Chapter Summaries

Tang Yan gave Shen Shan the Formless Cold Scripture, received the Wuxie Sword and its sword technique, and prepared for the Eastern Region Tournament. The next morning, he arrived at the packed tournament grounds with Lin Dongxue and Liu Zhi.

• Tang Yan wrote the Formless Cold Scripture for Shen Shan, who judged that it might help Shen He and asked how he could repay him.
• Tang Yan accepted Shen Shan's Wuxie Sword, scabbard, and middle-grade Earth Tier Mountain-Crushing Wave-Treading Sword technique.
• Shen Shan and Shen He left to test the scripture, while Tang Yan returned to his courtyard and rested for the tournament.
• Lin Dongxue told Tang Yan she had advanced to third grade, and Lin Xiao led her, Tang Yan, and Liu Zhi to the tournament grounds.
• Tang Yan reached the crowded selection venue in Fang City as Shen Shan and Shen He searched the crowd.

Shen Shan and Shen He spotted Tang Yan among Cloud City's mocked contestants as the Eastern Region Tournament began. After drawing number three, Tang Yan suspected the lots had been rigged to make Cloud City lose early and resolved to turn the humiliation back on its opponents.

• Shen Shan told Shen He that Tang Yan's cultivation method had rapidly raised Shen He's strength to second-grade Origin Tier, and they searched for Tang Yan at the tournament.
• Lin Xiao led Tang Yan, Liu Zhi, and Lin Dongxue to Cloud City's area, where spectators mocked the city for always finishing last.
• Shen He recognized Tang Yan among the Cloud City contestants, surprising Shen Shan, who had heard that Cloud City's top contestant had been defeated in one move.
• Fang Wentian introduced the tournament rules and Azure Dragon Academy elder Mo Bin, then invited the contestants to draw lots.
• Liu Zhi drew number one, Tang Yan drew number three, and Lin Dongxue drew number five; Tang Yan suspected the draw had been rigged and vowed to prove Cloud City wrong.

Liu Zhi lost the opening duel to Yao Yuan, bringing fresh humiliation to Cloud City, and Cheng Gong quickly won the second match. Tang Yan then faced Su Wei in the third duel, determined to avenge Cloud City's disgrace.

• Liu Zhi fought Yao Yuan but was overwhelmed, slapped repeatedly, and forced to concede.
• Yao Yuan won the first match as Lin Xiao and Yao Qian exchanged tense remarks from the judges' platform.
• Cheng Gong defeated Li Yang in the second match, and the crowd accepted the loss as a result of Li Yang's bad luck in facing a famed opponent.
• Tang Yan and Su Wei stepped into the ring for the third match, while Mo Bin watched Tang Yan with interest.
• Su Wei welcomed the chance to face Tang Yan again and hoped to erase his earlier humiliation.

Tang Yan accepted Su Wei’s wager and fought him in the Eastern Region Tournament, surprising the spectators by using his speed and Thousand Mountains Fist to seize the advantage. The chapter left Su Wei reeling as Tang Yan pressed his attack.

• Su Wei wagered that Tang Yan could not last twenty moves, while Tang Yan confirmed the match rules and secured Yao Qian’s promise to cover the debt.
• Tang Yan pretended to back out, then angrily accepted Su Wei’s wager as the crowd mocked him.
• The Number Three Match began, and Su Wei unleashed a full-strength attack against Tang Yan.
• Tang Yan dodged Su Wei with Phantom Shadow Steps and struck with the Thousand Mountains Fist, forcing Su Wei to stumble backward.
• Tang Yan followed with a third punch that drove Su Wei back three steps, then closed in before Su Wei could recover.

Tang Yan defeated Su Wei and kept slapping him under the tournament rules, humiliating Yu City while earning a fortune from their wager. Fang Wentian brokered an end to the duel, and Tang Yan demanded two hundred million taels in compensation.

• Tang Yan scattered Su Wei’s true qi, seized him before he could concede, and began slapping him while counting the moves and his wager earnings.
• Lin Dongxue and Lin Xiao celebrated Tang Yan’s reversal, while Yao Qian erupted in anger and Lin Xiao blocked his attempt to interfere.
• Tang Yan argued that Su Wei had not conceded and could still fight, then taunted Yao Qian about Yu City’s treasury as the silver total climbed into the millions.
• Fang Wentian tried to end the duel by proposing that Yao Qian compensate Tang Yan, and Yao Qian reluctantly agreed.
• Tang Yan calculated his earnings and demanded two hundred million taels of silver to end the match.

