Chapter Summaries

Tang Yan fought Yun Zhonghe to a standstill despite being two grades lower, but Yun Zhonghe wore him down and prepared an Earth Tier Martial Skill. As Yun Zhonghe unleashed it, an exhausted Tang Yan summoned a small deep-blue flame.

• Tang Yan and Yun Zhonghe traded sword and saber blows, while Bai Yu and Yu Juechen paused their own fight to await the result.
• After nearly an hour, Yun Zhonghe exploited his higher cultivation and used repeated attacks to drain Tang Yan’s true qi.
• Yun Zhonghe prepared the Earth Tier Martial Skill Furious Mountain Roaring Seal as Tang Yan began to falter.
• Bai Yu blocked Yu Juechen from intervening, and the elders discussed Yu Juechen’s concealed Rakshasa Gate background and Tang Yan’s combat strength.
• As Yun Zhonghe’s oppressive aura bore down on him, Tang Yan summoned a small deep-blue flame.

Tang Yan used the Heaven-Earth Creation Cauldron’s Spiritual Qi to strengthen the Heaven-Earth Creation Flame, which burned through Yun Zhonghe’s attack and defeated him. After learning Li Kuanglan had ordered his friends’ kidnapping, Tang Yan forced the Immortal Sword Gang to surrender their Star Value, then urged Yu Juechen to claim spoils from Bai Yu.

• The Heaven-Earth Creation Cauldron fed Spiritual Qi into Tang Yan’s flame, which devoured Yun Zhonghe’s green mountain attack and sent Yun Zhonghe flying.
• Tang Yan stripped Yun Zhonghe of his treasures and learned that Li Kuanglan had suggested kidnapping his brothers.
• Yun Zhonghe ordered the Immortal Sword Gang to hand over their Star Value, while some members fled instead.
• Yu Juechen defeated Bai Yu with a palm strike after using his Lineage’s secret art.
• Tang Yan persuaded the hesitant Yu Juechen to go collect spoils from Bai Yu.

Yu Juechen robbed the defeated Bai Yu after following Tang Yan’s advice, while Tang Yan shared Star Value with his companions and planned their next steps. At the academy, Elder Huo and Elder Zhen praised Tang Yan’s potential, and Xiao Cangshan worried about the academy’s standing as Tang Yan’s group headed to a trading area to seek spirit herbs and Beast Cores.

• Tang Yan advised Yu Juechen to take Bai Yu’s Storage Ring, Star Value, jade pendant, and other valuables, and Yu Juechen knocked Bai Yu unconscious before taking them.
• Yu Juechen transferred Bai Yu’s Star Value to himself, took his pendant and pills, and boasted to Tang Yan about his haul.
• Tang Yan gave Wan Fei and the others two thousand Star Value points each, while Elder Huo and Elder Zhen praised his potential in the Pill Dao and Formation Dao.
• Xiao Cangshan reviewed Tang Yan’s records and worried that Tingxiang Academy might lose its status if it finished last again.
• Tang Yan introduced Yu Juechen to Wan Fei, Fang Xuan, Du Shu, and Lin Dongxue, and the group agreed to consolidate their cultivation and kill Li Kuanglan’s group if they encountered them.
• Tang Yan asked Yu Juechen about a nearby trading area so he could acquire spirit herbs and Beast Cores for the Heaven-Earth Creation Cauldron.

Tang Yan and his companions cultivated through the final days of the selection, then passed the examination and arrived at Azure Dragon Academy. After the dean introduced the academy and its rankings, the new students entered, and Tang Yan resolved to strengthen himself quickly.

• Tang Yan offered to refine pills for Beast Cores while Yu Juechen learned that Tang Yan was an Alchemy Master and saw Lin Dongxue cultivating with remarkable talent.
• Over the next three days, Tang Yan and the others advanced in strength while he bought ingredients and Beast Cores cheaply amid fierce battles over Star Value.
• An illusory figure announced that the Trial was over, and the qualified students were transported to the square outside Azure Dragon Academy.
• Dean Xiao Cangshan congratulated the twenty-one thousand three hundred and eight new students, explained Star Value and the academy's facilities, and urged them to pursue the Heaven and Earth Rankings.
• Xiao Cangshan ordered the academy gates opened, and the new students entered as Du Shu, Fang Xuan, and Yu Juechen discussed the academy's size.
• Tang Yan saw the Combat Power Steles and resolved to improve his strength quickly so he would not fall behind.

Xiao Cangshan explained the Azure Dragon Academy’s dormitory tiers and announced a tournament that would grant districts temporary access to higher-grade dormitories. Representatives from the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts revealed they were Earth Tier experts, while the Eastern District had yet to nominate anyone.

