Chapter Summaries

Fang Qianyuan faced Pu Shifan in his third qualifying match, overcoming Pu Shifan’s mist and spirit-draining tactics with a storm of Gang Edges. He knocked Pu Shifan off his feet and secured his third victory, qualifying without relying on tiebreakers.

• Kong Chongshan and Wu Longjie won their matches, while Shen Yiliang earned his third victory and ended Wu Longjie's hopes of qualifying.
• Ye Tianming defeated Ma Yao to claim his first victory in the tournament.
• Pu Shifan used the Mist Curtain Technique and Soul-Draining Caddisflies to obscure Fang Qianyuan's senses and drain his spirit essence.
• Fang Qianyuan unleashed Air Blade Storm, struck Pu Shifan with Gang Edges, and dispersed the mist.
• Fang Qianyuan charged at Pu Shifan and knocked him flying with one punch, earning his third qualifying victory.

Fang Qianyuan defeated Pu Shifan in the preliminary selection and qualified for the Sect Grand Tournament’s top thirty-two. As he refined his new finishing technique and prepared for the tournament, senior figures and distinguished guests arrived at the sect’s Headquarters.

• Fang Qianyuan crushed Pu Shifan with a storm of qi blades, then returned to praise from the Cang Mountain Academy disciples.
• The preliminary selection ended, and the announced list placed Fang Qianyuan among the top thirty-two qualifiers.
• Gong Yuan told Fang Qianyuan that the tournament would begin on December twelfth and encouraged him to prepare as the academy’s only remaining seed.
• Fang Qianyuan studied Whirlwind Slash and began using its ideas to refine his own sweeping finishing move.
• Earth Rank Experts, attendants, and renowned powerhouses arrived at the sect’s Headquarters for the tournament.

Fang Qianyuan drew a match against Wei Qingxuan of the Taiyang Academy and watched several early bouts to study the competition. As Liu Yeye faced Yin Lingyu, Fang Qianyuan sensed that Yin Lingyu had comprehended a state of mind similar to his own.

• Jiang Yunfeng, the Lord of Ten Thousand Miles, nodded toward Fang Qianyuan, and Gong Yuan recognized him as a powerful Earth Rank expert.
• Fang Qianyuan drew match ten and learned he would face Wei Qingxuan of the Taiyang Academy.
• Fang Qianyuan saw that four academies had been eliminated while several others had gained extra qualifying places.
• Fang Qianyuan watched Sun Liang defeat Fang Xi, Luo Yan beat Xi Zhidong, and Zhou Tong defeat Ge Tian.
• Fang Qianyuan watched Liu Yeye face Yin Lingyu and sensed that Yin Lingyu shared a state of mind like his own.

At the Sect Grand Tournament, Fang Qianyuan studied Liu Yeye’s heart-of-the-wild technique before watching Meng Du defeat Zhou Zhihe with venomous snakes and poison. Xiao Yu took interest in Meng Du’s potential, while Jiang Yunfeng revealed that he intended to accept someone as a True Disciple.

• Liu Yeye used her heart of the wild and iron chain vines to trap Yin Lingyu, who conceded the match.
• Gan Heng defeated Wang Feiling, and An Yiyang defeated Kong Bin despite being injured.
• Meng Du faced Zhou Zhihe and overwhelmed him with summoned venomous snakes and poison.
• Meng Du struck Zhou Zhihe with the Snake Shadow Secret Hand and won the match.
• Xiao Yu praised Meng Du’s potential, and Jiang Yunfeng said he planned to accept someone as a True Disciple.

Jiang Yunfeng’s fellow Earth Rank Experts discussed the burdens of taking disciples and wondered who had impressed him enough to claim publicly. After several tournament bouts, Fang Qianyuan entered the arena, and the observers suspected he was the prospective disciple.

• Xiao Yu and other Earth Rank Experts questioned Jiang Yunfeng’s unusual decision to take a disciple and discussed their obligation to pass on their legacies.
• The Earth Rank Experts explained that they had to raise an Earth Rank disciple to complete their sect duty, but worried that investing in an unpromising student could waste years of effort.
• Shen Yiliang defeated Wei Shi in the eighth match.
• Lü Hao defeated Sun Jie in the ninth match, ending Southern Marsh Academy’s run in the tournament.
• The tenth match between Fang Qianyuan and Wei Qingxuan was announced, and Jiang Yunfeng reacted to Fang Qianyuan’s appearance.
• The watching experts noted that Fang Qianyuan had joined the inner sect that year and wondered whether he was the genius Jiang Yunfeng intended to take as a disciple.

