Recaps

Lin Tian arrived at the Martial Examination grounds with Zhao Cang and the other disciples, where he learned the examination would test strength and skill. As powerful factions gathered to scout promising candidates, Zhang Ming identified the armed observers as members of the Qingchuan County Commandery Captain's Office.

• Zhao Cang told Lin Tian to step aside, and Lin Tian complied, confusing the Outer and Inner Academy disciples who expected him to challenge the teacher.
• Zhou Ya dismissed Lin Tian's Dark Force breakthrough as a result of Heavenly Perception and felt disdain rather than fear, believing Xiao Tian's future was brighter.
• Lin Tian and the others reached the examination grounds, where Outer Academy disciples were sent to watch from the stands while Inner Academy disciples entered the field.
• Lin Tian recalled that the examination had a Stone Armor strength test and five rounds of one-on-one matches, with the top three hundred passing.
• Zhang Ming explained that powerful factions had come to recruit promising geniuses and identified some armed observers as being from the Qingchuan County Commandery Captain's Office.

Lin Tian watched the Martial Examination and ignored Zhang Ming’s praise of the Commandery Captain’s Office, while Lin Ya recognized that he had reached Bright Force and considered whether her family might choose him as a guard. The chapter left off as someone mocked Zhao Cang and his new disciple.

• Zhang Ming urged Lin Tian to seek the Commandery Captain’s Office’s attention, but Lin Tian preferred the path of the sects.
• Lin Ya recognized Lin Tian among the Martial Examination disciples and was glad he had reached Bright Force.
• Lin Ya’s father teased her about taking an interest in Lin Tian and considered choosing a talented martial artist to guard the family’s trade route.
• Lin Tian watched two martial artists exchange restrained blows on the arena while noting the three likely chief examiners.
• A man laughed at Zhao Cang and insulted the quality of his new disciple.

Wang Gu provoked Zhao Cang and proposed a contest between their disciples before the Martial Examination. Zhao Cang agreed but insisted their strongest disciples be held back, and Wang Gu sent Xu Bailiang to face a middling disciple.

• Wang Gu approached Zhao Cang and insulted the disciples of Zhao Family Martial Academy, angering Zhang Ming and the others.
• Wang Gu proposed a contest between their disciples in front of the three Martial Examination examiners.
• Zhao Cang agreed but said their strongest disciples would fight last and belittled Wang Gu's disciple.
• Wang Gu accepted Zhao Cang's terms and called Xu Bailiang out to compete.

Zhao Cang sent Lin Tian to face Xu Bailiang after Wang Gu revealed his opponent, hoping to protect Zhang Ming from a risky match. Xu Bailiang’s introduction exposed his connection to the formidable Through-Back Martial Hall, leaving the crowd and examiners expecting trouble for Lin Tian as the fight began.

• Wang Gu called Xu Bailiang forward, and Lin Tian noticed his unusually long, calloused arms and sinister gaze.
• Zhao Cang unexpectedly chose Lin Tian to fight, having changed his mind about sending Zhang Ming after noticing Wang Gu’s suspicious smile.
• Lin Tian and Xu Bailiang introduced themselves on the Arena, identifying their Dark Force cultivation and martial techniques.
• Zhao Cang recognized that Through-Back Fist belonged to the prestigious Through-Back Martial Hall, not the Wang Family Martial Academy.
• Wang Gu admitted he had chosen a middling disciple from the Inner City hall, and spectators and an examiner predicted trouble for Lin Tian.

Lin Tian surprised the Inner City audience by blocking Xu Bailiang’s attacks and gaining the upper hand while concealing his full strength. Xu Bailiang then used Dark Force in a sudden attack, which Lin Tian noticed and resisted.

• The examiners and audience expected Lin Tian to lose to Xu Bailiang, while Lin Ya was stunned to learn that Lin Tian had become a Dark Force martial artist.
• Xu Bailiang attacked Lin Tian twice, but Lin Tian blocked both strikes without being forced back.
• Xu Bailiang unleashed a flurry of Through-Back Fist punches, and Lin Tian deflected them with his Perfection Realm Mountain-Shaking Fist and landed a few counterblows.
• Lin Tian held back his speed because he feared drawing Wang Gu’s attention and putting himself at risk.
• The audience realized Lin Tian had the upper hand, and Xu Bailiang grew angry at being unable to defeat him quickly.
• Xu Bailiang secretly used Dark Force during an exchange, but Lin Tian sensed the attack and remained alert.

Lin Tian stopped Xu Bailiang’s attempt to cripple him, and an examiner intervened before their sparring match turned into a real fight. Zhao Cang was impressed by Lin Tian’s control, while Xiao Tian grew resentful as he watched his master reconsider Lin Tian.

