Chapter Summaries

Xu Yang fought Fang Xinghai, a Second Heavenly Origin cultivator, after revealing he had deliberately lured him into the mountains. Xu Yang endured Fang Xinghai’s empowered attack and the two remained locked in a contest of strength.

• Xu Yang activated his defensive techniques and combat-boosting methods, then exchanged a powerful punch with Fang Xinghai and forced him back five steps.
• Fang Xinghai realized Xu Yang had concealed his strength and regretted having offended him, but renewed his resolve to kill him.
• Fang Xinghai summoned his Heaven-Shaking Martial Dao Phenomenon and charged at Xu Yang with another powerful punch.
• Xu Yang expanded into a towering, golden figure and met Fang Xinghai’s attack head-on, standing firm as the surrounding terrain shattered.
• Xu Yang and Fang Xinghai continued to clash with raw force, their strength shaking the earth and opening fissures across the ground.

Xu Yang fought Fang Xinghai, a Second Heavenly Origin martial artist, and used the Hell-Prison Heaven-Slaying Art to break his true intent and kill him. After taking Fang Xinghai’s money pouch, Xu Yang headed for the place where he had hidden Jiang Wang’s spirit weapon.

• Xu Yang and Fang Xinghai traded blows, with Xu Yang matching the stronger martial artist through his many cultivated arts and combat instincts.
• Fang Xinghai unleashed his true intent, suppressing Xu Yang and his power of heaven and earth.
• Xu Yang used the fifth level of the Hell-Prison Heaven-Slaying Art to cleave Fang Xinghai’s martial dao phenomenon and cripple his mind.
• Fang Xinghai begged for his life, but Xu Yang killed him with a saber strike.
• Xu Yang took Fang Xinghai’s money pouch, destroyed his corpse, and went to retrieve Jiang Wang’s hidden spirit weapon.

Xu Yang and four other Violet Sun Gate disciples received rewards after qualifying for the Heavenly Strategy Academy, while Qi Xuancheng and Zhang Hanzhou chose to remain in Cloud Province City and cultivate independently. Xu Yang sent resources and a warning to Xu Qing through Yue Zhong, prompting Yue Zhong and Bai Shaoling to plan protection for the families of their talented disciples.

• Xu Yang returned with gifts for Xu Qing, learned that the final Cloud Ascension Rankings would be released in three days, and heard that Ye Qiuling had also qualified for the academy.
• The Violet Sun Gate celebrated Ye Qiuling's success, and Bai Shaoling awarded fifty spirit currency to each of the five disciples entering the Heavenly Strategy Academy.
• Qi Xuancheng and Zhang Hanzhou chose to stay in Cloud Province City, and Bai Shaoling gave each of them twenty spirit currency and warned them about the city's dangers.
• Xu Yang entrusted Yue Zhong with gifts, a letter, and Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pills for Xu Qing, and planned to help her reach the heavenly origin realm in the future.
• Yue Zhong urged Bai Shaoling to ensure Xu Qing's safety because Xu Yang's enemies might target her, and Bai Shaoling agreed to arrange protection for her and Sun Tao's family.

The final Cloud Ascension Rankings were released, confirming Sun Tao and Xu Yang’s dramatic rises and earning them places in the Heavenly Strategy Academy. After the successful disciples departed to enroll, Zhang Hanzhou was left behind with no clear prospects, though he vowed to make something of himself.

• Li Chuyang rose to thirty-first, while Xu Yang placed twenty-sixth and Jiang Fan twenty-second on the final Cloud Ascension Rankings.
• Sun Tao placed fourteenth, the highest ranking ever achieved by a Violet Sun Gate disciple, and Xu Yang and Sun Tao each refused an offer to take a follower.
• Zhang Jun ranked eightieth and Liu Rumei ranked fifty-second, and the Li and Jiang families’ attendants arrived to accompany their disciples to the Heavenly Strategy Academy.
• Xu Yang, Sun Tao, Li Chuyang, and Jiang Fan said farewell to Bai Shaoling and Yue Zhong and left to enroll at the Heavenly Strategy Academy.
• Qi Xuancheng said he would work for the Li Family and departed, leaving Zhang Hanzhou behind; Zhang vowed that he could still rise above the crowd.