• Xiao Cangshan described the spiritual qi and prices of one- to four-star dormitories, and Tang Yan encouraged his friends to earn Star Value for better accommodations.
• Xiao Cangshan announced that the four districts would each nominate a champion for a tournament in one month, with dormitory benefits awarded according to the rankings.
• Jing Wuhen stepped forward for the Northern District and revealed his Earth Tier strength, winning the other students’ support.
• Lang Qingyun volunteered for the Southern District, and Tang Yan noticed that his soul-shaking aura seemed to come from a cultivation method rather than mastery of Force.
• Xue Xiao accepted the Western District’s nomination and revealed an overwhelming Earth Tier aura, silencing doubts about her delicate appearance.

Tang Yan was shoved forward to represent the Eastern District despite being only at the Profound Tier Seventh Grade, and he was scheduled to fight three Earth Tier experts in a month. After learning about Azure Dragon Academy’s rankings and dormitories, he was asked by Yu Juechen to share a room.

• Fang Xuan, Yu Juechen, and the others pushed Tang Yan forward to represent the Eastern District, and Tang Yan accepted despite the crowd mocking his cultivation level.
• Xiao Cangshan announced that Tang Yan would face the representatives from the other zones on the Azure Dragon Platform in one month.
• Tang Yan’s group met their instructor, Du Xin, who explained the academy’s Heaven Ranking, Earth Ranking, and Star Value rewards.
• Tang Yan encouraged his friends to cultivate and move up the rankings, then suggested they stay in Two-Star Dormitories.
• Wan Fei paired with Lin Dongxue, while Du Shu paired with Fang Xuan, and Yu Juechen asked Tang Yan to share a room.

Tang Yan clashed with Han Ping after the other students mocked his rank, and Zi Yun intervened before taking him to stay in her Four-Star Dormitory. At her courtyard, Zi Yun revealed that she had recovered and advanced to Heaven Tier Fourth Grade, while warning Tang Yan that challenging Earth Tier opponents was risky.

• Han Ping mocked Tang Yan, and Tang Yan slapped him when he threatened to beat him.
• When Han Ping charged at Tang Yan, Zi Yun sent him reeling and walked over to Tang Yan.
• Zi Yun invited Tang Yan to live with her in her Four-Star Dormitory, and he followed her there.
• Zi Yun told Tang Yan that her injuries had healed and she had advanced to Heaven Tier Fourth Grade.
• Zi Yun warned Tang Yan about challenging Earth Tier opponents, and he said he would train hard during the remaining month.

Tang Yan began exploring Azure Dragon Academy and narrowly escaped Zi Yun’s anger after accidentally opening her changing-room door. As he entered the Nine Nether Fire Sea, Elders Huo and Zhen became intrigued by his apparent soul perception and considered testing him as a potential disciple.

• Zi Yun explained the academy’s Star Value and cultivation resources, warned Tang Yan to stay downstairs, and went to her room.
• Tang Yan accidentally opened Zi Yun’s door while she was changing, then fled after distracting her with a reminder about her clothes.
• Elder Huo and Elder Zhen discussed Jing Wuhen and Lang Qingyun as possible disciples before deciding to assess Tang Yan.
• Tang Yan found the Nine Nether Fire Sea and sensed someone watching him from a distant pavilion before entering.
• Elder Huo and Elder Zhen wondered whether Tang Yan had sensed them and agreed to wait and test his potential.

Tang Yan cultivated in the Nine Nether Fire Sea, using its flames to strengthen himself and remaining on the second floor for four hours. He then headed for the third floor, astonishing Elder Zhen and Elder Huo, who watched to see how long he could endure there.

• Elder Zhen and Elder Huo discussed how far Tang Yan might reach and watched him through a bronze mirror.
• Tang Yan entered the first floor, adapted to its flame tempering, and discovered that his true qi absorbed fire-attributed spiritual qi more quickly.
• Tang Yan moved to the second floor and cultivated there for four hours, converting the intense flames into spiritual qi.
• Elder Zhen and Elder Huo were surprised when Tang Yan left the second floor and approached the third.
• Elder Zhen declared he would take Tang Yan as his final disciple if he stayed on the third floor for fifteen minutes, and the two elders focused on watching him.

After spending three hours cultivating on the third level of the Nine Nether Fire Sea, Tang Yan attracted the interest of Elder Huo and Elder Zhen, who both wanted him as a disciple. They demonstrated alchemy and formation martial arts to win him over, and the chapter left Tang Yan weighing their offers.