• Xu Bailiang secretly used Dark Force and struck at Lin Tian in anger, but Lin Tian reacted and met his force.
• Lin Tian and Xu Bailiang prepared to continue their clash until an examiner ordered them to stop and praised their performances.
• Lin Tian and Xu Bailiang exchanged hostile looks before leaving the arena, and Zhang Ming asked Lin Tian if he was injured.
• Zhao Cang praised Lin Tian but wondered whether he had underestimated his potential to reach Transformation Force.
• After Zhao Cang let the group tour the plaza, Xiao Tian clenched his fists and glared at Lin Tian, angered by Zhao Cang’s reaction to the fight.

Xiao Tian struggled with resentment over Lin Tian’s growing strength, while Zhou Ya calmed him by reminding him to focus on his future and Martial Examination. Lin Tian continued cultivating after returning to the academy, and Zhao Cang chose to keep investing in Xiao Tian while waiting to see how Lin Tian performed after the examination.

• Xiao Tian resented the idea that Lin Tian had surpassed him, and Zhou Ya soothed him by urging him to stay calm and look toward his future.
• Lin Tian watched the increasingly intense matches and gained inspiration from the fighters’ combat experience.
• After returning to the Martial Academy, Lin Tian trained in Mountain-Shaking Fist to strengthen himself for the threat facing his family from the Water Bandits.
• Zhao Cang saw Lin Tian leave the academy and decided to focus his efforts on Xiao Tian, while reserving judgment on Lin Tian until after the Martial Examination.

Lin Tian learned that the Commandery Captain’s Office was recruiting people for a campaign against water bandits, but he refused to join and stayed to cultivate. Three days later, Zhang Ming and the others returned, and an injured Inner Academy disciple was carried in while looking toward Xiao Tian.

• Bao Tianhua told Lin Tian that the Commandery Captain’s Office would recruit people from the Outer City to suppress water bandits, offering military merit and a chance at official status.
• Bao Tianhua warned Lin Tian that his family advised caution about joining, hinting that the recruitment had hidden risks.
• Zhang Ming announced the recruitment, and Zhao Cang allowed the others to participate because a Transformation Force friend would help keep them safe.
• Lin Tian refused Zhang Ming’s invitation and chose to stay behind and cultivate.
• Lin Tiansheng returned to the Lin Family Old Residence after visiting Yi Hong Pavilion and resolved to work hard after one final indulgence.
• Three days later, Zhang Ming and the others returned from the bandit campaign with an injured Inner Academy disciple who looked toward Xiao Tian.

Lin Tian considered how his Inferior Bone Quality was slowing his progress toward Transformation Force, while Zhang Ming returned from the Water Bandit operation with a Blade-Wielding Battalion token. Zhang Ming also told Lin Tian that Xiao Tian had supposedly pushed the injured Zhou Sheng into the path of a Bright Force Water Bandit attack.

• Zhao Cang gave healing medicine to the injured disciple and heard Zhang Ming report that Xiao Tian had killed three Water Bandits.
• Lin Tian checked his Fate Grid and realized that his Inferior Bone Quality was slowing his Mountain-Shaking Fist progress, making improved bone quality an urgent need.
• Zhang Ming showed Lin Tian his Blade-Wielding Battalion token, which he had earned through his service in the successful bandit-suppression operation.
• Zhang Ming told Lin Tian that several Water Bandits had possessed strength beyond ordinary people, including leaders at the Bright Force level.
• Zhang Ming said he had heard that Xiao Tian pushed Zhou Sheng into the path of a Bright Force Water Bandit during an attack, leaving Zhou Sheng badly injured.

With ten days remaining before the Martial Examination, Zhang Ming reflected on the widening gap between Inner City and Outer City disciples. At the examination venue, Lin Tian registered and joined the contestants while Zhao Cang reunited with old friends and saw unusually high scores already posted for the first round.

• Zhang Ming warned Lin Tian to be careful, then worried that the tougher Martial Examination would leave Outer City disciples with little chance of passing.
• Ten days later, Lin Tian arrived at the Martial Examination with Mountain-Shaking Fist close to Limit-Breaking, though he had not reached Transformation Force.
• Zhao Cang used his privileges as a Transformation Force expert to register Lin Tian, then took a seat among the examiners while Lin Tian and the other disciples collected their numbers.
• Zhao Cang greeted his old friends Feng Yi and Shi Gang, who discussed his talented disciple and the increased difficulty of this year's examination.
• Zhao Cang studied the first-round score board and noticed that several contestants had already scored at least 120 points, far above the usual top score of around 110.

