Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan refuses a mission, fearing unwanted attention.
• Zhu Yaoguang leaves without interest in Ling Zhan.
• Ling Zhan receives a new challenge mission from the system: prove the power of the Jobless Freelancer and secure an S-rank movement skill or lose his Sun Flare skill.
• Freshmen from Dianzhou Province gather, feeling unfairly treated as their champion is not in Class A dormitories.
• Gan Meng, Dianzhou's champion, starts a protest on the academy's forum, gaining support from other freshmen and even upperclassmen.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan shows indifference and unwillingness to participate in unnecessary conflicts.
• Gan Meng demonstrates calm determination and a desire to prove himself despite the perceived injustice.

Significant Themes

• The importance of strength and proving oneself.
• The system's influence on Ling Zhan's actions and decisions.
• The perception of fairness and injustice among the freshmen.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan and Zhu Yaoguang show mutual disinterest.
• Gan Meng interacts with his fellow Dianzhou freshmen, sharing their frustration and encouraging them to wait for news from the student union president.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tianyan Academy's deans discuss the restlessness among freshmen due to delayed college choices.
• They decide to hold a Freshman Speed Trial on the opening ceremony day instead of a traditional PK tournament.
• Freshmen react enthusiastically to the announcement, eager to prove themselves.

Character Developments

• Zhou Hongfu, the president, shows wisdom and fairness in handling the situation.
• Deans reveal their interest in specific top-scoring freshmen, hinting at future college choices.
• Wang Shi, the Tactical Guidance Academy dean, remains uninvolved in the competition for prodigies.

Significant Themes

• Competition and rivalry among freshmen.
• The importance of fair and effective methods to evaluate and nurture students' abilities.
• The influence of college choices on students' futures and self-image.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Hongfu mediates and guides the deans' discussion.
• Deans express their interest in specific top-scoring freshmen, setting up potential conflicts.
• Freshmen from Dianzhou Province express their determination to prove themselves and defeat other top hundred prodigies.
• Zhu Yaoguang's friends visit her, and Ji Wuming's presence causes tension among them due to his status as Fengtian Province's top scorer and Yaoguang's "childhood sweetheart."

Key Plot Points and Events

• The freshmen gather at Tianyan Academy's training grounds for the Freshman Speed Trial, an S-rank difficulty Secret Realm for Levels 14-20.
• Ji Wuming expresses his desire to spend the night with Zhu Yaoguang, confirming his feelings for her and causing Qin Kan and Huang Bo to view him as a rival.
• Ling Zhan, the Jobless Freelancer and Nanzhou Province Trial Ranking champion, arrives and draws attention due to his ordinary appearance and heavy equipment, sparking mockery and disdain from many freshmen.

Character Developments

• Ji Wuming: Confirms his feelings for Zhu Yaoguang, displaying arrogance and disdain towards Qin Kan and Huang Bo.
• Zhu Yaoguang: Shows indifference to her playmates' competition for her attention.
• Ling Zhan: Remains calm and unperturbed despite the mockery and disdain directed at him, displaying inner strength and resilience.

Significant Themes

• Prodigy vs. Ordinary: The contrast between the prodigies (like Ji Wuming and Zhu Yaoguang) and Ling Zhan highlights the theme of appearance not reflecting true strength or worth.
• Rivalry and Competition: The competition for Zhu Yaoguang's attention and the Freshman Speed Trial itself emphasize the theme of rivalry and competition among the freshmen.

Character Interactions

• Ji Wuming and Zhu Yaoguang: Their interaction confirms Ji Wuming's feelings and causes Qin Kan and Huang Bo to view him as a rival.
• Freshmen and Ling Zhan: The freshmen's mockery and disdain towards Ling Zhan contrast with his calm and resilient demeanor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Freshmen gather for the Grand Exam, a competition to determine their initial rankings.
• Ling Zhan, the champion of Nanzhou Province Trial Ranking, arrives and is initially underestimated by his peers.
• Dean Zhou announces the Freshman Speed Trial, a race against time to clear a monster-filled course, with faster times indicating better results.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan remains calm and unruffled despite the mockery from his peers.
• Several deans and teachers take notice of Ling Zhan, intrigued by his status as a Jobless Freelancer and his high initial ranking.

