Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Victory!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Yu, a Grandmaster’s disciple and the favored candidate for the Youth Martial Tournament, becomes increasingly anxious after realizing he may lose to Li Yuan, a middle school teacher.
• Fearing humiliation and the loss of his senior brother Jin Fan’s tournament qualification, Gu Yu stops holding back and unleashes his full strength.
• Gu Yu initially turns the match around, using superior Movement Arts to suppress Li Yuan and regain the advantage.
• Despite the pressure, Li Yuan withstands Gu Yu’s assault with the Cloud Extreme Fist’s Three Forms: Flowing Cloud, Cloud Gathering, and Scattering Cloud.
• Li Yuan’s exceptional technique mastery, physical foundation, and talents allow him to reveal the Cloud Extreme Fist’s full potential. His unpredictable changes gradually overwhelm Gu Yu.
• Gu Yu realizes he may lose, but before he can recover, Li Yuan’s final punch stops directly before his eyes, decisively ending the match.
• The spectators and school leaders are stunned. Li Yuan is declared the winner, securing the Youth Martial Tournament qualification that had previously been given to Jin Fan.
• Li Yuan immediately demands that the school submit the proper participant list. Principal Yin reluctantly agrees, though he tries to warn Li Yuan about the tournament and the implications of taking the qualification from Jin Fan.
• Li Yuan rejects any suggestion that he should give up the opportunity, openly criticizing the school’s attempt to favor Jin Fan because of his status and Grandmaster connections.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates that his strength is far beyond what others expected. He moves from being an underestimated teacher to decisively defeating a highly regarded martial artist. His victory also reveals his determination to protect his opportunities rather than rely on vague promises of fairness or “the bigger picture.”
• Gu Yu: Begins confident in his superiority but becomes increasingly desperate and humiliated as Li Yuan’s technique exposes his weaknesses. Though he considers making excuses, he ultimately has no choice but to accept the defeat.
• Chen Yong: Becomes deeply worried as Gu Yu regains the advantage, but his anxiety turns into amazement and hope when Li Yuan endures the assault and wins. He now recognizes that Li Yuan may genuinely belong in the Youth Martial Tournament.
• Principal Yin and the school leadership: Their confidence collapses as Li Yuan overturns the result they intended to use to justify their earlier decision. Principal Yin is forced to honor his promise despite his resentment.
• Jin Fan: Does not appear directly, but his influence remains central. The match determines whether he keeps the tournament qualification, and Li Yuan’s victory threatens the privilege he received through his status and connections.

Significant Themes

• Merit versus favoritism: Li Yuan’s victory exposes the school’s decision to favor Jin Fan for reasons beyond pure ability.
• Standing up for one’s rights: Li Yuan refuses to surrender an opportunity that was taken from him and insists on receiving what he earned.
• Pride and humiliation: Gu Yu’s identity as a Grandmaster’s disciple makes defeat especially painful, while Li Yuan’s victory overturns everyone’s assumptions about their relative status.
• Hidden strength and underestimated ability: Li Yuan’s true mastery of the Cloud Extreme Fist is only fully revealed under pressure.
• Promises and accountability: Principal Yin and Gu Yu are forced to honor their earlier assurances that the match’s result would be accepted without dispute.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Yuan vs. Gu Yu: Their battle shifts from Gu Yu’s expected domination to Li Yuan’s complete technical victory. Li Yuan’s adaptable Cloud Extreme Fist ultimately defeats Gu Yu’s Movement Arts.
• Li Yuan vs. Principal Yin: Li Yuan confronts the principal publicly and demands the tournament qualification, while Yin tries unsuccessfully to persuade him to reconsider.
• Chen Yong and Li Yuan: Chen Yong silently supports Li Yuan during the match and becomes convinced that Li Yuan has earned the right to compete.
• Li Yuan and the school leadership: Li Yuan’s blunt remarks force the leaders to acknowledge that their decision was motivated by favoritism and political considerations rather than fairness.

Chapter Summary: “Sweet or Salty?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan confronts Yin Yi after defeating Gu Yu, accusing him of taking training opportunities that should have gone to him.
• He calmly points out that his victory proves he had the ability to seize those opportunities, undermining Yin Yi’s past justification for receiving them.
• Yin Yi is left speechless, while the school leadership’s credibility suffers because their claims that Li Yuan lacked talent are no longer believable.
• Principal Yin avoids Li Yuan, but Director Ma submits Li Yuan’s recommendation for the Youth Martial Tournament under pressure.
• Li Yuan personally verifies the registration and spends his credits to officially obtain the qualification.
• He celebrates with his friend Chen Yong, who warns that the tournament’s citywide ranking may give the school leaders another opportunity to blame Li Yuan if Lingshan City performs poorly.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Becomes more assertive and determined to claim what is rightfully his. He recognizes that his former willingness to yield opportunities allowed others to exploit him. Although obtaining the qualification brings less joy than expected because of how late it came in his life, he resolves to fight for his opportunities from now on.
• Yin Yi: His confidence and self-image are shattered. He had believed himself to be one of the school’s most talented teachers and considered the training opportunities naturally deserved, but Li Yuan’s victory exposes his inferiority and the questionable basis of his past advantages.
• Principal Yin and the school leaders: Their authority and credibility are damaged. Their former excuse that Li Yuan lacked sufficient ability is no longer convincing, and they retreat rather than face him.
• Chen Yong: Remains a loyal supporter of Li Yuan and is delighted by his success. He also offers a realistic warning about the political consequences of the upcoming tournament.

Significant Themes

• Justice and reclaiming what was stolen: Li Yuan stops passively accepting unfair treatment and insists on receiving opportunities he earned.
• Merit versus favoritism: The chapter exposes how school connections and institutional favoritism allowed Yin Yi to benefit at Li Yuan’s expense.
• Late achievement and regret: Li Yuan’s qualification comes at thirty, much later than it does for most competitors, leaving him with mixed feelings rather than simple triumph.
• Determination and responsibility: Even after winning the qualification, Li Yuan understands that success in the tournament will determine whether his enemies can continue attacking him.
• Public victory as truth: His defeat of Gu Yu reveals the truth about his ability more effectively than any argument could.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Yin Yi have a tense but controlled confrontation, with Li Yuan questioning Yin Yi directly and forcing him into silence.
• Li Yuan pressures Director Ma to complete the recommendation process and personally confirms that the registration is successful.
• He celebrates with Chen Yong over food and drinks. Their conversation shifts from mocking the embarrassed school leaders to seriously discussing the risks of the Youth Martial Tournament.
• Chen Yong reassures Li Yuan that his current strength is sufficient to compete, while Li Yuan accepts the challenge and remains confident in his path forward.

Chapter Summary: “After the Match, Reactions from All Sides”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Despite qualifying for the Youth Martial Tournament, Li Yuan does not relax. With over twenty days remaining before the tournament, he continues body tempering and prepares to break through to Fifth Grade.
• He also begins looking for cultivation techniques better suited to his abilities, while balancing his limited free time with his teaching duties.
• On Monday, Li Yuan arrives at school early and behaves normally, giving Principal Yin and Director Ma no opportunity to criticize or punish him after his victory.
• The school leadership is disappointed that Li Yuan has not become arrogant or careless after winning the match.
• Teachers who had previously remained neutral now openly show him goodwill and respect. Li Yuan responds modestly and courteously.
• Yin Yi takes leave from work because of his humiliation. Before the match, he had confidently claimed that Gu Yu was far superior to Li Yuan, but Gu Yu’s defeat made Yin Yi lose considerable face.
• Li Yuan continues teaching seriously. His work is valuable not only as employment but also because his lessons generate Light Points and Experience Points, which help him develop his Talents.
• In Class Nine, students greet Li Yuan with unusual respect and pay close attention during his lessons. His victory has greatly increased his reputation among the students.
• Rumors and criticisms circulate after the match, particularly that Li Yuan had nine more years of cultivation than Gu Yu and that both fighters’ realms had been suppressed to Fourth Grade. Nevertheless, no one can deny that Li Yuan won decisively, with his Cloud Extreme Fist overwhelming Gu Yu’s defense.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates discipline, humility, professionalism, and strategic awareness. He remains focused on cultivation and the upcoming tournament rather than becoming complacent. His victory also strengthens his social standing at school, but he does not allow the new respect to make him arrogant.
• Yin Yi: Suffers severe embarrassment after his confident predictions about Gu Yu prove completely wrong. His absence from school shows how deeply the defeat has affected him.
• Gu Yu: Although he is a renowned student—the top scorer in fifty years and a Grandmaster’s disciple—his loss to Li Yuan damages the assumption that he would win easily.
• The teachers: Their attitudes shift from cautious neutrality to genuine admiration. Many had quietly supported Li Yuan because they resented the school leadership’s attempt to undermine him.
• Class Nine students: Their respect for Li Yuan increases after witnessing his performance. They become more attentive and serious in his classes.
• School leadership: Principal Yin and Director Ma are frustrated that Li Yuan’s conduct remains impeccable and that their attempt to embarrass him has instead enhanced his reputation.

