Recaps

After the Heroes' Banquet, Jiang Ping prepared for the Martial Examination by cultivating the Heavenly Might Technique and copying his Autumn Leaf Saber Intent. He rejected several requests to share the technique, but agreed after the Chief confirmed his request through letters, leaving Ji Baichuan to study the painting.

• At dawn, Ning Qianxue and other banquet guests left with their painting scrolls, while Jiang Ping decided to focus on the Martial Examination.
• The next day, Song Yuanshan, Wei Rou, Ji Baichuan, and others learned that Jiang Ping had obtained a copy of the Heavenly Might Technique that could be studied with others.
• Jiang Ping assessed how much progress he might make with the technique and began copying the complete Autumn Leaf Saber Intent as he trained for the Martial Examination.
• Jin Ze and several ranked geniuses visited to request access to the Heavenly Might Technique, but Jiang Ping turned them down because their offers lacked a complete Innate Blood Technique.
• Ji Baichuan returned with a letter and five Silver Notes from the Chief requesting that Jiang Ping share the technique; Jiang Ping verified the request and agreed despite his reservations.
• The next day, Ji Baichuan came excitedly to study the Heavenly Might Painting, and Jiang Ping explained how to enter it through Sympathetic Resonance and trace the technique with a sword.

Jiang Ping registered for the Provincial Examination instead of pursuing the martial scholar title, surprising his friends and the elders of the Four Seas Escort Agency. Seven days later, dressed for the examination, he set out with Escort Huang and the Chief Escort.

• Jiang Ping and his companions registered for the Martial Examination, where Fang Yong chose the County Examination and Jiang Ping chose the Provincial Examination.
• Jiang Ping received an A-Upper rating for his appearance and height, while Fang Yong received B-Middle.
• Lin Yi met Jiang Ping and went with Ji Baichuan to Ji Baichuan's courtyard, while Jiang Ping invited Escort Huang and the Chief Escort into his home.
• The Chief Escort and Escort Huang discussed Jiang Ping's refusal to share the Heavenly Might Technique with Ji Baichuan and concluded that the matter had freed Jiang Ping from owing the Chief a favor.
• Seven days later, Jiang Ping dressed in azure robes and left for the Provincial Examination accompanied by Escort Huang and the Chief Escort.

Jiang Ping and the other candidates arrived at the Provincial Examination in Changping Prefecture, where the gathering drew the region’s great families, nobles, and Martial Dao authorities. The examination began with Jiang Ping entering first, followed by celebrated geniuses and the unexpectedly cold Cao Qingzhi, while Jiang Ping resolved to keep his origins secret for now.

• Jiang Ping met the other candidates and their elders before setting out for the examination grounds with the Escort Agency’s Chief and Ji Baichuan.
• The Provincial Examination began in Changping Prefecture, where officials and powerful guests discussed extraordinary talents, including a Martial Bone prodigy and Cao Qingzhi’s setbacks in the Imperial City.
• Chen Weimin dismissed Jiang Ping as a poor, late-starting candidate and privately planned to demand silver from him after his son succeeded.
• Jiang Ping entered the square first and noted the officials, nobles, and examiners watching the candidates.
• The other renowned candidates entered, and Cao Qingzhi’s cold, imposing manner silenced the crowd.
• Jiang Ping considered the danger of exposing his Martial Bone and decided to conceal his origins until he reached Fifth Rank.

Jiang Ping and the other geniuses tested their comprehension by identifying the strongest Artistic Conception in two Screen Paintings. As the first candidates completed the test, the officials and family elders debated their abilities and the value of the Murong Family's Wonder Painting.

• The Changping Prefect explained that the geniuses had to identify the strongest Artistic Conception in each Screen Painting.
• Jiang Ping used Sympathetic Resonance to compare the techniques, finding Domain Level Sword Intent as the strongest Artistic Conception in the second painting.
• Cao Qingzhi completed the assessment first, followed by Bai Ji, an unnamed genius, and Chen Qingyan.
• Ji Baichuan became the fifth to finish, prompting one family elder to dismiss his performance as the result of experience with the Murong Family's Wonder Painting.
• Chen Qingyan's uncle praised the Wonder Painting's techniques and explained that his niece had obtained its Painting scroll, while the Chief considered its significance.

