Recaps

Hu Fangyuan successfully refined the Iron Skin Gu and Brute Flesh Gu, completing his set of four rank-one Gu for skin, flesh, tendons, and bones. After recovering with Moonlight Dew, he prepared to implant the three newly refined Gu in his body.

• Hu Fangyuan used the Heaven Refining Furnace to refine a three-hundred-year-old Iron Armor Beetle shell into a rank-one Iron Skin Gu.
• Hu Fangyuan refined Brute Bull blood essence into a rank-one Brute Flesh Gu, using a drop of his own blood essence to guide it.
• Hu Fangyuan gathered the Iron Skin Gu and Brute Flesh Gu with the Copper Bone Gu and Silver Tendon Gu, completing his four-GU set.
• Hu Fangyuan drank Moonlight Dew to ease his exhaustion and summoned the Silver Tendon Gu as he prepared to implant the three new Gu in his body.

Hu Fangyuan endured the violent pain as Copper Bone, Silver Tendon, Iron Skin, and Brute Flesh settled into his body, then lost consciousness. The Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus emerged from the Heaven Refining Furnace and soothed his injuries, leaving him breathing steadily as it returned to the furnace.

• Hu Fangyuan cut his wrist and let the Silver Tendon Gu, Iron Skin Gu, and Brute Flesh enter his body.
• Hu Fangyuan endured the forces colliding within him until he lost consciousness.
• The Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus emerged from the Heaven Refining Furnace and showered Hu Fangyuan with primeval essence.
• The primeval essence eased Hu Fangyuan's pain and helped the four forces settle into their proper places.
• The Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus returned to the Heaven Refining Furnace as Hu Fangyuan's breathing steadied.

Hu Fangyuan missed the promotion tournament while adapting to four newly implanted strength-path Gu, and Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie defeated Class Two to set up a match against Class One. Gu Yue visited Hu Fangyuan with Wu Changkong’s message, collected the Moonlight Dew, and saw how much his body had changed.

• Hu Fangyuan took leave, and Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie defeated Class Two in under two minutes, completing three consecutive tournament victories.
• Class Five became the academy’s dark horse, and attention turned to its upcoming match against first-year Class One.
• Hu Fangyuan spent two days adjusting to the Iron Skin Gu, Brute Flesh Gu, Silver Tendon Gu, and Copper Bone Gu, which strengthened and enlarged his physique.
• Gu Yue visited Hu Fangyuan to check on him for Wu Changkong and warn him to avoid Guang Biao outside the academy.
• Hu Fangyuan gave Gu Yue three bottles of Moonlight Dew and said he was ready to compete against Class One.
• Gu Yue noticed Hu Fangyuan’s metallic-sounding wrist and chose not to question his secrets.

Gu Yue invited Hu Fangyuan to the East Sea Trading Company, where he learned that a valuable shipment from the Xu Family’s fleet had arrived. After hearing it included thousand-year whale rubber, Hu Fangyuan wanted to buy some, and Gu Yue asked if he wanted it.

• Gu Yue invited Hu Fangyuan to visit the East Sea Trading Company, and he agreed, hoping to improve his access to refining materials.
• Hu Fangyuan and Gu Yue reached the trading company and went to its freight entrance to inspect a newly arrived shipment.
• Hu Fangyuan learned from a driver that the shipment had been delayed after cargo ships were seized by terrorists in the Star Luo Empire.
• The driver said the cargo included rare materials and several pieces of thousand-year whale rubber, a valuable substance that Hu Fangyuan urgently wanted.
• Gu Yue confirmed that the shipment belonged to the Xu Family’s fleet and asked Hu Fangyuan whether he wanted some; he admitted that he did but did not know if he could buy it.

Gu Yue offered to help Hu Fangyuan obtain Thousand-Year Whale Rubber in exchange for his secret body-strengthening medicine, and they agreed on a monthly deal. They entered the East Sea Trading Company's shopping complex, where Hu Fangyuan inspected the merchandise.

