Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Martial arts universities and local business owners crowd outside Yang Sheng’s home, competing to recruit him after his exceptional Fitness Assessment score.
• The offers escalate: scholarships and tuition waivers, Starship Federation training, substantial yearly cash and cultivation resources, a customized high-level technique, and access to an A-Grade Retreat Room.
• Father Yang recalls how the Chen family protected him while Yang Sheng trained, then explains how he drove his son through heavy traffic so Yang Sheng could arrive in time for the assessment.
• Yang Sheng declines to meet the recruiters, saying he is waiting for someone specific.
• Jiang Tian arrives with Lu Shan, a representative of China Martial Arts University. Lu confirms that Yang Sheng’s score has drawn the university leadership’s attention and says he has come to bring Yang Sheng back.

Character developments

• Yang Sheng remains calm amid the attention and refuses to be swayed by impressive offers; he is waiting to hear from his preferred university.
• Father Yang shows his devotion through his concern for his son and his decisive drive through the traffic. He is glad to be home after feeling constrained by the Chen family’s precautions.
• Jiang Tian acts as Yang Sheng’s advocate, bringing Lu Shan to meet him and pressing for confirmation that China Martial Arts University considers him eligible.
• Lu Shan recognizes Yang Sheng as a prized candidate and responds to the university leadership’s interest by traveling to recruit him personally.

Significant themes

• Merit and competition: Yang Sheng’s rare score turns university recruitment into an open contest.
• Sincerity and value: The chapter frames recruitment as a question of whether prestigious universities will back their interest with meaningful resources.
• Family loyalty: Father Yang’s help is crucial to Yang Sheng’s success, even as his son’s talent attracts powerful institutions.

Character interactions

• The university observers trade boasts and challenge one another’s offers, while business owners watch and reconsider their own bids.
• Father Yang checks whether Yang Sheng wants to meet the recruiters; Yang Sheng reassures him that he is waiting for a particular visitor.
• Jiang Tian and Lu Shan speak as longtime associates. Jiang asks whether Yang Sheng qualifies for China Martial Arts University, and Lu confirms the university’s interest—setting up a negotiation over what it will offer.

Chapter Summary: Myriad Stars Supreme Origin Sacred Art

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Shan arrives at Yang Sheng’s home, causing observers from the major Martial Arts Universities to realize that China Martial Arts University is seriously trying to recruit him.
• The other universities largely withdraw from the competition. Kyoto Martial Arts University had already investigated Yang Sheng and knew Lu Shan had contacted him previously, so its representative chooses not to compete actively.
• Lu Shan personally meets Yang Sheng and formally discusses his enrollment at China Martial Arts University.
• Yang Sheng reveals that he has already considered his future and has only one condition for joining: access to the complete Myriad Stars Supreme Origin Sacred Art, a powerful Astral Phase cultivation technique related to the Star-Shattering Annihilation Fist Lu Shan previously taught him.
• Lu Shan initially warns that Yang Sheng is only at the Dark Force level and cannot yet safely cultivate the art. Yang Sheng insists that he wants no other reward and will pursue the required Subtlety Realm.
• Impressed by Yang Sheng’s determination and passion for martial strength, Lu Shan agrees to apply for special authorization for him to cultivate the technique once he reaches the proper realm.
• However, their original agreement remains: Yang Sheng must place within the top three in Bay City’s Martial Arts Entrance Exam to be admitted.
• Outside, the Kyoto representative questions Lu Shan’s decision to invest so heavily in Yang Sheng before the final examination. Lu Shan rebukes him, arguing that Kyoto’s decline comes from people who underestimate others through arrogance.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng demonstrates clear ambition, self-confidence, and strategic thinking. Rather than being distracted by wealth, fame, or ordinary instruction, he identifies the Myriad Stars Supreme Origin Sacred Art as China Martial Arts University’s greatest advantage.
• Lu Shan shifts from cautious recruiter to committed supporter. He recognizes that Yang Sheng possesses the same intense drive for improvement that he once had himself.
• Jiang Tian quietly supports Yang Sheng’s negotiation and is relieved when Lu Shan accepts the condition, though Lu Shan implies that Jiang Tian deliberately encouraged Yang Sheng to make the request.
• The Kyoto representative is portrayed as cautious but arrogant. His skepticism toward Yang Sheng leads to a sharp rebuke from Lu Shan.

Significant Themes

• Talent recognized early: Yang Sheng’s exceptional Fitness Assessment score has made him valuable to elite universities and businesses alike.
• Determination and ambition: Yang Sheng’s refusal to compromise on his desired cultivation art shows that his priority is long-term martial advancement rather than immediate material benefits.
• The importance of cultivation techniques: The chapter emphasizes that superior techniques can be more valuable than teachers, resources, or institutional status.
• Risk and investment: China Martial Arts University is willing to gamble on Yang Sheng’s potential, while Kyoto Martial Arts University’s caution reflects a failure to recognize emerging talent.
• Humility versus arrogance: Lu Shan’s criticism of Kyoto highlights the danger of underestimating opponents and clinging to established judgments.

Character Interactions

• Lu Shan and Yang Sheng greet each other warmly, establishing mutual respect from their previous encounter.
• Yang Sheng credits Lu Shan’s guidance for his progress, while Lu Shan acknowledges Yang Sheng’s astonishing development.
• During the negotiation, Yang Sheng remains firm and respectful, clearly stating his single condition rather than making excessive demands.
• Lu Shan tests Yang Sheng’s resolve by pointing out the dangers of cultivating the sacred art prematurely, but Yang Sheng refuses to retreat.
• Jiang Tian’s silent involvement becomes apparent when Lu Shan accuses him of influencing Yang Sheng’s request.
• Lu Shan and the Kyoto representative clash outside: the representative questions Lu Shan’s judgment, and Lu Shan responds by condemning Kyoto’s arrogance.

Key plot points and events

• On the morning of the first day of the Martial Arts Entrance Exam Points Tournament, Yang Sheng keeps to his disciplined routine: he cleans up litter outside his home, runs to school, and trains before anyone else arrives.
• In the training room, he demonstrates that he can project Fist Intent accurately over seven meters without its power dispersing. His intense training in the Seclusion Room has brought him close to advancing to Major Dark Force Mastery.
• Wang Chao witnesses the feat and is impressed, but declares that he intends to win Bay City’s single admission spot for China Martial Arts University. Yang Sheng responds that admission will ultimately depend on strength.
• The tournament venue fills with more than 1,300 qualified students, including repeat examinees, many of whom are highly cultivated. As the competition approaches, Liu Chang offers Yang Sheng information about important opponents, but he declines, confident he can handle whoever he faces.

Character developments

• Yang Sheng shows improved physical control, formidable Fist Intent, and a calm, self-reliant attitude toward the tournament. He is nearing a cultivation breakthrough.
• Wang Chao remains confident and ambitious, but Yang Sheng’s ability clearly surprises him. He takes Yang Sheng’s remark as a challenge and leaves determined to prove himself.
• He Fei says he would rather enter any martial arts university than repeat the year.
• Liu Chang is attentive to the competition and tries to help Yang Sheng prepare by identifying notable opponents.

Significant themes

• Discipline and perseverance: Yang Sheng’s early routine and punishing Seclusion Room training underpin his rapid progress.
• Strength over reputation: The tournament will decide who advances, regardless of past rankings or confidence.
• Composure under pressure: Yang Sheng stays focused rather than worrying about the crowded field or scouting opponents.
• Ambition and competition: Wang Chao’s determination to claim the lone prestigious admission spot sets up a direct rivalry.

Character interactions

• Wang Chao praises Yang Sheng’s Fist Intent and credits teacher Jiang Tian for recognizing his potential, then asserts his own claim to the top spot.
• Yang Sheng answers Wang Chao’s confidence with a measured reminder that results will come down to strength, prompting Wang Chao to challenge him to meet in the arena.
• Liu Chang offers Yang Sheng a briefing on the competition; he politely refuses and returns to meditation.

Chapter Summary: “Points Tournament Begins”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Martial Arts Entrance Exam’s Points Tournament officially begins under the observation of Bay City officials, emphasizing its importance.
• Zhou Mohai announces the scoring system:
  • Winning or losing within three rounds grants or deducts ten points.
  • Battles lasting four to thirty rounds award or deduct seven points.
  • Battles exceeding thirty rounds award or deduct three points.
  • Additional multipliers apply when fighting stronger opponents, and consecutive victories or strong martial ethics may earn bonus points.
• The four Dark Force experts—Wang Chao, Qian Feng, Li Yan, and Yang Sheng—receive enthusiastic applause when they enter.
• Yang Sheng receives especially strong support because of his outstanding aptitude score and his efforts to assist Lower Registry students, making him an inspirational figure among them.
• Participants discuss rumors that the organizers have manipulated the matchmaking system to prevent the strongest fighters and former classmates from facing one another too early or arranging friendly matches.
• He Fei’s first match is disastrously against Wang Chao. Wang Chao kills him instantly with a spear thrust before He Fei can surrender, earning ten points.
• Liu Chang defeats a weaker opponent after a prolonged battle, but realizes that theoretical strategies do not always work in actual combat.
• He Fei’s second opponent is Li Yan, who also defeats him instantly. He Fei falls to negative twenty points and loses hope of contending for first place.
• Yang Sheng defeats a Great Completion of Bright Force opponent after patiently probing for two rounds and exploiting a lapse in concentration. Because the fight lasts four rounds, he earns seven points rather than ten.
• Wang Chao, Qian Feng, and Li Yan take the top three positions, already far ahead of the other contestants. Yang Sheng ranks outside the top ten.
• Observers from Kyoto and China Martial Arts Universities recognize the Points Tournament as the true test and main attraction of the exam.