Lin Tian observed the Martial Examination’s unusually difficult first test as contestants risked injury for higher scores, while Xiao Tian earned an outstanding 120 points. Zhao Cang’s fellow martial artists praised his disciple, but one voice warned that Xiao Tian might still fail to qualify.

• Lin Tian saw Zhang Ming score 109 points after pushing himself to his limit in Stone Armor.
• A young contestant was crushed to death after attempting Stone Armor heavier than he could bear, and the bloody accident frightened other competitors.
• Xiao Tian stayed composed despite the scene and scored 120 points on the first test.
• Shi Gang and Feng Yi praised Xiao Tian to Zhao Cang, who modestly said the final result was not yet known.
• An unidentified martial artist scoffed that Xiao Tian might still fail to appear on the rankings.

Lin Tian faced hostile spectators as he prepared for the Stone Armor assessment, while a white-haired examiner punished those who had insulted Outer City candidates. The chapter left Lin Tian choosing among the increasingly heavy Stone Armor as the crowd watched with disdain.

• Wang Gu mocked Zhao Cang, and the two exchanged tense looks before holding back because the Inner City forbade private fights.
• Lin Tian stepped up for the first assessment as spectators blamed Outer City candidates for disrupting their juniors’ performances.
• A white-haired examiner refused to silence the spectators and ordered ten points deducted from the schools and candidates connected to everyone who had spoken out, with strict temperament checks for those who made the list.
• Lin Tian examined the Stone Armor, which grew heavier over time and required candidates to perform a fist technique, while the spectators sneered as he passed the 120-jin armor.

Lin Tian stunned the Martial Examination crowd by wearing the 180-pound Stone Armor and completing his fist form with ease, revealing his perfected Mountain-Shaking Fist and Weight-Lifting as Lightness. He earned full marks on the first test, leaving him needing only one victory in the second test to pass.

• Lin Tian put on the 180-pound Stone Armor and rapidly threw punches as its weight reached the maximum.
• Lin Tian continued the basic fist form without difficulty, and the Transformation Force experts recognized his mastery of Weight-Lifting as Lightness.
• Lin Tian finished his fist form, removed the Stone Armor, and returned to the rest area as the crowd stared in astonishment.
• Lin Tian admitted to Zhang Ming that his Mountain-Shaking Fist had reached perfection, while Zhou Ya worried that she had offended him.
• Lin Tian received 150 points and full marks on the first test, putting him one victory away from passing the Martial Examination.

Lin Tian earned a perfect score on the martial examination’s first test, bringing the county’s coveted sect recommendation quota within reach. As he considered the strong competitors at other venues, another examinee also scored full marks and openly looked down on him.

• Zhao Cang regretted withholding a Blood-Qi Pill from Lin Tian, while Wang Gu saw Lin Tian as a new threat and resolved to prepare against him.
• Lin Tian’s score of 150 shocked the disciples, who congratulated him as a contender for the top rank and its sect recommendation quota.
• Xiao Tian grew jealous and frustrated when he realized Lin Tian was now close to a reward he had never expected to win himself.
• Lin Tian judged that several restrained, steady auras at the examination plaza belonged to powerful competitors and wondered how many more awaited at the other venues.
• Yi Qingyang of the inner-city Breeze Martial Hall also earned a perfect score, exchanged a disdainful look with Lin Tian, and left.

Lin Tian finished the first test with full marks, then won all five of his second-test matches and joined Yi Qingyang and Wang Yi as a contender for Top Candidate. The top three hundred were decided, and the three full-mark examinees were called to the stage to compete for the title.

• Spectators praised Yi Qingyang’s full marks and dismissed Lin Tian’s chances, while rumors spread that Wang Yi had also scored full marks.
• The first test ended with only Lin Tian and Yi Qingyang earning full marks in their testing ground; most examinees were eliminated, and Zhao Family Martial Academy had only three Dark Force practitioners pass.
• The remaining examinees competed in five one-on-one matches, and Lin Tian, Yi Qingyang, and Wang Yi quickly completed theirs as opponents surrendered rather than fight them.
• The top three hundred were decided, leaving Lin Tian, Yi Qingyang, and Wang Yi as the contenders for Top Candidate.
• Zhao Cang realized Lin Tian could fulfill his wish and earn them substantial rewards if he won the title.

At the Martial Examination, Zhao Cang and the other Transformation Force experts doubted that Lin Tian, an Outer City disciple, could compete with Inner City prodigies Yi Qingyang and Wang Yi for Top Candidate. Lin Tian took the arena first, but the chapter ended with Wang Yi realizing that the fighter who had just been sent crashing into a wall might not have been Lin Tian.

