Chapter Summaries

After advancing to Martial Apprentice Eighth Heaven, Xia Ping tested his new strength and learned that bandits were threatening to kill captured students unless he came to the Central Mountain Range. He decided to contact the bandits and prepare a surprise rather than walk into their trap.

• Xia Ping tested his strength and practiced the Five Forms Fist, reducing the clearing to rubble.
• Xia Ping returned to the cave after Jiang Yaru called him and learned the bandits had threatened to kill students unless he came to the Central Mountain Range at noon.
• Jiang Yaru, Chu Rong, and Luo Lan urged Xia Ping not to take the bait, but he was eager to fight the bandits.
• Xia Ping told Jiang Yaru and the others to hide while he planned to contact the bandits from a suitable location and surprise them.

The Leopard Gang captured over a hundred students and tried to use them as hostages to lure Xia Ping out. The students insisted they hated Xia Ping and pleaded that he would never come to rescue them, while the bandits remained convinced he would appear before their noon deadline.

• Lin Bao complained that the Leopard Gang had searched Beast Island without finding Xia Ping and ordered the bandits to use their captured students as bait.
• The bandits warned that they would kill the hostages at noon if Xia Ping did not surrender, leaving the students terrified.
• Han Shan and the other students told Lin Bao that they hated Xia Ping and that he would never come to save them, but Lin Bao accused them of lying.
• Xiong Batian, Gao Sheng, and Tao Yun described how Xia Ping had beaten and humiliated them, convincing the Leopard Gang that they were telling the truth.
• The captured students united in anger against Xia Ping and complained that his bullying had brought them trouble.

Xia Ping called the Leopard Gang and pretended the captive students were his close friends, provoking the bandits to beat them. After tracking Xia Ping’s Communicator to a nearby valley, Lin Bao ordered the gang to go kill him.

• A bandit answered a call from Xia Ping, who warned the Leopard Gang not to hurt his classmates and agreed to come for the three Blood-Red Fruits.
• Xia Ping falsely claimed Han Shan was his closest friend and told the bandits that Han Shan had given him his girlfriend.
• The bandits beat Han Shan after mistaking his denials for more lies, and Xia Ping named other students as friends or relatives he wanted spared.
• Lin Bao realized the students had been acting and ordered the bandits to take them outside and beat them for half an hour.
• A bandit traced Xia Ping’s Communicator to a valley three kilometers away, and Lin Bao ordered the gang to go kill him.

Xia Ping lured the Leopard Gang’s elite fighters into a valley and detonated a massive explosive trap, apparently wiping them out. The group discovered they still could not contact the teachers, and Lin Bao emerged from the blast alive and charged toward them.

• Lin Bao led the Leopard Gang’s forces into the valley after tracking a Communicator signal, but they found only a decoy and a message warning that the gang was buried there.
• Lin Bao recognized the trap and ordered his men to flee, but explosives detonated and devastated the valley.
• Xia Ping, Jiang Yaru, Chu Rong, and the others watched the explosion from a nearby hill, and Chu Rong praised Xia Ping’s plan.
• The group realized the Jammer was still preventing them from sending a signal, and Lin Bao burst from the valley alive and charged at them.

Lin Bao used a Mad Demon Pill to gain Half-Step Martial Artist strength and attacked Xia Ping to avenge his fallen gang members. Xia Ping survived his strongest punch unharmed, killed Lin Bao with a single slap, and destroyed the jammer he found on him.

• Lin Bao revealed that he had taken a Mad Demon Pill, sacrificing years of his life to gain temporary Half-Step Martial Artist strength.
• Jiang Yaru warned Xia Ping and the others about Lin Bao's unstable power and the pill's dangerous side effects.
• Lin Bao charged Xia Ping and struck his chest with Thunder Leopard Devour, but Xia Ping's Northern Underworld Body Protection Art absorbed the blow.
• Xia Ping smashed Lin Bao's head with a powerful backhanded strike, killing him.
• Xia Ping found a black jammer on Lin Bao and stomped it to pieces.

After a delayed distress signal revealed that the students on Beast Island had been captured, Qiu Xue and the other teachers rushed to rescue them. Qiu Xue leaped from the ship, landed unharmed, and defeated the armed thugs, leaving Xia Ping and the others stunned.

