Chapter Summaries

Summary

Li Yuan’s team encounters a large group of Blood Cat Fierce Beasts, realizing they have stumbled upon a nest. Remembering that Blood Cats become especially dangerous once provoked, Li Yuan immediately orders everyone to retreat and personally charges into battle. Using the Wind River Art, his heavy saber, and his ability to identify enemy weaknesses, he swiftly kills several Blood Cats while protecting the team from further harm.
The team initially struggles because some members disregard Li Yuan’s commands, but after witnessing his accurate warnings and overwhelming combat ability, they begin following him without hesitation. Li Yuan repeatedly detects ambushes before they occur, guides the group away from danger, and kills attacking Blood Cats. His Heavenly Refining Body also allows him to withstand their claws and bites with little injury.
After retreating to a safe location, the team members inspect their wounds and apologize to Li Yuan for ignoring him earlier. He firmly explains that while joking is acceptable in camp, all of his orders must be obeyed in the wilderness, where danger exists even near the camp. His warning, combined with their narrow escape, earns him the team’s complete trust and respect.
Because their patrol mission requires meaningful results, Li Yuan leads the team back toward Plot No. 7. He detects more Blood Cats, tracks them using their movements and blood trails, and pursues them before they can escape. His ability to see their weaknesses makes their concealment useless. The team soon discovers the Blood Cat nest, which Li Yuan attacks immediately. The entire nest is destroyed, eliminating a serious threat near the camp. Their recorders capture the successful operation, making the mission far more impressive than merely completing its basic requirements.
The team returns to camp before nightfall, exhausted but unharmed. In contrast, most other teams return in poor condition, with nearly all suffering injuries and one team carrying a member who has lost a leg. Seeing the difference, Kang Yong and the others realize how fortunate they were to have Li Yuan as their captain.

Character Development and Interactions

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates exceptional perception, decisiveness, martial strength, and leadership. He shifts from being questioned by his team to being fully trusted and respected.
• Kang Yong and the other members: Initially reckless and unwilling to follow orders, they become cautious, obedient, and grateful after Li Yuan saves them from the Blood Cats.
• Team dynamics: The crisis transforms the group from loosely coordinated individuals into a disciplined team united behind its captain.
• Li Yuan and the team: Their relationship develops through direct action: he protects and guides them, while they acknowledge their mistakes and accept his authority.

Significant Themes

• Leadership and trust: Effective leadership is proven through competence and the ability to protect others.
• Experience as a teacher: The team learns more from one dangerous encounter than from Li Yuan’s earlier warnings.
• The harshness of the wilderness: Even areas near camp can be lethal, and carelessness can result in severe injury or death.
• Teamwork and obedience: Survival depends on following sound commands rather than acting individually.
• Competence and responsibility: Li Yuan’s superior abilities allow the team to achieve an outstanding result while avoiding the injuries suffered by other groups.

Chapter Summary: “Departure, Plot No. 19”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Training at the southern Border Front proves far more dangerous than expected. Many of the fifteen reinforcement teams return with serious injuries, including one martial artist who loses a leg and another who loses an arm.
• Of the more than ninety martial artists sent out, only Li Yuan’s team and two others return without major injuries. Li Yuan’s leadership earns him considerable respect, especially because his team would likely have been destroyed by a Blood Cat without him.
• The teams conceal the mission’s dangers from their families, sending reassuring messages instead of describing their injuries or fear.
• Li Yuan’s team is rewarded for successfully locating a Fierce Beast nest. Every member receives 150 honorary contribution points, while Li Yuan gains an additional 30 as captain. These points may improve their rankings and help Li Yuan earn recognition or future promotion.
• The following day, the teams that failed their missions continue training. Although many participants want to leave after witnessing the dangers, military law prevents desertion, forcing them to continue.
• Li Yuan’s second assignment is to patrol Plot No. 19, a much more dangerous region in the Second Ring Zone. If the team finds another Fierce Beast nest, Li Yuan’s training will be considered complete and they will only need to perform logistical duties until returning home.
• The team is relieved by the prospect of finishing early and returning to safer inland cities. Li Yuan consults them, and they agree to rest for one more day before departing.
• During the rest day, Li Yuan studies military regulations and merit standards. He considers whether Plot No. 19 might provide an opportunity to earn significant military merit, perhaps even by confronting an unusually dangerous threat.
• Li Yuan also speaks with Xu Nianxing, who wants to visit his parents. Because Li Yuan will soon attend the Stone Peak River Teaching Research Conference and because her mother remains opposed to their relationship, the visit is postponed.
• After resting, Li Yuan leads his team toward Plot No. 19, whose mountains, marshes, and wetlands provide ideal hiding places for powerful Fierce Beasts.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan becomes more established as a capable and dependable leader. His judgment saves his team from the Blood Cat and allows them to complete their first mission with minimal casualties.
• He demonstrates ambition by carefully studying the requirements for military honors and considering whether he can use the Plot No. 19 mission to earn greater recognition.
• At the same time, Li Yuan shows responsibility toward his teammates, asking for their opinions before beginning the next dangerous mission rather than making the decision alone.
• Kang Yong and the other team members lose much of their initial enthusiasm. Witnessing severe injuries makes them fearful and eager to return to civilian life, but they continue out of duty and because desertion is heavily punished.
• Xu Nianxing remains emotionally connected to Li Yuan and wants to become more involved with his family, but her relationship with her mother creates an obstacle.

Significant Themes

• The real cost of martial advancement: Physical disability or death is a constant possibility, emphasizing that martial training is not glamorous or safe.
• Duty versus personal fear: The recruits want to leave after seeing the dangers, but military law and comparison with long-serving border soldiers force them to endure.
• Leadership and responsibility: Li Yuan’s success is measured not only by his own survival but by his ability to protect and guide his entire team.
• Honor and ambition: Contribution points and military merit motivate Li Yuan, showing how personal advancement can coexist with dangerous public service.
• Family protection and emotional restraint: The martial artists hide their suffering from their families to spare them worry, while Li Yuan and Xu Nianxing’s relationship faces pressure from family expectations.
• Escalating danger: Plot No. 19 introduces a more complex environment and the possibility of A-level or stronger Fierce Beasts, setting up a more perilous next mission.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan’s team members respect him more after surviving the Blood Cat encounter and completing their mission safely.
• The soldiers avoid questioning injured teams, recognizing that doing so would seem insensitive.
• Li Yuan consults his team before departing for Plot No. 19, strengthening their trust in his leadership.
• Li Yuan and Xu Nianxing discuss her desire to visit his parents, but practical obligations and her mother’s disapproval lead them to postpone the visit.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Key Events

• Li Yuan leads his squad through four plots toward Plot No. 19, warning them carefully about potential Fierce Beast ambushes. His accurate judgments earn the squad’s complete trust.
• In Plot No. 19, the group discovers a Rock Bear Demon, an A-level variant of the B-level Little Rock Bear. The beast is exceptionally powerful, fast, cunning, and capable of reproducing and passing on its dangerous traits.
• Li Yuan orders Kang Yong and the other six members to make noise, lure the beast away, and flee toward camp while he investigates its territory alone.
• The Rock Bear Demon initially disguises its intentions, then pursues the fleeing squad as Li Yuan predicted. Once the beast is drawn away, Li Yuan searches the area and discovers its nest, including a Little Rock Bear that may be its mate.
• After recording the evidence and memorizing the locations, Li Yuan retreats toward camp. Both the Little Rock Bear and the returning Rock Bear Demon pursue him, but his powerful physique and mastery of the Wind River Art allow him to evade them.
• Kang Yong’s group reaches camp and immediately reports the discovery to Deputy Battalion Commander Fang, emphasizing that Li Yuan may still be in danger.
• Luo Jinfan dismisses their concern, claiming that Li Yuan deliberately sacrificed the squad as bait so he could escape and that he will return safely without obtaining useful information. He even challenges them to bet on Li Yuan’s return.

Character Development

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates strong leadership, strategic thinking, expert knowledge of Fierce Beasts, and remarkable confidence. He willingly takes the most dangerous part of the mission, relying on his superior combat foundation, Wind River Art, and investigative abilities.
• Kang Yong and the squad: Their earlier recklessness has been replaced by obedience and faith in Li Yuan. Although terrified by the Rock Bear Demon, they follow his orders and successfully complete their assigned escape and reporting duties.
• Luo Jinfan: Reveals his skepticism and apparent personal familiarity with Li Yuan. He interprets Li Yuan’s actions cynically, assuming the squad was merely used as bait and predicting that Li Yuan found nothing valuable.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang: Functions as the authority receiving the emergency report, though his response is not yet shown.