Xu Yang registered at Heavenly Strategy Academy, learned how ranked geniuses earned credits and other benefits, and received his waist token and enrollment rewards. He and Sun Tao then joined Jiang Fan to travel from the Mountain Gate toward their lodgings at the Lower Court.

• Xu Yang, Sun Tao, and Jiang Fan read the academy notices, learning the rules for challenges, credit rewards, followers, and fighting.
• Xu Yang registered, received his spirit-iron waist token, and collected eighty credits for placing twenty-sixth on the Cloud Ascension Rankings.
• Xu Yang read the booklet and learned that his ranking entitled him to two chances to choose cultivation techniques, monthly credits, and better lodgings for six months.
• Sun Tao registered and celebrated the academy's benefits, while Li Chuyang and Ye Qiuling went their separate ways.
• Xu Yang, Sun Tao, and Jiang Fan followed an academy guide down the mountain toward the Lower Court.

Xu Yang settled into his Heavenly Strategy Academy courtyard, explored its cultivation facilities and learned how the academy operated. In the evening, he and Sun Tao met their senior sect brothers, Lü Fengxing and Yuan Chengji, who congratulated them on their Cloud Ascension Rankings.

• Xu Yang and the other new students were shown the Lower Court, classrooms, and residential areas before the Cloud Ascension Rankings geniuses received courtyard assignments.
• Xu Yang opened courtyard 192 with his waist token and found a private cultivation chamber that gathered spirit qi.
• Xu Yang cultivated with the Separation Fire Art until he absorbed the chamber's stored spirit qi, then read the handbook about academy rules, credits, and facilities.
• Sun Tao invited Xu Yang to dinner, and they left the residential area together.
• Lü Fengxing and Yuan Chengji waited for Xu Yang and Sun Tao, congratulated them on their rankings, and praised the honor they had brought Violet Sun Gate.

Xu Yang, Sun Tao, Li Chuyang, and Jiang Fan rejected Yuan Chengji and Lü Fengxing’s attempt to bring them to Han Yingjie’s welcoming banquet. Han Yingjie learned that none of them had come and, angry at the slight, declared he would have nothing to do with them.

• Xu Yang politely tried to leave with Sun Tao, but Yuan Chengji and Lü Fengxing invited them to Han Yingjie’s banquet and asked them to wait for the other disciples.
• Li Chuyang refused the invitation, challenged Yuan Chengji to name the supposedly important guests, and left; Jiang Fan then joined Xu Yang and Sun Tao instead of attending.
• Xu Yang, Sun Tao, and Jiang Fan walked away together, leaving Yuan Chengji and Lü Fengxing angry and regretful.
• At the wine house, Liu Yuanqing urged Han Yingjie to welcome Li Chuyang and Jiang Fan, while Lu Ren warned that Li Chuyang and Jiang Fan were at odds.
• Lü Fengxing and Yuan Chengji returned without the invited guests, and Han Yingjie became furious when he heard they had all declined.
• Han Yingjie blamed the disciples for disrespecting him and declared he would have nothing to do with them, though he regretted not treating Xu Yang and Sun Tao better before their achievements became known.

Xu Yang used his new rewards to strengthen his bone root, then settled into life at the Heavenly Strategy Academy while cultivating and learning about its resources. Zhang Jun and Liu Rumei regretted their deal with Gu Qingfeng, and Xu Yang’s new neighbors grew less welcoming after learning he had killed Lin Jingyu.

• Xu Yang spent 1,200 points on his bone root, felt his body transform, and concluded that his spirit bone was close to emerging.
• Xu Yang planned to consult his teacher and visit the library hall before choosing cultivation arts, while Zhang Jun and Liu Rumei asked him to help renegotiate their debt to Gu Qingfeng; he refused.
• After Xu Yang left, Zhang Jun blamed Xu Yang and Sun Tao for concealing their strength, but Liu Rumei warned him not to provoke people they could not afford to offend.
• Xu Yang cultivated in his courtyard and studied the Eight Fiends Subduing Dragon Force until Cao Guan and Hu Ping, his intermediate-student neighbors, came to introduce themselves.
• Cao Guan and Hu Ping recognized Xu Yang as the man who killed Lin Jingyu, then asked to exchange his academic credits; Xu Yang refused, and they soon left.

