Chapter Summaries

Lin Chen attended the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy’s admission ceremony, where new disciples had to withstand waves of seawater. He obeyed Hua Qianwu’s instruction not to circulate his qi and blood, fell far behind the other strong disciples, and left them questioning his strength.

• Eighty new disciples gathered for the admission ceremony, while Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters discussed Lin Chen and Jiang Qing’s closeness.
• Hua Qianwu welcomed the new disciples and opened the academy gates, unleashing a series of enormous seawater waves across the Training Ground.
• Lin Chen endured the first wave with his physical body and was pushed back much farther than Xiao Yaojin, who mistook his weakness for the effects of romantic distraction.
• After four waves, half the new disciples had been pushed off the Training Ground, while Lin Chen had retreated thirty yards.
• Several onlookers criticized Lin Chen’s performance, and the girl in the yellow dress wondered how he could be so weak.

Lin Chen endured the Azure Ripple Sea Wave test without circulating his qi and blood, then continued his training after earning the admiration of the academy. That night, Xiao Yaojin and Fang Zhan arrived at his courtyard, each seeking a spar.

• Lin Chen realized the waves' energy was entering his body as he withstood them using only his physical strength.
• As the other disciples were driven from the Training Ground, Lin Chen charged against the waves and remained inside after the test's final wave.
• Ye Feng defended Lin Chen against Luo Han's mockery, while Jiang Qing explained that Lin Chen had tried to spare the other disciples' pride.
• Murong Jun confirmed Lin Chen's exceptional result, and Hua Qianwu ended the entrance ceremony after Lin Chen emerged from the waves.
• Lin Chen returned to Azure Ripple Peak after training at the Hard Qigong Hall and found Xiao Yaojin waiting to challenge him to a spar.
• Fang Zhan appeared at Lin Chen's courtyard gate before Lin Chen could answer Xiao Yaojin.

Lin Chen sparred with Xiao Yaojin and Fang Zhan, then invited them to join his punishing training regimen. Over the next two months, the three continued cultivating, while Luo Han broke the academy’s recent record by refining his second organ.

• Xiao Yaojin and Fang Zhan challenged Lin Chen with their family techniques, and the three fought to a draw after thirty moves, though Lin Chen wore Reverse Scale Armor and had not used his full strength.
• Lin Chen offered to train Xiao Yaojin and Fang Zhan, then practiced spear and saber techniques after they left; an unseen observer praised Great Liang’s promising youths.
• The next morning, Lin Chen led Xiao Yaojin and Fang Zhan up Azure Ripple Peak before they began training in the Hard Qigong Hall, where Hua Qianwu ordered their regimen made less difficult.
• Two months passed with Lin Chen, Xiao Yaojin, and Fang Zhan still having refined only their hearts, while Luo Han refined his liver and set a new academy record.

Luo Han planned to establish himself as Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy’s foremost disciple during an upcoming exchange with Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy, while Murong Yan weighed the threat facing Yan Country and removed Luo Han from a list of names. Lin Chen continued training and endured the delayed pain from absorbing Flood Dragon True Blood, ending the chapter close to the next Body Tempering stage.

• Luo Han told the disciples that Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy would visit for an exchange and resolved to defeat its new disciples to win recognition over Lin Chen.
• Lin Chen sparred with Fang Zhan and Xiao Yaojin, whose gap from him had widened, before Jiang Qing arrived and the two junior brothers left.
• Murong Jun told Murong Yan that Lin Chen’s potential matched the Three Heroes of Yan Country but that Great Liang’s isolation would limit his prospects.
• Murong Yan revealed that she feared Yan Country would be abandoned and conquered in a future war, then crossed Luo Han’s name off her list.
• Lin Chen endured an hour of delayed pain on Azure Ripple Peak and saw that his Body Tempering progress had reached 2.99, near the third stage.

Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy visited Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy for an exchange, hoping to challenge Lin Chen, but he was cultivating on Azure Ripple Peak. After Luo Han was defeated and Fang Zhan faced Meng Xing, Lin Chen reached the third level of Body Tempering and wondered whether he would need to spar with the senior disciples next.

