Chapter Summaries

Zhang Qingyuan learned the Water Control Technique and integrated it with his Spirit Essence and martial skills, greatly increasing his combat power. He arrived at the Ten Branch Competition confident in his improved strength, though the immense crowd initially made him nervous.

• Zhang Qingyuan returned to his quarters and began practicing the Water Control Technique ahead of the Ten Branch Competition.
• After more than a hundred failures, Zhang Qingyuan successfully cast the technique and began repeatedly practicing it to raise his proficiency.
• Zhang Qingyuan reached minor accomplishment in the Water Control Technique and used it to strengthen his Spirit Essence, Collapsing Mountain, and Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles.
• Zhang Qingyuan tested his enhanced power and estimated that the technique had increased his strength by at least thirty percent.
• The next day, Zhang Qingyuan traveled with Headmaster Liu and the others to the competition plaza, where he calmed his nerves by meditating amid the crowd.

Zhang Qingyuan entered the Ten Branch Competition and faced Liu of the Twenty-first Branch in his first match. He blocked Liu’s powerful wind blade and realized he could contend with an opponent at the Eighth Layer of Spirit Essence Realm, while Liu recognized him as a genuine threat.

• The Ten Branch Competition began with one-on-one matches, and Zhang Qingyuan watched the high-level disciples fight before being called to the arena.
• Zhang Qingyuan faced Liu, a recently advanced Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level cultivator wielding a mid-grade Magic Tool.
• Liu attacked first with a powerful wind blade, and Zhang Qingyuan defended using Circle Defense enhanced by the Water Control Technique.
• Zhang Qingyuan was pushed back slightly but successfully blocked the attack, confirming he could fight cultivators at Liu’s level.
• Liu realized Zhang Qingyuan was a formidable opponent.

Zhang Qingyuan fought Liu Chong evenly, revealing that his solid foundation and cultivated techniques let him contend with a newly advanced Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level cultivator. As the battle continued, Elder Zhao recognized Zhang Qingyuan’s potential and explained that his mastery of basic sword techniques could open a promising path toward Sword Intent.

• Zhang Qingyuan charged Liu Chong with Dragon Exploring the Sea, and their sword and fan techniques clashed evenly.
• Headmaster Liu noticed Zhang Qingyuan had reached minor accomplishment in Water Control Technique and credited his recent hard work.
• Elder Zhao asked Headmaster Liu about Zhang Qingyuan and praised the depth of his foundation and mastery of basic techniques.
• Headmaster Liu described Zhang Qingyuan’s sudden enlightenment in the Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles and lamented the lost opportunity.
• Elder Zhao explained that Zhang Qingyuan’s understanding of lingering Sword Intent put him close to perfecting the basic sword technique and gave him a promising path ahead.

Elder Zhao warned Headmaster Liu against rushing his cultivation with pills and refused to arrange special treatment for Zhang Qingyuan. On the arena, Zhang Qingyuan drove Liu onto the defensive with his swordsmanship, but Liu activated a Golden Bell Talisman and began preparing a powerful technique.

• Elder Zhao advised Headmaster Liu to avoid using pills to break through and rejected his suggestion to open a back door for Zhang Qingyuan to enter the Inner Sect.
• Zhang Qingyuan used the Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles to overwhelm Liu, forcing the higher-level cultivator into a defensive position.
• Liu raised a Golden Bell Talisman to shield himself and gathered Spiritual Power into his fan.
• Zhang Qingyuan shattered the Golden Bell Shield, but Liu unleashed the dangerous Extreme Wind · Mountain Sparrow Dance.

Liu unleashed Sparrow Dance, a powerful high-grade martial skill, forcing Zhang Qingyuan to withstand its attack. Zhang Qingyuan survived by combining Collapsing Mountain and Circle Defense, and remained standing at the arena’s edge.

• After his Golden Bell Talisman defense shattered, Liu revealed that he had been waiting for the right moment and summoned a giant silver mountain sparrow with Sparrow Dance.
• Zhang Qingyuan faced the sparrow’s locking attack and struck it with Collapsing Mountain, using nearly all his Spirit Essence.
• The collision damaged the arena and sent Zhang Qingyuan flying backward, while the weakened sparrow continued pursuing him.
• Zhang Qingyuan steadied himself near the arena boundary and used Circle Defense to block and deflect the sparrow’s remaining power.
• Zhang Qingyuan remained unharmed at the arena’s edge as the spectators reacted in fear to the attack’s destructive force.

Zhang Qingyuan defeated Liu in a difficult match by countering Liu’s final Martial Skill and preventing him from activating another Talisman. After recovering from the battle, Zhang Qingyuan hoped to keep advancing in the Ten Branch Competition.