Themes

• Trust earned through competence: Li Yuan’s precise judgments convince the squad to obey him completely.
• Leadership and sacrifice: Li Yuan protects his teammates by assigning himself the most dangerous task.
• Survival through strategy rather than brute force: Careful observation, knowledge of beast behavior, and movement techniques are more important than directly fighting an A-level Beast.
• Misjudgment and hidden capability: Luo Jinfan underestimates Li Yuan, creating anticipation that Li Yuan may return with more valuable information than expected.
• The danger of unchecked evolution: The Rock Bear Demon’s ability to reproduce and pass on powerful genes suggests a growing long-term threat.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan gives Kang Yong’s squad precise instructions, balancing their survival with his own investigation.
• Kang Yong and the others show fear but ultimately place complete trust in Li Yuan’s judgment.
• Upon returning, they urgently appeal to Fang for a rescue mission.
• Luo Jinfan counters their concern with a mocking interpretation of Li Yuan’s tactics and challenges them to prove him wrong.

Chapter Summary: “A Video That Stunned Everyone!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Luo Jinfan mocks Li Yuan’s decision to enter Plot No. 19 alone and predicts that Li Yuan either used his teammates as bait or would return with no useful evidence.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang reviews the six team members’ recordings and confirms that a Rock Bear Demon was indeed present. He prepares to send a rescue team for Li Yuan.
• Luo Jinfan confidently claims Li Yuan will return safely, arguing that Li Yuan is skilled at protecting himself despite having only ordinary abilities.
• Li Yuan returns to camp unharmed, surprising everyone and seemingly validating Luo Jinfan’s prediction.
• Luo Jinfan then predicts that Li Yuan’s recorder will be damaged or contain no meaningful footage.
• Contrary to expectations, Li Yuan’s recording plays normally. It shows that he truly entered Plot No. 19 after the team split up rather than retreating or using his companions as bait.
• The footage reveals that Li Yuan located the Rock Bear Demon’s nest and discovered that it had chosen a Little Rock Bear as a mate, indicating that the beast was preparing to reproduce.
• The Rock Bear Demon returns and pursues Li Yuan with even greater aggression than it had shown toward the rest of the team. Li Yuan escapes entirely through his own abilities.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang recognizes the recording as extremely valuable. The nest is dangerously close to camp and must be eliminated before the Rock Bear Demon can produce more A-level beasts.
• Fang records the team’s accomplishments, promises a commendation, and urges immediate research and action.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates courage, competence, and reliability. He personally investigates the dangerous territory, gathers crucial intelligence, survives a direct pursuit, and proves that he did not sacrifice or manipulate his teammates.
• Luo Jinfan: Initially appears impressively perceptive after correctly predicting Li Yuan’s safe return, but his second prediction fails completely. His confidence in his own judgment is weakened when the recording proves Li Yuan genuinely completed the mission.
• Kang Yong and the team: Continue to trust Li Yuan, though Luo Jinfan’s repeated apparent successes briefly cause them to doubt their own assumptions.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang: Acts responsibly and objectively. He prioritizes the team’s safety, avoids fueling personal conflicts, and immediately recognizes the military importance of Li Yuan’s findings.

Significant Themes

• Trust versus suspicion: The team’s faith in Li Yuan is tested by Luo Jinfan’s accusations and seemingly accurate predictions.
• Actions proving character: Li Yuan’s video evidence confirms his loyalty and courage more convincingly than verbal assurances could.
• Overconfidence and misjudgment: Luo Jinfan’s nickname and reputation lead people to trust his predictions, but his certainty causes him to misread Li Yuan’s motives.
• Responsibility and collective safety: The discovery of the nest emphasizes the danger of allowing powerful beasts to reproduce near the camp.
• Recognition of true merit: Li Yuan’s accomplishments are formally acknowledged once the evidence reveals the risks he personally faced.

Important Character Interactions

• Luo Jinfan repeatedly taunts or undermines Li Yuan, while Kang Yong and the others defend their captain through their continued trust.
• Fang restrains Luo Jinfan’s provocative remarks and focuses on verifying the facts.
• After Li Yuan returns, Fang questions him professionally, while another observer voices suspicion about whether he found anything useful.
• The group’s attitude shifts dramatically during the video: doubt turns into surprise and respect as Li Yuan’s bravery and discoveries become undeniable.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang announces that Li Yuan’s team has completed its mandatory missions and is now safe, with the possibility of receiving commendations.
• Kang Yong and the others realize that Li Yuan’s judgment and efforts were crucial to their survival. They regret having doubted him.
• Luo Jinfan belittles Li Yuan, claiming that his success in finding the Rock Bear Demon’s lair may have been mere coincidence.
• Fang angrily defends Li Yuan, emphasizing that locating an A-level Beast’s lair and recording clear intelligence footage during a first mission proves genuine ability. He warns Luo that his attitude may disqualify him from leading teams.
• A combat mission is announced for the following day to eliminate the Rock Bear Demon. Although most support martial artists plan to leave, Li Yuan requests permission to participate, citing military regulations that allow the primary intelligence provider to join the operation.
• Fang permits Li Yuan to join a special operations team rather than the direct assault, but Li Yuan goes further and asks to serve as captain.
• Li Yuan argues that his knowledge of the terrain and prior encounter with the Rock Bear Demon make him the best choice. He also claims Luo’s impulsiveness could endanger the entire team.
• Fang agrees, temporarily placing Luo’s team under Li Yuan’s command. Luo must obey Li Yuan during on-site operations, while Fang retains control over the mission’s broader strategy.
• Xia Yao, leader of the camp’s genuine special operations unit, arrives to serve as a safeguard for the mission. The command staff begins planning the operation by reviewing Li Yuan’s footage.
• Xia Yao is impressed by Li Yuan’s movement technique.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates confidence, strategic thinking, and ambition. Rather than simply retreating after completing his duties, he actively seeks a chance to earn military merit and improve his future prospects. His request to become captain shows growing leadership ability and self-assurance.
• Luo Jinfan: His arrogance and resentment become more obvious. He is humiliated when Fang reprimands him and strips him of command authority, though he suppresses his objections. His inability to earn Fang’s trust contrasts sharply with Li Yuan’s reliability.
• Kang Yong and the team: They recognize that they misjudged Li Yuan and begin to respect him more deeply after seeing his contribution acknowledged.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang: Becomes a strong supporter of Li Yuan. He values Li Yuan’s ability, appreciates his role in maintaining cooperation between military personnel and outside martial artists, and is willing to give him authority.
• Xia Yao: Is established as an elite and respected military leader. Her presence reassures Fang that Li Yuan can safely serve as captain, and her praise of Li Yuan’s movement technique suggests that she recognizes his exceptional skill.

Significant Themes

• Merit versus prejudice: Li Yuan’s achievements force others to reconsider their dismissive assumptions about him.
• Leadership and responsibility: True leadership is presented as the ability to assess danger, make sound decisions, and protect one’s teammates—not merely holding a title.
• Ambition and opportunity: Li Yuan deliberately seeks danger because success in the mission could earn him Third-Class Merit and significantly advance his future.
• Pride and humility: Luo’s arrogance undermines his authority, while Li Yuan’s calm confidence earns trust.
• Luck versus ability: The chapter argues that even if luck contributes to success, recognizing and exploiting an opportunity still requires real skill and courage.

Character Interactions

• Kang Yong and the others publicly defend Li Yuan after Luo insults him, signaling a shift from doubt to respect.
• Fang directly confronts Luo and rebukes his contempt for Li Yuan.
• Li Yuan challenges Luo’s suitability as captain and successfully persuades Fang to transfer command to him.
• Fang establishes a new hierarchy: Li Yuan leads the team during field operations, while Luo follows his orders.
• Xia Yao acknowledges Li Yuan upon entering the command tent and later praises his impressive movement technique, hinting at growing recognition from one of the camp’s strongest figures.

Chapter Summary: “Guidance from Sister Yao”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The camp finalizes its plan to eliminate the nearby A-level Beast, the Rock Bear Demon, after learning that it poses a serious threat and could reproduce if left unchecked.
• The battle plan is discussed until midnight, and camp security is strengthened because of the beast’s proximity.
• Li Yuan’s squad has technically completed its mission, but Li Yuan chooses to join the dangerous operation in hopes of earning Third-Class Merit.
• His squad members—Kang Yong and the others—strongly urge him not to participate, warning that even Eighth Grade martial artists could die fighting an A-level Beast. Li Yuan remains confident that the operation has been carefully arranged and that he can protect himself.
• The squad members decide to remain at the camp instead, satisfied with surviving their missions and receiving commendation letters.
• Xia Yao reviews Li Yuan’s information and reflects on his exceptional movement technique, especially his ability to record steadily while escaping an A-level Beast’s attack.
• The next morning, the military gathers a large force. The main company will handle the frontal assault, while Li Yuan’s and Xia Yao’s Special Forces squads will perform rapid maneuvers and respond to unexpected battlefield situations.
• At the battle briefing, some martial artists—including Luo Jinfan—quietly mock or underestimate Li Yuan. He ignores their behavior and focuses on the upcoming mission.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates courage, ambition, and confidence by voluntarily entering a battle far more dangerous than his completed assignment. His goal of earning Third-Class Merit shows his desire to prove himself and gain recognition, but he remains practical, trusting the operation’s preparation and his own abilities.
• Kang Yong and the squad: Their concern for Li Yuan highlights their loyalty and respect. Though they do not share his appetite for danger, they acknowledge that he successfully led them through both missions and regard him as their true captain.
• Xia Yao: Gains a deeper appreciation of Li Yuan’s skills after reviewing his footage. She recognizes that his movement technique may rival or even surpass her own and becomes interested in exchanging insights with him after the operation.
• Cui Xuan: Initially judges Li Yuan by his age and officially recorded cultivation level, viewing him as relatively unimpressive compared with elite martial artists. However, she accepts Xia Yao’s assessment that his movement technique may be unusual.
• Xia Yao’s family perspective: Xia Yao clarifies that she is not competing with her talented cousin Xia Zhao for inheritance or status. She simply wants to contribute to the family rather than consume resources without achievement.
• Luo Jinfan and other martial artists: Their teasing reflects skepticism toward Li Yuan, but their indirect mockery suggests they do not yet take him seriously.