• Hao Jifeng and Jiang Mingda welcomed each other’s academies, and Soaring Cloud’s disciples made clear that they had come hoping to meet Lin Chen.
• Fang Zhan and Xiao Yaojin discussed the exchange with Lin Chen in the Hard Qigong Hall, where Lin Chen underestimated Luo Han’s strength.
• Qiao Meng'er visited Fang Zhan, but he talked at length about Lin Chen and failed to notice her disappointment.
• Fu Ze provoked Luo Han and defeated him in three moves, then taunted Azure Ripple’s disciples.
• Fang Zhan confronted Meng Xing, who said he wanted to fight Lin Chen, and Fang Zhan agreed to face him.
• Lin Chen tested his Wind Cloud Palm and Dragon Shadow Bow on Azure Ripple Peak, reached Body Tempering level 3.0, and considered sparring with senior disciples.

Lin Chen sparred with Meng Xing of Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy after Fang Zhan defeated Fu Ze, and Meng Xing acknowledged Lin Chen as his senior brother after losing. The chapter ended with Xiao Yaojin explaining that Meng Xing had used the Meng Family’s Blood Exchange Secret Technique to endure his injuries, likely leaving him bedridden for days.

• Fang Zhan brought Meng Xing to challenge Lin Chen, who agreed to spar with him privately in the courtyard.
• Fang Zhan defeated Fu Ze, and Xiao Yaojin warned Zheng Fan not to challenge him before Meng Xing asked Lin Chen to fight.
• Lin Chen overwhelmed Meng Xing in the courtyard, while the disciples outside mistakenly assumed the battle was evenly matched.
• Meng Xing left the courtyard, thanked Lin Chen for his guidance, and called him Senior Brother; Lin Chen said he had won narrowly.
• Xiao Yaojin explained that Meng Xing had used the Meng Family’s Blood Exchange Secret Technique to withstand injuries temporarily.

Lin Chen endured refining his liver while absorbing eight drops of Flood Dragon True Blood, succeeding ahead of schedule. As Hua Qianwu considered Lord Kong’s plans for Lin Chen’s next step, a message arrived that enraged Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy’s vice dean and prompted urgent preparations.

• Jiang Mingda saw off the students from Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy, while the Azure Ripple students wondered why the exchange had been so uneventful; Jiang Mingda knew it had mainly targeted Lin Chen.
• Lin Chen studied hammer techniques alongside spear and saber techniques to develop and refine his Wind Cloud Palm and improve his ability to read opponents.
• After Xiao Yaojin and Fang Zhan completed liver refinement, Lin Chen prepared to refine his own liver by absorbing eight drops of Flood Dragon True Blood at once.
• Lin Chen endured the Flood Dragon Energy’s assault, guided his qi and blood into his heart and liver, and succeeded in refining his liver as the iron barrel shattered.
• Xiao Yaojin and Fang Zhan discussed Lin Chen’s unusual path through the Organ Refining Realm, while Hua Qianwu noted that Lin Chen had advanced half a month sooner than expected.
• A flying eagle delivered a message to Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy, and its vice dean smashed a stone table in anger before rushing to alert the dean and begin preparations.

Meng Xing told Hao Jifeng that Lin Chen could be the only one able to defeat the visiting disciples from Zheng Kingdom and Elephant Kingdom, revealing that Lin Chen had beaten him in three moves. As Lin Chen learned why the two kingdoms had challenged Great Liang’s academies, Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy’s president summoned him.

• Hao Jifeng reported that Four Harmony Martial Arts Academy had defeated Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy and Pilgrimage Martial Arts Academy had crushed Capital Martial Arts Academy, prompting concern that Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy would be challenged next.
• Meng Xing named Lin Chen as a possible answer and admitted that he had lost to him in three moves, while explaining that Lin Chen had shown him mercy.
• Hao Jifeng realized Lin Chen’s potential victory could restore Great Liang’s honor and benefit Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy, but decided to discuss the matter with its president.
• Fang Zhan told Lin Chen about the two academies’ victories, and Xiao Yaojin explained that Zheng Kingdom and Elephant Kingdom had recently clashed with Great Liang and might have reached an agreement afterward.
• A disciple summoned Lin Chen to the academy’s main hall at the president’s request.

