Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Stop Saying Such Mindless Things”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Youth Martial Tournament attracts unprecedented attention because of Li Yuan’s outstanding performance and the tournament’s broader economic consequences.
• Lingshan City finishes tenth overall, securing a likely inspection from the provincial Economic Inspection Team and the possibility of increased policy support.
• Li Yuan’s victory is crucial: had Jin Fan used the qualification instead, Lingshan City would likely have ranked around twenty-first instead of tenth.
• Li Yuan’s reputation improves dramatically. Students, teachers, and parents who previously doubted him begin praising and supporting him.
• At Lingshan No. 1 High School, Director Ma and Li Yuan’s friend Chen Yong are especially pleased. Director Ma recognizes both Li Yuan’s teaching ability and his unexpectedly strong martial performance.
• In the principal’s office, Principal Yin and the school administrators struggle to accept Li Yuan’s results. Director Liu initially suggests that the results may be questionable, but Principal Yin angrily rejects the idea, pointing out that rival cities would have protested if anything were wrong.
• Despite accepting the official results, Principal Yin continues to insist that Li Yuan has limited martial potential and will likely peak at the fifth grade.
• Director Liu plans to influence the school’s opinion by emphasizing Li Yuan’s supposed limitations, especially during the upcoming rematch between Li Yuan and Gu Yu.
• Outside the tournament venue, public discussion focuses heavily on Jin Fan, whose earlier competition with Li Yuan for the qualification has now become embarrassing. He is under growing scrutiny after ranking below Li Yuan.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: His victory proves that his abilities far exceed the school leadership’s previous assessment. His reputation shifts from that of an underestimated teacher to a champion admired by students and colleagues. His mastery of fundamentals and teaching expertise are now widely recognized.
• Principal Yin: Rather than revising his judgment, he becomes defensive and determined to preserve his authority. He accepts the result but minimizes Li Yuan’s talent and potential.
• Director Liu: Reveals himself as an opportunistic flatterer who supports Principal Yin’s interpretation and offers to manage public perception against Li Yuan.
• Director Ma: Becomes more convinced of Li Yuan’s value as both a teacher and martial artist, even considering him a better future instructor for his own child than the school’s Advanced Class.
• Chen Yong: Is openly delighted by Li Yuan’s success, especially because the confirmed victory validates his earlier support of his friend.
• Jin Fan: His status is weakened by finishing below Li Yuan after previously competing for the qualification. Public attention now places pressure on him.
• Students and teachers: Many who once criticized Li Yuan quickly become supporters, illustrating how strongly success affects public opinion.

Significant Themes

• Recognition after success: People readily support champions while abandoning earlier criticism, revealing the fickleness of public opinion.
• Institutional pride and threatened authority: Li Yuan’s achievement benefits the city but threatens Principal Yin’s credibility because it contradicts his earlier assessment.
• Jealousy and denial: Instead of acknowledging Li Yuan’s potential, school leaders attempt to explain away his success through his strong fundamentals and supposedly easy tournament conditions.
• Merit versus reputation: Li Yuan’s actual performance overturns the assumptions made about him based on his position as a teacher and his previous reputation.
• Political and economic consequences: The tournament is not merely a sporting event; Lingshan City’s ranking may affect inspections, policy support, employment, and local income.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and the school community: Although Li Yuan is not present in most of the chapter, his victory reshapes how students and teachers view him.
• Director Liu and Principal Yin: Liu tries to reinforce Yin’s preferred interpretation, while Yin directs him to undermine Li Yuan’s reputation through the upcoming Gu Yu rematch.
• Director Ma and Chen Yong: Both celebrate Li Yuan’s success, with Ma admiring his professional qualities and Chen Yong enjoying the vindication of having supported him.
• Principal Yin and the vice principals: The vice principals echo Yin’s belief that Li Yuan’s potential is limited, helping maintain his authority.
• Li Yuan and Jin Fan: Their earlier rivalry over the tournament qualification gains new significance after Li Yuan wins the championship and Jin Fan finishes below him.
• Li Yuan and Gu Yu: Their coming rematch is positioned as the next major event and as an opportunity for Li Yuan’s opponents to challenge or discredit him.

Summary of “Old Yan Steps In Again”

Key plot points and events

• Jin Fan faces widespread criticism after the tournament. Many people claim he lacks ability and only participated by taking someone else’s qualification. Some even conclude that he is weaker than champion Li Yuan.
• Gu Yu’s defeat by Li Yuan’s Cloud Extreme Fist is cited as further proof that Jin Fan and his martial lineage are inferior.
• The Youth Martial Tournament awards ceremony begins. The top three cities receive honorary trophies, while the individual winners receive more valuable resource-based rewards.
• Li Yuan receives first place and is awarded an A-level longsword, a prize valuable both as a weapon and as something that could be sold or exchanged.
• Yan Ge, the tournament’s chief referee, gives the closing remarks and warns that future tournaments will tighten their rules, likely banning qualification substitutions.
• The tournament’s results are expected to bring major economic benefits to the highest-ranking cities, including inspections and a share of the Southeast Region’s twelve-billion investment. Li Yuan’s victory also improves his standing with Lingshan City’s government and may lead to a promotion and salary increase.
• Before the Lingshan delegation leaves, Jin Fan blocks their path and challenges Li Yuan to a ten-move match. He demands that Li Yuan admit the difference in their strength and give up the Lanwu Team trial opportunity if Jin Fan wins.
• Old Yan intervenes, arguing that Li Yuan has no obligation to fight simply because Jin Fan wants to challenge him. He compares the situation to people challenging Jin Fan’s mentor, Yao Jianyue, and points out that Yao cannot accept every challenge.
• Unable to argue with Old Yan, Jin Fan threatens Li Yuan, warning that he will seriously injure him if they meet elsewhere.
• Li Yuan ignores the threat, thanks Old Yan, and leaves with the Lingshan group. He sees no reason to accept a fight offering no benefit and carrying significant risk.
• After the area empties, Old Yan remains behind and calls Secretary Hong, suggesting that he intends to report or discuss the incident.

Character developments

• Jin Fan: His anger and wounded pride become increasingly obvious. Rather than accepting criticism, he tries to prove himself through confrontation and attempts to use the crowd and media pressure to force Li Yuan into a match. When challenged by Old Yan’s logic, he becomes threatening, revealing his impulsiveness and inability to accept defeat or public humiliation.
• Li Yuan: His victory strengthens both his reputation and his political value to Lingshan City. He remains calm and practical, refusing to be provoked by Jin Fan’s insults or threats. His decision not to fight shows maturity and confidence rather than fear.
• Old Yan/Yan Ge: He continues to act as a strict, outspoken authority figure. He protects the tournament’s rules and Li Yuan’s right to refuse an unnecessary challenge, decisively silencing Jin Fan. His later call to Secretary Hong hints at further action behind the scenes.
• Gu Yu: Although absent from the immediate confrontation, his earlier loss is repeatedly used to judge Jin Fan and their martial school, making him part of the ongoing dispute.
• Yao Jianyue: His status as a powerful grandmaster is invoked in Old Yan’s argument. The comparison emphasizes that even a renowned martial artist cannot be expected to accept every challenge.

Significant themes

• Pride versus restraint: Jin Fan allows humiliation to drive him toward confrontation, while Li Yuan demonstrates self-control by refusing to fight on unfavorable terms.
• The misuse of public opinion: The crowd and media encourage conflict not out of genuine support, but because they enjoy gossip and spectacle.
• Rules and fairness: The tournament’s organizers recognize flaws in the qualification system and plan reforms to ensure competitors earn their places themselves.
• Power and social consequences: Li Yuan’s victory affects not only his martial reputation but also city investment, government careers, and his own future prospects.
• Threats versus real strength: Jin Fan relies on intimidation after failing to win the verbal exchange, whereas Li Yuan’s indifference shows that genuine confidence does not require constant proof.
• Authority and responsibility: Old Yan’s intervention demonstrates the role of officials in preventing post-tournament conflict and protecting the integrity of the competition.

Important character interactions

• Jin Fan and the public: Jin Fan reacts defensively to widespread claims that he is weaker than Li Yuan and that his qualification was illegitimate.
• Jin Fan and Li Yuan: Jin Fan challenges and threatens Li Yuan, but Li Yuan refuses to engage, denying Jin Fan the confrontation he wants.
• Jin Fan and Old Yan: Their exchange is the chapter’s central confrontation. Old Yan dismantles Jin Fan’s justification for the match by comparing it to endless challenges against Yao Jianyue.
• Li Yuan and Old Yan: Li Yuan briefly thanks Old Yan for intervening, showing recognition of his support before calmly departing.
• Li Yuan and Lingshan officials: Their changed, more respectful attitudes reflect Li Yuan’s increased influence after winning the tournament.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Secretary Hong and Liu Moxing contact Yan Ge to praise his public speech and celebrate Jin Fan’s humiliating defeat in the Youth Martial Tournament.
• Yan Ge explains that he only supported Li Yuan because Li Yuan had a grudge against Jin Fan, not because he expected Li Yuan to actually surpass him.
• Liu Moxing appreciates Yan Ge’s honesty and invites him to dinner, signaling increased trust and a possible alliance with the Liu Family.
• Since the Liu Family and Yao Jianyue are rivals, Liu Moxing is pleased that Jin Fan—Yao Jianyue’s disciple—has been publicly embarrassed. He orders Secretary Hong to send Li Yuan a gift as a reward.
• Xia Zhao continues recovering at home after overexerting herself while fighting the Mutant Beast in Qijia Town. Her doctor advises two months of rest but eventually allows her to practice martial techniques at reduced intensity.
• Xia Zhao studies the Xia Family’s powerful technique, Feather Blade, and tests the theories Li Yuan taught her during their time in Qijia Town.
• Following Li Yuan’s advice, she modifies Feather Blade so that its scattered blades are no longer equal in strength. Most serve as distractions, while three concentrate the technique’s true power.
• The revised technique nearly doubles Feather Blade’s effectiveness, overcoming what had long been considered its unavoidable weakness.
• Just as Xia Zhao is practicing, a maid informs her that an urgent matter requires her attention.

