Chapter Summaries

Xu Yang fought Han Qianlin through a brutal exchange of saber and spiritual-force attacks, then killed him with the Dragonspine Thunderclap Bow as Han tried to flee. Xu Yang survived the battle badly wounded and exhausted.

• Xu Yang drew the Heavenly Star Saber and combined two saber techniques with the Two Extremes Heaven and Earth Art, breaking one of Han Qianlin's arms with a powerful strike.
• Han Qianlin unleashed his Divine Refinement spiritual force, but Xu Yang countered with the ninth level of the Blood Prison Heart Saber Scripture and injured Han's mind more severely.
• Han Qianlin tried to escape, but Xu Yang threw the Heavenly Star Saber after him and revealed the Dragonspine Thunderclap Bow.
• Xu Yang fired the bow, and its arrow blasted Han Qianlin apart before he could evade it.
• Xu Yang relaxed after Han Qianlin's death, nearly collapsing from his wounds and exhaustion.

After killing Han Qianlin, Xu Yang erased the evidence, killed Han Yun, and hid in Jade Dragon Mountain to recover. Han Qianlin’s death devastated the Han Family, and its bounty prompted a province-wide hunt for the unknown killer.

• Xu Yang erased his traces after killing Han Qianlin, then ambushed and killed Han Yun on the road before retreating to a cave in Jade Dragon Mountain.
• Xu Yang opened his Spirit Treasure Gourd, took the Great Restoration Pill, and began recovering from his severe injuries.
• Han Qianxian realized Han Qianlin might have been ambushed and sought help from Han Chongyi and the Heavenly Strategy Academy, which sent out search parties.
• Han Qianhong learned that Han Qianlin, Han Qianjun, Han Qianzhong, and several other Han Family experts had been killed, and he issued a bounty for information about the killer.
• Cloud Province learned of Han Qianlin’s death, and people and Spirit-Refining powerhouses began searching for his killer.

Xu Yang recovered from his injuries after killing Han Qianlin, then returned to the Heavenly Strategy Academy with a month remaining before the Ultimate Dragon Platform. He concealed his involvement in Han Qianlin’s death and found Xu Qing and Leng Qiuyue refining Dragon-Tiger Profound Connection Pills.

• The academy, Han Family, and Demon-Suppression Bureau searched Cloud Province City for Han Qianlin’s killer but found no clues, while Xu Yang healed in a cave and examined the points and treasures he had gained.
• After a month, Xu Yang returned to the academy and deflected Chu Nangui’s suspicions when the dean questioned him about Han Qianlin’s death.
• Xu Yang reunited with Gu Qingfeng, Sun Tao, and their companions, who told him the Han Family still offered a bounty for information about the killer.
• Xu Yang returned to the Courtyard and recognized that Leng Qiuyue was mishandling ingredients and techniques while refining Dragon-Tiger Profound Connection Pills.
• Leng Qiuyue asked whether Xu Yang knew alchemy, and Xu Qing asked if something had been wrong with the refining process.

Xu Yang prepared to leave the Heavenly Strategy Academy while caring for Xu Qing, and Dean Wang gave him a Dragon Ascension Token. After Lu Wei reached ninth heavenly origin, Qi Ning gathered Spirit Bone Prodigies and other selected cultivators to warn them that hundreds of such prodigies would enter the Profound Sect.

• Leng Qiuyue's alchemy furnace exploded after Xu Yang predicted it would, and Xu Qing asked Leng Qiuyue to look after Xu Yang in the Profound Sect.
• Xu Yang gave Xu Qing pills, spirit herbs, and academic credits, then saw through her attempt to bring him and Leng Qiuyue together.
• Xu Yang hid his plans for the Spirit Treasure Gourd and Dragonspine Thunderclap Bow, continued healing, and received a Dragon Ascension Token from Wang Shuheng.
• Lu Wei broke through to ninth heavenly origin, alarming Xu Yang's friends, while Lu Wei revealed that his body tempering had also reached the ninth level.
• Qi Ning summoned Lu Wei, Tu Gang, and several Spirit Bone Prodigies, explaining that hundreds of Spirit Bone Prodigies from Great Xia could enter the Profound Sect together.