Tang Yan settled the dispute over his match with Su Wei, then encouraged Lin Dongxue before her duel against Zhao Yuqian. Lin Dongxue revealed that she was a Profound Tier Third Grade fighter and gained the upper hand, leaving spectators questioning Cloud City's rankings.

• Mo Bin mediated a settlement in which Yao Qian agreed to pay Tang Yan twenty million taels of silver, and Tang Yan released Su Wei.
• Tang Yan reassured Lin Dongxue before the next matches, and she correctly predicted that the Qing City contestant would defeat the Fang City contestant.
• Lin Dongxue faced Zhao Yuqian of Fang City, who opened with the Qianqian Palm technique.
• Lin Dongxue revealed her Profound Tier Third Grade strength and countered Zhao Yuqian's attacks with Fierce Wind Blow and a spinning kick.
• Lin Dongxue forced Zhao Yuqian to retreat after two exchanges, surprising the spectators and prompting them to question Cloud City's rankings.

Lin Dongxue defeated Zhao Yuqian in the tournament, then trained with Tang Yan and showed remarkable talent and persistence. Meanwhile, Zi Yun learned that Tang Yan was competing for a place at the Azure Dragon Academy and ordered her informants to support him.

• Lin Dongxue defeated Zhao Yuqian, earning Cloud City a victory and praise from the judges.
• Tang Yan analyzed Lin Dongxue’s fight and helped her study the other contestants, including the Eastern Domain Four Princes.
• Lin Dongxue visited Tang Yan and asked him to spar with her, and he pushed her through a demanding training session.
• Tang Yan recognized Lin Dongxue’s rapid progress, talent, and perseverance as she reached the level of a Profound Tier Third Grade martial artist.
• In Purple Bamboo City, Zi Yun learned that Tang Yan was competing in the Eastern Region Tournament and ordered her informants to support him and report updates.

Tang Yan attended the second day of the Eastern Region Tournament, where spectators placed bets on which contestants would reach the top five. His support was scant until the Wonderful Elixir Workshop and Tingxiang Purple Bamboo City made enormous wagers on him.

• Lin Xiao told Tang Yan that Liu Zhi had gone to meet his second uncle and explained the tournament schedule and betting pool.
• Fang Wentian opened betting on the sixteen contestants outside the Eastern Domain Four Princes and called the contestants forward to draw lots.
• Spectators backed Sun Long, Song Qing, and other favorites, while Tang Yan received only sixty-six taels and Lin Dongxue drew twenty thousand taels.
• Tang Yan warned Lin Dongxue to be careful of the leading contenders, who had reached Profound Tier Third Grade and might be concealing greater strength.
• Ge Ming announced that the Wonderful Elixir Workshop of the Fragrance-Hearing Kingdom had wagered ten million taels on Tang Yan, and Tingxiang Purple Bamboo City followed with a fifty-million-tael wager.

The Eastern Region Tournament’s second round began after powerful figures placed enormous bets on Tang Yan, drawing attention to his hidden connections. Tang Yan analyzed the early matches for Lin Dongxue, who won her bout, then stepped into the arena to face Song Qing as Cheng Gong asked Wan Fei to predict the winner.

• Purple Bamboo City’s representative bet fifty million taels of silver on Tang Yan, and Shen Shan added a wager of one hundred million.
• Lin Xiao bet one million taels of silver each on Lin Dongxue and Tang Yan before Fang Wentian began the second round.
• Tang Yan analyzed several contestants’ strengths and tactics for Lin Dongxue as the matches proceeded.
• Lin Dongxue defeated Du Jing from Qing City in the sixth match.
• Tang Yan entered the arena to face Song Qing, and Cheng Gong asked Wan Fei who she thought would win.

Tang Yan faced Song Qing of Song City in the eighth duel, revealing that he had reached the peak of profound rank second grade. He countered Song Qing’s speed and attacks, leaving the stronger fighter forced back and striking his wrist.

• Cheng Gong and Fang Xuan predicted Tang Yan would lose to Song Qing, while Wan Fei trusted Tang Yan’s ability.
• Song Qing charged Tang Yan, who revealed his peak profound rank second grade strength and met Song Qing’s first punch head-on.
• Song Qing followed with Meteor Palm, but Tang Yan dodged it with his footwork and countered with the Thousand Mountains Fist, forcing Song Qing to retreat.
• Song Qing charged again to overwhelm Tang Yan with speed, but Tang Yan used his combat heart and Phantom Shadow Steps to read and evade the attack.
• Tang Yan redirected his fist toward Song Qing’s wrist and struck it before Song Qing could counter.