Significant Themes

• Skill versus cultivation realm: A martial artist’s formal realm does not necessarily measure the depth of their understanding or mastery of techniques. Li Yuan’s movement ability exceeds what others expect from his registered cultivation level.
• Courage and calculated risk: Li Yuan is willing to face extreme danger for honor and advancement, but he does not act recklessly; he believes the battle plan and his own abilities give him a reasonable chance of survival.
• Recognition and merit: Third-Class Merit represents both prestige and sacrifice. The rarity of the honor emphasizes the danger required to earn it.
• Loyalty and leadership: Li Yuan’s squad accepts him as their captain because he carried them through previous missions, while their warnings show genuine concern rather than envy.
• Prejudice based on appearances: Cui Xuan and others initially underestimate Li Yuan because of his age and recorded Fifth Grade cultivation, demonstrating how formal records and status can obscure true ability.
• Family duty without rivalry: Xia Yao’s attitude reflects responsibility and humility. She seeks to serve her family rather than compete for power or recognition.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and his squad have a heartfelt disagreement: they try to dissuade him from joining the operation, while he reassures them and even invites them to participate.
• Xia Yao and Cui Xuan discuss Li Yuan’s abilities, appearance, age, and cultivation. Their conversation establishes Xia Yao’s genuine interest in his movement technique and Cui Xuan’s more skeptical, status-conscious viewpoint.
• Cui Xuan teases Xia Yao about competing with Xia Zhao, prompting Xia Yao to explain her supportive relationship with her cousin and her modest goals within the Xia Family.
• During the briefing, Li Yuan faces silent ridicule from other martial artists, especially Luo Jinfan, but refuses to be distracted and remains focused on earning merit.

Chapter Summary: “Luo Jinfan Frozen with Fear”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The military operation to eliminate an A-level Rock Bear Demon begins at noon. Troops surround its nest from three sides, while Li Yuan and Xia Yao’s Special Forces Squads hide near the camp to block its likely escape route.
• Scouts locate the nest but are ambushed and killed. Deputy Battalion Commander Fang orders all forces to converge on the area.
• The Rock Bear Demon proves far stronger than expected. Its tough hide, speed, and strength injure several martial artists, while more than ten Little Rock Bears attack the troops from inside the nest.
• The battle descends into chaos. The troops lose morale and fail to kill the demon, allowing it to break through toward the rear flank.
• Fang orders both Special Forces Squads to contain the escaping demon. Li Yuan warns his team that their mission is only to delay it, not to kill it, since an A-level Fierce Beast is comparable to an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist.
• Two Little Rock Bears emerge first. Despite Li Yuan’s orders to let them pass, Luo Jinfan and several squad members attack them, wasting energy and becoming trapped in combat.
• Li Yuan advises Xia Yao to let the Little Rock Bears through so the squads can preserve their strength for the Rock Bear Demon. Xia Yao accepts his judgment and orders her team to fall back rather than engage.
• As Luo Jinfan’s group remains occupied with the Little Rock Bears, the Rock Bear Demon finally appears. Its enormous size, blood-covered body, and terrifying presence shock the soldiers and leave them momentarily paralyzed.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan demonstrates clear tactical judgment and leadership. He recognizes the troops’ loss of morale and understands that conserving energy and focusing on containment are essential.
• Xia Yao shows trust in Li Yuan’s analysis. Although her squad initially questions the order to let the Little Rock Bears pass, she decisively supports him and uses her authority to enforce the strategy.
• Luo Jinfan and several squad members reveal overconfidence and inexperience. They ignore Li Yuan’s direct orders, eager to prove themselves by fighting the lesser beasts, and become vulnerable when the real threat arrives.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang experiences mounting pressure and fear of being blamed for the operation’s failure. His troops’ inability to maintain morale exposes weaknesses in his command.
• The rank-and-file martial artists are shown to be human and vulnerable: fear of the A-level beast causes hesitation, disorder, and a collapse in offensive momentum.

Significant Themes

• Fear and morale: The troops’ loss of courage becomes as dangerous as the Fierce Beast itself. Once fear takes hold, fighters stop advancing and lose their effectiveness.
• Leadership and judgment: Li Yuan’s willingness to reassess the situation contrasts with the others’ impulsive desire to fight. Tactical restraint is presented as more valuable than reckless bravery.
• Overconfidence versus reality: Luo Jinfan and the others believe they can handle the Little Rock Bears, but their confidence collapses when faced with the Rock Bear Demon’s actual presence.
• Mission priorities and sacrifice: The squads must abandon minor targets and allow some beasts to escape in order to preserve their strength for the main objective.
• The gap between theory and reality: The planned escape route and battle formation do not account for the Rock Bear Demon’s strength or the soldiers’ psychological reaction to it.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan repeatedly instructs his squad to avoid the Little Rock Bears, but Luo Jinfan and others openly disobey him.
• Li Yuan then consults Xia Yao, explaining that fighting the lesser beasts will jeopardize the containment mission.
• Xia Yao backs Li Yuan’s decision, overriding her squad’s objections and ordering them to let the beasts pass.
• Luo Jinfan’s group remains engaged with the Little Rock Bears, creating a dangerous delay just as the Rock Bear Demon reaches them.
• The chapter ends with both squads confronting the demon’s terrifying appearance, setting up the immediate crisis of whether they can overcome their fear and contain it.

Chapter Summary: “A Hundred Rock Bear Demons”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Luo Jinfan and the others finally understand why Li Yuan ordered them to release the Little Rock Bears: the creatures are connected to a powerful A-level Rock Bear Demon, whose presence creates overwhelming fear and despair.
• The two Special Forces Squads hesitate and lose their will to fight after realizing how dangerous the demon is. Their earlier judgment that Li Yuan was cowardly is proven wrong.
• Xia Yao bravely charges the Rock Bear Demon using the Xia Family’s inherited technique, Feather Blade. Although she cannot seriously injure it, her movements help restrain and distract it.
• Using his Flaw Insight talent, Li Yuan identifies the demon’s hidden weakness and repeatedly targets it. The Rock Bear Demon recognizes him as the greatest threat and focuses on avoiding his attacks.
• Li Yuan and Xia Yao work together for roughly seven minutes, holding the demon back until the main forces arrive. Their cooperation is highly effective, though Xia Yao believes she contributes little compared with Li Yuan.
• Once the reinforcements arrive, Li Yuan and Xia Yao withdraw to let the main force take over. However, the Little Rock Bears create an opening for the Rock Bear Demon, allowing it to break through the encirclement and flee.
• Xia Yao attacks the fleeing demon and becomes lodged onto its back, risking being killed. Li Yuan joins her, using the Wind River Art and targeting its flaw to inflict a genuine wound.
• The demon accelerates while dragging both of them away. Deputy Battalion Commander Fang angrily urges the main force to pursue and personally prepares to intervene.
• The Rock Bear Demon eventually reaches an uncharted giant pit and leaps inside. Li Yuan pulls Xia Yao to safety at the edge, but when they look down, they discover more than a hundred Rock Bear Demons gathered below.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates courage, tactical awareness, and exceptional combat ability. His ability to identify the demon’s weakness makes him indispensable, and he risks himself to save Xia Yao because of the assistance her family has given him.
• Xia Yao: Shows significant bravery and loyalty by confronting the demon despite the difference in strength. Her combat ability and footwork help expose opportunities for Li Yuan, and she refuses to let go even when dragged by the fleeing beast.
• Luo Jinfan and the Special Forces: Their initial confidence collapses in the face of the A-level demon, revealing the psychological impact of overwhelming power. Their hesitation contrasts sharply with Li Yuan and Xia Yao’s willingness to act.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang: Becomes increasingly furious at the main force’s passivity but remains responsible and protective, especially toward Xia Yao. He is willing to enter the fight personally when the situation worsens.
• The Rock Bear Demon: Displays intelligence, tactical awareness, and fear of being worn down. It recognizes Li Yuan’s threat, attempts to escape rather than fight endlessly, and appears to use the Little Rock Bears strategically.