Character Developments

• Yan Ge: Demonstrates political awareness by decisively aligning himself with the Liu Family despite risking Yao Jianyue’s displeasure. His refusal to exaggerate his role in Li Yuan’s success earns Liu Moxing’s respect and trust.
• Liu Moxing: Reveals his rivalry with Yao Jianyue and satisfaction at Jin Fan’s disgrace. He begins treating Li Yuan as someone worthy of recognition and reward.
• Li Yuan: Although absent from the chapter, his influence is central. His advice proves practically effective and shows his strong understanding of martial techniques.
• Xia Zhao: Develops from merely understanding Li Yuan’s theories to successfully applying them. Her recovery period becomes an opportunity for significant martial improvement, particularly in Feather Blade.
• Jin Fan: Suffers a major public defeat, losing not only to Li Yuan but also in comparison with Lingshan City’s performance after his departure.
• Yao Jianyue: Remains an off-screen rival whose conflict with the Liu Family motivates Liu Moxing’s satisfaction and actions.

Significant Themes

• Political alignment and pragmatism: Yan Ge recognizes that neutrality is impossible for people without sufficient power and chooses the side most likely to benefit his family.
• Merit and unexpected talent: Li Yuan, an ordinary teacher, surpasses a prestigious Grandmaster’s disciple, showing that status and reputation do not guarantee ability.
• Theory applied through practice: Xia Zhao validates Li Yuan’s ideas through experimentation, emphasizing that understanding can develop after successful application.
• Rivalry and public reputation: Jin Fan’s defeat matters not only because of the tournament result but because it is widely publicized, damaging his and Yao Jianyue’s standing.
• Innovation within tradition: Xia Zhao improves a respected family technique by changing its tactical structure rather than accepting its traditional limitation as permanent.

Character Interactions

• Yan Ge and Liu Moxing: Their conversation strengthens their political relationship. Liu Moxing rewards Yan Ge’s loyalty and honesty with an invitation to dine privately.
• Liu Moxing and Secretary Hong: Liu Moxing instructs him to arrange a gift for Li Yuan, recognizing Li Yuan’s role in humiliating Jin Fan.
• Xia Zhao and Li Yuan: Though Li Yuan is absent, their earlier discussions continue to shape Xia Zhao’s training. His advice enables her to transform Feather Blade into a more powerful and unpredictable technique.
• Liu Family and Yao Jianyue: Their longstanding rivalry intensifies as Liu Moxing exploits Jin Fan’s public failure to strike at Yao Jianyue’s reputation.

Chapter Summary

Xia Zhao learns that the Xia Family’s Third Granduncle, Xia Tai, has emerged from seclusion to “guide” the younger generation. Although he presents himself as a concerned elder, Xia Tai is selfish and manipulative, demanding excessive benefits in exchange for teaching the family the later stages of the Star-Shattering Sword Shadow technique. He is only a Seventh-Rank martial artist, but he exploits the elders’ fear that the ancestral technique will be lost.
Xia Zhao is no longer dependent on Xia Tai’s instruction. During her conversations with Li Yuan in Qijia Town, she received crucial insights into the technique and quickly mastered the third level, which Xia Tai had only partially taught her. With further effort, she believes she can master the fourth level as well, preserving the family’s inheritance and weakening Xia Tai’s leverage.
Despite her confidence in solving the martial-technique problem, Xia Zhao is preoccupied with Li Yuan. She has allowed unfamiliar phone numbers to reach her in case he calls, but the calls have only been from telemarketers. She worries that Li Yuan has forgotten her or feels unworthy of contacting her. She remains emotionally attached to him, remembering how he protected her in Qijia Town, and looks forward to secretly observing him during the upcoming Snow Shadow Mountain training. She also hopes to encourage him after hearing that “Jin Fan” performed embarrassingly at the Southeast Region Youth Martial Tournament, apparently referring to Li Yuan’s identity.
Xia Zhao confirms that the Snow Shadow Mountain qualification arranged for him will be delivered when he returns from the tournament. She then goes to the Xia Family’s garden and adjoining martial arena, where her younger cousins and grandparents are gathered. Her cousins appear troubled, while Xia Tai is also present, suggesting that his latest demands or a family dispute has already created tension.

Character Developments

• Xia Zhao: Becomes more independent and confident, having found a way to preserve Star-Shattering Sword Shadow without relying on Xia Tai. At the same time, her feelings for Li Yuan become more obvious; she misses him, worries about his confidence, and wants to support him.
• Li Yuan/Jin Fan: Though absent from the chapter, he is shown to have deeply influenced Xia Zhao through his martial insights and emotional connection with her. His poor tournament performance has apparently affected her strongly.
• Xia Tai: Is characterized as an exploitative elder who uses his limited knowledge of the family technique to demand benefits. His authority is beginning to erode because Xia Zhao has obtained the knowledge he once controlled.
• The Xia Family: The younger generation and elders are placed under pressure by Xia Tai’s latest demands, setting up an impending family conflict.

Significant Themes

• Tradition versus personal power: The Xia Family’s desire to preserve its ancestral technique allows Xia Tai to manipulate them.
• Knowledge as leverage: Martial understanding gives Xia Tai influence, but Li Yuan’s superior insight threatens to eliminate that advantage.
• Emotional concern and hidden affection: Xia Zhao’s repeated thoughts about Li Yuan reveal her growing attachment and willingness to protect and encourage him from a distance.
• Family duty and martial cultivation: The family’s commitment to developing martial artists reflects the broader social importance of martial strength and Fierce Beast resources.

Important Interactions

• Xia Zhao questions the housekeeper about Xia Tai’s latest demands and learns that the situation is unusually troublesome.
• She contacts a family representative to ask about Jin Fan’s Snow Shadow Mountain qualification and hears about his embarrassing tournament performance.
• Xia Zhao recalls her conversations with Li Yuan, whose guidance helps her master Star-Shattering Sword Shadow.
• At the end of the chapter, Xia Zhao reunites with her younger cousins, grandparents, and Xia Tai in the martial-arena garden, where the family’s unresolved trouble is about to unfold.

Chapter Summary: “Launch Day Reflections”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The author announces that the book has officially become a paid work and asks readers for first-day subscriptions.
• They reflect on the book’s development, explaining that editor Ziliang rejected several early openings before guiding them toward a stronger concept.
• After years of writing fantasy, the author deliberately changed genres and created a different kind of protagonist: an older man gradually entering middle age rather than a young lead.
• The book performed better than expected, reaching fourth place in its fantasy category—higher than any of the author’s previous rankings.
• However, the more thoughtful writing process has significantly slowed the author’s pace. The author expects to spend more time writing after monetization and push through creative difficulties.
• The author remains confident in the book’s long-term prospects, citing previous works that grew steadily and eventually achieved average subscriptions many times higher than their initial figures.
• The chapter ends with recommendations for two other writers’ books and another appeal for first-day support.

Character and Author Development

• The author demonstrates a willingness to leave behind a familiar, commercially safe genre in order to pursue creative growth.
• Their writing process has become more deliberate and demanding, requiring greater thought and reducing speed.
• Past experience with slow-starting books has made the author more patient, confident, and emotionally steady.
• The protagonist’s shift from a young man to a middle-aged figure represents a major change in character design and likely signals a more mature perspective.

Significant Themes

• Creative experimentation: The author values trying new genres and character types despite the risks.
• Perseverance: Progress may be slow, but continuing through obstacles is presented as essential.
• Long-term growth: Early rankings and subscriptions do not define a book’s eventual success.
• Writer-reader trust: The author promises to continue writing steadily and asks readers to support the work during its transition to premium status.
• Mentorship and community: The editor’s criticism and the recommendations of fellow authors highlight the importance of professional guidance and mutual support.

Character Interactions

• The author interacts indirectly with editor Ziliang, whose repeated rejection and questioning help shape the book’s opening and direction.
• The author addresses readers directly, reassuring them about the book’s future and requesting first-day subscriptions.
• The author also engages with fellow writers by promoting their books, emphasizing solidarity within the writing community.

Chapter Summary: “Cracking Star-Shattering Sword Shadow!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Tai visits the Xia Family to pressure them into accepting marriages he has arranged for two younger members of the family.
• Xia Zhao’s grandmother politely rejects his demands, arguing that marriage should be decided by the younger generation while offering him medicinal supplements to preserve goodwill.
• Xia Tai responds with both persuasion and veiled threats. He insists that family members who enjoy the Xia Family’s benefits must serve the family, and he threatens to withhold the secrets of the Star-Shattering Sword Shadow martial technique.
• Xia Zhao learns that Xia Tai’s proposed matches are unsuitable and motivated by his desire to obtain an S Grade serum injection, rather than by concern for the younger generation.
• When Xia Zhao challenges him, her grandfather reprimands her and orders her to apologize, fearing that Xia Tai’s knowledge of the martial technique might be lost.
• Xia Zhao reveals that she has already solved several of the technique’s most difficult points and accuses Xia Tai of deliberately withholding its true principles.
• Xia Tai mockingly challenges her to demonstrate her understanding, confident that she has only learned superficial forms like previous family members.
• Xia Zhao performs the technique and displays a genuine mastery of its third level, including the crucial “Sword Follows” stage. Her performance proves that she has understood the technique more deeply than Xia Tai himself.
• She declares that she has fully resolved the third level and is close to mastering the fourth, effectively removing Xia Tai’s leverage over the family.
• Her grandfather regains his authority and prepares to confront Xia Tai from a position of strength.