Jiang Ping placed third in the Comprehension Gate, but the final round’s group draw put him against Cao Qingzhi first. Despite others urging him to withdraw, Jiang Ping entered the match and immediately conceded to the top-ranked genius.

• Cao Qingzhi remained first in the Comprehension Gate’s comprehension test, Bai Ji placed second, and Jiang Ping held third.
• The examiners divided the twenty-four remaining geniuses into three groups, and Jiang Ping landed in Group A with Cao Qingzhi and Ji Baichuan.
• Escort Huang, Qing Yan's Uncle, and Juren Chen urged Jiang Ping to withdraw, but Jiang Ping insisted on competing.
• The Changping Prefecture Lord used Supernatural Powers to raise three protected arenas for the strength-measuring round.
• Cao Qingzhi faced Jiang Ping in Group A’s opening match, and Jiang Ping conceded immediately.

Jiang Ping shocked the Imperial Examination crowd by revealing a Golden Robe and being identified as an exceptional Super First-rate talent. He fought Ji Baichuan to a close match, leaving the spectators questioning whether his strength was enough to enter the Martial Academy.

• Jiang Ping conceded his second match against Number Five, while Wei Rou spoke with Ji Baichuan about his losses.
• Chen An defeated Jin Tao decisively, then looked toward Jiang Ping as if dismissing him.
• Jiang Ping took the arena against Ji Baichuan and revealed a Golden Robe, stunning the crowd.
• The Changping Prefecture Lord and the Elegant Middle-aged Man identified Jiang Ping as a rare Super First-rate talent capable of tempering Jade Bone.
• Jiang Ping and Ji Baichuan began fighting, with Jiang Ping holding only a slight advantage as spectators questioned whether he could enter the Martial Academy.

Jiang Ping defeated Ji Baichuan in the Group A Arena, revealing Super First-rate natural endowment and Grandmaster-level sword techniques. In the stands, the Martial Academy and Lord Cao settled Chen An’s past grievance with Jiang Ping by demanding three thousand gold and an apology, while Ji Baichuan wondered whether he could still earn scholarly honors.

• Jiang Ping overpowered Ji Baichuan in a series of Blood Art exchanges, exposing his superior mastery of Invincible Vajra and Blood Buddha's Hand.
• Jiang Ping blocked Ji Baichuan’s fiery spear with Grandmaster-level Sword Qi, prompting Wei Rou, Jin Tao, and Chen An to recognize his exceptional talent.
• Escort Huang confronted Chen Weimin over Chen An’s past treatment of Jiang Ping and argued that it had forced Jiang Ping to hide his aptitude.
• The Martial Academy’s leaders demanded compensation and an apology from Chen An, and Lord Cao settled on three thousand gold and a personal apology.
• Jiang Ping sheathed his sword and left the arena as Ji Baichuan watched him, injured and questioning whether he could still earn scholarly honors.

Chen An learned that he had to apologize to Jiang Ping and turned to Jin Ze for help, while Jin Ze plotted to use his family ties against Jiang Ping. Chen Qingyan gave Jiang Ping an annotated copy of the Innate Blood Technique, and after winning his final match of the day, he began cultivating it and discovered its essence was extremely cold and connected to the Fifth Rank.

• Chen Weimin told Chen An that he had to pay three thousand gold and apologize to Jiang Ping, and Chen An backed down after learning Jiang Ping had a Super First-rate natural foundation.
• Jin Ze promised to use his Super First-rate cousin's influence to make Jiang Ping suffer, explaining that his family planned to recruit obedient geniuses at the Martial Academy.
• Chen Qingyan gave Jiang Ping an annotated copy of the Innate Blood Technique, while Wei Rou and Song Yuanshan reacted to seeing it in his hands.
• Jiang Ping defeated a Sixth Grade genius in a grueling Group A match, and the examiner ended the day's bouts before the competitors were taken to rooms in the Inner Courtyard.
• Jiang Ping studied the incomplete Innate Blood Technique and began refining his body, discovering that its essence was extremely cold and related to the Fifth Rank.