Lin Chen accepted a three-month exchange at Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy to face challengers from the Elephant Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom, while gaining access to Soaring Cloud Hall. On his journey, he met Murong Yan disguised as Murong Shuang, who offered to travel with him and share information about the challengers.

• Hua Qianwu told Lin Chen that Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy had invited him to an exchange after disciples from the Elephant Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom defeated senior disciples from two Great Liang academies.
• Lin Chen agreed to leave for Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy, and Hua Qianwu revealed that the academy had offered him exceptional treatment, including access to Soaring Cloud Hall.
• Lin Chen visited Jiang Qing, promised to return around the New Year, and left the next day after saying goodbye to her at Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy.
• At Eight Directions City’s docks, Lin Chen accepted an invitation aboard a pleasure boat and found Murong Yan disguised as Murong Shuang.
• Lin Chen teased Murong Yan about her disguise and accepted her offer to travel with him and explain the backgrounds of the challengers from the Elephant Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom.

Murong Yan tried to win Lin Chen’s favor while concealing her identity, then offered him intelligence to help him prepare for the martial arts exchange. Lin Chen accepted her offer and went with her to the deck to hear the weaknesses of their rivals.

• Lin Chen drank Murong Yan’s Cloud Cauldron Tea and persuaded her to give him the last box.
• Murong Yan told Su Qin that Lin Chen might be worth investing in if he defeated the formidable disciples from Zheng Kingdom and Elephant Kingdom.
• Murong Yan gave Lin Chen information on twelve visiting disciples, identifying Hu Bing and Benshan Lang as the two kingdoms’ likely trump cards.
• Murong Yan offered to explain the weaknesses of Hundred Elephant Fist and the Benshan Family Movement Technique, and Lin Chen accepted her help.

Lin Chen used Murong Yan’s bronze mirror to fight Benshan Lang and claimed an easy victory, then arrived at Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy as it faced a challenge from Zheng Kingdom’s Four Harmony Martial Arts Academy. The academy had lost four bouts, and Lin Chen reached the training ground as Meng Xing prepared to face Tian Qiyu and Hu Bing dismissed Great Liang’s martial academies.

• Murong Yan activated her family’s bronze mirror, and Lin Chen entered its recreated battle against Benshan Lang, dodged his ambush, and defeated him with one slap.
• Su Qin doubted Lin Chen’s account, while Murong Yan wagered that Lin Chen could defeat Benshan Lang in three moves and secured Su Qin’s promise to let her review future reports to the Emperor if he did.
• Lin Chen saw Soaring Cloud City’s Black Armored Guard arrest two foreign Ranked Martial Artists for fighting outside the city.
• Lin Chen learned that Four Harmony Martial Arts Academy had challenged Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy, then hurried to its training ground as the academy struggled after four consecutive losses.
• Meng Xing offered to fight Tian Qiyu, while Hu Bing and another Pilgrimage Martial Arts Academy disciple mocked Great Liang’s remaining martial academies; a figure hurried into the training ground.

Lin Chen arrived as an exchange student to represent Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy against Tian Qiyu, whom he defeated with one palm strike. Hao Jifeng identified Lin Chen and defended his eligibility, leaving the foreign academies with little room to challenge the result.

• Kong Qing and other observers expected Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy to lose after Tian Qiyu defeated its earlier challengers.
• Meng Xing offered to fight Tian Qiyu, but Lin Chen arrived and asked to take his place; Jiang Yun agreed after Lin Chen said he was confident.
• Lin Chen refused to give Tian Qiyu his name, called him unworthy, and declared that he would defeat him in one move.
• Lin Chen read Tian Qiyu’s Split into Three technique and struck his arm, breaking it and injuring him with a single palm strike.
• Xiang Yuanchuan and another martial academy leader accused Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy of cheating, but Hao Jifeng revealed Lin Chen’s honors and explained that Lin Chen had become an exchange student five days earlier.
• Yu Fei and other Great Liang martial artists cheered for Lin Chen as Hao Jifeng defended his eligibility under the United Martial Arts Academy’s rules.