Fang Qianyuan defeated Wei Qingxuan with a relentless attack that showcased his powerful physique and distinctive fighting style. His victory secured him a place among the top thirty-two and left Cang Mountain Academy hopeful for an even higher finish.

• Fang Qianyuan decided to overwhelm Wei Qingxuan with speed and relentless attacks rather than rely on adapting tactics.
• Fang Qianyuan wore Wei Qingxuan down until Wei Qingxuan's Spirit Essence began to falter, then wounded him with a claw strike.
• Wei Qingxuan counterpunched Fang Qianyuan, but Fang Qianyuan pushed through the injury and unleashed Raging Wind Chain Slash.
• Fang Qianyuan followed with a barrage of punches that knocked Wei Qingxuan down and secured his victory.
• The crowd and distinguished spectators praised Fang Qianyuan's ferocity, while Cang Mountain Academy celebrated his place in the top thirty-two.
• Ye Tianming watched Fang Qianyuan surrounded by admirers and felt dejected as the familiar scene played out again.

Fang Qianyuan laughed at exaggerated tournament booklets, then learned he would face Hu Yunlong in the round of sixteen and suspected the tournament organizers had kept promising contenders apart. The match began, leaving Fang and his institute watching to see whether his favorable draw was part of that arrangement.

• Disciples circulated booklets about the top sixteen, and Fang Qianyuan and his fellow disciples laughed at a fabricated account of his childhood exploits.
• The booklet described Fang’s strengths and possible weaknesses, prompting fellow disciples to warn him that opponents might study his fighting style.
• Fang decided to rely on relentless attacks, believing that overwhelming offense would keep opponents from exploiting his weaknesses.
• On the fourteenth, Fang drew lot number three and learned he would face Hu Yunlong of Shangtong Training Institute.
• The Institute Master and the others celebrated Fang’s matchup, believing he might be a secretly selected seed kept apart from stronger contenders.
• Meng Du and Sun Liang won their matches, and Fang and the others noticed that they too had avoided facing other eight-turn experts before Fang’s match against Hu Yunlong began.

Fang Qianyuan faced Hu Yunlong, who used a water wall and ice arrows to control the platform and attack from a distance. Fang advanced despite the apparent disadvantage, provoking Hu Yunlong into a decisive volley of five arrows, and the match’s outcome remained unresolved.

• Hu Yunlong retreated to a corner and raised a Water Wall Technique to block Fang Qianyuan’s pursuit.
• Hu Yunlong fired Ice Arrows through the wall while Fang Qianyuan dodged them at the last moment.
• Fang Qianyuan recognized Hu Yunlong’s strategy and pointed out that maintaining it consumed too much spirit essence.
• Fang Qianyuan advanced toward Hu Yunlong, surprising the spectators and drawing a five-arrow volley from Hu Yunlong.
• Hu Yunlong launched the arrows, including one powerful genuine attack, as both disciples committed to the deciding exchange.

Fang Qianyuan defeated Hu Yunlong and advanced to the final eight of the Sect Grand Tournament. After the remaining matches determined the other finalists, aristocratic clans brought him congratulatory gifts, and Gong Yuan said his reputation was about to soar.

• Fang Qianyuan shattered Hu Yunlong's ice and water defenses with Qi Blade Storm, forcing Hu Yunlong off the platform and winning the match.
• Fang Qianyuan celebrated reaching the final eight, while aristocratic clans took notice and ordered their people to investigate his background and prepare gifts.
• Zhou Tong defeated Luo Yan, Liu Yeye defeated Lü Hao, and An Yiyang and Xie Yiming won their matches.
• Yi Huale won the final match, giving Luoqiu Academy two disciples in the final eight.
• Gong Yuan brought Fang Qianyuan to meet a crowd of aristocratic clan stewards, who presented him with gifts and promised to visit again.
• Gong Yuan and the others told Fang Qianyuan that his name was about to soar to fame.

After reaching the final eight, Fang Qianyuan received lavish congratulatory gifts from powerful clans and shared some with his fellow disciples. As more visitors arrived, he learned that Sun Zhuo’s gift might signal that Jiang Yunfeng, the Lord of Ten Thousand Miles, wanted to take him as a disciple.

