Recaps

Lin Tian returned to the Wood Courtyard and rejected Ling Baitang’s summons by kicking down the disciple who tried to force him to go. Alarmed by his unstable Five Elements True Qi, he went to see Hua Chengming and found him examining Mu Qingxue again.

• Lin Tian noticed the Wood Courtyard disciples had split into rival camps linked to Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan’s competition for Core Disciple.
• A Transformation Force disciple ordered Lin Tian to visit Ling Baitang and said he could not refuse, then tried to block his way with several followers.
• Lin Tian kicked the disciple into the others, and the group fled after their leader realized Lin Tian had struck him.
• Lin Tian recognized that even drawing on his blood and qi nearly made the Five Elements True Qi in his qi sea run wild, so he hurried to Hua Chengming’s hall.
• Hua Chengming let Lin Tian into the hall, where Lin Tian again found him examining Mu Qingxue’s body.

Lin Tian asked Hua Chengming how to control his friend’s five clashing streams of true qi, then learned the Nine Phases Map and discovered it could stabilize and strengthen his own qi. Hua Chengming hinted that the streams could be fused, leaving Lin Tian eager to learn how.

• Mu Qingxue left after Hua Chengming shook his head, and Lin Tian approached the Courtyard Master.
• Lin Tian asked Hua Chengming for help with his friend’s five streams of true qi going berserk.
• Hua Chengming gave Lin Tian a diagram that triggered a vision of the Nine Phases Map, and Lin Tian quickly mastered its River Walking image.
• Lin Tian’s meridians changed, speeding his true qi circulation and letting him control five streams without them going berserk or lend their power to one stream.
• Hua Chengming warned Lin Tian against greed, then hinted that the five streams could be fused, prompting Lin Tian to ask him to teach the method.

Lin Tian learned that Hua Chengming wanted him to compete for a Core Disciple position and rank in the top three to silence the sect’s dissatisfied higher-ups. Though reluctant to attract attention, Lin Tian agreed to honor their bargain, and Hua Chengming tossed him a token.

• Hua Chengming asked Lin Tian how he could answer the higher-ups who thought he was unworthy of leading the Wood Courtyard.
• Hua Chengming explained that a successful disciple could prove the Wood Courtyard still prospered under his guidance.
• Hua Chengming reminded Lin Tian that he had accepted benefits and could not simply abandon their bargain.
• Lin Tian weighed the value of Hua Chengming’s help, including the true qi fusion method, and agreed to carry out the task within his abilities.
• Hua Chengming ordered Lin Tian to become a Core Disciple and rank in the top three.
• Lin Tian stopped himself from promising first place, reaffirmed the top-three goal, and received a token from Hua Chengming.

Lin Tian accepted Hua Chengming’s advice to stop hiding his abilities and returned to his courtyard with the Core Disciple Token, knowing he had to attend the coming selection and ranking battles to uphold their deal. He welcomed Ma Liang, who hoped Lin Tian’s new status would protect him from Li Wei, and asked him what he knew about the Core Disciples.

• Hua Chengming advised Lin Tian that hiding his abilities too much could cost him, then sent him away.
• Lin Tian returned to his courtyard and decided to remain involved in the upcoming Core Disciple selection and ranking battles so he could learn to merge Zhenqi from Hua Chengming.
• Ma Liang visited Lin Tian to build a connection, and Lin Tian invited him inside.
• Ma Liang hoped that siding with Lin Tian would help him avoid Li Wei’s threats and interference.
• Lin Tian asked Ma Liang what he knew about the Core Disciples.

Lin Tian learned about the benefits and authority of becoming a core disciple, then accepted the invitations from Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan at Disciple Plaza. Carrying the Core Disciple Token Hua Chengming had given him, he walked onto the arena to settle the challenge to his appointment.