Character Developments

• Xia Zhao becomes more assertive and courageous. Although she initially respects family etiquette, she refuses to tolerate Xia Tai’s manipulation and openly defends her cousins.
• She is revealed to be an extraordinary martial talent, surpassing even her highly gifted father in comprehending Star-Shattering Sword Shadow.
• Xia Tai is shown to be manipulative, arrogant, and primarily interested in personal gain. His confidence collapses when Xia Zhao demonstrates genuine mastery of the technique.
• Xia Zhao’s grandparents are caught between protecting the younger generation and preserving access to the family’s martial inheritance. Her grandfather initially reprimands her but ultimately realizes that her achievement has freed the family from Xia Tai’s control.
• Xia Yao and the younger cousins are victims of Xia Tai’s coercion, being pressured into marriages to benefit him rather than themselves.

Significant Themes

• Family duty versus personal freedom: Xia Tai uses family loyalty to justify controlling the younger generation’s marriages, while Xia Zhao argues that personal choices should be respected.
• Manipulation and power: Knowledge of Star-Shattering Sword Shadow gives Xia Tai authority, but Xia Zhao’s mastery undermines his ability to control the family.
• True understanding versus superficial imitation: The technique’s third level cannot be mastered through copying movements alone; it requires grasping its deeper meaning.
• Youth surpassing tradition: Xia Zhao’s success suggests that the younger generation can exceed the accomplishments of their elders and challenge outdated power structures.
• Integrity versus self-interest: Xia Zhao acts to protect her cousins, while Xia Tai disguises his personal demands as service to the family.

Character Interactions

• Xia Zhao’s grandmother and Xia Tai engage in a polite but tense verbal exchange, with her grandmother refusing his marriage demands without openly insulting him.
• Xia Tai pressures the elders by threatening to withhold his martial knowledge.
• Xia Zhao directly confronts Xia Tai, while her grandfather attempts to maintain respect for the elder and prevent the dispute from worsening.
• Xia Tai provokes Xia Zhao into demonstrating the technique, expecting to expose her ignorance.
• Xia Zhao’s performance reverses the power dynamic: Xia Tai is silenced, the family head regains confidence, and the family’s dependence on Xia Tai is effectively broken.

Chapter Summary: “Real Power and Earning Merit”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Zhao’s Third Great-Uncle, Xia Tai, is exposed for attempting to trade the interests of the younger generation and the Xia Family’s resources for his own benefit.
• The Xia Family head, abandoning his previous tolerance, orders the family security team to arrest Xia Tai and place him under house arrest. Because Xia Tai knows restricted family cultivation techniques and martial skills, the family takes precautions to prevent him from leaking them.
• Xia Zhao is praised for solving the difficult problem surrounding Star-Shattering Sword Shadow. Her grandfather notes that even her highly talented father only partially understood the technique after three months of secluded study.
• Xia Zhao realizes that Li Yuan had casually revealed the secret of Star-Shattering Sword Shadow in Qijia Town. This makes her reevaluate him and recognize that she may have underestimated his comprehension and ability.
• Xia Zhao then demonstrates her improved Feather Blade technique. Her performance shocks the Xia Family head: although she is only an Eighth-Rank Martial Dao practitioner, her technique’s power is comparable to that of the family’s Ninth-Rank experts.
• The family head realizes that Xia Zhao has not merely preserved Feather Blade but substantially advanced it. He immediately orders meetings canceled and Xia Zhao’s father recalled, understanding that the discovery could transform the entire Xia Family’s strength.
• Meanwhile, Li Yuan travels home by bus and high-speed rail after the Youth Martial Tournament. Director Zeng explains the political value of the tournament and the importance of earning merit.
• Director Zeng reveals that Jin Fan’s rise from a grassroots position came from accumulating merit, and that the upcoming Lanwu Trial is another major opportunity. Since Li Yuan won first place in his sector, he qualifies to participate.
• As the journey ends, Li Yuan reflects on Xia Zhao and wonders whether winning the tournament proves that he now possesses genuine ability.

Character Developments

• Xia Tai is exposed as increasingly selfish and ambitious. His confidence grew after younger family members failed to solve the martial-skill problem, but his plans collapse once Xia Zhao succeeds. He is left pale and despairing as he is taken away.
• Xia Zhao demonstrates exceptional comprehension and martial talent. She moves from merely inheriting family techniques to improving them, establishing herself as a transformative figure for the Xia Family.
• The Xia Family head and his wife shift from tolerance toward Xia Tai to firm condemnation. They also begin treating Xia Zhao as someone capable of changing the family’s future rather than simply as a talented descendant.
• Li Yuan remains humble and composed despite his victory. He treats others politely, avoids arrogance, and begins to recognize that his tournament success may grant him greater influence and opportunities.
• Director Zeng acts as Li Yuan’s mentor, explaining the connection between merit, institutional power, promotion, and political influence.

Significant Themes

• Merit as the foundation of authority: Background and connections may provide opportunities, but real power ultimately depends on achievements that cannot be ignored.
• Talent and comprehension: Xia Zhao’s rapid mastery shows that genuine understanding can surpass years of conventional study.
• Tradition versus advancement: The Xia Family has preserved its techniques for generations, but Xia Zhao’s improvements demonstrate that established methods can still evolve.
• Family loyalty and betrayal: Xia Tai’s attempt to exploit family resources violates the expectations placed on family members and leads to his removal.
• Humility after success: Li Yuan’s refusal to become arrogant contrasts with Xia Tai’s growing greed and shows a more mature approach to influence.
• The value of networks and recognition: The Youth Martial Tournament is not merely a contest; it creates connections, builds reputation, and opens access to higher-level trials and positions.

Important Character Interactions

• The Xia Family head confronts Xia Tai indirectly through his order to security, making clear that Xia Tai has lost the family’s trust and protection.
• Xia Zhao’s grandparents praise and worry over her, showing both pride in her talent and concern for her safety.
• Xia Zhao’s demonstration of Feather Blade changes the family head’s attitude from admiration to urgent strategic planning.
• Xia Zhao mentally compares Li Yuan’s casual revelation of Star-Shattering Sword Shadow with her family’s difficulty mastering it, deepening her respect for him.
• Director Zeng explains to Li Yuan how Jin Fan’s merit enabled him to overcome better-connected rivals, helping Li Yuan understand the broader significance of his tournament victory.
• The chapter ends by linking Xia Zhao’s breakthrough and Li Yuan’s growing status, suggesting that both are entering a more influential stage of their development.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After winning the Youth Martial Tournament, Li Yuan is pleased with his results but remains conscious of the enormous gap between himself and Xia Zhao, an exceptionally talented Eighth-Rank Martial Artist in her early thirties.
• He reflects that Xia Zhao belongs to the highest level of national prodigies, people who handle major crises and pursue difficult martial challenges rather than ordinary competitions.
• Li Yuan returns to Lingshan City by high-speed train. Other tournament participants try to befriend him and seek his future support, but he maintains polite distance.
• On the journey, Li Yuan plans his next steps: obtaining an Intermediate Teacher qualification, increasing his salary and bonuses, and finding a way to support his aging parents’ future medical needs.
• His attitude toward career advancement has changed. Once indifferent to promotions, he now recognizes that higher positions and stronger martial ability could provide the financial security needed to pursue the martial path without relying on part-time work.
• After arriving, Li Yuan cleans up and meets his friend Chen Yong for a celebratory barbecue dinner. Chen is thrilled by Li Yuan’s unexpected victory and asks him about rumors surrounding the tournament.
• Chen reveals that someone attempted to deliver ten bottles of B-grade Nutrient Fluid and three bottles of A-grade Nutrient Fluid to Li Yuan on behalf of “Little Director Liu,” an influential figure Li Yuan does not recognize.
• Chen also reports that Jin Fan, despite performing poorly in the tournament, received a rare training qualification for Snow Shadow Mountain—an opportunity Chen believes Jin obtained through luck and connections.
• Li Yuan and Chen jokingly complain about Jin Fan’s good fortune, easing their frustrations through casual conversation and alcohol.
• The chapter ends with Li Yuan proudly asking whether First High School now respects him more. Chen explains that Director Liu acknowledged Li Yuan but described his victory as the result of a solid foundation and basic abilities combined with luck.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Becomes more ambitious and practical. He still strives for martial advancement, but he now places greater importance on income, career promotion, and preparing financially for his parents’ possible medical needs. His victory gives him confidence, though he remains humble and aware of stronger figures like Xia Zhao.
• Xia Zhao: Though absent from the events, she is established as an elite prodigy whose extraordinary strength and responsibilities make her a distant benchmark for Li Yuan.
• Chen Yong: Acts as Li Yuan’s enthusiastic and loyal friend. He is proud of Li Yuan’s achievement, curious about the tournament, and openly jealous of Jin Fan’s undeserved opportunities.
• Jin Fan: Continues to benefit from exceptional luck and his connections as a Grandmaster’s disciple, even after underperforming in the tournament.
• Director Liu / “Little Director Liu”: Becomes an increasingly important off-screen figure, potentially connected to Li Yuan’s unexpected supply of valuable cultivation resources.

Significant Themes

• The gap between ordinary talent and true genius: Li Yuan’s success is impressive, but Xia Zhao’s achievements demonstrate how far the highest-level prodigies stand above him.
• Luck versus merit: Li Yuan wins through genuine ability but is still described as lucky, while Jin Fan receives major opportunities despite poor performance.
• Ambition and changing priorities: Li Yuan’s goals expand from simple martial improvement to financial stability, professional advancement, and family responsibility.
• Social status and recognition: Li Yuan’s tournament victory begins changing how his school and colleagues perceive him, though some still minimize his achievement.
• Friendship and emotional release: His relaxed conversation with Chen Yong allows Li Yuan to celebrate, discuss rumors, and vent frustrations in a way he cannot with more distant acquaintances.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan keeps his distance from fellow competitors who attempt to curry favor with him, preserving their dignity without becoming close.
• He and Chen Yong share a celebratory meal, with Chen asking detailed questions about the tournament and Li Yuan answering as a trusted friend.
• Chen informs Li Yuan about the mysterious cultivation resources and Jin Fan’s Snow Shadow Mountain opportunity.
• Li Yuan and Chen bond by teasing and criticizing Jin Fan, showing their comfortable, informal friendship.
• Their conversation also reveals the contrast between Li Yuan’s growing recognition and the school leadership’s attempt to explain away his success as luck.