• Gu Yue offered to help Hu Fangyuan get Thousand-Year Whale Rubber, but he insisted they make a trade.
• Gu Yue considered Hu Fangyuan a valuable source of human techniques for helping soul beasts survive, though she rejected the idea of taking what she wanted by force.
• Gu Yue asked Hu Fangyuan for his secret body-strengthening medicine, and he quoted one and a half million per dose.
• Gu Yue negotiated five doses a month at one million two hundred thousand each, with delivery alongside the Moonlight Dew, and Hu Fangyuan accepted.
• Gu Yue and Hu Fangyuan entered the shopping complex, where Hu Fangyuan examined the clothing shops and dismissed the ice silkworm brocade as flashy and impractical.

Hu Fangyuan browsed the East Sea Trading Company with Gu Yue, secured a business deal, and received a silver hairpin as a gift for her. Returning to his courtyard, he focused on strengthening himself and preparing his four Gu for Four-Image Combined Refinement.

• Hu Fangyuan and Gu Yue browsed the trading company, where guards admitted them to the Soul Master floor after seeing Gu Yue's black card.
• Hu Fangyuan bought Gu Yue a silver hairpin as thanks for helping him obtain whale rubber, and she accepted it.
• Gu Yue arranged to deliver the thousand-year whale rubber and reminded Hu Fangyuan to prepare the Moonlight Dew and Strength Path Secret Medicine for their deal.
• On his way back, Hu Fangyuan resolved to refine the four symbols iron body Gu because his current strength could not match powerful Soul Masters.
• Hu Fangyuan examined the four Gu merged into his body and determined they needed feeding before he could attempt Four-Image Combined Refinement.

Hu Fangyuan cut open his arm and fed his four Gu so they would be stronger when he attempted to refine them together into the Rank-three Four Symbols Iron Body Gu. The next day, a typhoon struck Eastsea City, halting classes and the promotion tournament for seven days.

• Hu Fangyuan cut a deep wound in his arm and let the Copper Bone Gu, Silver Tendon Gu, Iron Skin Gu, and Brute Flesh Gu crawl out.
• Hu Fangyuan fed the four Gu their respective materials until they grew larger, then had them return to their places in his body.
• Hu Fangyuan bandaged his arm and reflected on enduring hardship to pursue the joint refinement of the Four Symbols.
• A fierce typhoon struck Eastsea City, flooding streets, damaging buildings, and disrupting the harbor.
• The storm kept Eastsea City in upheaval for seven days, forcing Eastsea Academy to suspend classes and halt the class promotion tournament.

After the typhoon, classes resumed, but Tang Wulin did not return or answer his communicator, worrying Xie Xie before the Class Promotion Tournament. Wu Changkong decided Xie Xie, Gu Yue, and Hu Fangyuan would compete without him, while the others made no progress in finding Tang Wulin.

• During seven days of quiet, Hu Fangyuan strengthened his four Gu worms and memorized the steps of Four-Image Combined Refinement.
• When classes resumed, Xie Xie worried that Tang Wulin was absent and unreachable before their match against First-Year Class One.
• Hu Fangyuan dismissed Tang Wulin as unnecessary, and Xie Xie angrily insisted that Tang Wulin was their companion.
• Gu Yue suggested looking for Tang Wulin at the Blacksmith Association, but Hu Fangyuan explained that it would not disclose a blacksmith's workshop address.
• Xie Xie went to Wu Changkong, who told him that the three present students would fight in the tournament without Tang Wulin.

Wu Changkong sent Class Five into its promotion match against Class One with only Hu Fangyuan, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie, while Xie Xie and Gu Yue failed to find Tang Wulin. The two classes gathered at the arena, where Wei Xiaofeng provoked Xie Xie and Hu Fangyuan learned why he was angry.

