Chapter Summaries

Lin Shen learned that Catching Loaches could be practiced through mahjong, then tested the technique against academy staff. He discovered that Ke Er had tracked every tile and exposed his tricks, leaving Lin Shen wondering how Ke Er kept up after the tiles were shuffled.

• Lin Shen met Chi Xin Huo at the academy gate and asked how to master Catching Loaches.
• Chi Xin Huo secretly demonstrated how he used Catching Loaches to cheat at mahjong, and Lin Shen began picking up the technique.
• Lin Shen invited Ke Er, Vice Dean An, and Vice Dean Qiao to play mahjong, but won only a few dollars while Ke Er was the sole winner.
• Lin Shen confronted Ke Er about cheating, and Ke Er revealed that his memory let him track every tile in the set.
• Lin Shen objected that he had switched the tiles while shuffling, challenging how Ke Er could have remembered their positions.

Lin Shen learned that Ke Er used a secret medicinal technique to see through mahjong tiles and that Vice Dean Qiao memorized their scents, while Vice Dean An had merely guessed that the others were cheating. Vice Dean An gave Lin Shen a book called "Unsolved Mysteries of the World" to help him understand how to guess.

• Ke Er told Lin Shen about his secret X-Ray Vision technique and offered him the medicinal formula.
• Lin Shen questioned Vice Dean Qiao, who explained that he remembered the scent of every mahjong tile.
• Vice Dean An told Lin Shen that he knew about the others' techniques but had only guessed they were cheating.
• Vice Dean An gave Lin Shen a copy of "Unsolved Mysteries of the World."

Lin Shen read Vice Dean An’s unfinished book and continued preparing to build up the Celestial Master Academy. As the final Race Ranking Battle approached, Third Mountain challenged him and won permission to enter Sky Peak Star, while Lin Shen focused on choosing an assistant.

• Lin Shen read Vice Dean An’s book, which used mathematical conjectures to explore truth, human nature, and predicting opponents, and realized it was unfinished and too demanding for him to master.
• Lin Shen trained at Chaos River and learned that Third Mountain, Feng Yi, and Feng Liu had won first place in their respective Ranking List levels, while the final Race Ranking Battle was ten days away.
• Third Mountain publicly challenged Lin Shen, claiming his Ascension Level victory was deserved and asking to enter Sky Peak Star for a rematch.
• The Celestial Race authorities approved Third Mountain’s entry and announced that they would livestream his challenge, drawing public attention to the event.
• Ouyang Yudu sent Lin Shen photos of potential assistant candidates, and Lin Shen decided to go choose one in person.

Lin Shen interviewed candidates for an assistant at the Celestial Master Academy, rejecting several capable applicants because their strengths did not suit him. He finally took an interest in Tiger Sister, a beautiful White Tiger Race fighter, but the chapter ended before he chose or hired her.

• Lin Shen arrived at the lively Celestial Master Academy and asked Ouyang Yudu why so many people had gathered there; Ouyang Yudu explained that they were temporary workers recruited for the Special Task Force.
• Ouyang Yudu arranged interviews for Lin Shen, and candidate Dongbei Tai introduced his fighting skills before leaving to await a decision.
• Da Congming demonstrated his keen memory and observation by identifying the résumé Lin Shen was holding and inferring that Lin Shen disliked both candidates, then walked out.
• Lin Shen rejected more candidates, including a capable butler and versatile applicants, because he did not want assistants whose talents he did not need.
• Tiger Sister introduced herself as a twenty-five-year-old Nine Revolutions Ascension fighter from the White Tiger Race, and Lin Shen showed clear approval of her.

Lin Shen selected Lin Wan as his new assistant after meeting the final candidates. He and Ouyang Yudu then discussed Third Mountain’s challenge and the political stakes, and Lin Shen hinted that he could defeat Third Mountain without fighting personally.

• Lin Shen met Lin Wan, admired her appearance and skills, and chose her after interviewing the remaining candidates.
• Lin Shen signed a contract with Lin Wan and told her to call him “Fifth Brother” when they were alone.
• Ouyang Yudu warned Lin Shen not to trust Lin Wan too easily and asked how he would handle Third Mountain’s challenge.
• Lin Shen and Ouyang Yudu discussed how Celestial Academy could benefit whether Third Mountain won or lost, and how a human victory could improve humanity’s standing.
• Lin Shen said he was confident he could defeat Third Mountain without fighting him himself.

Third Mountain delivered a challenge letter to Lin Shen, but Dongbei Tai defended the academy head’s right to refuse and left Third Mountain waiting outside. As SkyNet debated whether Lin Shen feared a fight, Lin Shen calmly drank tea with Ouyang Yudu, leaving the challenge unanswered for now.