Chapter Summary: “Celebration Banner”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Yong tells Li Yuan about a school leadership meeting where Director Liu tried to dismiss Li Yuan’s Youth Martial Tournament success as mere luck and questioned the value of his Talent.
• Other school officials, particularly Director Ma, mock Liu’s argument by pointing out that Lingshan City had performed poorly in the tournament for years; if luck alone determined results, the city should have benefited from it at least once.
• Li Yuan’s achievement gains broad support at First High School and throughout Lingshan City. His contribution is expected to bring him a promotion, higher salary, and official commendations.
• Li Yuan remains cautious, choosing to wait until Director Zeng’s promotion to bureau director is confirmed before making plans for his own future.
• Chen Yong stays with Li Yuan over the weekend, and the two continue studying cultivation methods and martial arts techniques for the upcoming provincial Open Class inspection.
• Li Yuan checks his Experience Points, which have risen to 74/500. He credits his [Flaw Insight] Talent with helping him identify the weaknesses of powerful Fierce Beasts and achieve unusually high killing efficiency during the tournament.
• Li Yuan reflects on Gu Yu, the nationally recognized college entrance examination champion who wants to challenge him after studying the Cloud Extreme Fist. Li Yuan is completely confident that Gu Yu cannot defeat him, even with a year of preparation.
• Director Zeng calls Li Yuan to arrange an intermediate professional title evaluation. Thanks to Li Yuan’s strength and Zeng’s assistance, he bypasses unnecessary administrative delays.
• Li Yuan completes the evaluation and officially gains the intermediate professional title the following day, which will also increase his salary.
• Director Zeng’s promotion to bureau director appears nearly certain because he accepted responsibility during the Youth Martial Tournament crisis and successfully resolved the Education Bureau’s problems.
• Returning to Lingshan No.1 High School, Li Yuan sees a large celebration banner. He initially assumes it commemorates his tournament victory, but discovers that it celebrates Jin Fan’s qualification to train at Snow Shadow Mountain instead.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Gains greater confidence in his abilities and future prospects. He recognizes the importance of his Talent and growing strength, but remains responsible toward his students and continues teaching rather than focusing only on personal cultivation. His intermediate professional title marks an important advancement in both his career and financial situation.
• Chen Yong: Continues to support Li Yuan and defend the significance of his victory. He also actively assists Li Yuan by practicing cultivation and martial arts techniques for the Open Class inspection.
• Gu Yu: Though absent, he remains positioned as Li Yuan’s rival. His efforts to master the Cloud Extreme Fist suggest ambition and dedication, but Li Yuan believes the gap between them is still overwhelming.
• Director Zeng: Emerges as a capable and courageous administrator. By taking responsibility during the crisis and producing results, he establishes himself as the strongest candidate for bureau director.
• Jin Fan: Receives major recognition from the school after earning the chance to train at the prestigious Snow Shadow Mountain, briefly overshadowing Li Yuan’s tournament victory in the school’s public celebration.

Significant Themes

• Merit versus political credit-taking: Director Liu attempts to reduce Li Yuan’s achievement to luck, but the broader community recognizes that his results came from genuine ability and effort.
• Institutional politics and recognition: Promotions, titles, and public praise depend not only on talent but also on how individuals handle crises and navigate bureaucratic systems.
• Growth and confidence: Li Yuan’s increasing strength and mastery of [Flaw Insight] widen the gap between him and potential rivals such as Gu Yu.
• Responsibility versus self-interest: Despite pursuing his own cultivation, Li Yuan continues to take his teaching duties seriously.
• Public recognition and rivalry: The banner demonstrates how schools use achievements to promote themselves, while also highlighting the contrast between Li Yuan’s major contribution and the school’s decision to celebrate Jin Fan instead.

Character Interactions

• Chen Yong recounts the leadership meeting to Li Yuan, reinforcing Li Yuan’s reputation and discussing the likely consequences of his success.
• Li Yuan and Chen Yong spend the weekend training together, combining friendship with professional preparation.
• Li Yuan and Director Zeng discuss Li Yuan’s title evaluation and Zeng’s likely promotion, showing mutual trust and practical cooperation.
• Li Yuan mentally compares himself with Gu Yu, viewing their future rivalry with confidence rather than concern.
• The chapter ends with an implicit contrast between Li Yuan and Jin Fan: although Li Yuan has achieved extraordinary tournament results, the school publicly chooses to celebrate Jin Fan’s Snow Shadow Mountain opportunity.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lingshan No.1 High School heavily publicizes Jin Fan’s opportunity to train at Snow Shadow Mountain, emphasizing that it is a rare honor normally obtained only through major national contributions.
• Li Yuan feels displeased by Jin Fan’s good fortune because of their strained relationship, though he remains outwardly calm.
• In the teachers’ office, colleagues discuss the value of Snow Shadow Mountain’s Cold-Energy Ice Spring. While it can greatly strengthen martial artists, only those with sufficient talent and physical foundations can endure its deeper regions.
• Rumors circulate that Jin Fan received the opportunity not merely because he is a Grandmaster’s disciple, but because he attracted the attention of a powerful family’s young woman. Chen Yong responds with sarcasm and resentment.
• Li Yuan begins teaching again after the Youth Martial Tournament. He decides to share his tournament experiences with Class Nine rather than immediately introduce new material, believing the lessons may benefit students who eventually face Fierce Beasts at the Border Front.
• The students respond enthusiastically, and some even appear to gain Light Points from the lesson.
• After class, Director Liu confronts Li Yuan outside the teachers’ office. He informs him that his Martial Dao match with Gu Yu has been scheduled for Saturday and will be attended by media reporters.
• Li Yuan refuses, saying he is unavailable. Director Liu argues that the match is necessary because online commentators are questioning Gu Yu and Jin Fan’s strength and irresponsibly claiming that Li Yuan is stronger than both of them.
• Director Liu’s real concern is protecting the school’s reputation and vindicating Principal Yin’s judgment, while Li Yuan sees no personal reason to participate.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Remains honest about his dislike of Jin Fan but avoids openly attacking him. He demonstrates humility and professionalism by continuing to interact normally with colleagues and focusing on teaching. His willingness to share real tournament experience shows growing responsibility toward his students. At the same time, he becomes more assertive by refusing to be pressured into a public match.
• Jin Fan: Gains considerable prestige through his Snow Shadow Mountain opportunity and remains associated with powerful connections and Grandmaster-level backing. His apparent arrogance continues to irritate Li Yuan and Chen Yong.
• Chen Yong: Shows strong loyalty to Li Yuan and resentment toward Jin Fan, repeatedly criticizing Jin Fan’s opportunity and status.
• Gu Yu: Appears alongside Jin Fan as Li Yuan’s scheduled opponent. His reputation has been damaged by public speculation, making the upcoming match important to him and the school.
• Director Liu: Acts as an authoritative representative of the school leadership. He frames the match as a matter of public responsibility, but his motives are largely tied to reputation, online opinion, and defending the administration.

Significant Themes

• Favoritism and unequal opportunity: Jin Fan’s privileged access to Snow Shadow Mountain highlights how connections, talent, and powerful patrons influence martial advancement.
• Public image versus personal interest: The school prioritizes media perception and institutional reputation, while Li Yuan questions why he should bear the burden of correcting public speculation.
• Humility and professionalism: Despite winning the Youth Martial Tournament, Li Yuan does not act superior and continues teaching and interacting with coworkers normally.
• Education through experience: Li Yuan’s tournament story gives students practical knowledge and motivation, emphasizing the value of firsthand experience.
• Resentment and social comparison: Jin Fan’s success intensifies the hostility between him and Li Yuan, while colleagues openly compare their achievements and opportunities.

Character Interactions

• Teachers gather around Li Yuan to discuss Jin Fan, with Chen Yong openly criticizing Jin Fan and others explaining the source of his opportunity.
• Li Yuan moderates Chen Yong’s complaints, acknowledging Jin Fan’s connections without pretending to admire him.
• Li Yuan connects meaningfully with his students by adapting his lesson to their interest in the tournament and sharing experiences relevant to their future dangers.
• Director Liu publicly pressures Li Yuan in the presence of Jin Fan, Gu Yu, students, and teachers, turning the scheduled match into a matter of school reputation and public spectacle.

Chapter Summary: “In the Name of a Teaching Assignment”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Liu informs Li Yuan that a martial match against Gu Yu has been scheduled for Saturday. Li Yuan refuses, arguing that he is unavailable and has no interest in a match that offers him no benefit.
• Director Liu accuses Li Yuan’s success in the Youth Martial Tournament of causing confusion among the school’s students about true martial strength.
• Li Yuan defends himself by pointing to concrete results: he defeated Gu Yu in a previous match, defeated Jin Fan in the Youth Martial Tournament, and is widely recognized online.
• Gu Yu and Jin Fan counter by emphasizing Jin Fan’s Snow Shadow Mountain training qualification, which they consider stronger evidence of talent and future potential.
• Principal Yin arrives and criticizes Li Yuan, claiming that his victories unfairly damage Gu Yu and Jin Fan’s reputations while he gains lasting prestige from even a single win.
• Principal Yin orders Li Yuan to participate, warning that refusing could harm the school’s teaching evaluations and national martial development.
• He reveals that the school has already arranged the match as an official martial-combat teaching assignment approved by the Municipal Education Bureau. Li Yuan and Gu Yu are designated as instructors.
• After learning that the assignment cannot easily be canceled, Director Zeng warns Li Yuan that refusal could result in a C rating, a frozen bonus, and serious damage to his promotion prospects.
• Although participation is also dangerous—especially if Li Yuan loses and undermines the prestige he gained from the Youth Martial Tournament—he appears to have no practical way to avoid the match.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan remains calm, defiant, and unwilling to accept the school’s framing of the match. He relies on objective results rather than reputation or qualifications, but his refusal places his teaching career at risk.
• Director Liu becomes openly angry and confrontational, presenting the match as necessary to correct students’ mistaken views about martial ability.
• Gu Yu is increasingly resentful of Li Yuan’s previous victory and admits that he regrets holding back during their earlier match. He believes he could have defeated Li Yuan decisively with his full strength.
• Jin Fan maintains a proud, superior attitude, using his Snow Shadow Mountain qualification to assert that he is more talented and promising than Li Yuan.
• Principal Yin reveals himself as politically calculating. He combines intimidation, persuasion, and administrative pressure to force Li Yuan into the match.
• Director Zeng sympathizes with Li Yuan but is unable to protect him because the teaching assignment was approved before he could intervene.

