to recruit Lin Chen, but Jia Nanzhu kept them waiting until Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy arrived.
• He Jingren offered Lin Chen thirty drops of thousand-year Flood Dragon True Blood and full cultivation support, and Jia Nanzhu accepted the offer on Lin Chen's behalf.

Kong Qifeng moved to name Lin Chen Great Liang’s Martial Arts Student Exemplar, provoking factions who opposed the Martial Arts Administration Department’s training policy to arrange challengers against him. After Lin Chen learned that someone had already contested an aperture on Martial Path Mountain, Zhao Cangsheng arrived with Flood Dragon True Blood and urged him to fight back.

• The three vice presidents dismissed Lin Chen’s potential and predicted that Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy’s investment in him would not pay off.
• Kong Qifeng firmly decided to make Lin Chen Great Liang’s Martial Arts Student Exemplar, while Zhu Wei and other opponents arranged for bloodline-enhanced youths to challenge him on Martial Path Mountain.
• Jia Nanzhu told Lin Chen about the opposition, and Lin Chen explained that he had agreed to support the policy because it gave children from humble families a path into martial arts.
• Lin Chen discovered that someone had challenged the name at the twenty-third aperture, and Bu Wenbin reported that the challengers would stop only if Lin Chen renounced the exemplar title.
• Zhao Cangsheng arrived with a bundle of Flood Dragon True Blood, telling Lin Chen he could absorb two more drops and urging him to beat his opponents.

Zhao Cangsheng explained that Lin Chen could absorb two more drops of Flood Dragon True Blood and urged him to prepare for the brutal martial path ahead. At Gale Martial Arts Hall, Lin Chen realized Gale Leg’s true strength lay in speed and movement, then demonstrated his breakthrough against four senior brothers.

• Zhao Cangsheng told Lin Chen that his late friend’s theory allowed him to absorb three drops of Demon Race True Blood and warned him not to let hardship weaken his resolve.
• Jia Nanzhu learned that Zhao Cangsheng hoped Lin Chen would surpass the martial geniuses of the other eight nations, while Zhao Cangsheng explained that Lin Chen’s recent progress had raised his expectations.
• Lin Chen went to Gale Martial Arts Hall and asked Zhao Qifeng to help him perfect Gale Leg, so Zhao Qifeng gathered four disciples who had mastered it.
• Lin Chen sparred with the four senior brothers and concluded that Gale Leg’s power came from speed and movement rather than force alone.
• Lin Chen suddenly moved faster than the four senior brothers could react and raised his leg, saying, “Four senior brothers, excuse me!”

Lin Chen reached the limit of Gale Leg, increasing his qi and blood capacity, then visited the Martial Garden and received a token with 3,000 Contribution Points from Elder Zhao. He left for Lakeside Village reflecting on how his reputation as Student Exemplar made him a role model for Poyang County’s young martial artists.

• Lin Chen used Gale Leg to overwhelm four Senior Brothers, discovered its resonance-based essence, and reached Limit Breaking after an hour of practice.
• Lin Chen’s qi and blood limit rose to 5,800,000, and he thanked Zhao Qifeng before leaving Gale Martial Arts Hall.
• At the Martial Garden, Lin Chen learned that rumors about his nighttime training had drawn martial artists there after dark.
• Yan He’an introduced Lin Chen to his grandson Yan Ping, and Lin Chen warmly accepted the boy as his younger brother.
• Yan He’an gave Lin Chen a token containing 3,000 Contribution Points from Elder Zhao as a reward for earning the Student Exemplar of Jiangnan Province title.
• Lin Chen greeted the Martial Garden students who gathered to meet him, then returned by boat toward Lakeside Village, considering the responsibility his example carried.

Pei Qingming and the old man in Jiangbei Province discovered that Demon Race Bloodline users were blocking Lin Chen from claiming his Martial Path Mountain records, while the old man plotted to draw Li Yuan’s family into his scheme. At Lakeside Village, Lin Chen began refining two drops of Flood Dragon True Blood in a rare medicinal bath, and his teacher and Zhao Cangsheng watched as he endured the violent transformation.