• Zhang Qingyuan used Collapsing Mountain and another Basic Martial Skill to withstand Liu’s Human Tier High-level attack.
• Zhang Qingyuan pressed his exhausted opponent, then interrupted Liu’s attempt to activate a Talisman and held Silver Shadow at his throat.
• The Deacon announced Zhang Qingyuan’s victory, and spectators cheered as he defeated the higher-realm Liu.
• Headmaster Liu and Elder Zhao watched Zhang Qingyuan’s performance from the high platform and praised him.
• Zhang Qingyuan returned to his place to restore his Spirit Essence and waited for his next battle, hoping to climb higher in the competition.

After recovering from his previous battle, Zhang Qingyuan faced the vastly stronger Fu Hongtian and was defeated with one strike. The crushing defeat strengthened his resolve and triggered his breakthrough to the Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level.

• Zhang Qingyuan recovered his Spirit Essence and realized that his bottleneck toward the Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level had loosened.
• Zhang Qingyuan entered the arena to face Fu Hongtian, who declared that he would need only one move.
• Fu Hongtian revealed his Spirit Essence Realm Ninth Layer cultivation and struck Zhang Qingyuan with Heavenly Thunder Hand, blasting him out of the arena.
• Zhang Qingyuan recognized that Fu Hongtian had held back most of his strength and resolved to surpass him one day.
• Zhang Qingyuan broke through to the Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level as spectators watched in astonishment.

After Fu Hongtian crushed him in the Ten Branch Competition, Zhang Qingyuan broke through to the Eighth Layer of Spirit Essence Realm and recovered through secluded cultivation. Realizing how far he remained from the strongest Outer Sect disciples, he went to the Hidden Skills Pavilion to seek techniques and Martial Skills before the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

• After Fu Hongtian defeated him, Zhang Qingyuan broke through the bottleneck to the Eighth Layer of Spirit Essence Realm, earning the old man’s praise for his resilient Dao Heart.
• Zhang Qingyuan left the competition square and returned to the branch residence, where he stabilized his cultivation and healed his injuries over three days.
• Zhang Qingyuan learned that Fu Hongtian had placed only tenth in the Ten Branch Competition and recognized that he remained far below the strongest Outer Sect disciples.
• Zhang Qingyuan diligently practiced the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist and Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles but failed to find a breakthrough into perfection.
• Zhang Qingyuan decided his Collapsing Mountain Combination Skill needed strengthening and went to the Hidden Skills Pavilion beside the External Affairs Hall to seek suitable techniques or Martial Skills.

Zhang Qingyuan searched the Outer Sect Hidden Skills Pavilion for a martial skill that could strengthen him, but found the second-floor techniques too expensive. He settled on the Quasi-entry-tier Sword Drawing Technique, whose power could rival a genuine Entry-tier martial skill.

• Zhang Qingyuan entered the Hidden Skills Pavilion and learned that its vast collection consisted mainly of low-tier arts gathered over centuries.
• Zhang Qingyuan found that the first-floor martial skills were too basic and the second-floor options cost more than his fourteen hundred Contribution Points.
• Zhang Qingyuan searched the first floor for a worthwhile technique, then focused on sword martial skills because they suited his Silver Shadow magic tool.
• Zhang Qingyuan chose the Quasi-entry-tier Sword Drawing Technique, which stored his strength in the sword and unleashed it in a powerful strike.

Zhang Qingyuan chose the restricted but powerful Sword Drawing Technique as his next martial skill and exchanged a Thick Qi Pill to obtain it. After studying the technique, he practiced until he reached the beginner stage, leaving him with a sword skill capable of cutting through a distant tree branch.

• Zhang Qingyuan decided the Sword Drawing Technique best suited his need for a powerful finishing attack despite its limitations.
• He exchanged the technique’s Jade Slip for fifteen hundred points, covering his shortfall with a Thick Qi Pill.
• Zhang Qingyuan studied the Sword Drawing Technique’s instructions and went to the courtyard to practice with Silver Shadow.
• On his twenty-third attempt, Zhang Qingyuan compressed Spirit Essence in the scabbard and cut a distant tree branch cleanly in two.
• The Proficiency Panel recorded the Sword Drawing Technique at the beginner stage.

Zhang Qingyuan trained his Sword Drawing Technique until it reached minor accomplishment, giving him a powerful new trump card for the approaching Outer Sect Grand Competition. He then accepted Zhao Yuanyang’s invitation to a gathering where the outer disciples would exchange cultivation insights.

• Zhang Qingyuan repeatedly practiced the Sword Drawing Technique, training its sword-drawing and aura-nurturing methods.
• After seven or eight days, Zhang Qingyuan split a waterfall with a sword strike and the Proficiency Panel showed that his Sword Drawing Technique had reached minor accomplishment.
• Zhang Qingyuan recognized the Sword Drawing Technique as his strongest trump card for the Outer Sect Grand Competition.
• Zhao Yuanyang invited the others in the Separate Courtyard to gather and discuss their cultivation before the competition, and Zhang Qingyuan accepted.
• The next day, Zhang Qingyuan told Hu Junshan to watch over his residence and hurried to the gathering place using the Cloud Smoke Steps.

