Chapter Summaries

Yue Zhong and Bai Shaoling failed to find help for Xu Yang against Huo Xiaochен, while news of Chu Nangui’s brutal Dragon Ascension rules heightened the candidates’ fears. Xu Yang refused to pay Gu Qingfeng for protection, but Liu Rumei and Zhang Jun made their own deal with him, leaving the alliance intact.

• Lü Fengxing and Yuan Chengji admitted they could not influence the Xiao Family, and Bai Shaoling dismissed them after Yuan Chengji warned that Chu Nangui would set the Dragon Ascension rules.
• Yue Zhong and Bai Shaoling explained that Chu Nangui’s harsh selections had killed or eliminated even geniuses with perfect Bone Roots, leaving Xu Yang and Sun Tao worried about facing Huo Xiaochен.
• As rumors spread and potential allies grew scarce, Xu Yang continued cultivating and feared that breaking through to the second level of Heavenly Origin would expose his hidden talent.
• Zhang Jun told Xu Yang and Sun Tao that Gu Qingfeng offered protection for thirty credits per month, but Xu Yang and Sun Tao refused to pay him.
• Zhang Jun later reported that he and Liu Rumei had agreed to pay Gu Qingfeng, who would help them fight either Huo Xiaochен or Lin Jingyu, while the alliance with Xu Yang and Sun Tao remained in place.

Xu Yang and the other Dragon Ascension disciples gathered at the Heavenly Strategy Academy for the selection, where Chu Nangui announced a dangerous free-for-all. Huo Xiaochэнь threatened Xu Yang’s group, but Xu Yang refused to withdraw as the first participant conceded.

• Sun Tao told Xu Yang that the Second Dragon Ascension selection would begin in seven days, and they went to the Stele Tower to confirm the date.
• Xu Yang and Sun Tao joined Zhang Jun and Liu Rumei at the academy, where Gu Qingfeng agreed to protect Zhang Jun and Liu Rumei for academic credits and challenged Huo Xiaochэнь and Lin Jingyu.
• Chu Nangui arrived and ordered the spectators to clear space, then declared that all participants would fight inside a boundary until they were eliminated or conceded.
• Huo Xiaochэнь showed his killing intent toward Xu Yang’s group, while Lin Jingyu urged Xu Yang to withdraw; Xu Yang refused.
• One participant withdrew after Chu Nangui gave the competitors ten breaths to decide whether to accept the rules.

Chu Nangui forced the selection candidates into a timed battle to eliminate half of them, and Xu Yang’s group clashed with Huo Xiaochэнь’s allies. Xu Yang shattered Luo Ying’s arm with a ruthless punch, leaving Huang Xiao furious as the fight continued.

• Chu Nangui revealed that the initial threat of a free-for-all had been a test, then sealed the cultivation of candidates who had reached Second Heavenly Origin.
• Chu Nangui ordered the candidates to eliminate half their number in fifteen minutes or all would be disqualified, and the battle began.
• Huo Xiaochэнь, Lin Jingyu, and their allies attacked Xu Yang’s group while Sun Tao charged into their ranks and struck down an Iron Sword Gate disciple.
• Huang Xiao and Luo Ying confronted Xu Yang, and he answered Luo Ying’s attack with a powerful punch despite Huang Xiao striking him in the side.
• Xu Yang shattered Luo Ying’s arm and sent her flying, prompting Huang Xiao to angrily accuse him of striking ruthlessly.

Xu Yang crippled and forced the surrender of Yellow Maple Valley’s disciples while Sun Tao kept Lin Jingyu from intervening. As Xu Yang moved to join Sun Tao, Li Yunzhou launched a sneak attack, but Xu Yang evaded it and blocked his sword.

• Xu Yang struck Huang Xiao and Luo Ying, leaving them gravely injured, while Bai Shaoling defended his actions against Huang You.
• Sun Tao intercepted Lin Jingyu and fought him, giving Xu Yang time to demand Huang Xiao’s and Luo Ying’s surrender.
• Xu Yang forced Huang Xiao and Luo Ying, along with the two other Yellow Maple Valley disciples, to surrender, leaving Lin Jingyu as the only one of them still fighting.
• Xu Yang prepared to join Sun Tao against Lin Jingyu, but Li Yunzhou attacked him from behind with a crimson sword.
• Xu Yang used Swimming Dragon Sky-Escaping Steps to evade the strike and blocked Li Yunzhou’s sword with the Blazing Separation Saber.