Significant Themes

• Arrogance and underestimation of others, particularly Ling Zhan.
• The importance of actual combat ability and practical skills, as emphasized by Dean Zhou.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan is mocked by fellow freshmen, including Ji Wuming, Zhu Yaoguang, and Gan Meng.
• Su Rou wants to support Ling Zhan but holds back due to their agreement.
• Several deans and teachers discuss and show interest in Ling Zhan.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Freshmen enter the Secret Realm for their trial, with Ling Zhan among them.
• The Secret Realm is a time-based race with no quests, set in a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Cavern filled with monsters.
• All freshmen enter the Secret Realm confidently, displaying their skills and strength.
• Teachers watch and evaluate the freshmen's performances, searching for promising talent.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan, the Jobless Freelancer, is observed by teachers due to his unique job and victory over Zhu Yaoguang in the college entrance exam.
• Zhu Yaoguang showcases her combat prowess and grace.
• Su Rou, initially ranked 524, demonstrates exceptional combat techniques and skill usage, catching Han Qiao's attention.

Significant Themes

• Confidence and high expectations among the freshmen, reflecting their elite status.
• Teachers' anticipation and evaluation of freshmen's performances, highlighting the competitive nature of the academy.
• The contrast between Su Rou's actual combat power and her low ranking, raising questions about the college entrance examination's fairness.

Character Interactions

• Teachers discuss and evaluate the freshmen's performances, with Zhou Hongfu expressing eagerness and anticipation.
• Han Qiao takes particular interest in Zhu Yaoguang and Su Rou, indicating her potential as a mentor for them.
• Freshmen display their unique fighting styles and skills, showcasing their individual strengths and abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan, a Jobless Freelancer, enters the Secret Realm trial, and his panel on the aerial screen shows an unexpected sea of flames.
• He uses the beginner skill Prairie Fire repeatedly without cooldown, clearing the first stage in record time.
• The audience and instructors are baffled by his excessive use of mana and the power of his Prairie Fire.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan: Proves himself to be a formidable opponent, raising questions about his abilities and skills.
• Instructors: Struggle to understand and explain Ling Zhan's performance, revealing their lack of knowledge about certain skills.

Significant Themes

• Underestimation: Ling Zhan is initially looked down upon but surprises everyone with his performance.
• Power vs. Endurance: The trial emphasizes the importance of both power and endurance, with Ling Zhan showcasing immense power but raising concerns about his endurance.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan and the audience: He leaves the spectators dumbfounded and unable to comprehend his actions.
• Instructors among themselves: They analyze Ling Zhan's performance, trying to understand his skills and techniques, but ultimately fail to explain his actions, leading to a consensus to keep a close eye on him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan clears the first stage of the Secret Realm trial using a combination of two basic skills, "Prairie Fire (E)" and "Liquefied Petroleum Bomb (E)", creating a massive explosion that kills dozens of monsters.
• He proceeds to the second stage, a snow cave maze with interconnected tunnels, where he encounters debuffs that reduce his attributes by 20% and senses monsters approaching.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his calm demeanor, strong combat instincts, and adaptability in the face of challenges.
• The deans and teachers at Tianyan Academy express their disbelief and prejudice against Ling Zhan as a Jobless Freelancer, underestimating his abilities.

Significant Themes

• Prejudice against Jobless Freelancers and the underestimation of their capabilities.
• The importance of adaptability and calmness in the face of challenges.
• The difficulty and complexity of trials at Key Combat Academies.

