Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ping learned that Chen Qingyan had been mistreated by the Aristocratic Faction and invited her to join his camp, which she accepted. At the academy banquet, the rules changed to favor stronger students regardless of realm, and the chapter ended as Zhong Wuming challenged the Poor Family Faction’s Fifth Grade students.

• Lusheng told Jiang Ping that Wang Zhuo had harassed Chen Qingyan after she rejected him, and that she had faced targeting from the Aristocratic Faction.
• Lusheng invited Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan to join the Poor Family Faction, but Jiang Ping instead invited Chen Qingyan to his own camp, and she accepted.
• Headmaster Qin addressed the new students before Vice Headmaster Liu announced that sparring would determine an overall Top Ten without separating contestants by realm.
• Tang Kun explained to Lusheng that he had supported the rule change to temper Jiang Ping, while claiming he would ensure Jiang Ping suffered no accidents.
• Zhong Wuming took the arena and challenged the Poor Family Faction’s Fifth Grade cultivators, prompting Xue Feng to ask who would fight him.

Zhong Wuming and Wang Zhuo led the Aristocratic Family Camp against the Poor Family Faction in a series of True Qi Realm sparring matches, with technique and family resources determining the outcomes. After Wang Zhuo defeated several opponents and challenged Xue Feng, a female prodigy stepped in and was beaten by his formidable Wang Family swordsmanship.

• Zhong Wuming defeated a Poor Family genius, prompting Xue Feng to explain how technique mastery mattered when fighters had comparable True Qi.
• A burly Poor Family fighter narrowly defeated Zhong Wuming, then Wang Zhuo decisively beat and severely injured the burly man.
• Wang Zhuo challenged Xue Feng, but a female Poor Family prodigy took the stage in his place.
• Wang Zhuo overwhelmed the female prodigy with the Wang Family's powerful swordsmanship, and she conceded before he could seriously injure her.

Jiang Ping stepped forward to challenge Wang Zhuo after learning how Wang Zhuo had mistreated Chen Qingyan, while onlookers doubted he could compete with a Fifth Rank newcomer. Lusheng discovered that Jiang Ping had secretly reached Fifth Rank as Jiang Ping entered the arena.

• Wang Zhuo defeated his opponent and challenged the Humble Prodigy, but Xue Feng did not respond.
• Jiang Ping offered to avenge Chen Qingyan and rose to challenge Wang Zhuo for the chance to earn resources.
• The newcomers and senior students speculated about Jiang Ping’s abilities and motives, while Wang Jiasheng dismissed him and regretted not killing him earlier.
• Lusheng tried to stop Jiang Ping, then sensed his True Qi and realized Jiang Ping had reached Fifth Rank.
• Jiang Ping reassured Lusheng and stepped onto the arena to face Wang Zhuo.

Jiang Ping revealed that he had reached the Fifth Grade Realm and brutally overwhelmed Wang Zhuo in the arena. The Giant Palace learned that Jiang Ping was a Martial Bone Talent, while Wang Jiasheng watched in fury and alarm.

• Lusheng told Vice Headmaster Liu that the academy's own actions had pushed Jiang Ping into taking risks.
• Wang Zhuo attacked Jiang Ping, intending to test his strength, but realized too late that Jiang Ping was also in the Fifth Grade Realm.
• Jiang Ping struck Wang Zhuo with the Thunderclap Body Tempering Technique and Withering Saber Intent, then continued beating him as Wang Zhuo tried to concede.
• An attacker tried to break through the arena's protective barrier, but Jiang Ping ignored the warning and kept attacking Wang Zhuo.
• Wang Jiasheng threatened Jiang Ping, while onlookers recognized him as a Martial Bone Talent and Chen An found Wei Rou unconscious.

Jiang Ping crippled Wang Zhuo and faced Cui Xianer in a martial contest before the new students. Their exchange revealed Jiang Ping’s extraordinary mastery of his Blade Art, leaving Cui Xianer stunned by how quickly he had cultivated it.