Xu Yang entered the Heavenly Strategy Academy’s Junior Class A and met his teacher, Jin Yu, alongside the other new students. The first lesson ended with Jin Yu confirming that students without spirit bones could also practice Spirit Bone Cultivation Methods, prompting Xu Yang and the others to reconsider their cultivation plans.

• Xu Yang discovered that entering the Book Repository required one academic credit per day, so he left and returned to cultivating.
• Lu Ren warned Xu Yang and Sun Tao that Han Yingjie held a grudge against them for refusing his banquet, and Sun Tao explained why they had rejected him.
• Dean Chu Nangui welcomed the new students and assigned Xu Yang, Sun Tao, and Lu Ren to Junior Class A.
• Xu Yang and Sun Tao observed the six Spirit Bone Prodigies and discussed learning more about spirit bones and their cultivation methods.
• Teacher Jin Yu had the students introduce themselves, then confirmed that people without spirit bones could practice Spirit Bone Cultivation Methods.

Jin Yu assigned the students to reach second Heavenly Origin before taking missions or entering the Battle Tower, and offered rewards for mastering spirit bone methods or defeating spirit bone prodigies. After class, Jiang Fan warned Xu Yang and Sun Tao that spirit bone prodigies were formidable and that other powerful cultivation methods existed for mortal-bone martial artists.

• Jin Yu explained that ordinary students could practice spirit bone cultivation methods but might not master them, and offered one hundred academic credits to anyone who did.
• Jin Yu barred students below second Heavenly Origin from taking missions or entering the Battle Tower, and offered five hundred credits to mortal-bone martial artists who defeated spirit bone prodigies.
• Duan Ming invited the students to challenge him, while Tu Gang said he would fight him after reaching second Heavenly Origin.
• Xu Yang declined Sun Tao’s suggestion to challenge a spirit bone prodigy, and Jiang Fan warned Sun Tao that even top-ranked mortal-bone students would struggle against them.
• Jiang Fan advised Sun Tao to consider powerful methods comparable to spirit bone cultivation methods and explained that academy teachers expected students to think independently.
• Sun Tao asked Jiang Fan which comparable cultivation methods were available.

Xu Yang learned that spirit bone cultivation methods best suited those with spirit bones and decided he would need one if his bones transformed. At the Martial Repository Hall, he chose to spend one of his selection opportunities on the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra.

• Jiang Fan advised Xu Yang and Sun Tao about powerful cultivation arts and told them to reach the second Heavenly Origin stage before choosing one.
• Xu Yang searched the Book Repository for information on spirit bones and found Leng Qiuyue reading Spirit Bone Analysis.
• Xu Yang learned that spirit bone methods could conceal spirit bone fluctuations and were best for unlocking the bones’ potential.
• The book’s speculation about transforming ordinary bones into spirit bones inspired Xu Yang to consider creating such a method for Xu Qing.
• Xu Yang visited the Martial Repository Hall, browsed its cultivation arts, and found three spirit bone methods.
• Xu Yang chose the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra and asked to use one of his selection opportunities to obtain it.

Xu Yang chose the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra as his reward and studied it in the Martial Repository Hall, where a powerful elder recognized his hidden skills and advised him to learn a better concealment art. After comprehending the sutra and deciding to cultivate it after reaching the Second Heavenly Origin, Xu Yang left to find students waiting to ask whether they could master it.

• Xu Yang spent one of his Cloud Ascension Rankings rewards to choose the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra, drawing skeptical reactions from Huo Xiaochен, Gu Qingfeng, and Li Yunfei.
• An elder on the Martial Repository Hall’s second floor saw through Xu Yang’s techniques, confirmed his talent qualified him to study the sutra, and recommended the Formless Thousand Illusions Art for concealment.
• The elder brought Xu Yang to a secluded chamber, where Xu Yang memorized the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra and received 500 points from his panel.
• News of Xu Yang’s choice spread through the Heavenly Strategy Academy, provoking both ridicule and encouragement among the students.
• After comprehending the sutra, Xu Yang decided to begin cultivating it after breaking through to the Second Heavenly Origin and left the chamber.
• Students gathered around Xu Yang to ask about the sutra, while Huo Xiaochен watched from a distance.