Xu Yang killed Li Yunzhou after Li Yunzhou tried to assassinate him and then fled their fight. The arena reacted in shock, while Shen Qianshan confronted Fang Xinghai over his role in the attack.

• Li Yunzhou ambushed Xu Yang but failed to break through his powerful physique, then fought him after Lin Jingyu urged him to kill Xu Yang.
• Xu Yang used the Golden Astral Skill to overpower Li Yunzhou, who tried to escape after realizing he was losing.
• Xu Yang used the Swimming Dragon Sky-Escaping Steps and Hell-Prison Heaven-Slaying Art to catch Li Yunzhou and cut off his head.
• Sun Tao praised Xu Yang, while Luo Ying, Chu Nangui, Lin Jingyu, and others reacted to Li Yunzhou's death.
• Tao Xiancai suggested Li Yunzhou had died because he exposed his back while fleeing, and Shen Qianshan accused Fang Xinghai of ordering the attack.

Xu Yang and Sun Tao fought Lin Jingyu in the arena while Shen Qianshan expelled Fang Xinghai from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion for arranging Li Yunzhou’s attack on Xu Yang. Xu Yang’s powerful physique gave him the advantage over Lin Jingyu, leaving the spectators shocked and the fight unresolved.

• Shen Qianshan blamed Fang Xinghai for Li Yunzhou’s death and ordered him to leave the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, while Tao Xiancai refused to help him.
• Xu Yang charged Lin Jingyu, whose fists shattered Sun Tao’s sword light and whose body proved immune to Xu Yang’s saber.
• Xu Yang put away his saber and joined Sun Tao in attacking Lin Jingyu, using his Mountain-Shaking Hammer fist technique.
• Lin Jingyu activated the Heavenly Astral Tyrant Body and met Xu Yang’s punch with his palm, but the clash forced Lin Jingyu back three steps and injured him internally.
• Spectators marveled at Xu Yang’s Body Tempering strength, while Shen Qianshan remarked that Xu Yang’s age kept his talent below Lin Jingyu’s; Lin Jingyu struggled to believe Xu Yang’s physique was so powerful.

Xu Yang and Sun Tao joined forces against Lin Jingyu, whose confidence in lasting out the quarter-hour faltered as their attacks wore him down. Xu Yang revealed his perfected Mountain-Bearing Bear King Palm and struck Lin Jingyu hard enough to send him flying, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Xu Yang and Sun Tao attacked Lin Jingyu together, cutting him and driving him back while he insisted he could endure until time ran out.
• Huang Xiao and Luo Ying pleaded for Lin Jingyu’s survival, but Kong Cheng could not intervene while occupied with Liu Rumei.
• Chu Nangui warned that too few participants had been eliminated, prompting many fighters to attack in earnest.
• Xu Yang revealed his perfected Mountain-Bearing Bear King Palm, and Lin Jingyu recognized the golden bear as a martial dao phenomenon.
• Lin Jingyu struck at Xu Yang and Sun Tao simultaneously, but Xu Yang’s palm overpowered him and sent him flying.
• Xu Yang pursued Lin Jingyu and struck again.

Xu Yang and Sun Tao overwhelmed Lin Jingyu during the Second Dragon Ascension selection, leaving him gravely wounded and on the verge of death. Xu Yang demanded that Lin Jingyu surrender, but Lin Jingyu could barely speak as Xu Yang raised his palm again.

• Xu Yang struck Lin Jingyu with his golden palm, and Sun Tao followed with a sword slash that opened a deep wound beneath Lin Jingyu’s armpit.
• Huang You pleaded with Yue Zhong and Bai Shaoling to stop the fight, but they refused to interfere with the selection.
• Xu Yang broke Lin Jingyu’s arm with another palm strike while Huo Xiaochэнь failed to get past Feng Qinggu to help him.
• Sun Tao attacked Lin Jingyu, and Xu Yang then smashed his ribs, crushing his internal organs and sending him into a crater.
• Xu Yang warned Lin Jingyu to surrender, then raised his palm again when Lin Jingyu could barely respond.