• Fang Qianyuan accepted the clans’ gifts after Elder Gong and Ning Yuerong advised him to treat them as goodwill while avoiding commitments that could hinder his cultivation.
• Fang Qianyuan shared pills, clothes, food, and curios with the academy disciples, and sent Ye Tianming a whole bottle of Qi-Nourishing Pills.
• Ye Tianming angrily told Ba Ming to throw away the gifts, but Ba Ming kept them; Ye Tianming noticed and left without comment.
• The next day, Fang Qianyuan accepted gifts from more distant factions and the Universal Trade Association, while wondering why Sun Zhuo had sent him one.
• Gong Yuan explained that Sun Zhuo was a senior brother of Fang Qianyuan’s and suggested that his master, Jiang Yunfeng, the Lord of Ten Thousand Miles, might want to take Fang Qianyuan as a disciple.

Gong Yuan explained the status and privileges of true disciples to Fang Qianyuan and advised him to handle the Lord of Ten Thousand Miles’ apparent interest with caution. At the quarterfinals, Fang Qianyuan learned he would face Yi Huale and declared his intention to keep winning.

• Gong Yuan told Fang Qianyuan that true disciples studied under Earth Rank Experts, enjoyed great authority and freedom, and might govern the sect.
• Gong Yuan speculated that the Lord of Ten Thousand Miles might want to take Fang Qianyuan as a disciple and warned him not to discuss the possibility with outsiders.
• Fang Qianyuan reviewed the quarterfinal matchups, which paired him against Yi Huale of the Luoqiu Academy.
• Gong Yuan described Yi Huale’s Flying Needle Flower, poison-coated needles, and Thousand Needle Rain technique, which had defeated Wu Yan.
• Fang Qianyuan said Yi Huale’s methods would not frighten him because he still wanted to win.

Zhou Tong, Meng Du, and Liu Yeye won their matches, while Fang Qianyuan prepared to face Yi Huale. Fang Qianyuan opened the fourth match with an attack, but Yi Huale summoned vines to impede him and then called forth another spirit creature.

• Zhou Tong defeated An Yiyang with a sudden secret-hand strike, earning Shenmen Academy’s first victory.
• Meng Du poisoned Sun Liang without being bitten by his snake shadows and won after Sun Liang conceded.
• Liu Yeye bound Xie Yiming with her Azure Sky Subduing Dragon Chain, draining his spirit essence and winning their match.
• Fang Qianyuan entered the platform to face Yi Huale as the fourth match began.
• Fang Qianyuan charged with Shadow Step, but Yi Huale spread Ox-Sinew Vines across the ground and summoned a Flying Needle Flower.

Fang Qianyuan battled Yi Huale, who used grafted flying needle flowers to attack with poisonous, flaming needles. Fang revealed his bear spirit power, then switched back to the gale berserker wolf and prepared to unleash Mountain Shattering Gang.

• Fang Qianyuan used Qi Blade Storm to shred Yi Huale’s vines and deflect the first wave of poisoned needles.
• Yi Huale grafted two flying needle flowers together, combining their fire and poison abilities, and launched Meteoric Fire Rain at Fang Qianyuan.
• Fang Qianyuan realized the burning needles were spreading poisonous fumes, but Yi Huale’s attacks and vines kept him from closing in.
• Fang Qianyuan activated bear spirit power, resisted the needles, and charged through the vines as the crowd recognized his bear spirit techniques.
• Fang Qianyuan shattered the platform floor, switched to the gale berserker wolf, and prepared to unleash the Human Rank secret art Mountain Shattering Gang.

Fang Qianyuan survived Yi Huale’s close-range attack, countered and destroyed his spirit creature, then faced Yi Huale’s transformed, needle-firing secret art. As the poison threatened to overwhelm him, the Mysterious Treasure Pill purged it from his body.

• Fang Qianyuan deliberately took Yi Huale’s flying needles while Yi Huale’s spirit essence entered a lull, then struck him and destroyed the flame flying needle flower with Raging Wind Chain Slash.
• Fang Qianyuan’s wounds rapidly healed as spectators and guests recognized his accelerated regeneration and speculated about his bloodline.
• Yi Huale activated a secret art that grafted six needle sacs onto his body, letting him fire flying needles more nimbly and fiercely.
• Fang Qianyuan blocked Yi Huale’s needles but felt the poison worsening until the Mysterious Treasure Pill purged it completely.

Fang Qianyuan faced Yi Huale’s forbidden, self-damaging ultimate technique and perfected his own Air Blade Storm under pressure, winning the match. Yi Huale was left critically injured as the crowd reacted to Fang Qianyuan’s overwhelming power.

