Chapter Summaries

Mu Chen arrived at the Cloud Ladder on a white dragon, killed Green Tiger with one blow, and took his seat on the eighth layer. When the prodigies debated who would claim the ninth layer, Mu Chen claimed all of it for himself, provoking Su Buxiu and Xi Qinghai.

• A white dragon carried Mu Chen up to the eighth layer, where Green Tiger attacked him and Mu Chen killed him with his ancient battle staff.
• Mu Chen greeted Xia Youran and exchanged flattering words with Dong Yuan, who had nearly questioned him about Liu Ying.
• Su Buxiu proposed discussing the three seats on the ninth layer, while Zhou Xuan argued that the strongest should take them by fighting.
• Mu Chen stepped onto the ninth layer and declared it his, telling the other seven to stay on the eighth.
• Su Buxiu challenged Mu Chen's claim, and Xi Qinghai ordered him to get down.

Mu Chen held the top of the Heavenly Ladder, repelled four prodigies, and began absorbing the Sacred Spirit Baptism. As the baptism strengthened his body and Spirit Soul, the Spiritual Power Tribulation suddenly began.

• Xi Qinghai proposed that the experts join forces against Mu Chen, but two veteran powerhouses refused and Mu Chen sent Xia Youran back to the eighth level.
• Xi Qinghai, Zhou Xuan, Su Buxiu, and Dong Yuan attacked Mu Chen together, and the Northern Heavens Demon King defeated them with the Four Gods Heaven Sealing Seal.
• The Sacred Spirit Baptism began, with Mu Chen claiming four-tenths of its benefits from his position atop the Heavenly Ladder.
• Mu Chen used the Great Pagoda Art to absorb the golden baptism light and strengthen his body, Spirit Soul, and foundation.
• Transparent flames erupted inside Mu Chen, beginning the Spiritual Power Tribulation, the second of the Three Small Tribulations of the Supreme.

After the Sacred Spirit Baptism, Mu Chen returned to the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy and trained in Spirit Arrays with Ling Xi. The Northern Heavens Gate then reopened, bringing back its trainees and a delighted reunion with Ye Qingling.

• The Sacred Spirit Baptism ended, and Dean Tai Cang escorted Mu Chen back to the academy after he chose not to pursue training through the Northern Heavens Gate.
• Mu Chen visited Ling Xi Courtyard to improve his Spirit Array skills, then caressed Ling Xi's bare foot until the Northern Heavens Gate's opening interrupted them.
• The Bronze Giant Gate reopened, and Zhu Tian and Mo You led more than twenty powerful trainees out of it.
• Dean Tai Cang and the other Supremes welcomed the returning trainees, who had all reached the top thirty on the Heaven Ranking except for Mu Chen and the Northern Heavens Demon King.
• Ye Qingling spotted Mu Chen, rushed toward him, and showed her delight at his return.

Northern Heavens announced four elite squads for the Academy Tournament and gathered to send them off, while Dean Tai Cang warned Mu Chen about formidable rivals, especially Ji Xuan. The chapter ended with the squads preparing to depart and the academy learning that Ling Xi had reached the Spirit Array Grandmaster realm.

• Mu Chen reunited affectionately with Luo Li, and Dean Tai Cang announced the twenty-member roster divided into four squads led by Mu Chen, Luo Li, Shen Cangsheng, and Li Xuantong.
• Northern Heavens chose Squad One, captained by Mu Chen and including Mu Kui, Bing Qing, He Yao, and Su Xuan, as its strongest squad and its best hope of reaching the final eight.
• Three days later, students and teachers gathered at Northern Abyss Plaza as Dean Tai Cang gave the four squads final instructions before their departure.
• The Northern Abyss Dragon Kun discovered that Ling Xi had become a Spirit Array Grandmaster and was stunned by her rapid advancement.
• Dean Tai Cang warned Mu Chen that Ji Xuan, a Heavenly Meridian heir of the Ji Clan, had likely reached the Spirit Soul Tribulation after defeating a sect on his own.