Significant Themes

• Discipline after success: Li Yuan’s refusal to become complacent emphasizes that victory is only one step toward greater goals.
• Respect earned through action: His courage in accepting the challenge and his actual victory earn him respect more effectively than status or words could.
• Appearance versus true ability: Jin Fan’s reputation and strength cause people to overlook weaknesses in his teaching, while Li Yuan’s lack of prestige makes students more willing to blame him. The chapter explores how authority shapes people’s judgments.
• Reputation and public perception: The match changes how teachers and students view Li Yuan, while exposing the danger of making arrogant claims, as seen with Yin Yi.
• Professional responsibility: Li Yuan continues teaching seriously despite his personal ambitions, showing that he values fulfilling his duties.
• Unexpected consequences: The school leaders intended to humiliate Li Yuan publicly, but allowing students to witness the match instead strengthened his reputation and influence.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and the school leadership: Their relationship remains tense. The leaders inspect the teachers’ office hoping to find a fault, but Li Yuan’s punctuality and composure frustrate them.
• Li Yuan and fellow teachers: Teachers now approach him more warmly and respectfully. He reciprocates without acting superior.
• Li Yuan and Yin Yi: Though they do not interact directly in the chapter, Yin Yi’s absence reflects the consequences of his earlier arrogance toward Li Yuan.
• Li Yuan and Class Nine: The students greet him respectfully and listen attentively, showing how his public victory has changed the classroom dynamic.
• Li Yuan and Gu Yu: Their match remains the central event shaping everyone’s reactions. Li Yuan’s Cloud Extreme Fist forced Gu Yu into a defensive position, contradicting expectations that Gu Yu would win effortlessly.

Chapter Summary: “On the Youth Martial Tournament”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Two days after Li Yuan won the school’s Youth Martial Tournament qualification match, controversy spread throughout Lingshan City over his replacement of Jin Fan.
• The Youth Martial Tournament carries major political and economic importance. City rankings determine the development support cities receive for the next two years, affecting employment, education, living conditions, and other opportunities.
• Although cities usually send twelve or thirteen contestants, only their top ten scores count. Organizations can exchange or transfer their participation slots, but few are willing to surrender the Grade Points required to obtain them.
• Jin Fan had been viewed as Lingshan City’s central competitor. Because the city had performed poorly in previous tournaments, many people believed Jin Fan could raise it into the top fifteen—or possibly the top ten, which would trigger an economic inspection and potential development policies.
• City organizations and officials began opposing Li Yuan’s participation, likely because school leaders had promoted Jin Fan as the foundation of their tournament strategy.
• Li Yuan refuses to give up the qualification he earned. He argues that anyone who believes Jin Fan is indispensable should surrender their own slot to him instead.
• Chen Yong investigates the situation and warns Li Yuan that officials are creating public expectations around Jin Fan. If Lingshan City performs poorly, Li Yuan may be blamed personally.
• Li Yuan remains calm, emphasizing that his primary goal is to use the tournament to advance to Fifth Grade and obtain the title of Intermediate Teacher. He considers public opinion secondary to strength and personal advancement.
• Chen Yong nevertheless warns that a damaged reputation could prevent Li Yuan from receiving future training opportunities, encouraging him to achieve a strong tournament result.
• At home, Li Yuan checks his Light Screen and finds that he has accumulated 49 out of the 400 Experience Points needed for his next Talent Point. He reflects on the rate at which his students generate Experience Points and wonders why some classes produce far fewer Light Points than others.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Becomes more detached and pragmatic. Rather than worrying about his reputation, he focuses on participating, advancing his cultivation, and earning the Intermediate Teacher rank. His past experiences have taught him that public approval is unreliable compared with genuine strength.
• Chen Yong: Shows strong loyalty and concern for Li Yuan. He actively gathers information, understands the political maneuvering surrounding the tournament, and becomes angry at the possibility that Li Yuan will be made a scapegoat.
• Jin Fan: Though absent from the chapter, his reputation and perceived importance dominate the conflict. He is treated by city officials and organizations as the key to Lingshan City’s tournament success.

Significant Themes

• Institutional politics and favoritism: Li Yuan’s earned qualification is threatened because officials prefer the established and well-connected Jin Fan.
• Public opinion as a weapon: Authorities and organizations shape expectations so that Li Yuan may receive blame if the city performs poorly.
• Strength versus reputation: Li Yuan concludes that reputation can disappear instantly, while real strength provides lasting security and opportunities.
• Responsibility and scapegoating: The tournament result depends on more than one participant, yet political actors try to place the entire burden on Li Yuan.
• Personal priorities and emotional discipline: Li Yuan advises Chen Yong not to suffer over events that have not happened and stresses the importance of distinguishing major goals from secondary problems.
• Teaching and growth: The chapter hints that Li Yuan’s growing instructional ability may be connected to how much insight and Light energy his students gain.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Chen Yong: Chen Yong reports opposition from city organizations and explains the danger of the rumors surrounding Jin Fan. Li Yuan responds calmly, challenges the logic of giving up his qualification, and reassures Chen Yong that public criticism is less important than his advancement. Chen Yong accepts Li Yuan’s reasoning but reminds him that tournament performance may determine his future opportunities.
• Li Yuan and the school/city leadership: Though they do not interact directly, the leadership’s decision to arrange a qualification match and then attempt to replace Li Yuan creates the chapter’s central conflict.
• Li Yuan and his students: Their relationship is discussed indirectly through his Experience Point gains. His teaching appears to produce greater insights in some classes, raising questions about how guidance and improvement affect the Light Point system.

Chapter Summary: “Making Money Is Like...”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning home, Li Yuan analyzes the rules governing the mysterious Light Points. He concludes that they are connected to him personally, can only be seen and collected by him, and appear more frequently among people he has directly guided.
• His limited results at Lingnan No. 2 High School confirm that distant schools offer little benefit. He decides to focus his efforts on collecting Light Points at Lingshan No. 1 High School.
• Based on his current rate of progress, Li Yuan expects to obtain his fourth Talent Point before the Youth Martial Tournament. He is undecided between investing it in the Enlightenment or Combat branches, while postponing investment in the Skill branch.
• With the tournament approaching, Li Yuan reassesses his cultivation needs. His supply of Nutrient Fluid will soon be sufficient because the tournament offers thirty bottles of B-grade Nutrient Fluid as a reward.
• He realizes that his greater weakness is a lack of advanced cultivation methods and martial skills. The Zhou Tian Dao Yin Technique strengthens his cells effectively but is inadequate for tempering bones and fascia, especially once he reaches the Fifth Grade.
• His Martial Recruitment Accelerator Talent makes learning new martial skills more feasible, but as a high school teacher he has limited access to advanced techniques. Buying them is also unattractive because earning money is difficult and available techniques are often of poor quality.
• Li Yuan places his hopes on performing well in the Youth Martial Tournament, which may grant him access to better cultivation methods and martial skills.
• He begins preparing for the tournament, which is twenty-six days away. Since he lacks experience with its format and purpose, he plans to arrange his teaching schedule and take roughly ten days of leave to study properly.
• Rather than simply abandoning his classes, Li Yuan teaches lessons in advance and arranges tighter schedules for Classes Nine and Fourteen. Director Ma is impressed by his responsibility and chooses not to criticize the request.
• The chapter ends as Friday’s weekly meeting approaches. An Education Bureau representative is expected to attend, and Gu Yu—who recently lost a martial match—has reportedly returned.

Character Development

• Li Yuan: Becomes increasingly analytical, practical, and methodical. He carefully studies the Light Point system, evaluates his cultivation deficiencies, and plans around the tournament without becoming arrogant despite his mysterious Talents.
• He demonstrates maturity and responsibility by preparing his students before taking leave. His improved understanding of cultivation and martial skills also increases his confidence as a teacher.
• Director Ma: His view of Li Yuan is strengthened. Although he initially seems ready to question the scheduling request, Li Yuan’s thorough preparation and professional attitude leave him unable to object.
• Gu Yu: Though not directly present in the chapter’s main events, his return after losing to Li Yuan suggests an unresolved rivalry or impending interaction.

