Chapter Summaries

Fang Han focused on cultivation after reaching the Imperial Capital and used pills to advance his Internal Qi. He broke through to the Late Second Grade, gained a Divine Treasury that sharpened his neural reactions, and believed he could now fight martial artists who had Broken Three Passes.

• Fang Han decided to prioritize cultivating his Internal Qi before the Martial Arts Tournament.
• Fang Han recharged the seized Danyao and low-grade Dharma Weapon into the System Panel, raising his Possessed Wealth to 300,000 gold.
• Fang Han spent several days cultivating with Earth Origin Pills instead of exploring the Imperial Capital.
• Fang Han broke through the bottleneck at the Hundred Convergences Acupoint and reached the Late Second Grade.
• Fang Han discovered that his newly opened Divine Treasury greatly enhanced his neural reaction speed.
• Fang Han estimated that his strength had increased severalfold and that he could now fight a martial artist who had Broken Three Passes.

With two days remaining before the Martial Arts Tournament, Fang Han and Luo Yuntian explored the Imperial Capital and discussed the tournament’s valuable rewards. Fang Han bought jewelry for Yun Qianyue and Lan Yuexin, while Luo Yuntian quietly purchased a white jade hairpin for someone.

• Fang Han invited Luo Yuntian to walk around the Imperial Capital, and Luo agreed.
• Luo Yuntian told Fang Han that participants would receive a Low-Grade Heavenly Treasure, with increasingly valuable prizes for winning more rounds.
• Fang Han considered how difficult it would be to win nine rounds and earn the Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure and High Grade Artistic Conception martial art.
• Fang Han entered the Exquisite Pavilion with Luo Yuntian and bought a purple jade hairpin for Yun Qianyue and blue earrings for Lan Yuexin.
• Luo Yuntian bought a white jade hairpin, leaving Fang Han curious about whom he intended to give it to.

Fang Han and the other Qingyang Prefecture prodigies arrived at the Imperial Capital’s Martial Arts Tournament venue. As the tournament was about to begin, Fang Han found his assigned Combat Platform on the contestants’ notice board.

• Fang Han and Luo Yuntian met Zhen Feixuan at Exquisite Pavilion and discovered that the renowned beauty was a concealed first-rank martial artist.
• Two days later, Fang Han stabilized his late second-rank cultivation and prepared for the Martial Arts Tournament.
• Fang Han joined Luo Yuntian, Liu Bai, Mad Blade, and the other Qingyang Prefecture contestants to travel to the venue.
• Fang Han and his companions presented their jade tokens and entered the arena, where twenty Combat Platforms awaited the competitors.
• Fang Han checked the notice boards and found his name on the board for Combat Platform Number Ten.

Fang Han waited among the contestants at Combat Platform Ten, where Zhen Feixuan and a Grandmaster referee also appeared. After several bouts, Fang Han was matched against the arrogant Ling Yue of Golden Mausoleum Prefecture, who looked down on Qingyang Prefecture as their fight began.

• Fang Han arrived at Combat Platform Ten and sensed that the gathered contestants included several second-rank martial artists.
• Zhen Feixuan arrived, recognized Fang Han from Exquisite Pavilion, and exchanged a nod with him.
• A white-haired Grandmaster explained the tournament rules and began calling contestants to fight.
• Wen Ruyu defeated Ning Xu in the opening match, and Chen Bei defeated Qin Yan with his second-rank strength.
• The referee called Fang Han and Ling Yue for the eighteenth match, and Ling Yue insulted Qingyang Prefecture before their fight.

Fang Han defeated Ling Yue with one sword, while Zhen Feixuan and Luo Yuntian also won their matches. After the first round, seven contestants from Qingyang Prefecture had advanced, and Fang Han and Luo Yuntian overheard East Foothills Prefecture contestants wondering why Wang Zhen had not appeared.

• Fang Han cut Ling Yue with a single sword strike, forcing him to leave the platform defeated.
• Zhen Feixuan defeated Shi Xiong in one move by disarming him with her flexible sword.
• Luo Yuntian won his match after exchanging more than a hundred moves with a blue-clad fighter.
• Fang Han and the other contestants left the venue after the first round, with seven of Qingyang Prefecture's top ten advancing and Meng Xian among those eliminated.
• Fang Han and Luo Yuntian overheard East Foothills Prefecture contestants asking why Wang Zhen had not appeared, then continued with their group toward the Royal Annex.

