Chapter Summaries

Xu Yang’s sister Xu Qing placed third in the Outer Sect Grand Competition and became Elder Changchun’s disciple, while Xu Yang was assigned to guard Moon Lake. After three months there, he learned that Zhang Hanzhou had reached the Heavenly Origin Realm and prepared to return to the Violet Sun Gate to reveal his own breakthrough.

• Gao Lin warned Xu Yang that Huo Xiaochэнь might obstruct his second dragon ascension, but Xu Yang remained unconcerned.
• Xu Qing revealed her marrow-cleansing cultivation at the Outer Sect Grand Competition, took third place, and became Elder Changchun’s disciple.
• Xu Yang held a banquet to celebrate Xu Qing and publicly establish her as his younger sister.
• Elder Firecloud assigned Xu Yang to garrison Moon Lake, where he spent three months cultivating and hunting exotic beasts.
• Gao Lin told Xu Yang that Zhang Hanzhou had reached the Heavenly Origin Realm and that Li Chuyang and Jiang Fan were attempting breakthroughs.
• Xu Yang told Gao Lin that his marrow cleansing was nearly perfected and planned to return to the Violet Sun Gate and later announce his Heavenly Origin breakthrough.

Xu Yang returned to the Violet Sun Gate after perfecting his marrow cleansing and received wind spirit liquid from Elder Firecloud to aid his breakthrough. He sold spirit iron at the Ghost Tower, unaware that its Lord suspected him and planned to confront him.

• Xu Yang decided to save his remaining Martial Dao Longevity Points and reviewed his progress in several martial arts.
• Lu Wei took over Xu Yang's guard duty at Moon Lake, and Xu Yang returned to the Violet Sun Gate.
• Xu Yang told Elder Firecloud he had perfected his marrow cleansing, and Elder Firecloud gave him two drops of wind spirit liquid for his future breakthrough.
• Lu Ren announced that he had forged a Spirit Weapon, drawing the attention and congratulations of Blazing Fire Peak's disciples and leaders.
• Xu Yang took spirit iron to the Ghost Tower and exchanged it for fourteen spirit herbs, keeping his identity concealed.
• The Ghost Tower shopkeeper told the Ghost Tower Lord that Xu Yang might be the young martial artist from their previous encounter, and the Lord decided to meet him after the trade.

Xu Yang lured the Ghost Tower's master out of Azure Sun City after publicly accusing the Ghost Tower of trying to rob him. In the forest, he revealed his strength and overwhelmed the tower master, who tried to flee as Xu Yang launched another attack.

• Xu Yang packed away the Spirit Herbs and shouted that the Ghost Tower had tried to rob him, drawing public criticism and forcing the tower master to pursue him.
• Xu Yang led the tower master far from Azure Sun City into a dense forest, where the tower master admitted he wanted the Spirit Herbs and offered to overlook their past conflict.
• Xu Yang revealed his Golden Astral Energy and Immovable King Body, prompting the tower master to recognize him as Xu Yang of the Violet Sun Gate and suspect he had killed Song Yushao and Liu Qingyuan.
• Xu Yang struck the tower master with a powerful punch, badly injuring him and making him realize he was outmatched.
• The tower master decided to flee, but Xu Yang activated the Eight Fiends Subduing Dragon Force and charged after him with a golden fist.

Xu Yang overwhelmed the Ghost Tower Lord with Eight Fiends Subduing Dragon Force and then unleashed the Heavenly Origin Martial Art Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist. The Ghost Tower Lord was left severely wounded and dismembered as Xu Yang continued his assault.

• The Ghost Tower Lord drew his Spirit Weapon Treasure Saber, but Xu Yang’s fist bent the blade, weakened its spiritual essence, and knocked it from his grip.
• Xu Yang shattered both men’s protective astral energy and struck the Ghost Tower Lord in the chest, sending him flying and collapsing his martial dao phenomenon.
• The Ghost Tower Lord begged for his life by invoking his status, but Xu Yang refused to spare the ambusher and summoned the Giant Tortoise phantom.
• Xu Yang used Fist Suppresses Mountains, breaking the Ghost Tower Lord’s arms and hurling him through the air.
• The Ghost Tower Lord forcibly reconnected his broken arms, but Xu Yang knocked him to the ground and smashed both arms off, leaving bloody wounds across his chest.