• Zhao Cang imagined the rewards his Martial Academy could gain if Lin Tian became Top Candidate, while Wang Gu mocked him for believing an Outer City disciple could rival Inner City heirs.
• The experts agreed that Lin Tian was unlikely to win and treated him as a foil for Yi Qingyang and Wang Yi.
• Lin Tian drew number one and stepped onto the arena as Yi Qingyang drew number two.
• Yi Qingyang and Wang Yi exchanged confident remarks about testing each other’s family techniques, while Wang Yi watched from the rest area.
• A fighter flew from the arena and struck a wall, prompting Wang Yi to question whether the green blur he had seen was actually Lin Tian.

Lin Tian unexpectedly defeated Yi Qingyang with a punch, and the crowd attributed the result to luck. Wang Yi then stepped onto the arena to face Lin Tian, determined to prove that strength mattered more.

• Lin Tian knocked Yi Qingyang off the wall with a full-force punch, ending their fight almost instantly.
• The Transformation Force experts realized Lin Tian’s reaction speed and Demon-Subduing Golden Body had allowed him to counter Yi Qingyang’s attack.
• The crowd, Xiao Tian, and Wang Yi accepted Lin Tian’s victory as an astonishing stroke of luck.
• Xiao Tian seethed with jealousy as Lin Tian advanced to fight for the Top Candidate position he had failed to earn.
• Wang Yi entered the arena and faced Lin Tian, declaring that strength would overcome his luck.

Lin Tian defeated Wang Yi in the final battle for Top Candidate, winning the Martial Examination. The gong rang to announce the contest’s end, leaving Lin Tian atop the arena as the Top Candidate.

• Wang Yi and Lin Tian faced each other in serious stances as the crowd hoped Wang Yi would defeat the Outer City fighter.
• The two exchanged dozens of punches, and Wang Yi realized Lin Tian surpassed him in strength and control.
• Lin Tian struck Wang Yi’s arm repeatedly, driving him toward the arena’s edge.
• Lin Tian landed a final powerful punch that sent Wang Yi flying out of the arena.
• The gong rang, confirming the Martial Examination had ended and Lin Tian had won Top Candidate.

Lin Tian became the first Outer City disciple to earn Qingchuan County’s Martial Examination Top Candidate title, though spectators dismissed his win as luck. The examiners and Transformation Force experts recognized his overwhelming mastery of Mountain-Shaking Fist, while Zhang Ming congratulated him as the Martial Examination ended.

• Lin Tian was declared Top Candidate after knocking Wang Yi from the arena, and the spectators accused him of winning through luck and unfair tactics.
• Xiao Tian became enraged at Lin Tian’s victory, vomited blood, and fainted, while Wang Yi questioned how he had lost.
• Zhao Cang and the other Transformation Force experts recognized that Lin Tian had overpowered Wang Yi through superior fist technique, and they envied Zhao Cang for having him as a disciple.
• The examiners praised Qingchuan County for producing a genius, the gong marked the Martial Examination’s end, and the disappointed spectators left.
• Lin Tian returned to the rest area, where Zhang Ming recalled his early struggles and congratulated him on becoming the first Outer City Top Candidate.

Lin Tian attended the post-examination banquet despite wanting to avoid attention, where he learned that rumors were questioning whether he deserved to be Top Candidate. Bao Tianhua grew angry on Lin Tian’s behalf, but Lin Tian told him to ignore the gossip.

• Lin Tian reluctantly attended the authorities’ evening banquet, where the guests’ gazes and faintly mocking expressions unsettled him.
• Lin Tian joined Bao Tianhua, who explained that Inner City family heirs were attending and that he had secured a place through his mother’s efforts.
• Bao Tianhua congratulated Lin Tian on becoming Top Candidate, and they began chatting over drinks.
• Bao Tianhua told Lin Tian that rumors claimed he had won the Top Candidate title by luck and did not deserve it.
• Bao Tianhua offered to find and confront those spreading the rumors, but Lin Tian told him not to pay them any attention.

Lin Tian ignored the rumors and left the government banquet, uninterested in fame or the investment that might help him reach Transformation Force. Bao Tianming dismissed him as a temporary genius whose Heavenly Perception would fade, while other Inner City guests mocked Lin Tian for leaving.