• Vice Headmaster Liu expelled Tang Pengfei from the Martial Academy and warned Tang Kun against using academy resources to support him.
• Jiang Ping defeated and crippled Wang Zhuo, while Vice Dean Cui revealed that Headmaster Qin had allowed the punishment to proceed.
• Cui Xianer and Xue Feng volunteered to challenge Jiang Ping, but Xue Feng yielded to her before the fight began.
• Cui Xianer and Jiang Ping exchanged saber strikes, then she revealed her swordsmanship and Mystic Skill mastery.
• Jiang Ping revealed he had mastered the three-part principle of his Blade Art months earlier and had practiced it for only two years, astonishing Cui Xianer.

Jiang Ping used his recovery Innate Bone Technique to outlast Cui Xianer, who called their spar a draw, and he earned the Martial Academy’s resource reward. Headmaster Qin later warned Jiang Ping that although the National Academy might suit his talents, its best resources had already been claimed.

• Cui Xianer’s swordsmanship pushed Jiang Ping into a war of attrition, and he revealed that his Innate Bone Technique restored much of his combat strength.
• Cui Xianer replenished her True Qi with a recovery Secret Technique, then ended the spar to avoid its side effects, and Vice Headmaster Cui called the match a draw.
• Jiang Ping challenged the new students, defended the arena, and received the Martial Academy’s resource reward before Headmaster Qin took him away.
• Wang Jiasheng and other disciples discussed the danger Jiang Ping posed to the Wang family and the possibility that people might want to study his rare Bone Technique.
• Headmaster Qin told Jiang Ping that the National Academy could be a good choice but that its best resources had already been claimed.

Headmaster Qin explained that Jiang Ping needed rare Supreme External Qi to build the foundation for becoming a Martial Saint, and Jiang Ping considered seeking backing from powerful families. After a Black River Li Family senior offered one kind of qi in exchange for future protection, a visitor from Yunze Province arrived with another contract.

• Headmaster Qin told Jiang Ping about the three stages beyond Ninth Stage and the Six Supreme Qi needed to forge a Martial Saint foundation, describing the academy's resources and the dangers of obtaining others.
• Jiang Ping returned to his courtyard, formed a Third Little Person in his Sea of Consciousness, and began comprehending arts and techniques with three shares of sweat.
• Senior Brother Li offered Jiang Ping one of the Six Supreme Qi in exchange for protecting the Li Family from future threats he could handle, and Jiang Ping agreed.
• Jiang Ping learned that the Cui Family would focus its resources on Cui Xianer, while no other aristocratic families visited over the next two days.
• An old man surnamed Lu from Yunze Province visited Jiang Ping on the third day and presented him with a contract.

Jiang Ping rejected the Lu Family, the Royal Family, and other Imperial City families because their offers demanded his Recovery Technique and a binding oath without providing all six types of qi. When Zheng Yaochen used his Momentum against Jiang Ping and Lusheng, a powerful old man arrived, forced Zheng to yield, and ordered everyone but the two youngsters to leave.

• Lu Hai offered Jiang Ping a harsh contract requiring him to serve the Lu Family and surrender his complete Recovery Technique, but Jiang Ping refused despite Lu Hai's threats.
• Chen Qingyan told Jiang Ping she had overheard Lu Hai's visit and that Lu Hai had asked her name.
• Headmaster Qin relayed the Royal Family's offer of two types of qi and two promises in exchange for the Recovery Technique, and Jiang Ping declined it.
• Imperial City families visited Jiang Ping with offers that demanded the Recovery Technique, while Jiang Ping insisted he would not enter the Golden Core realm without all six qi.
• Zheng Yaochen suppressed Lusheng with his Momentum and warned Jiang Ping to think carefully, but an old man shattered Zheng's teacup, threatened his Golden Core, and made him fetch a chair.
• The old man ordered everyone except Jiang Ping and Lusheng to leave.

Jiang Ping received rare Supreme Qi and the backing of Xie Wuji, who asked him to protect Jiang Saint’s descendants if needed. With two years before the Black River Danger Zone opened, Jiang Ping resolved to cultivate quickly and challenge the Chenfeng Ranking’s Number One.