Character Developments

• Wang Chao demonstrates overwhelming strength, efficiency, and ruthlessness, instantly defeating both He Fei and presumably dominating the leaderboard.
• Qian Feng remains confident but pragmatic. He recognizes that fighting Wang Chao would waste valuable time and points, revealing his strategic awareness.
• Li Yan continues to appear cold and intimidating, defeating He Fei without hesitation.
• Yang Sheng gains popularity among Lower Registry students and becomes a symbolic underdog. In combat, he shows patience, composure, and excellent control, choosing a long-term strategy rather than chasing immediate points.
• He Fei suffers a humiliating start after being instantly defeated twice, shifting from optimism about competing for first place to despair.
• Liu Chang learns that practical combat is more complicated than theoretical planning when her opponent avoids direct confrontation.
• Yang Sheng, Liu Chang, and He Fei begin forming a small tactical discussion group, though they disagree over whether to attack aggressively or conserve time through surrender.

Significant Themes

• Strategy versus raw power: The scoring system rewards speed, but Yang Sheng recognizes that preserving stamina over three days may be more important than winning every battle quickly.
• The unpredictability of real combat: Liu Chang’s experience shows that plans based on theory can fail when opponents refuse to fight as expected.
• Competition and fairness: Matchmaking adjustments are designed to prevent collusion and ensure that powerful contestants do not eliminate one another or exploit weaker participants unfairly.
• Underdog inspiration: Yang Sheng’s support among Lower Registry students reflects how achievement and generosity can turn a contestant into a role model.
• Mental endurance: The tournament is compared to an ultramarathon, emphasizing that sustained concentration and psychological resilience will determine the final rankings.

Character Interactions

• Qian Feng jokes with Wang Chao about avoiding a potential match, while Wang Chao challenges him to prove how far his Blade Intent has advanced.
• He Fei and Liu Chang debate whether aggressive openings or surrender tactics are more effective under the points system, with Liu Chang favoring immediate attacks and He Fei favoring efficiency.
• Liu Chang and her opponent’s cautious, evasive battle forces her to reconsider her assumptions about combat.
• He Fei’s encounters with Wang Chao and Li Yan highlight the enormous gap between Great Completion of Bright Force and Dark Force practitioners.
• Yang Sheng quietly observes the others and follows his own controlled strategy, contrasting with the more openly discussed and impulsive approaches of He Fei and Liu Chang.

Chapter Summary: “Inexhaustible Mental Strength”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After seven or eight consecutive consciousness-linked matches, Liu Chang and He Fei disable matchmaking to rest from the intense mental strain.
• He Fei has suffered from poor matchmaking, losing early to Wang Chao and Li Yan before struggling through several difficult battles. Although he later earns victories, his score remains low because of those initial defeats.
• Liu Chang explains that Yang Sheng is deliberately conserving his strength rather than ending matches quickly. Despite ranking only around fourteenth or fifteenth, he maintains a perfect win rate.
• Wang Chao’s aggressive strategy backfires when he faces a defensive fighter wielding a shield. After being lured into prolonged close combat, Wang Chao is caught off guard and defeated with a dagger.
• Li Yan and Qian Feng experience similar setbacks, showing that quickly pursuing points can create openings for opponents.
• After fifteen matches, Qian Feng is forced to stop because of mental exhaustion. During his break, he discovers that Yang Sheng has fought more matches than anyone else and has not rested since morning.
• Observers from China Martial Arts University and Kyoto Martial Arts University discuss why Professor Lu previously traveled to Bay City specifically to meet Yang Sheng.
• It is revealed that Lu Shan studied Yang Sheng’s earlier performances in the Stellar Martial Arts Match System and recognized his unusual ability to learn from every battle.
• Yang Sheng’s most remarkable trait is confirmed: his mental strength has never been exhausted, even after dozens of intense matches. He continued fighting until no opponents remained available.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng: Revealed as a patient, strategic competitor rather than an impulsive point-seeker. He intentionally allows battles to last longer, using them to improve and placing himself as a persistent pursuer behind the leaders. His perfect win rate and inexhaustible mental endurance mark him as exceptionally gifted.
• Wang Chao: His reliance on rapid victories is exposed as risky. His defeat demonstrates that overwhelming offense can fail against careful defense and deception.
• Li Yan and Qian Feng: Both suffer from the same pressure created by Yang Sheng’s presence. Qian Feng, previously confident, begins to recognize Yang Sheng as a serious threat after seeing his unmatched stamina.
• Liu Chang and He Fei: Their need to rest highlights the normal limits of even talented martial artists. He Fei’s early losses also show how strongly matchmaking and battle pacing affect rankings.
• Professor Lu Shan: His earlier interest in Yang Sheng is justified by Yang Sheng’s exceptional adaptability, consistency, and mental endurance.
• The university observers: The Kyoto representative shifts from curiosity to concern, realizing that Yang Sheng may possess qualities beyond ordinary combat talent.

Significant Themes

• Mental endurance over physical strength: Consciousness-linked combat tests willpower and concentration, making psychological stamina as important as martial ability.
• Adaptation through experience: Yang Sheng improves by eliminating repeated mistakes, demonstrating that continuous learning can be more valuable than immediate dominance.
• Strategy versus speed: Fighters who seek quick victories may gain points rapidly but become vulnerable to traps, while Yang Sheng’s cautious approach produces consistent success.
• Pressure and patience: Yang Sheng’s steady pursuit unsettles the higher-ranked fighters, encouraging them to rush and make mistakes.
• Hidden talent and recognition: Exceptional ability may not be obvious from rankings alone; Yang Sheng’s perfect record and endurance reveal a deeper potential that experts are only beginning to understand.

Character Interactions

• Liu Chang reassures He Fei that his difficult early opponents may ultimately benefit him by leaving easier matchups later.
• He Fei and Liu Chang analyze Yang Sheng’s ranking and notice the contrast between his low score and perfect win rate.
• Wang Chao’s battle with the shield-bearing opponent illustrates how an opponent can exploit his aggressive style through deception and close combat.
• Zhou Mohai and Jiang Tian discuss how Yang Sheng has disrupted the established competitors’ rhythm, while Jiang remains confident because he knows Yang Sheng’s prior experience.
• Qian Feng’s reaction to Yang Sheng’s relentless fighting marks a turning point: he realizes Yang Sheng’s greatest advantage is not merely skill, but seemingly limitless mental strength.
• The university observers exchange information about Lu Shan’s interest in Yang Sheng, confirming that Yang Sheng’s past performances had already attracted high-level attention.

Chapter Summary: “His Fists Had Grown Faster”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Kyoto Martial Arts University observer realizes that Yang Sheng may possess an “inexhaustible reserve of mental strength.” This greatly increases Yang Sheng’s potential to endure the difficult process of comprehending Stellar Affinity and eventually become a Stellar Martial Artist.
• Yang Sheng continues challenging opponents in the Points Tournament, reaching his twenty-second match against a vice class monitor from an ordinary class.
• The vice class monitor proposes a “Friendly Bout,” then attempts one of his trademark sneak attacks. Yang Sheng anticipates the move and effortlessly dodges it.
• Yang Sheng demonstrates that he has been closely monitoring the tournament rankings. He correctly deduces that the vice class monitor entered the top ten by defeating a Dark Force expert through a sneak attack.
• Using the Whirling Wind Hand infused with Fist Intent and a powerful Straight Punch, Yang Sheng quickly defeats him. His cultivation rises to Major Dark Force Mastery (946/1000).
• Yang Sheng explains the strategic value of prolonged battles: actual combat provides more cultivation progress than ordinary training, while careful pacing preserves his stamina for the entire tournament.
• By deliberately keeping his score around fifteenth place, Yang Sheng pressures the competitors above him. They feel threatened by the Dark Force expert constantly approaching from behind.
• Wang Chao becomes especially stressed, as Yang Sheng repeatedly narrows the points gap. When Wang Chao’s mental strength weakens, he loses a match.
• At noon, most leading competitors begin resting after four hours of combat. Yang Sheng, however, continues fighting without meaningful rest.
• The observer compares Yang Sheng’s performance data and discovers that his punch speed has increased from 137 to 211, even as everyone else is slowing down. The chapter ends with the realization that Yang Sheng’s fists have become faster through continuous combat.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng: Reveals exceptional stamina, mental resilience, tactical awareness, and combat adaptability. Rather than merely surviving the tournament, he uses it to cultivate, study opponents, manipulate the rankings, and steadily improve his speed and strength.
• Kyoto Martial Arts University observer: Moves from being impressed by Yang Sheng’s endurance to seriously reassessing his long-term potential as a future Stellar Martial Artist.
• Vice class monitor: His confidence in his successful sneak-attack strategy collapses when Yang Sheng sees through it. He is defeated quickly despite attempting to control the fight through deception.
• Wang Chao: Becomes increasingly anxious and frustrated under Yang Sheng’s relentless pressure. His mental fatigue eventually causes him to lose a match.
• He Fei and Liu Chang: Their decision to rest highlights how extraordinary Yang Sheng’s continued fighting has become.

