Chapter Summaries

Qin Yao brought Qin Dashan and Qin Lan to Auspicious Brocade House to buy fine clothes before their journey to the Imperial Capital. The shopkeeper insulted Qin Lan and dismissed them, but Zhao Xiong recognized Qin Yao, leaving the shopkeeper terrified as Qin Yao confronted Zhao Xiong about his employee.

• Qin Yao took Qin Dashan and Qin Lan to Auspicious Brocade House, where Qin Lan worried about the price of new clothes and preferred spending the money on a feast.
• The shopkeeper judged the family by their modest clothes, then rudely dismissed them when Qin Lan hesitated over the cost.
• Qin Yao became angry when the shopkeeper made Qin Lan feel awkward and guilty.
• Zhao Xiong recognized Qin Yao, hurried down from the second floor, and greeted him respectfully.
• Qin Yao reminded Zhao Xiong that his shopkeeper was snobbish, and Zhao Xiong's smile froze as the shopkeeper turned pale.

After Zhao Liangzhi insulted Qin Yao and his companions at Auspicious Brocade Silk House, Zhao Xiong punished him and offered the Qin family free clothes as an apology. Qin Yao accepted and went upstairs with his companions to choose ready-made outfits.

• Zhao Xiong questioned a shop attendant, learned how Zhao Liangzhi had treated Qin Yao, and beat the shopkeeper severely.
• Customers recognized Qin Yao as the Foreign Repelling Spearhead, while Qin Lan and Old Master Qin teased him about a girl fainting after seeing him.
• Qin Yao stopped Zhao Xiong from killing Zhao Liangzhi, and Qin Lan said she was no longer angry because the shopkeeper had been punished.
• Zhao Xiong banished Zhao Liangzhi from the silk house and offered Qin Yao and his companions any clothes they wanted for free.
• Qin Yao accepted the apology, and Zhao Xiong led the group upstairs to choose ready-made clothes and called for their measurements.

Qin Yao bought expensive clothes for Qin Lan and his grandfather, then went to Keji Hall to purchase medicinal bath ingredients for his grandfather. He left the shop with all ten sets, hoping they might help his grandfather advance to the Blood Aperture Realm.

• Qin Yao chose a crimson fox-fur cloak for Qin Lan, and she happily tried it on.
• Qin Lan helped Qin Yao and Old Master Qin choose clothes, and the family left Zhao Xiong's shop with goods worth thirty-seven thousand taels.
• Zhao Xiong watched them leave and decided that the costly gift was worth the chance to earn Qin Yao's favor.
• Qin Yao brought his family to Keji Hall and asked for medicinal bath ingredients suited to a ninth-layer Body Tempering Realm cultivator.
• Qin Yao bought all ten sets for thirty thousand taels, intending to give Old Master Qin a chance to break through to the Blood Aperture Realm.

Qin Yao bought a large quantity of medicinal herbs for Qin Dashan and took his family to eat at Drunken Immortal Tower. As they enjoyed their meal, the city’s defense troops and Sima Zhongshi hurried through the streets in apparent alarm.

• Qin Yao spent heavily at Keji Hall, buying medicinal herbs and writing out a list of additional ingredients for Qin Dashan’s medicinal baths.
• Qin Dashan worried about the expense, but Qin Yao said his grandfather’s health and breakthrough mattered more than the money.
• Qin Yao noticed Qin Lan was hungry and took her and Qin Dashan to Drunken Immortal Tower, where Qin Lan ordered ten dishes.
• Qin Yao’s family ate and drank in a private room while city defense troops rushed about below and Sima Zhongshi passed by looking distressed.

Qin Yao took Qin Lan and Qin Dashan shopping in Nine Suns Commandery, then returned with them to the Foreign Repelling Camp to avoid the turmoil after the Yu Family’s destruction. He prepared to help Qin Dashan resume medicinal baths and pursue the Blood Aperture Realm.

• Qin Yao bought supplies, treats, and medicinal herbs while noticing that jade wares had grown scarce in the city.
• Qin Yao told Qin Lan that they would stay at the Family Camp because Nine Suns Commandery was dangerous amid the investigation into the Yu Family’s destruction.
• Qin Yao and his family returned to the Foreign Repelling Camp, where soldiers noticed the heavily laden carriage and discussed his wealth.
• Qin Yao dismissed Old Zhang with silver, then the family unloaded their purchases into the courtyard.
• Qin Yao told Qin Dashan to rest while he prepared the medicinal bath, and Qin Dashan eagerly anticipated tempering his body again.