Jiang Ping used his newly cultivated Innate Blood Technique to defeat most of his opponents and advance to the second round, while Ji Baichuan and Zhao Ming were eliminated. The remaining geniuses received their match lists for the next round.

• Jiang Ping defeated Number Fifteen on the Martial Examination Ranking after his Innate Blood Technique gave him a decisive advantage.
• Jiang Ping won another match but lost to Number Seven on the Ranking, finishing the first round with four wins and three losses.
• Ji Baichuan and Zhao Ming were eliminated, while Song Yuanshan and Wei Rou advanced.
• Officials ended the first round and distributed the remaining geniuses' groupings and match lists for the next round.

Jiang Ping advanced through the second-round matches and discovered that Mo Zicheng had tried to cripple him in the arena. At night, Jiang Ping faced Chen An, whose decision to accept the plot against him remained uncertain.

• Jiang Ping learned that Chen An was in his group, thanked Juren Chen for the Innate Blood Technique, and was urged to stay close to Chen Qingyan at the Martial Academy.
• Mo Zicheng and other powerful family members persuaded Chen An to cripple Jiang Ping, offering protection, resources, and a complete Innate Blood Technique; Chen An agreed after Mo Zicheng offered to take him to meet his father.
• Jiang Ping conceded to Cao Qingzhi, who warned him to be careful because someone intended to target him.
• Rank Three attacked Jiang Ping before he could concede, and Jiang Ping used Blood Escape to evade him before conceding; he recognized Rank Three as Mo Zicheng and vowed to remember the grudge.
• That night, Jiang Ping entered the arena for his match against Chen An, who asked whether he would concede.

Jiang Ping fought Chen An in the Group B Arena, revealing that his Innate Blood Technique had reached the introductory stage and overpowering Chen An’s attacks. The fight left Chen An shaken and Rank Three intent on killing Jiang Ping, while Cao Qingzhi explained that the Imperial City’s greatest geniuses focused on exchanging techniques and copying Artistic Conception.

• Jiang Ping drew his sword instead of surrendering and demanded that Chen An apologize and bring silver.
• Chen An attacked with the Blood Sword and other supreme Blood Techniques, but Jiang Ping’s Ruoshui Swordplay and outer robe withstood his assault.
• Jiang Ping suspected Chen An was plotting to strike at him and decided to reveal his strength.
• Jiang Ping unleashed an introductory-stage Innate Blood Technique, broke through Chen An’s attacks, and blasted his martial artist’s outer robe apart with a frost-laden fist.
• Rank Three recognized Jiang Ping’s talent and voiced murderous intent, while Cao Qingzhi told Number Five on the Ranking that Imperial City geniuses studied techniques at a far higher level.

Jiang Ping revealed his Super First-rate talent and overwhelmed Chen An with the Heavenly Might Technique in the Group B Arena. Chen An conceded, apologized, and offered compensation, leaving Jiang Ping’s standing in Changping transformed.

• Chen An unleashed his Dragon Elephant Innate Blood Technique and charged Jiang Ping, but Jiang Ping answered with lightning-laced Sword Qi.
• Cao Qingzhi and the spectators recognized Jiang Ping’s extraordinary comprehension, while Jin Ze urged Jin Tao to arrange an apology through their clan.
• Jiang Ping’s Heavenly Might Sword Qi wore down Chen An until Chen An’s Dragon Elephant power weakened and Jiang Ping struck him with a palm and a slap.
• Chen An fled with Blood Escape, conceded defeat, knelt, apologized for his past actions, and offered three thousand gold as compensation.
• Wei Rou watched Chen An humble himself before Jiang Ping and was deeply shaken.

Jiang Ping advanced through the Martial Examination of Changping Prefecture, received Rare Blood and learned that the Martial Academy would teach him the Great Freedom Furnace Sutra. After the examination ended, Mo Zicheng feared Jiang Ping would target him and considered leaving for another province.