Fang Han advanced past Shen Qiu in the second round with a controlled display of swordsmanship, then went to watch Qingyang Prefecture’s other contestants. The chapter left Luo Yuntian struggling against a much stronger Second Grade opponent.

• Fang Han defeated Shen Qiu with six increasingly powerful sword strikes, showing mercy before the blade reached his throat.
• Fang Han left Combat Platform Ten to check on the other Qingyang Prefecture contestants, and Liu Bai joined him after winning his own match.
• Luo Yuntian began fighting a black-clad opponent whose Second Grade strength overwhelmed his Third Grade Mid-Stage cultivation.
• Fang Han and Liu Bai watched as the black-clad man’s counterattack forced Luo Yuntian backward.

Jiang Ying defeated and humiliated Luo Yuntian, while Fang Han and the Qingyang Prefecture group reflected on how few of them remained in the tournament. The next morning, Fang Han went to Combat Platform No. 10 and met Bai Yan, who hoped to fight him.

• Jiang Ying defeated Luo Yuntian, mocked him and Qingyang Prefecture, and left Luo Yuntian injured.
• Fang Han and Liu Bai escorted Luo Yuntian from the platform, and the group learned that only Fang Han, Mad Blade, and Liu Bai had advanced from Qingyang Prefecture.
• Fang Han and the others discussed the advantages of the central thirty-six prefectures, then returned to the Royal Annex.
• The next morning, Luo Yuntian accompanied Fang Han to Combat Platform No. 10, where Fang Han noticed Bai Yan from the Heavenly Origin Sect.
• Bai Yan approached Fang Han and said he hoped to exchange blows with him; Fang Han replied that they would meet if they both kept winning.

Fang Han and Bai Yan won their third-round matches decisively, while Liu Bai and Mad Blade were eliminated. On the fourth morning, Fang Han encountered Jiang Ying, who provoked him and threatened to show the gap between their prefectures; the chapter ended before their tournament matchups were announced.

• Bai Yan defeated Meng Han by flicking his greatsword aside with two fingers, revealing his late second-rank cultivation.
• Fang Han defeated Zhao Zheng in three moves, knocking away his saber and stopping his sword at Zhao Zheng's brow.
• Liu Bai lost his match with minor injuries, and Mad Blade was defeated by a black-clothed swordsman.
• Fang Han and Luo Yuntian entered the fourth day's tournament, where five Combat Platforms remained and Fang Han was the only Qingyang Prefecture ranking contestant still competing.
• Jiang Ying approached Fang Han, mocked his progress, and threatened to demonstrate the gap between ordinary-prefecture and Central Thirty-Six Prefectures prodigies.

Fang Han decisively defeated Jiang Ying in the fourth round, deliberately wounding him over several exchanges in retaliation for Jiang Ying's treatment of Luo Yuntian. Jiang Ying left the arena humiliated, while Fang Han advanced and left the other contestants wary of his strength.

• The referee announced Fang Han of Qingyang Prefecture would fight Jiang Ying of Heavenly Water Prefecture.
• Jiang Ying mocked Fang Han and opened with a powerful sword strike, but Fang Han repelled it with a casual slash.
• Fang Han broke through Jiang Ying's sword technique and repeatedly wounded him without ending the fight.
• Jiang Ying launched a desperate attack, but Fang Han broke his wrist, disarmed him, and kicked him off the platform.
• The referee declared Jiang Ying defeated, and Jiang Ying left the arena after hearing the contestants ridicule him.

Fang Han arrived at the fifth round of the Martial Arts Tournament and found that the remaining contestants included eight First-Rank martial artists. The five Grandmasters announced the one-on-one elimination rules, leaving the sixty-four contestants awaiting their matches.

• Fang Han entered the tournament venue alone after Luo Yuntian, Liu Bai, Mad Blade, and the elders went to the spectator stands.
• Fang Han saw that the twenty Combat Platforms had merged into one enormous platform and sensed five First-Rank martial artists among the contestants present.
• Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Chu Jinghong arrived, and Fang Han counted eight First-Rank martial artists among the competitors.
• Sixty-four contestants gathered, while Luo Yuntian, Liu Bai, and Mad Blade watched Fang Han from the stands and wondered how he would fare.
• Five Grandmasters took the raised platform, and the crimson-robed elder announced the fifth round's one-on-one elimination rules and banned deliberate killing, poison, and concealed weapons.

Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Chu Jinghong won their matches with overwhelming ease, while Fang Han defeated Liu Ru despite her Second Grade Late Stage cultivation. The other contestants recognized Fang Han as the strongest fighter beneath the eight First Grade martial artists, and the tournament continued with his rivals watching him more warily.