Zhang Qingyuan attended an exchange meeting with the Seventeenth Branch’s top students and shared insights from his deep cultivation of basic techniques. He left with a clearer path to improving Cloud Smoke Steps and a stronger foundation in his cultivation.

• Zhao Yuanyang welcomed Zhang Qingyuan to the gathering, where Shen Hongzhou praised his performance at the Ten Branch Competition and revealed that he had recently reached the Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level.
• The Seventeenth Branch’s top students exchanged cultivation experiences to prepare for the approaching Outer Sect Grand Competition, and Zhang Qingyuan listened closely.
• A disciple’s insights into Movement Martial Skills helped Zhang Qingyuan overcome a bottleneck in Cloud Smoke Steps, raising its proficiency to 95/100 and bringing it close to Great Accomplishment.
• Zhang Qingyuan shared his understanding of basic cultivation methods and martial arts, and the other disciples listened and gained new realizations.
• The exchange benefited everyone, including Zhao Yuanyang, who learned from the others and refined his Cultivation System.

At a Lake Pavilion gathering, Shen Hongzhou challenged Zhang Qingyuan to a rematch after both advanced to the eighth level, and Zhao Yuanyang offered a Windwalk Pill as the stake. Their carefully controlled fire and water spell arts collided as the battle began, leaving the outcome undecided.

• After the Dao discussion, the cultivators at the gathering exchanged combat insights in controlled sparring matches.
• Shen Hongzhou challenged Zhang Qingyuan to a rematch, and Zhang accepted.
• Zhao Yuanyang offered a Windwalk Pill as a stake for the fight and reminded them not to let the match create enmity.
• Shen Hongzhou and Zhang Qingyuan began fighting at the center of the Lake Pavilion, each having advanced to the eighth level.
• Shen Hongzhou sent a condensed Fire Snake Technique at Zhang Qingyuan, who answered with a palm strike that formed surging waves of Spirit Essence.
• Their precisely controlled fire and water attacks canceled each other out, impressing the onlookers as Shen Hongzhou watched in astonishment.

Zhang Qingyuan defeated Shen Hongzhou in their sparring match by overwhelming him with his refined Spirit Essence and relentless techniques. After the gathering resumed, Zhao Yuanyang hinted that he knew a shortcut to help Zhang Qingyuan perfect his sword moves and comprehend Sword Intent.

• Shen Hongzhou attacked Zhang Qingyuan with Flame Star-Point Hand, but Zhang Qingyuan dissolved the flames with his Water Essence Art.
• Zhang Qingyuan seized Shen Hongzhou's momentary weakness and overwhelmed him with the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist until Shen conceded after the eighty-seventh move.
• Shen Hongzhou praised Zhang Qingyuan and inferred that he was cultivating a powerful Martial Skill; Zhang Qingyuan confirmed he was cultivating swordsmanship and explained he was stuck at a bottleneck.
• Zhao Yuanyang awarded Zhang Qingyuan the Windwalk Pill wager, and the gathering continued with other sparring matches.
• Shen Hongzhou discussed Zhang Qingyuan's swordsmanship and the possibility of comprehending Sword Intent, and Zhao Yuanyang said there was a shortcut.

Zhang Qingyuan consumed a Windwalk Pill and improved his movement cultivation, bringing Cloud Smoke Steps close to Great Accomplishment. He then considered how to strengthen his chances in the coming Outer Sect Grand Competition, wondering whether he could reach Completion with the Basic Sword Technique and awaken Sword Intent.

• Zhang Qingyuan tended the Spirit Grain in his courtyard, while Hu Junshan watched in admiration and resolved to become a cultivator himself.
• Zhang Qingyuan swallowed the Windwalk Pill and refined its medicinal power, which transformed his meridians and made his body feel lighter.
• Zhang Qingyuan tested Cloud Smoke Steps and gained proficiency, leaving the technique at Minor accomplishment: (96/100).
• Zhang Qingyuan judged that mastering Cloud Smoke Steps might not be enough to defeat a powerful opponent like Fu Hongtian in the Outer Sect Grand Competition.
• Zhang Qingyuan considered reaching Completion with the Basic Sword Technique to awaken Sword Intent, then recalled Zhao Yuanyang's proposed shortcut and furrowed his brow.

Zhang Qingyuan worried that he could not access a predecessor’s Martial Skill intent to help him comprehend Artistic Conception, then received cultivation guidance from Headmaster Liu. The chapter ended with Headmaster Liu asking whether Zhang Qingyuan intended to seek a breakthrough by observing predecessors.