• Celestial Academy broadcast Third Mountain’s arrival and spread rumors that Lin Shen had become Celestial Master Academy’s head through his relationship with a powerful Female Celestial.
• Third Mountain presented his challenge letter at Celestial Master Academy, but Dongbei Tai questioned whether he was qualified to challenge Lin Shen.
• Dongbei Tai argued that Lin Shen bore responsibility for the academy and its families, then accepted the letter and shut the gates while Third Mountain waited.
• People on SkyNet argued over Lin Shen’s obligations and speculated that Third Mountain’s damage reflection gave him an advantage over Lin Shen.
• Dongbei Tai brought the challenge letter to Lin Shen and Ouyang Yudu, and Lin Shen invited him to sit and drink tea without addressing Third Mountain’s challenge.

Lin Shen kept Third Mountain waiting outside the Celestial Master Academy all day while Dongbei Tai insisted the dean had official duties. Near nightfall, Lin Shen finally emerged and accepted the challenge, leaving Third Mountain enraged as Lin Shen asked if they could begin.

• Ouyang Yudu advised Lin Shen to delay Third Mountain’s challenge so others would not expect the dean to accept every fight.
• Dongbei Tai told Third Mountain and the livestream audience that Lin Shen had accepted the challenge but had to finish his official duties first.
• Third Mountain waited outside the academy for hours as viewers debated whether Lin Shen was avoiding the fight.
• An important figure from the An Family watched Third Mountain’s wait but could not openly intervene without undermining his plans to recruit him.
• Near nightfall, Lin Shen emerged, said his work was finished, and asked Third Mountain if they could begin now.

Lin Shen fought Third Mountain by summoning the Super Origin Holy Shield Dragon, which pinned the Ascension Ranking List’s top expert to the ground. After Lin Shen released him, Third Mountain protested that the pet made the duel unfair and asked for a fair rematch.

• Third Mountain agreed to fight Lin Shen, and Lin Shen insisted they begin immediately where they stood.
• Lin Shen summoned the Super Origin Holy Shield Dragon, which crushed Third Mountain beneath its weight and left him unable to escape.
• Lin Shen called for Third Mountain to come out and fight, drawing laughter from the onlookers as Third Mountain remained pinned.
• Lin Shen recalled the Holy Shield Dragon, allowing a battered Third Mountain to crawl free and complain that Lin Shen had used a pet.
• Lin Shen pointed out that pets were allowed and mocked Third Mountain for being weaker than his pet, while Third Mountain asked for a fair battle and said he had not brought one.

Lin Shen defeated Third Mountain in a single effortless blow after Third Mountain challenged him under restrictions on pets and weapons. Third Mountain was left devastated, while spectators debated Lin Shen’s strength and whether the Celestial Race would still accept him.

• Third Mountain suspected Lin Shen’s Evil Ghost Blade had been chosen to counter him, then asked Lin Shen to fight without relying on external forces.
• Lin Shen put away the Evil Ghost Blade and drew his Folding Fan as Third Mountain charged with his spiked Life Base.
• Third Mountain suddenly froze inches from Lin Shen, who struck his face with the Folding Fan and sent him tumbling to the ground.
• Lin Shen told everyone to disperse and walked away, leaving Third Mountain motionless as spectators debated the defeat and Lin Shen’s power.
• Third Mountain lay on the ground, tormented by his crushing loss and uncertain whether the Celestial Race would still accept him and the Mountain Race.

Lin Shen learned that Old Iron was still searching for him and worried that returning the Mechanical Watch might endanger the Human Mother Star. Tian Qing Yu then asked to borrow Lin Shen and his Three-Headed Dragon for a visit to Pet Star, where defeated creatures became their challengers’ pets.

• Lin Shen received Red Heart A’s video of his fight with Third Mountain but kept Fingertip Sand’s technique secret.
• Tian Xin told Lin Shen that Old Iron knew he was on Sky Peak Star and wanted to find him, and Lin Shen told Tian Xin not to bring him there.
• Lin Shen questioned whether Old Iron was Black Heart A or a member of the God-Making Race, and considered returning the Mechanical Watch and investigating Gourd Mountain.
• Tian Qing Yu asked to borrow Lin Shen and his Three-Headed Dragon, then explained that Pet Star contained creatures that offered their keys and chose a master after being defeated one-on-one.

Lin Shen accompanied Tian Qing Yu to Pet Star so she could capture a Celestial Machine Beast, and he learned more about the planet’s strict rules and its unusual creatures. At the teleportation station, they met An Jia He, An Yi’s only son, before three elders escorted them to Pet Star.