• Qin Yuan disarmed Tie Xiong with a finger flick and won their match without drawing his saber.
• Lin Qingyin blasted her twin-spear opponent away with a palm strike, and Chu Jinghong broke his staff-wielding opponent’s weapon with one sword strike.
• Fang Han met Liu Ru’s powerful sword attack, then broke through her follow-up technique and knocked her flexible sword from her hand to win.
• Liu Ru thanked Fang Han for showing mercy before leaving the platform, while Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, Chu Jinghong, and Zhen Feixuan took note of Fang Han’s strength.
• Several Second Grade contestants discussed Fang Han’s ability to fight above his cultivation and worried that they might lose if they faced him.

Fang Han and Bai Yan emerged as the strongest contestants below First Grade, then were matched against each other in the sixth round of the Martial Arts Tournament. Their eagerly anticipated battle began with Bai Yan unleashing a powerful Wood Sword Intent strike, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Spectators praised Fang Han as the strongest below First Grade after his earlier display, while Bai Yan watched him with keen fighting intent.
• Bai Yan defeated Liu Zhen by disarming him with a single sword strike, demonstrating combat power comparable to a First Barrier Breakthrough martial artist.
• On the sixth day, the tournament narrowed to thirty-two contestants, and Fang Han drew widespread attention as the only one unaffiliated with an Overlord-Level Faction.
• The red-robed elder matched Fang Han against Bai Yan in the battle for the top sixteen, and both swordsmen stepped onto the Combat Platform eager to fight.
• When the elder began the match, Bai Yan attacked at once with a full-strength Wood Sword Intent strike that displayed exceptional speed and power.

Fang Han defeated Bai Yan in a close sword fight, then drew the attention of the eight First Rank competitors as the tournament narrowed to sixteen fighters. The seventh-round draw began, leaving Fang Han's next opponent unknown.

• Fang Han matched Bai Yan's strength and outmaneuvered him, stopping Cloudsplitter Sword inches from his throat to win the duel.
• Bai Yan accepted his defeat and praised Fang Han's swordsmanship, while spectators debated whether Fang Han could overcome a First Rank opponent.
• Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, Chu Jinghong, Zhen Feixuan, Blazing Sun, and Jiang Lan watched Fang Han and assessed his strength.
• On the seventh day, Fang Han arrived at the venue for the battle for the top eight alongside the other fifteen competitors.
• The red-robed elder announced that winners would advance and began unfurling the scroll to reveal the matchups.

Fang Han faced Blazing Sun, a First Grade contestant, after earlier matches confirmed the Second Grade contestants’ disadvantages. Fang Han revealed strength enough to stop Blazing Sun’s powerful attacks, and their duel continued with Blazing Sun fighting at full power.

• Zhen Feixuan disarmed Zhou Yuan and won their match, while the other First Grade contestants also defeated their Second Grade opponents.
• The red-robed elder announced Fang Han’s match against Blazing Sun of Heavenfire Prefecture, who declared that Fang Han’s tournament run would end there.
• Blazing Sun struck with force comparable to a martial artist who had broken through two barriers, but Fang Han blocked the punch with the Cloudsplitter Sword.
• Fang Han evaded Blazing Sun’s twin fire-like punches and counterattacked, leaving a mark on Blazing Sun’s arm after their weapons clashed.
• Blazing Sun acknowledged Fang Han as a worthy opponent, then unleashed his full strength and attacked him with a storm of scorching punches.

Fang Han defeated Blazing Sun after using their battle to refine his swordsmanship and movement technique, shocking the spectators and contestants. He left the venue as the eighth match concluded, with the battle for the final four scheduled for the next day.

• Fang Han fought Blazing Sun for more than a hundred exchanges, honing the coordination between the Wind God Step and the Void-Sundering Sword Manual.
• Fang Han wounded Blazing Sun and halted the Cloudsplitter Sword at his throat, and Blazing Sun admitted defeat.
• The red-robed elder declared Fang Han the victor, stunning the crowd and drawing reactions from Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, Chu Jinghong, Zhen Feixuan, Luo Yuntian, Liu Bai, and Mad Blade.
• Jiang Lan defeated Meng Yu in three moves, and the red-robed elder ended the day's matches and announced that the battle for the final four would begin the next day.
• Fang Han left the venue through a parting crowd as spectators discussed his victory and his name.