Xu Yang killed the Ghost Tower Master, then returned to the Violet Sun Gate and announced that he would enter seclusion to attempt the heavenly origin realm. As other disciples began their own breakthroughs, Qi Xuancheng failed another attempt and learned that he had fallen behind Zhang Hanzhou, Xu Yang, and the others.

• Xu Yang killed the Ghost Tower Master in the Cloud Ridge Mountains, took his belongings, and returned to the Violet Sun Gate without attacking the Ghost Tower in Azure Sun City.
• After news spread that Lu Ren had forged a Spirit Weapon, Xu Yang announced that he would enter seclusion to attempt the heavenly origin realm, prompting Lu Ren to begin attempting major marrow cleansing.
• Xu Yang drank wind spirit liquid to strengthen his cultivation, then used his seclusion to train his body and practice several martial arts.
• Sun Tao announced that he would attempt the heavenly origin realm, while disciples such as Lu Ren and Han Feng lost ground in the race for the second dragon ascension.
• Qi Xuancheng failed another attempt to break through, and Qi Tai told him that Zhang Hanzhou had succeeded a month earlier and that Xu Yang, Li Chuyang, Jiang Fan, and Sun Tao had also begun attempting heavenly origin.

While Xu Yang remained in seclusion, Sun Tao, Jiang Fan, and Li Chuyang each broke through to the Heavenly Origin Realm, leaving Xu Yang as the only Violet Sun Gate disciple still attempting it. Zhang Hanzhou warned Ye Qiuling against partnering with Xu Yang for the second dragon ascension because Huo Xiaochэнь planned to target him.

• Qi Tai ordered Qi Xuancheng to temper himself in the Cloud Ridge Mountains after his failed breakthrough and said Jiang Fan and Li Chuyang had better chances than Xu Yang.
• Zhang Hanzhou urged Ye Qiuling to join forces with him for the second dragon ascension and warned that Huo Xiaochэнь intended to obstruct Xu Yang.
• After a month and a half in seclusion, Xu Yang sensed Sun Tao breaking through to the Heavenly Origin Realm.
• Elder Gongshu, Yue Zhong, Elder Firecloud, and Elder Tiefu came to Sun Tao's courtyard, and Sun Tao later received congratulations and a spirit weapon from the sect.
• Jiang Fan broke through, and Li Chuyang followed seven days later, while Xu Yang remained in seclusion and his rivals hoped he would fail.

After nearly three months of seclusion, Xu Yang refined his final spirit herb and broke through to the Heavenly Origin Realm. His breakthrough stunned the Violet Sun Gate disciples and left his rivals scrambling to react as Sun Tao and Xu Yang’s friends guarded his courtyard.

• Xu Yang refined his last spirit herb, reviewed his cultivation progress, and decided to end his seclusion.
• Lu Ren announced that he had reached major marrow cleansing, while Xiong Kun claimed Xu Yang had probably failed to break through.
• Yang Song rushed to the dining hall to report that Xu Yang had broken through and was drawing in the power of heaven and earth.
• Gao Lin and Zhu Yuan hurried to Xu Yang’s courtyard to protect him, and the dining hall crowd followed.
• Sun Tao guarded the courtyard as everyone felt the power of heaven and earth surge toward Xu Yang and realized he had reached the Heavenly Origin Realm.

Xu Yang successfully broke through to the Heavenly Origin Realm without a Heavenly Spirit Pill, shocking the Violet Sun Gate and those who had previously doubted or slighted him. As his achievement spread, the Ding family punished Ding Yuan and ordered him to apologize to Xu Yang.

• Sun Tao and Gao Lin guarded Xu Yang through his breakthrough, and Zhu Yuan hurried to tell Elder Firecloud the news.
• Elder Firecloud celebrated Xu Yang's success as Yue Zhong, Elder Tiefu, and Elder Gongshu arrived and recognized his achievement.
• News of Xu Yang's breakthrough reached Li Chuyang, Zhang Yong, Tao Huaijin, and Zhou Yong, prompting regret and discussion of Xu Yang's talent.
• Ding Yuan regretted rejecting Xu Yang, and Ding Qiang informed him that he had been stripped of his position and assigned to guard Medicine Mountain for three years.
• Ding Wu told Ding Yuan to prepare a lavish gift and personally apologize to Xu Yang once he emerged from seclusion.