Xu Yang and Sun Tao defeated Lin Jingyu, who surrendered and died from his injuries, then joined Gu Qingfeng in nearly killing Huo Xiaochен before the trial’s time limit forced the fight to stop. The survivors registered, while elders collected the dead and Huo Xiaochен vowed to avenge Lin Jingyu.

• Lin Jingyu surrendered after Xu Yang and Sun Tao defeated him, and he died as Luo Ying and the others watched.
• Xu Yang and Sun Tao pursued Huo Xiaochен with Gu Qingfeng, killing several of his allies as the rest fled.
• The three attackers struck Huo Xiaochен together just as Chu Nangui called time, leaving him injured but alive under Chu Nangui’s battlefield-wide suppression.
• Kong Shuyuan confirmed that Lin Jingyu could not be saved, and Huo Xiaochен vowed to avenge him.
• Elders arrived to treat survivors and retrieve bodies, while Xu Yang, Sun Tao, Gu Qingfeng, and the other trial survivors went to register.

Xu Yang and Sun Tao reunited with Jiang Fan and Li Chuyang after the melee, where everyone learned that Xu Yang and Sun Tao had killed Lin Jingyu and injured Huo Xiaochેન. The survivors gathered after passing the round, and Zhang Hanzhou mistook Xu Yang and Sun Tao’s victory for luck.

• Jiang Fan and Li Chuyang arrived with their injured allies and renewed their rivalry, while Qi Xuancheng questioned how Xu Yang and Sun Tao had passed.
• Huo Xiaochેન and his companions arrived, and Fang Xu revealed that Lin Jingyu was dead.
• Fang Xu’s glance exposed Xu Yang and Sun Tao as the ones responsible, and Xu Yang claimed Lin Jingyu had merely succumbed to his injuries.
• Huo Xiaochેન silenced Qi Xuancheng as the crowd reacted to Lin Jingyu’s death and Xu Yang and Sun Tao’s victory.
• Wu Xiuyuan, Ye Qiuling, and Zhang Hanzhou joined Qi Xuancheng and Li Chuyang, and Zhang Hanzhou mocked Xu Yang and Sun Tao for supposedly getting lucky.

After Xu Yang and Sun Tao killed Lin Jingyu in the selection, their achievement stunned their rivals and won praise from the Violet Sun Gate, while their allies discussed the risks of their victories. News spread across Cloud Province City, and Xiong Wan Hai learned that Xu Yang had also killed Li Yunzhou and become a sensation.

• Zhang Hanzhou mocked Xu Yang and Sun Tao until Qi Xuancheng revealed that they had killed Lin Jingyu, shocking Zhang Hanzhou, Ye Qiuling, and Wu Xiuyuan.
• Chu Nangui ordered the survivors to rest and heal for three days before continuing the selection, and Yue Zhong and Bai Shaoling congratulated Xu Yang and Sun Tao.
• Sun Tao worried that killing Lin Jingyu and Li Yunzhou might bring trouble to the Violet Sun Gate, while Bai Shaoling and Jiang Fan reassured him but urged caution.
• News that Xu Yang had killed Li Yunzhou and joined Sun Tao in killing Lin Jingyu spread through Cloud Province City, making them the greatest dark horses of the Second Dragon Ascension.
• At the Kong Family, a servant told Xiong Wan Hai and Duan Ming about Xu Yang's victories, leaving both men stunned.

After Xu Yang killed Lin Jingyu, the Kong Family chose not to seek revenge and instead demanded compensation from the Xiao Family. Xu Yang learned the aftermath of the selection battle, then rejected the Myriad Treasures Pavilion’s apology gift as well as its offer to resume cooperation.

• Xiong Wan Hai prepared to visit Xu Yang but Duan Ming warned him that Lin Jingyu’s ties to the Kong Family made the timing dangerous.
• The Kong Family elders decided not to retaliate against Xu Yang, left revenge to the Xiao Family and Huo Xiaochен, and sought compensation from the Xiao Family for their losses.
• Jiang Yan reported that 183 contestants had died, including seven Cloud Ascension Rankings geniuses, and that Xu Yang and Sun Tao were expected to rise in the rankings.
• Xu Yang learned that the Spirit Bone Prodigies had entered the Heavenly Strategy Academy before the dangerous selection battle began.
• Tao Xiancai apologized on behalf of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion for Fang Xinghai’s role in Li Yunzhou’s attack and offered Xu Yang a gift and renewed cooperation.
• Xu Yang accepted the gift but declined the Myriad Treasures Pavilion’s offer to cooperate.