Xu Yang advised Sun Tao about the demands of the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra, then secluded himself to pursue second heavenly origin. News spread that he had entered the Heavenly Strategy Academy ranked twenty-sixth on the Cloud Ascension Rankings, prompting celebrations and regret throughout the Violet Sun Gate and Azure Sun City, while Tao Huaijin was demoted for failing to support Xu Yang.

• Xu Yang told Sun Tao that the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra required blood energy manifestation and suggested he consider a more intricate method instead.
• Gao Lin saw Yue Zhong and Bai Shaoling return without Xu Yang and hurried to tell Elder Firecloud, who rushed to Heavenly Pivot Peak to ask about his disciple.
• Yue Zhong revealed that Xu Yang had entered the Heavenly Strategy Academy ranked twenty-sixth on the Cloud Ascension Rankings, delighting Elder Firecloud.
• Xu Qing learned of Xu Yang's success and hurried to Heavenly Pivot Peak after hearing that the Sect Master had summoned her and that Xu Yang had sent something for her.
• Word of Xu Yang's achievement spread, causing Zhang Hong to leave for the Cloud Ridge Mountains and leaving Gao Lin confident that his position was secure.
• Zhou Wei announced that Tao Huaijin was demoted to shop assistant for failing to support Xu Yang, and that Zhou Yong would become the Azure Sun City branch shopkeeper.

Xu Yang cultivated at the Heavenly Strategy Academy as Han Yingjie emerged as a new threat and several geniuses advanced to Second Heavenly Origin. Xu Yang used his cultivation panel and a Spirit Origin Pill to push the Separation Fire Art toward a breakthrough, ending as its power surged through him.

• Zhou Wei revealed that Xu Yang had killed Li Yunzhou and Lin Jingyu, while Fang Xinghai had been expelled and was suspected dead; he warned Tao Huaijin to seek Xu Yang's forgiveness.
• Xu Yang met Sun Tao and Jiang Fan in the dining hall, learned Han Yingjie had arrived, and recognized his hostile intent.
• The dining hall learned that Lu Wei had reached Second Heavenly Origin, prompting many students, including Xu Yang, to return to cultivation.
• Over the following weeks, Yang Ao, Gu Qingfeng, Huo Xiaochен, and other leading geniuses reached Second Heavenly Origin while Xu Yang continued training.
• Xu Yang used ten points to grasp the Separation Fire Art's True Intent, then swallowed the Spirit Origin Pill and drove the art into a breakthrough.

Xu Yang broke through to Second Heavenly Origin, began converting his cultivation to the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra, and sought a way to hide his growing aura. The Martial Repository Hall’s old man gave him access to the complete Formless Thousand Illusions Art despite his lack of academic credits.

• Xu Yang used a Spirit Origin Pill to break through to Second Heavenly Origin and later saved his Martial Dao Longevity Points toward obtaining a spirit bone.
• After struggling for several days, Xu Yang began cultivating the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra and converted much of his Separation Fire Art energy into it.
• Xu Yang found that his increased power had weakened the Breath-Concealing Art and exchanged most of his remaining academic credits for the introductory portion of the Formless Thousand Illusions Art.
• The Martial Repository Hall’s old man recognized Xu Yang’s progress and led him to a secret chamber containing the complete Formless Thousand Illusions Art.
• Xu Yang explained that he needed to conceal himself from powerful enemies, and the old man let him study the complete art without charging additional credits.

Xu Yang learned the Formless Thousand Illusions Art, practiced it to beginner level, and used it to copy Sun Tao’s face and voice. At Sun Tao’s celebration, Xu Yang concealed his real cultivation while Du Ziming questioned his progress, and the chapter ended with Xu Yang continuing to convert his power to the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra.

• Xu Yang studied the Formless Thousand Illusions Art overnight, earned one hundred points, and returned to his courtyard to practice it alongside the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra.
• After two days, Xu Yang reached beginner level in the art and changed his appearance and voice to resemble Sun Tao, though his height and bearing remained different.
• Xu Yang attended Sun Tao’s celebration after Sun Tao broke through to Second Heavenly Origin, and Du Ziming challenged Xu Yang’s explanation for not advancing.
• Du Ziming revealed that Tu Gang had requested to challenge Lu Wei instead of the Spirit Bone Prodigy Duan Ming, and the group discussed how difficult Spirit Bone Cultivation Methods were to master.
• Xu Yang realized his bone root had improved beyond ordinary perfection, then returned home to continue converting his power to the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra.