After Xu Yang broke through to the Heavenly Origin Realm, disciples and influential figures visited to congratulate him and bring gifts. Xu Qing became Elder Changchun’s Personal Disciple, and the chapter ended with Ding Yuan of the Ding Family requesting an audience with Xu Yang.

• Yuan Gang regretted driving Xu Yang away, while Zhang Hanzhou marveled that Xu Yang had reached Heavenly Origin on his first attempt.
• Xu Qing learned of her brother’s breakthrough, and Elder Changchun formally accepted her as a Personal Disciple.
• Xu Yang emerged from seclusion, received congratulations from Xu Qing, Sun Tao, Zhu Yuan, and other disciples, and welcomed a steady stream of visitors bearing gifts.
• Lu Tianchen sent Xu Yang a tiger mastiff cub through Cui Mingchong, and Xu Yang gave it to Xu Qing after learning it could grow into a powerful guard beast.
• Ding Yuan of the Ding Family arrived and requested an audience with Xu Yang.

After Xu Yang reached the Heavenly Origin Realm, former acquaintances came to congratulate him and make amends, while the Violet Sun Gate rewarded him with a Spirit Weapon and a saber art. He learned he would soon need to travel to Cloud Province for second dragon ascension and began preparing for the journey.

• Ding Yuan personally apologized to Xu Yang and gave him spirit iron, which Xu Yang accepted while declaring the old grievance settled.
• Lu Ren brought Xu Yang a congratulatory gift and regretted that the Huang Family had mistreated him.
• Elder Firecloud gave Xu Yang the Blazing Separation Saber and the Hell-Prison Heaven-Slaying Art, then recommended the Swimming Dragon Sky-Escaping Steps as his next technique.
• Elder Firecloud explained that Xu Yang would need to travel to Cloud Province ahead of second dragon ascension to register and await the Heavenly Strategy Academy's notice.
• Xu Yang returned to his courtyard, planned to prepare Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pills for Xu Qing, and began practicing the Hell-Prison Heaven-Slaying Art from its foundational techniques.

Xu Yang improved his Hell-Prison Heaven-Slaying Art, gathered contribution points, and visited the Inheritance Tower to exchange for new techniques and a pill recipe. He left Elder Wei to prepare his selections and headed to Medicine King Peak to obtain the contribution points he still needed.

• Xu Yang advanced the Hell-Prison Heaven-Slaying Art to the beginner stage of its fourth level and spent four hundred points trying to improve his bone root.
• Xu Yang counted nearly thirty-eight hundred contribution points from his congratulatory gifts and went to the Inheritance Tower.
• Elder Wei explained the costs and requirements of the Diamond Glazed Body and Swimming Dragon Sky-Escaping Steps, and warned Xu Yang about the demands of Heavenly Origin body tempering.
• Xu Yang asked Elder Wei to prepare the Swimming Dragon Sky-Escaping Steps, the Diamond Glazed Body, and the Spirit Origin Pill recipe, then left for Medicine King Peak to get more contribution points.
• Elder Wei fumed that Xu Yang was spending resources on another pill recipe but entered the Inheritance Tower to prepare his selections.

Xu Yang moved to Medicine King Peak to study new martial arts and guide Xu Qing, while Li Chuyang comprehended a martial dao phenomenon and Qi Xuancheng attempted another breakthrough in the Cloud Ridge Mountains. The chapter left Xu Yang progressing in his training and receiving an invitation to meet Bai Shaoling.

• Xu Yang redeemed the Spirit Origin Pill recipe, Swimming Dragon Sky-Escaping Steps, and Diamond Glazed Body, then moved to Medicine King Peak to stay with Xu Qing.
• Xu Yang studied his new martial arts, spent points trying to develop a spirit bone, and trained Xu Qing in the Immovable King Body; she reached minor marrow cleansing after half a month.
• Li Chuyang comprehended a martial dao phenomenon after mastering the Three Yin Silver Palace Profound Astral True Art and wanted to challenge Jiang Fan and Xu Yang.
• After fighting exotic beasts in the Cloud Ridge Mountains for nearly two months, Qi Xuancheng judged himself ready to break through and drew in the power of heaven and earth.
• Xu Yang reviewed his training progress and continued guiding Xu Qing, then received an invitation from Bai Shaoling to attend a gathering at the Wind-Listening Pavilion.