• Xie Wuji gave Jiang Ping three kinds of Supreme Qi and asked him to protect Jiang Saint’s bloodline if Jiang Saint fell.
• Murong Shu brought two more kinds of Supreme Qi and offered them without a contract, leaving only one kind to obtain.
• Jiang Ping chose to seek the last kind in the Black River Danger Zone, and Xie Wuji agreed to stay and support him.
• Xie Wuji threw Lu Hai out after Lu Hai’s descendants threatened Jiang Ping, then urged Jiang Ping to strike back when he could and seek help when he could not.
• Murong Shu left the Martial Academy, and Jiang Ping set his sights on defeating the Chenfeng Ranking’s Number One within two years.

Jiang Ping learned that Rank Three had fled, secured the Li Family’s support for the coming Dangerous Land contest, and completed Internal Refinement, reaching True Qi Third Stage. Xie Wuji explained how External Qi helped develop the Inner Heaven and Earth, while threats from Wang Jiasheng and powerful outsiders still loomed.

• Chen An told Jiang Ping that Rank Three had fled Yang City after Jiang Ping revealed his talent, cutting off contact with his family.
• Wang Jiasheng discussed targeting Jiang Ping in the Dangerous Land, but the Martial Academy’s Number One revealed that the Li Family had promised Jiang Ping Supreme Qi in exchange for a favor.
• Wang Jiasheng warned that National Academy experts, including a True Qi Eleventh Stage expert, and a hostile Prodigy from a Glorious Family might threaten Jiang Ping.
• Jiang Ping traveled around the Provincial City with Chen Qingyan, then began cultivating the Wind and Rain Qi and discovered Cold and Heat Qi within his Martial Dao Furnace.
• Xie Wuji explained that the mid-to-late True Qi stages used External Qi to develop the Inner Heaven and Earth, as inner and outer worlds converged.
• After a month of Internal Refinement, Jiang Ping reached True Qi Third Stage and demonstrated his strength by shattering a thousand-pound boulder.

Jiang Ping began External Gathering with Essence of Earthly Fire after learning about the legendary Number One Under Heaven and deciding to surpass his sword qi record. As he trained alongside Chen Qingyan, he suspected his neighbor was the Saint of Water, but Chen Qingyan stopped him before he could say it aloud.

• Jiang Ping copied down the Yellow Springs Saber, Split Earth Palm, and Heavenly Might Technique, then learned from Master Xie about the Number One Under Heaven and the ancient pact protecting Great Li.
• Jiang Ping declared that he would break the Number One Under Heaven’s sword qi record.
• After half a month of practice, Jiang Ping reached the Three-Point Concept Realm in Li Fire Sword and began Gathering Qi with Essence of Earthly Fire.
• Jiang Ping drew the Fire Essence into his Martial Dao Furnace for nearly two hours, expanding his Inner Heaven and Earth before stopping when his body reached its limit.
• Jiang Ping trained each day and watched Chen Qingyan advance rapidly with the Yellow Springs Saber.
• Jiang Ping began to ask whether Chen Qingyan was the Saint of Water, but Chen Qingyan covered his mouth and stopped him.

Chen Qingyan revealed why she had hidden her flawed Sacred Physique, while Jiang Ping continued strengthening his Inner Heaven and Earth by gathering different types of External Qi. The chapter ended with Chen Qingyan asking Jiang Ping to accompany her to the Back Mountain because she needed more External Qi.

• Chen Qingyan told Jiang Ping that her physique had once caused a life-threatening backlash and that she had concealed it because its bloodline could be inherited by her children.
• Jiang Ping advanced his cultivation by gathering Earth Fire Essence, then Earth Wind Essence and water-type essence qi, while his martial arts continued to improve.
• Chen Qingyan and Jiang Ping continued spending time together, discussing martial arts and studying the Heavenly Might Painting Scroll.
• Chen Qingyan asked Jiang Ping to go with her to the Back Mountain and explained that she did not have enough External Qi.

Jiang Ping accompanied Chen Qingyan to the Back Mountain, where the Aristocratic Family Camp controlled most of the Cold Pools. After Wang Jiasheng’s younger brother targeted Cao Qingzhi and then tried to stop Jiang Ping from gathering essence, Jiang Ping attacked and revealed overwhelming artistic conception.