Significant Themes

• Objective achievement versus institutional recognition: Li Yuan trusts match results, while the school favors qualifications, reputation, and official judgment.
• Political manipulation and coercion: The school disguises a forced confrontation as an ordinary teaching assignment, using administrative rules to remove Li Yuan’s ability to refuse.
• Fame as power and vulnerability: Li Yuan’s victories have brought him prestige, but that same fame makes his possible defeat more damaging.
• Talent versus proven performance: The chapter contrasts Li Yuan’s tournament victories with Gu Yu and Jin Fan’s perceived long-term potential.
• Institutional interests versus individual fairness: The school claims to act for students and national strength, but its actions also protect the reputations and careers of favored martial artists.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan clashes verbally with Director Liu over the necessity and fairness of the match.
• Gu Yu challenges Li Yuan by citing Jin Fan’s training qualification, while Chen Yong defends Li Yuan and argues that he is being underestimated.
• Jin Fan mocks Li Yuan’s supporters and reinforces the divide between official recognition and public opinion.
• Principal Yin dominates the confrontation, belittling Li Yuan while presenting the match as both a duty and a test of his true ability.
• Director Zeng later explains the administrative consequences to Li Yuan, confirming that the school has maneuvered him into a situation where both acceptance and refusal carry serious costs.

Chapter Summary: About to Advance to the Fifth Grade Full Circle Realm!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Zeng calls Li Yuan to discuss the crisis surrounding Saturday’s scheduled match. He is deeply worried because Principal Yin’s actions appear to be part of a broader political effort within the Municipal Education Bureau to undermine both Li Yuan and Zeng.
• Principal Yin arranged the teaching assignment and match during the Youth Martial Tournament, originally hoping to force Li Yuan to fight Jin Fan. When Jin Fan was transferred, Gu Yu volunteered to challenge Li Yuan instead.
• Principal Yin and his allies assumed that Li Yuan would lose, allowing them to damage his reputation and strengthen their position. They failed to account for the possibility that Li Yuan might win.
• Li Yuan remains calm and does not plan extensive preparation. Based on their previous encounter, he believes Gu Yu has strong fundamentals as a Grandmaster’s disciple but lacks sufficient combat experience and adaptability.
• Chen Yong worries about the match, but Li Yuan reassures him that he is confident and reminds him of his strong performance in the Youth Martial Tournament.
• After work, Li Yuan reflects on his worsening conflict with Principal Yin. He recognizes that his success threatens Yin’s authority and influence over Lingshan No. 1 High School.
• At home, Li Yuan continues cultivating. His experience-point gains have slowed because he has been away from school, but his cultivation of the Heavenly Refining Body has progressed significantly.
• Li Yuan is currently at the Fifth Grade Mid-Realm and believes the A-grade Nutrient Fluid gifted by Young Master Liu will soon allow him to reach the Fifth Grade Full Circle Realm.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Displays increasing maturity, composure, and political awareness. Rather than reacting emotionally to Principal Yin’s hostility, he understands that competition for power and resources inevitably creates enemies. His confidence in defeating Gu Yu comes from both his superior understanding of Cloud Extreme Fist and his Flaw Insight Talent.
• Director Zeng: Revealed to be strongly invested in Li Yuan’s success. He sees Li Yuan as an important ally and potential supporter in his own future advancement, making the current political attack personally and strategically threatening.
• Principal Yin: Becomes increasingly antagonistic and calculating. His hostility stems not only from Li Yuan’s past challenge to his authority but also from fear that Li Yuan’s rising status will weaken his control over the school.
• Gu Yu: Established as technically skilled and well-trained but less capable in actual combat. His previous defeat by Li Yuan motivates him to seek a rematch and prove himself.
• Chen Yong: Shows concern for Li Yuan and anxiety over the politically sensitive match, but ultimately trusts Li Yuan’s ability.
• Young Master Liu: Though absent, his gift of A-grade Nutrient Fluid continues to support Li Yuan’s advancement.

Significant Themes

• Power struggles and institutional politics: The match is not merely a martial contest; it is part of a larger struggle between competing factions within the education system.
• Ambition versus established authority: Li Yuan’s rise threatens Principal Yin’s long-standing control, illustrating the resistance successful newcomers face from entrenched leaders.
• Calmness and maturity under pressure: Li Yuan’s composed response contrasts with Director Zeng’s anxiety and reflects his growth from an impulsive fighter into a strategic thinker.
• Preparation versus innate advantage: Li Yuan believes deep comprehension, combat experience, and special Talents outweigh Gu Yu’s formal training and prestigious lineage.
• Cultivation and gradual progress: The chapter emphasizes Li Yuan’s steady physical and martial development, especially through the Heavenly Refining Body and scarce resources.
• Simplicity despite success: Li Yuan’s continued preference for inexpensive food and clothing highlights his practical, grounded personality despite his rising fame and income.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Director Zeng: Their phone conversation establishes their alliance and mutual concern. Zeng wants to help Li Yuan both out of loyalty and because Li Yuan’s advancement benefits his own faction.
• Li Yuan and Gu Yu: Though they do not meet directly in this chapter, their previous battle shapes Li Yuan’s assessment of the upcoming rematch. Li Yuan believes Gu Yu’s limited combat experience will expose weaknesses.
• Li Yuan and Chen Yong: Chen Yong expresses concern about the match, while Li Yuan calms him and confidently assures him of his ability.
• Li Yuan and Principal Yin: Their conflict remains indirect but increasingly irreconcilable. Yin views Li Yuan’s success as a threat to his authority, while Li Yuan accepts the confrontation as an unavoidable result of competing for advancement.
• Li Yuan and Young Master Liu: Their relationship is represented through Liu’s valuable gift of nutrient fluid, which helps push Li Yuan toward his next realm breakthrough.

Chapter Summary: “Saturday Arrives”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Zhao’s father is urgently summoned home by his grandmother and brought to the Practice Room, where the Xia Family patriarch demonstrates a greatly improved version of the family’s Feather Blade technique.
• The evolved Feather Blade has overcome its traditional weakness—insufficient power against Fierce Beasts. Xia Zhao’s father struggles to reproduce it, managing only to copy its outward form.
• The Xia Family patriarch reveals that Xia Zhao developed the improved technique. Although she claims not to fully understand certain difficult aspects, she instinctively knows how to cultivate and modify them.
• Xia Cheng becomes suspicious that Xia Zhao’s recent advancement may be connected to Jin Fan, Yao Jianyue’s third disciple, whom Xia Zhao met in Qijia Town.
• The family discusses Xia Zhao’s growing independence and ability. The patriarch decides to grant her greater authority over the family’s resources, recognizing that her Martial Dao talent may have surpassed her father’s.
• The family also revisits the Qijia Town incident and the mysterious Mutant Beasts. Despite repeated investigations, they have found no clues, suggesting that a larger and more dangerous force may be involved.
• Meanwhile, Li Yuan continues attending school and secretly cultivating. By Saturday, his Martial Dao realm reaches Fifth Grade Perfection.
• Director Zeng meets Li Yuan to discuss the upcoming match with Gu Yu, which has been disguised as a teaching assignment. Avoiding the match could harm Li Yuan’s promotion, but losing could damage the reputation he gained from the Youth Martial Tournament.
• Li Yuan chooses to accept the challenge despite the risks. Director Zeng warns him that Gu Yu has spent this time studying his techniques and will be more difficult to defeat than before.
• On Saturday, Li Yuan travels to Lingshan No. 1 High School, where large crowds of students and media gather for the highly anticipated lesson-match.
• Paid promoters supporting Gu Yu and Jin Fan begin shaping public opinion online, claiming that Li Yuan’s previous victory over Gu Yu was largely due to luck and that Gu Yu had deliberately held back.

Character Developments

• Xia Zhao: Her Martial Dao talent is revealed to be extraordinary. She has improved the Feather Blade beyond what even her Grandmaster-level father can fully understand, establishing her as a rising force within the Xia Family.
• Xia Cheng: Initially skeptical of Xia Zhao’s accomplishments, he is forced to acknowledge her superiority in understanding and transforming martial techniques. He remains protective and distrustful of Jin Fan and Yao Jianyue.
• Xia Family Patriarch: Demonstrates foresight and confidence in Xia Zhao, deciding to expand her authority and resources rather than restrict her development.
• Xia Zhao’s Grandmother: Shows concern for Xia Zhao’s safety and continued interest in the unresolved Mutant Beast crisis.
• Li Yuan: Displays composure and determination by accepting a dangerous public challenge instead of avoiding it. His cultivation also advances rapidly to Fifth Grade Perfection.
• Director Zeng: Attempts to protect Li Yuan’s future but recognizes that every available choice carries consequences.
• Gu Yu: Though absent in person, he is presented as a more formidable opponent after deliberately studying Li Yuan’s martial techniques.
• Jin Fan: His reputation and connection to Xia Zhao become increasingly significant, while supporters use his name alongside Gu Yu’s to influence public opinion.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus conventional understanding: Xia Zhao’s ability to instinctively master and alter techniques challenges the traditional belief that comprehension must come before practice.
• Generational advancement: The Xia Family recognizes that Xia Zhao may lead them into a new era, surpassing the achievements of the previous generation.
• Public reputation and manipulation: Li Yuan’s coming match is not merely a contest of martial skill; media campaigns and paid posters attempt to reshape how the public interprets his previous victory.
• Courage under pressure: Li Yuan accepts a confrontation that could either strengthen or damage his future, refusing to hide from unavoidable risks.
• Unresolved danger: The lack of clues regarding the Mutant Beasts heightens the sense that the Qijia Town incident is part of a broader hidden threat.
• Family authority and independence: Xia Zhao’s family must decide how much control to retain as she grows capable of making decisions and advancing on her own.

