Chapter Summaries

Chen Yan reunited with the others before Shen Yiwei warned him that the College Entrance Exam could bring him into conflict with powerful prodigies tied to Chen Changyuan. Chen Yan learned that Chen Changyuan sought a Moon-level cultivation method, but he chose to take the exam despite Shen Yiwei's warning.

• Shao Hengyang, Lu Linqian, Shen Youning, and Xu Di recognized that Chen Yan had been hiding his true strength, while Sanjin awkwardly offered him grapes.
• Zong Heng warned Shen Yiwei that Zhang Luobai and Yu Changsheng were Peak Origin Realm prodigies competing in the exam on behalf of Zhang Ting and Chen Changyuan.
• Shen Yiwei explained to Chen Yan that Yu Changsheng might target him and advised him to skip the exam until next year.
• Chen Yan learned that Chen Changyuan had merged two Four Blood Methods and sought You Yuan to create a Moon-level cultivation method that could help him reach the Seventh Order.
• Chen Yan insisted on taking the College Entrance Exam, and Shen Yiwei accepted his decision.

Chen Yan demonstrated his Body Tempering Path strength to Zong Heng aboard the Flying Warship, shocking him with a punch that tore through his Qi and Blood protection and damaged the cabin. Zong Heng accepted Chen Yan’s claim that he was at the late Unity Realm, while Shen Yiwei remained stunned by the display.

• Shen Yiwei asked Chen Yan to demonstrate his strength so Zong Heng would take him seriously, and Zong Heng invited Chen Yan to attack him inside the cabin.
• Chen Yan activated [Patrolling Heaven], [Patrolling Heaven Extreme Path], his Unity Realm Martial Dao Dharma Image Diagram, and the Yan Realm as he prepared his strongest move.
• Chen Yan used [Void Breaker—Ice Dragon Waterfall] and punched through Zong Heng’s Qi and Blood protection, causing a violent disturbance aboard the Flying Warship.
• Sanjin rushed into the damaged cabin, and Zong Heng told the others that his Qi and Blood had flowed in reverse before sending everyone back to their places.
• Zong Heng asked Chen Yan about his realm in the next cabin, and Chen Yan said he was at the late Unity Realm.

Chen Yan received a precious body-tempering medicine from Zong Heng and learned that the top geniuses from several factions had gathered in Xiaoyang City ahead of the College Entrance Exam. As Zhang Luobai and Yu Changsheng began fighting, Chen Yan left to cultivate, while Zong Heng revealed that Bing Yi had helped wipe out Luo Chen and his companions.

• Zong Heng gave Chen Yan a Black Tiger Jade Cake and warned him that Chen Changyuan and his disciple Yu Changsheng might target him during the College Entrance Exam.
• The Aristocratic Alliance's Yu Changsheng arrived in Xiaoyang City with Jiang Yuan, and Zhang Luobai confronted him outside the city.
• Zhu Lili and the other General Star geniuses appeared, and Yu Changsheng attacked Zhu Lili before Zhang Luobai intervened.
• Zhang Luobai and Yu Changsheng fought until their battle destroyed the cabin's monitoring equipment.
• Chen Yan left to cultivate, while Zong Heng offered to arrange for Zhu Lili's team to accompany him during the exam.
• Zong Heng told Shen Yiwei that Bing Yi had taken part in wiping out Luo Chen and his party, shocking Shen Yiwei.

As the College Entrance Exam approached, Chen Yan met Chen Xiyuan at Liunan Lake, where he demonstrated his strength and secured a reward for helping He Youtong obtain You Lan. The Exam Scroll then appeared across Great Xia, signaling the start of the exam.

• Chen Yan learned that An Yunnan had broken the Realm Limit and silently resolved to defeat him.
• Chen Xiyuan asked Chen Yan to help He Youtong obtain You Lan in the College Entrance Exam Secret Realm, and Chen Yan requested a reward.
• Chen Yan struck at He Youtong to demonstrate his Third-grade Fist Intent and micro-level Patrolling Heaven Extreme Path, prompting Chen Xiyuan to give him a Bitter Thorn Profound Fruit.
• The Exam Scroll unfurled over Xiaoyang City and across the Eighteen Prefectures, announcing the College Entrance Exam and the arrival of the Time Domain Phoenix.