Significant Themes

• Endurance and mental strength: Yang Sheng’s ability to fight continuously suggests an unusually deep mental reserve, giving him an advantage over physically or mentally exhausted rivals.
• Growth through combat: Real battles accelerate Yang Sheng’s cultivation and improve his technique more effectively than isolated training.
• Strategy and psychological pressure: Yang Sheng manipulates the rankings simply by maintaining a threatening position, forcing stronger competitors to fight harder and expend more energy.
• Adaptability versus routine tactics: The vice class monitor relies on a familiar sneak attack, but Yang Sheng’s observation and preparation render it useless.
• Surpassing limits: While other competitors weaken with time, Yang Sheng becomes faster, showing that sustained pressure is helping him improve rather than wear him down.

Character Interactions

• The vice class monitor tries to establish a sense of camaraderie with Yang Sheng before betraying him with a sneak attack. Yang Sheng exposes the tactic and defeats him decisively.
• Yang Sheng’s ranking strategy indirectly affects Wang Chao and the other leading competitors, forcing them to treat every battle as urgent.
• The tournament observers and spectators increasingly focus on Yang Sheng, whose abnormal endurance and improving performance set him apart from every other fighter.

Chapter Summary: “He Fei Had to Work for Free Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• With only half an hour remaining in the Points Tournament, Wang Chao leads with 278 points, followed by Li Yan and Qian Feng.
• Yang Sheng has quietly risen to tenth place with 237 points while maintaining a perfect record. He is the only top-ten student who has not lost a match.
• Observers recognize that Yang Sheng’s cautious, low-profile strategy has allowed him to avoid the attention and countermeasures directed at the leading competitors.
• Yang Sheng completes his fiftieth match and reaches 998/1000 progress toward Major Dark Force Mastery.
• His next opponent is He Fei, who has already faced Wang Chao and Li Yan and now encounters the third of Bay City’s major Dark Force experts.
• Yang Sheng proposes a wager: if He Fei survives three exchanges, he will receive a formal revenue-sharing contract with Skysea Boxing Gym; if not, he must continue teaching there for free for two months.
• He Fei accepts, hoping to redeem himself after their previous humiliating encounter.
• Yang Sheng immediately launches a punch infused with overwhelming Fist Intent. He Fei’s mind goes blank, and the attack forces him out of the match before he can make a move.
• Yang Sheng’s victory provides the final breakthrough he needs. His cultivation advances from Major Dark Force Mastery to the Subtlety Realm.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng demonstrates exceptional composure, strategic intelligence, and rapid cultivation. His perfect win rate and steady climb in the rankings transform him from an underestimated newcomer into a serious contender against the strongest students.
• He Fei remains frustrated by his repeated defeats, but he shows determination by accepting Yang Sheng’s challenge and preparing mentally for a rematch. His confidence collapses again when Yang Sheng’s power overwhelms him instantly, leaving him resigned to working for free.
• Jiang Tian admits that Yang Sheng’s achievements come primarily from his own effort rather than direct instruction, revealing both his teacher’s humility and his inability to explain Yang Sheng’s extraordinary cultivation efficiency.
• Zhou Mohai shifts from cautious admiration to genuine recognition of Yang Sheng’s potential.

Significant Themes

• Quiet preparation versus visible dominance: Yang Sheng’s low-profile approach proves more effective than the aggressive strategies of the leading competitors, who have become targets for specialized counters.
• Talent supported by perseverance: Although Yang Sheng possesses remarkable aptitude, the chapter emphasizes that his success comes from years of accumulated effort and disciplined training.
• Composure under pressure: Yang Sheng becomes even calmer as he approaches his breakthrough, showing that emotional control is a major part of his strength.
• Power imbalance and inevitability: He Fei’s carefully rehearsed counterstrategy is rendered useless by the overwhelming difference between them, highlighting Yang Sheng’s rapidly widening advantage.
• Exploitation and humor: The wager continues the playful dynamic in which Yang Sheng benefits financially from He Fei’s repeated defeats, while He Fei ironically ends up working for him again.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Mohai praises Jiang Tian for producing such an exceptional student, while Jiang Tian insists Yang Sheng’s progress is largely self-made.
• Yang Sheng and He Fei exchange accusations over Yang Sheng’s teaching fees and the money earned from instructing younger students.
• Yang Sheng tempts He Fei with the opportunity to profit from Skysea Boxing Gym, successfully persuading him to accept the match.
• Their rematch ends instantly, reinforcing Yang Sheng’s dominance and leaving He Fei comically defeated once again.

Chapter Summary: “Wang Chao Had an Epiphany”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The first day of the Points Tournament ends, locking in the current rankings. Wang Chao remains in first place, while Yang Sheng ranks tenth.
• Wang Chao leaves the arena first and politely dismisses recruiters from companies and universities. Li Yan and Qian Feng also leave quickly, dissatisfied with their performances.
• Wang Chao learns that Wang Meng of Zheng City scored 318 points, while several Zheng City students surpassed 300 points. Feeling responsible for Bay City’s reputation, Wang Chao becomes frustrated that he failed to reach his own target of 300 points.
• He reviews his performance and realizes that although he had overwhelming strength and a sound strategy, he had fought too anxiously. He begins wondering why Yang Sheng’s presence unsettled him despite Yang Sheng posing no immediate threat in the rankings.
• Instead of attending social gatherings, Yang Sheng returns to the school’s training room. He continues practicing after fighting 51 matches during the day, having secretly broken through to Major Dark Force Mastery.
• Yang Sheng integrates his martial arts techniques and Fist Intent, successfully controlling its power within an eight-meter range. His punch pierces a training dummy with remarkable precision.
• Later, Wang Chao attends a late-night drinking session with several chamber of commerce leaders. After leaving, he notices Yang Sheng exiting the school.
• Curious, Wang Chao returns to the training room and discovers that Yang Sheng had trained there until shortly before. The large number of damaged dummies reveals the intensity of Yang Sheng’s practice.
• Wang Chao finally understands the source of his anxiety: Yang Sheng possesses extraordinary stamina, discipline, composure, and mental steadiness.

Character Developments

• Wang Chao: Though still the tournament leader, Wang Chao becomes introspective and dissatisfied with his performance. He recognizes that his anxiety—not a lack of strength or strategy—prevented him from achieving a higher score. His observation of Yang Sheng gives him an important realization about the qualities of a truly formidable martial artist.
• Yang Sheng: He quietly achieves a breakthrough into Major Dark Force Mastery while maintaining a low profile. His ability to fight dozens of matches and continue training late into the night demonstrates exceptional endurance, self-control, and dedication. He remains uninterested in external attention because he has already decided to attend China Martial Arts University.
• Li Yan and Qian Feng: Both leave disappointed after failing to execute their opening strategy effectively, though they remain under Wang Chao’s control in terms of overall ability.

Significant Themes

• Mental composure versus raw strength: Wang Chao’s superior power cannot fully compensate for his anxiety, while Yang Sheng’s calmness gives him a distinct advantage.
• Discipline and perseverance: Yang Sheng’s continued training after an exhausting day highlights the importance of sustained effort.
• Hidden ability: Yang Sheng’s breakthrough occurs unnoticed, emphasizing his preference for quietly accumulating strength rather than seeking recognition.
• Pressure and responsibility: Wang Chao’s concern for Bay City’s reputation intensifies his frustration and affects his performance.
• Recognition of a rival: Wang Chao begins to understand that Yang Sheng’s danger lies not in his current ranking, but in his stability, endurance, and potential.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chao politely interacts with university and corporate recruiters but keeps the exchanges superficial.
• He is praised and flattered by chamber of commerce leaders during the drinking session, who predict that he will dominate Bay City and possibly rank highly in the prefecture.
• Wang Chao does not directly speak with Yang Sheng in the chapter, but observing Yang Sheng’s training profoundly changes his perception of him.
• Yang Sheng’s quiet actions indirectly expose the weakness in Wang Chao’s mindset, leading Wang Chao to his epiphany.