The imperial princes and princess reviewed Fang Han’s extraordinary talent, while the eighth round of the Martial Arts Tournament began with Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Chu Jinghong each defeating their opponents decisively. The final match of the round was announced as Fang Han versus Zhen Feixuan, leaving the crowd divided over who would win.

• Chu Yuanchen, Chu Yuanhao, and Chu Qingyi learned that Fang Han had advanced from the Ninth Rank to the late Second Rank in just over three years and could fight far above his level.
• Fang Han arrived at the packed tournament venue and saw the three imperial royals watching from the raised platform.
• Qin Yuan defeated Yan Bei with a casual flick of his fingers, breaking Yan Bei’s Saber Aura and disarming him.
• Lin Qingyin stopped Huo Qianshan’s blazing warhammer with her palm and sent him flying off balance.
• Chu Jinghong split Jiang Lan’s sword qi and won after bringing his blade to within inches of his opponent.
• The tournament announced Zhen Feixuan versus Fang Han as the fourth match, and spectators argued over whether Fang Han could continue his winning streak.

Fang Han and Zhen Feixuan fought in the tournament after revealing that they could both unleash power comparable to a Break Three Passes martial artist. Fang Han won by exploiting an opening after evading Zhen Feixuan’s strongest strike, and Zhen Feixuan left the Combat Platform.

• Zhen Feixuan revealed that her cultivation had reached Mid First Grade and attacked Fang Han with power comparable to a Break Three Passes martial artist.
• Fang Han unleashed his full strength and met Zhen Feixuan’s sword strike head-on, surprising the spectators by matching her combat power.
• Fang Han and Zhen Feixuan traded dozens of attacks without either gaining the upper hand, exhausting their strength and Internal Qi.
• Zhen Feixuan unleashed her strongest sword strike, but Fang Han evaded it and countered by knocking her flexible sword aside.
• Fang Han stopped the Cloudsplitter Sword three inches from Zhen Feixuan’s throat, and she admitted defeat before leaving the platform.

After defeating Zhen Feixuan, Fang Han lost to Qin Yuan, whose overwhelming saber strike exposed the gap between their cultivation and strength. The tournament continued with Lin Qingyin and Chu Jinghong beginning their battle.

• Fang Han reflected that defeating Zhen Feixuan had pushed him to the limit and that Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Chu Jinghong were stronger.
• On the ninth day, Fang Han opened his match against Qin Yuan with his strongest sword strike, but Qin Yuan blocked it without moving.
• Qin Yuan struck back with a Saber Aura that overwhelmed Fang Han, who was badly injured and conceded the match.
• The princes and spectators praised Fang Han's performance, and Fang Han stayed to watch the next match.
• Lin Qingyin and Chu Jinghong took the platform, exchanged formal greetings, and began their battle.

Lin Qingyin fought Chu Jinghong in a fierce semifinal, but his final sword strike split her Landscape Intent palm and won him the match. The next morning, Qin Yuan and Chu Jinghong faced each other in the tournament’s final, poised to begin their duel.

• Lin Qingyin and Chu Jinghong exchanged over a hundred attacks, displaying combat strength close to the Grandmaster realm.
• Lin Qingyin unleashed her Landscape Intent palm, but Chu Jinghong’s Rainbow Sword Intent split it, leaving her wounded and conceding defeat.
• The red-robed elder declared Chu Jinghong the winner, while spectators debated whether he or Qin Yuan would win the final.
• Fang Han told Luo Yuntian and the others that Qin Yuan and Chu Jinghong seemed evenly matched and either could win.
• On the tenth day, Qin Yuan and Chu Jinghong entered the platform for the tournament final and gripped their weapons.

Chu Jinghong defeated Qin Yuan in the Martial Arts Tournament, while Fang Han watched and considered the strength he still needed to reach. After returning to the Royal Annex, Fang Han chose his tournament rewards and received the Heavenly Treasures and martial arts manuals he had requested.

• Chu Jinghong pierced Qin Yuan’s saber and stopped his sword three inches from Qin Yuan’s throat, forcing Qin Yuan to admit defeat.
• The red-robed elder declared Chu Jinghong of Cangwu Prefecture the winner, and Fang Han recognized that he still fell short of Chu Jinghong’s strength.
• At the Royal Annex, Fang Han exchanged his rewards for Heavenly Treasures to improve his Body Movement, Body Tempering, Secret Art, and swordsmanship talents.
• Fang Han selected the Soul-Chasing Art and the Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture as his martial arts manuals.
• The steward returned with Fang Han’s nine Heavenly Treasures and two manuals, which Fang Han inspected and accepted.