Qin Yao prepared a medicinal bath to help Qin Dashan restore his health, then practiced two martial skills he had obtained from the Yu Family. His system recorded both techniques and revealed that Giant Peak Three Yang Palm could be completed into a stronger skill for 50 System Coupons.

• Qin Yao prepared medicinal herbs for Qin Dashan while Qin Lan helped wash the herbs and ready a wooden tub.
• Qin Dashan soaked in the medicinal bath for an hour, felt healthier afterward, but did not break through to the Blood Aperture Realm.
• Qin Yao memorized Hundred-Mile Throw and Giant Peak Three Yang Palm with his Photographic Memory while Qin Dashan finished absorbing the medicine.
• Qin Yao practiced Hundred-Mile Throw in the courtyard, and the system recorded it as a low-grade Mortal-rank technique.
• Qin Yao practiced Giant Peak Three Yang Palm, and the system recorded it as a high-grade Mortal-rank technique derived from Mountain-Shaking Five Yang Palm.
• The system offered to complete Giant Peak Three Yang Palm into Mountain-Shaking Five Yang Palm for 50 System Coupons, and Qin Yao reacted with excitement.

Qin Yao realized he lacked the System Coupons to complete Giant Peak Three Yang Palm, so he chose Disguise as an efficient skill to grind indoors. After reaching Great Accomplishment Realm and earning a coupon, he began practicing Carving while his face recovered.

• Qin Yao learned that completing Giant Peak Three Yang Palm required 50 System Coupons, but he had only 19.
• Qin Yao chose to train Disguise and Carving because he could practice them indoors without drawing suspicion.
• Qin Yao spent two days repeatedly applying and removing disguises, advancing Disguise to Great Accomplishment Realm and earning one System Coupon.
• Qin Yao began carving the materials Old Zhang had delivered and planned to resume Disguise after his face recovered.

Qin Yao spent the night carving lifelike stone figures to raise his carving proficiency, then shared them with Qin Lan. The carvings reminded Qin Lan of Hu Xueyou, and Qin Yao promised they would see her again.

• Qin Yao carved a stone carp and sparrow, gaining carving proficiency as he worked through the night.
• Qin Lan woke to find the carvings and praised Qin Yao, who agreed to teach her carving with wood.
• Qin Lan showed the carvings to Qin Dashan, who praised Qin Yao's craftsmanship.
• Qin Lan grew sad at breakfast because the stone carvings reminded her of Hu Xueyou.
• Qin Yao promised Qin Lan they would see Hu Xueyou again, and they made a pinky swear.

Qin Yao spent several days alternating between carving and practicing Disguise, filling the house with stone figures and perfecting his makeup skills. He reached the Perfection Realm in Disguise and gained methods for disguising himself as a woman.

• Qin Yao carved a lifelike stone cat, and Qin Lan excitedly asked him to make her more sculptures.
• Qin Yao spent two days carving animals and figures from his previous life, delighting Qin Lan with each new creation.
• Qin Yao’s irritated skin recovered, so he shifted his practice from carving to repeatedly disguising and washing his face.
• Qin Yao spent several days practicing Disguise by day and carving at night, sleeping only two hours a day.
• Qin Yao advanced Disguise to the Perfection Realm, earned eleven System Coupons, and discovered he could even disguise himself as a woman.

Qin Dashan broke through to the Blood Aperture Realm after nine days of medicinal baths and nourishing food, and Qin Yao explained the realm’s concealed apertures to him. The chapter ended with Qin Yao returning to his carving while determined to perfect the skill that night.

• Qin Yao noticed Qin Dashan absorbing medicinal energy unusually quickly and stayed beside the barrel as his grandfather endured the breakthrough.
• Qin Dashan broke through to the Blood Aperture Realm, and Qin Yao confirmed his grandfather had opened one main aperture.
• Qin Yao explained the nine concealed apertures and told Qin Dashan where they were located, then drew him a diagram.
• Qin Yao advised Qin Dashan to rest while his body adjusted to the breakthrough, and Qin Dashan agreed.
• Qin Yao resumed carving and resolved to grind the skill to perfection that night.

After reaching Perfection in Carving, Qin Yao considered training other skills and rested before the Imperial Capital Academy’s representatives arrived to escort him. He met the cool-faced woman leading the group and recognized her exceptional qinggong.