Character Interactions

• Xia Zhao’s father and the Xia Family patriarch clash indirectly over the meaning of Xia Zhao’s achievement: the father cannot reproduce the technique, while the patriarch urges him to learn directly from her.
• Xia Cheng questions his parents about Xia Zhao’s recent experiences, especially her connection with Jin Fan, revealing both concern and suspicion.
• The patriarch reassures Xia Cheng that Xia Zhao is mature enough to make her own judgments and should not be overly controlled.
• Xia Cheng and his family discuss the dangers surrounding Qijia Town and the possibility that the Mutant Beast crisis is more serious than previously believed.
• Director Zeng advises Li Yuan about the risks of fighting Gu Yu, while Li Yuan calmly confirms that he will accept the match.
• The public conflict begins before the actual battle, with Gu Yu and Jin Fan’s supporters attempting to undermine Li Yuan’s reputation through online propaganda.

Chapter Summary: “Crossing Blades!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan arrives at Lingshan No.1 High School’s training field for the arranged Martial Combat Lesson. Principal Yin, the school leadership, and Director Zeng from the Municipal Education Bureau are present. Director Zeng makes it clear that he will supervise the match and protect Li Yuan from unfair treatment or rule violations.
• Gu Yu and Jin Fan arrive shortly before the match, relieved that Li Yuan has shown up.
• Gu Yu publicly asks Li Yuan to fight seriously and use all his abilities, including techniques beyond the Cloud Extreme Fist, so that Gu Yu’s eventual victory cannot be dismissed as dishonorable.
• Gu Yu admits that he lost their previous match but argues that he had not used his full strength and had deliberately allowed Li Yuan to win because Li Yuan knew the Cloud Extreme Fist.
• Li Yuan rejects Gu Yu’s attempt to erase the previous defeat, insisting that the loss remains a fact. Principal Yin supports Gu Yu and mocks Li Yuan for supposedly clinging to an old victory.
• Gu Yu demands that Li Yuan return Jin Fan’s Lanwu Trial qualification after losing, claiming that the dangerous trial would be unsuitable for him. Li Yuan counters by asking Jin Fan to wager his Snow Shadow Mountain training qualification instead.
• Jin Fan immediately accepts: if Li Yuan wins, Jin Fan will give him the Snow Shadow Mountain qualification; if Li Yuan loses, Jin Fan will receive the Lanwu Trial qualification.
• The school rushes to begin the match before Li Yuan can reconsider. Although presented as an educational lesson, everyone recognizes that it is really a hostile contest intended to determine superiority.
• At eleven o’clock, Li Yuan and Gu Yu begin fighting without weapons, using only fists, palms, and Movement Arts.
• Gu Yu reflects on their earlier conversation, in which Li Yuan predicted Gu Yu would surpass him in two months while Gu Yu claimed he could do so in one month. Thirty-two days have passed, and Gu Yu believes this match will prove he has finally surpassed Li Yuan.
• Li Yuan attacks first with the Extreme Speed Form of the Cloud Extreme Fist. Gu Yu responds with a highly regarded defensive palm technique, but Li Yuan quickly changes tactics and targets a small weakness near Gu Yu’s lower right abdomen.
• Gu Yu barely blocks the attack and retreats awkwardly, immediately sensing that the fight may be repeating the pattern of their previous encounter.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Remains calm and confident despite the public pressure and Principal Yin’s provocations. He refuses to let Gu Yu rewrite the history of their previous match and confidently accepts the wager involving the trial qualifications. His opening attack demonstrates sharp observation and precise knowledge of his opponent’s weakness.
• Gu Yu: Is determined to prove that his earlier defeat was accidental and that he has now surpassed Li Yuan. He appears confident and serious, but his composure begins to weaken when Li Yuan immediately identifies a flaw in his defensive technique.
• Jin Fan: Shows enthusiasm and confidence by accepting the wager at once, suggesting that he expects Gu Yu to win and wants the Lanwu Trial qualification for himself.
• Principal Yin: Continues to antagonize Li Yuan through public mockery, using the match to criticize Li Yuan’s past victory and pressure him into the contest.
• Director Zeng: Acts as a neutral supervisory figure and signals that the Municipal Education Bureau will ensure the match remains fair and compliant with regulations.

Significant Themes

• Reputation and past victories: The chapter explores how a single defeat can permanently affect a martial artist’s reputation, especially when later achievements fail to erase it.
• Pride and the need for recognition: Gu Yu is less concerned with simply winning than with proving that his victory is legitimate and that he has genuinely surpassed Li Yuan.
• Public pressure and spectacle: The match is surrounded by teachers, students, officials, and reporters, turning a private rivalry into a public test of status.
• Skill versus confidence: Gu Yu’s confidence is challenged when Li Yuan’s technical precision exposes a weakness in what is considered an elite defensive style.
• High-stakes competition: The wager over the Lanwu Trial and Snow Shadow Mountain qualifications raises the consequences beyond personal pride.

Character Interactions

• Director Zeng reassures Li Yuan that he will monitor the event and prevent unfair treatment.
• Gu Yu tries to control the narrative about their previous match, but Li Yuan directly contradicts him.
• Principal Yin sides with Gu Yu and uses the public setting to ridicule Li Yuan.
• Li Yuan and Jin Fan turn Gu Yu’s demand into a formal wager, with Jin Fan eagerly accepting.
• During the opening exchange, Li Yuan’s technical insight immediately unsettles Gu Yu, suggesting that their earlier battle may be repeating itself.

Summary of “Gu Yu’s Suffocation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After more than thirty days of studying the Cloud Extreme Fist and Grandmaster analyses, Gu Yu believes he has found a way to counter Li Yuan’s technique.
• Determined not merely to win but to win decisively, Gu Yu abandons his cautious approach and attacks first using his strongest combination of palm techniques and movement arts.
• His plan fails immediately: Li Yuan positions himself at the landing point of Gu Yu’s movement technique, disrupting the attack and forcing Gu Yu to halt or risk entering a dangerous trap.
• As the spar continues, Li Yuan repeatedly uses the Flowing Cloud Form to exploit flaws in Gu Yu’s movements. Gu Yu’s normally exceptional evasion skills instead seem to place him in increasingly dangerous situations.
• Gu Yu becomes hesitant and defensive, constantly retreating rather than attacking. The spectators are confused, though Jin Fan recognizes that Gu Yu is usually forced into this pattern when facing a stronger opponent.
• Li Yuan realizes that identifying an opponent’s weakness is not enough; one must also prevent the opponent from escaping or exploit the flaws exposed during retreat.
• Frustrated, Gu Yu suddenly unleashes the full power and speed of his Fifth Grade Full Circle Realm, hoping to overwhelm Li Yuan through force.
• Li Yuan matches him directly and even proves superior in strength and speed, largely because of the physical foundation gained from cultivating the Heavenly Refining Body.
• Li Yuan taunts Gu Yu by pointing out that Gu Yu’s prediction—that one month of study would allow him to surpass Li Yuan—has clearly failed.
• Li Yuan then demonstrates the true profundity of the Cloud Extreme Fist, chaining its transformations from extreme speed to extreme force. The rapid changes overwhelm Gu Yu, leaving him able only to defend instinctively.
• The passage ends with Li Yuan’s fist positioned directly before Gu Yu’s face, his fist momentum completely enveloping Gu Yu.

Character Development

• Gu Yu: Begins confident in his intellectual understanding of the Cloud Extreme Fist, but quickly becomes anxious, hesitant, and psychologically overwhelmed. His reliance on movement techniques, once his greatest advantage, becomes ineffective against Li Yuan’s ability to read flaws. His frustration escalates into a desperate attempt to win through raw power.
• Li Yuan: Displays remarkable calm, control, and tactical growth. Rather than relying solely on overwhelming strength, he studies how Gu Yu reacts to exposed weaknesses and uses the spar to deepen his understanding of real combat. His mastery of the Cloud Extreme Fist has advanced dramatically.
• Jin Fan: Shows insight into Gu Yu’s habits and recognizes that Gu Yu is struggling despite appearing to have opportunities.
• Principal Yin and the spectators: Serve as observers who initially misunderstand Gu Yu’s evasive behavior but gradually recognize that Li Yuan has gained the upper hand.

Significant Themes

• Theory versus practical mastery: Gu Yu’s research and theoretical understanding cannot match Li Yuan’s lived combat mastery.
• Reading and exploiting weaknesses: Finding a flaw is only the beginning; victory requires controlling the opponent’s escape routes or exploiting their reactions.
• Psychological pressure: Li Yuan’s calmness contrasts with Gu Yu’s growing anxiety, and this mental imbalance increasingly determines the fight.
• Foundational strength: Superior cultivation and physical conditioning can allow a fighter to dominate even when both combatants share the same realm.
• Adaptability and transformation: The Cloud Extreme Fist’s changing combinations make it difficult to counter through fixed analysis alone.

Character Interactions

• Gu Yu attempts to outmaneuver Li Yuan with coordinated palm attacks and movement techniques, but Li Yuan repeatedly anticipates and neutralizes him.
• Li Yuan calmly provokes Gu Yu by reminding him that his month-long prediction was wrong.
• Gu Yu responds with silence and mounting anger rather than confidence.
• Li Yuan then directly challenges Gu Yu’s understanding of the Cloud Extreme Fist by unveiling its deeper transformations, decisively reversing the assumptions behind Gu Yu’s strategy.