• Tian Qing Yu gave Lin Shen a slot for Pet Star and showed him information on its Mutated Ascension Creatures, including the car-shaped Celestial Machine Beast she wanted as a mount.
• Lin Shen agreed to help Tian Qing Yu capture a Celestial Machine Beast, and they completed the approvals to visit Pet Star.
• Lin Shen and Tian Qing Yu met An Jia He at the teleportation station and learned that he was An Yi’s only son and was treated like an Imperial Son.
• Three elderly Celestial Race men arrived to protect the group and make sure they followed Pet Star’s rules before accompanying them through the teleportation.

Lin Shen and Tian Qing Yu searched Pet Star for the Celestial Machine Beast while Tian Qing Yu warned him about An Jia He’s hidden strength and influence. After finding no trace of the beast, they continued exploring, and Tian Qing Yu recognized a Jade Fairy racing toward them through the sky.

• Tian Qing Yu warned Lin Shen that An Jia He was a dangerous, mysterious figure who had founded Hejia Academy and might become his enemy.
• Lin Shen and Tian Qing Yu flew across Pet Star, admiring its strange creatures while their Nirvana-level escorts kept them safe.
• After finding no sign of the Celestial Machine Beast in its usual haunts, Tian Qing Yu suggested they keep wandering and address Lin Shen’s problem.
• Lin Shen asked about a flock of rare Ink Cranes, and an old man told him they were prohibited from capture.
• Lin Shen spotted a crystal-like fairy running through the sky, and Tian Qing Yu recognized it as the Jade Fairy.

Lin Shen and Tian Qing Yu encountered Jade Fairy and Fighting Food Buddha on Pet Star, where Fighting Food Buddha displayed overwhelming power and trapped their companions. The chapter ended with Tian Qing Yu bound and Lin Shen driven onto the defensive, suspecting someone was controlling the creature.

• Jade Fairy appeared, and the two overseers engaged her while Lin Shen and Tian Qing Yu retreated.
• Fighting Food Buddha emerged from the forest, so Tian Qing Yu abandoned the Celestial Machine Beast and asked Lin Shen to help subdue him.
• Fighting Food Buddha absorbed the Super Origin Holy Shield Dragon and its Azure Crystal Round Plate into his Ink Jade Alms Bowl.
• Lin Shen and Tian Qing Yu fought Fighting Food Buddha's ink-jade flood dragons with their Life Foundations, but neither could gain the upper hand.
• Fighting Food Buddha attacked Lin Shen with Buddhist beads and lotus-marked techniques, while the beads bound Tian Qing Yu.
• Lin Shen was forced back and suspected Fighting Food Buddha's refined combat skills came from someone controlling him.

Lin Shen fought Fighting Food Buddha until Holy Shield Dragon burst out of its alms bowl and killed it. An Jia He recognized the dragon as a rare Three Life Foundations creature and decided to arrange Lin Shen’s death, while Tian Qing Yu later found a Celestial Machine Beast and obtained its Pet Key.

• Lin Shen struggled to gain an advantage over Fighting Food Buddha, who anticipated his moves and fought with one hand while holding his alms bowl.
• Holy Shield Dragon broke out of the bowl, overwhelmed Fighting Food Buddha, and destroyed his body, leaving Lin Shen unable to take him as a pet.
• An Jia He identified Holy Shield Dragon as a Three Life Foundations creature, judged Lin Shen inexperienced, and planned to find someone else to eliminate him when an opportunity arose.
• Lin Shen suspected An Jia He had interfered with Fighting Food Buddha but kept his suspicions from Tian Qing Yu because he had no evidence.
• Tian Qing Yu offered Lin Shen the remaining chance to obtain a pet, but he declined, and she later defeated a blue Celestial Machine Beast and collected its Pet Key.

Lin Shen searched Library No. 1 for clues to Fighting Food Buddha’s predictive technique and studied Gene Mutation Lands and Nirvana methods as he prepared for Nirvana. He found no time-related Gene Mutation Land and ended the chapter discovering an unusual Nirvana method that combined a Nirvana Egg with a Gene Mutation Land.

• Lin Shen recalled how Fighting Food Buddha had outmaneuvered him and decided to investigate the technique at Library No. 1.
• Lin Shen explored the library’s Technique House, where he found an immense collection of secret arts but could not identify Fighting Food Buddha’s technique without knowing its name.
• Lin Shen read about the Celestial Race’s Gene Mutation Lands and considered several Mutated Ascension options, but found none related to time.
• Lin Shen compared Nirvana methods, decided to pursue Great Nirvana, and discovered a method that required both a Nirvana Egg and a Gene Mutation Land.

Lin Shen studied Feng Liu’s Double Nirvana method and learned about its strict requirements and risks, then explored unfinished research in the Unfinished House. He found an unproven study proposing that a Peacock with Celestial Eye Immortal Light could draw death light away from an Immortal, but the chapter left the method untested.