Chapter Summary: “The Only S-Rank Evaluation”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• On the second day of the martial arts examination, Wang Chao performs exceptionally well, winning four consecutive matches by instant knockout in the final ten minutes.
• He scores 303 points for the day, becoming the first contestant from Bay City to surpass 300 points in a single day. His overall score reaches 592, placing him around 120th in Yu Prefecture.
• Yang Sheng completes more than fifty matches for the second consecutive day, an unprecedented feat in Bay City. He scores 297 points, the second-highest daily score, and rises to fifth place overall.
• Observers note that most contestants are beginning to tire, but Yang Sheng remains undefeated after more than one hundred matches.
• Although Wang Chao remains at the top of the leaderboard, experts recognize that his combat performance is declining. His opponents, who previously could not survive one exchange against his Fist Intent, now withstand three or four exchanges.
• Yang Sheng’s numerical score is slightly lower, but his actual combat efficiency improves. He defeats most opponents within three exchanges and shows no signs of weakening.
• The Kyoto Martial Arts University observer, impressed by Yang Sheng, contacts Professor Lin and urges him to come to Bay City to evaluate the promising newcomer.
• He Fei praises Yang Sheng and begins to believe that Yang Sheng may be capable of defeating even Dark Force students, Qian Feng, and possibly Wang Chao.
• Rather than rest after the exhausting day, Yang Sheng plans another evening training session. He invites He Fei to join him and offers to give him personal instruction.
• The chapter ends with Qian Feng revealing that Yang Sheng has received an S-rank evaluation, the only such rating awarded during the first two days of competition.

2. Character Developments

• Wang Chao: Becomes more composed after understanding the cause of his previous impatience. He abandons his reservations about Yang Sheng and treats him as an equal to established talents such as Li Yan and Qian Feng. Despite his impressive score, his physical and combat decline becomes increasingly evident.
• Yang Sheng: Establishes himself as an extraordinary fighter through endurance, consistency, and continuous improvement. His ability to fight over one hundred matches without defeat demonstrates exceptional willpower and mental strength. He remains humble and focused, immediately prioritizing further training over celebration.
• He Fei: Develops from a skeptical or merely impressed peer into a wholehearted supporter of Yang Sheng. He accepts Yang Sheng’s superiority and eagerly seeks further instruction from him.
• Qian Feng: Offers an objective assessment of Yang Sheng’s rise, recognizing that his performance is more impressive than his raw ranking suggests.
• Li Yan: Watches Yang Sheng with hostility or concern, suggesting that Yang Sheng’s rapid rise has made him a serious rival.
• University Observers: Their opinions shift significantly. The China Martial Arts University observer becomes confident in Yang Sheng’s potential, while the Kyoto observer actively seeks to recruit or investigate him.

3. Significant Themes

• Endurance versus raw performance: Yang Sheng’s greatest strength is not merely his score but his ability to maintain peak performance across an extraordinary number of battles.
• Appearance versus deeper evaluation: Wang Chao has the better score and ranking, but experts recognize that Yang Sheng’s efficiency and undefeated record reveal greater long-term potential.
• Mental strength and discipline: Yang Sheng’s continued fighting and willingness to train after exhausting competition highlight his exceptional determination.
• Recognition of hidden talent: The chapter emphasizes the difference between public excitement over rankings and expert analysis of underlying ability.
• Rivalry and changing status: Yang Sheng’s rapid ascent challenges the established hierarchy represented by Wang Chao, Li Yan, and Qian Feng.
• Investment in potential: The university observers’ interest shows how perseverance and promise can attract powerful institutions even before a fighter achieves the highest visible ranking.

4. Character Interactions

• Wang Chao and Yang Sheng: Although they do not directly interact, Wang Chao changes his view of Yang Sheng, recognizing him as a genuine equal rather than an outsider benefiting from others’ support.
• Zhou Mohai and Principal Tang: They analyze the competitors’ scores and fatigue, with Tang emphasizing the extraordinary mental strength required for Yang Sheng’s hundred-match performance.
• Kyoto and China Martial Arts University observers: The Kyoto representative complains that Yang Sheng was discovered first by China Martial Arts University, showing how valuable Yang Sheng has become to competing schools.
• He Fei and Yang Sheng: He Fei enthusiastically praises Yang Sheng, while Yang Sheng responds modestly and invites him to train. He Fei eagerly agrees, even offering to pay for Yang Sheng’s medicinal meal.
• Li Yan and Qian Feng: Qian Feng explains Yang Sheng’s unique S-rank evaluation to Li Yan, directly highlighting the seriousness of Yang Sheng’s emergence as a rival.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Qian Feng explains that Yang Sheng’s displayed score of 544 is incomplete: his 101-match winning streak and two Observation Panel awards should add forty points, raising his true score to 584 and bringing him close to the school’s top-ranked fighters.
• Li Yan realizes Yang Sheng has reached their level of strength, leaving him confused and powerless for the first time.
• That night, Yang Sheng teaches the High-Aspiration Class how to use and defend against Fist Intent. He even explains ways to survive three rounds against such attacks and minimize point losses.
• Despite fighting all day and teaching late into the night, Yang Sheng remains energetic because of the endurance benefits of the A-Grade Retreat Room.
• Yang Sheng invites Liu Chang and He Fei to a late-night meal, predicting that it may be their last gathering before university scouts begin recruiting them.
• At a barbecue restaurant, Yang Sheng, Li Jing, Liu Chang, He Fei, and the owner of Skysea discuss their future plans. He Fei intends to attend Zheng City Martial Arts University, while Yang Sheng and Li Jing plan to go to Kyoto. Liu Chang unexpectedly announces that she also wants to go to Kyoto.
• The meal ends with He Fei and the restaurant owner becoming drunk. Liu Chang openly stares at Yang Sheng after drinking, while Li Jing quietly clings more tightly to his arm.

Character Development

• Yang Sheng demonstrates overwhelming stamina, confidence, and generosity. He has evolved from an underestimated Bright Force student into someone capable of rivaling the school’s elite fighters.
• Li Yan suffers a major psychological setback as he recognizes that Yang Sheng has caught up with him.
• Liu Chang reveals stronger, possibly romantic feelings toward Yang Sheng. Her decision to attend university in Kyoto appears influenced by him, and her intense gaze suggests growing boldness.
• Li Jing shows her affection through quiet, domestic gestures—ordering Yang Sheng’s favorite noodles and holding his arm possessively.
• He Fei remains Yang Sheng’s teasing but loyal friend, while the owner of Skysea expresses deep devotion to the group and promises to follow them wherever they go.

Significant Themes

• Rapid growth and discipline: Yang Sheng’s extraordinary progress is linked to relentless training and endurance-building.
• Friendship and impending separation: The dinner reflects the group’s awareness that graduation and university will change their lives.
• Ambition and the future: Each character begins choosing a path based on personal goals, relationships, and opportunities.
• Romantic tension: Both Liu Chang and Li Jing display affection for Yang Sheng, creating an understated rivalry between their direct and subtle approaches.
• Recognition and shifting status: Yang Sheng’s rise forces former elites to reconsider their assumptions about him.

Character Interactions

• Qian Feng informs Li Yan of Yang Sheng’s hidden bonus points, intensifying Li Yan’s anxiety.
• Yang Sheng acts as both fighter and mentor while teaching his classmates.
• He Fei and Liu Chang openly praise Yang Sheng’s frightening strength.
• At dinner, He Fei and the owner of Skysea tease Yang Sheng about Li Jing’s devotion.
• Liu Chang’s burning stare and Li Jing’s tightening embrace form the chapter’s final romantic contrast, suggesting both women may be competing for Yang Sheng’s attention.