• Pei Qingming saw that the Twenty-Three and Twenty-Four Aperture Point rankings were blank and suspected a Demon Race Bloodline user had challenged Lin Chen’s records.
• The old man in Jiangbei Province learned that Lin Chen’s records had been challenged again and ordered Python Race Bloodline sent to the Li Family to entice Li Yuan.
• Lin Chen concluded that his opponents were trying to stop him from becoming Martial Arts Student Exemplar and prepared to absorb Flood Dragon True Blood.
• Jia Nanzhu and Zhao Cangsheng placed Lin Chen in a specially prepared medicinal bath and fed him two drops of Flood Dragon True Blood.
• Lin Chen’s body convulsed as the blood’s scorching energy tore through his meridians while the medicinal solution worked to repair them.

Lin Chen endured and refined two drops of Flood Dragon True Blood, greatly increasing his qi and blood, while officials and martial factions opposed his selection as Great Liang’s Martial Arts Student Exemplar. He returned from Martial Path Mountain after breaking Pei Qingming’s record, but the chapter left the unexpected reward he received unexplained.

• Lin Chen withstood the two drops of Flood Dragon True Blood, and his qi-and-blood limit rose to seven million as his blood mist shattered the iron urn.
• Jia Nanzhu told Lin Chen to wait two days before going to Martial Path Mountain for news from Lord Kong.
• Officials and martial factions challenged Lin Chen’s nomination, while Kong Qifeng and the Left Chancellor discussed the political struggle and the Li Family’s secret dealings.
• Xiao Yaojin learned that Lin Chen had left his name at the Twenty-Third Aperture Point again and decided to attend Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy if Lin Chen completed all twenty-four.
• Lin Chen told Jia Nanzhu and Zhao Cangsheng that he had left his name six times on Martial Path Mountain, broken Senior Pei’s record, and received an unexpected reward.

Lin Chen opened his twenty-fourth aperture point and left his name on Martial Path Mountain for the seventh time, breaking Great Liang's record as political opponents tried to stop his rise. Martial Path Mountain's golden light then drove him into Organ Refining, where his true blood began refining all five organs at once.

• The former Left Chancellor publicly praised Lin Chen, while Jiangbei Province's old leader urged his followers to challenge every place Lin Chen had left his name.
• Over three days, challengers from across Great Liang failed to remove Lin Chen's names, and clans began to recognize his strength.
• Xu Luncai tried to persuade Yu Yongnian to make Lin Chen give up challenging Martial Path Mountain, but Yu Yongnian refused.
• Lin Chen opened his twenty-fourth aperture point, and his qi and blood surged toward Organ Tempering.
• Lin Chen rushed to Martial Path Mountain and defeated his opponent with one palm before his breakthrough could take away his chance to challenge.
• Martial Path Mountain's golden light guided Lin Chen through Organ Refining, and he left his seventh name on the mountain, breaking Great Liang's record.

Lin Chen completed his challenge of Martial Path Mountain, leaving his name seven times and earning the title of Great Liang Martial Arts Student Exemplar. As the news spread across Great Liang, he continued refining his True Blood while his teacher, allies, and Lakeside Village celebrated his achievement.

• Lin Chen's seven names on Martial Path Mountain broke the two-hundred-year record, and the Great Liang Martial Arts Administration Department named him a Great Liang Martial Arts Student Exemplar.
• Officials posted the proclamation throughout Great Liang, making Lin Chen's name known across the realm; Shao Jingshan ordered an archway built at Lakeside Village.
• Lin Chen felt his first revolution of True Blood refining make his blood respond faster to his thoughts, then examined his System Panel as it began calculating a new martial title.
• Jia Nanzhu and Zhao Cangsheng received news of Lin Chen's success and celebrated his new fame across Great Liang.
• Jiang Qing told Jiang Duanchao that Lin Chen had earned the exemplar title and proposed traveling with him to the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy.
• Gu Fei brought the news to Lakeside Village, where the villagers prepared to celebrate and Uncle Gen went to clean the Ancestral Hall.