Chen Yan registered for the College Entrance Exam Secret Realm while Chen Xiyuan questioned him about Bing Yi and came to admire his talent and character. Hidden observers recognized Chen Yan’s deception and resolve, and Xia Hanzhou reaffirmed that he had chosen the right person.

• The Exam Scroll verified applicants’ blood, exposed a man who had already taken the exam three times, and caused him to self-destruct when the Town Martial Division moved to seize him.
• Chen Yan passed the Exam Scroll’s verification, and Chen Xiyuan wondered whether Bing Yi had registered or belonged to the Ji Family.
• Chen Xiyuan asked Chen Yan about Bing Yi, and Chen Yan claimed he had never met him and said Shen Yiwei had given him Patrol Heaven expecting him to fail.
• Chen Yan said he had mastered Patrol Heaven and wanted Treasure Medicine to grow stronger and repay Chen Xiyuan, who praised him as a peerless genius.
• Shen Keqing and Xia Hanzhou listened to Chen Yan’s conversation, and Shen Keqing described his unity of knowledge and action before Xia Hanzhou insisted he knew he had chosen correctly.

The Time Domain Phoenix gathered the College Entrance Exam examinees and began its first trial, assessing their talent and comprehension through the formation of Dao Seeds. As Zhu Lili, Sanjin, and Yu Changsheng formed Green Grains, Chen Yan continued concentrating until one appeared before him.

• Zhu Lili refused to team up with Chen Yan, insisting that the College Entrance Exam was her chance to catch up with powerful opponents such as Yu Changsheng.
• The Time Domain Phoenix appeared over Xiaoyang City and drew tens of thousands of examinees into the air, while Chen Xiyuan explained the Divine Artifacts and the Phoenix's rewards to Chen Yan.
• Chen Yan joined the other examinees as the Time Domain Phoenix began its trials, and he noticed He Youtong, Sanjin, Yu Changsheng, and An Yunnan among the crowd.
• The Phoenix's first round assessed talent and comprehension, and Sanjin, Zhu Lili, and Yu Changsheng were among the first to condense Green Grains.
• An Yunnan became shaken after seeing Sanjin surpass him, while Chen Yan stayed focused until a Green Grain formed before him.

Chen Yan placed fourth in the Dao Seed trial, then the examinees clashed over a stolen opportunity as the Path Cutting Seed trial began. When Chen Yan instantly formed his first Path Cutting Seed, the other Heavenly Prides turned in shock.

• Chen Yan condensed seven Dao Seeds and placed fourth on the Ranking Board, while Sanjin took first place with seventeen.
• An Yunnan found himself tied with many examinees near the bottom of the rankings and convinced himself that his willpower was invincible.
• Sanjin offered Chen Yan extra Dao Seeds, but he refused; soon after, Li Guo killed an Aristocratic Alliance genius who had stolen a Dao Seed from a Military Martial woman.
• Zhang Luobai tried to stop the escalating conflict, Zhu Lili backed Li Guo, and Chen Yan gathered his companions and said they would kill if war broke out.
• The Time Domain Phoenix began the courage trial, and Chen Yan immediately killed the vision of Chen Xiyuan and condensed a Path Cutting Seed, stunning the other Heavenly Prides.

Chen Yan and Yu Changsheng led the Path Cutting Seed trial, repeatedly matching each other as the Ranking Board changed. Their extraordinary courage drew attention, while Shen Yiwei and Zong Heng wondered whether Yu Changsheng’s performance had an unnatural cause.

• Chen Yan faced an illusion of Chen Changyuan, calmly defeated him, and began condensing Path Cutting Seeds.
• Chen Yan and Yu Changsheng traded first place on the Ranking Board as their totals climbed far above the other candidates.
• Zong Heng and Shen Yiwei discussed the importance of courage and questioned Yu Changsheng’s sudden improvement, speculating about a possible possession technique.
• Li Guo confronted a Black-clothed Youth who had interfered with his trial, then went to join a Fifth Order General Star.
• Chen Yan and Yu Changsheng reached seventeen Path Cutting Seeds each before Yu Changsheng overtook Chen Yan again.

Chen Yan confronted his deepest fear and surged past Yu Changsheng to take first place with twenty-four Path Cutting Seeds. As the Aristocratic Alliance threatened Li Guo, Shao Hengyang flew to help him.