Lin Chen defeated Benshan Lang in a single move, impressing the martial artists gathered at the Training Ground. Hu Bing then challenged him, and Lin Chen accepted as Hu Bing revealed his powerful physique and declared he would fight with his body.

• Lin Chen asked to fight Benshan Lang after Meng Xing's match, and the academies agreed that disciples could compete more than once.
• Lin Chen closed his eyes, sensed Benshan Lang's approach, and struck him down with a palm technique that overwhelmed his evasive moves.
• The referee confirmed Lin Chen's victory, while spectators from Great Liang praised his strength and other observers acknowledged his reputation.
• Hu Bing challenged Lin Chen, and the deans agreed that their fight would decide the contest between Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy and Pilgrimage Martial Arts Academy.
• Lin Chen accepted Hu Bing's challenge, and Hu Bing expanded his muscles before Lin Chen remarked that he also knew a little about body cultivation.

Lin Chen and Hu Bing began a contest of physical strength, with Lin Chen matching and then overpowering Hu Bing’s Divine Elephant Body. As Hu Bing forced his body to swell further, Lin Chen began unfastening his clothes, preparing to reveal another capability.

• Yu Fei cheered for Lin Chen, while Kong Qing affirmed that Lin Chen was already the foremost figure among Great Liang’s four martial academies.
• Hu Bing activated the Divine Elephant Body, and Lin Chen used the Town Yue Manual to strengthen his qi and blood.
• Lin Chen and Hu Bing charged into each other and fought through repeated body-only collisions, astonishing the onlookers.
• After a hundred breaths, Hu Bing began retreating, and after two hundred breaths he stopped and forced his body to swell further.
• Lin Chen began unfastening his clothes, and Meng Xing recognized what he was about to do.

Lin Chen removed his Reverse Scale Armor and defeated Hu Bing in a decisive clash, forcing Pilgrimage Martial Arts Academy to concede. Afterward, he urged Meng Xing and the other Soaring Cloud disciples to stand up for their academy themselves next time, then Hao Jifeng took him to meet the dean.

• Lin Chen revealed that he had fought Hu Bing while wearing Reverse Scale Armor, stunning the martial artists watching and making Su Qin admit that she had misjudged him.
• Lin Chen removed the armor and charged Hu Bing, and their collision shattered the bluestone stage beneath them.
• Hu Bing coughed up blood and collapsed after the clash, so Sang Tuo treated him while declaring that Pilgrimage Martial Arts Academy admitted defeat.
• Lin Chen returned to cheers from the Great Liang martial artists, then told Meng Xing and the other Soaring Cloud disciples that they should defend their academy themselves next time.
• Hao Jifeng praised Lin Chen and took him to meet the dean, prompting Lin Chen to anticipate receiving the promised reward.

Lin Chen impressed Hou Zhantian, dean of the Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy, who rewarded him with unlimited time in the Soaring Cloud Great Hall. As Lin Chen began climbing the hall’s thousand steps, he unknowingly broke Pei Qingming’s long-standing record.

• Hou Zhantian regretted that his academy had not outbid the Azure Ripple Martial Arts Academy for Lin Chen, then let Lin Chen stay in the Soaring Cloud Great Hall indefinitely.
• Fu Ze summoned Yu Fei after Lin Chen said he missed him, embarrassing Fang Nan, who had doubted their acquaintance.
• Lin Chen set out before dawn to climb the thousand steps leading to the Soaring Cloud Great Hall.
• Lin Chen felt his pace surge when the morning sun rose and climbed faster despite starting slower than Pei Qingming had.
• Lin Chen reached the top in 721 breaths, breaking Pei Qingming’s record and leaving the watching disciples stunned.

Lin Chen entered the Soaring Cloud Great Hall and received a stronger acknowledgment from Soaring Cloud Power than Pei Qingming had, drawing a Mist Dragon and a Golden Dragon. Inside, he discovered how Soaring Cloud Stones formed, endured the hall’s blazing power by entering a Golden Cauldron, and saw golden qi take the shape of someone practicing Warm Sun Fist.