Xu Yang received an apology and a Spirit Origin Pill from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, then learned that Lu Ren was shaken by news of his victory over Lin Jingyu. Three days later, Xu Yang and his allies confronted Huo Xiaochэнь at Heavenly Strategy Academy, where Chu Nangui arrived just as they agreed to spare Kong Cheng.

• Xu Yang learned that Li Yunzhou had been sent to kill him, opened the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's gift, and saved the Spirit Origin Pill for a later breakthrough.
• Lu Ren heard that Xu Yang and Sun Tao had killed Lin Jingyu and driven Huo Xiaochэнь away, and returned to his courtyard feeling unable to surpass Xu Yang.
• Xu Yang gained points for killing Lin Jingyu and used five hundred points to improve his bone root, though his spirit bone still did not appear.
• Three days later, Xu Yang and his allies reached Heavenly Strategy Academy and agreed to target Huo Xiaochэнь and his group.
• Huo Xiaochэнь asked Xu Yang, Gu Qingfeng, and Sun Tao to spare Kong Cheng, and Gu Qingfeng agreed provided Kong Cheng did not attack them.
• Chu Nangui flew out of Heavenly Strategy Academy as the crowd watched the confrontation.

Xu Yang and the other candidates faced a mental cultivation trial at the enormous gateway, where martial dao phenomena could shield people from its pressure. He began charging candidates Spirit Currency to escort them through, leaving Zhang Hanzhou without help and securing two wealthy clients at a premium price.

• Chu Nangui began the second trial, and the gateway's pressure eliminated candidates while injuring one who forced his way through.
• The candidates discovered that people who had comprehended a martial dao phenomenon could help others withstand the pressure, and Chu Nangui allowed eliminated candidates another chance to enter with assistance.
• Sun Tao charged ten Spirit Currency to escort candidates through the gateway, while Wu Xiuyuan agreed to protect Ye Qiuling but refused Zhang Hanzhou.
• Zhang Hanzhou begged Xu Yang for help, but Xu Yang refused to escort him for free and reminded him how he had once sided against him.
• Xu Yang offered two places for twenty Spirit Currency each, and two wealthy candidates paid him to escort them to the summit.

Xu Yang passed the Heavenly Strategy Academy’s mental-strength trial while concealing how capable he was, then watched the contestants face a punishing physical-strength test with the Spirit Stele. The chapter left Qi Xuancheng having passed by leaving a one-inch imprint, while Xu Yang had yet to take his turn.

• Xu Yang watched ranked geniuses use their martial dao phenomena to escort others through the gateway, while Zhang Hanzhou was blasted back and failed the mental-strength trial.
• Xu Yang and Sun Tao crossed the gateway with their group, pretending to struggle despite finding the pressure manageable, and entered the academy after verification.
• Chu Nangui began the physical-strength trial and explained that contestants had to leave a one-inch fist imprint on the Spirit Stele without using astral energy.
• The first contestant struck too hard, shattered his hand, and failed; several later contestants passed, while ranked geniuses left deeper imprints.
• Li Chuyang and Jiang Fan each left three-inch imprints, Huo Xiaochен and Wu Xiuyuan left four-inch imprints, and Qi Xuancheng passed with a one-inch imprint.

Xu Yang and the other candidates tested their physical strength by striking the Spirit Stele. After Tu Gang and Lu Wei set the strongest marks, Xu Yang left a nearly five-inch impression, and the chapter ended with Li Chuyang eager to fight him while Huo Xiaochен dismissed his strength.

• Ye Qiuling, Liu Rumei, Zhang Jun, Gu Qingfeng, and Sun Tao each tested their strength on the Spirit Stele, with Sun Tao leaving a surprisingly shallow impression.
• Yang Ao struck the Spirit Stele and left a five-inch impression, setting a new high mark.
• Tu Gang revealed his formidable physique and left a fist impression more than six inches deep.
• Lu Wei matched Tu Gang's depth and slightly surpassed it with a more concentrated strike.
• Xu Yang suppressed his blood energy and left a nearly five-inch impression, placing behind Lu Wei and Tu Gang.
• Li Chuyang resolved to fight Xu Yang, while Huo Xiaochен remained confident he could defeat him.