• Yu Changsheng condensed his twentieth Path Cutting Seed after a vision in which Chen Changyuan killed his family and resolved to stand above all.
• An Yunnan woke from his vision in despair at placing fifteenth, then angrily rejected Li Guo when he sought help from him.
• Zhu Lili tried to protect Li Guo from Jiang Yuan and the Aristocratic Alliance, but Li Guo refused her help and ran off to face his pursuers himself.
• Chen Yan endured visions of his father and sister dying, remembered his original reasons for entering the Dao, and overcame his fear.
• Chen Yan condensed Path Cutting Seeds twenty through twenty-four, overtook Yu Changsheng, and took first place, approaching Lu Xunyang's record of twenty-seven.
• Shao Hengyang flew to help Li Guo, while Xu Di and Zhan Hun told Li Qingyuan not to follow because he was too weak.

Chen Yan faced the Time Domain Phoenix’s terrifying courage trial and stood firm against a succession of cosmic horrors, while Yu Changsheng confronted the fear of his past failure. Chen Yan reached the twenty-seventh Path Cutting Seed, tying Lu Xunyang’s record and causing Divine Level to take shape.

• Yu Changsheng faced the door again and trembled with fear as memories of his failed attempt returned.
• Chen Yan opened a black door in his mind and confronted a universe-sized eye, declaring that his heart held endless light until it vanished.
• Red light gathered around Chen Yan as he reached the twenty-sixth and then the twenty-seventh Path Cutting Seed, matching Lu Xunyang’s record.
• Shen Yiwei, Zong Heng, Zhang Ting, and other powerful figures gathered in astonishment, while Zhu Lili and Sanjin watched Chen Yan.
• Chen Yan endured visions of monstrous creatures, an impossible building, and other horrors, repeatedly affirming his resolve and refusing to retreat.
• Red light flooded the world as Divine Level took shape.

Chen Yan endured the courage assessment’s terrifying illusion and condensed thirty Path Cutting Seeds, breaking Great Xia’s record. As he recovered, tensions between the Aristocratic Alliance and the Military Martial Guard escalated over Li Guo, whom Can Changli pursued with apparent intent to kill.

• Chen Yan faced the illusion’s ultimate fear without closing his eyes and condensed a thirtieth Path Cutting Seed, surpassing the previous record.
• Shen Keqing rebuked Xia Hanzhou for treating Chen Yan’s ordeal as a triumph without acknowledging the torture he endured.
• Chen Yan finished the courage assessment and began recovering while Zong Heng and Shen Yiwei reacted to his achievement; Chen Xiyuan and Steward Hu discussed Chen Yan and An Yunnan.
• Zhu Lili confronted Jiang Yuan over the Aristocratic Alliance’s pursuit of Li Guo, while Yu Changsheng continued his own courage assessment and formed a twenty-fifth Path Cutting Seed.
• Can Changli attacked Li Guo and overwhelmed Shao Hengyang and the other General Stars who tried to intervene, forcing Li Guo to flee.
• Zhu Lili rushed to stop Can Changli as he prepared to strike Li Guo, and Can Changli called for Jiang Yuan’s help.

Can Changli’s attack on Li Guo ignited a deadly confrontation between the Military Martial Guard and the Aristocratic Alliance. Chen Yan arrived to stop the fighting, then turned on Can Changli and brutally defeated him.

• Can Changli nearly killed Li Guo, prompting the Military Martial Guard and the Aristocratic Alliance to prepare for battle as Zhu Lili struggled to contain the crisis.
• A Seventh-Rank General Star killed an Aristocratic Alliance Heavenly Pride, and Can Changli retaliated by cutting him in two, escalating the conflict.
• Zhang Luobai stood up but let Qiu Changji and Shi Ziqin hold him back, while Zhu Lili pleaded for help and the two factions moved toward open combat.
• Chen Yan stopped a Sixth Order General Star and destroyed the incoming Green Light, then warned both sides against attacking him and walked toward Jiang Yuan.
• Chen Yan seized Can Changli and overwhelmed him with a series of strikes, leaving him mangled and badly beaten.

Chen Yan killed the apparent Can Changli during a confrontation between the Military Martial Guard and the Aristocratic Alliance, then exposed him as a corpse controlled by a Formation Disk. With a larger massacre averted, Chen Yan suggested the gathered prodigies had already been affected by Malice.

