Chapter Summaries

Xu Wuyi prepared for the Departmental Competition while continuing to cultivate and search for short, rewarding missions. East Academy selected Xu Wuyi, Shen Wei, and Zhou Mingxuan for the Elite Combat Competition, but the two unselected Martial Artists were allowed to challenge them for their places.

• Xu Wuyi's Life Energy Level rose to 20.9, and he asked Anna to find high-reward missions with manageable risks and short completion times.
• The Team Points Competition results placed West Academy first, East Academy second, North Academy third, and South Academy fourth.
• Shen Wei said East Academy's next test was the Elite Combat Competition, where three representatives from each academy would compete in relay-style team matches.
• Vice Dean Shi Jing selected Xu Wuyi, Shen Wei, and Zhou Mingxuan as East Academy's representatives.
• Shi Jing gave the two unselected Martial Artists the chance to challenge a representative, and they chose Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan rather than Xu Wuyi.

Zhou Mingxuan and Shen Wei won their East Academy challenge matches, securing places alongside Xu Wuyi in the departmental competition. At the competition, Zhou Mingxuan defeated South Academy’s first fighter, giving East Academy an opening victory.

• Zhou Mingxuan defeated his challenger by trapping the opponent’s long staff and striking at close range.
• Shen Wei used Iron Wall Art to withstand a faster swordsman’s attacks and defeated him with heavy saber strikes.
• Shi Jing named Xu Wuyi, Shen Wei, and Zhou Mingxuan as East Academy’s representatives, and the four academies announced their rosters.
• Three days later, the four-academy Elite Combat Competition began with East Academy facing South Academy.
• Zhou Mingxuan defeated South Academy’s first fighter with his short halberds, earning East Academy the opening win.

Li Hao defeated Shen Wei after wearing down his Iron Wall Art, leaving him to face East Academy’s final fighter, Xu Wuyi. Though Li Hao had won with little injury, his stamina was heavily depleted as he prepared for the decisive match.

• Zhou Mingxuan injured Qi Feihuai but was eventually defeated, leaving Qi Feihuai badly wounded.
• Shen Wei quickly defeated the injured Qi Feihuai and gave East Academy a two-round lead.
• Li Hao used his speed and curved blades to wear down Shen Wei’s defense before breaking through and defeating him.
• Li Hao faced Xu Wuyi as South Academy’s last hope, while Shen Wei warned Xu Wuyi that Li Hao’s Martial Dao True Intent had prevented Shen Wei from locking onto him.

Xu Wuyi used the soul-suppressing domain of his Eight Directions Soul-Suppressing Spear to defeat Li Hao and give East Academy victory in the first round. As East Academy celebrated, the next match was set between North Academy’s Luo Liang and West Academy’s Tana.

• Xu Wuyi’s soul-suppressing domain slowed Li Hao and disrupted his mind as Li Hao charged with his twin blades.
• Xu Wuyi struck Li Hao twice with his spear, defeating him and sending him out of the arena.
• The referee declared Xu Wuyi and East Academy the winners, while Li Hao returned to the South Academy rest area in shock.
• Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan praised Xu Wuyi, who explained that the force field was a mental-power technique and focused on the matches ahead.
• North Academy named Luo Liang as its first fighter against West Academy’s unexpectedly chosen first fighter, Tana.

After Xu Wuyi revealed his mental suppression technique, Tana faced Luo Liang in the West Academy–North Academy match and overwhelmed his Gold Jade Technique with a single hammer blow. Luo Liang staggered back, badly shaken, as the fight continued.

• Spectators and academy fighters discussed Xu Wuyi's mental suppression, while Xu Zhi, Qin Rui, Zhao Qingwei, and Luo Liang each reacted to his newly revealed ability.
• The roster announced West Academy versus North Academy, and Luo Liang chose to fight first against Tana.
• Tana entered the arena carrying a massive black hammer, while Luo Liang trusted his Gold Jade Technique to withstand her strength.
• When the match began, Luo Liang charged with a gold-glowing fist, and Tana met his attack with a precise one-handed hammer strike.
• Tana's blow sent Luo Liang staggering back seven or eight steps, nearly made him vomit blood, and caused his golden-jade sheen to flicker.

