Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Archbishop Robert”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia and Luo Quan investigate suspicious, unmarked trucks gathering at an abandoned residential complex. Chen recognizes the operation as belonging to the Night God Sect, an Evil Cult known for secretly killing people and using blood sacrifices.
• Luo Quan explains that the cult has captured twenty-three living hostages, who are intended as sacrifices for an Evil God summoning ritual.
• Chen learns about the cult’s leadership:
  • Harriman, the South Yu Province bishop
  • Charlie, the West Ping Province bishop
  • Robert, the archbishop overseeing the sect across four provinces
• The bishops are generally fifth-rank sorcerers and dual cultivators with powerful mental illusion abilities. Robert is a seventh-rank grand sorcerer, capable of killing Skyflight Realm experts and manipulating large groups through illusions.
• Robert’s power comes partly from the Blood God Statue, a mysterious relic that grants the sect’s upper echelon access to the Blood God’s strength and enhances their Evil Techniques.
• Chen decides to wait until all cult members have gathered before attacking, intending to capture everyone and rescue the hostages. He also hopes to obtain more powerful techniques from the sect.
• Heavy rain and the desolate surroundings conceal Chen’s aircraft, allowing the cult members to assemble undetected in the complex’s underground parking area.
• Inside a secret chamber, Robert arrives and is welcomed by Harriman and Charlie. The leaders discuss the site’s suitability: it is a Yin Sha location filled with Killing Intent, making it ideal for the ritual.
• The cult reveals its plan to summon not merely the Blood God’s avatar, as a previous summoner named Edel did, but a portion of the Blood God’s true body. They believe the resulting blood domain will destroy Chu River and empower the cult.
• Confident that no one can stop them, Robert orders the ritual to begin.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia remains cautious and strategic. Although eager to strike, he prioritizes capturing the entire group rather than acting prematurely. His confidence grows as he evaluates Robert’s strength and concludes that his own Skyflight Realm cultivation, Spiritual Power, and Earthcore Yang Fire are sufficient to resist the archbishop.
• Luo Quan functions as Chen’s intelligence source, providing detailed information about the cult’s hierarchy, abilities, hostages, and connection to the Blood God.
• Archbishop Robert is established as the chapter’s principal antagonist. He is arrogant, ruthless, and supremely confident in his strength, believing even a provincial governor would die confronting him.
• Harriman is aggressive and dismissive of the authorities, convinced that ordinary inspectors pose no threat.
• Charlie is more cautious than Harriman and worries that the inspection personnel may discover the ritual site, creating tension within the cult’s leadership.

Significant Themes

• Good versus Evil and restraint: Chen possesses knowledge of the same blood-based scripture as the Night God Sect but lacks its murderous impulses, contrasting disciplined cultivation with corrupt exploitation.
• Sacrifice and fanaticism: The cult treats human lives as expendable offerings and believes mass death will summon divine power.
• Arrogance before downfall: Robert and Harriman underestimate the authorities, setting up the possibility that their confidence will lead to their defeat.
• Hidden power and escalation: The Blood God Statue and the distinction between summoning an avatar and summoning the true body suggest that the cult’s ritual may unleash a much greater threat than previous incidents.
• Patience and strategy: Chen’s decision to wait for the entire sect to gather emphasizes the importance of timing over impulsive action.

Character Interactions

• Chen questions Luo Quan extensively, using his answers to assess the cult’s strength and determine how dangerous Robert will be.
• Luo Quan warns Chen about Robert’s illusion techniques and Blood God blessing, while Chen calmly concludes that he can withstand them.
• Harriman reassures Robert that the remote site is safe and mocks the inspectors’ courage.
• Charlie challenges Harriman’s complacency, warning that the site’s discovery could ruin their plans.
• Robert dismisses both the inspectors and any potential provincial response, asserting his dominance before commanding the ritual to commence.

Chapter Summary: You Will Be Cursed

Key Plot Points and Events

• At 12:40 p.m., Chen Xia launches a covert rescue operation to save hostages held by the Night God Sect.
• Special service officers arrive by aircraft and infiltrate the building while Chen Xia silently eliminates the outside guards.
• Using the Earthcore Flame, Chen Xia melts through the main entrance’s lock, allowing the officers to enter and advance through the basement and underground parking levels.
• The team encounters and neutralizes numerous Night God Sect lookouts using anesthetic needles and Chen Xia’s martial abilities.
• On the third underground level, they discover a hidden ritual chamber filled with blood, chanting, black cult banners, and a giant demon-like statue.
• More than twenty young girls are bound within a blood-based ritual array, their blood being used as sacrifices to summon or empower the Blood God.
• Chen Xia and the special service officers confront several dozen cultists, including Archbishop Robert and two bishops.
• The Night God Sect attacks using illusion techniques, blood mist, and a supernatural “Eye of the Evil God.” Many officers are incapacitated.
• Chen Xia destroys the eye with a fireball infused with the Earthcore Flame, dispelling the illusions and clearing the blood mist.
• He orders the surviving officers to evacuate while he remains behind to face the Night God Sect’s leaders alone.
• Robert recognizes Chen Xia as the man who previously disrupted the sect’s ritual in Yijiang. He threatens to kill him and offer his body and soul to the Blood God.
• Chen Xia openly challenges the Blood God and condemns the sect’s sacrifice ritual, provoking the cultists’ furious accusations that he will be cursed.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates decisive leadership, stealth, physical strength, and mastery of the Earthcore Flame. His willingness to remain behind alone shows both his confidence and his determination to protect the hostages and his team.
• Archbishop Robert is established as a powerful and fanatical leader. His command over blood mist, the skull staff, and advanced illusion techniques makes him Chen Xia’s primary enemy.
• Harriman recognizes Chen Xia from the previous incident in Yijiang, linking this confrontation to Chen Xia’s earlier opposition to the Night God Sect.
• The special service officers prove capable in infiltration and combat but are largely helpless against the sect’s supernatural illusions, emphasizing their dependence on Chen Xia.
• The Night God Sect members are portrayed as fanatical followers who react violently to any insult against the Blood God.