• A crewman aboard the ship discovered that distress signals from Beast Island had been delayed for two days and that nearly all the students had withdrawn.
• Captain Luo Jian ordered the ship to Beast Island, where its scan revealed the students bound and bruised on a mountaintop beside armed thugs.
• Qiu Xue opened the emergency hatch and leaped from the ship three hundred meters above the ground.
• Qiu Xue landed unharmed and froze the thugs before they could shoot the students.
• The rescued students, including those from 95th Middle School, greeted Qiu Xue, while Xia Ping and the others watched in shock.

Qiu Xue reunited with Xia Ping and the students after killing the bandits, then took the injured aboard the flying ship. The schools decided to end the trial, compensate the students, and return to Tianshui City, where the ship landed at Tianshui City No. 95 Middle School.

• Qiu Xue was astonished when she could barely recognize the battered Xiong Batian, Tao Yun, Gao Sheng, and Hong Yu, who blamed Xia Ping for provoking the bandits into beating them.
• Xiong Batian pointed out that Han Shan had been beaten for forty-five minutes and was unconscious, so Xia Ping urged everyone to get him medical treatment.
• Qiu Xue ushered the injured students aboard the flying ship, which left Beast Island with the surviving students.
• The teachers learned that five or six students had died and more than a hundred were injured, and they decided to suppress the news and give each student a Body-Tempering Pill as compensation.
• The schools ended the trial, awarded Xia Ping and his companions three Body-Tempering Pills each for their contributions, and returned to Tianshui City.
• A few hours later, the flying ship landed at the playground of Tianshui City No. 95 Middle School, and the students filed out.

After returning from the school trial, Xia Ping learned that his novel had become a major bestseller and earned him more than fifty million Federal Coins in royalties. Editor Meng Fei told him a director wanted to adapt the novel into a hundred-episode TV series, and Xia Ping agreed to discuss it the next morning.

• Xia Ping arrived in Tianshui City and found dozens of missed calls and video requests from Editor Meng Fei.
• Meng Fei told Xia Ping that his book had sold more than four million copies that month and deposited over fifty million Federal Coins in royalties.
• Meng Fei predicted the novel could sell fifty million or even a hundred million copies.
• Meng Fei told Xia Ping that a famous director wanted to adapt the novel into a hundred-episode TV series.
• Xia Ping agreed to discuss the adaptation with Meng Fei and the director in a video call the next morning.

Xia Ping checked the response to Teacher Bai Rong and discovered it had become a publishing phenomenon, leading sales, searches, and trending topics. After seeing famous writers praise the novel and copycat teacher-themed stories appear, he headed home because he was hungry.

• Xia Ping learned from editor Meng Fei that Teacher Bai Rong had sold more than four million copies and found nearly 89.8 million search results for Teacher Bai Rong.
• Xia Ping saw that Teacher Bai Rong topped the monthly sales chart, search results, and trending topics by a wide margin.
• Xia Ping read a popular Sky Eagle Forum post quoting Jia Zhiwei, who praised the novel after reading it for three days and three nights.
• Xia Ping read Bao Pichang's praise of Teacher Bai Rong as a trailblazing work that had sparked the teacher genre.
• Xia Ping found numerous copycat teacher-themed novels on Penguin's website and anticipated an even bigger craze after a television adaptation.
• Xia Ping's stomach rumbled, so he took the bus home to see whether his dad was there.

Xia Ping returned home to find his mother, Huang Lanxin, recovered from the hospital, and his parents teased him about his novel and his earnings. After he revealed he had made over fifty million Federal Coins in royalties, his parents abruptly changed their minds about his future plans.

• Xia Ping found Huang Lanxin cooking after she had left the hospital, and she said the treatment had helped her recover.
• Xia Chuanliu warned Xia Ping that his vivid novel about a student and a teacher suggested he might have a crush on his beautiful homeroom teacher.
• Huang Lanxin defended Xia Ping and scolded Xia Chuanliu, while Xia Ping offered to use some of his royalties to improve their home life.
• Xia Ping revealed that he had earned a little over fifty million Federal Coins in royalties and showed his parents his bank balance.
• Xia Chuanliu enthusiastically approved of Xia Ping dating, and Huang Lanxin began imagining him having more than a dozen children.