Significant Themes

• Resource management and long-term planning: Li Yuan weighs Talent Points, Nutrient Fluid, cultivation methods, time, and money carefully.
• Knowledge versus material resources: Having enough Nutrient Fluid is not enough; Li Yuan now needs better techniques and deeper martial knowledge.
• Responsibility and professionalism: Unlike other teachers who simply arrange substitutes, Li Yuan prioritizes his students and ensures they are not neglected during his absence.
• Maturity over recklessness: Li Yuan acknowledges his lack of experience and prepares methodically instead of relying solely on talent or confidence.
• The true purpose of martial arts: The Youth Martial Tournament is framed not as a contest of personal strength, but as preparation for fighting Fierce Beasts and protecting humanity.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan interacts indirectly with the students of Classes Nine and Fourteen by intensifying their lessons and teaching material in advance.
• His scheduling request affects Director Ma, who recognizes Li Yuan’s exceptional dedication compared with other teachers.
• Chen Yong is designated to help maintain order in Li Yuan’s classes during his leave.
• The chapter foreshadows renewed contact with Gu Yu, whose previous defeat may lead to further developments at the upcoming weekly meeting.

Chapter Summary

• Setting and atmosphere: The weekly meeting is held in the multimedia conference room with Education Bureau officials present, making the normally casual meeting unusually formal and tense. Li Yuan sits with Chen Yong in the sixth row, aware that school leaders are watching him closely after Mingzhuo’s departure to compete for a Youth Martial Tournament qualification.
• Important attendees: Deputy Director Zeng Chang of the Education Bureau attends beside Principal Yin. Chen Yong distrusts Zeng because of rumors surrounding Li Yuan, while Li Yuan considers Zeng relatively fair, remembering that he supported Li Yuan’s previous A-minus evaluation. Gu Yu, the Grandmaster’s disciple involved in the earlier qualification match, is also seated in the front row. His unexpected presence makes Li Yuan suspect that the school may still be preparing to challenge his tournament qualification.
• Provincial Open Class inspection: Principal Yin announces that the Provincial Education Bureau will conduct a major Open Class inspection in late September. Lingshan No. 1 High School will receive particular scrutiny after municipal observers found most teachers’ classes unsatisfactory. Deputy Director Zeng explains that the Southeast Region’s young martial artists have fallen behind those from other provinces, especially at the mid-tier level, and that declining teaching quality is believed to be a major cause.
• Consequences for teachers: The inspection will determine the school’s end-of-term evaluation. A C-grade rating would result in teachers losing their bonuses, with no exceptions. The warning causes widespread anxiety among the staff. Chen Yong worries about being assigned a subject or class he is not good at, but Li Yuan reassures him that he will help him prepare and that a B grade should be achievable. This reinforces Li Yuan’s confidence and his willingness to support his colleague.
• Meeting developments: Principal Yin spends considerable time emphasizing the seriousness of the inspection and discussing routine school matters. Although the Youth Martial Tournament is initially avoided, Principal Yin eventually turns his attention back to Li Yuan.
• Conflict over the tournament slot: Principal Yin reminds Li Yuan that registration closes at the end of the week and emphasizes that the tournament rankings affect Lingshan City’s development. He praises Jin Fan as the city’s representative and asks Li Yuan whether he truly intends to keep the competition slot. The question is presented calmly and officially, but it clearly revives the earlier dispute over whether Li Yuan or Jin Fan should participate.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Yuan remains observant and composed, refusing to jump to conclusions about Zeng Chang or the meeting’s motives. He also demonstrates confidence in his teaching ability and supports Chen Yong.
• Chen Yong is protective of Li Yuan and suspicious of school and Bureau officials, but he becomes calmer after Li Yuan reassures him.
• Principal Yin appears outwardly neutral but again pressures Li Yuan regarding the Youth Martial Tournament slot, suggesting the issue remains unresolved.
• Deputy Director Zeng Chang presents himself as a strict but seemingly impartial official concerned with regional educational decline.
• Gu Yu’s presence creates an undercurrent of suspicion, hinting that outside forces connected to the previous match may still influence the school’s decision.
• Major themes: Institutional pressure, the relationship between education and martial development, political appearances versus hidden motives, professional pride, and the continuing struggle over Li Yuan’s right to represent the city in the Youth Martial Tournament.

Chapter Summary: “Reason for Gu Yu’s Visit”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan responds calmly to the controversy over his participation in the Youth Martial Tournament. He argues that since Lingshan City has multiple qualification slots, another institution could give one up to accommodate Teacher Jin Fan.
• Principal Yin publicly distances himself from the decision, claiming that Li Yuan is unwilling to cooperate and that further pressure could lead to criticism of the school.
• Deputy Director Zeng Chang summons Li Yuan to the Municipal Bureau the following Monday to discuss the tournament. First High School is instructed to approve Li Yuan’s leave and cooperate with the tournament arrangements.
• During the same weekly meeting, the school introduces Gu Yu as a new intern teacher. Li Yuan is appointed as Gu Yu’s mentor.
• Gu Yu reveals that his mentor expelled him temporarily and ordered him to return only after defeating Li Yuan. He openly challenges Li Yuan to a rematch.
• Li Yuan predicts that Gu Yu will need two months to defeat him. Dissatisfied, Gu Yu insists on challenging him again one month later, after the Youth Martial Tournament.
• After the meeting, Li Yuan and Chen Yong leave school together. Over the weekend, Li Yuan helps Chen Yong prepare for the Provincial Department’s Open Class evaluation and offers to advise him on martial skills and cultivation.
• Principal Yin plans to approve Li Yuan’s tournament leave but deduct his bonus for the days missed. Director Ma hesitates and suggests they should perhaps avoid penalizing Li Yuan, especially since his expenses for the tournament and nutrient solutions will be high.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates composure, maturity, and political awareness. Rather than reacting angrily to Principal Yin or Gu Yu, he uses polite language and remains focused on matters within his control. He also shows generosity by helping Chen Yong without expecting anything in return.
• Gu Yu: Remains highly confident despite his earlier defeat. He believes Li Yuan’s victory was influenced by restrictions, surprise, and the unusual nature of Cloud Extreme Fist. His determination to study the technique and demand a rematch reveals both ambition and competitive pride.
• Principal Yin: Continues to oppose or undermine Li Yuan while presenting himself as someone acting in the school’s interests. His plan to deduct Li Yuan’s bonus suggests personal resentment and an intention to punish him indirectly.
• Deputy Director Zeng Chang: Takes a cautious but official role, delaying judgment while bringing Li Yuan into a higher-level discussion about the tournament.
• Director Ma: Shows more sympathy toward Li Yuan than Principal Yin does. His reluctance to support the bonus deduction hints that he recognizes the unfairness of targeting Li Yuan.
• Chen Yong: Maintains a friendly relationship with Li Yuan and benefits from his mentorship and support.

Significant Themes

• Composure and maturity: Li Yuan’s ability to respond calmly to hostility contrasts with his younger self, who disliked empty formalities and indirect dealings.
• Institutional politics and favoritism: The tournament qualification dispute and the treatment of Li Yuan show how personal interests and institutional power influence supposedly fair decisions.
• Confidence versus self-awareness: Gu Yu’s refusal to accept his defeat reflects confidence, but also a failure to fully acknowledge Li Yuan’s strength.
• Mentorship and mutual support: Li Yuan’s role as Gu Yu’s assigned mentor is ironic because Gu Yu is simultaneously his rival. His assistance to Chen Yong further emphasizes his willingness to help others develop.
• Talent and privilege: Gu Yu’s status as a Grandmaster’s disciple allows him to obtain an internship easily, much as Jin Fan received special treatment, highlighting unequal opportunities within the school.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Principal Yin: Their exchange is outwardly polite but marked by clear tension. Principal Yin attempts to shift blame onto Li Yuan, while Li Yuan refuses to be provoked.
• Li Yuan and Zeng Chang: Zeng gives Li Yuan an official summons, leaving the tournament dispute unresolved but moving it to the Municipal Bureau.
• Li Yuan and Gu Yu: Gu Yu publicly challenges Li Yuan, while Li Yuan answers with restrained courtesy. Their rivalry is set to continue after the tournament.
• Li Yuan and Chen Yong: Their friendship deepens as Li Yuan invites Chen Yong to his apartment and helps him prepare for his professional evaluation.
• Principal Yin and Director Ma: Their disagreement reveals contrasting attitudes: Principal Yin seeks to penalize Li Yuan, while Director Ma questions whether such treatment is necessary.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Principal Yin orders Director Ma to withhold Li Yuan’s bonus because Li Yuan is leaving to compete in the Youth Martial Tournament.
• Director Ma initially tries to persuade Principal Yin to be less harsh, suggesting Li Yuan deserves support as a representative of Lingshan City.
• Principal Yin insists that withholding the bonus is within school regulations and implies that Li Yuan can come directly to him if he objects.
• Director Ma finally refuses outright, arguing that Li Yuan has fulfilled all his teaching responsibilities, unlike other teachers who receive bonuses despite neglecting their classes during training trips.
• He points out that Li Yuan’s tournament participation may be his last opportunity to advance, especially because Principal Yin is unlikely to grant him another chance.
• Principal Yin leaves without responding, while Director Ma worries that standing up to him may cost him his position as academic affairs director.
• Over the weekend, Chen Yong visits Li Yuan. After breakfast, Li Yuan brings him to his usual cultivation site in the suburban wasteland.
• Li Yuan offers Chen Yong the chance to train there regularly and then shares his preparations for the Provincial Bureau’s upcoming Open Class inspection, including insights into Chen Yong’s two primary martial techniques.