• Meng Yun praised Jiang Ping's talent, advised him to concede his remaining sparring matches, and gifted him Rare Blood as advance support from the Martial Academy.
• Meng Yun explained that academy students could study the Great Freedom Furnace Sutra, a technique prized for stabilizing the martial foundation and improving the chance of breakthroughs.
• Wei Rou conceded to Jiang Ping, and Jin Tao also conceded, allowing Jiang Ping to finish the second round with three wins and two losses.
• Cao Qingzhi defeated Bai Ji to take first place, while the crowd focused on Jiang Ping as the examination's most dazzling talent.
• Mo Zicheng told Jin Ze that he might leave for another province because he had revealed killing intent toward Jiang Ping and feared being targeted at Black River Martial Academy.

After the Martial Examination, Jiang Ping stayed in Prefecture City to prepare for the martial academy, entrusted his younger sister's care to Escort Huang, and used Rare Blood to speed up his cultivation. He arrived at the Government Office with Chen Qingyan to see the rankings posted, where he met Chen An and learned that Cao Qingzhi would remain at Black River Martial Academy while Bai Ji had gone to another province.

• Meng Yun and Juren Chen agreed to stay in Prefecture City to watch over Jiang Ping and help their students enter the martial academy.
• At a feast at Chen Qingyan's residence, Jiang Ping asked Escort Huang to look after his younger sister and gave him ten thousand liang in gratitude for teaching him a Stance Technique.
• Jiang Ping saw Escort Huang, the Chief Escort, and Fang Yong off as they returned to Yang City, then went to the quiet room to cultivate with Rare Blood.
• Jiang Ping spent the following days tempering his organs, and the Rare Blood made his Organ Refining progress at least twice as fast.
• Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan went to the Government Office on the day the rankings were posted, where they met Song Yuanshan, Wei Rou, and Chen An, who brought ten thousand liang as settlement money.
• Chen An told Jiang Ping that Cao Qingzhi had stayed at Black River Martial Academy and Bai Ji had gone to another province, and Jiang Ping asked whether Rank Three had gone too.

After the Martial Examination rankings were announced, Jiang Ping received his Martial Academy admission token and prepared to leave for the Provincial City. He departed by ship with Chen Qingyan, leaving Escort Huang to watch him go.

• Jiang Ping told Jiang Ping that Mo Zicheng had chosen to attend Black River Martial Academy and promised to repay his debt there.
• The rankings were announced: Cao Qingzhi remained first, Jiang Ping ranked highly, and Chen Qingyan made the top ten; Song Yuanshan failed to gain admission while Wei Rou earned Supplementary Admission.
• Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan met the other successful candidates at the Government Office, where the Changping Prefect changed their Martial Status and issued their admission documents.
• Jiang Ping spent the next several days cultivating and studying the Heavenly Might Technique before setting out for the Provincial City.
• Jiang Ping said farewell to Escort Huang and boarded the Luoyun Chamber of Commerce ship with Chen Qingyan, as it sailed north along the Black River.

Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan traveled to Black River Provincial City, where Juren Chen and Meng Yun warned them about the powerful families and factional dangers at the Martial Academy. They arrived at the academy, and Meng Yun went inside with their admission documents while Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan waited.

• Juren Chen and Meng Yun warned Jiang Ping about the Cui, Li, and Wang families, the academy’s factional conflicts, and the risks of taking sides.
• Meng Yun told Jiang Ping that the Cui Woman was this class’s Newcomer King and that many of the province’s top prodigies attended the National Academy.
• Jiang Ping and the others reached Black River Provincial City, where Juren Chen stayed behind and asked Jiang Ping to look after Chen Qingyan.
• Meng Yun explained that the city around the Martial Academy had become a busy marketplace for martial artists and resources.
• Jiang Ping, Chen Qingyan, and Meng Yun arrived at the academy gates, and Meng Yun entered with their admission documents.

Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan settled into the Black River Martial Academy, where Yang Hong showed them the grounds and explained its dangers and opportunities. Jiang Ping learned that Wang Jiasheng had tried to stop his rise, leaving him to consider whether he could avoid taking sides in the academy’s factional struggle.

