Chapter Summaries

Xia Yi taught Shi Lai the Sword Scripture and cultivation principles, helping him unlock his first Saint Soul and reach level 51. As Shi Lai learned about the limits of Soul Apertures, he grew disturbed by a sudden surge of murderous intent toward cultivators with more apertures.

• Shi Lai told Zhou Xiaoxian that Feng Mo had arranged to break his leg, and Xia Yi warned that harming an innocent person made someone guilty regardless of their reasons.
• Zhou Xiaoxian offered Shi Lai a recommendation to register at the Holy Academy, but he chose to learn swordsmanship from Xia Yi first.
• Xia Yi taught Shi Lai the Sword Scripture, and Shi Lai comprehended it, condensed the Tianshu Star, reached level 51, and unlocked seven Saint Soul slots.
• Xia Yi explained Saint Soul ratings, mastery, power, and carrying limits to Shi Lai and Zhou Xiaoxian, including how their Soul Aperture counts shaped their cultivation potential.
• Shi Lai learned that he had seven Soul Apertures, compared himself with cultivators who had many more, and felt a growing murderous impulse toward those geniuses.

Shi Lai and Xia Yi arrived at the Holy Academy with Zhou Xiaoxian, where Shi Lai’s mounting anger led him to slash a fellow applicant. Vice Headmaster Luo crippled Shi Lai for killing in public, prompting Xia Yi to unleash his Break the Cauldrons and Sink the Boats Saint Soul and seize Luo by the throat.

• Shi Lai grew furious when a boy on the tram mocked his appearance, and Xia Yi considered the academy’s possible connection to the Xia Family legacy.
• At the Holy Academy, Shi Lai encountered the same boy again and slashed him across the back after he resumed taunting him.
• Vice Headmaster Luo abolished Shi Lai’s Saint Soul power and blamed his violent outburst on his newly condensed Tianshu Star.
• Xia Yi activated the Break the Cauldrons and Sink the Boats Saint Soul and grabbed Vice Headmaster Luo by the throat after Luo insulted Shi Lai’s cultivation teacher.

Xia Yi fought the Holy Academy vice dean Luo Ti after discovering he had targeted Zhou Xiaoxian and deliberately waited for Shi Lai to kill someone before crippling him. Xia Yi killed Luo Ti just as Shi Lai finished counting two minutes and reloaded, while other Holy Academy teachers rushed toward them.

• Zhou Xiaoxian recalled that gathering the Tianshu Star could bring out murderous intent, while Shi Lai watched Xia Yi battle and counted silently.
• Xia Yi exposed Luo Ti's Palm Blade and One Leaf Obscures the Eyes Saint Souls, then overpowered him with his wings.
• Luo Ti revealed that he had targeted Zhou Xiaoxian over the Xia Family legacy, and Xia Yi vowed to kill Feng Shuhu and the others behind the plot.
• Luo Ti used Fight with One's Back to the River, but Xia Yi's six-star Hat-to-Wings diverted his saber and Xia Yi punched through his chest.
• Luo Ti died, and Xia Yi concluded that the dean was likely uninvolved as other powerful teachers hurried down the mountain.
• Shi Lai reached 120 in his count and used Load, expecting his crippled Saint Soul power to return.

Shi Lai returned to the Holy Academy registration and learned about the heaven-bestowed Saint Soul selection, then accepted a quest to win a place among the Four Little Talented Scholars. Luo Ti warned Xia Yi about Feng Shuhu but secretly planned to kill him and seize the Xia Family legacy.

• Shi Lai considered killing Feng Mo again, but Xia Yi stopped him, warning him not to let murderous intent control him.
• Luo Ti arrived while Shi Lai registered and congratulated Zhou Xiaoxian on condensing her Tianxuan Star.
• Xia Yi explained the three types of Saint Souls, and Zhou Xiaoxian described the upcoming selection for the Four Little Talented Scholars.
• Shi Lai accepted a quest to enter the junior class and secure a place in the selection, which would reward him with a cultivation-speed boost.
• Luo Ti warned Xia Yi that Feng Shuhu could retaliate, then privately resolved to kill Xia Yi and take the Xia Family legacy.