Character Development

• Director Ma: Becomes more courageous and principled. Though usually submissive toward Principal Yin, he refuses to support what he considers an unfair punishment. He recognizes Li Yuan’s value as both a talented teacher and a responsible individual.
• Principal Yin: Is revealed as vindictive and determined to suppress Li Yuan. He uses the bonus issue as an opportunity to punish him, apparently because of personal or institutional opposition.
• Li Yuan: Continues to demonstrate professionalism, responsibility, and generosity. He has carefully arranged his teaching duties before competing and willingly helps Chen Yong improve.
• Chen Yong: Remains practical and unambitious regarding martial cultivation. He is willing to train when necessary but does not share Li Yuan’s intense dedication, preferring a balanced and comfortable life.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus authority: Director Ma must choose between obeying a powerful superior and defending what he believes is fair.
• Institutional favoritism: The school tolerates greater irresponsibility from favored martial teachers while targeting Li Yuan for taking a single opportunity.
• The value of teaching: The chapter emphasizes that excellent teachers who support ordinary students are essential, even if they are not the strongest martial cultivators.
• Courage and personal integrity: Director Ma’s refusal marks a break from years of passive compromise.
• Friendship and mutual support: Li Yuan and Chen Yong help each other despite having different priorities and levels of martial ambition.

Character Interactions

• Principal Yin and Director Ma: Their conversation shifts from polite persuasion to open confrontation. Director Ma directly challenges Principal Yin’s decision, risking his own career.
• Director Ma and Li Yuan: Although Li Yuan is absent, Director Ma defends him based on his professionalism, teaching ability, and past sacrifices.
• Li Yuan and Chen Yong: Their friendship is shown through Li Yuan’s invitation to train together, his willingness to share strategic insights, and Chen Yong’s acceptance of his guidance.

Chapter Summary: “Meeting Deputy Director Zeng Chang”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan analyzes Chen Yong’s martial arts choices, recognizing that the Jade Stone Palm and Straw Raincoat Blade are easy to learn but have low potential and limited effectiveness against opponents of the same level.
• Using his Enlightenment to Perfection talent, Li Yuan quickly discovers several improved applications for both techniques and teaches them to Chen Yong. Chen learns them relatively quickly despite having practiced the techniques for ten years.
• Chen Yong complains about the difficulty of training, revealing that he spends little time cultivating and prefers resting whenever possible. Li Yuan points out that Chen’s lack of consistent effort, rather than a lack of time, explains his slower progress.
• Li Yuan plans an intensive weekend of coaching to prepare Chen for possible martial arts assessments during the upcoming Open Class. Chen is cooperative when listening but reluctant to perform physical drills.
• Over the weekend, Li Yuan gains more than forty Experience Points, bringing his total to 185/400. He plans to use the next two days of classes to help students advance, then take leave beginning Thursday to prepare for the Youth Martial Tournament.
• Li Yuan worries that Principal Yin may use his extended leave to justify withholding his performance bonus, even though the leave is legitimate.
• On Monday, Li Yuan travels to the Municipal Education Bureau to meet Deputy Director Zeng Chang, who had requested to see him after the previous Weekly Meeting.
• Zeng greets him warmly and brings him to a small meeting room. He praises Li Yuan’s Open Class, especially his teaching of the Flickering Shadow Steps, and says Li made a strong impression on him.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates exceptional insight into martial arts and teaching. He is efficient, practical, and increasingly cautious about workplace politics. He also recognizes his lack of real combat experience and resolves to prepare seriously for the tournament rather than entering unprepared.
• Chen Yong: Is shown to be talented enough to learn techniques but unmotivated and physically unwilling to train hard. His casual attitude contrasts sharply with Li Yuan’s discipline. Although he complains frequently, he continues relying on Li Yuan’s guidance.
• Deputy Director Zeng Chang: Presents himself as approachable, polite, and appreciative of Li Yuan’s abilities. However, Li remains suspicious of his friendliness, understanding that officials may conceal their true intentions behind a cordial manner.
• Principal Yin: Though absent from the chapter’s main events, he remains a source of tension because Li expects him to exploit the leave arrangement to reduce or withhold Li’s bonus.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus effort: Li Yuan’s extraordinary comprehension allows him to surpass Chen Yong quickly, but the chapter emphasizes that consistent practice is still essential.
• The limits of martial arts techniques: Simple techniques may be useful against weaker opponents but cannot match the depth and growth potential of more advanced methods.
• Preparation and self-awareness: Li Yuan acknowledges his weaknesses—especially his limited practical combat experience—and plans carefully before entering the Youth Martial Tournament.
• Workplace politics and appearances: Friendly behavior from superiors may not reflect their true intentions. Li remains alert to possible manipulation involving tournament participation, leave, and bonuses.
• Teaching as cultivation: By instructing Chen and his students, Li Yuan not only helps them improve but also gains Experience Points himself.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan spends the weekend coaching Chen Yong, explaining improved applications of Chen’s martial arts and preparing him for possible evaluations.
• Their conversations highlight their contrasting personalities: Li is disciplined and strategically minded, while Chen is relaxed, easily fatigued, and resistant to hard training.
• Chen speculates that Zeng Chang’s Monday meeting will involve renewed pressure concerning the Youth Martial Tournament, possibly through threats or inducements.
• At the Education Bureau, Zeng Chang warmly compliments Li Yuan’s Open Class and martial arts instruction, establishing a polite but potentially politically charged meeting whose real purpose has not yet been revealed.

Chapter Summary: Deputy Director Zeng Chang’s Motives

Key Plot Points and Events

• Deputy Director Zeng Chang meets with Li Yuan, initially causing Li Yuan to wonder whether he intends to intimidate him or take away his place in the Youth Martial Tournament.
• Zeng clarifies that he will not replace Li Yuan. Although he originally supported Jin Fan’s participation, Li Yuan has already secured the slot through his own efforts, and the roster is finalized.
• Instead, Zeng demands that Li Yuan aim for the top thirty in the tournament and bring prestige to Lingshan City.
• To support him, Zeng gives Li Yuan thirty-five bottles of B-grade Nutrient Fluid—thirty-five in total, including five bottles from his own sponsorship—and arranges an outdoor training session in Qijia Town.
• The Youth Martial Tournament is explained as more than an arena contest: participants must fight Fierce Beasts at the border, testing their ability to defend humanity rather than merely defeat other martial artists.
• Li Yuan learns that the tournament training will begin in two days and that the journey to Qijia Town will take more than a day by high-speed rail.
• A potential problem arises because Li Yuan requires approval from his work unit to train under his own identity, and his strained relationship with Principal Yin may allow the principal to delay or obstruct the authorization.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan remains cautious and perceptive. He refuses to blindly accept Zeng Chang’s generosity, recognizing that political favors usually come with expectations.
• Despite his doubts, Li Yuan accepts the supplies after Zeng honestly explains his motives. His determination to compete strengthens, especially because the tournament is necessary for his advancement to the Fifth Grade.
• Li Yuan also begins to view Zeng as a potentially valuable ally, though he understands that their relationship depends on him producing results.
• Zeng Chang is revealed to be pragmatic rather than purely altruistic. He is willing to take responsibility for a difficult assignment because success could help him become the next director of the Education Bureau.
• Zeng demonstrates a more direct and honest leadership style by providing resources before asking Li Yuan to fulfill his expectations.

Significant Themes

• Mutual benefit and political calculation: Zeng’s support is not charity; Li Yuan’s success could advance Zeng’s career, making their cooperation a calculated gamble.
• Merit through difficult tasks: Zeng believes that opportunities for advancement come from accepting burdens others avoid.
• Responsibility and national duty: The tournament emphasizes that martial artists exist to protect society and fight Fierce Beasts, not merely compete against fellow humans.
• Trust and cautious cooperation: Li Yuan must balance suspicion with the practical value of accepting help and forming useful alliances.
• Late-blooming talent and perseverance: At thirty, Li Yuan is unusually old for a first-time participant, but his experience and determination give him a chance to challenge younger prodigies.