• Chen Qingyan told Jiang Ping that her flawed physique required her to gather more essence, and she had reached the Fifth Stage, nearly the Sixth.
• At the largest Cold Pool, Wang Jiasheng’s younger brother punished Cao Qingzhi for questioning the rule that left one of nine new students without a turn.
• Jiang Ping met Cao Qingzhi and offered to gather Profound Water Essence for him in repayment for his earlier warning.
• Wang Jiasheng’s younger brother blocked Jiang Ping and claimed his gathering would deprive the other students of resources.
• Jiang Ping launched an attack, shattered Wang Jiasheng’s younger brother’s saber, and left Cao Qingzhi stunned by his hidden strength.

Jiang Ping revealed that he had reached True Qi Sixth Stage and overwhelmed Wang Zhuo's Brother after the latter blocked Cao Qingzhi's path. The Martial Academy was shaken by Jiang Ping's progress, while Xie Wuji advised him to balance his cultivation goals against the time remaining before the Dangerous Land opened.

• Jiang Ping displayed a forty-percent Yellow Springs Saber Concept Realm and revealed his True Qi Fifth Stage cultivation while fighting Wang Zhuo's Brother.
• Although Wang Zhuo's Brother conceded, Jiang Ping beat him, warned him not to trouble Cao Qingzhi or anyone surnamed Wang again, and then stopped short of killing him.
• News of Jiang Ping's strength spread through the Martial Academy, and Wang Jiasheng learned that the badly injured opponent was his own clan member, Wang Zhuo's Brother.
• Xie Wuji tested Jiang Ping's cultivation, and Jiang Ping confirmed that he had secretly reached True Qi Sixth Stage.
• Xie Wuji warned that pursuing the Concept Realm's limit could delay Jiang Ping's progress before the Dangerous Land opened, but let him decide how to proceed.

Jiang Ping advanced rapidly in his Mystic Skills and True Qi after Xie Wuji warned him that Number One Under Heaven would kill anyone who used the Heavenly Might Technique to become a Saint. Having reached the Eighth Stage True Qi, Jiang Ping took Chen Qingyan on an earthshaking date amid a thunderstorm.

• Xie Wuji learned that Jiang Ping had replicated both the Liaoyuan Fist and Azure Water Swordplay into the Concept Realm, and warned him not to use the Heavenly Might Technique to temper a Saint Body.
• Jiang Ping returned to cultivation, practicing the Mystic Skills and spending time with Chen Qingyan as their relationship progressed.
• Jiang Ping gathered Heavenly Water Essence and reached the Seventh Stage True Qi, then used Heavenly Fire Essence to advance to the Eighth Stage.
• Jiang Ping told Chen Qingyan he would take her on an earthshaking date and brought her to watch lightning and thunder devastate the mountains.

Jiang Ping advanced his Heavenly Might Technique by cultivating amid spring thunderstorms, then spent more than a year growing closer to Chen Qingyan. As the Dangerous Land opened and rivals gathered to compete for Supreme External Qi, Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan set out with Master Xie, with Jiang Ping proposing they marry after the expedition.

• Jiang Ping revealed to Chen Qingyan that he had already surpassed the record for Sword Qi and intended to keep cultivating the Heavenly Might Technique.
• Jiang Ping used the painting scroll’s concept realm to cultivate through storms, eventually producing lightning that Chen Qingyan judged more realistic and powerful than the scroll’s heavenly might.
• Over the following months, Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan’s relationship deepened, and Jiang Ping learned that her uncle already knew about them.
• More than a year later, the Dangerous Land opened, drawing students and teachers from across the Black River Three Provinces to seek Supreme External Qi and other resources.
• Lusheng and Li You sought help from academy students and aristocratic martial artists to find Supreme External Qi for Jiang Ping, while other experts prepared to compete or obstruct him.
• Jiang Ping asked Chen Qingyan to marry him after their expedition, and Master Xie carried the three of them toward the Dangerous Land on rising flames.

Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan explored the city near Dangerous Land before attending a resource exchange gathering, where Jiang Ping negotiated with Gu Ling for several incomplete Invincible Techniques. He promised to obtain the Celestial Resources she requested after entering Dangerous Land.