• Lin Chen reached the hall as veteran disciples watched, then summoned a Mist Dragon that crashed into the gates and was welcomed inside by a Golden Dragon.
• After Lin Chen entered, Hou Zhantian and the vice dean explained that Soaring Cloud Power had acknowledged him more strongly than it had Pei Qingming and agreed he could remain in the hall for up to ten days.
• Lin Chen watched the star map generate a Soaring Cloud Stone and learned that it contained the absolute yin accompanying the absolute yang of Soaring Cloud Power.
• As the hall’s power overwhelmed him, Lin Chen entered the Golden Cauldron, which absorbed golden particles and sent them surging into his body.
• Golden qi gathered into a small figure that practiced stance work and Warm Sun Fist, a technique Lin Chen had learned at the Kaohe Town Martial Arts Academy.

Lin Chen spent more than a month in the Soaring Cloud Great Hall, refining all five organs and forming his Martial Arts Will through his own evolving techniques. The hall’s doors opened after he briefly demonstrated Ranked Martial Artist abilities, leaving him puzzled that his System Panel still listed him in the Organ Refining Realm.

• Lin Chen endured the Soaring Cloud Power as it refined his spleen, while Hou Zhantian and the academy’s leaders watched his record-breaking stay in the great hall.
• After thirty days, Lin Chen completed the refinement of all five organs, reached the fifth revolution of Nine Revolutions Organ Refining, and developed golden blood and Five Organ Resonance.
• Lin Chen merged his golden technique-figures and declared that all martial arts could be used by him, then opened his Spirit Platform using his own body as a Spirit Weapon.
• Lin Chen evolved hundreds of techniques, formed a tiny golden figure as his Martial Arts Will, and discovered that he could float like a Ranked Martial Artist despite the System Panel still listing his Organ Refining Realm.
• The great hall’s doors opened, ending Lin Chen’s cultivation session, and he stepped outside wondering about his new First Rank Spirit Rank.

Lin Chen endured the Medicine Jar Frail Body’s returning pain until Murong Yan used her lineage’s secret art to calm his spiritual platform. After she told him a challenge between Great Liang and the Southern Sands Three Islands was underway at the Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy, Lin Chen went with her to watch.

• Lin Chen returned to his courtyard as the Medicine Jar Frail Body’s pain began, and Murong Yan found him convulsing in agony.
• Murong Yan feared Lin Chen’s spiritual platform was damaged and used her lineage’s secret art to help him recover.
• Lin Chen awoke an hour later, and Murong Yan told him that the younger generation of the Southern Sands Three Islands had challenged Great Liang.
• Murong Yan explained that the Three Lives Child would fight as a team against three representatives from Great Liang’s martial academies.
• Lin Chen learned that the challenge was taking place at the Soaring Cloud Martial Arts Academy’s Training Ground and decided to go watch with Murong Yan.

Lin Chen and Murong Yan watched the Southern Sands Three Islands’ Yu Beichen Brothers defeat Great Liang’s senior martial artists through their flawless teamwork. The arrival of five heirs from the Five Clans of Guanzhong suggested a hidden political maneuver, while Lin Chen suspected the dispute was connected to the Snow Region.

• Lin Chen and Murong Yan entered the Training Ground as Zhang Jun fell from the platform during the Yu Beichen Brothers’ fight against Great Liang’s senior martial artists.
• The Yu Beichen Brothers defeated Di Qian and humiliated Hong Yao until Hou Zhantian ordered Hong Yao to leave the platform.
• The Yu Beichen Brothers mocked Great Liang’s young martial artists, prompting anger among the spectators.
• Five unfamiliar young men arrived, and Murong Yan identified them as Great Liang geniuses raised in other kingdoms.
• Murong Yan told Lin Chen that Great Liang and the Elephant Kingdom had clashed in the Snow Region a month earlier, and Lin Chen suspected the contest concealed a conspiracy.
• A spectator identified the newcomers as disciples of the Five Clans of Guanzhong, and Hou Zhantian realized the clans had used the Snow Region crisis to exploit a political opening.