Chapter Summary: “Would We Have a Child Together?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After dinner, Yang Sheng ends the gathering because the Skysea Boxing Gym owner and He Fei are heavily drunk, and the Points Tournament’s final day is tomorrow.
• Liu Chang arranges a stretch car to take everyone home. During the ride, Li Jing becomes unusually affectionate toward Yang Sheng, resting on his shoulder and holding his hand.
• At the boxing gym, He Fei suddenly sobers up and takes the owner inside for another drinking session, leaving Yang Sheng alone with Li Jing and Liu Chang.
• Yang Sheng takes Li Jing home first. Her flirtation makes it clear that she wants a closer relationship, but Yang Sheng insists that they are not dating.
• Liu Chang follows Yang Sheng to his home and directly asks him to date her. She says she would not restrict his relationships and even accepts that he might continue seeing other girls.
• When Yang Sheng refuses because he wants to focus on his martial-arts goals, Liu Chang makes an even more startling proposal: she asks whether he would have a child with her, arguing that their genes are highly compatible and would produce a talented child.
• Yang Sheng declines for the moment, emphasizing that he is only eighteen and must prioritize the Martial Arts Entrance Exam. He encourages Liu Chang to pursue her own goal of attending a university in Kyoto.
• Liu Chang declares that she will not give up on him. Yang Sheng returns home, takes a cold shower, and prepares mentally for the final day of the Points Tournament.
• He realizes that his strategy of concealing his Fist Intent has given him an advantage. While the leading competitors—such as Wang Chao, Qian Feng, and Li Yan—have exposed their main techniques and become easier to study, Yang Sheng has preserved the ability to surprise them and overtake them.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng: Remains focused and disciplined despite increasing romantic attention. He rejects both Li Jing’s implied advances and Liu Chang’s direct proposals, not from complete indifference but because he considers defeating Li Yan, entering China Martial Arts University, and becoming a Stellar Martial Artist more important.
• Li Jing: Becomes much bolder under the influence of alcohol, openly displaying her attachment to Yang Sheng and implying that she wants him to acknowledge their relationship.
• Liu Chang: Reveals strong romantic and personal interest in Yang Sheng. Her directness shows both confidence and a pragmatic attitude toward relationships, influenced by her family’s unconventional views on romance and reproduction.
• He Fei and the boxing gym owner: Their drunken camaraderie continues, providing comic relief and allowing Yang Sheng to be separated from the group.

Significant Themes

• Ambition versus romance: Yang Sheng repeatedly places his martial-arts future above emotional or romantic commitments.
• Strategic patience and concealment: By hiding his Fist Intent, Yang Sheng has allowed his rivals to reveal their abilities while keeping his own strongest weapon unpredictable.
• Family influence and unconventional relationships: Liu Chang’s proposal reflects her father’s beliefs and the broader acceptance of multiple partners and genetically motivated relationships in their society.
• Social advancement: Yang Sheng’s goals are connected not only to personal achievement but also to changing the fate of Lower Registry citizens through becoming a Stellar Martial Artist.
• Youth and maturity: Although the characters are only eighteen, they confront adult questions about romance, reproduction, ambition, and long-term destiny.

Character Interactions

• Li Jing’s physical affection contrasts with Yang Sheng’s restrained, practical response.
• Liu Chang observes Li Jing’s closeness to Yang Sheng without protest, then later challenges him directly about their relationship.
• Yang Sheng’s conversations with Liu Chang shift from casual discussion about the tournament to increasingly serious proposals about dating and having a child.
• Yang Sheng responds to Liu Chang’s confession with respect rather than rejection or mockery, encouraging both of them to pursue their educational ambitions.
• The chapter ends by shifting from romantic tension back to competition, as Yang Sheng prepares to exploit his opponents’ exposed strategies in the tournament finale.

Chapter Summary: “Li Yan Felt Fear”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the third day of the Points Tournament, many lower-level students withdraw after two days of intense combat, leaving the remaining competitors stronger and the matches more difficult.
• The tournament organizers prepare to determine the top eight rankings and finalize bonuses for winning streaks and evaluations.
• Yang Sheng is matched against a Great Completion of Bright Force student who assumes Yang Sheng is the weakest of Bay City Martial Arts High School’s Dark Force experts.
• Yang Sheng effortlessly catches the opponent’s punch, disrupts his balance, and defeats him with an Iron Mountain Lean infused with powerful Fist Intent. The opponent is so overwhelmed that he immediately admits defeat.
• Yang Sheng then defeats his next opponent with a single punch and continues winning rapidly through his third, fourth, and fifth matches.
• Unlike the other leading contestants, who face opponents specifically prepared to drag out their battles, Yang Sheng benefits from having concealed his strength during the first two days. His opponents do not know how to counter his techniques.
• By the end of the morning, Yang Sheng has fought thirty matches and earned 180 points. He rises to second place, only five points behind Wang Chao.
• Wang Chao becomes alarmed and wonders whether Yang Sheng has secretly reached Major Dark Force Mastery.
• Li Yan is even more shaken. He realizes that Yang Sheng may have surpassed him, and for the first time, Li Yan feels genuine fear toward Yang Sheng.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng: Reveals a dramatic increase in power after deliberately hiding his abilities earlier in the tournament. His precise techniques, overwhelming Fist Intent, and efficient victories establish him as a serious contender for first place.
• Wang Chao: Remains the leader but becomes anxious when Yang Sheng rapidly closes the points gap. He begins to question whether Yang Sheng is now capable of fighting him as an equal.
• Li Yan: Experiences a major shift in attitude. Previously confident in his own superiority, he now recognizes Yang Sheng as a potential rival who may have surpassed him.
• Other competitors: Their cautious strategy of prolonging battles reflects their awareness of the leading fighters’ strength and their determination to minimize point losses.

Significant Themes

• Concealed strength and sudden revelation: Yang Sheng’s earlier restraint allows him to surprise opponents and dominate the final day.
• Perception versus reality: Students assume Yang Sheng is weaker than Wang Chao, Li Yan, and Qian Feng, but his performance proves their judgment was mistaken.
• Fear as recognition: Li Yan’s fear marks an important acknowledgment of Yang Sheng’s growing power and changing status.
• Competition and strategy: Success depends not only on strength but also on timing, preparation, reputation, and how much an opponent knows about one’s abilities.
• Control and restraint: Yang Sheng demonstrates overwhelming force while deliberately avoiding lethal or permanently damaging strikes.

Important Character Interactions

• Yang Sheng’s first opponent attacks confidently, believing him to be vulnerable, but Yang Sheng catches the punch and defeats him instantly. Recognizing that Yang Sheng spared him from serious injury, the opponent respectfully thanks him before conceding.
• Yang Sheng overwhelms his second opponent with one punch, reinforcing the contrast between his hidden ability and the competitors’ expectations.
• Wang Chao observes Yang Sheng’s rapid rise and privately considers the frightening possibility that Yang Sheng has reached his own level.
• Li Yan watches Yang Sheng’s performance and, unlike before, feels fear—an emotional acknowledgment that Yang Sheng may now stand above him.

Chapter Summary: “First Place on the Points Leaderboard”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Sheng shocks everyone by revealing that he has broken through from Minor Dark Force Mastery to Major Dark Force Mastery, apparently during combat.
• His breakthrough astonishes the principals and university observers because advancing an entire major realm in battle requires exceptional focus, willpower, combat experience, and resistance to cultivation deviation.
• Yang Sheng continues his relentless winning streak. In his thirty-second match, he defeats a vice class monitor at Great Completion of Bright Force almost instantly, overwhelming him with powerful Fist Intent.
• While most competitors become exhausted and their performance declines, Yang Sheng grows stronger with every fight.
• When the tournament’s matching system closes at six o’clock, Yang Sheng has accumulated 952 points, surpassing Wang Chao’s 892 points and taking first place on the leaderboard.
• His score places him tenth in all of Yu Prefecture, setting a new record for Bay City Martial Arts High School. No previous graduate from the school had achieved anything comparable.
• The final top eight competitors are determined: Yang Sheng, Wang Chao, Qian Feng, Li Yan, and others, with He Fei unexpectedly securing eighth place.
• Liu Chang finishes twelfth, an excellent result that qualifies her for admission to most top martial arts universities in Kyoto.
• Wang Chao congratulates Yang Sheng but immediately challenges him, making clear that he intends to defend his claim to the eventual championship.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng emerges as the tournament’s greatest dark horse. His battle breakthrough reveals extraordinary talent and transforms university observers’ assessment of his potential.
• He enters an almost self-forgetful combat state, displaying increasing confidence, focus, and offensive power.
• Wang Chao remains proud and competitive. Although he loses the leaderboard’s top position, he refuses to concede the final victory and directly challenges Yang Sheng.
• He Fei benefits from Yang Sheng’s instruction, using the techniques taught to him the previous night to reach the top eight despite having been drunk the evening before.
• Liu Chang achieves her personal best by placing twelfth, while her father, Liu Jianming, reacts with great excitement and begins arranging a celebratory banquet.
• Zhou Mohai and Jiang Tian are stunned to learn that Bay City High School has produced two students at Major Dark Force Mastery, especially since Yang Sheng’s breakthrough had been kept secret.
• The Kyoto Martial Arts University observer regrets underestimating Yang Sheng and realizing that the university may have lost a rare prodigy to China Martial Arts University.