Character Interactions

• Zeng initially acknowledges Li Yuan’s unusual age and late entry, while Li Yuan firmly states that he will not surrender his hard-earned tournament position.
• Zeng reassures Li Yuan that he is not there to remove him, then openly pressures him to achieve a top-thirty ranking.
• Li Yuan questions the motive behind the Nutrient Fluid, prompting Zeng to explain his political situation and admit that helping Li Yuan is also an investment in his own promotion.
• Their conversation ends with a tentative alliance: Zeng provides resources and training opportunities, while Li Yuan resolves to fight for a strong result.
• The chapter closes with Li Yuan anticipating possible interference from Principal Yin, establishing the next obstacle before training can begin.

Chapter Summary: To Be a Sycophant, You Should Stay Firmly on That Path

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zeng Chang helps Li Yuan arrange his extended absence from Lingshan No. 1 High School so he can attend training in Qijia Town. Rather than seeking formal school approval, Li Yuan will participate under the Municipal Education Bureau’s virtual group identity, “Wuling Education,” allowing him to keep the trip discreet.
• After returning home with several bottles of B-grade Nutrient Fluid, Li Yuan studies the instructions before beginning his cultivation breakthrough. The fluid causes intense burning and prolonged pain as it tempers his cells, bone marrow, and fascia.
• Li Yuan drinks three bottles over the course of the day. Because his body has already been strengthened by the Zhou Tian Dao Yin Technique, he tolerates the nutrient fluid unusually well. He senses that his body is approaching a new Martial Dao realm and expects to reach Fifth Grade after a few more cultivation sessions.
• The following day, Li Yuan teaches a full schedule and prepares Class Nine and Class Fourteen for his upcoming absence. He asks fellow teacher Chen Yong to supervise the classes while he is away.
• Chen Yong informs Li Yuan that his bonus will not be deducted despite the long leave. He also reveals that Director Ma personally approved the exception, even though Director Ma’s authority was suddenly reduced and transferred to Director Liu.
• Li Yuan visits Director Ma to thank him and ask about the situation. Director Ma explains that he believed Li Yuan deserved to keep his bonus because he is conscientious and hardworking.
• Director Ma then admits that supporting Li Yuan may have cost him politically. After years of currying favor with the principal, he has lost much of his influence, prompting his bitter remark that if someone chooses to be a sycophant, they should remain committed to that path. Li Yuan asks why Director Ma helped him despite the consequences.

Character Development

• Li Yuan demonstrates discipline, caution, and growing confidence in his cultivation. He carefully researches the nutrient fluid, endures considerable pain, and strategically uses multiple bottles to accelerate his breakthrough.
• His concern for his students is emphasized through his efforts to prepare Class Nine and Class Fourteen before leaving and his decision to arrange proper supervision.
• Li Yuan also shows integrity and gratitude by visiting Director Ma rather than accepting the favorable treatment without question. He is increasingly willing to investigate workplace politics directly.
• Zeng Chang proves resourceful and supportive by finding a discreet administrative solution for Li Yuan’s training leave.
• Chen Yong acts as a trustworthy colleague, helping Li Yuan understand the school’s internal politics and agreeing to care for his classes.
• Director Ma emerges as more principled than Li Yuan expected. Although he has participated in office politics, he is willing to protect a deserving teacher even at significant personal cost. His loss of authority reveals the instability of his position.

Significant Themes

• Institutional politics and favoritism: The chapter exposes how promotions, authority, bonuses, and leave approvals are shaped by relationships and political maneuvering rather than fairness alone.
• Integrity versus sycophancy: Director Ma’s comment contrasts genuine merit with the behavior of those who survive by constantly flattering powerful figures. His decision to help Li Yuan suggests that he still retains personal principles despite his political setbacks.
• Cultivation through endurance: Li Yuan’s painful use of B-grade Nutrient Fluid reflects the broader theme that advancement requires suffering, preparation, and controlled risk.
• Responsibility and professionalism: Li Yuan’s concern for his students and Director Ma’s defense of his work ethic emphasize the value of fulfilling one’s duties even within a flawed institution.
• Strategic adaptation: Both Li Yuan and Zeng Chang navigate imperfect systems pragmatically—Li Yuan through discreet participation under “Wuling Education,” and Zeng Chang through bureaucratic loopholes.

Character Interactions

• Zeng Chang and Li Yuan: Zeng Chang offers Li Yuan a practical way to attend training without provoking administrative problems.
• Li Yuan and Chen Yong: Chen Yong agrees to supervise Li Yuan’s classes and alerts him to Director Ma’s political difficulties.
• Li Yuan and Director Ma: Their conversation shifts from formal gratitude to a deeper discussion of workplace politics. Li Yuan learns that Director Ma personally defended his bonus, while Director Ma reveals both his disappointment and his willingness to help despite losing influence.
• The chapter ends with Li Yuan questioning Director Ma’s motives, setting up a likely revelation about their relationship or Director Ma’s reasons for opposing the principal’s political culture.

Chapter Summary: “Advancing to Fifth Rank!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Ma explains why he supported Li Yuan’s participation in the Youth Martial Tournament: he believes hardworking teachers deserve fair compensation and practical opportunities, despite the political risks of opposing Principal Yin.
• Director Ma warns Li Yuan that his martial-arts talent appears inferior to Jin Fan’s group and doubts he will receive similar opportunities again. He encourages Li Yuan to return his focus to teaching and suggests he could become a teaching-group leader.
• Li Yuan remains confident, believing his actual strength—not others’ opinions—will determine his tournament results. He prepares to take twenty days of leave for intensive cultivation.
• Using B-grade Nutrient Fluid and sustained training, Li Yuan finally breaks through from Fourth Grade to Fifth Grade after being stuck for years.
• The breakthrough significantly improves his senses, including his vision, hearing, and ability to perceive movement and surrounding sounds.
• Li Yuan travels by high-speed rail to Qijia Town, bringing nutrient fluid and studying two books: Practical Handbook for Beast Response and Border Records, which will help him prepare for practical work at the border.
• Upon arriving in Qijia Town, he contacts his friend Chen Yong to report his safe arrival and ask about the local situation.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan becomes more determined and self-assured. He refuses to be discouraged by Director Ma’s doubts and relies on his own progress and abilities.
• His breakthrough to Fifth Grade marks a major advancement after years of stagnation at Fourth Grade. His enhanced senses reveal the dramatic advantages higher-ranked martial artists possess.
• Li Yuan also becomes more aware of the limitations of his current cultivation method. The Zhou Tian Dao Yin Technique is no longer effective for strengthening his fascia and bone marrow, forcing him to seek a stronger foundational method.
• Director Ma is shown to be principled beneath his cautious, compromising exterior. Though he has spent years navigating workplace politics, he finally acts according to his sense of fairness.
• Director Ma views Li Yuan primarily as an excellent teacher rather than an exceptional martial artist, highlighting the gap between Li Yuan’s reputation and his hidden potential.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus self-interest: Director Ma risks his position because he believes hardworking people should receive fair rewards, challenging the idea that everyone acts solely for personal gain.
• Perseverance and delayed achievement: Li Yuan’s advancement demonstrates the value of sustained effort, preparation, and endurance after years of limited progress.
• True ability versus external judgment: Others underestimate Li Yuan, but their opinions do not determine his actual strength or future results.
• The cost of advancement: Reaching Fifth Grade brings greater power but also exposes new limitations, showing that every breakthrough creates higher requirements and challenges.
• Preparation and self-improvement: Li Yuan combines physical cultivation, practical study, and careful resource management as he prepares for the tournament and border assignment.

Character Interactions

• Director Ma and Li Yuan share a candid conversation in which Ma explains his motives, acknowledges Li Yuan’s hard work, and offers realistic—but discouraging—advice.
• Li Yuan responds respectfully and thanks Ma, while internally maintaining confidence in his own potential.
• Li Yuan reflects on his earlier victory over Gu Yu, reasoning that Gu Yu’s defeat is difficult to justify given the overwhelming sensory and physical advantages of higher-ranked martial artists.
• At the chapter’s end, Li Yuan reconnects with Chen Yong after reaching Qijia Town, beginning the next stage of his journey.