• Qin Yao advanced Carving to the Perfection Realm, gained the ability to carve unstable energy substances, and received System Coupons.
• Qin Yao reviewed his status and decided to train Logging after resting.
• Qin Lan woke Qin Yao and told him the Imperial Capital Academy had sent people to collect him.
• Qin Yao changed clothes and stepped outside to find a ceremonial party led by a cool-faced woman and six young academy members.
• The woman asked whether he was Qin Yao, and he greeted her before noticing her remarkable qinggong.

Qi Huansu delivered Qin Yao’s Direct Examination notice to the Imperial Capital Academy, and he decided to bring Qin Dashan and Qin Lan with him. As they prepared to leave, Qin Yao retrieved hidden money while Qin Dashan reflected on how much his grandson had sacrificed for their family.

• Qi Huansu announced that Qin Yao had earned a place in the Imperial Capital Academy’s Direct Examination and advised him to leave promptly for the exam in half a month.
• Qin Yao asked to bring his family, and Qi Huansu allowed it, though the academy would not provide them with lodging.
• Zhao Wuji impatiently mocked Qin Dashan for delaying, prompting Qi Huansu to reprimand him while Qin Yao silently warned himself not to tolerate further provocation.
• Qin Yao pulled a bundle of banknotes from beneath a roof-beam footing as he prepared to depart with Qin Dashan and Qin Lan.
• Qin Dashan recalled how Qin Yao had provided for the family and helped him recover his cultivation, realizing how much his grandson had carried alone.

Qin Yao finished preparing to travel to Imperial Capital Academy, earning Qi Huansu’s admiration for his kindness toward his servants. The other incoming students questioned how he had gained ten thousand merit points and Zhao Wuji vowed to test his real ability at the academy.

• Qin Lan asked to bring two stone figurines, and Qin Yao let her pack them with the family’s belongings.
• Qin Yao gave Old Zhang money to buy axes and told him to keep the change, hoping his mother would recover; Qi Huansu admired his sincere respect for others.
• Qin Yao packed the medicinal herbs and carefully placed Qin Lan’s stone carvings in the carriage.
• Zhou Yuanqing, Su Muzhi, Liu Qingqing, Murong Qingquan, Lu Ciwu, and Zhao Wuji discussed Qin Yao’s ten thousand merit points and compared their own totals.
• Zhao Wuji disparaged Qin Yao’s reputation and said he would test his ability at Imperial Capital Academy.
• Qin Yao told Qi Huansu that everything was ready, and she ordered the group to set off.

Qin Yao ignored Zhao Wuji’s taunts while driving the carriage and training his Charioteering skill on the journey to the Imperial Capital. After the group made camp, Qin Yao took his grandfather and sister to chop firewood, planning to improve his Logging skill and deal with Zhao Wuji later.

• Zhao Wuji showed off his blood-sweating steed and mocked Qin Yao for driving the carriage, but Qin Yao paid him no attention and focused on raising his Charioteering proficiency.
• Qin Lan complained about Zhao Wuji, while Qin Dashan told her to stay calm and trust Qin Yao.
• Qin Yao drove the carriage steadily, and Qin Lan praised his skill as his Charioteering proficiency continued to rise.
• Qi Huansu stopped the group at an open patch of ground to make camp for the night.
• Zhao Wuji continued mocking Qin Yao as he helped Qin Dashan out of the carriage, but Qin Yao chose to take his family to chop firewood and train his Logging skill.

Qin Yao took Qin Lan and Qin Dashan into the pine forest, where he used his Logging skill to fell and haul back trees for firewood. After he split the wood at camp, Zhao Wuji mocked him for doing servants’ work.

• Qin Yao chose a thick pine and felled it with one axe swing, earning Logging proficiency as Qin Lan watched in amazement.
• Qin Yao cut down several more trees, confirmed that thicker trunks granted more proficiency, and switched axes when one blade wore out.
• Qin Yao stripped the branches, stacked the logs, and carried them back to camp with Qin Lan and Qin Dashan following.
• Qin Yao ignored Zhao Wuji’s comments, split the pine into neatly stacked firewood, and drew praise from Zhou Yuanqing.
• Su Muzhi jokingly linked Qin Yao’s woodcutting to his role as the Foreign Repelling Spearhead, while Zhao Wuji continued to belittle him.