Huo Xiaochен failed to begin the Spirit Bone Cultivation Method and heard that Xu Yang had not yet advanced to Second Heavenly Origin. Xu Yang completed his Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra conversion, chose the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body, and told the old man he intended to surpass the Spirit Bone Prodigies.

• Huo Xiaochен emerged from seclusion without mastering the Spirit Bone Cultivation Method, and Xiao Hui told him Sun Tao had reached Second Heavenly Origin while Xu Yang had not reached perfection in the first layer.
• Xu Yang completed converting Separation Fire Art power into Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra power, felt his bones and body grow stronger, and decided to seek a Body-Tempering Method stronger than the Diamond Glazed Body.
• Xu Yang visited the Martial Repository Hall and spent his final opportunity to choose the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body, surprising Du Ziming, Wen Shan, Zuo Mu, and the other students.
• The old man warned Xu Yang that the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra already demanded diligent cultivation, but Xu Yang said he wanted to surpass the Spirit Bone Prodigies.
• The old man revealed that nearly all the Spirit Bone Prodigies in Xu Yang's cohort had also cultivated the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body.

Xu Yang learned the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body, gained the Azure Dragon Mark, and discovered that the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra greatly accelerated his cultivation. After beginning to cultivate the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body, he endured intense pain as its power forged and strengthened his body.

• Xu Yang learned the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body in the Martial Repository Hall and fell asleep from the mental strain of comprehending it.
• The elder explained that Xu Yang had gained the Azure Dragon Mark, which would aid his mind and comprehension of the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body.
• Xu Yang heard that Lu Wei had defeated Tu Gang, then returned to his courtyard and found that the Dragon Elephant Heart Sutra refined spirit qi far faster than the Separation Fire Art.
• Xu Yang used the Azure Dragon Mark to comprehend the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body and began cultivating it despite its agonizing, tearing force.
• The Azure Dragon Tyrant Body stirred Xu Yang's blood energy and began strengthening his flesh and bones.

Xu Yang mastered the first layer of the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body, but the method depleted his blood energy and left him gaunt until he replenished it with pills. Rumors that he had suffered a backlash spread through the academy, while Huo Xiaochэнь planned to challenge Li Yunfei and Xu Yang faced questions about his condition in class.

• Xu Yang endured the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body's refinement, then found that it had nearly exhausted his blood energy and left him desperately hungry.
• Xu Yang bought Tiger Essence Blood Marrow Pills at the Logistics Hall, recovered his blood energy, and continued cultivating as rumors spread that the method had injured him.
• Sun Tao visited Xu Yang to check on him, and Xu Yang explained that he had replenished his depleted blood energy.
• Huo Xiaochэнь dismissed the rumors about Xu Yang and planned to challenge Li Yunfei, then Gu Qingfeng, to reach the Cloud Ascension Rankings' top ten.
• Han Yingjie gloated over the rumors that Xu Yang had damaged his foundation, while Xu Yang received a reward for achieving initial mastery of the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body.
• At the monthly class, Gu Qingfeng asked Xu Yang whether cultivating the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body had caused his gaunt appearance.

Xu Yang faced doubts about the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body, then attended Jin Yu’s lesson on cultivating spirit herbs and learned the Spirit-Nurturing Art. The class ended with Du Ziming challenging him for academic credits, leaving Xu Yang to decide when to fight.

• Xu Yang confirmed that the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body had caused his injuries, but the other students suspected he was hiding how severe they were.
• Xu Yang insulted Huo Xiaochен for mocking him, and Jin Yu arrived before the argument could escalate.
• Jin Yu offered academic credits to students who mastered the Azure Dragon Tyrant Body, then taught the class to cultivate medicinal herbs and introduced the Spirit-Nurturing Art.
• Jin Yu announced rewards for learning the Spirit-Nurturing Art and warned that empty herb fields would cost students academic credits at the inspection.
• Du Ziming challenged Xu Yang, hoping to earn academic credits while Xu Yang was injured, and Jin Yu said Xu Yang could postpone the fight for up to a month.