After learning Xia Ping’s novel could be adapted into a television series, director Wang Dachui pitched him on a hundred-episode adult action series. Xia Ping agreed to hear him out after learning Wang had directing experience, though Wang still had no money and hoped Xia Ping would help fund the project.

• Xia Chuanliu and his wife planned a world trip, and Xia Ping gave them ten million Federal Coins.
• Meng Fei introduced Xia Ping to Wang Dachui, who proposed adapting Teacher Bai Rong into a hundred-episode series.
• Xia Ping pressed Wang about payment, and Wang admitted he was short on cash.
• Meng Fei explained that Wang had once been a talented director but had been driven out of the industry after trying to take advantage of an actress with a powerful backer.
• Xia Ping decided to discuss the adaptation with Wang, who said he could find investors and asked Xia Ping to contribute money.

Xia Ping agreed to invest five million Federal Coins in Wang Dachui’s online adaptation of his novel, granting himself all rights and profits. Wang Dachui began planning the production and promotion while Xia Ping returned to cultivating for the High School Fighting Tournament.

• Wang Dachui offered to produce an online adaptation of Xia Ping’s novel and give him all the rights and profits in exchange for funding.
• Xia Ping suggested a revealing outfit for the female lead, and Wang Dachui and Meng Fei admired his instincts for attracting viewers.
• Xia Ping agreed to fund ten episodes for five million Federal Coins, signed a contract with Wang Dachui and Meng Fei, and transferred the money.
• Xia Ping ended the call and returned to cultivating for the High School Fighting Tournament, which was two weeks away.
• Wang Dachui told Meng Fei he planned to use Xia Ping’s identity for publicity and said he could finish filming and post-production within two weeks.

Zhou Quan inherited Zhou Ding’s estate and vowed to hunt down his brother’s killer, while Xia Ping spent two weeks cultivating and prepared to represent his school in the Tianshui City High School Fighting Tournament. At the school bus, he learned Jiang Yaru had reached the Martial Apprentice Eighth Heaven.

• Zhou Quan signed the documents to inherit Zhou Ding’s estate and learned that his brother’s death was suspicious, though investigators had found no clues.
• Zhou Quan ordered his men to investigate every possible suspect and threatened to make the killer pay for Zhou Ding’s death.
• Xia Ping spent two weeks cultivating, reached the peak of the Martial Apprentice Eighth Heaven, and increased his strength to thirty thousand pounds.
• Xia Ping arrived at school to join Gao Sheng, Hong Yu, Zhu Erqin, Tao Yun, Xiong Batian, and Jiang Yaru for the fighting tournament.
• Xia Ping noticed Jiang Yaru’s improved aura, and she told him she had broken through to the Martial Apprentice Eighth Heaven a week earlier.

Xia Ping and his classmates traveled to the Tianshui City Gymnasium for the High School Fighting Tournament, where Qiu Xue explained the preliminary round’s survival challenge. The students learned they would have to survive three days and claim one of sixteen tokens guarded by Martial Artist Realm monsters.

• Xia Ping provoked Xiong Batian and the others by implying they were not serious contenders, and Qiu Xue stopped their argument.
• Qiu Xue took the students by bus to the Tianshui City Gymnasium while the school leaders went ahead to the opening ceremony.
• Qiu Xue explained that more than three thousand contestants would be reduced to sixteen finalists in the preliminary round.
• Qiu Xue told the students that the preliminary round would take place in a simulated city built inside the gymnasium and would be broadcast across the region.
• Qiu Xue revealed that contestants had to survive for three days and obtain one of sixteen tokens hidden near powerful Martial Artist Realm monsters.

Xia Ping and the students from Tianshui City No. 95 Middle School arrived at the citywide competition and were intimidated by the wealth and strength of elite schools Zhengde and Xinbo. Feng Hetang, a powerful Xinbo student whose father was a Tianshui City councilman, confronted Xia Ping, who insulted him by calling him “fatty.”

• Teacher Qiu Xue warned Xiong Batian and the others that they might all be eliminated, and their bus brought them to the competition venue.
• Students from Zhengde Middle School and Xinbo Middle School arrived in luxurious buses, impressing and discouraging students from ordinary schools.
• Feng Hetang led students from Xinbo and Zhengde toward Xia Ping's group, with Han Shan following behind him.
• Feng Hetang confronted Xia Ping over his reputation and his treatment of Zhengde students, and Xia Ping asked whether he knew him before calling him “fatty.”
• A Xinbo student and Han Shan demanded that Xia Ping apologize, while other students revealed Feng Hetang's fearsome reputation and his father's position as a city councilman.