Tana crushed Luo Liang in the opening match, smashing through his Gold Jade Technique and leaving North Academy in a precarious position. Zhao Qingwei stepped forward to face Tana, and their match began.

• Tana relentlessly battered Luo Liang with her heavy hammer until his defense broke and she struck him out of the arena.
• The referee declared Tana the winner, stunning the audience and boosting West Academy's morale.
• North Academy's loss left Zhao Qingwei with the burden of stopping Tana and preserving her team's chance of victory.
• Zhao Qingwei entered the arena and introduced herself to Tana, who asked whether her sword was fast.
• The referee started the match between Zhao Qingwei and Tana.

Zhao Qingwei defeated Tana with a lightning-fast sword strike, but Tana’s desperate hammer blow left Zhao badly injured. With both teams’ leading fighters out, West Academy still held a numerical advantage, though Qin Rui and Xu Zhi feared Zhao might have another strike left.

• Zhao Qingwei’s soul-stealing sword strike halted Tana, but Tana’s golden giant elephant spirit broke through its pressure too late to prevent the sword from reaching her throat.
• Tana launched a final hammer blow at Zhao Qingwei before vanishing from the arena, while Zhao was struck in the shoulder and suffered a broken bone.
• The referee declared Zhao Qingwei the winner, leaving West Academy without Tana and North Academy with its sole remaining fighter after Zhao was taken away injured.
• Shen Wei identified Tana’s cultivation method as the B-rank Divine Elephant Subduing Demon, and Xu Wuyi recognized its spiritual manifestation as comparable to his own Heart Fire.
• Qin Rui and Xu Zhi remained wary despite West Academy’s numerical advantage, fearing Zhao Qingwei could still unleash another sword strike.

Qin Rui faced the exhausted Zhao Qingwei and defeated her, securing West Academy’s victory in their duel. North Academy’s final fighter, Sun Ming, then entered the arena to face Qin Rui.

• Qin Rui decided to face Zhao Qingwei himself, planning to withstand her possible final sword strike and leave Xu Zhi to handle North Academy’s last fighter.
• Qin Rui and Zhao Qingwei were announced as the next opponents, and he immediately attacked when the match began.
• Zhao Qingwei could not use her decisive sword strike again, and Qin Rui broke through her weakened defense and defeated her.
• Sun Ming, North Academy’s final team member, entered the arena, and Qin Rui drew his sword to face him.

East Academy chose Xu Wuyi to face North Academy’s Luo Liang first, and Luo Liang entered the match determined to overcome his previous defeat. Xu Wuyi surprised him by attacking with a precise spear thrust instead of using his mental arts, and their clash began.

• Qin Rui defeated Sun Ming in a controlled duel, giving West Academy the victory over North Academy.
• Xu Wuyi decided to face Luo Liang first, aiming to make Zhao Qingwei use her powerful sword strike if she wanted to beat him.
• The matchup list paired Xu Wuyi with Luo Liang, who had strengthened his mental defenses and activated Gold Jade Technique.
• Luo Liang charged with a golden-glowing punch, but Xu Wuyi twisted aside and thrust his spear at Luo Liang’s wrist.
• Xu Wuyi’s spear tip struck Luo Liang’s wrist with a metallic clang.

Xu Wuyi defeated Luo Liang by using the passive burning effect of his Heart Fire-tempered blood and qi to gradually drain Luo Liang’s strength and overcome the Gold Jade Technique. After the victory, Xu Wuyi turned his attention to Zhao Qingwei, who was preparing for the next fight.