Significant Themes

• Courage and sacrifice: Chen Xia risks his life and separates himself from his forces so the officers can survive and the hostages can be protected.
• Good versus evil: The rescue mission directly opposes the sect’s ritual murder and supernatural worship.
• Faith versus defiance: The cultists believe the Blood God is invincible, while Chen Xia rejects their religious authority and refuses to be intimidated.
• Power and responsibility: Chen Xia’s supernatural abilities are used to protect innocent people rather than exploit or dominate them.
• Fanaticism and dehumanization: The sect treats the kidnapped girls as disposable ritual components, revealing the destructive consequences of blind devotion.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia commands the special service officers throughout the infiltration and later orders them to retreat for their own safety.
• The officers rely on Chen Xia to defeat the guards, break through obstacles, and neutralize the sect’s illusions.
• Robert orders the cultists to attack Chen Xia after identifying him as the one responsible for previous disruptions.
• Robert and Harriman discuss Chen Xia’s past interference with the sect, recognizing him as a serious threat.
• Chen Xia verbally confronts Robert and the Blood God, refusing to submit and directly challenging the cult’s beliefs.
• The chapter ends with the Night God Sect collectively condemning Chen Xia and declaring that he will be cursed, setting up the coming battle.

Chapter Summary: “Who Exactly Are You?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Charlie urges Archbishop Robert to kill Chen Xia, accusing him of repeatedly sabotaging the Night God Sect.
• Robert, Charlie, and Bishop Harriman combine their Blood Demon Illusion God techniques and launch a powerful spiritual and blood-based attack.
• Robert uses Blood Sacrifice, supported by the terrifying Eye of the Evil God, a technique capable of severely injuring or killing high-level cultivators.
• Chen Xia withstands the spiritual assault because of his own Spirit Techniques and counters with the Earthcore Flame.
• The flame’s pure yang energy completely suppresses the Night God Sect’s evil techniques. It burns away the blood mist, weakens the Blood Demon Illusion God, and destroys the Eye of the Evil God.
• Chen Xia then uses the Earthcore Flame to attack Charlie and Harriman, badly injuring both bishops and destroying their protective barriers.
• Robert attempts to resist, but Chen Xia effortlessly strikes him with a fireball. Robert is blasted into a stone wall, suffering a severe burn through his chest.
• After defeating the three Night God Sect leaders, Chen Xia orders the special agents to rescue and hospitalize the hostages and clean up the scene.
• Robert is left terrified and bewildered, questioning Chen Xia’s true identity and power.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates overwhelming superiority. His mastery of the Earthcore Flame makes him nearly immune to the Night God Sect’s signature spiritual and illusion techniques.
• Archbishop Robert shifts from arrogant confidence to shock and fear after his strongest attack fails and he is nearly killed.
• Charlie and Harriman begin as aggressive supporters of Robert but quickly realize they are helpless against Chen Xia. Their confidence collapses as they are repeatedly burned and injured.
• The special agents develop tremendous admiration for Chen Xia after witnessing him defeat three powerful Night God members while keeping the hostages unharmed.

Significant Themes

• Good versus evil: The Earthcore Flame, described as a pure yang force, naturally destroys the Night God Sect’s corrupt blood and evil qi.
• Power beyond appearances: Chen Xia’s calm confidence is justified by an immense strength that the Night God Sect greatly underestimated.
• The limits of specialized power: The sect relies heavily on spiritual illusions and demonic techniques, but these become useless against someone possessing the right counterforce.
• Mystery and identity: Robert’s final question—“Who exactly is he?”—emphasizes Chen Xia’s mysterious origins and the gap between his apparent identity and his actual abilities.
• Protection and responsibility: Despite his overwhelming power, Chen Xia prioritizes rescuing the innocent hostages and controlling the aftermath.

Character Interactions

• Charlie pressures Robert to execute Chen Xia, while Robert confidently promises to make Chen Xia a sacrifice to the Blood God.
• Robert commands the two bishops to contribute their blood and qi to strengthen the Eye of the Evil God.
• Charlie and Harriman encourage each other not to panic, but their resolve fades when Chen Xia begins defeating them effortlessly.
• Chen Xia dismisses Robert’s confidence, directly challenges the Blood Sacrifice technique, and proves the superiority of the Earthcore Flame.
• After the battle, Chen Xia gives orders to the agents and warns the surviving enemy forces not to resist, revealing that he intends to keep at least one of them alive for questioning or another purpose.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia confronts Robert, who reveals that summoning the Blood God was inevitable due to his presence.
• Robert activates a formation in his bone staff, sacrificing his body to summon the Blood God.
• The Blood God begins to manifest, causing the basement to shake and the air to grow heavy.

Character Developments

• Robert reveals his true power and immortality through his spirit, showing no fear of death.
• Chen Xia demonstrates his strength but struggles against the summoned Blood God's formation.

Significant Themes

• The power of belief and divine favor, as seen in Robert's immortality through the Blood God's blessing.
• The consequences of one's actions, with Robert's plan backfiring and leading to his demise.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Robert engage in a battle of wits and power, with Robert trying to provoke Chen Xia into attacking him.
• Chen Xia shows concern for the hostages, protecting them from harm during the battle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia summons the Blood God, a three-headed, six-armed entity of flowing blood, to confront the Night God Sect.
• The Blood God, despite being weakened by the dimensional barrier, is nearly immortal and cannot be destroyed by Chen Xia's attacks.
• Chen Xia orders his team to retreat, deciding to face the Blood God alone.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates his growth in power, reaching the Soaring Heaven realm and displaying multiplied bursts of strength.
• Robert, a former enemy, shows devotion to the Blood God and offers himself and the Chu River's inhabitants as sacrifices to please it.

Significant Themes

• The power of the Blood God and its immortality are emphasized, contrasting with Chen Xia's limited strength.
• The theme of sacrifice is highlighted through Robert's actions and the Blood God's demand for lives to manifest a more powerful form.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and the Blood God engage in a fierce battle, with Chen Xia attempting to destroy it and the Blood God taunting him.
• Robert worships the Blood God and rebukes Chen Xia for his insolence, showing his loyalty to the entity.
• Chen Xia's special task force members withdraw upon his command, showing their trust in his leadership.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia erupts with power using Explosive Qi Art, Blood Demon Illusion God, and Earthcore Flame, becoming incredibly strong and intimidating.
• Chen Xia collects negative energy from the fallen Night God Sect members, allowing him to maintain his Blood Demon Illusion God form indefinitely.
• The Blood God attacks Chen Xia with his Spirit Techniques, but Chen Xia defends and counterattacks, eventually defeating the Blood God's illusory body.
• Chen Xia repeatedly slaps the Blood God's faces, humiliating him and showing his disdain for the Blood God's threats.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates significant growth in power and confidence, able to face and defeat a powerful enemy like the Blood God.
• The Blood God, despite his strength, is humiliated and powerless against Chen Xia's onslaught, showing his vulnerability when not at full power.