Feng Shuhu concealed his plans to kill Xia Yi while lessons at the Holy Academy explained how Saint Soul star ratings could change. After Luo Ti invited Xia Yi to a student selection event, Song Qu’s servant tried to bring him to a tea garden, but Xia Yi refused.

• Feng Shuhu told Feng Mo that he had pretended to be badly injured to lower Xia Yi’s guard before killing him.
• Hu Jun taught the Beginner Class that Saint Soul star ratings could rise or fall, while Luo Ti privately explained the real story behind Martial Sage Guan Yu’s Saint Soul.
• Luo Ti ordered Xia Yi to leave the Holy Academy and invited him to return in a week to watch the selection of the Four Little Talented Scholars and Four Little Talented Women.
• Song Qu’s servant found Xia Yi and said Song Qu was waiting at a nearby tea garden, but Xia Yi turned down the invitation.

Feng Shuhu’s plan to lure Xia Yi into an ambush faltered when Xia Yi came to the tea garden anyway. Ma Chen tried to poison Xia Yi’s tea, then launched an attack, but Xia Yi’s calm gaze left him facing an uncertain confrontation.

• Feng Shuhu learned that Xia Yi had refused the invitation and ordered Ma Chen to keep his supposed recovery secret as he left through the back gate.
• Xia Yi entered Green Leaf Valley Fragrance and persuaded the nervous servant to lead him toward the tea pavilion.
• Ma Chen spiked the teapot and hid among the trees while the servant directed Xia Yi to the pavilion.
• Xia Yi tasted the tea, spat it out, and complained that it tasted awful.
• Ma Chen lunged at Xia Yi with his sword, then froze when Xia Yi raised his teacup toward him and met his gaze.

Xia Yi defeated Ma Chen after revealing that he had anticipated the ambush and was far stronger than Ma Chen expected. He left Ma Chen unconscious and continued on, while Feng Shuhu was still on his way to help.

• Ma Chen attacked Xia Yi with True Interpretation of Swordsmanship, but Xia Yi distracted him by throwing the poisoned teapot, which Ma Chen caught and drank with an antidote.
• Xia Yi explained that Ma Chen had exposed himself by serving tea he supposedly knew Xia Yi disliked, then revealed that Feng Shuhu had left and was expected to return soon.
• Xia Yi exposed Ma Chen’s belief that he was injured and used his aura and the Deception Scripture to make Ma Chen doubt himself.
• Ma Chen regained his resolve and used Every Tree and Plant Is an Enemy and Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap to bind Xia Yi with branches.
• Xia Yi evaded the trap and knocked Ma Chen unconscious with one punch, then left while Feng Shuhu was still riding to the rescue.

Shi Lai completed a series of errands for Xia Yi, raising his level and Xia Yi’s affinity until Xia Yi’s deceptive thoughts triggered a romantic-love rating. Shi Lai fled when Xia Yi invited him to stay overnight, and Xia Yi then removed the suggestion, leaving Shi Lai convinced he had disappointed his grandfather.

• Shi Lai skipped school to ask Xia Yi to teach him a powerful Saint Soul, and Xia Yi sent him to find an affordable compound in East District Three.
• Shi Lai used online research and repeated save reloads to find a suitable house, completing Xia Yi’s quest and raising their affinity to 60.
• Shi Lai ran errands around Lieyang City for several days, reaching level 70 as Xia Yi’s affinity rose to 90.
• Xia Yi asked Shi Lai to investigate Chen Guang’s past, and Shi Lai learned that the Wangjiang Tower waiter had once been the Holy Academy’s top student before a cultivation setback left him lame.
• After Shi Lai reported Chen Guang’s history, Xia Yi’s planted suggestion raised their affinity to 100 (Romantic love), and Xia Yi invited Shi Lai to stay the night and promised to teach him a Saint Soul.
• Shi Lai fled, so Xia Yi removed the suggestion and their affinity fell to 20; Shi Lai stopped nearby, nearly in tears, believing Xia Yi was upset with him.

Xia Yi explained the inferior rat saint soul to Zhou Xiaoxian after she asked Chen Guang about his past at the Holy Academy. Chen Guang revealed that he had damaged himself shattering such a soul, while Xia Yi assured Zhou Xiaoxian she would be safe if she ever needed to do the same.