Tang Yan defeated Song Qing with a display of superior martial skill, and the second round of the tournament began after the contestants recovered. Lin Dongxue followed Tang Yan’s advice to keep Sun Long under pressure, leaving the match still in her favor despite his revealed fourth-grade strength.

• Tang Yan overwhelmed Song Qing, sent him off the platform, and accepted his promise to try to surpass him.
• Tang Yan gave Lin Dongxue one of his own pills, and the contestants rested before drawing lots for the next round.
• Mo Bin assured the contestants that even those with lower rankings could receive special admission to Azure Dragon Academy.
• Lin Dongxue drew the first match against Sun Long, who revealed that he had reached profound tier fourth grade.
• Lin Dongxue used her speed and combat technique to keep Sun Long from attacking, maintaining the initiative after a quarter of an hour.

Lin Dongxue defeated Sun Long, and Wan Fei stunned the crowd by beating Song Ze with a series of powerful martial techniques. Wan Fei then looked toward Tang Yan, her smile disappearing when she saw him.

• Mo Bin praised Lin Dongxue’s precise fighting and mistakenly credited Lin Xiao with teaching her.
• Lin Dongxue struck Sun Long’s dantian and won their duel, then exchanged teasing remarks with Tang Yan about their wager.
• Wan Fei faced Song Ze, and Tang Yan realized that her aura showed she had reached Profound Tier Fourth Grade.
• Wan Fei repeatedly unleashed Profound Tier martial techniques, overcoming Song Ze’s defenses and forcing him to spit blood.
• The Red-Robed Elder announced Wan Fei as the winner, and her smile vanished when she spotted Tang Yan.

Tang Yan clashed with Cheng Gong after Cheng Gong tried to inspect his number token, then used his concealed strength and Soul-Refining Flame to gain the upper hand. The chapter left Cheng Gong reeling from another slap as the tournament crowd watched.

• Wan Fei returned to Fang City's seats and traded sharp remarks with Cheng Gong about Tang Yan's chances.
• Cheng Gong confronted Tang Yan and repeatedly tried to turn over his number token, so Tang Yan slapped him across the face.
• Cheng Gong attacked Tang Yan with a punch, but Tang Yan used the Soul-Refining Flame to daze him and slapped him again.
• Cheng Gong unleashed Great Blazing Explosion, while Tang Yan revealed his Profound Tier Third Grade strength and countered with Thousand Mountains Fist.
• Tang Yan used the Soul-Refining Flame to disrupt Cheng Gong's true qi, knocked him back, and delivered another slap.

Tang Yan defeated Cheng Gong in the tournament, helping Cloud City claim two of the top five places, then met Shen Shan, who praised his victory and reported Shen He's rapid cultivation progress. Shen Shan asked Tang Yan whether his mysterious master had ever spoken to him about “force.”

• Tang Yan used the Soul-Refining Flame to disorient Cheng Gong and knocked him down, winning their fight after Cheng Gong admitted they had sparred offstage.
• Shen Shan and Shen He learned that Tang Yan had won, while Cloud City's strong tournament results astonished the crowd and pleased Lin Xiao.
• After the tournament, Shen Shan invited Tang Yan to a restaurant beside Purple Heart Lake and told him Shen He had reached Origin Tier Third Grade in three days.
• Tang Yan explained that Shen He's progress came from medicinal energy accumulated in his body and advised avoiding fire-attributed pills.
• Shen Shan asked Tang Yan who his master was, and then asked whether his master had ever spoken about “force.”

Shen Shan taught Tang Yan about presence, prompting Tang Yan to comprehend the rare Fearlessness presence despite being only a Profound Tier martial artist. Tang Yan left determined to reach the Northern Spirit Realm, while Shen Shan and Shen He discussed his talent and the strength he still needed to gain.

• Shen Shan explained that presence arose from a person's spirit and demonstrated it by pressing Tang Yan with a mountainlike aura.
• Tang Yan reflected on his past pursuit of the ninth and tenth tiers of alchemy and recognized his fearless drive to pursue the pinnacle as his own presence.
• Tang Yan's Fearlessness presence erupted and challenged Shen Shan's aura, astonishing Shen Shan with how quickly a Profound Tier martial artist had comprehended it.
• Tang Yan sensed that his Vortex Dantian was spinning faster, thanked Shen Shan, and promised to visit the Northern Spirit Realm.
• After Tang Yan left, Shen Shan told Shen He that Tang Yan still lagged behind Northern Spirit Realm geniuses, while Shen He asked why they did not invite Tang Yan to the Artifact Pavilion.