Significant Themes

• Courage versus fear: The chapter contrasts the paralysis caused by overwhelming danger with the courage required to act despite it.
• Teamwork and mutual reliance: Li Yuan and Xia Yao’s coordinated fighting proves more effective than the larger force’s hesitant formation.
• The importance of accurate judgment: Li Yuan’s earlier decision to release the Little Rock Bears is vindicated, while the main force’s underestimation of the situation nearly causes disaster.
• Responsibility and sacrifice: Li Yuan risks his life to protect Xia Yao, while Xia Yao likewise endangers herself to restrain the demon.
• Hidden danger and escalation: What initially appears to be a single powerful beast becomes a much larger threat with the discovery of over a hundred Rock Bear Demons beneath the pit.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan commands Luo Jinfan and the others to release the Little Rock Bears, though they only understand his reasoning once the main demon appears.
• Xia Yao and Li Yuan fight in close coordination, with her footwork and restraint creating openings for his precise attacks.
• Xia Yao begins to recognize Li Yuan’s exceptional combat instincts and feels that they fight together almost effortlessly.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang criticizes the hesitant main-force martial artists and urges them to support the people already risking their lives.
• Li Yuan saves Xia Yao after she is dragged away by the fleeing demon, strengthening their bond and leaving them trapped together above the pit.
  The chapter ends on a major cliffhanger: Li Yuan and Xia Yao are confronted with an entire colony of Rock Bear Demons beneath the unexplored pit.

Summary: “Several Grandmasters Arrive!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan and Xia Yao discover a pit containing more than a hundred Rock Bear Demons. Realizing they cannot defeat the creatures, Li Yuan pulls Xia Yao through a hidden door in the pit wall.
• They slide into an underground laboratory, where a Swan Cast Iron gate seals the entrance behind them. The gate blocks the Rock Bear Demons but also traps the pair inside.
• The laboratory contains experimental equipment and diagrams suggesting that the Rock Bear Demons were artificially created there. This revelation implies that a powerful, unknown force has been conducting dangerous biological experiments.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang arrives at the pit with the rescue party. After seeing the densely packed Rock Bear Demons, he orders everyone to retreat silently and raises Sunset Mountain Camp to its highest alert level.
• Fang reports the discovery to higher authorities and requests multiple Grandmasters. Four nearby Grandmasters are dispatched because the beasts pose a threat capable of destroying an entire city.
• Li Yuan and Xia Yao spend over two hours examining the laboratory. They determine that all entrances are protected by complex Swan Cast Iron locks connected to destructive mechanisms. Forcing the doors open—or picking the locks incorrectly—could kill them and destroy all evidence.
• Xia Yao believes they have little chance of escape, even if reinforcements arrive. Li Yuan nevertheless begins studying the lock, attempting to find a way out.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan remains decisive and protective, immediately rescuing Xia Yao from the Rock Bear Demons. Despite the increasingly hopeless situation, he stays analytical and searches for a practical solution.
• Xia Yao demonstrates extensive technical knowledge, particularly about Swan Cast Iron gates and their mechanisms. The discovery that the beasts were created in a human laboratory deeply unsettles her and challenges her understanding of the world.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang proves cautious and responsible. Rather than recklessly confronting the beasts, he organizes a silent retreat, alerts the camp, preserves the recorded evidence, and calls for Grandmaster-level assistance.
• The military forces recognize that the situation exceeds ordinary combat capabilities and respond by escalating the alert and sending powerful reinforcements.

Significant Themes

• Human experimentation and moral corruption: The Rock Bear Demons appear to be products of deliberate scientific experimentation, raising questions about the unknown creator’s goals and the human cost of such research.
• Danger of hidden threats: The underground laboratory and concealed beasts reveal that catastrophic dangers may exist beneath seemingly safe territory.
• Survival versus preservation of evidence: Li Yuan and Xia Yao cannot simply destroy the doors or laboratory because doing so could kill them and erase vital proof.
• Limits of strength: Even powerful martial artists and Grandmasters may be insufficient against the sheer number of A-level beasts, emphasizing that intelligence and caution are as important as combat ability.
• Isolation and helplessness: Although rescue forces are mobilizing, the trapped pair remain unable to benefit from them unless the sealed laboratory can be opened safely.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan physically protects Xia Yao by pulling her through the hidden entrance and continues working alongside her to investigate the laboratory.
• Xia Yao warns Li Yuan about the dangers of attacking or improperly picking the Swan Cast Iron gate, trying to prevent him from triggering the destructive mechanisms.
• Fang coordinates with the pursuing martial artists through hand signals, prioritizing stealth and preventing the group from provoking the Rock Bear Demons.
• Fang’s decision to send everyone back—including Cui Xuan, who wants to search for Xia Yao—shows the military’s need to balance personal concern with the larger emergency.

Chapter Summary: “Skill” Talents

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan and Xia Yao remain trapped inside a laboratory behind an extremely delicate lock made of Swan Cast Iron. Any mistake while opening it could activate a lethal mechanism and kill them.
• Xia Yao explains that the lock requires extraordinary hand precision—an ability more suited to elite surgeons or Fierce Beast anatomists than ordinary locksmiths.
• Realizing that escaping may be impossible without picking the lock, Li Yuan examines its structure using [Eidetic Memory], mentally simulating the mechanism. However, he recognizes that his current abilities may not be sufficient.
• Li Yuan notices that he is only eleven Experience Points short of earning another Talent Point. He deliberately draws Xia Yao into a discussion about Martial Dao movement techniques in order to gain Experience Points from her insights.
• After fifteen minutes, Xia Yao begins seriously engaging in the discussion and provides valuable thoughts on movement techniques. Li Yuan collects sixteen Light Points, earning enough Experience to obtain a new Talent Point.
• He places the point into the previously empty “Skill” branch of his Talent Tree and unlocks [Nimble Hands], which greatly improves precision and control during delicate operations.
• Using this new Talent, Li Yuan searches the laboratory for materials to make improvised lockpicking tools. He finds a thick iron wire and carefully grinds it down to a usable size.
• Li Yuan discovers that his new Talent allows him to control and perceive his hand movements with extraordinary clarity, as though his hands themselves have eyes.
• Xia Yao warns him that picking the lock is extremely dangerous, but Li Yuan argues that they have no realistic alternative. Finding a master locksmith in the Southern Border Front is unlikely, and remaining trapped is also certain death.
• Li Yuan accepts responsibility for bringing Xia Yao into the laboratory and promises to get her out. Xia Yao reassures him that she does not blame him, since hiding there saved her from being killed by the many A-level Beasts outside.
• Meanwhile, Sunset Mountain Camp enters a complete lockdown after Li Yuan fails to return. Two-thirds of the martial artists remain on guard while the rest take turns resting. Kang Yong and the others learn that Li Yuan is missing.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan demonstrates calmness, ingenuity, and a strong sense of responsibility. Rather than surrendering to the seemingly impossible lock, he strategically earns Experience Points to obtain a Talent suited to the task.
• His acquisition of [Nimble Hands] expands his abilities beyond combat and cultivation, showing how he can use the Talent system creatively in life-threatening situations.
• Xia Yao remains cautious and realistic, understanding the danger of the lock better than Li Yuan. However, she gradually trusts his judgment and accepts that attempting to pick the lock may be their only chance of survival.
• Xia Yao also reveals a more cooperative side by engaging seriously in the movement-technique discussion and reassuring Li Yuan that she does not blame him for their predicament.

Significant Themes

• Adaptability and resourcefulness: Li Yuan turns a desperate situation into an opportunity by finding an unconventional way to gain a new Talent.
• The value of specialized skill: The chapter emphasizes that precise hand control can be as valuable as combat strength, especially in fields such as surgery, anatomy, craftsmanship, and lockpicking.
• Risk versus inaction: Although picking the lock could kill them instantly, remaining trapped offers no better chance of survival. The characters must choose between dangerous action and certain confinement.
• Responsibility and trust: Li Yuan feels accountable for Xia Yao’s situation, while Xia Yao responds with understanding rather than resentment.
• The broader meaning of strength: Martial power is not limited to physical force; perception, precision, technical skill, and mental composure are equally important.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan persuades Xia Yao to discuss Martial Dao despite the immediate danger, initially confusing her because she does not realize he is trying to gain Experience Points.
• Their conversation becomes genuine once Xia Yao focuses, and she comes to appreciate Li Yuan’s views on movement techniques.
• Xia Yao challenges Li Yuan’s plan to pick the lock, warning him about the deadly mechanism and his lack of experience.
• Li Yuan explains the lack of alternatives and reassures her that he will find a way to save them. Xia Yao ultimately accepts his decision and supports his attempt.