• Meng Yun gave Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan Identity Tokens, arranged neighboring lodgings, and introduced Yang Hong, their fellow townsman and senior brother.
• Yang Hong showed them the Artistic Conception Dojo and Chenfeng Tower, explaining how skill cultivation related to Fifth Rank and how the Chenfeng Ranking offered resources that could help someone become a Martial Saint.
• Yang Hong warned Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan to stay inside the Inner City, keep a low profile, and focus on raising their strength amid the academy’s fierce rivalries.
• Yang Hong gave Jiang Ping Rare Blood and revealed that Wang Jiasheng, a top Chenfeng Ranking student, had tried to intercept him because of his talent.
• Yang Hong explained that Wang Jiasheng was hostile to Cold Gate descendants and that Jiang Ping would need allies, prompting Jiang Ping to ask whether he had to choose a faction.

Jiang Ping visited the Scripture Pavilion to study the Great Freedom Furnace Sutra and learn how to cultivate Fifth Rank. After recording its principles and several techniques into his golden Destiny, he realized he could begin breaking through.

• Jiang Ping decided to verify Wang Jiasheng's actions later and went to the Scripture Pavilion to strengthen himself first.
• Jiang Ping encountered Chen An, Jin Ze, Rank Three, and other students at the pavilion, then chose the Li Fire Sword and Wind Form Escape to study.
• Jiang Ping read the Great Freedom Furnace Sutra and learned that Fifth Rank began with Internal Refinement and the formation of a Martial Dao Furnace.
• Jiang Ping recorded the furnace principles and the Yin Yang Sutra, Wind and Rain Sutra, and Bright Radiance Sutra into his golden Destiny.
• Jiang Ping finished inscribing the Great Freedom Furnace Sutra and concluded that he could begin breaking through to Fifth Rank.

Jiang Ping learned that Wang Jiasheng was targeting him and began cultivating to condense his Martial Dao Furnace. He attended a Poor Family Camp gathering, where the other students welcomed him as their Super Genius.

• Jiang Ping visited Meng Yun, who confirmed that Wang Jiasheng intended to ruin Jiang Ping's future and warned him to avoid the Outer City and keep a low profile until he reached the Fifth Rank.
• Jiang Ping returned to his courtyard and spent seven days cultivating the Great Freedom Furnace Sutra, drawing his martial foundations together while his Martial Bone remained unresponsive.
• Jiang Ping met Chen Qingyan on their way to separate gatherings and joked that he would keep her safe if she joined the Poor Family Camp.
• Jiang Ping returned the jade bottle of Rare Blood to Yang Hong before entering the Poor Family Camp gathering.
• The students at the gathering welcomed Jiang Ping as their Super Genius and led him to a prepared seat near the front.

Jiang Ping attended a Poor Family Camp banquet, where he met Tang Pengfei and learned about the Heavenly Fire opportunity and a chance to study the Painting Marvel Technique. As the banquet ended, Yang Hong offered Jiang Ping’s painting-scroll slot to Tang Pengfei without asking him.

• Jiang Ping learned that Tang Pengfei was the younger brother of a Top Five Prodigy and accepted the Rare Blood Tang Pengfei gave him.
• Tang Pengfei invited Jiang Ping to gather Heavenly Fire Qi in three days, but Jiang Ping declined because he was too weak to compete for it.
• Jiang Ping demonstrated forty percent mastery of the Heavenly Might Technique and defeated a peer at the banquet.
• Yang Hong suggested that Tang Pengfei use Jiang Ping’s remaining Painting Marvel Technique slot, claiming he would lend it to Tang Pengfei on Jiang Ping’s behalf.
• Tang Pengfei accepted the offer and looked toward Jiang Ping, who was drinking.

Jiang Ping gave Tang Pengfei access to the Heavenly Might Technique despite the Poor Family Camp pressuring him, then resolved to grow stronger and leave the faction. Three days later, he condensed his Martial Dao Furnace and used his Martial Bone to anchor its Inner Heaven and Earth.