Qin Yao built sturdy shelters for his grandfather, sister, and fellow students during a cold wilderness stop, earning Logging proficiency while winning Qi Huansu’s approval. The students settled in for the night, while Zhao Wuji was assigned the entire night’s watch after boasting that he wanted to endure the cold.

• Qin Yao built a warm shelter for Old Master Qin and Qin Lan, then made two more shelters for the students and Qi Huansu.
• Qi Huansu praised Qin Yao for his thoughtfulness, and Zhou Yuanqing, Lu Ciwu, Liu Qingqing, and Murong Qingquan thanked him or gave him gifts.
• Zhao Wuji refused to stay in a shelter and claimed he wanted to temper his will in the freezing wind.
• Qi Huansu assigned Zhao Wuji the entire night’s watch, freezing his pleased smile.

Qin Yao’s group continued toward the Imperial Capital, and Qi Huansu arranged for him to gather wood while she watched over his grandfather and sister. Zhao Wuji grew more resentful after Qi Huansu warned him not to trouble Qin Yao’s family.

• The group left camp after breakfast, and Qi Huansu told Zhao Wuji he could keep watch another night after he claimed the previous night’s duty had helped his cultivation.
• After passing through Kamen County, the group camped in the woods, and Qin Yao prepared to chop wood with his grandfather and sister.
• Qi Huansu asked Qin Yao to leave his family at camp and promised to protect them, warning Zhao Wuji not to bully them.
• Qin Yao agreed, and Qin Dashan and Qin Lan stayed beside Qi Huansu while he went into the woods.
• Zhao Wuji brooded over Qi Huansu’s warning, while Su Muzhi teased him and then failed to coax Qin Lan into revealing where her family came from.

Qin Yao’s party encountered a Golden Frost Barbarian ambush on the road to the Imperial Capital. After the barbarians recognized the Imperial Capital Academy banner and charged anyway, Qi Huansu killed their general with a single strike.

• Qin Yao felled trees and built three shacks at camp before the group resumed its journey the next day.
• Qi Huansu spotted signs of an ambush and stopped the party as more than two hundred Golden Frost Barbarian riders emerged from the woods.
• A barbarian recognized the Imperial Capital Academy banner and warned Krudaha that the travelers were elite fighters, but Krudaha chose to press the attack.
• Qi Huansu ordered the party to move, rushed at Krudaha, cut through his spiked club, and beheaded him.

Qi Huansu killed the barbarian leader Krudaha in one strike, sending his cavalry into panic before the students attacked. After the battle, Zhao Wuji resented Qin Yao for staying by his family and refusing to react to his insults, while Qi Huansu approved of Qin Yao’s composure.

• Qi Huansu killed Krudaha with a single strike, and the more than two hundred barbarian riders scattered in terror.
• Zhao Wuji, Su Muzhi, Zhou Yuanqing, Liu Qingqing, Murong Qingquan, and Lu Ciwu pursued the fleeing barbarians, while Qin Yao stayed beside the carriage to protect his grandfather and sister.
• Qi Huansu noticed Qin Yao’s restraint and praised his judgment to herself, while the students fought for about a quarter of an hour until the remaining barbarians fled or died.
• The students reported their kill counts, and Qi Huansu told them to collect the spoils and continue their journey without praising anyone.
• Zhao Wuji insulted Qin Yao for staying out of the fight, but Qin Yao calmly gave water to Qin Lan, and Qi Huansu ordered Zhao Wuji to help prepare to depart.

Qin Yao mastered logging and charioteering on the journey to the Imperial Capital, earning System Coupons and deciding to save them for a better cultivation manual. He and his companions reached the immense city walls and approached the Flame Heaven Gate before nightfall.

• Qin Yao reached Mastery Realm in Logging, gained eleven System Coupons, and chose not to spend fifty coupons upgrading his palm technique before entering Imperial Capital Academy.
• On the tenth day after leaving Nine Suns Commandery, Qin Yao mastered Charioteering and gained eleven more System Coupons.
• Qin Yao spotted the Imperial Capital, and Qin Lan and Qin Dashan marveled at its size as Qi Huansu urged the group to hurry toward the city.
• Qin Yao used his perfected charioteering to keep pace with the riders, impressing Qi Huansu with his carriage-driving ability.
• Qin Yao and his companions reached the towering city walls and saw the plaque identifying the gate as the Imperial Capital Flame Heaven Gate.