• Ma Liang explained the cultivation resources, status, and succession prospects available to core disciples, and Lin Tian focused on the benefits to his cultivation.
• Ma Liang offered to help Lin Tian gain support for the core disciple position, but two disciples arrived to summon Lin Tian to Disciple Plaza on behalf of Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan.
• Ma Liang glimpsed the Wood Courtyard Core Disciple Token at Lin Tian's waist and realized Lin Tian already held the position.
• Lin Tian decided to face the challenge to his personally appointed status rather than let the dispute drag on.
• At Disciple Plaza, Lin Tian walked between the groups led by Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan, revealed his token to the gathered disciples, and stepped onto the arena.

Lin Tian stepped onto the arena to challenge Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan, who dismissed him as an obstacle they could easily overcome. Zhao Chuan accepted Lin Tian’s provocation and attacked, but Lin Tian’s electric-charged speed and powerful punch broke Zhao Chuan’s spear before he could use his true qi.

• Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan eyed Lin Tian’s Core Disciple Token and treated him as a minor obstacle before their own contest.
• Zhao Chuan and Ling Baitang tried to make each other fight Lin Tian first to conserve their strength.
• Lin Tian called Zhao Chuan weaker and challenged him to come onto the arena.
• Zhao Chuan took a spear onto the arena and began the fight by charging without using true qi.
• Lin Tian surged forward with electric currents around him and struck Zhao Chuan before he could circulate his true qi, snapping his spear with one punch.

Lin Tian defeated Zhao Chuan with a single punch, then faced Ling Baitang for the Core Disciple position. Ling Baitang’s protective technique shattered under Lin Tian’s first blow, leaving their fight unresolved.

• Lin Tian punched Zhao Chuan off the Arena, leaving him badly injured and unable to continue.
• Ling Baitang concluded that Zhao Chuan’s defeat cleared the way for him to claim the Core Disciple position and accepted Lin Tian’s challenge.
• Ling Baitang unleashed all his Zhenqi as he stepped onto the Arena, while Lin Tian recognized his strength as near the late stage of Core Condensation.
• When the bronze bell rang, Lin Tian and Ling Baitang charged at each other, and Lin Tian’s speed surprised Ling Baitang.
• Ling Baitang raised a Zhenqi shield designed to trap attacks, but Lin Tian’s punch shattered it immediately.

Lin Tian defeated Ling Baitang with a single punch, proving himself the Wood Courtyard’s undisputed core disciple. He discovered that he could fuse true qi with qi-and-blood power and entrusted Ma Liang with collecting his new cultivation resources.

• Lin Tian struck Ling Baitang with a Mountain-Shaking Fist technique that fused true qi with qi-and-blood power, leaving him badly injured and unable to continue fighting.
• Lin Tian realized his fusion technique could let him use the move even after reaching Core Condensation and sensed that it might have greater uses.
• Ling Baitang struggled to his feet but could not fight on, and Lin Tian left the arena without another blow.
• The disciples accepted Lin Tian as the Wood Courtyard’s undisputed core disciple, while Zhao Chuan realized Lin Tian’s earlier victory over him had not been a fluke.
• Ma Liang arrived and saw the battered Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan, then Lin Tian gave him his Core Disciple Token and asked him to collect his cultivation resources.
• Lin Tian returned to his small courtyard, intending for Ma Liang to manage the Wood Courtyard’s daily affairs and resources.

After Lin Tian backed Ma Liang in the Wood Courtyard dispute, Ma Liang collected Lin Tian’s cultivation resources while Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan offered gifts to repair their relationship with him. Lin Tian resumed training, mastered the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Spear, and awakened its Spear Momentum, then discovered it could do more than enhance his abilities.

• Lin Tian gave Ma Liang his Core Disciple Token and entrusted him with collecting his cultivation resources, earning Ma Liang the envy of the Wood Courtyard disciples.
• Ma Liang hurried to the Internal Affairs Hall to collect Lin Tian’s resources, and the dispute between Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan ended as the crowd dispersed.
• Lin Tian accepted gifts from Ling Baitang and Zhao Chuan, then focused on returning to secluded cultivation and awaited the Earth Courtyard’s selection of its Core Disciple.
• After several days of practice, Lin Tian completed the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Spear and formed its Spear Momentum, which increased his strength and doubled his speed.
• Lin Tian swung his spear again and discovered that the Spear Momentum could do more than strengthen him.