Chapter Summary: “Escape”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the battle, Sunset Mountain Camp is placed under martial law and put on maximum alert because an A-level Beast has escaped.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang hides the truth: during the pursuit, he discovered that multiple A-level Beasts were present. He fears revealing this would destroy morale and trigger a mass evacuation from the surrounding cities.
• Kang Yong and the other support martial artists confront Luo Jinfan and the Special Forces Squad about abandoning their captain, Li Yuan.
• The squad admits that they became entangled with Little Rock Bears despite Li Yuan’s warning. When the Rock Bear Demon appeared, they were paralyzed by fear while Li Yuan confronted it and pursued it into the wilderness.
• Since Li Yuan has not returned—and even Fang, an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist, failed to rescue him—Kang Yong and the others conclude that Li Yuan is probably in grave danger.
• Meanwhile, Li Yuan and Xia Yao remain trapped inside a laboratory surrounded by A-level Beasts. The laboratory steadily drains their physical strength.
• Li Yuan spends the night mentally planning how to pick the laboratory’s gate lock. Using his Nimble Hands Talent and precise tactile awareness, he successfully unlocks it.
• Xia Yao becomes unconscious from exhaustion. By dawn, Li Yuan has escaped the laboratory carrying her on his back, though he remains physically strained from the effort.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates exceptional courage, technical skill, endurance, and responsibility. He faces the Rock Bear Demon when others are too frightened to act and later successfully picks the lock despite exhaustion and poor visibility. He also risks himself to carry the unconscious Xia Yao to safety.
• Luo Jinfan and the Special Forces Squad: Their arrogance and hostility toward Li Yuan disappear. After witnessing his courage and judgment, they recognize that their previous criticism of him was unjustified and accept responsibility for abandoning him.
• Kang Yong and his companions: Their concern for Li Yuan highlights their loyalty and respect for him as a captain.
• Xia Yao: Though physically weakened, she tries to assist Li Yuan with the flashlight and continues supporting him. Her exhaustion emphasizes the laboratory’s deadly conditions.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang: Acts cautiously and pragmatically, concealing the existence of the larger A-level Beast threat to prevent panic, though this leaves the camp unaware of the true danger.

Significant Themes

• Courage versus fear: Li Yuan’s willingness to confront the Rock Bear Demon contrasts sharply with the Special Forces Squad’s paralysis, forcing them to reconsider what true bravery means.
• Recognition earned through action: Li Yuan gains the respect of his former critics not through argument, but through his judgment, courage, and willingness to protect them.
• Responsibility and guilt: The squad acknowledges that their poor decisions contributed to Li Yuan’s danger, and their guilt marks a major change in their attitudes.
• Survival under extreme conditions: The draining laboratory, hostile beasts, and failing physical strength create constant pressure, making careful planning and endurance essential.
• Concealing dangerous truths: Fang’s decision to suppress information reflects the tension between maintaining public order and informing people about genuine threats.

Important Character Interactions

• Kang Yong and the others angrily demand an explanation from Luo Jinfan and the squad for failing to help Li Yuan.
• The Special Forces Squad confesses their mistakes and explains how Li Yuan faced the Rock Bear Demon alone.
• Xia Yao attempts to support Li Yuan while he picks the lock, despite barely having the strength to remain conscious.
• After successfully escaping, Li Yuan carries Xia Yao out of the laboratory and quietly acknowledges the difficulty of transporting her while fleeing, ending the chapter with their escape underway.

Chapter Summary: “Rescue Arrives, Finally Safe”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After escaping the laboratory, Li Yuan and Xia Yao remain weakened by a mysterious gas that drains physical strength and interferes with recovery.
• Li Yuan explains that he cannot safely carry Xia Yao because his own stamina is depleted. Xia Yao tries to walk, but her legs are unsteady, so she leans on him for support.
• They make their way toward Sunset Mountain Camp, avoiding steep terrain and detouring around potential Fierce Beast threats. Their progress is slow because they must remain cautious.
• Their phones initially have no signal, confirming that the laboratory’s creators had installed a signal-blocking device.
• After several hours, Xia Yao gradually recovers and can walk more independently, though she continues holding Li Yuan’s arm. Li Yuan also recovers unusually quickly.
• Xia Yao realizes that Li Yuan’s physical foundation and recovery ability are remarkably strong, even though his Martial Dao realm is lower than hers. This surprises her because she is a member of the Xia Family and practices one of the world’s finest foundational cultivation methods.
• After crossing a mountain, the pair regain phone service. Xia Yao contacts the camp, reports their location, and requests rescue.
• Li Yuan suggests that they remain in place rather than wander, while he keeps watch for Fierce Beasts. The two rest together until help arrives.
• During the wait, the rescue team from Sunset Mountain Camp arrives, accompanied by Xia Yao’s close friend Cui Xuan, who immediately embraces her.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates practicality, self-awareness, and responsibility by admitting his limitations instead of pretending he can carry Xia Yao. He remains vigilant throughout their journey, prioritizing her safety while monitoring the wilderness. His exceptional recovery ability reveals that his physical foundation is far stronger than expected.
• Xia Yao: Shows honesty by acknowledging her weakness and making a genuine effort to walk. As she recovers, her admiration for Li Yuan deepens. She begins viewing him not only as a capable rescuer but also as someone with unusual potential and personal qualities.
• Xia Yao’s romantic feelings: While resting, Xia Yao realizes she may be attracted to Li Yuan. She considers their age difference, their unequal social backgrounds, and whether he may already be married. She also interprets his decision to risk himself for her as evidence that he may care about her.
• Cui Xuan: Appears at the end as a close and emotionally concerned friend, immediately rushing to embrace Xia Yao upon seeing her safe.

Significant Themes

• Survival and cooperation: Li Yuan and Xia Yao survive by supporting one another, exercising caution, and making practical decisions rather than acting recklessly.
• Strength beyond formal rank: Li Yuan’s recovery reveals that a martial artist’s foundation and physical constitution can matter as much as, or more than, their visible Martial Dao realm.
• Trust and security: Xia Yao gradually feels safe around Li Yuan, while his constant vigilance reinforces his reliability and protective nature.
• Emerging romance: Xia Yao’s thoughts shift from survival to personal and romantic concerns, suggesting the beginning of deeper feelings for Li Yuan.
• Class and social differences: Xia Yao recognizes the disparity between their identities and backgrounds but concludes that it may not prevent a relationship.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan supports Xia Yao physically as they travel, while she remains dependent on his arm even after she begins recovering.
• He reassures her during their wait, mistakenly believing she is worried about Fierce Beasts and rescue, while her actual concern is her uncertain feelings about him.
• Xia Yao observes Li Yuan closely and compares his abilities with her own elite background, increasing her respect and interest.
• Their quiet companionship and mutual reliance strengthen the emotional connection between them.
• The chapter ends with Cui Xuan’s emotional reunion with Xia Yao, marking their transition from danger toward safety.

Chapter Summary: Xia Yao’s Inquiry

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sunset Mountain Camp sends several elite martial artists—each at least Seventh Grade completion—to rescue Li Yuan and Xia Yao.
• Their survival is treated as especially important because both had fallen into the mysterious pit and may possess information about the hundreds of A-level Beasts gathered there.
• The entire incident is classified as top secret. When Cui Xuan tries to ask questions, the assisting martial artists stop her, emphasizing the military’s strict confidentiality rules.
• Back at camp, Li Yuan and Xia Yao are questioned by Deputy Battalion Commander Fang for nearly two hours. They reveal that the pit likely resulted from a recent collapse and that an underground laboratory may have been located beneath it.
• Fang realizes the A-level Beasts may have been artificially bred, suggesting a large-scale and potentially devastating conspiracy.
• Fang orders Li Yuan and Xia Yao to keep the matter secret for one month rather than confining them, trusting them as the heroes of the incident.
• News of their safe return spreads through the camp, but Li Yuan refuses to reveal details, warning that anyone violating confidentiality could face prison.
• The camp remains on high alert while Li Yuan waits for his support assignment to end and prepares to return to Lingshan City. Fang informs him that he will likely receive a third-class merit, though the announcement is delayed by the ongoing crisis.
• The immediate unresolved problem is how to deal with the several hundred Rock Bear Demons.
• While recovering, Xia Yao asks Cui Xuan to invite the martial artists from Li Yuan’s tent so she can question them. Alone, she reflects on Li Yuan’s composure, martial knowledge, and exceptional abilities.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates caution, discipline, and political awareness by maintaining secrecy even with acquaintances. His actions during the crisis earn him recognition and a likely third-class merit.
• Xia Yao: Gains a deeper appreciation of Li Yuan after surviving the danger with him. She becomes curious about his background and abilities and begins actively investigating him.
• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang: Shows strong leadership and strategic concern. Rather than focusing primarily on Li Yuan and Xia Yao’s survival, he prioritizes the threat posed by the A-level Beasts and the possible danger to the entire city. He also shows trust by allowing them to return to rest.
• Cui Xuan: Initially curious about the incident but quickly respects military discipline once the matter is identified as top secret.
• The camp’s martial artists: Their anxiety is partially eased by Li Yuan and Xia Yao’s safe return, though the camp’s heightened alert signals that the danger remains serious.