• Zhou Xiaoxian asked Chen Guang whether he had been a senior disciple at the Holy Academy, and he confirmed it was part of his past.
• Xia Yi explained how a human hero named Si was corrupted by a demon-slave saint soul, and how the term inferior rat saint soul came to describe harmful saint souls.
• Xia Yi said Chen Guang had likely damaged his body while shattering an inferior rat saint soul, and Chen Guang admitted that Xia Yi's guesses were correct.
• Xia Yi told Zhou Xiaoxian that soul-protecting medicine would make shattering a harmful saint soul absolutely safe, despite Chen Guang warning that it still carried a small risk.
• After leaving the private room, Chen Guang leaned against the door in pain before recovering his humble smile and walking away.

Xia Yi exposed a servant broker’s attempt to deceive him, then met his new neighbor Wang Xun and received an invitation to the Holy Academy. Wang Xun overheard the invitation and, recalling Xia Yi’s reputation, decided he was a true master.

• Xia Yi pretended to consider buying several servants while recognizing the broker’s use of the Deception Scripture.
• Wang Xun brought a gift to meet Xia Yi, but overheard him mocking the broker’s inflated offer.
• The broker demanded 180 taels and threatened Xia Yi, who taunted her until she stormed off.
• Wang Xun warned Xia Yi that the broker had a Three-Star Tianji cultivator working for her, then left worried about the dispute.
• A messenger delivered Deputy Headmaster Luo Ti’s invitation for Xia Yi to observe the Holy Academy’s selection the next afternoon.
• Wang Xun overheard Xia Yi accept the invitation and, remembering reports of his feats, declared him a true master.

Zhou Xiaoxian returned to Xia Yi’s home and asked him for advice after suspecting that her senior sister had been manipulating her. Xia Yi told her she had misjudged people before but was still young, and that learning from setbacks was part of growing up.

• Zhou Xiaoxian found that Xia Yi had taken in several servants, and Xia Yi instructed the gardener Wu Jing to plant scallions instead of flowers in the courtyard.
• Zhou Xiaoxian told Xia Yi that her senior sister had encouraged her to teach children for money and reacted strangely when Zhou Xiaoxian mentioned the Inferior Rat Saint Soul.
• Zhou Xiaoxian suspected that her senior sister, the daughter of Governor Sun Sheng, might have deliberately steered her toward caring more about money.
• Xia Yi asked Zhou Xiaoxian to consider whether her senior sister had influenced her over the past year, then criticized her poor judgment in past conflicts.
• Xia Yi reassured Zhou Xiaoxian that she was only fifteen and had much to learn, and told her that setbacks helped her grow.

Shi Lai passed the written exam for the Four Little Talented Scholars and received Xia Yi’s quest to become one of them in exchange for a Saint Soul. Xia Yi arranged for Shi Lai to face stronger opponents, including Feng Mo if he reached the final stage, while recalling Father God’s creation of the ten realms.

• Shi Lai repeatedly used his save-loading ability to memorize answers, pass the written exam, and slap Feng Mo three times.
• Xia Yi told Shi Lai that becoming one of the Four Little Talented Scholars would earn him instruction in a Saint Soul, triggering a quest with additional rewards.
• Xia Yi asked Luo Ti to arrange stronger opponents for Shi Lai and, if possible, set him against Feng Mo.
• Xia Yi and Luo Ti toured the Holy Academy’s peaks and visited the altar where the next day’s ceremony would ask Father God to bestow Saint Souls.
• Xia Yi remembered winning a Saint Soul centuries earlier and recalled the legend that Father God’s body and spirit formed the ten realms, with the Saint Soul Continent at their center.

The Holy Academy began grouping students for its selection contest by having them draw notched leaves, while Shi Lai discovered he had been placed with four powerful second-years. He eagerly looked forward to the contest and to learning a Saint Soul from Xia Yi afterward.