Character Interactions

• Wang Shi, the dean of Tactical Guidance Academy, tries to secure Ling Zhan for his academy but faces resistance from other deans who underestimate Ling Zhan's potential.
• Zhou Hongfu, the old dean, expresses interest in Ling Zhan but respects the student's choice.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan encounters three Elite Snow Wolves in a snow cavern, lured by a bead.
• He uses his Appraisal Eye to analyze the monsters and discovers they have a 'Berserk' skill bestowed by the Secret Realm.
• Ling Zhan tames the Elite Snow Wolves using his 'Tame' skill, gaining their senses and knowledge of the cavern layout.
• He finds the stage-guarding BOSS, a cannibal, and sends the tamed wolves to engage it. The cannibal kills the wolves, but Ling Zhan uses the distraction to sneak behind the BOSS and attack.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his combat skills and strategy, using his 'Tame' skill to gain an advantage and his 'Appraisal Eye' to analyze enemies.
• The Elite Snow Wolves initially hostile, but once tamed, they become loyal to Ling Zhan.

Significant Themes

• The power of taming and using beasts in battle.
• The importance of understanding and utilizing one's surroundings and enemies' abilities.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan interacts with the Elite Snow Wolves, taming them and using them as mounts and scouts.
• Ling Zhan engages with the cannibal BOSS, using the Elite Snow Wolves as a distraction to strike from behind.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan, an Assassin, defeats the ogre boss of the second stage using a series of powerful strikes and skills.
• He uses his 'Black Dusk' dagger form to deal a fatal blow, followed by a 'Backstab' skill that critically hits the ogre's vital area.
• The ogre activates its 'Berserk' skill, but Ling Zhan counters with his 'Frenzied Slaughter' longsword form, ultimately slicing the ogre's head in two, defeating it.
• The other students' performances are mentioned but not detailed, with the focus remaining on Ling Zhan.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his exceptional combat skills, strategic thinking, and adaptability, earning the attention of all the deans and teachers.
• The ogre boss shows resilience and powerful abilities, but ultimately falls to Ling Zhan's relentless assault.

Significant Themes

• The importance of targeting 'fatal points' in combat, which can ignore HP and directly end a target's life.
• The concept of 'Berserk' skills, which can significantly enhance a creature's attributes but may have a cooldown or vulnerability period.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan interacts with the ogre boss, using his skills and weapons to counter the boss's attacks and ultimately defeat it.
• The deans and teachers watch Ling Zhan's progress with keen interest, showing approval and curiosity about his abilities.
• The other students' performances are mentioned but not detailed, with no direct interaction with Ling Zhan in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan, a Jobless Freelancer, enters the second stage of the academy trials.
• The deans and teachers watch, trying to figure out how Ling Zhan can clear the stage, but they're stumped due to their lack of knowledge about beginner skills.
• Wang Shi, dean of the Tactical Guidance Academy, is the only one who understands beginner skills and has several plans in mind.
• Ling Zhan uses a Spark Orb to attract monsters, then tames three Elite Snow Wolves using an enhanced [Battle Roar] with a mental strike effect.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his strategic thinking and understanding of beginner skills, surprising the deans and teachers.
• Wang Shi shows his expertise in battlefield tactics and understanding of all professions' skills, including beginner ones.
• Zhu Xiaoshan, the recruitment director, is caught off guard when he realizes Zhou Hongfu hadn't shared Ling Zhan's details with the other deans and teachers.

Significant Themes

• The importance of understanding and utilizing beginner skills.
• The value of well-rounded knowledge in battle tactics and strategy.
• The role of innate talent in breaking common rules and expectations.

Character Interactions

• The deans and teachers discuss and analyze Ling Zhan's actions, revealing their expertise and insights.
• Wang Shi and Lina, the catgirl teacher from the Shadow Academy, are the first to understand Ling Zhan's plan.
• Zhu Xiaoshan gets caught in the crossfire when the other deans and teachers learn that Zhou Hongfu hadn't shared Ling Zhan's details.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The deans and teachers receive student files, with Ling Zhan's file only noting his province ranking and equipment controller talent.
• Some teachers question Ling Zhan's placement, but Zhou Hongfu keeps his true evaluation hidden.
• Ling Zhan finds the checkpoint BOSS in the snow cave stage quickly, while many other freshmen struggle.
• Ling Zhan faces the gold-tier checkpoint BOSS first.