Mu Chen and the Northern Heavens Squad entered the Academy Tournament on Relic Continent, where Mu Chen quickly seized points from the teams gathered nearby. The squad left the weaker teams stripped of their Academy Tokens, while Jiu You stayed behind in the Northern Heavens to cultivate.

• Ling Xi promised Mu Chen a present if he won the Academy Tournament, and Jiu You emerged from seclusion as a Fifth Grade Supreme.
• Jiu You agreed to remain in the Northern Heavens and train under the Northern Abyss Dragon Kun while Mu Chen and the squad departed for the tournament.
• The Northern Heavens Squad arrived on Relic Continent and found many Spirit Academy teams gathered in the same area.
• Mu Chen rejected He Yao's suggestion to wait for other teams to fight and used his Ancient Demonic Bird form to demand their Academy Tokens.
• The Northern Heavens Squad collected twelve hundred points from the surrounding teams, leaving them crouched and helpless.

The Northern Heavens Squad exploited the tournament’s early deployment points to climb the rankings before the surrounding teams fled. Mu Chen then learned that Lin Zhou’s Desolate Spiritual Academy team was approaching and went to meet them as they battled Great Cauldron Spiritual Academy.

• The Academy Tokens revealed the top sixteen teams, including two teams from Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, and Mu Chen ordered his team to pursue nearby deployment points.
• For three days, the Northern Heavens Squad swept deployment points and rose as high as fourth before its reputation drove nearby teams away and its ranking fell to sixth.
• Mu Chen defeated a powerful Demon Vulture Spiritual Academy team, prompting the remaining fighters to surrender their Academy Tokens.
• He Yao reported that Lin Zhou’s Desolate Spiritual Academy team was heading toward them, and Mu Chen led his team to meet it.
• Lin Zhou’s team cornered Great Cauldron Spiritual Academy after pursuing it for a thousand miles, unaware that they had entered Mu Chen’s hunting ground.

Mu Chen’s Northern Heavens Squad ambushed the Azure Heaven Spiritual Academy squad after Shen Jun planned to attack the Desolate Spiritual Academy. Mu Chen defeated Shen Jun and took the Azure Heaven squad’s Academy Token, leaving Shen Jun to recognize Mu Chen’s reputation from the Spirit Road Blood Disaster.

• The Northern Heavens Squad watched the Desolate Spiritual Academy pursue the Great Cauldron Spiritual Academy while Mu Chen sensed the approaching Azure Heaven squad.
• Shen Jun planned to ambush the Desolate Spiritual Academy and take its points, hoping to make a name for himself.
• Mu Chen revealed himself, and Shen Jun realized he was facing the Northern Heavens Demon King.
• Mu Chen struck Shen Jun down with the Vajra Futu Hand, and Shen Jun ordered his squad to surrender its Academy Token.
• Mu Chen stopped his lightning sword-finger just short of Shen Jun’s brow and recalled his old connections to Qiu Beihai and King Xuan Ji Xuan.

Mu Chen’s team defeated the Azure Heaven, Great Cauldron, and Desolate Spiritual Academies, taking their points and learning about ruins tied to the ancient Wood God Palace. The squad reached the crowded forest where the ruins might emerge, only to find that many other teams had received the same information.

• Mu Chen defeated Shen Jun’s Azure Heaven Spiritual Academy team, took its points, and raised his team to fifth place.
• Mu Chen’s team arrived as the Desolate Spiritual Academy defeated the Great Cauldron Spiritual Academy, then forced both teams to surrender their points and climbed to third place.
• Lin Zhou offered information about the Wood God Palace’s ruins in exchange for points, and Mu Chen gave him only ten after hearing the details.
• Mu Chen briefly reappeared after leaving, frightening Lin Zhou and the remaining academy experts.
• Half a day later, Mu Chen’s squad reached a dark primeval forest crowded with more than a hundred teams seeking the possible ruins site.

Mu Chen provoked Holy Son Xiahou of the Holy Spirit Academy and defeated him in front of both academies’ squads. He demanded the Academy Tokens from Xiahou’s teammates after revealing that he had reached the Spirit Soul Tribulation.

