Chapter Summaries

Chen Cheng defeated Xiang Pojun with a single head-on exchange, drawing the attention of the competition’s strongest disciples. As Chen Cheng and Xiang Pojun watched the still-unresolved match between Ji Jingyou and Huang Xi, Huang Xi began gathering power and Ji Jingyou found himself unable to move.

• Ji Jingyou used an advanced movement technique to evade Huang Xi’s relentless attacks, while their match remained in a stalemate.
• Xue Qiao defeated Shen Zhong with one punch, and Xiang Pojun began his match against Chen Cheng.
• Xiang Pojun struck Chen Cheng with his Storm-Splitting Star Fist, but Chen Cheng stood firm and Xiang Pojun conceded.
• Xiang Pojun told Chen Cheng that the Xuanbei Sect and Spirit Sword Sect were expected to dominate the competition’s top twelve places.
• Huang Xi withdrew from her assault and began gathering power, but Ji Jingyou discovered that he could no longer move.

Ji Jingyou overcame Huang Xi’s Qi-Flow Binding and defeated her, but his injured arm left him recovering while Chen Cheng drew attention from the other sects. As the next round’s fourteen competitors prepared to draw lots, Chen Cheng warned Ji Jingyou to be careful.

• Huang Xi restrained Ji Jingyou with Qi-Flow Binding and unleashed her strongest Sword Qi strike, but Ji Jingyou broke free using medicine hidden in his mouth.
• Ji Jingyou blocked Huang Xi’s attack, overwhelmed her with his enhanced speed, and won after she conceded.
• Xue Qiao and other Xuanbei Sect figures became interested in Chen Cheng after hearing that he held a major secret, while Li Miaoyuan tried unsuccessfully to provoke jealousy between Chen Cheng and Ji Jingyou.
• Qu Fanghua told Duan Yuchao she intended to kill Chen Cheng if they met, rejected Duan Yuchao, and exchanged flirtatious glances with Xue Qiao.
• After the remaining matches ended, Chen Cheng, Ji Jingyou, Xue Qiao, and Wang Lingfeng joined ten other rising stars to draw lots for the next round, and Chen Cheng cautioned Ji Jingyou to be careful.

Chen Cheng faced Xue Qiao while Ji Jingyou fought Qu Fanghua, who had repeatedly plotted against Chen Cheng. Ji Jingyou killed Qu Fanghua, and Chen Cheng’s duel with Xue Qiao began with a surprising clash that left Xue Qiao visibly shocked.

• Chen Cheng drew Xue Qiao as his opponent, while Qu Fanghua drew Ji Jingyou and tried to goad Chen Cheng into fighting recklessly.
• Ji Jingyou overpowered Qu Fanghua, agreed to pause when she asked, then killed her with the Iceglacier Sword as she lowered her guard to take a pill.
• Xue Qiao threatened Chen Cheng and urged him to surrender, but Chen Cheng launched a punch infused with black lightning.
• Xue Qiao countered with a powerful punch, but red-gold flames blossomed within Chen Cheng’s lightning and the two struck each other head-on.
• Xue Qiao’s eyes widened and he began to concede as the clash overturned the spectators’ expectations.

Chen Cheng killed Xue Qiao with spirit fire in their arena match, drawing the attention of the Vast Righteousness Alliance and prompting an offer of special admission to its Alchemy Hall. As the competition’s final round approached, Chen Cheng learned that the top twelve would likely need fourteen-aperture strength, while Wang Lingfeng revealed his own formidable cultivation.

• Chen Cheng’s black lightning and Red Lotus Spirit Fire destroyed Xue Qiao’s arm and blasted a hole through his chest, killing him and winning the match.
• Zhou Tianwu and Chang Yuqing praised Chen Cheng’s spirit-fire control, while Li Miaoyuan realized she could no longer safely scheme against him.
• Zhao Keqian offered Chen Cheng special admission to the Vast Righteousness Alliance’s Alchemy Hall, warned him about Xue Household retaliation, and advised him to stay near Wang Changsheng or within the Alliance.
• Wang Lingfeng defeated his opponent in Arena Seven and exchanged a complicated glance with Chen Cheng.
• Liu Yuling explained that eighteen competitors would vie for twelve places and named Xiang Poji, Nie Yunshang, and Wang Lingfeng as likely top-three contenders, noting Wang Lingfeng had reached the middle-to-late stage of fourteen apertures.

Chen Cheng refused to withdraw from his match against Wang Lingfeng, despite warnings that Wang was a formidable opponent. As Wang launched a lethal, high-speed strike, the chapter ended with the spectators reacting in astonishment.

• Gu Tan and Tan Chen withdrew after drawing dangerous opponents, while Chen Cheng chose to fight Wang Lingfeng.
• Ji Jingyou decided to withdraw and collapsed unconscious from distress; Gu Tan and Chen Cheng checked on him.
• Chen Cheng headed to arena nine as spectators and sect leaders turned their attention to his match with Wang Lingfeng.
• Wang Lingfeng revealed extraordinary speed from a profound movement art, impressing the sect leaders.
• Wang Lingfeng appeared behind Chen Cheng and swung a deadly knife-hand at his neck, but the onlookers were astonished by what they saw.