• Hu Jun and a female teacher reported that all 78 second-years and 22 first-years had passed the written exam, and Luo Ti prepared to begin the contest with Xia Yi present.
• Lü Ying struck Da Neng with her giant sword to stop the students from disturbing Zhou Xiaoxian, then warned Feng Mo not to take Da Neng's question personally.
• Luo Ti divided the boys and girls onto separate platforms and sent notched leaves flying from his saber strike so students with matching notches would form groups.
• Da Neng celebrated after drawing a four-notched leaf and being grouped with four first-years, while four high-ranking second-years worried over their two-notched leaves.
• Shi Lai joined the four second-years with matching two-notched leaves, used Detection Arts to learn their levels, and grew excited about the contest and Xia Yi's future instruction.

Shi Lai fought through the boys’ martial examination, using his Medicine Scripture Saint Soul to heal between matches and reaching the knockout stage. After Feng Mo defeated him with a hidden saint soul technique, Shi Lai repeatedly rewound time, learned Feng Mo’s moves, and finally beat him, leaving Feng Mo stunned by the loss.

• Shi Lai defeated Li Zhong despite suffering many sword wounds, then healed himself with the Medicine Scripture and won all four matches in his group.
• Luo Ti paired Shi Lai with Feng Mo in the knockout round, and Feng Mo quickly severed the tendon in Shi Lai’s sword wrist.
• Shi Lai continued fighting, but Feng Mo fatally stabbed him; Xia Yi then used Reloading a Save! to rewind the match.
• In the repeated match, Shi Lai anticipated Feng Mo’s swordplay, but Feng Mo escaped a decisive slash with Replace the Beams with Rotten Timber and struck Shi Lai from behind.
• Xia Yi rewound time again, and Shi Lai learned to evade Feng Mo’s hidden technique before disarming him and forcing him to surrender.

Zhou Xiaoxian fought through the junior students’ final matches and faced her close senior sister Sun Xin for first place. Though Sun Xin’s bell Saint Soul deprived her of hearing, Zhou Xiaoxian adapted and gained the advantage, leaving her sword poised before Sun Xin’s chest.

• The Four Little Talented Scholars and Four Little Talented Women were selected, and Luo Ti explained that the top student in each division would earn an additional five-star Heaven-Bestowed Saint Soul.
• Shi Lai challenged Song Ziyu after Xia Yi promised to teach him a five-star Saint Soul, but all three of Shi Lai’s reloads ended in defeat.
• Zhou Xiaoxian beat Lü Ying after Lü Ying briefly caught her off guard with a remark about losing her virginity, then voluntarily conceded.
• Zhou Xiaoxian and Sun Xin fought for first place, with Zhou Xiaoxian gaining an edge through her stronger Sword Scripture.
• Sun Xin used Plugging One's Ears While Stealing a Bell to rob Zhou Xiaoxian of her hearing, but Zhou Xiaoxian adapted and raised her Sword Scripture to level 25.
• Zhou Xiaoxian swept Sun Xin’s sword aside and stopped her blade before Sun Xin’s chest.

At the Divine Bestowal Ceremony, Feng Mo and Deputy Commander Xu used Guo Da Neng’s absence to force Feng Mo into the Four Little Talented Scholars. Xia Yi then stepped into the ceremony and claimed the final place for himself, leaving everyone stunned.

• Xia Yi discussed Sun Xin’s jealousy with Zhou Xiaoxian, then sent her to practice sword accuracy on his scallions.
• Xia Yi and Zhou Xiaoxian arrived at the Holy Academy, where Xu Zhou accompanied Feng Mo and Guo Da Neng remained absent.
• Luo Ti completed the divine bestowal for Zhou Xiaoxian, Sun Xin, Lü Ying, and Zi Yao while the students waited for Guo Da Neng.
• Xu Zhou argued that Guo Da Neng’s lateness disqualified him and pushed for a new contest; Feng Mo won and took his place among the Four Little Talented Scholars.
• As Luo Ti began Feng Mo’s divine bestowal, Xia Yi’s light pillar appeared on the altar, and Xia Yi declared himself the last of Lieyang City’s Four Little Talented Scholars.