Significant Themes

• The power of cultivation and the importance of continuous growth and improvement.
• The humiliation and consequences of underestimating one's opponent.
• The struggle between the Human Race and demonic forces.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and the Blood God: Chen Xia demonstrates his dominance and disrespect for the Blood God, while the Blood God is enraged and humiliated by Chen Xia's actions.
• Chen Xia and the other characters: Chen Xia's power and actions instill fear and shock in the other characters present, including the two bishops and Robert.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia brutally assaults the Blood God, slapping and severing its heads, enraging it.
• The Blood God attempts to reach Chen Xia through the teleportation array but is weakened and can only extend part of its body.
• Chen Xia collects 1,660 points of negative energy from the Blood God's blood.
• The Blood God retreats, vowing to find Chen Xia elsewhere, and Chen Xia threatens to report him to the Federation.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates immense power, shocking the Night God Sect members and even the Blood God.
• Robert, the Night God Sect's leader, is disheartened and disappointed after the Blood God's retreat, fleeing the scene.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: Chen Xia's display of power challenges the Night God Sect's belief in the Blood God's supremacy.
• Negative Energy: The Blood God's body contains a vast amount of negative energy, becoming a significant resource for Chen Xia.
• Interdimensional Conflict: The Blood God's inability to fully manifest in the human world highlights the limitations of interdimensional beings.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and the Blood God: Chen Xia provokes and wounds the Blood God, while the Blood God vows revenge.
• Chen Xia and Robert: Chen Xia threatens Robert, who then flees in disappointment.
• Chen Xia and the Night God Sect members (Harriman, Charlie): They are shocked and disbelieving of Chen Xia's actions against their revered Blood God.

Chapter Summary: “Bone Staff”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Robert, revealed to be the spirit of a seventh-rank grand sorcerer, attempts to escape after Chen Xia defeats the Night God Sect forces.
• Although Robert can pass through walls, Chen Xia pursues him by melting through the reinforced concrete with his Earthcore Flame. He captures Robert in a dome of fire and threatens to destroy his spirit completely.
• Chen Xia also stops two fleeing bishops with fireballs, taking all three prisoners for interrogation.
• Under pressure, Robert reveals the locations of the Night God Sect’s strongholds in Chu River. He and the bishops claim not to know the Blood God’s exact whereabouts or true form.
• They explain that the Blood God manifests in changing forms and is associated with a mysterious place called the Dark Sea, supposedly somewhere in North Han.
• Robert describes the Night God Sect’s powers, including several Evil Techniques, the Blood God’s dark energy infusion, and the “First Embrace,” which can grant physical members immortality by transforming them into Blood Slaves.
• Chen Xia becomes interested in the enormous amount of Negative Energy the Blood God might yield if defeated and vows to kill him someday.
• When Chen Xia asks about Robert’s unusual bone staff, Robert refuses to answer. Chen Xia intensifies the flames torturing him, prompting the bishop Harriman to offer the information instead.
• The chapter ends with Harriman preparing to explain the bone staff’s function while Robert desperately orders him to remain silent.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Demonstrates overwhelming power and greater control over his Earthcore Flame. He shifts from combat to strategic interrogation, extracting information about the Night God Sect and the Blood God. His interest in Negative Energy also reveals his increasingly ambitious outlook and long-term goal of hunting the Blood God.
• Robert: His confidence collapses once Chen Xia captures him. He is exposed as both ruthless and deeply insecure, valuing immortality and authority because they allowed him to escape an ordinary, powerless life. Even after accepting that he may die, he remains defiant when the bone staff is mentioned.
• Harriman: Initially one of the captured bishops, Harriman proves more willing than Robert to cooperate. Terrified by Robert’s suffering, he sacrifices the archbishop’s secrecy to save himself.
• The Blood God: Gains greater importance as a major future threat and source of power. His identity remains mysterious, but his influence over the Night God Sect and his ability to grant supernatural strength and immortality are clarified.

Significant Themes

• Power versus mediocrity: Robert views supernatural power and authority as proof that his life has meaning, even if it requires servitude to the Blood God.
• The cost of immortality: The chapter questions whether endless life has value when it is gained through corruption, dependence, and the continued harm of others.
• Control and coercion: Chen Xia’s interrogation contrasts with the Blood God’s manipulation of followers through promises of power and eternal life.
• Ambition and resourcefulness: Chen Xia sees the Blood God not only as an enemy but also as a vast source of Negative Energy, showing how practical ambition shapes his goals.
• Fear as a tool: Chen Xia’s flames and threats force the prisoners to reveal information, while the Blood God’s power makes followers willingly submit to him.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia pursues and captures Robert after Robert boasts that his spiritual form makes him impossible to kill.
• Robert argues that the Night God Sect gave him status, authority, and a life beyond ordinary limitations, challenging Chen Xia’s criticism of Blood Slaves.
• Chen Xia refuses to debate Robert’s worldview and instead focuses on extracting useful information.
• Robert’s refusal to explain the bone staff leads Chen Xia to torture him further, causing Harriman to intervene.
• Harriman agrees to reveal the staff’s secrets despite Robert’s furious attempt to stop him, creating a cliffhanger for the next chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia and Harriman discuss the Spirit-Calling Bone Staff's origin and power.
• Chen Xia takes control of the bone staff and tests its Illusion Technique, which shrouds a large area.
• Chen Xia discovers the sealed spirit of Walton within the bone staff and the side effects of using it.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates his ability to control powerful spiritual artifacts and his caution in handling dangerous items.
• Harriman shows his manipulative nature, trying to trick Chen Xia into releasing Walton's spirit.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of ancient artifacts.
• The consequences of greed and ambition, as seen in Walton's past and the fate of the bone staff's previous owners.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Harriman's tense negotiation, with Chen Xia maintaining the upper hand.
• Chen Xia's internal dialogue reveals his thought process and understanding of the bone staff's power and risks.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia gains control of the Spirit-Calling Bone Staff, erasing its corrosive patterns and restoring its function.
• He learns a chant for absorbing undead spirits and a Spirit Technique called Spirit Capture.
• Chen Xia absorbs the spirits of the three Night God Sect bishops (Harriman, Charlie, and Robert) into the bone staff, enhancing its power.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates his power and intelligence, outsmarting the Night God Sect bishops and absorbing their spirits.
• Robert, the last bishop, is devastated by Chen Xia's actions and is eventually absorbed as well.

Significant Themes

• The power of the Spirit-Calling Bone Staff and its potential for corruption.
• The ruthlessness and cunning of Chen Xia in dealing with his enemies.
• The theme of absorption and control, as Chen Xia absorbs the bishops' spirits to enhance his own power.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia interacts with the three Night God Sect bishops, ultimately absorbing their spirits into the bone staff.
• Robert expresses disbelief and anger at Chen Xia's actions, but is ultimately absorbed as well.