• Xie Wuji brought Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan to the city near Dangerous Land and advised Jiang Ping to seek a suitable Mystic Skill at the upcoming gathering.
• Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan met Senior Brother Lusheng and Senior Sister Liu Haitang, who told them that a gathering for exchanging resources would begin soon.
• Jiang Ping bought Chen Qingyan jade jewelry, shared local barbecue with him, and then followed the crowd to the manor hosting the exchange.
• At the manor, Jiang Ping asked about several powerful Mystic Skills, including the Extreme Cold Spear, Changshi Fist, Years Sword, and Void Palm.
• Gu Ling revealed that she possessed an Ancient Tome containing incomplete Invincible Techniques and asked for three kinds of Celestial Resources in exchange, with any improvements to the techniques shared.
• Jiang Ping agreed to bring the resources after leaving Dangerous Land, surprising Gu Ling, who asked him for his name.

Jiang Ping sought Heavenly Thunder Qi in the Dangerous Land to trade for powerful techniques, while rival prodigies also pursued the same prize. Gu Ling later told Jiang Ping that his brother had promised the Void Palm to others, leaving Jiang Ping to turn toward Young Master Shangguan’s Changshi Fist.

• The Guo Prodigy traded one slot for the Extreme Cold Spear and reserved another for Jiang Ping in exchange for Heavenly Thunder Qi, then added a third slot when Xu Wei also sought the technique.
• Xu Wei’s companion challenged Jiang Ping to compete in the Dangerous Land, and Chen Qingyan agreed to secure Thunder Qi before helping Jiang Ping seek Supreme External Qi.
• Young Master Shangguan offered the Changshi Fist for three types of Celestial Phenomenon Qi, including Thunder Qi, and threatened a cultivator who criticized the technique’s flaws.
• Jiang Ping declined to pursue the Changshi Fist at first because he had agreed to trade for the Void Palm and feared he might not gather enough resources to honor another deal.
• Gu Ling told Jiang Ping that his brother had promised the Void Palm to Xiao Yucheng and a Complete Saint Body, then offered Heavenly Fire essence as compensation.
• Jiang Ping refused the compensation and turned toward Young Master Shangguan.

Jiang Ping obtained the Shangguan clan’s Changshi Fist after Shangguan Hong agreed to give it to him because of his Martial Bone Talent. He then searched for other Mystic Skills to study and discussed a powerful Blade Art that Xiao Yucheng was also practicing.

• Zheng Yao asked Shangguan Hong to let him study the Changshi Fist, but Shangguan Hong demanded three types of Heavenly Qi in exchange.
• Jiang Ping asked to study the Changshi Fist for free, and Shangguan Hong handed him the classic book because Jiang Ping had Martial Bone Talent.
• Jiang Ping offered to give Shangguan Hong any additional Celestial Phenomenon Qi he found in the Dangerous Land.
• Jiang Ping contacted other martial artists offering Mystic Skills for trade but found none that impressed him.
• Chen Qingyan reminded Jiang Ping that Xie Wuji had prepared a powerful Blade Art for him, and Jiang Ping noted that Xiao Yucheng was practicing it too.

Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan prepared to enter the Dangerous Land, where powerful young cultivators gathered to compete for rare resources. As the groups set out separately, Wang Jiasheng’s companion secretly planned to kill Chen Qingyan and use her death to shock Jiang Ping.

• Jiang Ping spent two days exploring the city with Chen Qingyan while comprehending the Changshi Fist, then arranged for her to practice it too.
• Master Xie announced that the group would depart the next day, and he lamented that the Changshi Fist was too incomplete to extend his life.
• Jiang Ping saw Lu Chenfeng, Xu Wei, Zheng Yao, and other formidable cultivators arrive at the Dangerous Land, while Tang Kun’s group planned to seek Lightning and Thunder Essence.
• Lusheng, Liu Haitang, and a Senior Sister joined Jiang Ping’s group, while Cui Xianer regretted that she was not strong enough to contribute more.
• Jiang Ping and Chen Qingyan separated to search independently, and Wang Jiasheng’s companion resolved to kill Chen Qingyan first.