Significant Themes

• Secrecy and social stability: The military conceals the incident to prevent panic and unrest, which Fang suggests could cause as many deaths as the Fierce Beasts themselves.
• Hidden experimentation and conspiracy: The underground laboratory raises the possibility that the A-level Beasts were artificially created, expanding the incident from a wilderness accident into a major threat.
• Trust and responsibility: Li Yuan, Xia Yao, and Fang all demonstrate responsibility by protecting sensitive information, while Fang’s leniency reflects his trust in the survivors.
• Heroism and recognition: Li Yuan and Xia Yao are treated as heroes, but official rewards are secondary to containing the larger crisis.
• Growing mutual interest: Xia Yao’s admiration for Li Yuan’s composure and martial understanding hints at a developing personal and intellectual interest.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Xia Yao: Exchange meaningful glances over the secrecy order and share an understanding of the incident’s seriousness.
• Cui Xuan and the rescuers: Cui Xuan’s questions are firmly stopped by the assisting martial artists, reinforcing the military chain of command.
• Li Yuan, Xia Yao, and Fang: They discuss the collapsed pit and laboratory, with Fang recording their testimony and recognizing the implications of their discovery.
• Li Yuan and the camp personnel: Li Yuan shuts down their questions by invoking the severe consequences of violating confidentiality.
• Xia Yao and Cui Xuan: Xia Yao asks Cui Xuan to summon Li Yuan’s companions, beginning her attempt to learn more about Li Yuan.

Chapter Summary: Almost a Husband

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cui Xuan discreetly searches for someone on Xia Yao’s behalf, respecting Xia Yao’s wish to keep her intentions hidden from Li Yuan. The person cannot be contacted until the following morning.
• At daybreak, Deputy Battalion Commander Fang lowers Sunset Mountain Camp’s alert from red to orange. Although this reassures the martial artists, the real reason is that several Grandmasters have arrived, allowing the exhausted guards to relax.
• After completing a night of guard duty, Kang Yong is invited to a private meal by Xia Yao and Cui Xuan.
• Xia Yao questions Kang Yong about Li Yuan’s background, cultivation, needs, and personal life. She disguises her interest as an attempt to find Li Yuan a suitable girlfriend.
• Kang Yong reveals that Li Yuan probably already has a girlfriend, based on seeing him video-chatting with a woman and observing that Li Yuan did not deny the relationship.
• Disappointed and unable to hide her emotions, Xia Yao ends the meal early and gives Kang Yong two bottles of A-grade Nutrient Fluid.
• Back in her tent, Xia Yao reflects on Li Yuan’s intelligence, strength, and the guidance he gave her. She begins considering whether her family might accept him despite his modest status as a middle school teacher.
• She decides that Li Yuan’s achievements should be formally recognized through commendations and other honors, believing that advancement in status could improve their chances.

Character Developments

• Xia Yao: Her hidden romantic feelings for Li Yuan become increasingly clear. She is jealous and discouraged upon hearing he may have a girlfriend, but she remains practical, deciding to help advance his reputation and career rather than giving up.
• Cui Xuan: She acts as Xia Yao’s trusted confidante and assistant, though she does not realize that Xia Yao herself may be interested in Li Yuan. She views Li Yuan as acceptable as a boyfriend but questions whether his social status would make him suitable for marriage.
• Kang Yong: He becomes more relaxed and comfortable around Xia Yao during the meal. He unknowingly reveals information that deeply affects her and misinterprets her questions as an effort to arrange a match for Li Yuan.
• Li Yuan: Though absent from the chapter, he gains importance through others’ perceptions of him. His abilities and insight impress Xia Yao, while his ordinary occupation and uncertain relationship status create obstacles to a possible future with her.

Significant Themes

• Unspoken romantic feelings: Xia Yao hides her attraction behind jokes and indirect questions, while her emotional reaction reveals how deeply she cares.
• Status versus ability: Li Yuan’s humble profession and lack of social standing may concern Xia Yao’s family, but his talent and potential could allow him to overcome those barriers.
• Miscommunication and mistaken assumptions: Kang Yong misunderstands Xia Yao’s motives, while Cui Xuan remains unaware that Xia Yao is thinking of herself rather than another woman.
• Recognition and advancement: Xia Yao believes official commendations and career progress could help secure Li Yuan’s future and make him more acceptable to her family.
• Emotional restraint: Xia Yao attempts to remain composed and strategic, but her disappointment and jealousy repeatedly break through her carefully maintained facade.

Character Interactions

• Xia Yao and Cui Xuan: Their close friendship is shown through Cui Xuan’s discreet assistance and concern for Xia Yao’s mood. However, Xia Yao still withholds the truth about her feelings.
• Xia Yao and Kang Yong: Xia Yao treats Kang Yong respectfully and uses casual conversation to obtain information about Li Yuan. Kang Yong responds openly but fails to recognize the personal nature of her interest.
• Xia Yao and Li Yuan: They do not meet directly, but Xia Yao’s memories of his guidance and protection deepen her admiration and lead her to contemplate a genuine relationship.
• Cui Xuan and Li Yuan: Cui Xuan acknowledges his good qualities but doubts whether his background makes him suitable for marriage, highlighting the social barriers surrounding him.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang briefs four Grandmasters about the mysterious pit containing hundreds of A-level Rock Bear Demons. Xia Yao and another martial artist had survived the pit, suggesting the beasts were abnormal.
• The Grandmasters inspect the pit and notice that the Rock Bear Demons are unusually passive and unintelligent. They attack and eliminate most of them, discovering that the creatures possess only the strength and defenses of ordinary Rock Bear Demons despite being classified as A-level.
• Five surviving beasts are captured for research. The Grandmasters conclude that the Rock Bear Demons were likely products of unsuccessful biological experiments.
• The Grandmasters report that Sunset Mountain Camp is safer than initially believed, though further investigations are needed to uncover possible laboratories or similar experiments near other camps.
• After a final patrol, the Grandmasters leave, and the information is downgraded from top secret to classified. Xia Yao is authorized to inform the Xia Family and request assistance.
• Xia Yao contacts her relatives, Xia Zhao and Cheng Jing, and explains the situation. Xia Zhao suspects that the experimental beasts may be connected to the Mutant Beast previously encountered in Qijia Town.
• Xia Yao indirectly asks Xia Zhao for advice about pursuing someone who already has a partner. Xia Zhao tells her that although pursuing someone in a relationship may draw criticism, she can still fight for them if she refuses to give up.
• Encouraged, Xia Yao decides to investigate Li Yuan’s background through the Teaching Affairs Director at his school. Meanwhile, Li Yuan continues studying his newly acquired Talents.

Character Developments

• Deputy Battalion Commander Fang demonstrates responsibility despite his fear, reporting the pit and assisting the Grandmasters while recognizing the limits of his own strength.
• The Grandmasters become more involved in the investigation, confirming that the beasts are experimental creations rather than normal A-level threats. Their actions restore confidence in the camp’s immediate safety.
• Xia Yao grows more determined both to support Sunset Mountain Camp and to pursue her feelings for Li Yuan. Her conversation with Xia Zhao gives her the courage to act rather than suppress her emotions.
• Xia Zhao is portrayed as perceptive, supportive, and pragmatic. She recognizes Xia Yao’s romantic interest immediately and offers honest, if morally complicated, advice.
• Li Yuan remains largely detached from the surrounding events, focusing instead on understanding and developing his new Talents.

Significant Themes

• Scientific experimentation and the danger of unchecked research: The altered Rock Bear Demons reveal the threat posed by biological experiments conducted without regard for human or animal life.
• Courage and responsibility: The characters confront danger despite uncertainty, while the Grandmasters take action to protect the camp and gather evidence.
• Persistence in love: Xia Zhao’s advice introduces the chapter’s central idea: if someone refuses to give up, they must be prepared to fight for what they want, even at the risk of social criticism.
• Power and hierarchy: Fang’s respectful behavior toward the Grandmasters emphasizes the strict martial hierarchy and the vast gap between Eighth-Rank practitioners and Grandmasters.
• Hidden conspiracies: The possible connection between the experimental beasts and the Mutant Beast from Qijia Town hints at a larger organization or ongoing experiment.

Character Interactions

• Fang respectfully reports the pit’s situation to the four Grandmasters and follows them during their investigation.
• The Grandmasters cooperate in destroying and capturing the abnormal beasts, then jointly assess the threat.
• Xia Yao receives permission from Fang to contact the Xia Family and seeks their support.
• Xia Yao speaks with Xia Zhao through Cheng Jing, discussing both the biological experiments and her feelings for Li Yuan.
• Xia Zhao teases Xia Yao about having someone she admires, then encourages her to pursue him if she truly refuses to give up.

Chapter Summary: “What Second-Class Merit?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan reflects on choosing the “Nimble Hands” Talent. Though initially selected during a crisis, he realizes it has major practical value. Its precise control allows him to dissect powerful Fierce Beasts, safely remove poison glands, and avoid paying anatomists a large share of the profits.
• The situation at Sunset Mountain Camp remains extremely dangerous after the Rock Bear Demon crisis. Most missions and patrols are suspended, and reinforcing Martial Artists are mainly assigned to garrison duty.
• Once Li Yuan and Kang Yong’s group complete their support requirements, they are no longer obligated to perform garrison work. After ten days, all reinforcements are recalled because the crisis is beyond what they can handle.
• Li Yuan returns safely to Lingshan City. The military operation remains confidential, and the public hears nothing about the hundreds of Rock Bear Demons.
• At home, Li Yuan reassures his worried parents with the usual cover story that he had been away on a school-related “business trip.”
• He contacts Director Zeng, who advises him to focus on his academic-year performance and the National College Entrance Examination. Director Zeng warns that Principal Yin is still seeking opportunities to undermine him, and that Li Yuan’s Youth Martial Tournament achievements will not protect him indefinitely.
• Although Li Yuan still has eight days of leave remaining, he returns to work after one night’s rest. His first action is checking Jin Fan’s attendance, catching him arriving nearly at noon.
• Jin Fan complains to Principal Yin, who is increasingly irritated by his disciple’s irresponsibility. Principal Yin reveals that he is trying to reclaim some of Li Yuan’s authority as Teaching Affairs Director, with support from provincial and municipal education officials.
• The chapter ends with news that the mayor has arrived at the school to present a Second-Class Merit plaque, leaving Principal Yin confused and alarmed about what achievement earned Li Yuan such recognition.