Shen Shan gave up on recruiting Tang Yan for now, while the Eastern Domain Four Princes suspected Tang Yan of cheating and planned to test him in the tournament. Tang Yan entered the final day determined to win the Spirit Storage Ring, but Lin Dongxue immediately conceded their match.

• Shen Shan told Shen He that Tang Yan might join Artifact Pavilion after traveling to the Northern Spirit Realm, then flew west with him on a Flying Spirit Beast.
• Fang Xuan, Du Shu, and the other princes discussed Cheng Gong's strange defeat and planned to investigate Tang Yan in their upcoming matches.
• Tang Yan studied the uses of momentum late into the night and went to the tournament square with Lin Xiao and Lin Dongxue the next morning.
• Fang Wentian announced that the champion would receive a Spirit Storage Ring, and the five remaining contestants drew lots.
• Fang Xuan drew a bye to the grand final, while Tang Yan and Lin Dongxue were matched against each other.
• Lin Dongxue stepped onto the platform and immediately conceded to Tang Yan.

Wan Fei defeated Du Shu with a relentless sequence of martial techniques, then conceded her next match against Tang Yan because he had once saved her life. Her withdrawal brought forward the tournament final between Tang Yan and Fang Xuan.

• Lin Dongxue conceded her duel against Tang Yan, and Tang Yan thanked her for sparing him from revealing more of his strength.
• Wan Fei and Du Shu exchanged dozens of moves while Tang Yan predicted that Wan Fei would win by using increasingly powerful martial techniques.
• Wan Fei overwhelmed Du Shu with a barrage of techniques and won their duel.
• Wan Fei conceded her next match against Tang Yan, explaining that he had saved her life when she was in grave danger.
• Fang Wentian announced that Tang Yan and Fang Xuan would fight the tournament final immediately.

Tang Yan battled Fang Xuan, who revealed he was a Profound Tier Fifth Grade cultivator and pressed him with stronger attacks. Tang Yan unleashed a bone-white flame that disrupted Fang Xuan’s mind, and their techniques collided with both fighters forced back.

• Tang Yan and Fang Xuan exchanged taunts before Fang Xuan opened the duel with his peak Profound Tier Fourth Grade strength.
• Tang Yan read Fang Xuan’s attack and held him at bay, countering his martial skills despite being weaker.
• Fang Xuan gained the advantage with stronger techniques and revealed his Profound Tier Fifth Grade cultivation.
• Tang Yan summoned a bone-white flame that sent a mental attack at Fang Xuan and disrupted his true qi.
• Tang Yan and Fang Xuan’s attacks collided, forcing both of them back two steps.

Tang Yan defeated Fang Xuan in the Eastern Domain competition by combining his martial aura, powerful techniques, and Spirit Flame. The Red-Robed Elder declared Tang Yan the winner.

• Tang Yan used his aura of Fearlessness to weaken Fang Xuan and read his attacks, holding off the stronger fighter.
• Fang Xuan challenged Tang Yan to settle the fight with one move and unleashed his Profound Tier High Grade Great Sun Crimson Wave Palm.
• Tang Yan met Fang Xuan's attack with Flame Burst Palm and revealed a deep-blue wisp within his Spirit Flame.
• The clash shattered the platform and left Fang Xuan unable to stand while Tang Yan remained upright.
• Tang Yan told Fang Xuan that the deep-blue flame was Spirit Flame, and the Red-Robed Elder announced Tang Yan of Cloud City as the winner.

Tang Yan won the Eastern Region Tournament and was selected to attend Azure Dragon Academy, while Lin Dongxue shared a secret kiss with him. As he rode back toward Cloud City with Lin Xiao and Lin Dongxue, Tang Yan hinted that the Liu Family might pose a threat.

• Fang Wentian announced Tang Yan as the tournament champion and awarded him a Spirit Storage Ring.
• Mo Bin selected Tang Yan, Fang Xuan, Wan Fei, Du Shu, and Lin Dongxue to attend Azure Dragon Academy, telling them to gather in Fang City in five days.
• Lin Dongxue kissed Tang Yan after he reminded her of their bet, then hurried away and told him to keep it secret.
• Tang Yan tested the Spirit Storage Ring, studied the Mountain-Crushing Wave-Treading Sword, and prepared to practice before Lin Dongxue told him they were leaving Fang City that night.
• Tang Yan, Lin Xiao, and Lin Dongxue set out for Cloud City, and Tang Yan hinted to Lin Xiao that people in the city might harbor ill intentions.