• Wu Changkong decided Class Five would compete with three students and did not reach Tang Wulin by communicator.
• Xie Xie and Gu Yue asked the Blacksmith Association for Tang Wulin's studio address, but the staff refused to give it to them.
• Hu Fangyuan skipped the search, ate, and prepared to test his gu worms in the match.
• Students and teachers gathered to watch Class Five face the highly regarded Class One.
• Wei Xiaofeng taunted Xie Xie, and Xie Xie told Hu Fangyuan that Wei had previously looked down on Class Five.

First-Year Class Five faced First Grade Class One in the fourth Class Promotion Tournament match, and Tang Wulin arrived just before Wu Changkong named the team. As both teams entered the arena and introduced themselves, Hu Fangyuan provoked Class One by calling them a bunch of guys destined to lose.

• Hu Fangyuan and Xie Xie traded barbs as Class Five met Class One, while Zhang Yangzi, Wei Xiaofeng, and Ye Yingluo showed their contempt for their opponents.
• Ye Yingluo told Yangzi to teach Class Five a hard lesson, and Long Hengxu began the tournament proceedings.
• Tang Wulin arrived looking exhausted and told Wu Changkong he could compete; Wu Changkong then fielded four students.
• Hu Fangyuan, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue entered the arena against Zhang Yangzi, Wei Xiaofeng, Wang Jinxi, and Su Xiao.
• Wei Xiaofeng provoked Xie Xie, but Tang Wulin held him back as the students introduced themselves.
• Hu Fangyuan mocked Class One as destined to lose, and Wei Xiaofeng angrily stepped forward.

The first-year classes’ showdown began with Xie Xie and Wei Xiaofeng trading rapid attacks while their teammates joined the fight. The battle escalated as Gu Yue checked Zhang Yangzi’s aerial assault, and Wang Jinxi entered the fray.

• Long Hengxu warned both classes against deliberately injuring their opponents, then started the match.
• Wei Xiaofeng and Xie Xie clashed at high speed, with Xie Xie identifying Wei’s real body and forcing him to defend against his twin daggers.
• Hu Fangyuan mocked the fight, prompting Zhang Yangzi to attack him from the air while Su Xiao reinforced Zhang with a shield.
• Gu Yue intercepted Zhang Yangzi with ice, wind, and earth attacks, damaging his wings and driving him out of his dark mist.
• Wang Jinxi activated his martial soul and charged into the battle.

Tang Wulin used his Golden Dragon King strength to hold off Wang Jinxi, while the four-on-four match between Class Five and Class One remained closely contested. When Zhang Yangzi caught Gu Yue distracted and attacked her from behind, Hu Fangyuan intervened with a fiery punch.

• Tang Wulin stepped in to stop Wang Jinxi from attacking Gu Yue and matched his bone-claw strikes with punches.
• Xie Xie and Wei Xiaofeng fought at high speed as Gu Yue and Zhang Yangzi battled with elements and aerial attacks.
• Su Xiao boosted Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, but Tang Wulin blocked Wang Jinxi's Bone Dragon Transformation with his Golden Dragon Claw and cracked his bone armor.
• Zhang Yangzi dove at Gu Yue while she was distracted by Tang Wulin's golden scales.
• Hu Fangyuan suddenly moved between Zhang Yangzi and Gu Yue and struck Zhang Yangzi's claw with a flame-wreathed punch.

Hu Fangyuan dominated the arena, knocking Zhang Yangzi, Su Xiao, and Wei Xiaofeng out of action as Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi began a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Their fused form attacked Hu Fangyuan, who answered with Water Refining Azure Furnace, leaving their clash unresolved.