• Tang Yan cultivated on the third level of the Nine Nether Fire Sea for three hours before leaving with abundant Spiritual Qi.
• Elder Huo and Elder Zhen argued over whether to recruit Tang Yan as an Alchemy Master or a formation martial artist, then agreed to let him choose.
• Elder Huo and Elder Zhen brought Tang Yan to a pavilion and offered to teach him their respective arts.
• Tang Yan asked Elder Zhen to demonstrate formation martial arts, and Elder Zhen showed him a first-tier formation that made knives appear to fall from the sky.
• Elder Huo showed Tang Yan a fourth-grade Fire Cloud Pill and promised him cultivation pills if he studied alchemy; Tang Yan praised the benefits of becoming an Alchemy Master.

Tang Yan rejected Elder Huo’s offer to study alchemy and chose Formation Martial Dao, so Elder Zhen took him to the Formation Pavilion and gave him an introductory cultivation method. Tang Yan quickly formed several Formation Points, leaving Elder Huo stunned when he saw his progress.

• Tang Yan told Elder Huo and Elder Zhen that he wanted to study Formation Martial Dao because he preferred strengthening his own power.
• Elder Zhen brought Tang Yan to the Formation Pavilion and explained how Formation Martial Dao used Formation Points to build formations.
• Elder Zhen gave Tang Yan a Jade Slip with introductory instructions and left him to try forming a Formation Point.
• Tang Yan studied the method and formed a blue Formation Point, then created several more within minutes.
• Elder Huo returned to the hall, saw Tang Yan’s progress, and froze in shock.

Tang Yan demonstrated extraordinary talent in Formation Martial Dao, impressing Elders Zhen and Huo before Elder Zhen began arranging his training. Later, Tang Yan broke into Zi Yun’s room while she was bathing and was beaten and kicked out.

• Tang Yan controlled nine Formation Points after less than an hour of instruction, stunning Elders Zhen and Huo.
• Elder Zhen qualified Tang Yan to cultivate Formation Martial Dao and told him to study at the Formation Pavilion each morning.
• Tang Yan left the pavilion determined to find his parents in the Northern Spirit Realm.
• Tang Yan climbed into Zi Yun’s courtyard and opened the door to find her bathing.
• Zi Yun caught Tang Yan as he tried to flee, beat him for an hour, and kicked him out after realizing he had seen her naked.

After Tang Yan was beaten by Zi Yun, he trained in Formation Martial Dao under Elder Zhen and developed a fast way to summon Formation Points. As Tang Yan headed to the Nine Nether Fire Sea after days of intense cultivation, he heard that Du Shu had been beaten up because of him.

• Zi Yun beat Tang Yan, and he treated his bruises before cultivating through the night.
• Elder Zhen taught Tang Yan about Formation Martial Arts Diagrams and demonstrated the Rain Blades formation.
• Tang Yan studied the Rain Blades diagram, then practiced repeatedly summoning and dismissing Formation Points.
• Elder Zhen realized Tang Yan was training his summoning speed and praised his talent.
• Tang Yan spent the next two days rotating between the Formation Pavilion, the Nine Nether Fire Sea, and his dormitory as he neared a breakthrough.
• On his way to the Nine Nether Fire Sea, Tang Yan overheard that Du Shu from the Eastern District had been beaten up because of him.

Tang Yan learned that Du Shu had been beaten by members of the Southern District's Victory Gang and healed his injuries with elixirs. Refusing to let the attack go unanswered, Tang Yan led his companions toward the Rookie District to confront the gang.

• Tang Yan questioned two boys and learned that Du Shu had been badly beaten after defending Tang Yan's reputation from jeers.
• Tang Yan gave the winter melon-faced boy a second-tier upper-grade elixir for telling him what happened.
• Tang Yan found Du Shu injured in the freshman dormitory and gave him elixirs that would let him cultivate again in three days.
• Tang Yan learned that Sun Xiaolong had beaten Du Shu and that the Victory Gang was led by Qin Sheng, whose deputy was also at Profound Tier ninth grade.
• Tang Yan reassured Du Shu, then led his companions toward the Southern District to confront the Victory Gang at the Rookie District.

Tang Yan and his companions visited the arena district, where he confronted Sun Xiaolong for injuring his brothers. After slapping Sun Xiaolong and provoking his attack, Tang Yan launched the sixth form of the Thousand Mountains Fist, leaving their fight underway.

• Fang Xuan and Wan Fei explained the Black Ranking and the Spirit Gathering Hall to Tang Yan as they headed to the arena district.
• The group found Sun Xiaolong dominating a rookie-section arena, and Tang Yan decided to challenge him over his attack on their brothers.
• Tang Yan declared that he had come to beat Sun Xiaolong up and slapped him before the spectators.
• Sun Xiaolong charged at Tang Yan with Shattering Stone Fist, and Tang Yan used six steps to unleash the sixth form of the Thousand Mountains Fist.

Tang Yan defeated and humiliated Sun Xiaolong for injuring his brother, then faced Qin Sheng, the Victory Gang’s leader, when he tried to stop him. As Qin Sheng pressed him with his Ninth Grade aura, Tang Yan quietly countered it with a force of his own.