Xu Yang passed the summit trial and faced resentment from Zhang Hanzhou, while Qi Xuancheng and Ye Qiuling tried to turn the others against him. The final selection trial began with candidates tasked with mastering a newly created nine-form fist technique, which Xu Yang studied without relying on his panel.

• Xu Yang concluded that he could leave a seven-inch-deep imprint in the Spirit Stele using his full strength, and fewer than five hundred candidates passed the summit trial.
• Zhang Hanzhou concealed his hatred of Xu Yang, while Xu Yang worried Zhang might take his anger out on Xu Qing.
• Qi Xuancheng and Ye Qiuling blamed Xu Yang for Zhang Hanzhou's elimination, but Xu Yang rebuked Ye Qiuling and Bai Shaoling defended him.
• The next day, Chu Nangui announced that the final trial would select 360 disciples based on their ability to comprehend and master all nine forms of the Eight Extremes Mountain-Crushing Fist.
• Xu Yang recognized the technique as a Heavenly Origin Martial Art and began studying its difficult inscriptions through his own comprehension.

Xu Yang deliberately delayed mastering the Eight Extremes Mountain-Crushing Fist to secure a respectable but inconspicuous place on the Cloud Ascension Rankings. After leaving the trial, he was approached by the Wei Family, which offered to recruit him as a guest official.

• Xu Yang mastered all nine forms of the Eight Extremes Mountain-Crushing Fist but stayed seated while Lu Wei, Yang Ao, Sun Tao, Gu Qingfeng, and others rose to be tested.
• Sun Tao surprised the crowd by mastering the technique, and Xu Yang suspected his comprehension had improved after absorbing an unknown spirit herb.
• As more competitors finished, some mocked Xu Yang for remaining behind, while Sun Tao believed Xu Yang was hiding his abilities.
• Xu Yang finally stood alongside Jiang Fan and Li Chuyang, aiming to place within the top thirty without attracting excessive attention.
• At dusk, Xu Yang and the others left the mountain, and the fifth elder of the Wei Family offered Xu Yang a position as a guest official.

Xu Yang rejected the Wei Family and other factions’ recruitment, choosing to pursue the final Dragon Platform without a marriage alliance. While the Heavenly Strategy Academy assessment continued, he secluded himself to perfect the Blood Prison Heart Saber Scripture, bringing it to its final steps.

• Xu Yang politely refused the Wei Family’s offer, and the other lineages decided not to approach him after hearing he would not join a faction.
• Yue Zhong and Bai Shaoling questioned Xu Yang and Sun Tao about turning down recruitment, but Jiang Fan suggested they were keeping their options open for the final Dragon Platform.
• Li Chuyang scoffed at their ambitions, and Jiang Fan asked whether he had already given up on reaching the final Dragon Platform.
• Bai Shaoling treated Xu Yang and the others to a banquet, while Zhang Hanzhou joined them after his elimination from the assessment.
• Xu Yang gained points for passing the final trial, then declined to watch the ongoing assessment so he could focus on perfecting his Blood Prison Heart Saber Scripture.
• Xu Yang continued secluded cultivation as the scripture advanced to 14998 out of 15000, while the assessment remained underway.

Xu Yang perfected the Blood Prison Heart Saber Scripture, transforming his saber intent and astral energy before setting out to recover Jiang Wang’s spirit weapon. Fang Xinghai followed him beyond the city, and the chapter ended as Xu Yang launched the first attack.

• Xu Yang shattered the Blood Prison in his mind and perfected the Blood Prison Heart Saber Scripture, causing his mental power and saber intent to transform.
• Xu Yang continued cultivating the Separation Fire Art as his astral energy condensed, then received rewards for perfecting the scripture and advancing the Hell-Prison Heaven-Slaying Art to its fifth layer.
• Xu Yang left the Violet Sun Gate residence in disguise to retrieve Jiang Wang’s spirit weapon and detected Fang Xinghai secretly following him.
• Fang Xinghai pursued Xu Yang beyond Cloud Province City, intending to kill him before he could enter the Heavenly Strategy Academy.
• Xu Yang confronted Fang Xinghai in the mountain ridges and attacked first, and Fang Xinghai vanished to meet his charge.