Character Developments

• Zhou Hongfu is revealed to have known about Ling Zhan's potential all along and deliberately kept it hidden.
• Ling Zhan demonstrates his ability to handle the snow cave stage efficiently.

Significant Themes

• The importance of hidden talents and potential in determining a student's worth.
• The prejudice and underestimation of Ling Zhan's abilities by teachers and upperclassmen.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Hongfu manipulates the situation to keep Ling Zhan's true potential a secret.
• Teachers and upperclassmen discuss and underestimate Ling Zhan's capabilities.
• Ling Zhan's actions in the snow cave stage challenge the upperclassmen's expectations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan defeats the gatekeeper BOSS in just 10 seconds, displaying exceptional combat skills and a powerful, frigid Sword Qi.
• The teachers and deans are impressed by Ling Zhan's performance, leading to a debate about which academy he should join.
• Zhu Yaoguang also clears the stage, but her time is slightly longer than Ling Zhan's.
• Inside the Secret Realm, Ling Zhan faces a horde of ogres, including three powerful chieftains, in a snow cavern dwelling.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his formidable combat abilities, challenging the preconceived notions about Jobless Freelancers.
• The teachers and deans begin to reevaluate Ling Zhan's potential, with each academy vying for his enrollment.
• Zhu Yaoguang showcases her skills, but falls short of Ling Zhan's record.

Significant Themes

• Prejudice against Jobless Freelancers and the challenge of expectations.
• The power and danger of the Secret Realm, testing the limits of the students' abilities.
• The debate among teachers and deans highlights the competition between academies and the value of exceptional students.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan's impressive performance silences the upperclassmen who had planned to critique him.
• The teachers argue over which academy Ling Zhan should join, reflecting their appreciation of his skills.
• Zhu Yaoguang's appearance in the Secret Realm sets up a potential rivalry or alliance with Ling Zhan.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan uses the "Sandstorm Technique" to disrupt the ogres' charge, causing them to trample each other.
• He then uses "Battle Roar" and "Group Charm" to control the ogre shamans, making them attack their own warriors with "Poison Insect Summoning."
• The ogre chieftains attempt to stop the shamans using "Chief's Command," but Ling Zhan taunts them, promising to kill them soon.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his strategic thinking and ability to adapt, using the ogres' hierarchy against them.
• The ogre shamans show their intelligence and power but are easily manipulated by Ling Zhan's charm spell.
• The ogre chieftains display their authority with "Chief's Command" but are also affected by Ling Zhan's taunts.

Significant Themes

• The power of strategy and adaptability over brute force.
• The danger of underestimating opponents and the consequences of hubris (shown by the ogres).
• The manipulation of emotions and desires (Ling Zhan's use of charm, the ogres' lust).

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan manipulates the ogre shamans and provokes the ogre chieftains.
• The ogre shamans and warriors clash due to Ling Zhan's manipulation.
• The ogre chieftains try to maintain control over their subordinates but are ultimately unsuccessful.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan uses a stealth and backstab combo to kill a Shaman, humiliating the Ogres.
• The Ogres go into a frenzy and activate their "Berserk" skill, doubling their base attributes.
• Ling Zhan decides to change his original plan and uses his "internal storage space" to prepare for a new strategy.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his adaptability and strategic thinking by changing his plan mid-battle.
• The Ogres show their ferocity and unity when enraged, activating their "Berserk" skill en masse.