• Tang Yan matched Sun Xiaolong’s strength, then used swift, unpredictable attacks to disable and repeatedly slap him for hurting Tang Yan’s brother.
• Tang Yan took Sun Xiaolong’s storage space and transferred his Star Value as compensation for his brother’s injuries.
• Qin Sheng confronted Tang Yan on behalf of the Victory Gang and demanded an explanation, but Tang Yan refused to back down.
• Tang Yan told Yu Juechen that he needed to display his strength to stop others from bullying them, and Yu Juechen encouraged him.
• Qin Sheng released his Ninth Grade Late Stage aura against Tang Yan, who scattered it with his own force.

Tang Yan faced Qin Sheng in the arena, surprising the spectators and academy elders with his momentum and extraordinary formation talent. He matched Qin Sheng’s opening attacks and used a mental assault, but Qin Sheng gained the upper hand before eight shapes of light and shadow appeared above him.

• Elder Zhen, Elder Huo, and Headmaster Xiao Cangshan watched Tang Yan overpower Qin Sheng with his momentum and discussed his talent and formation achievements.
• Qin Sheng opened with Cloud-Flipping Slash, and Tang Yan countered with Mountain-Crushing Wave-Treading Sword, bringing their first clash to an even match.
• Qin Sheng used Fallen Stars, and Tang Yan answered with Flame Burst Palm and Phantom Shadow Steps while his mental attack briefly weakened Qin Sheng.
• Qin Sheng pressed his advantage and roared that Tang Yan would die, but eight shapes of light and shadow appeared overhead and sent sharp blades falling toward him.

Tang Yan defeated Qin Sheng by using Formation Martial Dao, relentless Thousand Mountains Fist strikes, and the Heaven-Earth Creation Flame to break Qin Sheng’s defensive treasure. Afterward, his companions learned that Elder Zhen, who had taught him Formation Martial Dao, was one of Azure Dragon Academy’s two most revered figures.

• Tang Yan used Rain Blades to disrupt Qin Sheng, then seized the initiative with a rapid series of Thousand Mountains Fist strikes.
• Qin Sheng activated a defensive magical treasure, but Tang Yan enveloped his fist in the Heaven-Earth Creation Flame and punched through its barrier.
• Tang Yan beat Qin Sheng until he could no longer resist, took his Storage Ring and Star Value, and left the arena with his companions.
• Tang Yan warned his companions not to underestimate opponents and explained that poison and other unexpected dangers could be deadly.
• Tang Yan revealed that Elder Zhen had taught him Formation Martial Dao, and Lin Dongxue explained that Elder Zhen ranked above Azure Dragon Academy’s elders.

Tang Yan encouraged his friends to identify their personal dreams and assured Du Shu that he could reach Heaven Tier while pursuing commerce. Fang Xuan proposed forming a gang to support everyone’s ambitions, and the group awaited the others’ response.

• Fang Xuan told Du Shu how Tang Yan had defeated Sun Xiaolong and Qin Sheng, repaying the humiliation Du Shu had suffered.
• Tang Yan asked his friends about their dreams and said he wanted to reach the pinnacle of the Pill Dao and lead its development.
• Du Shu revealed that he loved commerce and wanted to become wealthy enough that even Heaven Tier experts could not resist his prices; Yu Juechen, Fang Xuan, Wan Fei, and Lin Dongxue shared their own ambitions.
• Du Shu hesitated to pursue commerce because of his family’s expectations, but Tang Yan promised that pills could help him reach Heaven Tier before forty, and Du Shu chose to trust him.
• Tang Yan argued that Du Shu’s commercial wealth could influence the world, while Fang Xuan proposed forming a gang to handle business, security, and logistics so everyone could pursue their dreams.

Tang Yan agreed to establish the Reach the Summit faction and then cultivated in the Nine Nether Fire Sea, breaking through to a higher level. Zi Yun gave him a Blood Qi Cultivation Art from Purple Bamboo City, leaving him eager to learn its strength-boosting technique.

• Tang Yan approved founding the Reach the Summit faction and gave Du Shu pills to sell for its first income.
• Tang Yan entered the Third Layer of the Nine Nether Fire Sea, where he refined fire spirit power and broke through after it fused with the Heaven-Earth Creation Flame.
• Tang Yan returned to his residence and refined a Youth-Preserving Pill, which Zi Yun demanded and took.
• Zi Yun warned Tang Yan that the New Student Competition was twenty days away and advised him to visit the Azure Dragon Academy's Spirit Gathering Hall.
• Zi Yun gave Tang Yan Purple Bamboo City's gift of thanks, a Blood Qi Cultivation Art called Meridian-Altering Qi, and Tang Yan memorized its formula.