Summary of "Destroy Them All, Catch Them All"

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia learns and masters the Eye of the Evil God, a powerful Spirit Technique from the Night God Sect.
• He uses this technique to suppress and defeat the Night God Sect's archbishop and members in an abandoned building.
• Chen Xia and Jiang Xinglan subsequently launch a massive operation to wipe out and arrest Night God Sect members across Chu River, resulting in the capture of over 3,000 members and the rescue of hundreds of hostages.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates his growth and prowess by mastering a powerful Spirit Technique and leading a successful operation against the Night God Sect.
• Jiang Xinglan shows support for Chen Xia's actions and fully cooperates with him in the operation.

Significant Themes

• The power of Spirit Techniques and their potential for both harm and good.
• The importance of unity and cooperation in facing adversity, as seen in Chen Xia and Jiang Xinglan's joint effort against the Night God Sect.
• The consequences of unchecked ambition and evil actions, as exemplified by the Night God Sect members' fate.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Jiang Xinglan work together, with Jiang Xinglan supporting Chen Xia's actions and decisions.
• Chen Xia interacts with the captured Night God Sect members, using his techniques to extract information and enforce justice.
• The Night God Sect members, including Harriman, Charlie, and Robert, interact with Chen Xia, either in fear or cooperation, as they face the consequences of their actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Night God Sect's crimes are exposed, and Chen Xia's actions lead to its dismantling, earning him recognition from the higher-ups.
• Chen Xia continues to cultivate the Spirit-Calling Bone Staff and the Eye of the Evil God in secret.
• The S1 season enters the finals, with Chen Xia's next match taking place in a swamp setting against an anonymous, masked opponent named Li Feng.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: He continues to improve his skills, now able to use the Spirit-Calling Bone Staff and the Eye of the Evil God effectively. He also naturally comprehends Fire Force during his match against Li Feng.
• Li Feng: A lone cultivator with exceptional wind-attribute cultivation, he is a formidable opponent for Chen Xia but ultimately loses the match.

Significant Themes

• Power and Strength: Both Chen Xia and Li Feng exhibit immense power, showcasing their mastery of their respective cultivation methods and forces.
• Comprehension and Growth: Chen Xia's natural comprehension of Fire Force during his battle highlights his rapid growth as a martial artist.
• Competition and Rivalry: The finals bring together elite experts, fostering a competitive environment that pushes them to improve and test their limits.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia vs. Li Feng: Their intense battle showcases their skills and forces, with Chen Xia ultimately emerging victorious.
• Spectators: Various influential figures, including the Jiang Family, Xiang Family, Tang Family, and others, watch Chen Xia's match with keen interest.

Chapter Summary: “Betting on Zhang Shi to Win”

Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia defeats Li Feng in the competition. Li Feng admits defeat after realizing Chen Xia has already used two types of martial force, one of which Chen Xia only comprehended during the fight.
• Li Feng leaves rather than continue losing face, despite wanting the valuable Star Essence Marrow and Jade Nectar Liquid prizes.
• Chen Xia continues battling throughout the day, defeating numerous talented Skyflight Realm competitors, most of whom are from the Martial Hall headquarters.
• He improves his control over martial force through repeated combat, particularly mastering the fire force he recently developed.
• Chen Xia also defeats a rare Earth-element Sixth Rank Mage. Although the mage reaches the finals through powerful earth techniques, he is too slow to complete his ultimate attack before Chen Xia overwhelms him.
• After advancing through the final four, Chen Xia reaches the championship match.
• The other finalist is revealed to be Zhang Shi, a powerful dual cultivator from the Azure Dragon Martial Hall.
• Spectators begin reassessing the match. Although Chen Xia has dominated the tournament, many start betting on Zhang Shi because of his exceptional defensive, physical, spiritual, and magical abilities.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Grows more proficient with his martial force through continuous battles, especially his fire force. His victories establish him as one of the strongest competitors in the Flying Sky Group, though he remains modest and focused on refining his abilities.
• Li Feng: Accepts that Chen Xia is overwhelmingly stronger and withdraws to avoid further humiliation, showing that he values his reputation despite still desiring the tournament rewards.
• Qian Wenbin: Becomes increasingly bitter and resentful after watching Chen Xia reach the finals, believing the admiration and success should have belonged to him.
• Luo Ting: Her admiration shifts from Qian Wenbin to Chen Xia after repeatedly watching Chen Xia’s victories. She becomes an enthusiastic admirer and hopes to meet him.
• Zhang Shi: Is introduced as Chen Xia’s final opponent and a major rival. He is portrayed as confident, highly accomplished, and exceptionally versatile.

Significant Themes

• Strength and adaptation: Chen Xia’s power increases through actual combat, demonstrating the importance of practice and adaptability.
• Martial arts versus mage arts: The chapter contrasts the speed and bodily strength of martial artists with the greater preparation time and broader elemental displays of mages.
• Reputation and public perception: The crowd’s opinion shifts rapidly based on combat footage and betting odds, showing how success creates fame while a single perceived weakness can change expectations.
• Jealousy and admiration: Qian Wenbin’s resentment contrasts with Luo Ting’s enthusiastic admiration, illustrating the different reactions Chen Xia’s rise provokes.
• Risk and gambling: Spectators treat the final as a financial gamble, debating whether Chen Xia’s undefeated run can continue against Zhang Shi’s unique abilities.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia taunts—or unintentionally worsens—Li Feng’s frustration by casually revealing that he only recently comprehended his second force.
• Chen Xia overwhelms multiple opponents, including the Earth-element mage, reinforcing his superiority in direct combat.
• Luo Ting openly celebrates Chen Xia’s victories, while Qian Wenbin reacts with anger and jealousy upon seeing her change her allegiance.
• Spectators analyze Chen Xia and Zhang Shi’s strengths, ultimately betting against Chen Xia because Zhang Shi combines physical defense, spiritual power, Metal-element talent, and mage techniques.
• Zhang Shi’s recorded battles demonstrate his near-impenetrable Stone Shield, powerful body-refinement technique, mental interference, Metal-element spear attacks, and large-scale sandstorm abilities, setting up a highly anticipated final match.