• Xu Wuyi used agile spear techniques to keep Luo Liang at a distance while Luo Liang relied on the Gold Jade Technique to absorb the attacks.
• Xu Wuyi’s Heart Fire steadily burned through Luo Liang’s blood and qi, slowing his movements and weakening his defense.
• Xu Wuyi forced Luo Liang’s Gold Jade Technique to collapse, then pierced his throat with a simple spear thrust.
• The referee declared Xu Wuyi the winner, and the spectators reacted with uneasy silence.
• Xu Wuyi looked toward Zhao Qingwei as she rose from the North Academy rest area.

After Luo Liang lost to Xu Wuyi, Zhao Qingwei roused him from despair before facing Xu Wuyi herself. She launched her soul-stealing sword strike, and Xu Wuyi met it with a life-or-death spear thrust aimed at her heart.

• Luo Liang returned from his defeat by Xu Wuyi in despair as spectators criticized his performance.
• Zhao Qingwei rebuked Luo Liang, helping him regain his resolve before she entered the arena.
• Zhao Qingwei and Xu Wuyi faced each other in a tense contest of intent as Xu Wuyi’s mental pressure steadily grew.
• Zhao Qingwei unleashed her soul-stealing sword strike, and Xu Wuyi briefly froze before recovering.
• Xu Wuyi infused his spear with his blood and qi and Heart Fire, then charged straight at Zhao Qingwei with a thrust aimed at her heart.

Xu Wuyi defeated Zhao Qingwei in a mutual, devastating strike and entered the final match badly wounded. He overcame Sun Ming’s attempt to stall and won East Academy the round.

• Zhao Qingwei pierced Xu Wuyi’s chest, but Xu Wuyi drove his spear through her heart and won their match.
• Xu Wuyi remained on the arena despite his severe injuries for the closing battle against Sun Ming.
• Sun Ming tried to defend and draw out the fight, but Xu Wuyi overwhelmed him with precise spear attacks.
• Xu Wuyi disarmed Sun Ming with a spinning downward strike and defeated him with a spear at his throat.

Xu Wuyi secured East Academy’s victory over North Academy, then Qin Rui and Li Hao began the opening bout between West Academy and South Academy. Their fierce clash of sword and twin sabers left the outcome undecided.

• Xu Wuyi defeated Sun Ming despite his injuries, completing East Academy’s victory over North Academy.
• Xu Wuyi warned Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan that West Academy would be their real challenge.
• Qin Rui chose to fight first against South Academy, while Li Hao resolved to wear him down for his team.
• Qin Rui and Li Hao faced each other in the opening match and immediately launched into a fast sword-and-saber exchange.

Li Hao and Qin Rui fought an exhausting, high-speed duel that ended when Li Hao hesitated at a decisive moment and Qin Rui counterattacked. Qin Rui won the match, while Li Hao vanished from the arena.

• Li Hao and Qin Rui traded rapid attacks, and both were injured as the fight dragged on.
• Li Hao's wounded leg slowed him, so he burned his remaining qi and blood and launched a desperate attack.
• Li Hao circled behind Qin Rui and thrust both blades toward his back, but hesitated after recalling Qin Yi's words about the Qin family.
• Qin Rui sensed Li Hao's hesitation and stabbed backward through his chest with a reverse-handed strike.
• The referee declared Qin Rui the winner, and Tana and Xu Zhi praised his reaction.

West Academy defeated South Academy and advanced to the championship match against East Academy. Xu Wuyi accepted Qin Rui’s challenge to fight first, and the two appeared on the arena as their final began.

• Li Hao lost to Qin Rui, though Xu Wuyi and Zhao Qingwei sensed that Li Hao’s resolve had faltered at the end of the duel.
• Qin Rui switched out, and Xu Zhi defeated South Academy’s remaining two fighters to secure West Academy’s victory.
• West Academy and East Academy finished the round tied at the top with perfect records, setting up their championship match.
• Qin Rui challenged Xu Wuyi to fight first, and Xu Wuyi accepted.
• Xu Wuyi and Qin Rui appeared together on the arena as the championship match began.

Xu Wuyi and Qin Rui fought a bloody, near-even duel in the tournament, each pushing the other to the limit. As their strength faded, Qin Rui’s confidence wavered, giving Xu Wuyi an opening for a final spear strike.