• Hu Fangyuan shattered Zhang Yangzi's bone claws, hurled him into Su Xiao's shield, then threw him out of the arena, where Wang Jinxi caught him.
• Hu Fangyuan kicked Wei Xiaofeng away when he tried to attack, then struck him out of the arena after Wei Xiaofeng shielded Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi during their fusion.
• Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi combined into a powerful eagle-and-dragon figure using a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• The fused figure attacked Hu Fangyuan, who unleashed all four Strength Path Gu Worms and raised a wide wave with Water Refining Azure Furnace to block its dive.

Hu Fangyuan overwhelmed Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi after they used an incomplete Martial Soul Fusion Skill, securing First-Year Class Five’s victory over Class One. Long Hengxu reported the dangerous match to Yu Zhen, who was astonished by Hu Fangyuan’s abilities.

• Hu Fangyuan countered the fused Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi with a flying kick and a barrage of punches, shattering their defenses.
• Hu Fangyuan broke the fused being’s Bone Dragon Claw and struck him unconscious with the Heaven Refining Furnace, ending the Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• Long Hengxu announced First-Year Class Five as the winner, while the injured Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, and Wei Xiaofeng were taken to the infirmary.
• Long Hengxu went to Yu Zhen’s office and explained how the match had escalated and how First-Year Class Five had defeated Class One.
• Yu Zhen listened as Long Hengxu described Hu Fangyuan’s performances and was repeatedly astonished by the student’s abilities.

Yu Zhen and Long Hengxu discussed creating a Special-Grade Class for Eastsea Academy’s gifted first years, with Wu Changkong as their homeroom teacher. Yu Zhen approved the proposal in principle and left its final consideration to the Academy Board of Directors.

• Yu Zhen accepted Long Hengxu’s explanation of the day’s events and asked him to submit a detailed report.
• Long Hengxu proposed a Special-Grade Class to concentrate the academy’s resources on its exceptional first-year students.
• Yu Zhen considered the students’ potential and asked how Long Hengxu would staff the class.
• Long Hengxu recommended Wu Changkong as homeroom teacher and defended the choice by pointing to Class Five’s results.
• Yu Zhen approved the proposal in principle, asked Long Hengxu to prepare a detailed plan, and told him to consult Wu Changkong.

Di Tian visited Hu Fangyuan at Gu Yue’s request and delivered thousand-year whale rubber for his refining. After warning Hu Fangyuan not to meddle in Gu Yue’s affairs, Di Tian left, and Hu Fangyuan celebrated the valuable material and concluded that Gu Yue was investing in him.

• Long Hengxu left the headmaster’s office after securing approval to prepare a proposal.
• Hu Fangyuan sensed a powerful presence in his courtyard and entered to find Di Tian waiting.
• Di Tian gave Hu Fangyuan thousand-year whale rubber from Gu Yue and told him to keep supplying her and avoid improper thoughts.
• Hu Fangyuan handed Di Tian three bottles of Moonlight Dew to deliver to Gu Yue, and Di Tian vanished after warning him.
• Hu Fangyuan inspected the whale rubber and rejoiced that it could raise the success rate of his Four-Image Combined Refinement by at least twenty percentage points.

Hu Fangyuan guarded the thousand-year whale rubber and began the Four-Image Combined Refinement to create the rank-three Four Symbols Iron Body Gu. In his hidden chamber, he used water refinement to cleanse and nourish the four Gu worms before proceeding to the next stage.

• Hu Fangyuan hid the thousand-year whale rubber in his Storage Soul Tool and waited until the night was quiet.
• Hu Fangyuan cut his wrist and drew out the Copper Bone Gu, Silver Tendon Gu, Iron Skin Gu, and Brute Flesh Gu.
• Hu Fangyuan opened his secret chamber and summoned the Heaven Refining Furnace and Azure Cicada.
• Hu Fangyuan began water refinement, washing impurities from the four Gu worms and nourishing their bodies.

Hu Fangyuan successfully combined four rank-one Gu into the rank-three Four Symbols Iron Body Gu, but the process left him severely depleted. Knowing he still had to implant the Gu into his body, he began refining Thousand-Year Whale Rubber to prepare for the procedure.