Xu Yang prepared to leave the Violet Sun Gate for the Second Dragon Ascension and reassured Xu Qing that he would bring her to join him later. At Bai Shaoling’s gathering, Qi Xuancheng revealed his breakthrough to Heavenly Origin, and the disciples discussed forming an alliance for the selection, though Li Chuyang refused to prioritize the weak.

• Xu Yang told Xu Qing he would soon leave for the Second Dragon Ascension, promised to bring her to him once he was established, and advised her to stay at the Violet Sun Gate.
• Bai Shaoling gathered Sun Tao, Ye Qiuling, Li Chuyang, Xu Yang, Jiang Fan, and others at Wind-Listening Pavilion to discuss the Second Dragon Ascension.
• Qi Xuancheng arrived after breaking through to Heavenly Origin, surprising the gathering and earning congratulations from the others.
• Bai Shaoling served precious Spirit Wine that Xu Yang recognized as especially effective at strengthening the mind.
• Bai Shaoling proposed that the disciples join forces for the unpredictable Heavenly Strategy Academy selection and give fellow disciples priority.
• Li Chuyang said he would rely on experts arranged by his family and had no interest in looking after the weak, though he might help if he had strength to spare.

At Bai Shaoling’s banquet, Zhang Hanzhou’s warning that Huo Xiaochен would target Xu Yang shattered the proposed alliance for the second dragon ascension. Xu Yang and several others withdrew, leaving Bai Shaoling furious and Zhang Hanzhou alone as the gathering fell apart.

• Bai Shaoling invited the disciples to form an alliance, but Li Chuyang refused to join.
• Zhang Hanzhou warned that Huo Xiaochен planned to target Xu Yang, and Qi Xuancheng urged Xu Yang to withdraw.
• Xu Yang withdrew from the alliance, followed by Jiang Fan, who refused to leave Xu Yang unsupported.
• Sun Tao also withdrew to stand with Xu Yang and said he wanted to test Huo Xiaochен himself.
• Qi Xuancheng and Ye Qiuling withdrew, leaving Zhang Hanzhou as the only disciple still seeking an alliance.
• Li Chuyang, Xu Yang, Sun Tao, Jiang Fan, Qi Xuancheng, and Ye Qiuling left the pavilion, and Bai Shaoling angrily confronted Zhang Hanzhou.

Xu Yang perfected the Immovable King Body, refined Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pills for Xu Qing, and learned that he would soon leave for Cloud Province to enter the second dragon ascension. Elder Firecloud promised to protect Xu Qing and began entrusting Xu Yang with another matter.

• Bai Shaoling argued that the group should ally with Jiang Fan, while Zhang Hanzhou worried that doing so would put them on the Marquis's Residence's side.
• Xu Yang entered seclusion and drew the Immovable King Phenomenon into his body, perfecting the Immovable King Body with the help of Jiang Fan's spirit herb.
• After further tempering his physique, Xu Yang exchanged resources for the herbs needed to refine Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pills and made a batch of ten in Azure Sun City.
• Xu Yang returned to the Violet Sun Gate and gave all ten pills to Xu Qing, then met with Elder Firecloud, who discussed his cultivation and the upcoming second dragon ascension.
• Elder Firecloud told Xu Yang he would leave for Cloud Province in five days and promised to protect Xu Qing before reaching into his robes to entrust Xu Yang with another matter.

Elder Firecloud urged Xu Yang to seek help against Huo Xiaochен, but Xu Yang accepted the letter without intending to use it. After a farewell gathering, Xu Yang and the other Second Dragon Ascension candidates left the Violet Sun Gate for Cloud Province, where Sun Tao asked Lu Ren why he was traveling with them.

• Elder Firecloud gave Xu Yang a letter to take to Xiong Wan Hai for help resolving the threat from Huo Xiaochен, and Xu Yang agreed while secretly deciding not to seek Xiong Wan Hai out.
• Xu Yang told Xu Qing they would leave for Cloud Province in five days, then took her and Blazing Separation to Azure Sun City with Sun Tao and their companions.
• At the Violet Sun Gate's send-off, Xu Yang and Sun Tao bade farewell to their fellow disciples, and Lu Ren unexpectedly joined the group bound for Cloud Province.
• Zhang Jingyuan led the gathered disciples in a farewell toast before Bai Shaoling and Yue Zhong led the travelers out of the Violet Sun Gate.
• As the group rode toward Cloud Province, Sun Tao asked Lu Ren why he was going with them.