Chapter Summary: “High Commissioner”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with the crowd eagerly anticipating the tournament’s final, recognizing that the outcome affects many factions and spectators.
• High Commissioner Zhang Gaodu watches from a private stand with several generals. They confidently expect his son, Zhang Shi, to win the championship.
• Zhang Shi is portrayed as a prodigy from a powerful and wealthy family. He has received elite instruction since childhood, possesses extraordinary martial talent, and has long dominated school competitions.
• The generals dismiss Chen Xia as a lesser opponent, despite acknowledging his mastery of the Earthcore Flame and his connection to Councilor Ouyang. They believe Zhang Shi’s superior foundation, resources, and defensive abilities will ensure victory.
• Zhang Gaodu privately looks forward to his son claiming the championship and using the reward to advance into the Golden Body realm.
• Chen Xia’s allies discuss the difficult final. Jiang Xinglan warns him to be careful, but Chen Xia responds confidently, believing that his mastery of numerous Spirit Techniques and cultivation methods makes him the strongest possible opponent within the Skyflight Realm.
• The final begins in a virtual arena modeled after a vast, ancient mountain range based on real Outer Domain materials. Millions of spectators, officials, martial artists, military leaders, and representatives of the four Martial Halls watch the match.
• Zhang Shi provokes Chen Xia, claiming that his defense is the strongest and that he can withstand Chen Xia’s flames.
• Zhang Shi attacks first by creating dozens of astral-energy swords. Chen Xia blocks them with a wall of fire and immediately advances instead of allowing the exchange to remain a test of strength.
• Chen Xia’s sword strike shatters Zhang Shi’s Stone Shield, but Zhang Shi remains unharmed, confirming the strength of his defenses.
• The two fighters engage in a fast, destructive battle across the forest, shifting between the air, treetops, and ground. Their fire and golden defensive energies clash evenly, thrilling the audience.
• The chapter ends as Zhang Shi launches a killing thrust with his spear, evades Chen Xia’s response, and then unleashes his full power by striking the ground.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Displays considerable confidence and maturity. His confidence is presented as rational rather than arrogant, based on his preparation, techniques, and peak Skyflight cultivation. He is no longer the relatively unremarkable figure remembered by Jiang Xinglan, having developed into a powerful and self-assured martial artist.
• Zhang Shi: Is established as an exceptionally gifted and privileged prodigy with vast experience, excellent instruction, and formidable defensive abilities. His confidence borders on arrogance, as he assumes Chen Xia cannot overcome him.
• Zhang Gaodu: Shows deep pride in his son and views Zhang Shi’s success as proof that his family lineage is growing stronger. His personal investment in the match reveals how closely his identity and ambitions are tied to his son’s achievements.
• Jiang Xinglan: Demonstrates concern for Chen Xia and admiration for his confidence. She recognizes how dramatically he has changed since their first meeting.
• Zhang Shi’s generals and supporters: Reflect the widespread expectation that Zhang Shi will win, emphasizing the pressure and reputation surrounding him.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus effort and development: Zhang Shi represents inherited privilege, early talent, elite resources, and a flawless reputation, while Chen Xia represents steady growth, accumulated strength, and breakthrough through dedication.
• Confidence grounded in ability: Chen Xia’s self-assurance contrasts with Zhang Shi’s presumptive certainty. The battle will test whether confidence based on preparation can defeat confidence based on status and past success.
• Family pride and legacy: Zhang Gaodu views Zhang Shi’s expected victory as a sign of his family’s future prosperity and greater political influence.
• Public expectation versus individual performance: Nearly everyone expects Zhang Shi to win, creating a contrast between reputation and what actually happens in the arena.
• Technological spectacle and reality: The virtual arena reproduces the Outer Domain with remarkable realism, demonstrating the Federation’s technological progress and turning the fight into a major public event.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Gaodu’s generals praise Zhang Shi and belittle Chen Xia, reinforcing the social and political gap between the two competitors.
• Jiang Xinglan privately warns Chen Xia, while Chen Xia reassures her with calm confidence. Her reaction reveals growing respect and admiration.
• Zhang Shi and Chen Xia exchange taunts before the battle. Zhang Shi claims his defense is unbeatable, while Chen Xia warns him not to speak too soon.
• Their first attacks immediately establish their opposing styles: Zhang Shi relies on astral weapons, shields, and overwhelming defense, while Chen Xia uses fire techniques, speed, and direct pressure.
• Their evenly matched opening clash overturns the assumption that Zhang Shi will win easily and establishes the final as a true contest between the strongest young Skyflight Realm fighters.

Chapter Summary: “Lost”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Shi launches a powerful attack against Chen Xia by summoning massive metal sword pillars from the ground, covering a hundred-meter area with his Earth Explosion Sky Pierce technique.
• Chen Xia avoids the initial strike and counters with a huge fireball, melting the metal spikes into molten iron.
• Zhang Shi then uses Sandstorm Sky Burial, surrounding Chen Xia with razor-sharp, metal-infused sand and crushing him beneath a massive mountain of earth and sand.
• Chen Xia unleashes the Earthcore Flame, creating a vast field of fire that destroys the sandstorm and blasts the mountain apart.
• Refusing to concede, Zhang Shi performs his true ultimate move, Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Abyss. He combines Spiritual Power, metal-element Primal Qi, sand, and his longsword into a thirteen-meter golden dragon while strengthening his body with the Indestructible Vajra Art.
• Chen Xia analyzes the technique and recognizes that it has two structures: one controlled by Spiritual Power and another formed from Primal Qi.
• Using his Spiritual Power and the Eye of the Evil God, Chen Xia disrupts and destroys the golden dragon’s Spiritual Power-based structure.
• He then attacks with the Fire Cloud Finger, concentrating wind and fire into an extremely hot white flame. With the dragon weakened, he pierces its head and strikes Zhang Shi directly.
• The attack shatters both the golden dragon and Zhang Shi’s supposedly indestructible defense, piercing through Zhang Shi’s chest and sending him crashing to the ground.
• Zhang Shi is left stunned and unable to accept that his ultimate technique and strongest defense have been defeated.

Character Development

• Chen Xia demonstrates exceptional speed, adaptability, and combat intelligence. Rather than merely overpowering Zhang Shi, he studies the structure of his opponent’s technique and identifies its weakness.
• His mastery of fire-based abilities develops further, particularly through his use of the Earthcore Flame and the highly concentrated Fire Cloud Finger.
• Chen Xia also shows growing control over Spiritual Power, using the Eye of the Evil God not simply as a visual technique but as a tool for disrupting an enemy’s internal energy structure.
• Zhang Shi displays immense destructive power and confidence in his defenses. However, his arrogance gradually turns into desperation as Chen Xia repeatedly breaks his strongest attacks.
• His belief that his defense makes him “undefeated” is ultimately disproven, leaving him shocked and psychologically defeated as well as physically injured.