• Hu Fangyuan used water and fire refinement to break down the Silver Tendon Gu, Iron Skin Gu, Brute Flesh Gu, and Copper Bone Gu.
• Hu Fangyuan fused the four Gu’s materials in the Heaven Refining Furnace and sacrificed a mouthful of heart’s blood to stabilize the creation.
• Hu Fangyuan completed the rank-three Four Symbols Iron Body Gu and held the heavy, iron-like Gu in his palm.
• Hu Fangyuan decided to postpone implanting the Gu until he recovered and began refining Thousand-Year Whale Rubber in the Heaven Refining Furnace.

Hu Fangyuan used thousand-year whale rubber and the Four Symbols Iron Body Gu to undergo a painful bodily transformation. He emerged with the Gu rooted in his backbone and a powerful, iron-hardened body.

• Hu Fangyuan melted the whale rubber and poured it into a tub of water to make a medicinal bath.
• He entered the tub, reopened his wrist wound, and the Four Symbols Iron Body Gu burrowed into it.
• The Gu crawled to Hu Fangyuan’s backbone and fused with it as the medicinal power reforged his bones, tendons, muscles, and skin.
• After the bath’s medicinal power was absorbed, Hu Fangyuan awoke with an iron-gray sheen and greatly increased physical strength.
• Hu Fangyuan stood beside the tub and threw a punch using only his physical strength.

Hu Fangyuan awakened a new kind of physical strength, then attended an assembly where the academy reorganized the first-year classes and announced a new elite Class Zero. The chapter ended with eight students selected for the pilot class under Wu Changkong.

• Hu Fangyuan tested his newly integrated physical strength, then cleaned up and slept after exhausting himself with cultivation.
• The first-year students assembled, and Tang Wulin noticed Zhang Yangzi was absent and Wang Jinxi was injured.
• Long Hengxu announced that the former First-Year Class Five would become First Grade Class One and would not continue in the Class Promotion Tournament.
• Long Hengxu awarded the new First Grade Class One a grade-A meal each day for the semester.
• Long Hengxu announced First-Year Class Zero, led by Wu Changkong, and selected Hu Fangyuan, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Gu Yue, Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, Wei Xiaofeng, and Su Xiao.

Eastsea Academy established First Grade Class Zero and reprimanded its seven students for the injuries caused during the Class Promotion Tournament. Principal Yu Zhen warned them to work hard and obey the rules, while Hu Fangyuan privately recognized the scolding as a way to keep talented students in line and accepted the academy’s generous support.

• Long Hengxu announced that the eight students who fought in the tournament would be severely criticized and that six would lose their rewards.
• Yu Zhen explained the purpose of Class Zero to the remaining first-grade classes, which then left the field.
• Hu Fangyuan considered how Eastsea Academy was investing in promising students and imagined that other academies would compete to recruit them.
• Yu Zhen gathered the seven Class Zero students and scolded them for their injuries and conceit, warning them against another incident.
• The students agreed to behave, while Hu Fangyuan privately viewed Yu Zhen’s reprimand as a carrot-and-stick tactic and resolved to take advantage of the academy’s resources.

Yu Zhen asked the seven students selected for Class Zero to sign agreements promising to stay at Eastsea Academy through the junior and senior divisions. Six signed, while Wei Xiaofeng asked to consult his family, leaving his place in Class Zero uncertain.

• Yu Zhen handed the students agreements and explained that Eastsea Academy would invest more in them if they committed to staying.
• Hu Fangyuan and Tang Wulin signed quickly, and Gu Yue followed after sharing a quiet exchange with Hu Fangyuan.
• Xie Xie overcame his hesitation and signed, followed by Wang Jinxi and Su Xiao.
• Wei Xiaofeng remained hesitant and told Yu Zhen he wanted to discuss the agreement with his family because they might choose a better academy for him later.