• Qin Rui launched a swift sword assault, and Xu Wuyi used the Soul Suppressor Domain and his spear technique to withstand it.
• Qin Rui’s attacks wounded Xu Wuyi, while Xu Wuyi’s Heart Fire gradually disrupted Qin Rui’s vitality.
• Xu Wuyi activated Furnace Boiling Blood and forced back Qin Rui’s sword shadows, then the two resumed their brutal exchange.
• After nearly five minutes, both fighters were badly wounded and exhausted, but Xu Wuyi held firm while Qin Rui began to doubt himself.
• Qin Rui’s hesitation created a brief flaw in his sword momentum, and Xu Wuyi abandoned defense to thrust with all his remaining vitality and will.

Xu Wuyi narrowly defeated Qin Rui, leaving himself badly injured and nearly out of vitality before facing Tana. Tana attacked relentlessly, and Xu Wuyi used his movement technique and Soul Suppressor domain to evade and hinder her as the fight continued.

• Xu Wuyi defeated Qin Rui with a decisive spear strike, securing East Academy’s first victory.
• Xu Wuyi told Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan that he needed time to recover and planned to stall Tana if he could.
• Qin Rui warned Tana to attack immediately, exploit her hammer’s range, and beware Xu Wuyi’s Mental Domain and burning vitality.
• Tana began the next match with a fierce hammer assault, forcing Xu Wuyi to block and injuring his hand and arm.
• Xu Wuyi evaded Tana’s follow-up attacks and unfolded his Soul Suppressor domain, slowing her movement and hammer swings.

Xu Wuyi bluffed Tana into retreating, then used a mental attack fueled by Heart Fire to create an opening for a lethal strike. They killed each other, leaving the arena empty.

• Xu Wuyi, badly injured and low on vitality, pretended to launch a final attack, making Tana retreat into a defensive stance.
• Xu Wuyi abruptly turned and ran, provoking Tana into chasing him in a fury.
• Xu Wuyi unleashed a mental assault infused with Heart Fire, freezing Tana in agony as she prepared to strike.
• Xu Wuyi thrust his spear through Tana's heart while Tana brought her hammer down on his chest.
• Xu Wuyi and Tana both died from their wounds and dispersed into white light.

Xu Wuyi and Tana’s mutual destruction left West Academy with only Xu Zhi against East Academy’s Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan. Shen Wei defeated Xu Zhi in the final duel, giving East Academy the fourth round and leaving West Academy in second place in the elite competition.

• The referee ruled that Xu Wuyi and Tana had simultaneously lost combat capability and counted both as killed, leaving Xu Zhi as West Academy’s sole contestant.
• Xu Zhi entered the arena to face Shen Wei, while Zhou Mingxuan waited behind Shen Wei for East Academy.
• Shen Wei’s relentless attacks pressured Xu Zhi and wounded his left arm, weakening his spear technique.
• Shen Wei endured Xu Zhi’s spear thrust and struck down Xu Zhi with his battle blade.
• The referee declared Shen Wei the winner and East Academy the victor of the fourth round, leaving West Academy in second place in the elite competition.

The chapter follows Zhao Qingwei's decisive performance in the third-place match, where she defeated South Academy's first two fighters and then overcame Li Hao despite his desperate counterattack. North Academy secured third place, finalizing the Elite Combat Competition rankings with East Academy in first and West Academy in second.

• Zhao Qingwei volunteered to fight first for North Academy, while Li Hao chose to go last for South Academy.
• Zhao Qingwei defeated South Academy's first two fighters without using her signature sword strike.
• Li Hao attacked Zhao Qingwei at full speed, but she struck first with her soul-stunning sword technique.
• Li Hao broke through part of Zhao Qingwei's mental suppression and wounded her with a desperate attack before her sword killed him.
• The referee awarded the third-place match to North Academy, and Zhao Qingwei returned to rest after winning against three opponents.
• The competition's final standings placed East Academy first, West Academy second, North Academy third, and South Academy fourth.