Character Development

• Li Yuan: Demonstrates foresight and practical thinking by recognizing the broader value of “Nimble Hands.” He remains calm, disciplined, and responsible, returning to work early and continuing to document Jin Fan’s misconduct. His conduct during the Southern Border crisis appears to have earned official recognition.
• Xia Yao: Frequently seeks Li Yuan’s guidance on Martial Dao and increasingly views him as an experienced elder. However, she dislikes his paternal attitude and directly objects to being treated like a junior.
• Kang Yong and his team: Are satisfied with their training experience because they survived without injury and received commendations.
• Jin Fan: Remains careless and uncommitted to his teaching responsibilities, repeatedly arriving late and relying on his connection to a Grandmaster.
• Principal Yin: Becomes frustrated with Jin Fan but continues working against Li Yuan, attempting to reduce his authority through institutional connections.
• Director Zeng: Continues supporting Li Yuan’s advancement while warning him that stronger academic results are necessary for long-term protection.

Significant Themes

• Practical value beyond appearances: A seemingly ordinary Talent becomes extremely valuable when applied creatively and efficiently.
• Merit versus connections: Li Yuan earns recognition through actual ability and service, while Jin Fan relies on status and patronage despite poor performance.
• Institutional conflict and political pressure: Li Yuan’s position is threatened by Principal Yin’s network, showing that achievement alone may not be enough to overcome internal power struggles.
• Responsibility and discipline: Li Yuan’s willingness to return to work early contrasts sharply with Jin Fan’s negligence.
• Secrecy and sacrifice: The Southern Border crisis is concealed from the public, while those involved bear the danger and responsibility without public knowledge.
• Family protection: Li Yuan hides the truth about his missions to spare his parents unnecessary fear.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Xia Yao: Their Martial Dao discussions benefit Xia Yao, but she resents Li Yuan’s elder-like treatment and confronts him about it.
• Li Yuan and his parents: They warmly wait for him to return before eating, while he conceals the dangerous truth of his mission.
• Li Yuan and Director Zeng: Their call combines reassurance with strategic advice about examinations, political opposition, and Li Yuan’s future.
• Li Yuan and Jin Fan: Li Yuan records Jin Fan’s repeated lateness, ensuring there is lasting documentation of his misconduct.
• Jin Fan and Principal Yin: Jin Fan seeks protection and complains about Li Yuan, but even Principal Yin is beginning to find him troublesome.
• Principal Yin and the mayor’s delegation: The unexpected arrival to present a Second-Class Merit plaque shocks Principal Yin, setting up the revelation of Li Yuan’s official achievement.

Chapter Summary: “Gone Mad?”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Principal Yin learns that Li Yuan is being honored with a Second-Class Merit award, an exceptionally rare distinction in Lingshan City. He is shocked and distressed because he had previously obstructed Li Yuan’s opportunities.
• The mayor leads a formal delegation to Lingshan No. 1 High School, accompanied by two military personnel carrying Li Yuan’s commendation plaque. Students line the roads to witness the ceremony.
• Li Yuan is publicly honored and presented as an outstanding teacher. He is visibly embarrassed by the attention but accepts the recognition.
• The mayor praises the school for having such a capable Teaching Affairs Director and pointedly remarks that Li Yuan should have been given opportunities earlier, unknowingly aggravating Principal Yin.
• The school holds a large faculty meeting celebrating Li Yuan’s achievement and the school’s successful Open Class performance, during which all teachers met the required standards.
• Director Zeng Chang arrives late because the award was processed and delivered urgently. He is delighted by Li Yuan’s success, viewing it as further validation of his decision to recommend him.
• Zeng begins considering promoting Li Yuan sooner than planned, rather than waiting for the upcoming national college entrance examination results.
• Li Yuan becomes the center of attention at the official luncheon, while Jin Fan and Gu Yu are excluded and eat separately.
• Bitter and jealous, Jin Fan suggests investigating whether Li Yuan’s award was obtained through connections or falsified. Gu Yu dismisses the idea as irrational and mocks Jin Fan for becoming unreasonably obsessed with undermining Li Yuan.

2. Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Gains enormous public prestige through his Second-Class Merit. His achievements continue to overturn the low expectations and discrimination he previously faced. Despite the honor, he remains modest and uncomfortable with excessive attention.
• Principal Yin: Suffers a major psychological and reputational blow. His past efforts to suppress Li Yuan now appear foolish, as Li Yuan repeatedly succeeds and earns recognition that reflects poorly on Yin’s judgment.
• Director Zeng Chang: Becomes increasingly confident in Li Yuan and his own decision to support him. He now sees Li Yuan’s merit as justification for an earlier promotion.
• Jin Fan: Reveals growing resentment and desperation. Instead of accepting Li Yuan’s achievement, he attempts to explain it away as corruption or manipulation.
• Gu Yu: Shows a more rational understanding of Li Yuan’s abilities and openly mocks Jin Fan’s increasingly irrational hostility.

3. Significant Themes

• Recognition overcoming prejudice: Li Yuan’s official honor proves his competence despite the school leadership’s earlier bias against him.
• Public humiliation and reversal of status: Principal Yin, once in a position of authority over Li Yuan, is forced to publicly welcome and praise the very person he had held back.
• Merit versus connections: Li Yuan’s award represents genuine accomplishment, while Jin Fan’s accusations reflect the tendency of jealous people to discredit achievements they cannot match.
• Institutional validation: The mayor, education officials, and military recognition transform Li Yuan’s personal success into a source of pride for the entire school and city.
• Jealousy and psychological unraveling: Jin Fan’s inability to accept Li Yuan’s success pushes him toward baseless conspiracy theories, while Gu Yu recognizes that this behavior is becoming unreasonable.

4. Character Interactions

• The mayor’s praise of Li Yuan creates an awkward contrast with Principal Yin’s past treatment of him, forcing Yin to smile and accept public embarrassment.
• Li Yuan and Director Zeng share a positive relationship built on mutual respect; Zeng’s pride in Li Yuan reinforces his decision to support Li Yuan’s advancement.
• Jin Fan and Gu Yu’s private lunch highlights their exclusion from the school’s celebration and exposes their differing attitudes: Jin Fan is consumed by resentment, while Gu Yu criticizes his unfounded suspicions.
• The mayor’s remarks unintentionally intensify the tension between Li Yuan and Principal Yin by implying that Yin had failed to recognize Li Yuan’s value earlier.

Chapter Summary: “Promoted Again!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jin Fan grows increasingly furious and resentful toward Li Yuan, especially after Gu Yu points out that Li Yuan’s achievements—such as earning Second-Class Merit during border training—prove his exceptional ability.
• Jin Fan blames Gu Yu for failing to defeat Li Yuan earlier, while Gu Yu pushes back, reminding him that martial arts victories depend on actual strength, not simply taking an opponent seriously.
• Gu Yu privately reflects on his battles with Li Yuan and recognizes how much Li Yuan has improved. He feels that fighting Li Yuan was even more difficult than fighting Jin Fan and begins hoping Li Yuan will defeat Jin Fan at the upcoming Stone Peak River Education Research Conference.
• Jin Fan remains unconcerned about Gu Yu’s anger. His main concern is enduring the next two weeks while Li Yuan monitors his attendance, after which he hopes to eliminate Li Yuan as an obstacle to his advancement.
• After a luncheon, Li Yuan and Director Zeng Chang see off the mayor and other officials. The mayor learns that Li Yuan’s achievements have earned him another potential promotion.
• The mayor approves Li Yuan taking on acting school-management responsibilities, while explaining that the Organization Department must review him before he can receive a permanent leadership appointment.
• Li Yuan may be promoted to vice principal or another school-level leadership role. Principal Yin prefers the vice-principal position because he does not want Li Yuan controlling the school’s compliance, information, and communication responsibilities.
• Zeng Chang tells Li Yuan about his difficulty improving Lingshan No. 2 High School. Li Yuan diagnoses the school’s central problem as its lax academic atmosphere rather than poor teacher quality.
• Li Yuan argues that students generally need strict structure and discipline because, when left entirely to their own choices, most will choose comfort and give up when progress becomes difficult. Zeng Chang agrees with his assessment.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan: Continues rising rapidly within the education system. His military achievements and educational success establish him as both a capable martial artist and an effective school leader. He also demonstrates clear insight into educational management.
• Jin Fan: Becomes increasingly consumed by jealousy, hatred, and fear of Li Yuan’s influence. His arrogance is evident in how he shifts blame onto Gu Yu and treats his junior brother dismissively.
• Gu Yu: Gains a more realistic appreciation of Li Yuan’s talent after their fights. He resents Jin Fan’s condescension and begins secretly hoping Li Yuan will defeat Jin Fan.
• Zeng Chang: Becomes more confident in Li Yuan and recognizes that recruiting or supporting him was a fortunate decision. He seeks Li Yuan’s help with broader educational problems.
• Principal Yin: Is placed in an awkward position by Li Yuan’s success. Although Li Yuan’s achievements benefit the school, Yin worries about losing authority to him.
• The Mayor: Acknowledges Li Yuan’s accomplishments and supports his provisional promotion, though formal approval remains necessary.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and resentment: Jin Fan’s hatred illustrates how threatened pride can distort judgment and damage relationships.
• Strength versus status: Gu Yu’s ordinary background contrasts with Jin Fan’s family connections, emphasizing the conflict between genuine ability and inherited privilege.
• Recognition and advancement: Li Yuan’s achievements lead naturally to institutional promotion, while established leaders struggle to accommodate his growing influence.
• Discipline in education: The chapter argues that students generally require firm guidance, since freedom without structure often leads to laziness and abandonment of difficult goals.
• Merit versus authority: Li Yuan’s competence challenges existing hierarchies, especially Principal Yin’s control over the school.