Lin Tian discovered that Spear Momentum could create three Thunder Illusion Bodies, giving him a new combat trump card, then learned the five Core Disciples would fight for their rankings. At the tournament, he saw the representatives of the other sects, including the famed Cold Jade Fairy Han Shuangjiang.

• Lin Tian used Spear Momentum to create three Thunder Illusion Bodies, each with forty percent of his strength, and noted the technique’s heavy true qi cost.
• Ma Liang told Lin Tian that the five Core Disciples had been selected and that the ranking battle would take place in three days; Lin Tian reviewed information about the other disciples.
• Lin Tian read that Chen Qingyu, Xiao Shaoyang, Ma Bao, and Ye Zhen were the Core Disciples of the other courtyards, then returned to cultivating.
• Three days later, Lin Tian arrived at the Inner Sect Performance Stage, where disciples, sect leaders, and visitors from other great sects had gathered for the ranking battle.
• Lin Tian spotted the Cold Heaven Sword Sect delegation and recognized Han Shuangjiang, the Cold Jade Fairy listed among Gaoyan Prefecture City’s top talents and beauties.

Lin Tian wondered whether Han Shuangjiang’s Innate Heterochromatic Eyes had special abilities, but Han Qingya dismissed him as too untalented to be worth her niece’s attention. The Core Disciple Ranking Tournament began, and Li An and the other Outer Academy disciples watched the competitors take the stage.

• Lin Tian stared at the Ice Silk covering Han Shuangjiang’s eyes, wondering whether her Innate Heterochromatic Eyes had unusual powers, until she noticed him and their gazes met.
• Han Shuangjiang told Han Qingya that someone had looked at her strangely, and Han Qingya recognized Lin Tian but judged his low-grade Zhenqi talent too limited to befriend her niece.
• Mo Sheli gave an opening speech, a horn sounded, and Lin Tian and the other Core Disciples took the stage as the tournament began.
• Li An, Li Rui, and the other Outer Academy disciples watched from seats near the Performance Stage, and Li Rui excitedly pointed out Xiao Shaoyang.
• Li An recalled how Xiao Shaoyang had encouraged him and began to feel disdain for Lin Tian, but then he saw something that stunned them all.

Lin Tian appeared as the Wood Courtyard’s Core Disciple and prepared to claim a place in the Core Disciple Ranking Tournament. As the top three seats were taken, he and Ma Bao were left to decide who would occupy fourth place.

• Li An and Li Rui were shocked to see Lin Tian standing among the Core Disciples, and realized he had become the Wood Courtyard’s representative.
• Lin Tian used the Nine Phases Map to sense the true qi of the five people before him and found that each had cultivated only one type.
• Five ranking pillars rose in the Martial Arts Arena, and Ye Zhen took the first seat while Chen Qingyu claimed the second.
• Lin Tian chose the third seat as his intended target, but Xiao Shaoyang occupied it before he could move.
• With the top three seats filled, the audience watched Lin Tian and Ma Bao, expecting them to compete for fourth place and the resources attached to it.

Lin Tian surprised the Heavenly Derivation Sect by declining to challenge Ma Bao for the fourth seat and instead challenging Xiao Shaoyang for the third. Their battle began, and Xiao Shaoyang unleashed his Xiao Family Fire Control Technique against Lin Tian.

• Ma Bao assumed Lin Tian had given up on the fourth seat, and he claimed it as the Wood Courtyard disciples watched in disappointment.
• Lin Tian announced that he would challenge the third seat, shocking the crowd and Ma Bao.
• Xiao Shaoyang accepted the challenge and jumped down from his pillar to begin the fight.
• Lin Tian and Xiao Shaoyang rushed at each other as their true qi erupted, with Xiao Shaoyang's Crimson Fire True Qi scorching the nearby disciples.
• Xiao Shaoyang swept his folding fan and sent a wave of fire-control true qi toward Lin Tian, who judged that he no longer needed to reveal his trump cards.