• Mu Chen dismissed Xiahou as inferior to Ji Xuan, prompting Bing Qing and the others to remind him that Ji Xuan had once been the strongest of the Four Holy Sons.
• After deciding Xiahou’s glare made him an enemy, Mu Chen led his teammates over and taunted Xiahou about his past match with Ji Xuan.
• Xiahou flew into a rage and attacked Mu Chen with the Star-Shattering Divine Finger, but Mu Chen’s Samsara Death Seal broke through the attack and struck him down.
• Mu Chen grabbed Xiahou by the throat and crushed it after Xiahou refused to hand over his Academy Token.
• Mu Chen demanded the remaining Holy Spirit Academy members’ Academy Tokens, and the onlookers realized he had reached the Spirit Soul Tribulation.

Mu Chen’s team absorbed Xiahou Team and met Zhou Yuan and Tang Mei’er, then flew over the strange Dark Forest toward the Wood God Palace. Their passage revealed that an Air-Prohibition Spiritual Array prevented the other teams from crossing.

• After the last Holy Spirit Academy expert surrendered his Academy Token, Mu Chen killed him, and Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy rose to third place behind Ji Xuan Team.
• Zhou Yuan and Tang Mei’er introduced themselves and their teams to Mu Chen, who learned that Tang Qian'er and Hong Ling were competing under Qingluan.
• Tang Mei'er and Zhou Yuan each tried to connect with Mu Chen through his childhood companions, distracting him from pursuing Ji Xuan Team.
• Mu Chen transformed into a Nine Nether Underworld Sparrow and carried his team over the Dark Forest, while Zhou Yuan marveled at his strength.
• More than a hundred other competitors tried to fly over the forest but were forced down or killed by an Air-Prohibition Spiritual Array.

Mu Chen and the Northern Heavens Squad reached the Wood God Palace’s side hall and discovered that the supposed Immortal Spirit Tree was a deadly Demonic Spirit Tree. Mu Chen destroyed it with Nine Nether Underworld Fire and swallowed the spiritual energy it left behind.

• Mu Chen used Tai Cang Divine Sound to free his teammates from the Demonic Spirit Tree’s bewitching fragrance, and Mu Kui identified the tree as demonic.
• Cultivators rushed to eat the supposed Immortal Spirit Fruits, but the fruits poisoned them, setting their bodies aflame and turning them into blood mist that the tree absorbed.
• The tree revealed its true, black and demonic form as surviving cultivators recoiled in horror.
• Mu Chen ignited the Demonic Spirit Tree with Nine Nether Underworld Fire, stopping it from escaping and reducing it to spiritual energy.
• Mu Chen swallowed the Demonic Spirit Tree’s spiritual energy and burped with satisfaction.

Mu Chen's squad learned that the Wood Spirit Academy had ambushed the Wu Ling Academy and Ten Thousand Phoenix Spiritual Academy, then entered the Divine Wood Palace and found an Immortal Spirit Tree. As He Yao reached for its fruit, Zhen Qing and four black-robed companions appeared and confronted the Northern Heavens Squad.

• Tang Mei'er and Zhou Yuan arrived with their injured squads and explained that a mysterious group controlling Demonic Spirit Trees had attacked them.
• Mu Kui identified the attackers as the Wood Spirit Academy, treated Tang Mei'er and her companions for poison, and Mu Chen refused Zhou Yuan's request to join forces.
• Mu Chen led the Northern Heavens Squad into the Divine Wood Palace, where he sensed an immature Immortal Spirit Tree bearing fruit.
• A poisoned wooden spear flew at He Yao as he reached for the tree, but Mu Chen caught and crushed it with a lightning-wreathed hand.
• Zhen Qing appeared with four black-robed companions, mocked Mu Kui, and confronted the Northern Heavens Squad.

Mu Chen and his companions fought Zhen Qing and the Wood Spirit Academy team over the Immortal Spirit Tree, and Mu Kui killed his longtime tormentor. After Mu Chen destroyed the enemy bodies and concealed the evidence, the group prepared to divide the spoils.