Important Character Interactions

• Jin Fan and Gu Yu: Their conversation exposes Jin Fan’s arrogance and Gu Yu’s growing frustration. Gu Yu refuses to continue accepting Jin Fan’s insults.
• Gu Yu and Li Yuan: Though Li Yuan is not present, Gu Yu’s memories of their fights reveal his respect for Li Yuan and his hope that Li Yuan will punish Jin Fan’s arrogance.
• Li Yuan and the Mayor: The mayor recognizes Li Yuan’s accomplishments and agrees to his temporary assumption of higher administrative duties.
• Li Yuan and Zeng Chang: Their discussion shifts from Li Yuan’s promotion to the larger problem at No. 2 High School, establishing Li Yuan as an advisor whose views Zeng Chang trusts.

Chapter Summary: “The Scarcity of Anatomists”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan discusses education reforms with Municipal Education Bureau Director Zeng Chang. He proposes having students and teachers from the academically weaker Lingshan No. 2 High School periodically attend classes at Lingshan No. 1 High School to absorb its stronger academic atmosphere.
• The teaching content would remain unchanged, but No. 2 High School would adopt No. 1 High School’s schedules and disciplinary standards. Li Yuan also supports stricter treatment for students who refuse to improve, emphasizing that high school is not compulsory education.
• After returning to school, Li Yuan observes anatomy classes. Martial Artists study basic anatomy to learn how to harvest valuable materials from Fierce Beasts, while advanced dissection is offered as a specialized elective.
• Li Yuan meets Huang Bo, the school’s only anatomy teacher and a Junior A-Class Anatomist. Huang explains that anatomy requires exceptional hand-eye coordination, precision, and strength, making skilled anatomists extremely rare.
• While observing the anatomy department, Li Yuan notices that the course expenses recorded in the school accounts are much higher than the actual consumption he witnessed.
• He brings the irregularities to Principal Yin, who openly supports a full investigation and appears unconcerned, suggesting he is not involved.
• Li Yuan then consults Chen Yong, who explains that the school has long known about Huang Bo’s excessive expenses but has been unable to act because there are too few anatomists. If Huang stops teaching, several hundred students could lose their anatomy classes.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan demonstrates a practical and reform-minded approach to education. He focuses on improving academic culture, discipline, and teacher standards rather than simply changing curricula.
• His newly acquired Nimble Hands talent motivates him to study anatomy personally, showing his willingness to expand his abilities across different fields.
• Li Yuan also becomes more investigative and assertive. What begins as casual observation develops into an examination of school finances and a possible inquiry into Huang Bo.
• Director Zeng Chang appears receptive to Li Yuan’s proposals because he urgently wants both schools to improve.
• Huang Bo is revealed as a highly skilled but somewhat arrogant specialist who understands his indispensability to the school.
• Principal Yin presents himself as honest and cooperative, immediately supporting Li Yuan’s investigation.
• Chen Yong acts as a cautious source of insider information, warning Li Yuan that exposing Huang Bo could create a larger educational crisis.

Significant Themes

• Educational reform and academic atmosphere: Li Yuan believes weak results are caused less by teacher ability than by the surrounding learning environment and discipline.
• The value and scarcity of specialized talent: Anatomists are highly paid and protected from front-line danger because their skills are difficult to acquire and difficult to replace.
• Institutional dependence: The school is forced to tolerate questionable financial practices because it cannot afford to lose its only anatomy teacher.
• Accountability versus practicality: Investigating corruption or financial irregularities may be morally right, but doing so could harm hundreds of students if no replacement is available.
• Precision and expertise: Anatomy is portrayed as a demanding craft requiring strength, delicacy, and extraordinary control, contrasting with the broader physical abilities of Martial Artists.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Director Zeng cooperate closely while discussing measures to improve both schools.
• Li Yuan and Huang Bo engage in a polite but subtly tense exchange. Huang respects Li Yuan’s authority but emphasizes that anatomy is so difficult that even a Grandmaster might fail to master it.
• Li Yuan confronts Principal Yin with the suspicious accounts, and Yin encourages him to investigate freely, creating the impression of transparency.
• Chen Yong provides Li Yuan with background information about Huang Bo and cautions him against pursuing the matter without considering the school’s dependence on its sole anatomy instructor.

Chapter Summary: “Am I Not Professional...?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuan decides to investigate Huang Bo’s dissection course, which consumes roughly 20% of Lingshan No. 1 High School’s budget despite producing only one successful student every three years.
• Chen Yong worries that confronting Huang Bo could cause him to suspend classes, creating a teaching accident and damaging Li Yuan’s career. The school also lacks an easy replacement because qualified Anatomists are rare and expensive.
• Li Yuan argues that Huang Bo’s excessive use of resources is unfair to other teachers and harmful to the school. He intends to redirect savings toward improving teachers’ benefits.
• News of the investigation spreads among the staff, most of whom support Li Yuan because they believe reducing the dissection course’s expenses could improve their own working conditions.
• Principal Yin appears to have deliberately allowed the news to spread so that Huang Bo would hear about it indirectly.
• Huang Bo confronts Li Yuan publicly outside the teachers’ office, accusing him of interfering in a professional field he does not understand.
• Li Yuan refuses to be intimidated. Rather than debating dissection techniques, he focuses on the suspicious accounts and expenses.
• Huang Bo threatens to suspend his classes until the investigation is complete, confident that the school cannot quickly find a replacement.
• Li Yuan maintains that he is qualified to investigate the financial irregularities and openly questions whether Huang Bo’s teaching expenses are truly justified.

Character Developments

• Li Yuan demonstrates growing authority and confidence as Teaching Affairs Director. He recognizes that allowing Huang Bo to dominate the situation would weaken his position, so he confronts him publicly and directly.
• Chen Yong remains loyal but anxious. He understands the practical dangers of challenging Huang Bo, especially because Li Yuan lacks obvious expertise in dissection, yet he ultimately trusts Li Yuan’s ability to solve difficult problems.
• Huang Bo reveals his arrogance and self-protective behavior. He relies on his professional status and the school’s dependence on him to resist scrutiny, using the threat of suspending classes as leverage.
• Principal Yin appears politically calculating, quietly allowing the investigation news to reach Huang Bo and observing the confrontation from a distance.

Significant Themes

• Professional authority versus institutional accountability: Huang Bo claims that only specialists can judge his work, while Li Yuan argues that financial oversight remains valid even outside the field.
• Resource distribution and fairness: The chapter highlights the conflict between one costly, poorly performing program and the broader needs of the school’s teachers and students.
• Leadership and confrontation: Li Yuan must prove that he can protect the school’s interests without being overpowered by a powerful subordinate.
• Dependence on specialized talent: Huang Bo’s influence comes partly from the shortage of qualified Anatomists, allowing him to threaten the school with a teaching stoppage.
• Public image and power struggles: The confrontation occurs in front of teachers and students, making it a test of authority as much as an argument about accounting.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuan and Chen Yong: Chen Yong warns Li Yuan about the risks of confronting Huang Bo, while Li Yuan reassures him that he has a plan and must act for the school’s benefit.
• Li Yuan and Huang Bo: Their relationship shifts from formal cooperation to open hostility. Huang Bo challenges Li Yuan’s competence, and Li Yuan counters by questioning Huang Bo’s expenses and professional conduct.
• Huang Bo and the school community: By confronting Li Yuan publicly, Huang Bo attempts to influence teachers and students, intimidate the administration, and frame the investigation as interference by an unqualified official.
• Principal Yin and the confrontation: Though he does not participate directly, Principal Yin observes the conflict and seems to be using it to test or pressure both men.