• Lin Tian told Bao Tianhua that he cared little for fame and profit, and Bao Tianhua praised his composure.
• Bao Tianming told his aristocratic friend that Lin Tian was merely lucky, though he knew Lin Tian's progress came from Heavenly Perception.
• Bao Tianming decided Lin Tian was not worth investing in, believing his Inferior Bone Quality would keep him from reaching Transformation Force for years.
• After the government banquet ended, Lin Tian left before the Inner City aristocratic families' investment banquet.
• A Wang Family guest mocked Lin Tian for leaving and suggested that only luck could carry him to Transformation Force.

After leaving the banquet, Lin Tian returned to the inn, unaware that rumors about his Inferior Bone Quality were spreading across Qingchuan County. The chapter ends with Xiao Tian insisting that exposing Lin Tian’s weakness was only telling the truth, while Zhou Ya feared the consequences of their actions.

• Bao Tianhua left the banquet to join Lin Tian after hearing others insult him, then parted ways with him to report the evening’s events to his mother.
• Lin Tian returned to the inn, where the Martial Academy disciples celebrated his success as Top Candidate and Zhang Ming told him that Zhao Cang wanted to see him.
• Zhao Cang asked why Lin Tian had returned so early from the second banquet and sighed, believing Lin Tian would struggle to reach Transformation Force without more resources.
• Wang Youqiang worried that Lin Tian might become a threat, but Wang Gu showed him a letter confirming Lin Tian had Inferior Bone Quality and claimed his achievements came from Heavenly Perception.
• Information about Lin Tian’s Inferior Bone Quality spread among Qingchuan County’s Transformation Force experts and official forces.
• Zhou Ya feared that spreading the information would ruin Lin Tian’s martial path, but Xiao Tian argued that they had only conveyed the truth and said Lin Tian had no chance to advance further.

Zhou Ya and Xiao Tian discussed their fear of Lin Tian and their hopes of surpassing him, while Lin Tian returned to the Martial Academy and focused on advancing to Transformation Force. As the Martial Examination results were posted, the Lin family went to check whether Lin Tiansheng had passed, intending to use Lin Tian’s cultivation to earn money for them.

• Zhou Ya panicked that Lin Tian might break through to Transformation Force, but Xiao Tian reassured her that his Superior Bone Quality could let him surpass Lin Tian in the future.
• Lin Tian returned to his room at the inn and practiced Mountain-Shaking Fist, increasing the progress of his Fate Grid.
• The Martial Academy disciples returned from the Inner City as the Martial Examination results were being posted, and Lin Tian headed straight back to the Inner Academy to pursue Transformation Force.
• Old Master Lin and the Lin Family Old Residence traveled to the Outer City results board, hoping Lin Tiansheng might pass highly despite failing the first test; Lin Ci stayed away, convinced they were indulging in a fantasy.
• In the carriage, Zhang Cui signaled Lin Tiansheng to bring up their plan to use Lin Tian’s Bright Force cultivation to earn silver for them.

Lin Tiansheng and Zhang Cui plotted to make Lin Tian work in the Inner City and fund Lin Tiansheng’s martial training. Lin Tiansheng proposed the plan to the Old Master, who was left considering the burden on Lin Tian’s family.

• Zhang Cui planned to stop the Old Master from supporting Lin Tian and wanted Lin Tian to earn money for Lin Tiansheng instead.
• Lin Tiansheng agreed with Zhang Cui and planned to have Lin Tian become a Medicine Tester, which could earn their family ten taels of silver each month.
• Lin Tiansheng told the Old Master that his family should not bear all the cost of his martial training.
• Lin Tiansheng argued that Lin Tian’s family should contribute because they would benefit if he succeeded.
• The Old Master worried that Lin Tian’s family was already struggling, but Lin Tiansheng urged him to have Lin Tian work in the Inner City.

Lin Tiansheng persuaded Old Master Lin to accept taking Lin Tian’s training slot and sending him to earn money for the second branch, promising the family would be repaid later. At the Outer City rankings, Old Man Feng revealed that Lin Tian had passed the Martial Examination as Top Candidate, leaving Old Master Lin and Lin Tiansheng’s family stunned.

• Lin Tiansheng told Old Master Lin about the letter sent in his name and argued that the family had to support one person to rise.
• Old Master Lin reluctantly agreed to take Lin Tian’s martial-arts training slot and have him support Lin Tiansheng’s family, after Lin Tiansheng promised to help the eldest branch later.
• Old Master Lin and his party arrived at the Outer City rankings, where a crowd recognized him and hurried over.
• Old Man Feng congratulated Old Master Lin and announced that Lin Tian had passed the Martial Examination as the Outer City Top Candidate.
• Old Master Lin and Lin Tiansheng’s family turned pale and froze as Old Man Feng repeated the news.