• Mu Kui challenged Zhen Qing after he demanded the Immortal Spirit Tree, while Mu Chen let him fight and watched over him.
• Mu Chen forced a Wood Spirit Clan fighter to kill himself with an ancient divine art, while Bing Qing and the others fought the remaining opponents.
• Mu Chen used Tai Cang Divine Sound to strengthen Mu Kui and weaken Zhen Qing as their duel turned against Zhen Qing.
• Zhen Qing unleashed a Wood Spirit Puppet that Mu Chen promptly destroyed, leaving Zhen Qing stunned.
• Mu Kui killed Zhen Qing with the Wood God Spear, and Mu Chen burned the bodies to conceal the team's involvement.
• Mu Chen urged his companions to recover and divide the spoils.

Mu Chen claimed the Wood God Guard in the main hall and used it to force the gathered Spirit Academy teams to surrender their Academy Tokens. After letting them leave, his team rose to second place and drew closer to Wen Qingxuan Team.

• Mu Chen kept the ancient leaf-shaped talisman he had found inside the Immortal Spirit Tree and led his team to the main hall, where dozens of Spirit Academy teams had gathered around a Wood God Guard.
• Mu Chen declared the Wood God Guard his and intimidated the crowd while Mu Kui used the talisman to awaken it and activate the hall's barrier.
• Mu Chen demanded the teams hand over their Academy Tokens, and the Wood God Guard crushed Barbarian Spirit Academy when its captain grew angry.
• Zhou Yuan and Tang Mei'er asked whether Wu Ling Academy and Ten Thousand Phoenix Spiritual Academy had to surrender their tokens, and Mu Chen let each team keep ten points while taking the rest.
• Mu Chen opened the barrier and released the teams, and the Mu Chen Team climbed to second place, overtaking Ji Xuan Team and closing in on Wen Qingxuan Team.

Mu Chen and his team cultivated in the Wood God Palace side hall, strengthening their ranks while Mu Chen advanced to the second level of the Spirit Soul Tribulation. When Mu Chen sent his newly strengthened teammates to confront the attackers outside, Chen Xi’s group saw the barrier open and several people emerge.

• Mu Chen claimed the Divine Wood Stele, while Su Xuan, Bing Qing, and He Yao received the Wood God Guard, Azure Wood Armor, and azure war spear; Mu Kui copied the Heavenly Wood Divine Wheel cultivation method.
• Mu Chen Team secluded themselves in the side hall to cultivate, and Mu Chen used his accumulated power to break through to the second level of the Spirit Soul Tribulation.
• Mu Kui and Bing Qing broke through the Spiritual Power Tribulation, while Su Xuan and He Yao only reached its threshold.
• Mu Chen told his awakened teammates to deal with the group attacking the barrier, and Mu Kui and the others eagerly went to fight.
• Chen Xi of the All-Academy Alliance led his group in battering the barrier, hoping to raid Mu Chen Team and claim the Divine Wood Stele.
• The barrier opened on its own, and several people walked out as Chen Xi recalled the chiefs’ orders.

The Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy defeated the All-Academy Alliance after both sides’ Wood God Guards neutralized each other, and Mu Chen’s group claimed the enemy’s puppet. As they prepared to pursue the alliance, Wen Qingxuan arrived on the Nine Nether Underworld Sparrow and was recognized by Mu Chen.

• Chen Xi’s All-Academy Alliance confronted Mu Chen’s group, and both sides summoned Wood God Guards that clashed evenly.
• Mu Chen watched as the two teams fought, and Mu Kui and Bing Qing killed Chen Xi while Su Xuan and He Yao routed the remaining experts.
• Mu Kui reported that the defeated force belonged to the All-Academy Alliance, and Mu Chen decided to pursue its other members.
• Wen Qingxuan and four companions crossed the Dark Forest on the Nine Nether Underworld Sparrow, whose beast form shifted into a handsome man.
• Mu Chen recognized Wen Qingxuan from the battle of the kings and regarded her warmly because she had helped Luo Li oppose Ji Xuan.

Wen Qingxuan offered Mu Chen half her team’s points in exchange for Luo Li joining the Ten Thousand Phoenix team, but Mu Chen refused and declared her his rival. When he tried to take her points by force, Wen Qingxuan revealed Second Stage Spirit Soul Tribulation power and prepared to fight.