Lin Tian charged through Xiao Shaoyang’s flames unharmed and fought him evenly, using compressed Zhenqi to shield himself. As Xiao Shaoyang spread a vast sea of fire across the arena, Lin Tian realized he was preparing to end the fight with one powerful move.

• Lin Tian passed through Xiao Shaoyang’s flames unharmed, astonishing the spectators and the sect leaders.
• Mo Sheli recognized Lin Tian’s compressed Zhenqi shield, while Hua Chengming wondered what technique had helped Lin Tian master it.
• Lin Tian’s spear clashed with Xiao Shaoyang’s folding fan, forcing them both back and revealing their formidable strength.
• Lin Tian and Xiao Shaoyang exchanged a series of lightning- and fire-infused attacks, and Xiao Shaoyang grew alarmed by Lin Tian’s increasingly heavy blows.
• Xiao Shaoyang spread a sea of fire across more than half the arena, and Lin Tian realized he intended to settle the fight with a single powerful move.

Lin Tian defeated Xiao Shaoyang with the Shadow Flash Thunder technique and claimed the third seat among the Core Disciples. His victory brought the Wood Courtyard greater standing and resources, while the sect leaders and visiting sects focused on the lightning covering his spear.

• Xiao Shaoyang summoned three immense fire tornadoes that swept toward Lin Tian.
• Lin Tian reinforced his azure wood true qi barrier and prepared his spear without letting its lightning reach its final limit.
• Lin Tian used Shadow Flash Thunder to pierce the fire tornadoes and appeared before Xiao Shaoyang before he could respond.
• The gong rang, and the match officials declared Lin Tian the winner and ranked him third among the Core Disciples.
• The Wood Courtyard disciples celebrated their new status and the increased resources and Spirit-Drawing Tower access they expected to receive.
• The sect leaders and visiting representatives stared at the lightning arcs on Lin Tian's spear.

Lin Tian defeated Xiao Shaoyang at the ranking tournament and revealed his Spear Momentum Embryo, astonishing the other disciples and sect leaders. After the tournament ended, Pei Qingyu read the Prefecture City Chamber of Commerce’s decision on her application to become an upper-tier merchant.

• Han Qingya identified the force around Lin Tian’s spear as a Spear Momentum Embryo, and a Heavenly Spear Sect elder praised his talent to Mo Sheli.
• Lin Tian apologized to Xiao Shaoyang after their match, and Xiao Shaoyang accepted the defeat graciously and admired Lin Tian’s spear technique.
• Ye Zhen offered to trade his cultivation resources for a fight with Lin Tian, and Lin Tian agreed before exchanging polite words with Chen Qingyu.
• The ranking tournament ended after the Core Disciples displayed their combat techniques, and Li An and Li Rui left still stunned by what they had witnessed.
• Pei Qingyu read the Prefecture City Chamber of Commerce’s reply to her application to become an upper-tier merchant.

Pei Qingyu’s application to become an upper-tier merchant was first rejected, but the Chamber of Commerce corrected its letter and approved her after news arrived that Lin Feng had become the Heavenly Derivation Sect’s third-ranked Core Disciple. The chapter ended with the three women shocked by Lin Feng’s rise and wondering what had prompted the sudden reversal.

• Pei Qingyu read the Chamber of Commerce’s rejection of her upper-tier merchant application, and the Yellow-Skirted Woman suspected the Zheng Family had interfered.
• Xiao Cui reported that people from the Zheng Family had arrived at Pei Mansion with gifts to apologize.
• Another maid delivered a corrected Chamber of Commerce letter approving Pei Qingyu as an upper-tier merchant in Gaoyan Prefecture City.
• A maid announced that Lin Feng had become a Core Disciple of the Heavenly Derivation Sect and ranked third among its Core Disciples.
• Pei Qingyu and the other women rose in shock at the news of Lin Feng’s promotion.