Chen Cheng used the Vertical Eye Mark to master Wang Lingfeng’s movement art and combined it with the Heaven and Earth Formless Art to turn the fight around. He burned Wang Lingfeng’s right arm with the Red Lotus Spirit Fire, but a figure intervened before he could continue attacking.

• Chen Cheng endured Wang Lingfeng’s first knife-hand strike, which shattered his Qi Aura and injured his hand, but held his ground as Wang Lingfeng prepared a stronger blow.
• The Vertical Eye Mark analyzed Wang Lingfeng’s Divine Meridian Movement Art, allowing Chen Cheng to achieve perfect initiation and use its movement techniques.
• Chen Cheng created confusing mirror images and fused the movement art with the Heaven and Earth Formless Art to evade Wang Lingfeng’s attacks and strike from multiple directions.
• Wang Lingfeng mistook Chen Cheng’s real body for a mirror image and shifted his protective Qi Aura away from his right side.
• Chen Cheng’s Red Lotus Spirit Fire engulfed Wang Lingfeng’s right arm, and an unidentified figure appeared between them before Chen Cheng could press his attack.

Chen Cheng defeated Wang Lingfeng, drawing attention from the tournament’s other contenders and prompting him to decide to fight for a top-three place. After the final twelve candidates were determined, Nie Yunshang challenged Xiang Poji as the ranking matches began.

• He Lianbo stopped Chen Cheng’s attack, forced Wang Lingfeng to concede, and warned him that Chen Cheng’s skill made continuing the fight fatal.
• Chen Cheng attracted attention from other sects, received congratulations through Su Heng from Nie Yunshang, and discussed the top-three contest and its rewards with Zhao Keqian.
• Chen Cheng decided to contend for a top-three place to improve his standing and security within the Vast Righteousness Alliance.
• Wang Lingfeng, Ji Jingyou, and Tan Chen won the last three places in the top twelve, with Chen Cheng’s guidance helping Tan Chen defeat his opponent.
• Zhao Keqian announced the provisional top three, and Nie Yunshang interrupted to challenge Xiang Poji.

Xiang Poji conceded first place to Nie Yunshang, and Chen Cheng challenged Su Heng for third place. Chen Cheng defeated Su Heng with his Flame Qilin Sword and Great Sun Heaven-Burning Art, forcing Su Heng to concede.

• Xiang Poji chose to concede first place rather than accept Nie Yunshang's challenge, and Zhao Keqian placed Nie Yunshang first, Xiang Poji second, and Chen Cheng third.
• Wang Lingfeng nearly challenged for a higher rank, then glared at Chen Cheng and resolved to challenge him if he won.
• Chen Cheng challenged Su Heng, who accepted, and the two began their match with their Profound Swords.
• Chen Cheng used the Flame Qilin Sword and Great Sun Heaven-Burning Art against Su Heng's sword formation, while Su Heng tried to break through Chen Cheng's defenses.
• Su Heng's sword stopped at Chen Cheng's Tier-Seven Profound Armor, while Chen Cheng's sword and ten blazing suns threatened Su Heng after his protective Qi Aura broke near his neck.
• Su Heng recognized that Chen Cheng had the advantage and conceded the match.

Chen Cheng placed third in the Outer Sect newcomer tournament and began settling into his new life, receiving his residence, rewards, and a cultivation method. As he continued his induction with Su Yan, Xiang Poji invited him to a banquet at the Vast Righteousness Marketplace.

• Zhao Keqian announced Chen Cheng as third place, while Wang Lingfeng backed down from challenging him.
• Chen Cheng left Ji Jingyou behind at the courtyard and followed Su Yan to complete his Outer Sect induction.
• Su Yan showed Chen Cheng his residence and warned him not to choose the third elder as his teacher.
• Chen Cheng registered at the General Affairs Hall and received Outer Sect clothing and two supreme-grade Profound Pills.
• At the Scripture Pavilion, Chen Cheng chose the Myriad Dragon Treasure Armor, and Xiang Poji chose the same martial art.
• Xiang Poji invited Chen Cheng to a banquet, and Chen Cheng continued with Su Yan to the Qi Palace before agreeing to meet him afterward.

Chen Cheng visited the Qi Palace, where Su Yan warned him about Meng Meng’s gambling debts, then joined Xiang Poji and their companions for a trip to the Vast Righteousness Marketplace. At the Heavenly Auspice Tower, Ye Yilan warmly greeted the powerful Senior Brother Ding, whom Chen Cheng suspected was Ding Dekun.