Chapter Summary: “Qijia Town, the Death of a Ninth Grade Martial Artist”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan calls Chen Yong to check on Class Nine and Class Fourteen. Chen reports that both classes are behaving well and cultivating diligently. Their noticeable improvement has created positive feedback, strengthening the students’ motivation, especially those in the Parallel Classes.
• Chen complains that Gu Yu refuses to help supervise the classes, claiming that his only priority is cultivation. Li Yuan understands that Gu Yu’s internship was intended as a form of tempering arranged by Gu Yu’s Grandmaster, not as a genuine teaching assignment.
• Gu Yu is focused on deciphering Li Yuan’s Cloud Extreme Fist and believes he can fully understand its variations within half a month. He is already imagining how he will defeat Li Yuan and respond to Li Yuan’s previous estimate that it would take two months for Gu Yu to win.
• Li Yuan travels to Qijia Town for practical combat training. The modern city bears the name of the original town, which was destroyed after a mutated pack of Blood Wolf Fierce Beasts massacred over 20,000 people more than forty years earlier.
• The Blood Wolves had unexpectedly risen from a B-grade threat to an S-grade threat. Two Ninth Grade martial artists, both renowned former geniuses close to the Grandmaster level, died while fighting them. The disaster ultimately ended when the mutated wolves weakened and died after their mutation consumed their vitality.
• The old Qijia Town district was abandoned and transformed into a controlled training ground for younger martial artists. Although the area is relatively safer than the true borderlands, deaths still occur there each year.
• Li Yuan buys compressed food, registers with the Border Management Office, and receives a pass card under the identity “Wuling Education.” He recognizes that he must maintain a low profile during the trip and plans to limit the training period to twenty days so he can return for the Youth Martial Tournament.
• Before entering the training area, Li Yuan calls Deputy Director Zeng Chang to report his progress and thank him for arranging the opportunity. Zeng tells him to be careful, but his subdued tone prompts Li Yuan to ask whether something has happened.
• Zeng reveals that Jin Fan has obtained the qualification to represent neighboring Chishan City in the Youth Martial Tournament. This creates additional pressure on Lingshan City and the Education Bureau: if Lingshan performs worse than Chishan, the officials who supported Li Yuan’s selection may be blamed and lose policy support.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Shows responsibility toward his students, sensitivity to others’ emotions, and caution regarding official matters. He prepares methodically for dangerous training while recognizing the political consequences of his performance in the tournament.
• Chen Yong: Demonstrates commitment to managing the classes and frustration with Gu Yu’s refusal to fulfill his internship duties.
• Gu Yu: Remains intensely focused on martial cultivation and defeating Li Yuan. His confidence is increasing, perhaps to the point of underestimating Li Yuan.
• Deputy Director Zeng Chang: Appears burdened by political pressure. His decision to support Li Yuan has placed the Education Bureau at risk, especially now that Jin Fan will compete for another city.

Significant Themes

• Growth through discipline: The students’ progress motivates them to cultivate harder, showing how improvement can create a cycle of confidence and effort.
• Competition and pride: Gu Yu’s determination to decipher the Cloud Extreme Fist reflects his desire to prove himself superior to Li Yuan.
• The cost of martial protection: The history of Qijia Town emphasizes the sacrifices made by powerful martial artists and the ever-present danger of Fierce Beasts.
• Responsibility and consequences: Li Yuan’s personal performance is tied to the reputation and political future of Lingshan City’s officials.
• Public duty versus personal advancement: Gu Yu prioritizes his own cultivation, while Li Yuan balances martial progress, teaching responsibilities, and obligations to those who support him.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Chen Yong discuss the successful cultivation of Classes Nine and Fourteen and Gu Yu’s failure to guide them.
• Chen Yong’s criticism contrasts with Li Yuan’s more understanding interpretation of Gu Yu’s behavior.
• Li Yuan and Gu Yu remain rivals, with Gu Yu preparing for a future rematch based on his confidence in mastering the Cloud Extreme Fist.
• Li Yuan and Zeng Chang share a respectful mentor-and-supporter relationship. Li Yuan reports to him out of gratitude, while Zeng’s warning reveals concern and the political stakes surrounding Li Yuan’s tournament performance.

Chapter Summary: Entering Qijia Town, a City Overrun by Plants

Plot points and events

• Deputy Director Zeng reveals that Li Yuan’s original goal was to place in the top thirty, but after Li replaced Lingshan City’s intended contestant, the political stakes became much higher.
• To justify choosing Li over Jin Fan, Li must now defeat Jin Fan in the Youth Martial Tournament. If he fails, Zeng will bear much of the blame and likely lose his chance at becoming director.
• Despite Zeng’s discouragement, Li reassures him that he does not regret the gamble and intends to make full use of the training opportunity.
• Li enters Qijia Town under Wuling Education’s identity and begins his training in the abandoned urban district, where D-level Fierce Beasts roam.
• He observes the overgrown ruins, including an abandoned middle school, and climbs to the roof to survey the area.

Character developments

• Deputy Director Zeng shifts from a confident supporter to someone resigned to political defeat. Nevertheless, he remains considerate of Li, urging him to improve rather than blaming him.
• Li Yuan demonstrates strong self-confidence and emotional composure. He believes his deep understanding of martial techniques, enhanced by his Talents, gives him a genuine chance against Jin Fan.
• Li’s confidence is based not only on ambition but also on preparation: he has studied combat manuals, developed strategies for various emergencies, and believes his Cloud Extreme Fist is far more advanced than ordinary practitioners’ versions.
• Li becomes determined to repay Zeng’s investment by succeeding in the tournament and plans to acquire another Talent Point before the competition.

Character interactions

• Zeng and Li have a serious phone conversation about the tournament’s risks and the consequences of Li’s selection.
• Zeng accepts responsibility for the gamble, while Li rejects the idea that victory is impossible.
• Li reflects on his earlier sparring match with Gu Yu, Jin Fan’s junior fellow disciple, concluding that Gu Yu’s defeat resulted from failing to understand Li’s unique version of the Cloud Extreme Fist—not from a weakness in the technique itself.

Significant themes

• Risk and responsibility: Zeng knowingly gambled his career on Li, while Li accepts the responsibility of proving that decision correct.
• Self-confidence versus public judgment: Although officials believe Li cannot surpass Jin Fan, Li trusts his own hidden abilities and preparation.
• The importance of practical experience: Qijia Town is designed to expose sheltered martial artists to genuine danger and prevent arrogance or hesitation.
• Psychological discipline: The abandoned, plant-covered city symbolizes the fear and desolation of a battlefield. Training requires martial artists to remain calm rather than panic, act recklessly, or seek emotional revenge.
• Humanity’s fragility: The ruins of Qijia Town, reclaimed by vegetation, offer a vision of the world after human extinction and remind Li of the stakes behind martial training.
  The chapter ends with Li Yuan beginning his exploration of Qijia Town, mentally prepared to face both its physical dangers and the psychological trials it represents.

Chapter Summary: “First Slaying of a Fierce Beast”

Key Plot Points and Events

• From a rooftop in the abandoned Qijia Town district, Li Yuan observes that the former urban area has been reclaimed by dense wilderness. He notices many other martial artists training nearby, explaining why entry to the region is regulated.
• While exploring an abandoned middle school, Li Yuan recognizes an unusually smooth section of drainage ditch as evidence of a Fierce Beast’s nest. Drawing on the Practical Handbook for Beast Response and Border Records, he carefully searches for another entrance rather than approaching recklessly.
• A Fierce Beast suddenly ambushes him. Li Yuan blocks with Cloud Extreme Fist: Extreme Guard and counters with Six Martial Chain Blade.
• The attacker is revealed to be a vicious D-level Wildcat. Thanks to his caution, Cloud Treading Step, and exceptionally refined blade technique—enhanced by his talents—Li Yuan kills it in a single exchange.
• This becomes Li Yuan’s first personal Fierce Beast kill. He finds the experience easier than expected and realizes that the knowledge gained from his books can be applied effectively in real combat.
• He continues southeast into increasingly dangerous wilderness, intending to travel ten li from the settled areas before returning for the Youth Martial Tournament.
• During the journey, Li Yuan gains experience points from collected Light Points and battles three additional Fierce Beasts. The most troublesome is a War Spider, whose webs restrict movement and expose prey to venomous bites.
• By studying the War Spiders’ traps and repeatedly applying what he learned from books, Li Yuan becomes calmer and more perceptive. After resting partway through the journey, he reaches noon on the second day and finally sees the creature responsible for the strange traces he has been following.

Character Development

• Li Yuan demonstrates strong preparation, caution, and confidence. Rather than relying solely on strength, he analyzes the terrain and the habits of Fierce Beasts.
• His first kill marks an important step from theoretical training to genuine battlefield experience.
• His exceptional mastery of martial techniques allows him to defeat the agile Wildcat quickly and safely.
• Repeated encounters gradually desensitize him to danger. He develops a calm, practical mindset and becomes better at recognizing traps and behavioral patterns.
• His talents, especially Mind Enlightenment, Enlightenment to Perfection, and Martial Recruitment Accelerator, allow him to convert written knowledge into practical combat ability far faster than ordinary students.