Significant Themes

• Hidden talent and underestimated potential: Yang Sheng’s true ability is concealed until his breakthrough and remarkable performance force others to reassess him.
• Growth through combat: The chapter emphasizes that real battles can produce breakthroughs and reveal abilities that ordinary training cannot.
• Willpower and mental focus: Breaking through during combat symbolizes extraordinary concentration, resolve, and control.
• Competition and ambition: Taking first place on the points leaderboard is only a temporary achievement; the final championship remains undecided.
• School pride and achievement: Yang Sheng’s success breaks Bay City Martial Arts High School’s longstanding records and elevates its reputation.
• Opportunity and regret: The university observers’ changing attitudes show how quickly institutions can regret overlooking exceptional talent.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Mohai questions Jiang Tian about Yang Sheng’s breakthrough, and Jiang admits that even he knew nothing about it.
• Yang Sheng defeats a rival vice class monitor with overwhelming force, demonstrating the gap created by his breakthrough.
• He Fei embraces Yang Sheng and credits him for teaching the techniques that helped secure eighth place.
• Wang Chao approaches Yang Sheng to congratulate him but then warns him that he will be waiting for their next challenge, reinforcing their developing rivalry.
• The crowd’s growing cheers mark Yang Sheng’s transformation from an overlooked competitor into the tournament’s central figure.

Chapter Summary: “Special Potion”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chao leaves the competition disappointed after scoring below 900 points, placing second behind Yang Sheng’s remarkable score of 952.
• He worries that his ranking will not be high enough to enter China Martial Arts University.
• At home, his father reveals that the school’s Board of Trustees had predicted Yang Sheng might win and had prepared for this possibility.
• Wang Chao’s father takes him to meet Captain Ma, a powerful representative of the Upper Registry.
• Captain Ma explains that the Dark Alliance had already tried to deal with Yang Sheng secretly, but all of its members were defeated.
• He asks Wang Chao to kill Yang Sheng in their upcoming duel and offers him a special potion to temporarily increase his strength.
• Captain Ma also promises Wang Chao admission to China Martial Arts University through controlled admission places, despite his insufficient score.
• Wang Chao rejects both the potion and the offer, insisting that he will defeat Yang Sheng fairly and refusing to violate the spirit of the examination.
• Captain Ma dismisses him and his father. Soon afterward, Li Yan arrives and is offered the same potion.

2. Character Developments

• Wang Chao: His initial disappointment develops into moral firmness. Although he desperately wants admission to China Martial Arts University, he refuses an unfair advantage and rejects the order to kill Yang Sheng. His decision demonstrates a strong martial code and personal integrity.
• Wang Chao’s father: Usually demanding and critical, he shows unusual humility toward Captain Ma and supports the offer because he wants to secure his son’s future. However, after Wang Chao refuses, he accepts his son’s decision rather than forcing him.
• Captain Ma: Revealed as an influential and ruthless Upper Registry figure. He views Yang Sheng as a threat requiring extreme measures and attempts to manipulate Wang Chao through promises of power and university admission.
• Yang Sheng: Though absent from most of the chapter, his extraordinary score and rapid cultivation growth establish him as a major threat. His strength has alarmed both the school and powerful organizations.
• Li Yan: His arrival at the end suggests that, unlike Wang Chao, he may consider using the potion to avoid losing to Yang Sheng.

3. Significant Themes

• Integrity versus ambition: Wang Chao chooses honor over guaranteed admission and enhanced strength.
• The martial spirit: The chapter emphasizes that true martial artists should compete fairly rather than rely on assassination or artificial advantages.
• Political and institutional corruption: Captain Ma’s control over university admissions and willingness to interfere in the exam reveal hidden power structures behind the competition.
• Upper Registry versus Lower Registry: Yang Sheng’s success as a Lower Registry fighter threatens the established hierarchy, prompting covert attempts to suppress him.
• Moral choice under pressure: Wang Chao’s decision is significant because he stands to lose both his university opportunity and his family’s approval.

4. Character Interactions

• Wang Chao and his father discuss his disappointing result, with the father revealing that the family anticipated Yang Sheng’s victory.
• Wang Chao meets Captain Ma through his father and learns that Yang Sheng has already defeated the Dark Alliance’s attempts to eliminate him.
• Captain Ma pressures Wang Chao to accept the potion and kill Yang Sheng, but Wang Chao firmly refuses.
• Wang Chao reassures his father that he does not need “charity,” and his father ultimately respects his decision.
• The chapter ends with Captain Ma repeating the offer to Li Yan, creating uncertainty over whether Li Yan will accept the potion.

Chapter Summary: “I Will Kill You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After placing first in the Martial Arts Entrance Exam leaderboard, Yang Sheng becomes the center of attention. His home is crowded with relatives, neighbors, school representatives, and martial arts observers, so he deliberately stays at school to avoid the commotion.
• Yang Sheng continues training late into the night, but his progress in the Subtlety Realm is extremely slow. After hours of practice, his cultivation increases by only five points, reflecting how difficult advancement has become after reaching Major Dark Force Mastery.
• The next morning, the top eight competitors gather for the final summit tournament. They are paired according to their rankings: first versus eighth, second versus seventh, and so on. Winners advance and receive ten points, while losers lose nothing.
• Yang Sheng is paired against his friend He Fei. Rather than seriously competing, He Fei uses the opportunity to advertise Skysea Boxing Gym, promoting discounted lessons and claiming that Yang Sheng will personally provide guidance.
• Principal Tang removes He Fei from the arena, but privately asks him to reserve a training opportunity with Yang Sheng for his niece, showing that Yang Sheng’s reputation is already attracting influential people.
• Yang Sheng advances without fighting because He Fei concedes immediately. The other matches are largely one-sided, dominated by Dark Force practitioners.
• Li Yan defeats a Peak Great Completion of Bright Force opponent with shocking brutality. His punch breaks several ribs, and he nearly kills his opponent before the referee intervenes.
• After winning, Li Yan turns toward Yang Sheng, makes a throat-slitting gesture, and silently mouths, “I will kill you,” establishing a direct and dangerous threat.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng: Remains calm and disciplined despite his sudden fame. He avoids social distractions, continues training, and accepts his slower cultivation progress without frustration. His victory over He Fei is effortless because of their friendship and the vast gap between their abilities.
• He Fei: Becomes openly loyal to Yang Sheng, viewing him as someone whose guidance can improve both his martial arts and his future prospects. His comic advertising stunt reveals his entrepreneurial personality and his confidence that Yang Sheng will help him succeed.
• Principal Tang: Initially reprimands He Fei for disrupting the tournament but quickly recognizes the value of Yang Sheng’s reputation and attempts to secure instruction for his niece.
• Li Yan: Displays a dramatic shift toward greater ruthlessness and aggression. His improved technique is paired with intense killing intent, suggesting that he is no longer treating the tournament as a simple competition. His threat toward Yang Sheng marks him as a serious antagonist.

Significant Themes

• The burden of sudden fame: Yang Sheng’s top ranking brings attention, visitors, and expectations, but he prefers solitude and continued training.
• The difficulty of advancement: Progress becomes increasingly demanding at higher realms, emphasizing that strength cannot be gained as easily as before.
• Pragmatism and opportunity: He Fei turns even a major tournament into a business opportunity, while others recognize the social and financial value of Yang Sheng’s abilities.
• Competition becoming violence: The tournament begins as an organized contest, but Li Yan’s brutal attack and death threat transform it into a potentially lethal personal conflict.
• Loyalty and alliances: He Fei’s willingness to concede to Yang Sheng and support him contrasts with Li Yan’s hostility, highlighting the importance of allies and enemies in Yang Sheng’s rising career.

Character Interactions

• Yang Sheng and He Fei exchange lighthearted banter before their match, demonstrating their relaxed friendship and He Fei’s admiration for Yang Sheng.
• He Fei’s advertisement embarrasses the Skysea Boxing Gym owner and Li Jing, while Principal Tang both reprimands him and tries to benefit from Yang Sheng’s growing reputation.
• Yang Sheng observes Li Yan’s match and recognizes that Li Yan’s technique and mentality have changed significantly.
• Li Yan deliberately confronts Yang Sheng after his victory, using a throat-slitting gesture and the words “I will kill you” to signal that their future encounter will be personal and potentially deadly.