After Feng Mo lost his place among the Four Little Talented Scholars, he blamed Xia Yi and left the Holy Academy in anger. At Wangjiang Tower, he took out his fury on Chen Guang, revealing that Chen Guang knew Feng Mo’s father had ruined his cultivation, while Chen Guang refused to retaliate.

• Feng Mo accused Xia Yi of taking his blessing, but Xu Zhou carried him away before he could disrupt the ceremony further.
• Xia Yi called the incident an illusion, and Zhang Jin received the replacement blessing as the Divine Bestowal Ceremony concluded.
• Zhou Xiaoxian apologized to Shi Lai for once defending Feng Mo, and Xia Yi pointed out Feng Mo arguing with Xu Zhou at the foot of the mountain.
• Feng Mo left the Holy Academy and ordered Wangjiang Tower’s staff to bar Xia Yi and Zhou Xiaoxian, then humiliated and struck Chen Guang.
• Feng Mo revealed that his father had tampered with Chen Guang’s medicine, but Chen Guang stayed submissive and denied hearing the confession.

Xia Yi helped Chen Guang overcome his fear and awaken a new six-star Saint Soul after learning how Feng Shuhu had ruined his life. Newly empowered, Chen Guang set out to confront Feng Mo, while Xia Yi promised to handle what followed.

• Chen Guang told Xia Yi, Zhou Xiaoxian, and Shi Lai how Feng Shuhu had tricked him into imprinting an inferior rat Saint Soul and how he had spent decades serving at the restaurant.
• Chen Guang explained that Feng Shuhu and his powerful allies left him feeling unable to seek revenge, while Shi Lai vowed to avenge him.
• Xia Yi spotted the sharpened mop handle and challenged Chen Guang with the words, "Are dukes, marquises, generals, and ministers born to their stations?!"
• Chen Guang and Xia Yi awakened a new six-star Saint Soul, creating a continent-wide celestial phenomenon and healing Chen Guang's injuries.
• Chen Guang thanked Xia Yi, leaped from Wangjiang Tower, and charged Feng Mo with the mop handle as Xia Yi told him to vent his anger.

Chen Guang used his newly formed Six-Star Saint Soul to defeat Feng Mo’s guards and kill Feng Mo, who revealed that he had drowned Guo Da Neng in the river. Lü Ying grieved over Guo Da Neng’s fate as Xia Yi prepared to take the stage.

• Lü Ying confronted Feng Mo about Guo Da Neng’s disappearance, and Feng Mo mocked her with the possibility that he had fallen into the Min River.
• Chen Guang attacked Feng Mo’s guards, using his Six-Star Saint Soul to kill Ding Shan and mortally wound Ding Hai.
• Chen Guang hurled Ding Hai’s spear into Feng Mo’s leg, then pursued him as nearby commoners refused to help.
• Feng Mo begged Lü Ying to save him and promised to reveal Guo Da Neng’s whereabouts, but Lü Ying deceived him while Chen Guang pinned him to the ground with his sharpened mop handle.
• Feng Mo confessed that he had drowned Guo Da Neng in the river and died; Lü Ying cried, while Xia Yi prepared to take the stage.

Xia Yi waited with Chen Guang at Wangjiang Tower as Feng Shuhu mobilized troops after Feng Mo’s death. After establishing that Xia Yi and Chen Guang had created a new Six-Star Saint Soul, Xia Yi invoked the law and brought charges against Feng Shuhu for secretly harming Chen Guang thirty-five years earlier.

• Xia Yi’s status panel showed that condensing his new Saint Soul had restored him to the peak of Jade Balance, and he waited calmly while soldiers surrounded Wangjiang Tower.
• Feng Shuhu ordered Xu Zhou to mobilize troops, then sent his wife away for safety and recognized that Chen Guang had gained powerful backing.
• Song Qu arrived at Wangjiang Tower with a prison warden, and Xia Yi revealed that Chen Guang was his second disciple and that they had created a new Six-Star Saint Soul together.
• Xia Yi confirmed that the law still protected a Void King who killed justifiably and asked how the Holy Academy handled severe persecution of fellow students.
• Xia Yi formally brought charges against Feng Shuhu for secretly harming Chen Guang thirty-five years earlier, as Zhou Xiaoxian spotted Feng Shuhu’s father arriving alone.