• Chen Yan swiftly disabled Can Changli and demonstrated combat strength far beyond what his Fifth Order General Star rank suggested.
• Despite Zhu Lili and Jiang Yuan urging him to stop, Chen Yan pierced Can Changli's neck and appeared to kill him.
• Zhu Lili and the others discovered purple Secret Script in Can Changli's corpse and realized he had been a Formation Puppet used to provoke a battle between factions.
• Jiang Yuan recognized that someone inside the Assessment Space had killed Can Changli and controlled his body to spark a wider conflict.
• The prodigies thanked Chen Yan for preventing the factions from fighting, and Zhu Lili asked whether he had suspected the trap from the beginning.
• Chen Yan asked whether the Military Martial Guard prodigies had realized they had long been affected by Malice.

Chen Yan exposed a plot to incite malice among the assessment contestants and helped Zhang Luobai capture the culprit, a man in purple. Outside the Assessment Space, Zong Heng and Zhang Ting argued over the spy and the Ji Family, while Zhang Ting watched Chen Yan and reflected that he was following his master's path.

• Chen Yan revealed that someone had used a Malice Crystal and Can Changli's corpse to provoke the contestants, then claimed he had identified the culprit.
• Chen Yan directed Zhang Luobai to strike quickly, and the terrified man in purple exposed himself by screaming and trying to kill himself; Zhang Luobai knocked him unconscious.
• Zhang Luobai realized Chen Yan had not actually known the culprit's identity, but praised his cleverness, while He Youtong grew wary after Chen Yan looked toward her.
• Outside the Assessment Space, Zong Heng seized the man in purple and accused Zhang Ting of letting the culprit go, but Zhang Ting identified him as a Ji Family spy and showed evidence linking him to a Ji Family member.
• Zong Heng told Shen Yiwei that Zhang Ting had been in contact with Ji Feng, while they discussed the Ji Family's interests and the Xia Family's silence.
• Zong Heng praised Chen Yan to Shen Yiwei, and Zhang Ting watched Chen Yan in the Assessment Space and sighed that he was following his master's path.

Yu Changsheng completed his trial with twenty-six Path Cutting Seeds and reflected on his past life as Chen Changyuan, while Steward Hu urged Chen Xiyuan to apologize to Chen Yan. The chapter ended with the crowd asking Chen Yan how he had trained, drawing Yu Changsheng’s attention to the branch clansman he had previously ignored.

• Steward Hu warned Chen Xiyuan that Chen Yan might know she had tried to harm him and urged her to apologize and stop targeting him.
• Yu Changsheng endured the illusion, drawing on Chen Changyuan’s memories of fighting Ancient God Beasts, and formed his twenty-sixth Path Cutting Seed.
• Yu Changsheng lamented that he had not surpassed Lu Xunyang and called him the only person who could have been his friend.
• Zhang Luobai questioned Yu Changsheng about his improved results, and Yu Changsheng claimed he had fought Sixth Order Ancient God Beasts for a year.
• Zhang Luobai asked Chen Yan how he had trained, and Yu Changsheng turned his attention toward the branch clansman.

Chen Yan rejected the Blood Sword Saint’s will legacy, arguing that inheriting another person’s Dao was not his path, and stayed behind to examine the illusion for himself. Sanjin chose to stay with him, while Yu Changsheng watched, puzzled by Chen Yan’s decision.

• Yu Changsheng saw Chen Yan rank first with a score of 30 and reacted with shock before the third assessment began.
• The examinees entered a desolate landscape where the Blood Sword Saint revealed that they would experience his states of mind and inherit his will.
• Chen Yan questioned Sanjin about protecting him, and she denied being ordered to do so by Minister Zong.
• The Blood Sword Saint’s sword moved east, and the examinees followed it to begin the legacy, but Chen Yan remained behind.
• Chen Yan sat down and rejected the idea of inheriting another person’s will, and Sanjin stayed beside him in agreement.
• Chen Yan sensed the illusion instead of following the Blood Sword, while Yu Changsheng looked back and wondered what he was doing.

Chen Yan rejected the Blood Sword Saint’s flawed understanding of will and challenged the Saint’s will inside the illusion by repeatedly punching against it. As Xia Hanzhou and Xia Qi watched, Chen Yan endured his body being destroyed and restored, insisting that his will was stronger than the predecessor who left the legacy.