Significant Themes

• Adaptability: Ling Zhan's ability to change his plan based on the situation highlights the importance of adaptability in battle.
• Internal Storage Space: The concept of "internal storage space" is introduced, representing wealth, influence, and access to resources.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan vs. Ogres: Ling Zhan's actions provoke the Ogres, leading to a fierce confrontation.
• Ling Zhan's internal storage space: Ling Zhan's limited "internal storage space" contrasts with the wealthy prodigies who can store items within themselves.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan faces over 200 ogres in a Snow Cave Grotto.
• Ogres activate "Berserk," losing reason and focused on killing Ling Zhan.
• Ling Zhan uses "Levitation" to avoid their initial attack and creates a sandstorm to blind them.
• He then covers the ogres in Liquefied Petroleum Bombs, preparing for a massive explosion.
• The ogres' leader throws an axe at Ling Zhan, which he kicks back.
• Ling Zhan ignites the liquefied petroleum, creating a massive explosion that kills all the ogres.
• The crimson ogre leader charges at Ling Zhan, but he uses a "Fake Shadow" to avoid the attack.
• Ling Zhan then sneaks up behind the crimson ogre leader and stabs it, causing it to bleed out.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his strategic thinking, using the environment and his skills to outmaneuver and outmatch the ogres.
• The ogres, despite their strength, show poor strategic thinking and lack of caution, leading to their downfall.

Significant Themes

• The power of strategy and preparation over brute force.
• The danger of underestimating one's opponent.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan vs. Ogres: Ling Zhan outsmarts and outmaneuvers the ogres, using their rage and lack of caution against them.
• Ling Zhan vs. Crimson Ogre Leader: Ling Zhan uses stealth and surprise to defeat the leader, showing that even the strongest can be vulnerable to unexpected attacks.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan enters the third stage of the exam, facing three ogre chieftains with red-tier aptitude (quasi-BOSS level).
• The exam creators designed the stages with increasing difficulty: first stage as a warm-up, second stage with blue-tier monsters, and the third stage as the main challenge with a mix of blue, elite, and red-tier monsters.
• The deans adjusted the third stage to have red-tier monsters instead of gold-tier ones due to the new students' lack of academy training.
• Ling Zhan uses his Sandstorm Technique to obscure the battlefield, then employs a mental strike (Battle Roar) and a charm skill (Group Charm) to control and eliminate the ogre shamans, causing them to turn on their fellow ogres.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his unpredictability and versatility by using a charm skill on monsters, showcasing his ability to adapt and surprise his opponents.
• The instructors and senior students watching the exam are impressed by Ling Zhan's performance and his use of a succubus class skill.

Significant Themes

• Adaptability: Ling Zhan's ability to change tactics and use unexpected skills highlights the importance of adaptability in battle.
• Versatility: Ling Zhan's diverse skill set showcases the value of being versatile in one's abilities.
• Unpredictability: Ling Zhan's unpredictable nature keeps his opponents off-balance and makes him a formidable opponent.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan interacts with the ogre shamans, using his charm skill to control and manipulate them.
• The instructors and senior students watching the exam discuss and react to Ling Zhan's performance, expressing their surprise and admiration.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan uses Charm to turn the Ogre Shamans against their own side.
• The Ogre Chiefs use skills to counter abnormal statuses, and the Ogres go berserk.
• Ling Zhan misses the opportunity to clear out lesser monsters, leading to a pack of Berserk Ogres charging at him.
• Teachers believe Ling Zhan will be overtaken by other prodigies due to his mistake.
• Ling Zhan unleashes a massive sea of fire, wiping out over two hundred Ogres.
• Ling Zhan executes a perfect counter-stab against the Ogre Chief, killing it.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates quick thinking and adaptability by using Charm, but underestimates the stage's difficulty.
• Ling Zhan shows exceptional combat skills and strategic thinking by defeating the Ogre Chief and clearing the stage.