• Yi Huale used Essence-Blood Spirit Offering to unleash Thousand Needle Rain, accepting severe harm to himself in an attempt to defeat Fang Qianyuan.
• Fang Qianyuan revealed that he had held back earlier because he wanted to see Yi Huale’s strongest technique.
• Fang Qianyuan perfected Air Blade Storm and used its tornado of wind blades to shred the flying needles and flames and overwhelm Yi Huale.
• The stewards interrupted the attack and declared Fang Qianyuan the winner while rushing to save the gravely wounded Yi Huale.
• Jiang Yunfeng watched from the stands and wondered whether taking Fang Qianyuan as a disciple might bring unexpected complications.

After Fang Qianyuan’s victory secured Cang Mountain Academy a place in the top four, Sun Zhuo offered him a chance to become Jiang Yunfeng’s second True Disciple. Fang Qianyuan remained undecided, and the chapter ended with the semifinal matchups posted, naming Liu Yeye as his opponent.

• Fang Qianyuan’s victory moved Cang Mountain Academy into the top four, and the disciples celebrated while checking his injuries.
• Sun Zhuo told Fang Qianyuan that Jiang Yunfeng wanted him as a second True Disciple and described the resources and inheritance he could receive.
• Fang Qianyuan said he would consider the offer, and Gong Yuan agreed to investigate Jiang Yunfeng before advising him.
• Gong Yuan urged Fang Qianyuan to rest for his next battle, and the semifinals arrived on the eighteenth.
• Fang Qianyuan saw the posted matchups and learned he would face Liu Yeye of Luoqiu Academy.

Fang Qianyuan was matched against the heavily favored Liu Yeye for a place in the final, while Jiang Yunfeng and Huang Lingling wagered on their respective candidates. After Meng Du defeated Zhou Tong to become the first finalist, Fang Qianyuan and Liu Yeye stepped onto the platform to begin their semifinal.

• The Institute Master, Gong Yuan, and Cang Mountain Academy disciples worried that Fang Qianyuan could not overcome Liu Yeye, whose strength and tournament record made her the favorite.
• Jiang Yunfeng wagered a Myriad Treasures Pouch against Huang Lingling’s three portions of supreme-grade scarlet flame crystal, with each backing Fang Qianyuan or Liu Yeye respectively.
• Meng Du poisoned Zhou Tong through an unseen method, defeated him, and advanced to the Final Showdown.
• Fang Qianyuan and Liu Yeye took their places on the platform for the match to decide the other finalist.

Fang Qianyuan fought Liu Yeye in the semifinal, determined to win despite her superior cultivation and formidable vine techniques. After enduring her attacks, he used the Beast Mimicry Technique to rush toward her from an unexpected angle.

• Fang Qianyuan rejected the idea of merely going through the motions and resolved to defeat Liu Yeye.
• The gong sounded, and Liu Yeye surrounded herself with Iron Chain Vines as Fang Qianyuan charged in using Shadow Step.
• Liu Yeye's vines blocked Fang Qianyuan's attacks and lashed him, but his powerful physique let him keep fighting.
• Fang Qianyuan used the Beast Mimicry Technique, Wolf Rush Strike, and lunged at Liu Yeye from another side.

Fang Qianyuan switched from wolf to bear spirit powers, tore through Liu Yeye’s vine defenses, and demolished much of the Dueling Platform. He used the dust to conceal his next move and burst toward her with Wolf Fang Mountain-Breaking Gang.

• Fang Qianyuan charged at Liu Yeye but was caught in her layered vine defenses.
• Fang Qianyuan invoked the Rampaging Bear King’s power and tore apart the vines with his strength.
• Liu Yeye trapped Fang Qianyuan again, but he ripped free and advanced through her barriers, wrecking the Dueling Platform.
• Fang Qianyuan hid in the dust and gravel, then burst out at high speed to strike Liu Yeye with Wolf Fang Mountain-Breaking Gang.

Fang Qianyuan used Mountain-Breaking Gang enhanced by a Wolf Fang Armor-Piercing Talisman to wound Liu Yeye, then endured her counterattack and kept fighting as his strength recovered. Liu Yeye was gradually overwhelmed and conceded, ending their match.

• Fang Qianyuan pierced Liu Yeye's Vine Armor Shield with Mountain-Breaking Gang, wounding her with the Wolf Fang Armor-Piercing Talisman.
• Liu Yeye counterattacked with Azure Sky Subduing Dragon Chain, but Fang Qianyuan used Qi Blade Storm to shred the vines and escape her ultimate technique.
• Fang Qianyuan charged Liu Yeye again, and his stamina and spirit essence recovered as the fight continued.
• Jiang Yunfeng recognized that Liu Yeye was at a severe disadvantage, while Huang Lingling hoped she could still turn the match around.
• Liu Yeye grew increasingly suppressed by Fang Qianyuan's attacks and conceded.