• He Youtong saw Yu Changsheng, Zhang Luobai, and Shao Hengyang condense Time Seeds while Chen Yan remained absent from the Ranking Board.
• Shen Yiwei and Zong Heng suspected something had gone wrong with Chen Yan, and Xia Hanzhou left to investigate.
• Chen Yan told Sanjin that he would tear apart the Blood Sword Saint’s flawed understanding of will rather than seek the inheritance.
• Chen Yan struck at the Blood Sword Saint’s will until it restrained him, then continued punching as the illusion repeatedly destroyed and restored his body.
• Xia Hanzhou and Xia Qi watched Chen Yan’s struggle, and Chen Yan declared that his will was stronger than the predecessor who left the legacy.

Chen Yan challenged the Blood Sword Saint’s will in the illusory realm and was drawn into a physical fight he could not win. Each defeat taught him new skills, and he kept returning for more as the Blood Sword Saint began to question his resolve.

• Chen Yan rejected the illusory realm’s influence and confronted the Blood Sword Saint, drawing the Saint’s consciousness out to face him.
• Xia Qi and Xia Hanzhou learned that challengers who fought the Blood Sword Saint could earn Time Seeds, and watched to see how Chen Yan would fare.
• Chen Yan attacked decisively, but the Blood Sword Saint defeated him within ten exchanges using superior physical combat skill.
• The Blood Sword Saint repeatedly killed and revived Chen Yan, while Chen Yan grew excited and gained a [Skill] Character Saint Breaking Fruit from each lesson.
• After killing Chen Yan more than a hundred times without making him give up, the Blood Sword Saint fell silent and reconsidered the young man’s resolve.

Chen Yan kept challenging the Blood Sword Saint’s incarnation in the willpower assessment, studying its flawless techniques despite being killed repeatedly. After consuming his stored [technique] fruits, Chen Yan finally evaded and seized the Blood Sword Saint’s finger, declaring that its will was weak and counterattacking.

• Li Qingyuan told Shen Yiwei and Zong Heng that Chen Yan had never comprehended any Time Seeds, and Zong Heng explained why imitating Chen Yan’s challenge would not earn a reward.
• News spread that Chen Yan had earned no Time Seeds because he had pursued the wrong approach in the third trial, while he continued studying the Blood Sword Saint’s techniques.
• The Blood Sword Saint killed Chen Yan repeatedly, and Xia Hanzhou angrily ordered the Green-robed Woman to bring him in, calling the assessment unfair.
• Sanjin pleaded with Chen Yan to stop fighting, but Chen Yan insisted on continuing and consumed the [technique] fruits in the Saint Breaking Realm.
• Chen Yan evaded the Blood Sword Saint’s finger, snapped it, and thrust a sword-hand toward his eyes as Xia Hanzhou and Xia Qi watched in astonishment.

Chen Yan remained in the Time Domain Phoenix’s Assessment Space after everyone else left, while others wondered whether he was trapped. He finally emerged as the Divine Phoenix and Ranking Board reappeared above Xiaoyang City.

• Chen Yan absorbed the Skill Energy from seventeen [Skill] Character Saint Breaking Fruits, refined his combat techniques, and advanced [Patrolling Heaven Extreme Path] to Entering Divinity while fighting Blood Sword Saint.
• The other Examinees left the Assessment Space; Zhang Luobai placed second with twenty-four Time Seeds, Zhu Lili placed third with twenty-one, and Yu Changsheng left after obtaining twenty-seven.
• The Time Domain Phoenix and Assessment Space vanished at sunrise, but Chen Yan did not appear, prompting rumors that he had received no Time Seeds or remained trapped.
• Zhu Lili told Shao Hengyang that the General Star Faction would each contribute a Time Seed to thank Chen Yan, while Zhang Ting urged Zhang Luobai to win the College Entrance Exam.
• Zhang Luobai argued that Chen Yan’s arrival on the Patrol Heaven path was a good thing and asked Zhang Ting to stop mistreating Shen Yiwei.
• Zhang Ting pointed out the window as Chen Yan emerged above Xiaoyang City, with the Divine Phoenix crying out and the Ranking Board reappearing.