Significant Themes

• The importance of seizing opportunities in competitive situations.
• The ability to adapt and overcome challenges despite initial setbacks.
• The consequences of underestimating opponents or situations.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan interacts with the Ogres, using Charm and combat skills to defeat them.
• Teachers and students watch Ling Zhan's progress, initially praising him but later doubting his abilities due to his mistake. They are ultimately shocked by his comeback.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan, a Jobless Freelancer, surprises everyone by winning the assessment against death, despite initial predictions of failure.
• He uses a simple yet effective strategy of combining 999 Liquefied Petroleum Bombs and Small Point-Targeted Mines to create a massive explosion, killing many monsters and an Ogre Chieftain.
• Inside the Secret Realm, Ling Zhan uses "Poison Coating" and "Backstab" to instantly kill another Ogre Chieftain.
• The remaining Ogre Chieftain attacks Ling Zhan with a heavy hammer, but he blocks it using "Shield Parry—Disarm," disarming the Ogre.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his strategic thinking, resourcefulness, and combat skills, proving that Jobless Freelancers can be formidable.
• Wang Shi, an instructor, shows respect and admiration for Ling Zhan's tactics.

Significant Themes

• The power of strategy and preparation over brute force.
• The importance of not underestimating or dismissing others based on initial appearances or labels (like "Jobless Freelancers").

Character Interactions

• Wang Shi and the other instructors are impressed by Ling Zhan's tactics and performance.
• Ling Zhan faces off against the Ogre Chieftains, showcasing his combat skills and strategic thinking.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan successfully disarms the green ogre chieftain using a 0.01-second window and a shield parry.
• He then uses a bow to shoot an arrow at the green ogre, but the blue ogre chieftain blocks it.
• Ling Zhan shoots a second arrow, aiming for the blue ogre's groin, which is a vulnerable spot due to their minimal clothing.
• The blue ogre chieftain is severely injured and collapses, leaving only one ogre chieftain standing.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates exceptional skill, precision, and adaptability in combat, using both melee and ranged weapons effectively.
• The ogre chieftains show fear and vulnerability, highlighting their physical weaknesses despite their size and strength.

Significant Themes

• Timing and precision in combat are crucial.
• Adaptability and resourcefulness are valuable traits in battle.
• Vulnerabilities can be exploited for maximum effect.

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan and the ogre chieftains engage in a battle of wits and strength, with Ling Zhan outsmarting and outmaneuvering his opponents.
• The deans of different academies argue over Ling Zhan's potential, each trying to recruit him for their respective academies.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Zhan faces the last ogre chieftain in the Secret Realm's third stage.
• The ogre chieftain activates "Berserk" and "War Stomp" skills.
• Ling Zhan uses "Immobilization Talisman" to immobilize the ogre chieftain.
• He then uses "Little Man Feather Arrow" to kill the ogre chieftain by targeting its eggs.
• The third stage is cleared, and the entrance to the fourth stage is revealed.

Character Developments

• Ling Zhan demonstrates his strategic and efficient combat style, prioritizing simplicity and effectiveness over flashy skills.
• The ogre chieftain experiences fear for the first time but ultimately succumbs to rage and charges at Ling Zhan.

Significant Themes

• Efficiency and simplicity in combat.
• Overcoming fear and giving in to rage (demonstrated by the ogre chieftain).

Character Interactions

• Ling Zhan and the ogre chieftain engage in a one-sided battle, with Ling Zhan displaying his superior strategy and skill.
• The teachers outside the Secret Realm watch Ling Zhan's performance, expressing frustration at his unconventional methods but ultimately acknowledging their effectiveness.

Details for Reference

• Ling Zhan uses the beginner Daoist skill "Immobilization Talisman" to temporarily freeze the ogre chieftain.
• He then uses "Little Man Feather Arrow" to kill the ogre chieftain by targeting its eggs, demonstrating his consistent strategy of attacking the monsters' lower halves.
• The teachers discuss Ling Zhan's performance, with some finding it unsporting but acknowledging its effectiveness. They also express surprise at the level of this year's freshmen.