• Wen Qingxuan met Mu Chen and said she had come to see whether the All-Academy Alliance had confronted him.
• Wen Qingxuan offered half her team’s points if Luo Li joined the Ten Thousand Phoenix team, but Mu Chen said Luo Li’s decision was her own and refused to hand her over to a rival.
• Mu Chen revealed that he knew Wen Qingxuan’s Northern Region Wen Family background, and Wen Qingxuan vowed that she would eventually take Luo Li from him.
• Mu Chen stopped Wen Qingxuan from leaving and attacked her team with his Second Stage Spirit Soul Tribulation spiritual energy, sending her four teammates flying.
• Wen Qingxuan answered Mu Chen’s attack with golden spiritual energy at the Second Stage Spirit Soul Tribulation level.

Mu Chen defeated Wen Qingxuan in their Spirit Soul Tribulation duel using the Four Gods Constellation Scripture. After catching her as she fell, he sealed her spiritual energy, took her Academy Token, and tossed her to the ground.

• Wen Qingxuan attacked Mu Chen with her Heavenly Phoenix Spear, but his White Tiger God Seal knocked it back and wounded her.
• Wen Qingxuan transformed into a Golden Sacred Phoenix, but Mu Chen's Black Tortoise seal struck her down again.
• Mu Chen summoned the Four Gods Heaven Sealing Seal, and Wen Qingxuan merged with her Golden Sacred Phoenix and raised Golden Protection against it.
• The Four Symbols Divine Seal shattered Wen Qingxuan's golden sphere and sent her falling toward the ground.
• Mu Chen caught Wen Qingxuan, sealed her spiritual energy, took her Academy Token, and tossed her down.

Mu Chen Team seized the top spot on the points leaderboard after defeating Wen Qingxuan Team, and Mu Chen set out to learn who held the remaining Divine Wood Steles. In a trading town, he reunited with childhood friends from the newly renamed Mu Spirit Academy, whose team had deliberately sought him out.

• Ji Xuan flew into a rage when Mu Chen Team overtook his team and then claimed the leaderboard's top spot.
• The Golden Valkyrie told Wen Qingxuan Team that six Divine Wood Steles were needed to open the Wood God Palace Ruins and warned them about the All-Academy Alliance.
• Mu Chen ordered his team to gather information about the other Divine Wood Steles, learning that Holy Spirit Academy, Wu Ling Academy, Blood Spirit Academy, and Four Seas Spiritual Academy held them.
• Mu Chen Team visited a vast trading market and learned that Mu Spirit Academy had been renamed from Northern Spiritual Academy and was competing in the tournament for the first time.
• Zhou Yuan, Lie Jiu, and Luo Tong reunited with Mu Chen and explained that their team had deliberately changed course to meet him.
• Mu Chen assessed the Mu Spirit Academy team's cultivation and doubted that they could make a name for themselves with their current strength.

Mu Chen gave the Mu Spirit Academy squad an Immortal Spirit Tree so they could strengthen their cultivation, then the Northern Heavens Squad encountered Xue Tiandu of the Blood God Clan. Mu Chen defeated Xue Tiandu’s forces and survived his final ambush.

• Mu Chen gave Zhou Yuan the Immortal Spirit Tree and its fruits, helping the Mu Spirit Academy squad produce two Spiritual Power Tribulation experts after three days of seclusion.
• Zhou Yuan and his squad set off to find Tang Qian'er and Hong Ling after learning they were competing for the Ten Thousand Phoenix Spiritual Academy.
• Mu Kui spotted two Blood Spirit Academy squads near the Wood God Palace Ruins, and Xue Tiandu introduced himself as the fourth prince of the Blood God Royal Clan.
• Xue Tiandu demanded Mu Chen’s Wood God Post and attacked with the Blood God Palm, but Mu Chen’s Tai Cang Divine Sound killed the weaker Blood God Clan members and left Xue Tiandu badly injured.
• Xue Tiandu tried to ambush Mu Chen with the Blood Dragon Suppression technique, but Mu Chen’s spirit sparrows dispersed and re-formed elsewhere while the blood dragon crushed Xue Tiandu.