• Lin Shen read Feng Liu’s Double Nirvana method and learned that it required a Pure-Blooded Phoenix’s talent, a Nirvana Egg, and a Nirvana Level Gene Mutation Land, while risking a transformation into a Nirvana Creature.
• Lin Shen wondered whether his Super Gene Form could let him return to human form after Nirvana, but realized he had no way to test the idea.
• Lin Shen researched Nirvana Lands and learned that their Nirvana Creatures made them dangerous, so Ascenders needed support from powerful forces to use them.
• Lin Shen explored the Unfinished House and discovered that its books contained abandoned, incomplete research and techniques.
• Lin Shen read the unfinished Peacock Immortal Light study, which proposed using a Peacock’s Celestial Eye Immortal Light to draw death light away from an Immortal, but noted that the method had not been tested.

Lin Shen borrowed and quickly learned the defensive Live Long and Fear Death Blade Technique, planning to adapt it to use both his blade and its sheath. The Curator and An Jia He discussed the manual’s hidden flaw, unaware that Lin Shen might eventually be vulnerable without its lost companion art.

• Lin Shen suspected Heavenly Consort was Emperor Tian Shu’s life-saving talisman after reading an unfinished book, then returned it and kept his discovery secret.
• Lin Shen searched the Technique House for a blade technique and chose the ten-move Live Long and Fear Death Blade Technique because it could be learned quickly.
• Lin Shen practiced the defensive stances with his junk blade and decided to adapt the technique to use its indestructible sheath as well.
• The Curator learned that Lin Shen had borrowed the manual and explained that it had once been paired with the lost Lineage Severing Sword, forming Zhuo Lianxin’s combined art.
• An Jia He said the blade technique had an unfixable flaw without Zhuo Lianxin’s special innate ability and warned that Lin Shen could make it a fatal weakness.

Lin Shen practiced the Live Long and Fear Death Blade Technique with Lin Wan, believing he was simply struggling to master it. As Lin Shen began coordinating the blade and sheath, Lin Wan recognized the technique as a mangled version of a sword art she had created.

• Lin Shen asked Lin Wan to help him practice after Ouyang Yudu was unavailable.
• Lin Wan attacked with her sword while Lin Shen blocked her strikes using the blade technique and its sheath.
• Lin Wan noticed the technique seemed incomplete and warned Lin Shen that it might be a deceptive, dangerous fake, but he dismissed her concerns.
• Lin Wan changed her attacks to expose Lin Shen's weaknesses, yet he thought he was merely correcting his practice.
• Lin Shen adjusted his movements until the sheath began complementing his blade, and Lin Wan recognized the technique as her own Inverted Universe Positive and Negative Hands.

Lin Wan recognized that Lin Shen’s Live Long and Fear Death Blade Technique was a distorted version of her Obverse Reverse Hand, but she failed to persuade him to change it. Lin Shen continued refining his defensive style, and Ouyang Yudu praised it when he arrived.

• Lin Wan realized Lin Shen’s blade-and-scabbard technique had been derived from her Obverse Reverse Hand and privately regretted how much he had changed it.
• Lin Wan suggested using the scabbard for defense and the blade for offense, but Lin Shen dismissed her reasoning and lectured her about his own theory.
• Lin Wan gave up trying to guide Lin Shen and silently practiced alongside him as he refined his two-handed defensive technique.
• Lin Shen continued practicing, believing he was making strong progress, while Lin Wan thought he had merely improved his defense.
• Ouyang Yudu arrived near dusk, and Lin Shen demonstrated his blade technique and asked for his opinion; Ouyang Yudu praised it, leaving Lin Wan to suspect he was being insincere.

After realizing that a perfect defensive technique was impossible, Lin Shen devised a stance focused on remaining still and blocking attacks. Tian Bu Luo tested it and showed that Lin Shen still fell into his predictions once he moved, leaving Lin Shen frustrated with the difficulty of defending against the Heaven and Divine Human Art.

• Lin Shen studied the Live Long and Fear Death Blade Technique and realized that adding more defensive moves only created more flaws.
• Lin Shen concluded that he should wait for opponents to attack and maintain a stance that let him block quickly and forcefully.
• Lin Shen rebuilt his techniques into a simple defensive stance that incorporated Ouyang Yudu's Deviant Practices techniques.
• Tian Bu Luo secretly left Misty Rain Tower and found Lin Shen standing motionless in the pavilion.
• Tian Bu Luo attacked, and Lin Shen blocked with his scabbard but fell into Tian Bu Luo's calculations when he moved.
• Tian Bu Luo explained that Lin Shen could not achieve perfect defense without knowing the Heaven and Divine Human Art, and Lin Shen sat down in frustration.