• Yang Hong and the other disciples pressured Jiang Ping to give Tang Pengfei the painting scroll, and Jiang handed it over as repayment for Tang's family's help.
• Jiang returned Tang Pengfei's Rare Blood, then agreed to let Tang study the Heavenly Might Technique for a few days while insisting he would continue studying it himself.
• After the banquet, Jiang considered breaking away from the Poor Family Camp and focused on condensing his Martial Dao Furnace.
• On the afternoon of the third day, Jiang formed the furnace, and his Martial Bone flew inside and anchored its Inner Heaven and Earth.
• Jiang realized that Martial Bone Talent gave him a fifty-percent chance of becoming a Saint, while he still had to build the other half of his foundation.

Jiang Ping advanced his True Qi cultivation and continued training while refusing to return to the Poor Family Camp’s social circle. After he declined an invitation to its banquet, the camp’s leaders wondered why he was avoiding them and ordered an investigation.

• Jiang Ping gathered cold and hot essence qi, allowing the Martial Dao Furnace to refine Innate True Qi, and estimated he was about eleven or twelve days from the first stage of True Qi.
• Jiang Ping asked Chen Qingyan about her Heavenly Might Technique and went to retrieve his painting scroll from Tang Pengfei, but Tang Pengfei’s companion refused to return it, citing his cultivation.
• Jiang Ping kept training for several days as the Rebirth Banquet approached and declined an invitation to a Poor Family Camp gathering, even after learning Senior Brother Lusheng had personally asked for him.
• At the banquet, the Blue-robed Youth questioned why Jiang Ping had refused to attend and told the Woman with a Mole at the Eye Corner to investigate whom he had met and what he had done.

Lusheng learned that Tang Pengfei had taken Jiang Ping’s Mystic Skill and refused to return it, so he confronted Tang Pengfei and forced him to hand over the painting scrolls. Lusheng dragged Tang Pengfei off to apologize to Jiang Ping, but Tang Kun blocked their way.

• Liu Haitang told Lusheng that Tang Pengfei had taken Jiang Ping’s painting scrolls and refused to return them, after Yang Hong and others targeted Jiang Ping’s Mystic Skill.
• Lusheng and Liu Haitang went to Tang Pengfei’s residence, where Lusheng injured Tang Pengfei’s companion and demanded to see him.
• Lusheng slapped Tang Pengfei, subdued him with his aura, and ordered Liu Haitang to retrieve the painting scrolls from the quiet room.
• After Tang Pengfei confirmed that no scrolls were missing, Lusheng demanded that he apologize to Jiang Ping and dragged him toward the door.
• Tang Kun arrived and tried to stop Lusheng, saying the matter should end after Tang Pengfei had been beaten and reprimanded.

Lusheng punished Tang Pengfei and Yang Hong for harming Jiang Ping, but Jiang Ping refused to join Lusheng's faction despite appreciating his support. Later, Jiang Ping broke through to the initial stage of the True Qi Realm.

• Lusheng argued with Tang Kun over Tang Pengfei's refusal to apologize, then left without taking Tang Pengfei away.
• Lusheng beat Yang Hong and forced him to surrender his Heavenly Fire Qi, warning him not to enter the Eighth Stage before Jiang Ping did.
• Lusheng urged Jiang Ping to join his faction and offered him protection, but Jiang Ping firmly declined while promising to repay his kindness.
• Jiang Ping cultivated the Yin Yang Sutra and broke through to the initial stage of the True Qi Realm.

At the Rebirth Banquet, Jiang Ping was brought to the main seat and warned that his place in the Martial Academy could depend on joining a faction. He spotted a slender figure in the corner, prompting Lusheng to remark that they were both outsiders rejected by the academy’s rival camps.

• Students from the Aristocratic Family Camp and the opposing faction gathered at the banquet as elders discussed the new students’ talent.
• Cui Xianer and Xue Feng arrived, while students learned that the sparring rewards were External Qi resources for cultivating the Fifth Grade Realm.
• Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan entered together, drawing attention and hostility from the Aristocratic Family Camp.
• Jiang Ping tried to sit alone in a distant corner, but Lusheng brought him to the main seat and introduced him to Liu Haitang, Xue Feng, and other seniors.
• Ma Ran warned Jiang Ping that he would struggle to obtain Celestial Resources without the faction’s support, and Tang Pengfei urged everyone to stop arguing.
• Jiang Ping noticed a slender figure sitting in the corner, and Lusheng said that they were both rejected by the rival camps.