Lu Ren learned that his weapon forging talent could earn him a place at the Heavenly Strategy Academy, while the Violet Sun Gate party traveled toward Cloud Province and discussed the Second Dragon Ascension. They encountered riders from Yellow Maple Valley, who joined them for protection against the Demon Sect.

• Bai Shaoling explained that the Heavenly Strategy Academy had agreed to test Lu Ren's weapon forging abilities and would likely admit him if they proved genuine.
• Yue Zhong warned the party that the Demon Sect ambushed candidates traveling to the Second Dragon Ascension, and the group reached the Violet Sun Gate Estate in Fufeng Commandery.
• Li Chuyang and Jiang Yan left to visit their families, then rejoined the party at dawn as it continued toward Cloud Province.
• Yue Zhong explained that thousands of young Heavenly Origin Martial Artists competed in the Second Dragon Ascension every five years, with the Heavenly Strategy Academy accepting 360 disciples.
• Li Chuyang criticized Azure Sun City's great lineages for sending their geniuses to stronger sects instead of supporting the Violet Sun Gate.
• Yue Zhong identified a group of riders as allies from Yellow Maple Valley, who joined the party to guard against Demon Sect attacks.

Xu Yang and the Violet Sun Gate disciples traveled with Yellow Maple Valley toward the Second Dragon Ascension, meeting rival geniuses and learning about the formidable competition awaiting them. After entering Cloud Province, they saw a vast city on the horizon.

• Xu Yang met Huang You and Yellow Maple Valley's disciples, including Lin Jingyu, Huang Xiao, and Luo Ying, and declined repeated invitations to spar with Lin Jingyu.
• The two sects traveled together, and the disciples discussed the Second Dragon Ascension, learning that Li Feiyun had comprehended a Martial Dao Phenomenon and that several Spirit Bone Prodigies would compete.
• Xu Yang trained during the journey and reached the beginner stage of the Swimming Dragon Sky-Escaping Steps ten days after leaving the Violet Sun Gate.
• The group crossed into Cloud Province, where spiritual energy grew denser and more martial artists bound for the event appeared along the road.
• After another half-day of travel, Xu Yang and the others saw a huge city on the horizon.

Xu Yang and the Violet Sun Gate group arrived in Cloud Province City and went to the Heavenly Strategy Academy to register for its selection. After the official examined Xu Yang’s information, he was surprised by Xu Yang’s age, cultivation, and youthful appearance.

• Yue Zhong warned the group that Cloud Province City was full of powerful martial artists and urged them to act carefully.
• The group reached Dragon Ascension Street and stayed at the Violet Sun Gate’s courtyard before setting out for the academy the next morning.
• Xu Yang and the others climbed to the Heavenly Strategy Academy and waited several hours to register for the selection.
• Zhang Hanzhou, Ye Qiuling, Qi Xuancheng, Li Chuyang, Sun Tao, and Jiang Fan registered before Xu Yang, with Li Chuyang receiving a token without the usual checks.
• Xu Yang told the academy official that he was twenty-six, had begun practicing martial arts at eighteen, and had reached the heavenly origin first layer; the official remarked on his youth-preserving art.

Xu Yang began cultivating the painful Diamond Glazed Body and learned that Lu Ren had joined the Heavenly Strategy Academy as a special exception. As the selection approached, Huo Xiaochен blocked the Violet Sun Gate group on Dragon Ascension Street and demanded to know which of them was Xu Yang.

• An Yuan tested Xu Yang’s bone age, confirmed he was twenty-six, and recognized his Golden Astral Skill; Xu Yang registered for the Heavenly Strategy Academy and left the hall.
• Xu Yang absorbed a piece of spirit iron to reach the introductory stage of the Diamond Glazed Body, enduring intense pain as his body strengthened.
• Xu Yang learned that Lu Ren had been admitted to the Heavenly Strategy Academy as a special exception, while Sun Tao and the others doubted Lu Ren would help them.
• Xu Yang spent the following days cultivating as disciples from other sects gathered on Dragon Ascension Street for the selection.
• Huo Xiaochен blocked the Violet Sun Gate group and asked which of them was Xu Yang, while Lin Jingyu’s companions refused to intervene.