Xu Yang recovered from his injuries as the Dragon Ship arrived to collect the candidates for the Ultimate Dragon Platform, and he departed the Heavenly Strategy Academy with the other selected students. As they boarded, an unknown assailant launched a lethal attack at him, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Leng Qiuyue threatened to kill Lu Wei, but the Spirit Bone Prodigies rejected the idea of allying with Xu Yang because he had powerful enemies.
• Jiang Fan explained that the Profound Sect disapproved of alliances formed by Spirit Bone Prodigies before they entered the sect, while Xu Yang finished recovering and resumed cultivating.
• The Dragon Ship arrived to collect the candidates, and Xu Yang said goodbye to Xu Qing before joining the nineteen students selected to depart.
• Jiang Yue Bai, Wei Fengyi, and Yang Mingxiu struggled against the Dragon Ship's pressure, then Xu Yang and the others fought their way toward the vessel.
• After the foremost Spirit Bone Prodigy boarded, a long-haired man attacked him, the Dragon Ship's pressure vanished, and Xu Yang was hurled aboard into the path of a powerful fist aimed at his head.

Xu Yang fought off Hu Yu’s ambush aboard the Dragon Ship and learned that challengers could be eliminated during boarding, while the Profound Sect rewarded successful attacks under certain rules. After two days of cultivation, he met other provincial geniuses, heard about the growing competition for the Ultimate Dragon Platform, and declined an invitation to ambush newcomers.

• Xu Yang countered Hu Yu’s surprise punch, shattered his fist with the Asura Armor-Piercing Fist, and stopped fighting when the Profound Sect envoy intervened.
• The Profound Sect envoy explained the boarding rules, and Xu Yang learned that a Heavenly Strategy Academy genius had been eliminated after being knocked off the ship.
• Peng Jun welcomed Jiang Fan aboard, escorted the Heavenly Strategy Academy students to their quarters, and warned them not to draw energy from outside or leave the cabins unnecessarily.
• After cultivating for two days, Xu Yang encountered Hu Yu, who challenged him to a weapon fight on the Ultimate Dragon Platform, then joined Jiang Fan and the others in the ship’s hall.
• Xu Yang learned that the ship carried sixty-four geniuses from three provinces, including twenty-five Spirit Bone Prodigies, and heard about prominent challengers Lin Zhiyuan and Chen Guanchao.
• Wu Xiuyuan invited Xu Yang to join a group planning to attack newcomers for pills, but Xu Yang refused, and Sun Tao agreed that strength should be settled on the Ultimate Dragon Platform.

Xu Yang and the other candidates traveled aboard the Dragon Ship, where they encountered the Azure Edge Sword Sect and its Ban-Breaking Prodigy, Xie Liuyun, before continuing to Kyoto. The ship arrived safely, and Xu Yang discovered that Kyoto’s world seemed uniquely suited to cultivation.

• Xu Yang learned that the Azure Edge Sword Sect and the Heavenly Strategy Academy were bitter rivals after a past duel ended with the death of the sect master's son.
• The Dragon Ship reached the Azure Edge Sword Sect, where Xie Liuyun overcame its pressure and deterred anyone from attacking the sect's twenty-four candidates as they boarded.
• Xu Yang declined to join the Heavenly Strategy Academy's Spirit Bone Prodigies in their standoff with the Azure Edge Sword Sect, and he rebuked Lu Wei when Lu called him a coward.
• Over the next half month, candidates from the remaining provinces boarded, and the growing number of powerful competitors made Gu Qingfeng and the others anxious.
• Xu Yang cultivated during the journey as the Dragon Ship traveled to Kyoto and arrived without a Demon Cult attack.
• After disembarking, Xu Yang sensed that Kyoto's environment strengthened his cultivation and subtly changed how his techniques circulated.