Significant Themes

• Adaptability versus brute force: Zhang Shi relies on overwhelming attacks and formidable defense, while Chen Xia wins by analyzing and countering the underlying mechanics of each technique.
• The limits of confidence and defense: Zhang Shi’s certainty that no one can break his armor collapses when Chen Xia finds a precise way through it.
• Elemental and spiritual mastery: The battle emphasizes the interaction between fire, metal, Primal Qi, and Spiritual Power, showing that victory depends on understanding how different forces combine.
• Breaking through perceived limits: Chen Xia repeatedly survives attacks believed to be unavoidable, establishing him as a fighter capable of overcoming techniques considered nearly invincible.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Zhang Shi engage in a direct battle of escalating techniques, with Zhang Shi repeatedly taunting Chen Xia and insisting that his defense cannot be broken.
• Chen Xia responds to Zhang Shi’s confidence not with argument, but with increasingly precise counters, eventually declaring that Zhang Shi should “lie down.”
• The spectators and both martial halls react with shock and tension as Zhang Shi unveils his ultimate move. Zhang Shi’s father initially believes the battle is over in his son’s favor, but Chen Xia’s counterattack proves him wrong.
• The chapter ends with Zhang Shi looking up at Chen Xia in disbelief, forced to confront his defeat.

Chapter Summary: “The End”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia faces Zhang Shi in the final battle of the domestic Skyflight Group competition.
• Zhang Shi, a prodigy raised with elite resources and accustomed to victory, initially underestimates Chen Xia and believes first place is assured.
• Chen Xia defeats Zhang Shi by using the powerful Fire Cloud Finger, enhanced by his cultivation, the Explosive Qi Art, and the Earthcore Flame. He also dismantles Zhang Shi’s golden dragon construct through his sorcery-like abilities.
• Zhang Shi exhausts nearly 90% of his Primal Qi and finally admits defeat, questioning Chen Xia about his techniques.
• The virtual competition officially announces Chen Xia as the first-place winner of the domestic Skyflight Group in Season S1. He earns valuable rewards, including Star Essence Marrow and Jade Nectar Liquid.
• The victory shocks the audience, who had generally considered Zhang Shi the stronger contestant based on his previous performances and impressive attack range.
• Chen Xia’s victory brings honor and future resources to the Chu River Vermilion Bird Branch Hall.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Demonstrates that his true strength surpasses even highly cultivated elite heirs. He remains modest, claiming he did not expect to win first place, though his performance reveals considerable confidence and hidden power. The battle also teaches him that there are genuine experts even within the Skyflight Realm.
• Zhang Shi: Experiences the collapse of his lifelong belief in his own superiority. His defeat forces him to acknowledge Chen Xia’s overwhelming ability and recognize that martial techniques depend greatly on the practitioner’s personal cultivation.
• Qin Feng: Feels immense pride and relief as Chen Xia’s victory restores honor to the branch hall he leads. His long-standing sense of inferiority toward stronger branch halls begins to fade.
• Tang Mu: Though still somewhat resentful and impressed by Chen Xia, he accepts his father’s advice to learn from Chen Xia rather than remain discouraged by defeat.
• Xiang Zhong and the Xiang Family: Fully recognize Chen Xia as an exceptional young martial artist and celebrate his success.
• Qian Wenbin and Luo Ting: Qian is left without any desire to compete against Chen Xia, while Luo openly expresses intense admiration.
• Tang Xinrong: Moves from partial skepticism to complete acknowledgment of Chen Xia’s strength, admitting that even he could not have displayed such Martial Force at the peak of the Skyflight Realm.

Significant Themes

• The shattering of pride: Zhang Shi’s defeat destroys the worldview formed by a lifetime of effortless victories.
• Talent versus resources: Although Zhang Shi received the finest training, techniques, medicines, and nourishment, Chen Xia’s natural ability, cultivation, and special powers prove superior.
• Strength as a combination of abilities: Chen Xia’s victory reflects not only his cultivation but also his Explosive Qi Art, Earthcore Flame, and sorcery. Every available advantage contributes to his success.
• Recognition and honor: Chen Xia’s triumph elevates not only himself but also his martial hall, branch hall, and the people associated with him.
• Growth through defeat: Characters such as Zhang Shi and Tang Mu are encouraged to treat defeat as an opportunity for reflection and improvement rather than as an absolute failure.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Shi questions Chen Xia about the Fire Cloud Finger and his ability to disrupt the golden dragon’s mental structure. Chen Xia explains that martial skills vary in power according to the user’s cultivation and casually acknowledges that he may be a sorcerer.
• Tang Xinrong advises Tang Mu to learn from Chen Xia, using Zhang Shi’s defeat as proof of Chen Xia’s extraordinary level.
• Qin Feng praises Chen Xia and promises a celebration banquet, emphasizing how much the victory benefits the Chu River Branch Hall.
• Chen Xia responds modestly, insisting that he did not dare claim victory in advance, while Qin Feng suggests he had been confident all along.

Chapter Summary: “Matchmaking”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia defeats Zhang Shi in the martial arts competition, earning first place for the Vermilion Bird Martial Hall’s Chu River Branch.
• His victory brings the branch hall greater resources and improves the prospects of its members. The enormous audience celebrates or debates the result, especially those who lost money betting against him.
• Li Feng, previously defeated by Chen Xia, is inspired rather than resentful. Chen Xia’s strength motivates him to pursue a higher level of cultivation.
• Zhang Gaodu, Zhang Shi’s father and a powerful military governor, is disappointed by his son’s loss but quickly recognizes Chen Xia’s exceptional potential.
• Zhang Gaodu suspects Chen Xia used a technique resembling a Spirit Technique and is puzzled that someone from an ordinary background can cultivate multiple forms of power.
• Instead of investigating Chen Xia’s abilities, Zhang Gaodu decides to recruit him into the Zhang Family through marriage to his unmarried daughter, Zhang Cai.
• He sends the general Liu Yuan to present the proposal. Liu Yuan emphasizes the Zhang Family’s wealth, military authority, influence, and ability to nurture Chen Xia into a Grandmaster.
• Chen Xia is surprised to learn that Zhang Gaodu is a Martial Venerable on the same level as his own master, Ouyang Shuo, and that the proposed marriage would connect him to a highly prestigious family.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: His victory establishes him as a truly exceptional martial artist. He remains modest and relatively uninformed about politics and powerful families, having focused primarily on cultivation. The marriage proposal forces him to confront the value and influence of status, authority, and resources.
• Zhang Shi: Although he loses and causes the Zhang Family to lose face, his defeat indirectly highlights Chen Xia’s extraordinary talent and makes Chen Xia more attractive as a potential member of the family.
• Zhang Gaodu: He shifts rapidly from resentment over his son’s defeat to strategic admiration of Chen Xia. His priority is the Zhang Family’s long-term power, and he views marriage as a way to secure another genius for the family.
• Li Feng: His reaction shows personal growth. Instead of envying Chen Xia, he accepts that stronger people exist and develops a renewed ambition to improve himself.
• Liu Yuan: Acting as Zhang Gaodu’s intermediary, he confidently presents the proposal as an extraordinary opportunity and attempts to persuade Chen Xia through promises of status, resources, and advancement.