Xia Ping clashed with Feng Hetang after mocking Han Shan, and the two demonstrated their strength before Feng Hetang threatened revenge at the tournament. The arrival of Tianshui City No. 1 Middle School’s formidable team shifted attention to the tournament favorites, led by Qin Muyang.

• Xia Ping mocked Han Shan for acting as Feng Hetang’s lackey, and Feng Hetang attacked him with a palm strike.
• Xia Ping blocked Feng Hetang’s blow without giving ground, impressing the students from Xinbo Middle School.
• Feng Hetang warned Xia Ping that he would regret the clash once the competition began, then left with Han Shan and his group.
• Xiong Batian and the others worried that Xia Ping had made a powerful enemy before the competition started.
• Students from Tianshui City No. 1 Middle School arrived by airship, and the crowd recognized them as the tournament favorites.
• The crowd identified Qin Muyang, the school’s strongest student and a peak Martial Apprentice Ninth Heaven expert, as the leading contender.

Xiulan Middle School arrived at the competition, drawing attention to Nangong Wu, its celebrated princess. After Chen Hai explained the preliminary round rules, Xia Ping received his randomly assigned district and headed to its entrance.

• The girls from Xiulan Middle School arrived, and students recognized Nangong Wu as the wealthy Nangong Family's princess and Qin Muyang's love interest.
• Xia Ping watched the girls, prompting Jiang Yaru and Xiong Batian to suspect he was plotting to prey on them.
• Chen Hai explained that students would use Smart Watches to locate tokens, could withdraw with the watch, and could bring no other items into the competition.
• Staff members gave each student a Smart Watch and randomly assigned them to one of Simulation City's sixteen districts.
• Xia Ping learned he was assigned to the Eighth District and went to its gate, where staff prepared to inspect students for prohibited items.

Xia Ping entered the Eighth District of Simulation City and found Feng Hetang, Han Shan, and their allies waiting to take revenge on him. As the competition began, they blocked his path, and Feng Hetang launched the first attack.

• Xia Ping spotted Feng Hetang, Han Shan, and students from Xinbo Middle School and Zhengde Middle School in the Eighth District.
• Han Shan and Feng Hetang plotted to attack Xia Ping and prevent him from forfeiting, while Han Shan vowed revenge for what happened on Beast Island.
• The city gates opened, and the contestants rushed into Simulation City to compete for its district token.
• Feng Hetang and five others blocked Xia Ping as he prepared to leave for the token.
• Xia Ping warned Feng Hetang to back off, but Feng Hetang struck at him with a palm attack.

Xia Ping defeated Feng Hetang and Han Shan’s group in Simulation City, demonstrating his mastery of the Five Forms Fist before a live audience. He left the other competitors injured and stunned as the competition continued.

• Viewers across Tianshui City watched Feng Hetang attack Xia Ping with Heart-Destroying Palm.
• Xia Ping blocked Feng Hetang’s strike and sent him crashing into a concrete wall with Dragon Fist: Azure Dragon Moves the Heavens.
• Han Shan and the others tried to flee after Feng Hetang’s defeat.
• Xia Ping struck Han Shan and the other four at once with the five forms, sending them into the street walls.
• Viewers recognized Xia Ping’s One Fist, Five Forms as a legendary level of Five Forms Fist mastery.

Martial arts organizations rushed to recruit Xia Ping after seeing his skill on the tournament livestream, while Tianshui City officials watched as Elder Fang praised his Five Forms Fist. The chapter ended with Councilor Feng worrying that his son would be eliminated before he could impress Elder Fang.

• Martial arts organizations investigated Xia Ping and put him on priority signing lists after learning of his talent and rapid progress.
• The organizations discussed how martial arts talent could bring immense rewards and ordered their subordinates to keep watch over the tournament.
• Elder Fang watched Xia Ping's performance in the VIP room and praised his mastery of the Five Forms Fist.
• Mayor Qin Fei thanked Elder Fang for his praise, while Councilor Feng admitted that the fatso who had been beaten was his son.
• Councilor Feng silently hoped his son would avoid early elimination and still get a chance to impress Elder Fang.