Xu Yang and the other candidates arrived in Kyoto, explored the city, and learned that Pei Qingyi and Shen Xingxuan were among the Ban-Breaking Prodigies expected to contend for Dragon Head. Xu Yang then visited the Mu Residence to deliver Elder Mu’s letter, where an elderly man hurried in to meet him.

• Xu Yang and the candidates left the Dragon Ship, registered at Wangshu House, and learned that the Ultimate Dragon Platform would open after the other ships arrived.
• Xu Yang joined Sun Tao, Wu Xiuyuan, and Gu Qingfeng in exploring Kyoto and noticed Wang Yu had begun distancing himself from them.
• At a wine house, Xu Yang heard that Pei Qingyi and Shen Xingxuan had broken through the combat-power barrier, and that Pei Qingyi was not necessarily Kyoto’s strongest prodigy.
• Xu Yang returned to Wangshu House, cultivated through the night, and then set out to deliver Elder Mu’s letter to the Mu Family.
• The Mu Family guards admitted Xu Yang after he identified himself as a visitor from Heavenly Strategy Academy, and he waited in the hall until an elderly man arrived.

Xu Yang delivered Elder Mu’s letter, but Mu Feng dismissed him with a gift before learning that Elder Mu had wanted the Mu Family to ally with Xu Yang. As the Dragon Ascension selection approached, Xu Yang learned how crowded the field of powerful prodigies would be and considered how to conceal his own strength; the selection date was then announced.

• Xu Yang met Mu Feng, who accepted Elder Mu’s letter without reading it and offered him a jade box as thanks for delivering it.
• Xu Yang accepted the gift and left, while Mu Feng and Mu Zijin read Elder Mu’s letter and learned that he had wanted them to ally with Xu Yang.
• Xu Yang discovered that prodigies from the other Dragon Ships included many who had broken through the combat-power barrier, and he worried his talent might attract dangerous attention if it stood out.
• Sun Tao broke through to the ninth heavenly origin, while Wu Xiuyuan and Gu Qingfeng failed in their attempts; Xu Yang also learned that 151 Spirit Bone Prodigies and 26 other exceptional geniuses had arrived.
• Xu Yang heard that Tu Gang had advanced his Azure Dragon Tyrant Body to the ninth level and considered hiding his strength on the Ultimate Dragon Platform.
• Someone announced that the date for the selection had been set.

With the Profound Sect’s selection five days away, Xu Yang faced threats from Jiang Xun and Lu Wei, who recruited allies to kill him during the contest. Xu Yang refused Leng Qiuyue’s warning to withdraw, and as the selection grounds were completed, Sun Tao emerged from seclusion and joined Gu Qingfeng and Wu Xiuyuan to visit him.

• Peng Jun announced that the Profound Sect’s selection would begin in five days, and Kyoto’s geniuses gathered at Wangshu House.
• Jiang Xun confronted Xu Yang and vowed to make him regret their earlier fight, while Xu Yang added Jiang Xun to the enemies he intended to kill.
• Xu Yang observed Pei Qingyi and Mu Zijin, then learned that Bai Qianqian might be the Young Marquis Jiang Fan’s fiancée and that Pei Qingyi was pursuing her.
• Lu Wei enlisted Yang Ao, Jiang Xun, and Hu Yu to help him kill Xu Yang during the selection by keeping Xu Yang’s companions occupied.
• Leng Qiuyue warned Xu Yang that Lu Wei and Jiang Xun had recruited allies and urged him to withdraw, but Xu Yang resolved to face them all.
• The Dragon Platform was completed, and Sun Tao emerged from seclusion before taking Gu Qingfeng and Wu Xiuyuan to Xu Yang’s room.