• Su Yan explained the Qi Palace’s cultivation levels to Chen Cheng and warned him that Meng Meng was a gambling debtor who might seek to borrow money.
• Chen Cheng met Lu Xinghe and Ye Yilan at Xiang Poji’s residence, and the group rode to the Vast Righteousness Marketplace.
• Meng Meng approached Chen Cheng in the city, but Ye Yilan’s mention of Senior Brother Ding led Meng Meng to leave; Lu Xinghe and Ye Yilan then treated Chen Cheng more coldly.
• The group arrived at the Heavenly Auspice Tower and entered a private room where three young men, including the imposing Senior Brother Ding, were waiting.
• Ye Yilan greeted Senior Brother Ding with a bright smile and offered to drink as an apology for keeping him waiting.

At a banquet, Ding Dekun rejected Xiang Poji and Chen Cheng as potential recruits, while Xiang Poji drowned his humiliation in drink. Chen Cheng later found himself pursued by a dozen enemies in the marketplace and turned to Meng Meng for protection, only for Meng Meng to drag him into a gambling den.

• Ding Dekun abruptly left Xiang Poji's banquet, saying he disliked Xiang Poji and could not recruit Chen Cheng because of his low cultivation and enemies.
• Ding Dekun ordered his followers to sever all ties with Ran Xue, and Ye Yilan stormed out while Lu Xinghe followed her.
• Xiang Poji drank himself unconscious, and Chen Cheng parted from Zhou Chu before leaving the gathering alone.
• Chen Cheng noticed nine pursuers following him through the marketplace and headed toward a crowded district to avoid being ambushed.
• Chen Cheng encountered Meng Meng, who claimed twelve pursuers were after him and accepted Chen Cheng's money in exchange for protection.
• Meng Meng insisted on visiting the gambling den and forcibly dragged Chen Cheng inside.

Meng Meng guided Ruan Ai and Jin Jia through a round of insect-fighting bets, using the Gu Kings’ judgments and his own observations to choose the Eight-Blade Divine Hunter. The player’s insect won, multiplying their money, but Meng Meng left the gambling den with Jin Jia eager to keep gambling and the initiation ceremony looming the next morning.

• Meng Meng explained the insect-fighting rules to Chen Cheng and watched the banker’s Profound Realm Yaksha face the player’s Eight-Blade Divine Hunter.
• Jin Jia chose the banker, while Meng Meng consulted the Blood Immortal Gu and Corpse Demon Gu, then bet on the Eight-Blade Divine Hunter after weighing their judgments and the insects’ combat instincts.
• After the red powder sent both insects into a frenzy, the Profound Realm Yaksha battered the Eight-Blade Divine Hunter but was suddenly dismembered by its concealed wounds, giving the player a narrow victory.
• Ruan Ai celebrated as the payout brought his money to eight times its original amount, and Jin Jia asked Meng Meng to reveal his supposed trick.
• Meng Meng declined to continue gambling, and Jin Jia agreed to leave because he had to return to the sect for the initiation ceremony the next morning.

Chen Cheng returned to the Vast Righteousness Alliance with Meng Meng, began studying the Myriad Dragon Treasure Armor, and learned that Ran Xue was in serious trouble. At the Outer Martial Hall the next morning, Nie Yunshang openly rejected pressure to avoid Chen Cheng because of his association with Meng Meng.

• Meng Meng escorted Chen Cheng back to the Vast Righteousness Alliance, where Chen Cheng replenished his strength with demonic deer meat and mastered the basics of the Myriad Dragon Treasure Armor.
• Ran Xue warned Chen Cheng that she might be in serious trouble and said they would need to avoid contact for a while; Chen Cheng decided to wait for a chance to help rather than risk making matters worse.
• Chen Cheng trained through the night, used more of his limited demonic deer meat, and checked that his Aperture-Refining Profound Pills were progressing well inside the Little Black Cauldron.
• At the Outer Martial Hall, Xiang Poji warned Chen Cheng that other disciples would shun him for associating with Meng Meng, while veterans spread rumors about them.
• Nie Yunshang invited Chen Cheng to spar, and when her companion urged her to avoid him, Nie Yunshang rebuked the woman and told her to leave.

Chen Cheng was assigned to Tian Botao, whose hands-off approach suited him, and secretly used Tan Chen to gain an ally among the other newcomers. He then went to seek Great Elder Zhao, where Liu Kaiping offered help in exchange for Chen Cheng assisting his pursuit of Senior Sister Ran.

• Nie Yunshang chose the hall master as her teacher, Xiang Poji joined the Second Elder, and Chen Cheng agreed to study under Tian Botao after the Great Elder passed him over.
• Tian Botao chose Tan Chen, Song Hansheng, and Deng Chanjuan as his students, then left Meng Meng to show the newcomers around.
• Song Hansheng and Tan Chen refused to cooperate with Chen Cheng, while Chen Cheng secretly directed Tan Chen through their mental link to cultivate Song Hansheng's trust.
• Chen Cheng went to the Outer Sect's General Affairs Hall to request an audience with Great Elder Zhao, but the receptionist said Zhao would not see him without a summons.
• Liu Kaiping offered to take Chen Cheng to see Great Elder Zhao and asked him to help with his pursuit of Senior Sister Ran; Chen Cheng denied having influence over her, and Liu Kaiping warned that the meeting depended on his willingness to help.