Significant Themes

• Theory versus practice: Books provide accurate principles, but real combat demands adaptation to unexpected circumstances.
• Preparation and experience: Li Yuan’s success comes from combining study, observation, and disciplined execution rather than relying on raw power.
• Growth through danger: Each Fierce Beast encounter strengthens both his body and his mental composure.
• The return of wilderness: Qijia Town illustrates how abandoned human environments gradually become natural habitats for Fierce Beasts.
• The importance of calmness: Li Yuan’s ability to remain composed against ambushes and traps distinguishes him from less experienced martial artists.

Character Interactions

• The main interactions are between Li Yuan and the Fierce Beasts he encounters, particularly the Wildcat and War Spider.
• The Wildcat attempts a surprise attack, but Li Yuan anticipates it and kills it with a coordinated defensive and offensive technique.
• The War Spider challenges him indirectly through webs and ambush preparations, forcing Li Yuan to rely on observation rather than direct confrontation.
• Although no substantial human dialogue occurs, the presence of other trainees emphasizes that Li Yuan is training alongside many competitors while possessing unusually advanced practical ability.

Chapter Summary: “Mutant Beast!”

Plot and Major Events

• Li Yuan encounters a mutated Vicious Hound while exploring the wilderness and immediately flees using Cloud Treading Step.
• He masks his scent by cutting vegetation and using the plants’ pungent sap, eventually reaching a deeper and more dangerous area.
• He discovers a young woman, Xia Zhao, fighting another grotesque, rotting Vicious Hound. She warns him that it is a Blood Corruption Mutant Beast, likely at least A-level—far stronger than an ordinary D-level beast.
• Xia Zhao orders Li Yuan to escape and report the mutation, explaining that such creatures resemble the mutated Blood Wolves responsible for the massacre of Qijia Town forty years earlier.
• Although Xia Zhao is poisoned, exhausted, and close to death, she continues fighting to buy Li Yuan time. Li Yuan unexpectedly returns, stabs the beast, blinds or disorients it with mud, and rescues her.
• He reveals that there is another mutated Vicious Hound outside, making escape even more difficult. Rather than abandon Xia Zhao, he carries her on his back and leads the pursuing beast toward an area filled with War Spider silk.
• The webbing slows the beast, allowing Li Yuan and Xia Zhao to gain distance. However, the monster quickly begins breaking free, and their survival remains uncertain.
• The chapter ends with Li Yuan deliberately—or seemingly accidentally—falling into wet mud while carrying Xia Zhao, leaving both of them filthy and disheveled.

Character Development

• Li Yuan demonstrates composure, adaptability, and practical intelligence. He uses scent masking, terrain, mud, spider traps, and evasive movement rather than relying solely on strength.
• He also shows courage and compassion by returning to save Xia Zhao, despite knowing that facing the mutant beast could cost him his life. His decision is partly motivated by his desire to learn what Xia Zhao knows about the creatures.
• Xia Zhao is revealed to be a powerful martial artist, probably around Seventh Grade in strength, but she is weakened by poison and prolonged combat. Her confidence collapses into resignation as she assumes she will die and urges Li Yuan to abandon her.
• Her view of Li Yuan begins to shift when she witnesses his highly refined Cloud Treading Step and resourcefulness, though she remains pessimistic about their chances.

Themes

• Survival through intelligence: Li Yuan survives by exploiting terrain, smells, mud, and webbing instead of attempting to overpower a vastly stronger enemy.
• Courage and self-sacrifice: Xia Zhao sacrifices herself to transmit the warning, while Li Yuan risks his life to prevent her from dying alone.
• The danger of mutation: The Blood Corruption mutation produces Fierce Beasts far stronger and more savage than their normal classifications suggest, recalling the historical Blood Wolf massacre.
• Hope versus despair: Xia Zhao has accepted death, while Li Yuan continues searching for practical solutions even when the odds appear hopeless.
• Appearance versus reality: Li Yuan’s muddy, seemingly clumsy actions appear ridiculous, but they are tactical choices that may keep them alive.

Character Interactions

• Xia Zhao initially commands Li Yuan to flee and report the mutation, prioritizing the survival of the information over her own life.
• Li Yuan ignores her wishes, returns to attack the beast, and carries her away when she can no longer run.
• Xia Zhao protests that rescuing her will only slow him down, but Li Yuan calmly explains that another beast is waiting outside.
• Their relationship develops through crisis: Xia Zhao contributes vital knowledge about the mutants, while Li Yuan provides the practical leadership and movement needed to escape.

Chapter Summary: “Xia Zhao”

Key plot points and events

After escaping the Mutant Hound, Li Yuan carries the exhausted Xia Zhao deep into the wilderness. They reach an abandoned Observation Station on the outskirts of old Qijia Town, more than a hundred li from their intended route. Li Yuan hides their tracks, secures the blast door, and uses the station’s strong structure and lookout points to protect them through the night. Xia Zhao eventually wakes, and they wait until daylight before discussing their situation.

Character developments

Li Yuan demonstrates practicality, caution, and responsibility. Although filthy and exhausted, he focuses on concealing their presence and protecting Xia Zhao. His encounter with the Mutant Hound deepens his understanding of the overwhelming physical power and aggression of Fierce Beasts. He also gives Xia Zhao a false identity connected to Wuling Education to avoid implicating Deputy Director Zeng Chang.
Xia Zhao recovers somewhat but remains weak after losing her luggage and medicine. She reveals that she is thirty years old, an Eighth-Rank martial artist at her current level, and capable of briefly matching a Ninth-Rank expert at her peak. Her strength and experience make her a crucial ally, though she is reluctant to discuss the Mutant Beasts in detail.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes survival through caution, cooperation, and information-sharing. It contrasts humanity’s dependence on martial cultivation with the natural physical superiority of Fierce Beasts. The loss of communication signals introduces the possibility that the beast mutations are not accidental but deliberately engineered by an unknown organization, suggesting a larger human conspiracy behind the disaster. The chapter also highlights the moral responsibility of avoiding unnecessary trouble for those who helped Li Yuan.

Character interactions

Li Yuan and Xia Zhao initially remain silent and awkward after spending the night together in hiding. They exchange names and share food, gradually establishing trust. Xia Zhao explains that fleeing north may have been safer geographically, but Li Yuan points out that the communication blackout makes the situation suspicious. They conclude that the crisis may be man-made rather than natural. Xia Zhao refuses to reveal details about the Mutant Beasts but agrees to answer other questions. Their discussion of her strength leads to lighthearted banter about being thirty-year-old “middle-aged” people, easing the tension and strengthening their partnership.

Chapter Summary: “A Way to Survive”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan reflects on how age affects people’s judgments of martial talent. At thirty, he had been considered a failed cultivator after remaining stuck at Fourth Grade, despite now demonstrating impressive combat ability.
• He accepts Xia Zhao’s claim that she is an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist, having witnessed her contend with a Mutant Beast capable of killing Ninth-Rank fighters.
• Li Yuan gives Xia Zhao his last three bottles of B-grade Nutrient Fluid. Though extremely valuable to him, the supplies are crucial to her survival and recovery from the poison.
• After the mud covering them dries, the two finally get a clear look at one another. Xia Zhao appears beautiful and noble, while Li Yuan deliberately presents himself as an older, ordinary teacher.
• Xia Zhao questions why Li Yuan came to Qijia Town, since his mastery of combat techniques and pinnacle-level Cloud Treading Step seem far beyond what would be expected of someone training there. Li Yuan truthfully says he came to train and improve his practical combat ability, though she remains suspicious.
• During their first day trapped in the Observation Station, Xia Zhao focuses on recovering from the poison while Li Yuan guards the surroundings and conducts inspections outside.
• Li Yuan recognizes that the station is not truly safe. Fierce Beasts may enter the area, and the Mutant Beast attack appears connected to human intervention. He hides his phone and considers using it as bait in case it can be tracked.
• The two establish a practical division of labor: Li Yuan handles security and provides most of the supplies, while Xia Zhao rests and cultivates. Their first night passes without incident.
• By the next dawn, Xia Zhao’s condition has worsened rather than improved. Li Yuan suggests she change into clean clothes, both to make her more comfortable and to allow him to inspect her injuries.
• Xia Zhao hesitates but eventually changes in front of Li Yuan, understanding that their desperate circumstances have stripped away ordinary embarrassment and that he is concerned with her survival rather than impropriety.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Reveals himself as cautious, self-sacrificing, practical, and more capable than his reputation suggests. He gives up precious resources, prioritizes Xia Zhao’s recovery, remains alert to external threats, and applies knowledge from books to real wilderness survival. His modesty and awareness of social boundaries contrast with his growing confidence in his abilities.
• Xia Zhao: Is established as a powerful but currently vulnerable Eighth-Rank martial artist. Her poisoning leaves her dependent on Li Yuan, creating a rare position of weakness. She becomes increasingly aware that Li Yuan’s abilities and background do not match his appearance as an ordinary teacher.
• Their relationship: The initial distance between them begins to shift toward cooperation and trust. Their survival requires mutual dependence, though Xia Zhao still doubts Li Yuan’s true capabilities and motives.