Pei Qingyu learned that Lin Tian had become the Heavenly Derivation Sect’s third-ranked Core Disciple and rushed to strengthen their ties, while guests at the sect banquet largely avoided him because he cultivated inferior true qi. Han Shuangjiang watched Lin Tian from the Cold Sky Sword Sect’s high platform.

• A maid told Pei Qingyu that Lin Tian had become a Core Disciple, ranked third after defeating Xiao Shaoyang, and Pei Qingyu ordered generous gifts and planned to share her shops’ profits with him.
• The Yellow-Skirted Woman and the Purple-Clad Woman asked Pei Qingyu to invite Lin Tian to visit their mansions.
• At the sect banquet, guests congratulated Lin Tian briefly before gathering around the other Core Disciples, leaving him mostly alone.
• The guests judged Lin Tian’s inferior true qi as a sign of limited prospects and believed his success over Xiao Shaoyang and Ma Bao would not last.
• Han Shuangjiang remained on the Cold Sky Sword Sect’s high platform and watched Lin Tian.

Han Shuangjiang approached Lin Tian because she was curious about him, drawing the attention of the young geniuses and surprising Han Qingya. After returning to her aunt, Han Shuangjiang continued examining Lin Tian and recognized that his Zhenqi was actually exceptionally powerful superior Zhenqi, while his Spear Momentum Embryo also seemed unusual.

• Mo Sheli and the other higher-ups noticed Lin Tian remained calm despite being ignored, and they admired his temperament.
• Han Qingya realized Han Shuangjiang had left her side and saw her approach Lin Tian.
• Han Shuangjiang told Lin Tian she was curious about him, briefly examined him, then apologized and returned to the platform.
• Han Qingya asked whether Han Shuangjiang had gone to befriend Lin Tian and warned her that his inferior Zhenqi made him an unsuitable companion.
• Han Shuangjiang continued watching Lin Tian and discerned that his wood-element Zhenqi was powerful superior Zhenqi, while his Spear Momentum Embryo was unusual.

Han Shuangjiang became increasingly curious about the Gray Mist concealing Lin Tian, while Lin Tian left the banquet to spar with Ye Zhen and then began secluded cultivation. Two months later, news emerged that a defector from one of the Ten Great Sects had joined the Flesh and Blood Divine Sect and reached the Gang Realm by slaughtering an entire county city.

• Han Shuangjiang’s heterochromatic eyes failed to see through the Gray Mist around Lin Tian, and she admitted to Han Qingya that she had been distracted by him.
• After the banquet, Lin Tian sparred with Ye Zhen, who transferred his reward for being the foremost Core Disciple to Lin Tian.
• Lin Tian returned to his courtyard, asked Ma Liang to handle gifts and marriage-alliance offers, and went to the Spirit-Drawing Tower for secluded cultivation.
• Over the next two months, Prefecture City clans sent Lin Tian gifts and invitations to form marriage alliances.
• A Core Condensation elder from one of the Ten Great Sects defected to the Flesh and Blood Divine Sect, slaughtered an entire county city, and reappeared at the Gang Realm.

Lin Tian realized the Blood Baleful Divine Art might drive its practitioners mad, and that its use to reach the Gang Realm could plunge the world into chaos. Seeking to grow stronger, he considered ways to improve his cultivation and talent, ending with the possibility of gaining a Saint Body through the Formless Combat Technique.

• Lin Tian connected the Core Condensation Realm elder’s massacre and the Red-Haired Man’s erratic aggression to a mind-altering side effect of the Blood Baleful Divine Art.
• Lin Tian feared that news of the demonic art’s ability to reach the Gang Realm would spark widespread chaos and resolved to grow stronger before it began.
• Lin Tian reviewed his Fate Grid and noted that his Geng Metal True-Condensing Art had reached the fourth layer, bringing him to the late Core Condensation Realm, though his progress had slowed.
• Lin Tian considered improving his aptitude through the Golden Raiment Realm or obtaining rare resources such as Heavenly Marrow Fluid.
• Lin Tian concluded that acquiring a Saint Body might improve his talent and cultivation speed, and he believed the Formless Combat Technique could make it possible.