Chapter Summary: “The Time to Settle the Score”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with a flashback to a confrontation one month earlier, when Yang Sheng begged Li Yan for another chance. Li Yan coldly promised to kill him with his own fists.
• Now, the two are set to face each other in the tournament semifinals. The match represents the culmination of a three-year grudge, with Yang Sheng determined to settle the score.
• Before the fight, Liu Chang comforts Yang Sheng and expresses her unconditional faith in him. Yang Sheng reassures her that he is not worried.
• After the previous matches conclude, Yang Sheng and Li Yan enter the ring. They exchange threats, with Li Yan declaring that Yang Sheng may experience his final heartbeat that day.
• Yang Sheng notices that Li Yan is behaving abnormally. His veins are visibly bulging, his heartbeat is unusually powerful, and he appears intensely agitated.
• At the referee’s signal, Li Yan launches an extremely fast and powerful attack using both fists. His strength has increased dramatically, apparently reaching Major Dark Force Mastery or possibly its peak.
• Yang Sheng attempts to neutralize the attack with his Whirling Wind Hand, but the compressed force of Li Yan’s punches blasts him backward and nearly sends him out of the ring.
• Spectators, teachers, and fellow contestants are shocked by Li Yan’s sudden improvement. Some suspect cheating, but Liu Chang points out that all competitors passed drug tests.
• Yang Sheng regains his footing and prepares to counterattack. He launches a powerful punch wrapped in Fist Intent.
• Rather than defend, Li Yan charges forward and throws his own punch, setting up a dangerous clash in which both fighters may be injured.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng: His suppressed anger over Li Yan’s past betrayal or mistreatment resurfaces, but he remains controlled and observant during the fight. After being unexpectedly overpowered, he quickly adapts and chooses to attack rather than retreat.
• Li Yan: He appears far more aggressive, powerful, and emotionally unstable than usual. His sudden increase in strength suggests a hidden cause, while his threats reveal his determination to destroy Yang Sheng.
• Liu Chang: She demonstrates strong emotional support for Yang Sheng, comforting him before the match and trusting him completely. She also remains perceptive, rejecting the idea that Li Yan used drugs.
• He Fei: He recognizes the seriousness of Li Yan’s transformation and becomes worried about Yang Sheng’s chances.
• Jiang Tian and Zhao Huan: Their brief exchange reflects differing confidence and rivalry regarding the match’s outcome.
• Zhou Mohai and Principal Tang: Both notice that Li Yan’s abilities have changed unexpectedly but cannot explain the reason.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and settling old scores: The fight is the culmination of Yang Sheng and Li Yan’s long-standing conflict.
• Hidden power and mystery: Li Yan’s unexplained increase in strength creates suspense and suggests that a larger secret may be involved.
• Emotional restraint versus rage: Yang Sheng controls his anger and analyzes the situation, while Li Yan seems driven by fury and instability.
• Trust and support: Liu Chang’s confidence in Yang Sheng contrasts with the uncertainty surrounding Li Yan’s sudden transformation.
• Risk and determination: Both fighters are willing to endanger themselves, as shown by Li Yan’s decision to meet Yang Sheng’s attack head-on.

Character Interactions

• Yang Sheng and Liu Chang share a quiet moment of reassurance before the match, strengthening their bond.
• Yang Sheng and Li Yan exchange hostile words that revive their earlier confrontation and establish the fight as personal rather than merely competitive.
• He Fei and Liu Chang discuss Li Yan’s unusual strength and worry about Yang Sheng.
• Zhao Huan challenges Jiang Tian’s confidence, emphasizing the uncertainty of the match.
• The chapter ends with Yang Sheng and Li Yan charging toward each other in a potentially devastating exchange.

Chapter Summary: “Defeating Li Yan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Sheng and Li Yan engage in a brutal, close-range exchange. Both land devastating blows: Li Yan cracks Yang Sheng’s ribs, while Yang Sheng severely injures Li Yan’s face.
• Observers notice that Li Yan’s body is behaving unnaturally. Bluish-purple veins spread across his neck and face, and he appears to feel no pain.
• Principal Tang suspects Li Yan has used a banned substance, though the drug was not detected in the required urine tests. Teacher Zhao reveals that Li Yan had secretly met someone the previous night.
• Yang Sheng recognizes the drug as Blood-Burning Powder, a forbidden Third Tier medicine that dramatically increases strength while consuming three years of the user’s lifespan per dose.
• Li Yan proudly admits he used the drug three times, sacrificing nine years of his life to gain overwhelming power. He declares his intention to defeat Yang Sheng and everyone else to become the true champion.
• Li Yan’s strength and Fist Intent rise to the level of Major Dark Force Mastery, but his technique remains inferior. He attacks recklessly, forcing Yang Sheng toward the edge of the arena.
• Just before being pushed out, Yang Sheng changes tactics. Instead of meeting Li Yan’s power directly, he uses Eight Extremes Fist techniques:
  • Mountain-Crushing Crossbar sends Li Yan backward.
  • Knee-Lift Collision strikes Li Yan’s heart and disrupts his circulation.
  • Heart-Piercing Elbow, the strongest technique, lands directly on Li Yan’s heart.
• Li Yan spits blackish-red blood, collapses, and loses consciousness as his heartbeat slows. The spectators erupt in celebration.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng begins the fight enraged by Li Yan’s challenge, but he regains composure after realizing Li Yan is drug-enhanced. He demonstrates discipline and tactical intelligence by exploiting Li Yan’s lack of technique rather than matching his raw strength.
• Li Yan becomes increasingly unhinged and arrogant under the influence of Blood-Burning Powder. His desire to surpass Yang Sheng drives him to sacrifice nine years of his lifespan and fight recklessly, ultimately causing his defeat.
• He Fei and Liu Chang show strong concern for Yang Sheng. He Fei openly condemns the apparent cheating, while Liu Chang silently expresses anxiety.
• Principal Tang becomes worried about his responsibility for the failed drug screening.
• Teacher Zhao is placed under suspicion because of his connection to Li Yan and his unexplained meeting the night before.
• Jiang Tian recognizes the seriousness of Li Yan’s condition and openly criticizes Zhao Huan for the apparent misconduct.

Significant Themes

• Power versus technique: Temporary strength cannot replace mastery. Li Yan gains overwhelming physical force but lacks the technical skill needed to use it effectively.
• The cost of ambition: Li Yan sacrifices nine years of his life for victory, illustrating the destructive consequences of obsession and pride.
• Self-control versus rage: Yang Sheng begins in anger but wins by calming himself, observing his opponent, and adapting strategically.
• Fairness and corruption: The use of a banned drug raises questions about cheating, inadequate oversight, and the integrity of the competition.
• Endurance and resilience: Yang Sheng’s unusually tough body allows him to survive attacks that would normally cause catastrophic internal injuries.

Character Interactions

• Yang Sheng and Li Yan exchange threats and accusations, with Li Yan insisting that his sacrifice makes him superior.
• He Fei protests that the referee is allowing Li Yan to cheat, while Liu Chang watches anxiously.
• Jiang Tian confronts Zhao Huan over Li Yan’s suspicious condition, and Zhao admits he does not know what happened during Li Yan’s secret meeting.
• The final confrontation becomes a contest between Li Yan’s reckless, drug-fueled power and Yang Sheng’s technical precision, ending with Yang Sheng’s decisive victory.

Chapter Summary: “Li Yan Gives Up Being Human”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chao defeats Qian Feng, while Yang Sheng defeats Li Yan in the other semifinal match.
• Although Li Yan initially appears unconscious, he suddenly rises again. His heart has grotesquely enlarged and is surrounded by black blood vessels.
• The spectators and teachers realize that Li Yan did not take ordinary Blood-Burning Powder. He has been infected with a Flesh Parasite, a weapon originally developed by Martian Alien Priests.
• The parasite dramatically increases its host’s strength but consumes the host’s life force, corrodes the blood, and eventually destroys the host’s mind.
• Li Yan enters a completely frenzied state, retaining only the instinct to kill Yang Sheng. His blood becomes corrosive, and even a minor strike leaves Yang Sheng badly bruised.
• Yang Sheng struggles because of his existing injury and exhaustion. Before Li Yan can overwhelm him, Wang Chao intervenes.
• Wang Chao explains that he refuses to claim victory without defeating Yang Sheng fairly, then attacks Li Yan to protect him.
• Wang Chao condemns Li Yan for abandoning his humanity and using an alien-like method to gain strength. Li Yan, no longer capable of understanding speech, continues attacking like a beast.
• After Wang Chao kicks him away, Li Yan spits corrosive bloody matter into Wang Chao’s face and attempts to bite him, leaving the chapter on a dangerous cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Wang Chao: Demonstrates both compassion and martial integrity. He respects Qian Feng after defeating him, worries about Li Yan’s transformation, and intervenes against Li Yan not to steal first place but to preserve the possibility of a fair fight with Yang Sheng.
• Qian Feng: Accepts his defeat maturely and remains supportive of Wang Chao. His observations help draw attention to Li Yan’s abnormal revival.
• Yang Sheng: Revealed to be extraordinarily powerful, defeating Li Yan even after Li Yan had been strengthened. However, his previous injuries and exhaustion leave him vulnerable once Li Yan transforms.
• Li Yan: Loses all traces of human reason after using the Flesh Parasite. His body becomes monstrous, his blood corrosive, and his sole remaining purpose is to kill Yang Sheng.
• Zhao Huan, Jiang Tian, and Zhou Mohai: Recognize and explain the parasite’s nature, revealing the connection between Li Yan’s condition and alien biological weapons.