Significant Themes

• Age versus ability: Society judges martial potential by early achievement, but Li Yuan’s present capabilities challenge the assumption that late development means no talent.
• Self-sacrifice and survival: Li Yuan gives Xia Zhao scarce supplies because her recovery is essential to both of them, showing how survival replaces conventional social rules.
• Appearances versus reality: Li Yuan looks like an unremarkable middle-aged teacher despite possessing exceptional combat skills, while Xia Zhao’s noble appearance conceals her current physical weakness.
• Trust under pressure: Isolation and danger force the two strangers to cooperate before they fully understand one another.
• Knowledge applied in practice: Li Yuan’s book learning becomes valuable through his environmental inspections, resource management, and strategic thinking.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Xia Zhao exchange cautious observations and questions while trapped together.
• Xia Zhao praises and questions Li Yuan’s combat abilities, while he responds honestly but does not reveal more than necessary.
• Li Yuan offers her his nutrient fluids and supplies, establishing a practical but meaningful act of trust.
• They divide responsibilities according to their conditions: Li Yuan guards and investigates, while Xia Zhao recovers.
• Xia Zhao’s decision to change clothes in front of Li Yuan reflects the intimacy and vulnerability created by their life-threatening situation, while Li Yuan’s attention remains focused on assessing her condition.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan examines Xia Zhao and discovers a spreading, infected wound caused by Mutant Beast venom. The injury has numbed part of her skin and severely weakened her immune system.
• Determined to help her, Li Yuan leaves the Observation Station to search for medicinal herbs using information from the Border Records.
• After spending over nine hours searching the wilderness, he returns with suitable herbs despite being exhausted and dirty. He chews them into a paste and applies them to Xia Zhao’s wound.
• By the following morning, the wound has begun to scab over, and Xia Zhao has regained some sensation. Her hope of survival increases.
• Li Yuan continues treating her while maintaining watch over the dangerous wilderness. Xia Zhao cultivates and rests, while the two gradually become more familiar with each other.
• During their third day in hiding, they spend their rest periods discussing martial cultivation, Fierce Beast combat, cultivation methods, and techniques for advancing from Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade.
• Xia Zhao is surprised to learn that Li Yuan still practices the basic Zhou Tian Dao Yin Technique despite his impressive blade intent and Cloud Treading Step.
• She attempts to instruct him in blade techniques and other martial skills, but the discussion reverses: Li Yuan quickly identifies the principles and weaknesses of techniques she explains, revealing an extraordinary ability to comprehend martial arts.

Character Development

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates compassion, responsibility, perseverance, and practical intelligence by risking himself to search for medicine. His extraordinary comprehension becomes increasingly evident: he can instantly understand complex martial techniques, recognize their key principles, and even notice flaws in Xia Zhao’s interpretations.
• Xia Zhao: Initially pessimistic about her chances of survival, she regains hope when Li Yuan’s treatment works. She becomes more open and cooperative, freely sharing her hard-earned martial experience. Her perception of Li Yuan shifts from seeing him as merely capable to recognizing him as an exceptional martial genius.
• Their relationship: The forced sheltering situation leads to growing trust and familiarity. Xia Zhao begins to admire Li Yuan’s appearance, dedication, and talent, while Li Yuan treats her as both someone to protect and an invaluable source of instruction.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance and hope: Li Yuan’s willingness to search all day for medicine gives Xia Zhao a chance to survive when she had nearly lost hope.
• Knowledge and practical experience: The chapter emphasizes that survival and martial advancement require more than raw strength; knowledge of herbs, combat, and cultivation is essential.
• Extraordinary talent: Li Yuan’s ability to understand techniques simply by hearing them explained suggests a rare, possibly unmatched comprehension.
• Mutual learning: Although Xia Zhao initially acts as the teacher, their discussions become an exchange in which Li Yuan’s insight may surpass even her extensive experience.
• Trust formed under hardship: Shared danger, care, and honest instruction steadily deepen their bond.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan carefully examines Xia Zhao’s wound and treats her with practical concern, while Xia Zhao cooperates and later helps watch over him as he rests.
• Xia Zhao openly teaches Li Yuan about Fierce Beasts, Fifth- and Sixth-Grade advancement, and blade techniques.
• Their instructional conversation unexpectedly becomes a mutual analysis of martial arts, with Li Yuan correcting Xia Zhao and demonstrating a deeper understanding of techniques she has practiced herself.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan and the injured Xia Zhao spend nearly two hours discussing martial techniques before resting and conserving their limited food and energy.
• Li Yuan continues treating Xia Zhao’s infected wounds. Over several days, her condition steadily improves, and the poison in her body is eventually completely purged.
• For six days, Li Yuan leaves the Observation Station for about two hours each day to scout the surroundings. Although he is wary of Fierce Beasts, he is more concerned about the unknown people and faction responsible for their predicament.
• Li Yuan remains determined to survive because he has earned a place in the Youth Martial Tournament and still has unresolved regrets.
• Xia Zhao gives Li Yuan a flash drive containing the mysterious Heavenly Refining Body cultivation method, which her family obtained but no one—including several Grandmasters—could understand.
• Xia Zhao recounts how the technique caused four Grandmasters to nearly fight over it, only for everyone to conclude that it might be meaningless nonsense.
• Their food and water supplies fall to roughly one-third of their original amount, increasing the pressure to escape.
• On the sixth night, Xia Zhao begins cultivating, recovering, and sleeping beside Li Yuan because his presence gives her an unusual sense of security.
• By the seventh day, Xia Zhao is free of the poison and can focus entirely on restoring her Eighth-Rank Martial Dao strength. She tries to give Li Yuan more food, but he insists that she conserve her strength because their escape will ultimately depend on her.
• Xia Zhao teasingly feeds Li Yuan and asks whether he is worried about someone waiting for him at home. His answer—that only his parents are waiting—leaves her quietly relieved, though he rejects the extra food because it would not enable him to defeat a Mutant Beast.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan becomes increasingly resolute and practical. He carefully scouts for danger, manages their supplies, treats Xia Zhao, and prioritizes her recovery despite his own weaker strength.
• His exceptional comprehension becomes clearer: although he cannot offer Xia Zhao much help with ordinary martial techniques, he can understand and solve difficulties in her highly complicated Feather Blade technique.
• Xia Zhao gradually recovers from her injuries and poisoning, moving closer to regaining her former Eighth-Rank strength.
• She becomes more relaxed and playful around Li Yuan, revealing a side of herself that contrasts with her usual aloof and composed personality.
• Xia Zhao also develops emotional dependence on Li Yuan’s presence, finding security beside him despite being far stronger than he is.
• Her reaction to the possibility that Li Yuan might have a wife or family suggests that she has developed personal feelings for him, though she does not openly acknowledge them.

Significant Themes

• Survival and perseverance: Both characters conserve resources, endure isolation, and remain focused on escaping alive.
• Trust and companionship: Their shared hardship gradually creates mutual trust and emotional closeness.
• Strength versus dependence: Although Xia Zhao is vastly stronger, she relies on Li Yuan for medical care, planning, insight, and emotional security.
• The limits of knowledge: The Heavenly Refining Body demonstrates that even the world’s greatest martial artists can be baffled by obscure or seemingly nonsensical techniques.
• Unusual talent and comprehension: Li Yuan’s ability to understand difficult martial principles hints that his intellectual potential may exceed his current martial rank.
• Romantic tension: Teasing, embarrassment, physical proximity, and Xia Zhao’s concern about Li Yuan’s relationship status create understated romantic undertones.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Xia Zhao spend their watch periods discussing martial arts, with Li Yuan unexpectedly helping her overcome long-standing problems in the Feather Blade technique.
• Xia Zhao trusts Li Yuan enough to give him the mysterious cultivation method and move her sleeping and cultivation activities beside him.
• Their interactions become increasingly playful: Xia Zhao notices Li Yuan’s embarrassment when he accidentally sees her figure in his oversized clothes and secretly enjoys teasing him.
• When Xia Zhao offers Li Yuan part of her food, she jokingly questions whether someone is waiting for him at home. His response reveals that he has no partner, causing her visible relief and nervousness.
• Despite her stronger position, Xia Zhao accepts Li Yuan’s care and judgment, while Li Yuan consistently places her recovery and survival above his own comfort.