Chapter Summary: Lose Twice, Suffer for Two Lifetimes

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Martial Combat Lesson between Li Yuan and Gu Yu ends after only ten minutes, with Li Yuan decisively defeating Gu Yu.
• The result shocks the teachers and students, many of whom had expected Li Yuan to lose.
• Li Yuan proposes another match, indirectly mocking Principal Yin, who had previously suggested that Li Yuan was becoming arrogant after a single victory. The school leaders decline, recognizing that another fight would only further humiliate Gu Yu.
• Li Yuan publicly reminds Jin Fan of their agreement: if Gu Yu lost, Jin Fan would give Li Yuan his qualification to train at Snow Shadow Mountain.
• Jin Fan attempts to evade the promise, claiming that the qualification was granted to him personally and that he must first ask whether it can be transferred.
• He then uses his Movement Art to leave, effectively refusing to honor the agreement. Because the match and his promise were witnessed by the school and media, his reputation suffers despite his escape.
• The chapter reveals that Jin Fan’s Snow Shadow Mountain opportunity came through Xia Zhao, a prodigy of the Xia Family. Giving it to Li Yuan could cost Jin Fan Xia Zhao’s favor, explaining his refusal.
• Gu Yu remains stunned after the defeat. He realizes that Li Yuan not only exploited every weakness in his movement but also used the Cloud Extreme Fist at a level far beyond the original manual and existing scholarly interpretations.
• Before leaving, Li Yuan reminds Gu Yu of Principal Yin’s earlier words: losing once means suffering for a lifetime, so losing twice means suffering for two lifetimes.
• Director Zeng concludes the event with an encouraging speech, urging students to maintain confidence despite others’ doubts.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates overwhelming combat ability, strategic awareness, and confidence. He openly confronts Jin Fan and Principal Yin rather than allowing them to avoid responsibility. His mastery of the Cloud Extreme Fist is shown to exceed both the written manual and respected Grandmaster analyses.
• Gu Yu: Suffers a profound defeat and begins to recognize the enormous gap between himself and Li Yuan. His previous confidence in his knowledge of the Cloud Extreme Fist is shaken when he discovers that Li Yuan has eliminated the technique’s supposed weaknesses.
• Jin Fan: Reveals his unwillingness to honor a promise once its conditions turn against him. His anger and embarrassment deepen as Gu Yu loses, and he prioritizes preserving his relationship with Xia Zhao over keeping his public word.
• Principal Yin: His plan backfires completely. Instead of discrediting Li Yuan, he helps establish Li Yuan’s superiority and causes further damage to Gu Yu and Jin Fan.
• Director Zeng: Remains pleased with Li Yuan’s victory and reframes the brief match as a valuable lesson about perseverance and self-belief.

Significant Themes

• Self-confidence versus external judgment: Director Zeng emphasizes that others may doubt a person, but self-doubt is the most dangerous obstacle.
• Consequences of arrogance and manipulation: Principal Yin and Jin Fan attempt to use the match for their own purposes, but the result humiliates them and strengthens Li Yuan’s reputation.
• Promises and accountability: Li Yuan insists that Jin Fan honor his publicly stated agreement, while Jin Fan’s evasiveness exposes his lack of integrity.
• True mastery versus superficial knowledge: Gu Yu understands the theory and weaknesses of the Cloud Extreme Fist, but Li Yuan’s deeper comprehension allows him to transcend those limitations.
• Reputation and public scrutiny: Because the match is recorded and publicized, Jin Fan cannot easily escape the consequences of his refusal, even after physically leaving.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Gu Yu: Their brief fight establishes Li Yuan’s clear superiority. Li Yuan’s final remark directly taunts Gu Yu and connects his second defeat to Principal Yin’s earlier claim.
• Li Yuan and Jin Fan: Li Yuan publicly demands the Snow Shadow Mountain qualification, while Jin Fan offers excuses and retreats rather than fulfilling the agreement.
• Li Yuan and Principal Yin: Li Yuan subtly mocks Principal Yin by proposing another match and later uses Yin’s own words against him.
• Director Zeng and the students: Director Zeng transforms the humiliating confrontation into a motivational lesson, encouraging students to remain resilient and believe in themselves.

Chapter Summary: “Obstacles Turned into Help, Promotion Confirmed”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Zeng publicly praises Li Yuan after his victory in the Martial Combat Lesson, reversing the damage Principal Yin had previously caused to Li Yuan’s reputation.
• The match is officially recorded and archived by Lingshan No. 1 High School. Gu Yu realizes that his defeat will remain as a long-term teaching record, embarrassing him while further validating Li Yuan.
• Li Yuan’s performance disproves claims that his Youth Martial Tournament success was mostly due to luck. What could have harmed his promotion instead becomes strong evidence of his talent and potential.
• Director Zeng tells Li Yuan that he will continue pressing the issue of the Snow Shadow Mountain training qualification, reminding him that Li Yuan promised to honor his word publicly.
• Director Zeng invites Li Yuan to lunch to celebrate and introduces him to several trusted associates who may become part of his future administrative team.
• Li Yuan invites Chen Yong, a teacher who has consistently supported him, to join them.
• During lunch, Director Zeng explains that the Organization Department will soon assess Li Yuan and collect evaluations. If he passes, his promotion should proceed with little difficulty.
• Director Zeng also says that Li Yuan’s future position adjustment depends partly on the confirmation of Director Zeng’s own promotion, which now appears nearly certain.
• Director Zeng discusses helping Chen Yong advance by assigning him meaningful responsibilities and opportunities to earn merit.
• The chapter closes with the group recognizing that promotion is not the end goal: Director Zeng must improve the overall quality of Lingshan City’s students to maintain his position.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: His reputation and political standing improve significantly. His combat ability is publicly confirmed, and his promotion becomes highly likely. He also demonstrates loyalty by bringing Chen Yong into his circle and seeking opportunities for him.
• Director Zeng: He emerges as a capable supporter and political patron. He uses Li Yuan’s victory to strengthen both Li Yuan’s position and his own faction while beginning to build a trusted team.
• Chen Yong: His earlier support for Li Yuan, despite risking his own career, is rewarded. He moves from resignation and indifference toward renewed ambition after being offered a path to earn achievements.
• Gu Yu: His defeat becomes a lasting public record, damaging his reputation and serving as a humiliating contrast to Li Yuan’s success.
• Principal Yin: Though absent, his earlier attempt to undermine Li Yuan is effectively overturned by Director Zeng’s praise and Li Yuan’s performance.

Significant Themes

• Adversity becoming opportunity: The match initially seemed capable of harming Li Yuan’s promotion, but his victory turns the obstacle into decisive proof of his worth.
• Merit versus political rumor: Li Yuan’s demonstrated strength defeats doubts that his tournament success was based on luck or connections.
• Loyalty and mutual support: Li Yuan and Chen Yong’s friendship is based on genuine brotherhood rather than calculated benefits, though their loyalty eventually creates opportunities for both.
• Promotion as responsibility: Advancement is portrayed not merely as personal success but as the beginning of greater duties and political pressure.
• Institutional politics: Evaluations, factions, appointments, and alliances strongly influence careers within the education system.

Character Interactions

• Director Zeng publicly defends and praises Li Yuan, restoring his reputation after Principal Yin’s criticism.
• Director Zeng privately discusses Li Yuan’s promotion and political obstacles with him during lunch.
• Li Yuan invites Chen Yong to join the celebration, showing that he values and trusts him.
• Director Zeng offers Chen Yong future opportunities, giving him a chance to escape his stagnant position.
• Li Yuan and Chen Yong share a quiet toast that reflects their mutual loyalty and understanding without needing elaborate thanks.
• Director Zeng’s interactions with his associates reveal his intention to form a dependable administrative team as he prepares to become director.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Zeng believes Li Yuan’s promotion at Lingshan No. 1 High School would significantly improve the school’s teaching standards. After a long lunch meeting with his core circle, they agree to cooperate with Li Yuan and teacher Chen Yong. If the school’s results improve, Li Yuan could receive higher status, bonuses, and possibly even replace Principal Yin in the future.
• Li Yuan returns to his apartment to rest and prepare for cultivation. Although Chen Yong suggests moving closer to school, Li Yuan prefers his current residence because it provides enough space for cultivation.
• Li Yuan reviews online reactions to his victory. The teaching competition receives little public attention, but supporters of Li Yuan have gained confidence after he defeated Gu Yu again and beat Jin Fan, taking away the Snow Shadow Mountain training opportunity Jin Fan had received.
• Jin Fan’s allies attempt to suppress discussion of his defeat and delay the backlash until after he attends the Snow Shadow Mountain training. Jin Fan believes that once he obtains the experience and benefits from the training, the loss will no longer matter.
• At the Xia family residence, Xia Zhao’s father and grandfather continue studying the improvements to the Feather Blade technique that Li Yuan previously provided. They depend heavily on Xia Zhao to recall Li Yuan’s instructions, but she cannot reproduce the details accurately.
• Xia Zhao thinks about meeting Li Yuan again at Snow Shadow Mountain. Although she tells herself she could ask him about martial arts, she realizes she mainly wants to see him and worries he might misunderstand her motives.
• She asks her assistant, Cheng Jing, about Jin Fan’s Snow Shadow Mountain qualification. Cheng Jing explains that the qualification has been approved and that Jin Fan was delighted when informed, though he does not know Xia Zhao was responsible.
• Cheng Jing gives Xia Zhao the official pass. When Xia Zhao examines the photograph and identity information, she is shocked and angrily asks who the person pictured is.
• The chapter ends with Xia Zhao accusing Cheng Jing of finding the wrong person: the man using the identity “Wuling Education” is apparently not the real Jin Fan.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan gains increasing institutional support. Director Zeng sees him not merely as a talented teacher but as someone capable of reshaping Lingshan No. 1 High School and eventually becoming its principal.
• Jin Fan becomes increasingly anxious and dependent on damage control. He tries to delay public criticism and preserve his chance to attend Snow Shadow Mountain, revealing how important the opportunity is to him.
• Xia Zhao shows growing emotional attachment to Li Yuan. Her thoughts suggest that her desire to meet him is personal rather than purely related to martial technique. She also becomes suspicious and forceful when the identity issue arises.
• Cheng Jing is established as a highly capable and loyal assistant who handles Xia Zhao’s affairs and anticipates her wishes, though she appears genuinely confused by Xia Zhao’s reaction.
• Xia Zhao’s father and grandfather are now deeply reliant on Li Yuan’s insights, recognizing the extraordinary value of his martial guidance.