Lin Tian considered how the second level of the Formless Combat Technique could let him imitate another person's physique and treat injuries, but he lacked a suitable person to study. Hua Chengming summoned him and asked how quickly he could reach that level so he could help cure someone, leaving Lin Tian hinting that the favor would cost him.

• Lin Tian reflected that Human Formless could control and transform living bodies, heal severe injuries, and imitate a physique after he had experienced it firsthand.
• A red message crystal lit up, and Lin Tian found a letter from Hua Chengming telling him to come at once.
• Lin Tian went to the Wood Courtyard, where Hua Chengming had just finished examining Mu Qingxue.
• Hua Chengming asked whether Lin Tian had cultivated the Formless Combat Technique and how long he would need to reach its second level.
• Hua Chengming revealed that he wanted Lin Tian to use the technique to cure someone, and Lin Tian implied that the difficult task deserved a reward.

Lin Tian accepted Hua Chengming’s Heavenly Marrow Fluid and promised to master the Formless Combat Technique within two months. Hua Chengming told Mu Qingxue he expected Lin Tian to succeed in less than a month, leaving her wondering whether he was right.

• Hua Chengming gave Lin Tian a bottle of Heavenly Marrow Fluid and set a two-month deadline for him to return.
• Lin Tian promised to meet the deadline and left the palace hall.
• Mu Qingxue questioned Hua Chengming about giving Lin Tian the resources and doubted he could master the Formless Combat Technique so quickly.
• Hua Chengming told Mu Qingxue that Lin Tian might succeed in less than a month and explained that the resources had helped secure his cooperation.
• Hua Chengming sent Mu Qingxue back to the Library Pavilion, and she left wondering whether Lin Tian would succeed.

The Supreme Envoy punished Elder Sheng for his unauthorized massacre but credited him with spreading the Flesh and Blood Divine Sect’s name, then began a meeting about the Ten Great Sects’ planned actions. A month later, Lin Tian completed the second level of the Formless Combat Technique and discovered he could transform his appearance, taking on Hua Chengming’s likeness.

• The Supreme Envoy confronted Elder Sheng over the massacre and the losses it brought the Divine Sect.
• The Supreme Envoy said Elder Sheng had also publicized the Divine Cult, but punished him by making a crawling thing rot his flesh.
• Elder Sheng thanked the Divine Cult for its forgiveness, and the Supreme Envoy began the meeting about the Ten Great Sects.
• A month later, Lin Tian completed the second level of the Formless Combat Technique and gained the ability to control and alter his body.
• Lin Tian used the gray mist to transform himself into Hua Chengming’s identical likeness.

Lin Tian tested his control over his body after reaching Human Formless, then began cultivating with Heavenly Marrow Fluid. Meanwhile, the Heavenly Derivation Sect learned that a Geocentric Cavern had appeared in its territory and faced a wagered duel proposed by the Heavenly Dynasty Sect over the cavern’s resources.

• Lin Tian used Gray Mist to test his control over his body, briefly opening and closing a tiny gap in his stomach.
• Lin Tian swallowed a drop of Heavenly Marrow Fluid and began cultivating.
• Mo Sheli and the Heavenly Derivation Sect’s higher-ups learned that a Geocentric Cavern producing Geocentric Milk had been discovered in their territory.
• The higher-ups realized that the Heavenly Dynasty Sect, which discovered the cavern, was entitled to ten percent of its yearly resources under Dao Origin Sect rules.
• The Heavenly Dynasty Sect proposed a wagered duel for another ten percent of the Geocentric Milk, offering twenty percent of its Heavenly Crystal Pills if it lost.