Xu Yang revealed to Sun Tao, Gu Qingfeng, and Wu Xiuyuan that he had reached the ninth Heavenly Origin realm and become a Spirit Bone Prodigy, then joined the Dragon Ascension selection while keeping his secret from the crowd. At the Dragon Platform, Luo Zeping announced that only the first three hundred and sixty contestants to reach the top would pass the first trial.

• Xu Yang told Sun Tao, Gu Qingfeng, and Wu Xiuyuan that he had reached the ninth Heavenly Origin realm and planned to handle Lu Wei and Jiang Xun himself.
• Xu Yang claimed he had transformed his mortal bone into a spirit bone by consuming a centennial purple-patterned king ginseng, and the three friends agreed to keep his talent secret.
• Xu Yang and his companions ignored Wang Yu, then Xu Yang declined Leng Qiuyue's warning to withdraw from the selection.
• Xu Yang, Sun Tao, Gu Qingfeng, and Wu Xiuyuan followed Peng Jun from Wangshu House to the Dragon Platform, where Spirit Bone Prodigies displayed their auras before the gathered crowd.
• Luo Zeping announced that the first trial required contestants to ascend the Dragon Platform, and only the first three hundred and sixty to reach the top would pass.

Xu Yang entered the Dragon Ascension trial, where contestants could use almost any means to reach the Dragon Platform, and planned to rank in the top thirty without exposing too much of his strength. When Jiang Xun, Lu Wei, Yang Ao, and Hu Yu surrounded him, Xu Yang unleashed his suppressed spirit bone and revealed that he was a Spirit Bone Prodigy.

• Luo Zeping explained that the Dragon Ascension trial allowed attacks and killing, then announced contribution-point rewards for the highest-ranked contestants.
• Xu Yang reassured Leng Qiuyue that he could handle his enemies, and she realized through his Spiritual Transmission that he had reached the Ninth Heavenly Origin.
• Pei Qingyi and the other Ban-Breaking Prodigies charged for the Dragon Platform, and the contestants began climbing and fighting.
• Jiang Xun, Lu Wei, Yang Ao, and Hu Yu surrounded Xu Yang after Sun Tao, Gu Qingfeng, and Wu Xiuyuan left to attempt Dragon Ascension.
• Leng Qiuyue turned back to help Xu Yang but Yu Yong intercepted her, while Jiang Xun, Lu Wei, Yang Ao, and Hu Yu launched their attack.
• Xu Yang unsealed more than half of his spirit bone and unleashed his full power, shocking Jiang Xun, Lu Wei, and Yang Ao with his Spirit Bone Prodigy aura.

Xu Yang revealed himself as Heavenly Strategy Academy’s Seventh Spirit Bone Prodigy and slaughtered the men who had joined forces to kill him. After killing Hu Yu, Yang Ao, and Lu Wei, he pursued Jiang Xun, who was left begging for help as Xu Yang’s sword came down on him.

• Xu Yang’s aura blasted Yang Ao away and erased Hu Yu’s sword attack before Xu Yang killed Hu Yu with a single punch.
• Xu Yang killed Yang Ao with Hu Yu’s heavy sword, then pursued Lu Wei as Jiang Xun fled toward the dragon.
• Lu Wei turned to fight Xu Yang, but Xu Yang shattered his arms and crushed his chest with one sword strike, killing him.
• Qi Ning challenged Xu Yang’s actions but refused to descend from the steps and fight him when Xu Yang invited him to do so.
• Xu Yang caught up with Jiang Xun, ignored Jiang Yun’s threats and Pei Qingyi’s silence, and swung his heavy sword toward Jiang Xun’s head.

Xu Yang killed Jiang Xun, climbed the Dragon Steps by comprehending their force, and gave Supreme-Grade Spirit Weapons to Sun Tao and Leng Qiuyue. He then attacked Yu Yong, revealing combat power that had touched the combat-power barrier, and left Yu Yong struggling to survive his next slash.