• Zhang Qingyuan considered the risks and benefits of learning from predecessors’ Martial Skill intent, but could not find a way to view the Luoshui Jiang Family’s Sword Intent Post.
• After setting aside his worries, Zhang Qingyuan practiced the Cloud Smoke Steps until a servant summoned him to meet Headmaster Liu.
• Headmaster Liu praised Zhang Qingyuan’s performance in the Minor Competition and offered to help him prepare for the Outer Sect Grand Competition.
• Zhang Qingyuan asked Headmaster Liu about true Martial Skill intent, and Headmaster Liu asked whether he planned to seek a breakthrough by observing predecessors.
• The author announced that the novel would move to paid release on the thirteenth and that updates would be reduced to twice daily for ten days while chapters were stockpiled.

Zhang Qingyuan received Headmaster Liu’s help in arranging access to the Luoshui Jiang Family’s Sword Intent Post and hurried toward Luoshui County to pursue perfect Sword Intent. During the journey, he broke through to Great Accomplishment in the Cloud Smoke Steps, gaining an advantage in movement ahead of the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

• Zhang Qingyuan explained that he hoped to observe the True Martial Intent of his predecessors, and Headmaster Liu said his lingering Sword Intent made this a promising path to perfect Artistic Conception.
• Zhang Qingyuan told Headmaster Liu about the Luoshui Jiang Family’s Sword Intent Post, and Headmaster Liu gave him a Jade Talisman to present to the Jiang Family’s Clan Leader.
• Zhang Qingyuan accepted Headmaster Liu’s support, then left the next day for Luoshui County with only about twenty days remaining before the Outer Sect Grand Competition.
• Zhang Qingyuan practiced the Cloud Smoke Steps as he traveled and raised its proficiency to the threshold of a breakthrough.
• Zhang Qingyuan broke through to Great Accomplishment in the Cloud Smoke Steps, making his movement more unpredictable and giving him an edge against ordinary Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level Cultivators.

After his Cloud Smoke Steps reached Great Accomplishment, Zhang Qingyuan was drawn into a pursuit when Jiang Haisheng fled toward him and the Scarred Man’s men attacked. Zhang Qingyuan killed the two pursuers, and the Scarred Man turned on him in fury.

• Zhang Qingyuan heard a battle nearby but tried to leave without getting involved.
• Jiang Haisheng fled toward Zhang Qingyuan and asked him to help, but Zhang Qingyuan stepped aside to avoid the conflict.
• The Scarred Man ordered his two Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level Late Stage subordinates to kill Zhang Qingyuan while he blocked Jiang Haisheng.
• Zhang Qingyuan evaded the two attacks with Cloud Smoke Steps and struck both men from behind with Collapsing Mountain, sending them flying with their bones shattered.
• The Scarred Man saw Zhang Qingyuan defeat his subordinates and angrily threatened him.

Zhang Qingyuan fought the Scarred Man, who concealed a Qi Breaking Needle behind his Water Whip Technique. Zhang Qingyuan evaded the ambush and matched the Scarred Man’s close-combat attack, leaving the two facing each other with the Scarred Man newly wary of his strength.

• The Scarred Man disguised his Qi Breaking Needle with the Water Whip Technique and launched it at Zhang Qingyuan.
• Zhang Qingyuan used his Great Accomplishment Cloud Smoke Steps to evade the attack and realized the water lash had concealed a lethal weapon.
• The Scarred Man recalled the Qi Breaking Needle and charged Zhang Qingyuan with close-combat attacks.
• Zhang Qingyuan countered with Collapsing Mountain, and their Spirit Essence clashed with enough force to crack the ground.
• Zhang Qingyuan used the collision to retreat, while the Scarred Man recovered quickly and grew wary of Zhang Qingyuan’s abundant Spirit Essence.

Zhang Qingyuan was driven to the brink by the Scarred Man’s overwhelming attacks, but unleashed the Sword Drawing Technique he had spent half a month preparing and killed him. The chapter left Zhang Qingyuan exhausted after the decisive strike.

• The Scarred Man decided to kill Zhang Qingyuan to eliminate the threat he posed and attacked with his full strength.
• Zhang Qingyuan fought back with the Water Essence Art, Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist, and Cloud Smoke Steps, but struggled against the Scarred Man’s superior cultivation and battle experience.
• On the forty-third exchange, the Scarred Man struck Zhang Qingyuan in the chest and followed up with the Heavenly Eagle Hand.
• Zhang Qingyuan drew Silver Shadow and unleashed the Sword Drawing Technique he had been nurturing for half a month.
• The sword strike pierced the Scarred Man’s forehead and killed him, leaving Zhang Qingyuan pale and nearly collapsing from exhaustion.