Significant Themes

• Strength attracts both respect and opportunity: Chen Xia’s victory earns not only admiration but also the attention of powerful political and martial families.
• Marriage as a political alliance: The Zhang Family treats marriage as a means of acquiring talent, strengthening influence, and preserving family prestige.
• Talent versus background: Chen Xia comes from an ordinary background, yet his abilities rival those cultivated through immense family wealth and resources.
• Ambition and self-improvement: Li Feng’s response illustrates how encountering someone stronger can inspire rather than discourage a martial artist.
• Power, status, and choice: Liu Yuan argues that wealth, military rank, and family connections can transform Chen Xia’s future, creating a conflict between personal desires and material advancement.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia’s victory contrasts with the Vermilion Bird Martial Hall’s celebration and the disappointment of Zhang Shi’s supporters.
• Li Feng observes Chen Xia from the crowd and turns his former defeat into motivation.
• Zhang Gaodu discusses Chen Xia’s potential with his subordinates and decides that Chen Xia would make a valuable son-in-law.
• Liu Yuan privately approaches Chen Xia and explains the Zhang Family’s proposal, emphasizing Zhang Gaodu’s Martial Venerable status and the family’s enormous influence.
• The chapter ends with Chen Xia processing the implications of being linked to a powerful family, while Liu Yuan continues to persuade him that joining the Zhang Family would be a life-changing opportunity.

Chapter Summary: “Direct Disciple”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia learns that the Zhang Family of the Capital is an extremely powerful martial lineage. Zhang Tianlin is a high-ranking warlord, and the family possesses enough influence and resources to help him rapidly reach the grandmaster realm.
• Liu Yuan offers Chen Xia a chance to marry into the Zhang Family by becoming Zhang Gaodu’s son-in-law. In exchange, a Martial Venerable would personally help Chen Xia open his Ren and Du channels, potentially allowing him to become a grandmaster before age thirty-three.
• Chen Xia firmly rejects the proposal. He refuses to abandon Jiang Xinglan and the Jiang Family, who have supported him for years, and values his current freedom more than status, wealth, or accelerated cultivation.
• Liu Yuan repeatedly tries to persuade him, warning that Chen Xia will regret refusing and fall behind other martial artists. Chen Xia remains unmoved, believing he can reach the grandmaster realm through his own ability.
• Qin Feng warns Chen Xia that Zhang Gaodu and Liu Yuan appear dissatisfied, and that offending the Zhang Family could be dangerous. However, he reassures Chen Xia that Ouyang Shuo’s position as a Federation councilor and Martial Venerable provides protection.
• Ouyang Shuo then arrives after hearing of Chen Xia’s championship victory. In front of the Martial Hall’s leadership and disciples, he offers to accept Chen Xia as his direct disciple.
• Chen Xia is pleased but cautiously asks what obligations or requirements come with becoming Ouyang Shuo’s disciple. Ouyang Shuo explains that Chen Xia has already met all the necessary requirements and only needs to decide whether he is willing.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Demonstrates loyalty, independence, and confidence in his own potential. He refuses to sacrifice love and personal freedom for social advancement, even when offered an almost guaranteed path to becoming a grandmaster. His decision also shows that he is no longer dependent on powerful families to determine his future.
• Liu Yuan: Reveals a strongly utilitarian worldview. He sees status, cultivation, and future opportunities as more important than romantic attachment or personal loyalty. His inability to understand Chen Xia’s refusal turns into anger and contempt.
• Qin Feng: Acts as a practical adviser, recognizing the threat posed by the Zhang Family while encouraging Chen Xia not to be afraid.
• Ouyang Shuo: Shows approval of Chen Xia’s achievements and elevates him from a registered disciple to a direct disciple, signaling strong recognition of his talent and potential.
• Jiang Xinglan: Although absent from the scene, she remains central to Chen Xia’s decision and represents the emotional bonds he refuses to abandon.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus ambition: Chen Xia chooses Jiang Xinglan and the Jiang Family over a faster route to power and prestige.
• Freedom versus dependence: He dislikes the restraints and obligations that may come from entering a wealthy martial household and prefers to remain independent.
• Self-confidence and personal cultivation: Chen Xia believes his own talent is sufficient to reach the grandmaster realm without relying on the Zhang Family’s resources.
• Social hierarchy and power: The chapter emphasizes the immense influence of ancient martial lineages, while also suggesting that personal strength and powerful mentors can challenge that hierarchy.
• Recognition of merit: Ouyang Shuo’s offer demonstrates that Chen Xia’s championship victory and natural ability have earned him respect independently of family background.

Character Interactions

• Liu Yuan pressures Chen Xia to abandon Jiang Xinglan and join the Zhang Family, but Chen Xia repeatedly and politely refuses.
• Their conversation exposes a clash between Liu Yuan’s belief in advancement through status and Chen Xia’s commitment to love, freedom, and self-reliance.
• Qin Feng discusses the possible consequences of Chen Xia’s refusal and reassures him that Ouyang Shuo can protect him.
• Ouyang Shuo publicly acknowledges Chen Xia’s potential and offers him a direct-disciple position, creating a powerful alternative to the Zhang Family’s proposal.