• Xu Yang killed Jiang Xun and took his Supreme-Grade Spirit Weapon longsword while Leng Qiuyue continued fighting Yu Yong.
• Xu Yang comprehended the Dragon Steps’ pressure, quickly climbed past Wu Xiuyuan, and gave Sun Tao a heavy sword and several weapons to hold.
• Xu Yang passed Wang Yu without attacking him and climbed into the ranks of the Spirit Bone Prodigies.
• Xu Yang gave Jiang Xun’s longsword to Leng Qiuyue, then faced Yu Yong and insisted on settling the grudge himself.
• Xu Yang unleashed a Perfection-Rank Earth-Splitting Dragon-Shocking Slash that overwhelmed Yu Yong and wounded him.
• Xu Yang struck Yu Yong again as Yu Yong called for Kyoto’s prodigies to intervene.

Xu Yang killed Yu Yong on the Profound Sect’s steps, then challenged Xiao Yun after explaining that he had gained his spirit bones from a century-old purple-patterned king ginseng. Leng Qiuyue withdrew from Xiao Yun’s Alliance and prevented the others from helping him, leaving Xu Yang and Xiao Yun to fight as the chapter ended with Xu Yang pressing his attack.

• Xu Yang shattered Yu Yong’s arms and chest with his saber before finishing him, shocking the Spirit Bone Prodigies and Mu Zijin.
• When Leng Qiuyue called him Heavenly Strategy Academy’s hidden Seventh Spirit Bone Prodigy, Xu Yang denied it and claimed he had gained spirit bones by consuming purple-patterned king ginseng on Jade Dragon Mountain.
• Xu Yang confronted Xiao Yun over his past abuse of him and Ye Qiuling, while Leng Qiuyue left the Alliance and warned others not to interfere.
• Xiao Yun’s allies declined to help him, so he attacked Xu Yang with the Limitless God-Extinguishing Palm while Xu Yang was adjusting to the step’s pressure.
• Xu Yang resisted Xiao Yun’s palm and countered with the Primordial Dragon Elephant Fist, overpowering him and pursuing him with Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Abyss.

Xu Yang killed Xiao Yun, climbed to the Final Dragon, and placed thirty-first in the first selection trial. The first three hundred and sixty candidates qualified, while the eliminated candidates were offered a chance to join the Profound Sect as menial disciples.

• Xu Yang ignored Qi Ning’s refusal to help Xiao Yun, then killed Xiao Yun with a final blow and turned his attention to climbing.
• Li Zongyuan defeated the other Ban-Breaking Prodigies and reached the summit first, claiming the Dragon Head position.
• Jiang Yue Bai reached the dragon thirtieth and Xu Yang followed thirty-first; Pei Qingyi then challenged Xu Yang over Jiang Xun’s death, and Xu Yang refused to back down.
• Leng Qiuyue, Jiang Yue Bai, Yang Mingxiu, and Wei Fengyi reached the dragon within the top sixty, while Mu Zijin arrived around seventieth and Li Xun missed the reward at sixty-first.
• Wu Xiuyuan, Sun Tao, and Gu Qingfeng reached the dragon just before Luo Zeping declared the first three hundred and sixty places filled; Li Yunfei was eliminated.
• Luo Zeping offered those who failed the trial the option to join the Profound Sect as menial disciples, with a chance to become formal disciples later.

After the Dragon Ascension Selection ended, Xu Yang learned that peak assignments depended on both choice and factional ties, then applied to Crouching Dragon Peak. The chapter leaves the Profound Sect’s deacons beginning to review the three hundred and sixty new recruits.