Significant Themes

• Influence and institutional power: Li Yuan’s talent is beginning to translate into official authority and broader educational change.
• Reputation and public opinion: Jin Fan’s side attempts to manipulate online discussion and postpone the consequences of his defeat.
• Identity and deception: The chapter introduces a major mystery involving the false or mistaken identity of “Jin Fan” and the name “Wuling Education.”
• Emotional attachment versus practical motives: Xia Zhao initially frames her interest in Snow Shadow Mountain as a chance to discuss martial arts, but her feelings suggest she primarily wants to reunite with Li Yuan.
• Dependence on genius: The Xia family’s inability to recreate Li Yuan’s improvements without his direct guidance highlights the gap between ordinary understanding and his exceptional insight.

Character Interactions

• Director Zeng and his associates discuss Li Yuan’s future with Li Yuan and Chen Yong, forming a cooperative relationship between education officials and frontline teachers.
• Li Yuan observes the online conflict surrounding himself and Jin Fan but remains focused on cultivation.
• Xia Zhao’s family relies on her memories of Li Yuan’s teachings, placing pressure on her to produce another breakthrough.
• Xia Zhao and Cheng Jing discuss Jin Fan’s qualification and the arrangements for Snow Shadow Mountain.
• Their conversation abruptly changes when Xia Zhao sees the pass’s photograph and realizes that the person Cheng Jing identified as Jin Fan may be someone else entirely.

Chapter Summary: Jin Fan, I Hope You Conduct Yourself Well

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Zhao learns that the person identified as “Wuling Education” is Jin Fan, but immediately realizes he is not the mysterious martial artist she met in Qijia Town.
• After reviewing Cheng Jing’s records and photographs, Xia Zhao confirms that Li Yuan is not among the officially recorded users of that identity because he had gone to Qijia Town privately.
• Xia Zhao orders Cheng Jing to revoke Jin Fan’s Snow Shadow Mountain training qualification. The qualification had originally been intended as a reward for Li Yuan, who had accompanied Xia Zhao through Qijia Town.
• Cheng Jing warns that revoking the qualification could offend Jin Fan and his master, Grandmaster Yao Jianyue, potentially causing trouble for the Xia Family.
• Xia Zhao dismisses the risk, insisting that the qualification be canceled even if the family is offended.
• After struggling to find a plausible explanation, Cheng Jing plans to claim that Xia Zhao’s elders need the qualification for Snow Shadow Mountain.
• When Cheng Jing calls Jin Fan, he mistakenly assumes the cancellation is punishment for his behavior in a previous match. He apologizes and explains that he had only impulsively used the qualification as a wager.
• Cheng Jing takes advantage of his explanation, telling him that his conduct angered the person behind her and that the qualification must therefore be reclaimed.
• The call ends with Cheng Jing coldly telling Jin Fan to “conduct himself well,” leaving him shocked and regretful.

Character Developments

• Xia Zhao: Reveals a forceful and decisive side. Her attachment to the unknown man from Qijia Town is evident, as she refuses to let Jin Fan benefit from a reward meant for Li Yuan. She also shows confidence in the Xia Family’s ability to withstand Yao Jianyue’s displeasure.
• Cheng Jing: Demonstrates loyalty, competence, and practical caution. Although she worries about the consequences for the Xia Family, she follows Xia Zhao’s order and quickly adapts when Jin Fan unintentionally gives her a convenient justification.
• Jin Fan: Is portrayed as courteous and eager to preserve his relationship with Cheng Jing, but also impulsive and insecure about his mistake. He is devastated when the valuable training opportunity is withdrawn.
• Li Yuan: Does not appear directly, but his absence drives the conflict. His hidden identity and Xia Zhao’s mistaken search make him the true intended recipient of the qualification.

Significant Themes

• Mistaken identity: Xia Zhao’s search fails because Li Yuan secretly used Wuling Education’s identity, causing Jin Fan to be wrongly identified.
• Favor and entitlement: The Snow Shadow Mountain qualification is treated as a personal reward, not merely an official opportunity, emphasizing the importance of Xia Zhao’s trust.
• Social status and self-perception: Xia Zhao distinguishes Li Yuan’s humility and inferiority from the confidence normally associated with Grandmaster’s disciples like Jin Fan.
• Power and consequences: Xia Zhao’s authority allows her to revoke the qualification, while Cheng Jing worries about the political and familial repercussions of offending a Grandmaster’s disciple.
• Irony and misunderstanding: Jin Fan’s own anxious explanation supplies Cheng Jing with the excuse she needs, allowing the cancellation to proceed under a false interpretation.

Character Interactions

• Xia Zhao questions Cheng Jing aggressively and directs her to investigate and revoke the qualification.
• Cheng Jing tries to caution Xia Zhao about the consequences of offending Jin Fan and Yao Jianyue but ultimately obeys.
• During the phone call, Jin Fan apologizes and attempts to explain his actions, while Cheng Jing adopts a deliberately cold tone and uses his words against him.
• The chapter ends with Jin Fan believing he has personally ruined his chance to attend Snow Shadow Mountain.

Chapter Summary: “Jin Fan Really Was Something Else!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jin Fan’s identity as a participant in the Youth Martial Tournament had attracted widespread attention, especially after his unexpected defeat by Li Yuan. However, Xia Zhao was unaware of his appearance because she had been recovering in seclusion.
• Cheng Jing had assumed Xia Zhao already knew what Jin Fan looked like and had not suspected that the “Jin Fan” connected to the Snow Shadow Mountain qualification might be someone else.
• Efforts to investigate the fake identity of “Wuling Education” failed. Cheng Jing began to suspect that the identity had been borrowed or fabricated outside the Lingshan Municipal Education Bureau, making Jin Fan’s true identity even more difficult to uncover.
• After learning that Jin Fan had gambled away the Snow Shadow Mountain training qualification in a match and lost it, Xia Zhao revoked the qualification.
• The news quickly reached powerful circles. Secretary Hong informed Liu Moxing, who was delighted because Jin Fan’s loss damaged both his standing and his relationship with Xia Zhao.
• It was revealed that Jin Fan had wagered the qualification against someone during Saturday’s match and that Li Yuan had played a major role in the events. Liu Moxing regarded Li Yuan’s actions as a favor and arranged for him to receive another gift.
• On Monday, Li Yuan returned to work. His reputation among his colleagues had improved after the Youth Martial Tournament, and he was now expected to receive a promotion, possibly becoming a direct subordinate or future superior to many of them.
• The chapter ends with a colleague teasing Li Yuan about having both good and bad news, creating a transition into the next revelation.

Character Developments

• Jin Fan: His public defeat and reckless decision to gamble away the Snow Shadow Mountain qualification further damage his reputation. He loses both an important opportunity and Xia Zhao’s remaining goodwill. His true identity remains unclear, suggesting that his earlier claims and connections may be fraudulent.
• Xia Zhao: She is shown as recovering in seclusion and unaware of Jin Fan’s appearance or public notoriety. Once she learns that he lost the qualification, she decisively revokes it, indicating that her trust and interest in him have disappeared.
• Cheng Jing: She becomes more suspicious of Jin Fan’s identity and recognizes that “Wuling Education” may have been a borrowed or fabricated identity rather than a legitimate connection to the municipal education system.
• Liu Moxing: He is pleased by Jin Fan’s downfall, not because he is passionately pursuing Xia Zhao, but because Jin Fan had become a weapon used by Liu’s relatives to criticize and belittle him. Li Yuan’s role in undermining Jin Fan earns Liu Moxing’s gratitude.
• Li Yuan: His status continues to rise. After defeating Jin Fan and earning merit in the tournament, he gains the respect of colleagues and appears likely to receive a promotion and greater authority.
• Secretary Hong: He acts as Liu Moxing’s reliable informant, promptly delivering news about Jin Fan’s revoked qualification and explaining the circumstances.

Significant Themes

• Identity and deception: Jin Fan’s questionable use of the “Wuling Education” identity raises doubts about who he really is and how much of his background is fabricated.
• Reputation and public scrutiny: The tournament and its aftermath show how quickly martial artists can become topics of widespread online discussion and political gossip.
• Consequences of recklessness: Jin Fan’s decision to wager a rare training opportunity results in the loss of both the qualification and Xia Zhao’s favor.
• Power, status, and connections: Access to Snow Shadow Mountain, family influence, and potential promotions all demonstrate how martial-world opportunities are tied to social standing and powerful relationships.
• Rivalry and indirect conflict: Li Yuan’s victory harms Jin Fan while simultaneously benefiting Liu Moxing, showing how personal rivalries affect broader family and political dynamics.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Jing and Xia Zhao: Cheng Jing’s assumptions about Xia Zhao’s knowledge contribute to the delayed discovery of Jin Fan’s deception.
• Xia Zhao and Jin Fan: Xia Zhao’s revocation of his qualification marks a complete collapse of her regard for him.
• Secretary Hong and Liu Moxing: Hong reports the news, while Liu reacts with satisfaction and amusement at Jin Fan’s misfortune.
• Liu Moxing and Li Yuan: Although they do not interact directly in this chapter, Liu recognizes Li Yuan’s actions as helpful and sends him another gift.
• Li Yuan and his colleagues: His colleagues now treat him with greater respect because of his tournament achievements and expected promotion. The chapter closes with one colleague preparing to share new information with him.