Chapter Summary: “Rewards, Advancement”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia agrees to become Ouyang Shuo’s fifth personal disciple, officially advancing from registered disciple after winning the national Flying Sky/Skyflight Realm championship.
• Ouyang Shuo announces that Chen Xia and Qin Shuhui will receive gifts at a future banquet in the Capital.
• He also promises to upgrade Chen Xia’s Vermilion Bird Martial Hall contract to S2 level after the Various Countries tournament, regardless of Chen Xia’s final ranking.
• Ouyang Shuo publicly warns the Zhang Family not to interfere with Chen Xia’s future or personal decisions, indirectly confronting Zhang Tianlin over the family’s earlier attempt to influence Chen Xia.
• Qin Shuhui congratulates Chen Xia. Their master-disciple relationship is revealed, and she is surprised by how quickly Chen Xia has risen from registered disciple to personal disciple.
• Chen Xia receives the national championship rewards: the Star Essence Marrow and Jade Nectar Liquid, two powerful medicines capable of helping fighters break through to or advance within the Golden Body realm.
• The Federation announces the upcoming Various Countries tournament, which will carry greater prestige, rewards, and national significance.
• Chen Xia resolves to compete for first place across the Federation, motivated by both national pride and the chance to accelerate his path toward the Grandmaster realm.
• After leaving the virtual competition, Chen Xia hosts a celebratory banquet with members of the Chu River/Vermilion Bird Martial Hall. The victory confirms the martial hall’s rise in status.
• The next morning, Chen Xia receives his physical rewards and begins cultivating with the Jade Nectar Liquid. After spending four days refining its medicinal power, he prepares to open the Star Essence Marrow.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Gains major recognition, becomes Ouyang Shuo’s legitimate personal disciple, and receives an S2 contract upgrade. His confidence and ambition grow as he sets his sights on becoming the Federation champion and reaching the Grandmaster realm.
• Ouyang Shuo: Demonstrates his high status, generosity, and protectiveness toward Chen Xia. He deliberately uses his authority to shield Chen Xia from the Zhang Family’s influence.
• Qin Shuhui: Is established as Chen Xia’s fellow personal disciple and reacts with surprise at his astonishingly rapid advancement.
• Zhang Tianlin and Liu Yuan: Are embarrassed after realizing that Chen Xia has far more valuable opportunities than the Zhang Family’s proposed connection. Zhang Tianlin becomes wary of Ouyang Shuo’s warning, while Liu Yuan recognizes that his earlier assumptions about Chen Xia were misguided.
• Chu Xingchen, Jiang Xinglan, Qin Feng, and the martial hall members: Celebrate Chen Xia’s success, which elevates the reputation and confidence of their entire martial hall.

Significant Themes

• Recognition earned through achievement: Chen Xia’s championship victory opens doors that status or persuasion alone could not.
• Mentorship and loyalty: Becoming a personal disciple represents a deeper, more legitimate bond than being merely a registered disciple.
• Independence and personal choice: Ouyang Shuo insists that Chen Xia’s life decisions belong to Chen Xia, rejecting the Zhang Family’s attempts to arrange his future.
• Rising power and ambition: Chen Xia’s success marks the beginning of a larger international challenge and accelerates his pursuit of the Grandmaster realm.
• Resources as a path to advancement: The rare medicines symbolize the enormous rewards available to the strongest fighters and become immediate tools for Chen Xia’s cultivation.
• Collective glory: Chen Xia’s victory benefits not only himself but also his martial hall and nation.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Ouyang Shuo formally establish their master-disciple relationship, with Chen Xia quickly adopting the title “Master.”
• Ouyang Shuo confronts the Zhang Family indirectly but unmistakably, warning them against troubling his new disciple.
• Qin Shuhui welcomes Chen Xia as her fellow disciple and reflects on the exceptional speed of his progress.
• Chen Xia celebrates with his martial hall companions, whose pride shows how closely his personal success is tied to the group’s rise.
• Chen Xia’s cultivation scene closes the chapter as he finishes absorbing the Jade Nectar Liquid and turns to the Star Essence Marrow, signaling his imminent breakthrough attempt.

Chapter Summary: A Martial Arena for Hundreds of Millions

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia drinks the Star Essence Marrow and undergoes an extremely painful transformation. Guided by his cultivation technique, he uses its power to break through toward the Golden Body realm.
• After fifteen days, his body is largely transformed, radiating golden light and possessing immense strength. However, he deliberately stops before fully condensing his Golden Body.
• Chen Xia learns that, under the Federation tournament’s rules, breaking through now would cause the virtual system to use his previous peak combat strength as his tournament projection. Since his current combat power is already sufficient to defeat many Skyflight Realm opponents, he decides to delay the breakthrough until after the competition.
• The Federation announces the tournament rewards. First place will receive a Soaring Dragon Pill, an extraordinarily rare and valuable medicine that can help a Golden Body practitioner open the Ren and Du Meridians.
• Qin Feng explains that a single Soaring Dragon Pill can save roughly two years of cultivation, making the reward crucial to Chen Xia’s future advancement.
• Chen Xia studies Martial Hall’s restricted information about Grandmasters. He learns that opening all fifty-two acupoints of the Ren and Du Meridians is the key to entering the Grandmaster realm and wielding the power of heaven and earth.
• Although talent, comprehension, external assistance, and medicinal pills all affect this breakthrough, even powerful Skyflight experts may remain stuck for decades. Chen Xia therefore resolves to prepare carefully and refuses to accept being trapped at the Skyflight level.
• Two days later, the S1 Federation Various Countries Grand Finals begin in a massive virtual Heavenly Palace arena capable of hosting hundreds of millions of spectators. The event is broadcast worldwide and attended by important officials, reporters, and the strongest contestants from every participating country.

Character Development

• Chen Xia demonstrates patience and strategic judgment by refusing to break through immediately, prioritizing the tournament championship and its rewards over short-term advancement.
• His ambition becomes clearer: he is not satisfied with reaching the Skyflight Realm and is determined to become a Martial Saint.
• He also becomes more aware of the obstacles ahead. The Grandmaster realm requires not just power, but comprehension, physical potential, persistence, and substantial resources.
• Qin Feng acts as an informed supporter and mentor, emphasizing the value of the Soaring Dragon Pill and encouraging Chen Xia to compete seriously.

Significant Themes

• Strategic patience versus rapid advancement: Chen Xia shows that cultivation is not merely about breaking through as quickly as possible; timing and circumstances matter.
• The importance of resources: Rare treasures, pills, and institutional support can dramatically shorten years or decades of cultivation.
• Ambition and perseverance: Chen Xia’s goal of becoming a Martial Saint drives him to prepare for challenges far beyond his current realm.
• The hierarchy of martial cultivation: The chapter establishes the vast gap between the Skyflight and Grandmaster realms, especially the ability of Grandmasters to draw upon the power of heaven and earth.
• Public spectacle and national prestige: The tournament is more than a contest between individuals; it represents the dignity and power of entire nations before a global audience.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Qin Feng discuss the tournament’s newly announced rewards. Qin Feng stresses the Soaring Dragon Pill’s rarity and importance, while Chen Xia calmly promises to try for first place.
• Chen Xia consults official Federation and Martial Hall information rather than relying solely on others, showing his increasingly independent and methodical approach.
• The chapter ends as the contestants and spectators gather in the enormous virtual arena, with public excitement surrounding prominent figures such as national leaders, university presidents, and the Federation Holy Lord Lei Qianren.