Significant Themes

• Humanity versus power: Li Yan sacrifices his humanity and life for greater strength, illustrating the horrifying cost of pursuing victory at any price.
• Martial integrity and fair competition: Wang Chao insists that true martial achievement requires an honest victory, not an uncontested championship.
• Alien influence and corruption: The Flesh Parasite represents the threat of alien technology and the danger of humans adopting the enemy’s methods.
• Loss of identity: Li Yan’s physical transformation mirrors his mental destruction; as the parasite takes control, he becomes a weapon rather than a person.
• Sacrifice and moral choice: Wang Chao risks himself to protect Yang Sheng and confront Li Yan, prioritizing principle over personal advantage.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chao and Qian Feng maintain a brotherly relationship despite competing against each other.
• Wang Chao and Yang Sheng become indirectly linked as rivals, with Wang Chao protecting Yang Sheng so that they can later fight fairly.
• Li Yan’s transformation turns his former classmates and fellow competitors against him, as they are forced to treat him as a deadly threat.
• The teachers and spectators react with shock as they identify the Flesh Parasite and understand that Li Yan’s continued fighting is driven by the parasite rather than his own will.

Chapter Summary: “His Weakness Is His Heart”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yan, transformed by the Flesh Parasite, attacks Wang Chao with overwhelming strength. Qian Feng intervenes just in time, crushing Li Yan into the ground, but Li Yan’s enhanced body quickly recovers.
• Wang Chao is nearly blind and unable to fight effectively. Li Yan continues pummeling him until Yang Sheng, having partially recovered by chewing Blood Essence Grass, calls Li Yan’s attention away.
• Li Yan attacks Yang Sheng at peak Major Dark Force Mastery. Although Li Yan’s mind has been consumed by the parasite, his ingrained martial arts techniques remain embedded in his movements.
• Using the Martial God Soul, Yang Sheng analyzes Li Yan’s attacks and predicts that his left-handed strike is a feint. He counters with an inch punch beneath Li Yan’s jaw, knocking him unconscious.
• The referee prevents Yang Sheng from finishing Li Yan and orders the fighters out of the arena, despite warnings from Yang Sheng, Qian Feng, and Wang Chao that Li Yan has become an inhuman parasite-controlled creature.
• Li Yan suddenly revives and kills the referee by draining his life force. After feeding on human blood, he becomes even more violent and escapes into the arena stands, threatening the spectators.
• The school’s senior instructors arrive. Zhou Mohai orders Li Yan’s immediate execution, while Jiang Tian and Zhao Huan move to stop him.
• Jiang Tian strikes Li Yan with overwhelming Subtlety Realm power, but Li Yan survives, repairs his broken arm, and grows stronger from the damage. The Flesh Parasite becomes more powerful when injured, though this consumes increasing amounts of energy.
• Li Yan begins forcing a breakthrough into the Subtlety Realm, rapidly sacrificing his remaining lifespan. His hair turns white as he focuses exclusively on killing Yang Sheng.
• Jiang Tian warns that Li Yan’s final attack will be his strongest and reveals the parasite’s weakness: Li Yan’s heart.

Character Developments

• Yang Sheng demonstrates the true power of the Martial God Soul, using rapid mental deductions to read and counter Li Yan’s attacks. He remains composed despite Li Yan’s transformation and attempts to ensure the creature is permanently stopped.
• Li Yan loses the last remnants of his humanity. He becomes a parasitic killing machine driven by instinct and hatred toward Yang Sheng. His physical strength, regenerative ability, and cultivation rise dramatically, but at the cost of his life force.
• Wang Chao is severely weakened and nearly killed, but he recognizes and clearly explains that Li Yan is no longer human.
• Qian Feng protects Wang Chao and criticizes the referees for failing to intervene when Li Yan first became dangerous.
• Jiang Tian assumes command of the response, recognizing the Flesh Parasite from past experience and understanding its dangerous ability to grow stronger after receiving damage.
• Zhao Huan hesitates before joining the attack, emotionally acknowledging that the creature before him is no longer the student Li Yan once was.

Significant Themes

• Loss of humanity: Li Yan’s transformation shows how the Flesh Parasite strips away reason and identity, leaving only violent instinct.
• Power through sacrifice: Li Yan gains tremendous strength by consuming blood and burning away his lifespan, suggesting that unnatural power comes at an extreme personal cost.
• Adaptation and regeneration: The Flesh Parasite becomes stronger when attacked and can repair severe injuries, making conventional combat increasingly dangerous.
• Reason versus instinct: Yang Sheng’s calm analysis and Martial God Soul contrast sharply with Li Yan’s savage, uncontrolled attacks.
• Hidden vulnerability: Despite overwhelming power and near-invulnerability, Li Yan retains a fatal weakness in his heart.

Character Interactions

• Qian Feng saves Wang Chao from Li Yan, while Wang Chao and Qian Feng later warn the referee that Li Yan has been overtaken by the parasite.
• Yang Sheng deliberately draws Li Yan away from Wang Chao, then defeats him through prediction and precision rather than brute force.
• The referee dismisses the fighters’ warnings, leading directly to his death when Li Yan revives.
• Jiang Tian and Zhao Huan confront Li Yan to protect the school and its students. Jiang Tian ultimately identifies the decisive target—Li Yan’s heart—and warns Yang Sheng about the coming attack.

Chapter Summary: “Martial Arts”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Flesh-and-Blood Gu consumes Li Yan’s life force while forcibly raising his cultivation to the threshold of the Subtlety Realm.
• With his new strength and monstrous, instinct-driven state, Li Yan becomes vastly more powerful than before. Even Jiang Tian might struggle to defeat him immediately.
• Yang Sheng’s allies are unable to intervene. He Fei wants to help, but Liu Chang stops him, knowing that a Bright Force practitioner would only die against Li Yan.
• Captain Ma appears beside Zhou Mohai and implicitly reveals his connection to the forbidden drug that transformed Li Yan. He threatens Zhou Mohai into remaining passive, while suggesting that the provincial authorities are prepared to act against Jiang Tian and his faction.
• Li Yan attacks Yang Sheng with overwhelming speed and power. Yang Sheng closes his eyes, appearing defenseless.
• Using the Martial God Soul, Yang Sheng analyzes Li Yan’s movements and repeatedly simulates possible counterattacks. He concludes that his current strength is insufficient to withstand or stop Li Yan.
• As Li Yan’s attack approaches, Yang Sheng reflects on his life, his poverty, his Lower Registry status, his training, and the people who influenced his martial journey.
• He realizes that the true foundation of his martial path is “Unyielding.” Martial arts represents defying fate, social limitations, and every imposed boundary through one’s own body and will.
• This insight dramatically advances his cultivation, raising him halfway through the Subtlety Realm and allowing him to condense a powerful strand of inner breath.
• Yang Sheng unleashes a new punch infused with his understanding of martial arts. Though his body begins to bleed from the strain, the attack surpasses Major Dark Force Mastery.
• Just as Li Yan prepares to win, Yang Sheng moves faster than expected and strikes him directly in the heart.

Character Development

• Yang Sheng: Reaches a major breakthrough in both cultivation and philosophy. He moves beyond fighting merely for practical goals and recognizes defiance—or unyielding will—as the essence of his martial path. This realization gives him the strength to challenge Li Yan despite the enormous difference in cultivation.
• Li Yan: Becomes increasingly inhuman under the Flesh-and-Blood Gu. His body and cultivation grow stronger, but his instincts and humanity disappear, turning him into a poisonous, violent weapon.
• Zhou Mohai: Shows his concern for Yang Sheng but is restrained by Captain Ma’s threatening presence. He recognizes that the conflict involves powerful forces beyond the students themselves.
• Captain Ma: Establishes himself as a dangerous figure connected to the forbidden drug and possibly to provincial authorities. He deliberately pressures Zhou Mohai while observing Li Yan’s transformation.
• He Fei and Liu Chang: Their brief interaction emphasizes the overwhelming danger of the battle: even He Fei’s desire to help cannot overcome the gap in power.

Significant Themes

• Defiance against fate: Yang Sheng’s breakthrough is based on rejecting the limitations imposed by birth, poverty, social status, and others’ expectations.
• The true meaning of martial arts: Martial arts is portrayed not merely as a means to gain wealth or status, but as the will to confront impossibility and resist predetermined destiny.
• Humanity versus power: Li Yan gains immense strength through the Flesh-and-Blood Gu but loses his instincts and humanity, contrasting with Yang Sheng’s growth through self-awareness and conviction.
• Willpower and transcendence: Yang Sheng surpasses his physical limits by discovering a deeper purpose, suggesting that spiritual clarity can unlock power beyond ordinary cultivation.
• Political manipulation and hidden forces: Captain Ma’s arrival reveals that the duel is connected to broader institutional and provincial conflicts.

Character Interactions

• He Fei attempts to rush to Yang Sheng’s aid, but Liu Chang restrains him to prevent a pointless death.
• Captain Ma confronts Zhou Mohai, warning him not to interfere and implying that Zhou and Jiang Tian cannot oppose the larger forces aligned against them.
• Yang Sheng and Li Yan engage in a final, decisive exchange: Li Yan relies on overwhelming Subtlety Realm strength and poison, while Yang Sheng counters with a newly awakened martial conviction.
• The chapter ends on Yang Sheng’s unexpected counterattack, as his punch lands on Li Yan’s heart.