• Luo Zeping ended the selection, postponed the contest for Dragon Head for a year, and told the successful candidates to return to Wangshu House before entering the Profound Sect in three days.
• Xu Yang noticed Jiang Yun’s murderous stare, but Jiang Yun left without threatening him; Yang Xiangao then warned Xu Yang about Pei Qingyi and offered his family’s help against the Pei Family.
• Yang Xiangao explained that peak assignments reflected regional ties and factional politics, and Xu Yang chose Crouching Dragon Peak on his application.
• Leng Qiuyue accepted Xu Yang’s supreme-grade spirit weapon and asked why Xu Qing had asked her to look after him; Xu Yang said he had concealed his spirit bones from Xu Qing.
• At the council hall, Gao Sheng questioned why Crouching Dragon Peak had sent only Wang Gang, and Luo Zeping began reporting the recruits’ numbers and talents.

Profound Sect elders allocated the top Dragon Ascension prodigies among the nine peaks, while Xu Yang mastered Eight Fiends Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Force and wondered whether he would truly be admitted. He and the other new disciples arrived at the Profound Sect, where Peng Jun warned them about its strict rules.

• Gao Sheng learned that Xu Yang had killed two Spirit Bone Prodigies and praised his ability, while Luo Zeping reported the strength and peak preferences of the top sixty disciples.
• Liu Jiang told Wang Gang that Elder Jin had ordered Crouching Dragon Peak to reject Xu Yang and Leng Qiuyue, and the two deacons gave them up.
• Wan Haiping claimed Xu Yang for Mistshadow Peak, Yuan Heng took Leng Qiuyue for Grasping Moon Peak, and Gao Sheng silenced Song Junchao's objections.
• Xu Yang mastered Eight Fiends Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Force and realized that his Profound Sect admission might still face complications.
• Two days later, Peng Jun led Xu Yang and the other new disciples to the Profound Sect, showed them its mountain gate, and warned them to obey its rules and cultivate only in designated areas.

Xu Yang entered the Profound Sect as a new disciple but was assigned to the lower-ranked Mistshadow Peak instead of Crouching Dragon Peak, a decision traced to Elder Jin Liangwen’s ties to the Pei Family. He arrived at Mistshadow Peak, learned about the sect’s resources and spirit veins, and saw Li Yunfei working as a servant disciple as the new disciples prepared to collect their supplies.

• Gao Sheng welcomed the new disciples, distributed identity waist tokens, and announced their assigned peaks and a tournament to be held in a year.
• Xu Yang discovered that his token assigned him to Mistshadow Peak; Yang Xiangao told him that Jin Liangwen had likely blocked his entry to Crouching Dragon Peak because of his ties to the Pei Family, and that Leng Qiuyue had also been rejected.
• Xu Yang learned that Leng Qiuyue had been assigned to Grasping Moon Peak, while the new disciples gathered with their respective peak stewards.
• Wan Haiping explained the new disciples’ protection period, monthly allowances, and the benefits of becoming a true inheritor as he led the Mistshadow Peak group onward.
• The group reached Mistshadow Peak, where Wan Haiping described its spirit vein, and Xu Yang spotted Li Yunfei sweeping as a servant disciple before entering the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to collect supplies.

Xu Yang settled into Mistshadow Peak and thanked Wan Haiping for protecting him from the Pei Family’s influence. Wan Haiping advised him to pursue the Third Elder as his master, and the chapter ended as the new disciples reached the summit and heard that even Hong Ze might not win a true disciple seat.

• Xu Yang collected his supplies, received a secluded courtyard with an alchemy chamber, and inspected its cultivation room and empty pool.
• Xu Yang thanked Wan Haiping for accepting him, and Wan Haiping reassured him that the Pei Family could not trouble him during the new disciples’ three-year protection period.
• Wan Haiping recommended the Third Elder and his Great Sun Golden Body method, which Xu Yang learned was complete and stronger than the incomplete Azure Dragon Tyrant Body.
• Xu Yang said he was eighty percent confident he could break through the combat-power barrier, and Wan Haiping offered to recommend him to the Third Elder if he succeeded.
• Wan Haiping led the new disciples to Mistshadow Peak’s summit, where they saw the Hanging Heaven Palace and heard disciples doubt that Hong Ze could claim a true disciple seat.