Chapter Summaries

Shen Yun calmly faced down the gathered princely scions and walked past them into the imperial palace, leaving their pride and anger stoked. The Ninth Prince watched from afar and promised Shen Yun a great reward if he passed Wu Tianyin’s trial, while Wu Tianyin entered the palace first.

• The Overlord roared Shen Yun’s name, and Zhao Chenglie and Yang Xuanxiao recognized his terrifying strength.
• Shen Yun dismissed the nobles’ hostility, told them to move aside, and walked through the passage they made for him.
• Jue Wushen and the others admired Shen Yun’s confidence, while Jian Wushuang sensed an old acquaintance in the distant void.
• The Great Gan’s Ninth Prince watched Shen Yun and said Imperial Brother would grant him a vast fortune if he passed Wu Tianyin’s trial.
• Wu Tianyin entered the palace gates first, and the other gathered scions followed him inside.

Shen Yun arrived at the imperial palace for the martial examination and was escorted by Commander Ling Feishuang to the Dragon Gate Martial Training Ground. The Ninth Prince announced the first round, and thirty battle platforms appeared as the Golden Feather Army prepared to test the candidates.

• Shen Yun surveyed the palace and its formidable Golden Feather Army before Ling Feishuang personally welcomed him and led him to Purple Heaven Hall.
• A middle-aged commander warned Yang Xuanfeng not to question why Shen Yun had been personally appointed by the Ninth Prince.
• Shen Yun saw the enormous Earth Vein Obsidian training ground and the court officials gathered with the Ninth Prince, Marquis Guangcheng, Marquis Tian Ce, and Marquis Ping Ding.
• After all three hundred candidates assembled, the Ninth Prince announced that the examination had two rounds and that the first would pit them against Golden Feather Army soldiers with their cultivation suppressed to match.
• The Four Spirits formation transformed the arena into thirty suspended battle platforms, and the Ninth Prince ordered the matches to begin.

The selected Heavenly Prides gathered for the martial examination’s first round, and Shen Yun, Shen Qiu, and the other competitors drew their numbers. As the first thirty stepped onto the Battle Platform, Yang Xuanfeng prepared to challenge Jue Wushen, and the opening battle was about to begin.

• The Southern Border Saintess Li Meng and the Western Desert monk Master Wu Nian appeared as leaders of their regions’ small groups of competitors.
• The competitors formed regional camps, while Shen Qiu stood alone and boasted of his strength; Azure Venerable recalled the dangers she had suffered alongside him for three months.
• Shen Qiu promised Azure Venerable he would restore her body after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, easing some of her distrust.
• Marquis Ping Ding announced that competitors would draw numbers and take the stage; Shen Yun drew One Hundred, Shen Qingruo drew Two Hundred Ten, Xuan Wude drew Three Hundred, and Jue Wushen drew One.
• Yang Xuanfeng requested permission to fight Jue Wushen first, while Yang Xuanxiao hoped Jue Wushen would defeat him.
• The first batch of thirty selected participants stepped onto the Battle Platform as the battle began.

Shen Yun correctly predicted that most candidates would be eliminated by the Golden Feather Army, whose overwhelming strength shocked the spectators. Jue Wushen defeated Yang Xuanfeng with a mastered sword technique, and the next match began with a First-class Guard challenging Shen Qiu.

• Shen Yun predicted that sixty percent of the candidates would be eliminated, and Murong Jiu judged his insight to be nearly equal to hers.
• The Golden Feather Army suppressed the candidates in the first round, defeating more than ten people and eliminating over sixty percent of the Martial Examination candidates who fought.
• Yang Xuanfeng trapped Jue Wushen with a fire vortex, but Jue Wushen struck him down using Water Drop Myriad Transformation Sword Qi.
• The first wave ended with only ten winners, and the Golden Feather Army’s noble descendants entered the second wave more seriously.
• A First-class Guard with Azure Heaven Sword Qi challenged Shen Qiu, and Shen Yun recognized that the man might come from Azure Heaven Marquis Manor.

Shen Qiu defeated Xiao Yunkong with his strange movement technique and powerful metal-fire arts, shocking the Central Continent’s talents. Shen Yun then entered the arena, where the Ninth Prince revealed that his cultivation was at the Nascent Soul Sixth Layer.

• Shen Qiu evaded Xiao Yunkong’s sword attacks, exhausted his opponent’s magical power, and knocked him off the platform.
• Yang Xuanxiao revealed that Shen Qiu had once been one of Shen Yun’s followers, leaving the gathered experts stunned that they could not handle even one attendant.
• Zhao Chenglie ordered the princes and marquises to conserve their strength and focus on obstructing Li Meng and Master Wu Nian.
• Shen Yun stepped onto the battle platform, but no Golden Feather Army fighter came forward, and Marquis Ping Ding told him to stop suppressing his aura.
• The Ninth Prince used the formation to assess Shen Yun and announced that he had reached the Nascent Soul Sixth Layer.

Shen Yun’s rise to Nascent Soul Sixth Layer intensified the awe and despair of the other contenders, while Shen Qingruo entered Dao enlightenment and advanced her Void Core. The Ninth Prince arranged for Guan Hanshan to test Shen Yun, but Shen Yun repelled the commander with a single utterance, leaving Wu Tianyin gravely focused on him.

• Star Palace’s Hidden Dragon ranking and Shen Yun’s earlier accomplishments were recalled as the crowd recognized his growing strength and considered him a threat to Wu Tianyin.
• Shen Qingruo resolved to stand beside Shen Yun one day, entered Dao enlightenment, and began solidifying her seven-colored Void Core.
• The Ninth Prince approved a plan to have Guan Hanshan challenge Shen Yun so the officials could assess Shen Yun’s strength.
• Guan Hanshan praised Shen Yun before attacking with his True Martial Unbeatable Saber Intent, while the spectators and contenders watched closely.
• Shen Yun spoke a line of Vast Righteous Qi, dissolved Guan Hanshan’s saber attack, and gently sent him off the platform.
• The nobles reacted in fear, and Zhao Chenglie saw that Wu Tianyin had become unusually grave.

Shen Yun stunned the gathered elites with his Vast Righteous Qi, while Wu Tianyin demonstrated the strength that made him the Central Continent’s leading young talent. As the next clash loomed, Shen Yun’s group discussed the power of top-ranked Spirit Bodies, and Azure Venerable revealed how formidable the highest-ranked ones were.

• Shen Yun returned from defeating Guan Hanshan, who thanked him and invited him to share wine and discuss their insights.
• The onlookers praised Shen Yun’s talent, while Ye Jiuge and the Eastern Continent’s group lost confidence in their hopes of claiming the summit.
• Wu Tianyin defeated a Half-step Deity Transformation Golden Armored Guard with his Myriad Beasts Martial Intent and a single palm strike.
• Shen Yun assessed Wu Tianyin’s exceptional strength, and Shen Wude reported that Wu Tianyin likely possessed a Spirit Body ranked among the top ten.
• Azure Venerable ranked Shen Qiu’s Nine Nether Spirit Body eleventh and explained that the top five Spirit Bodies could surpass several realms in battle.

Wu Tianyin intimidated the arena and warned the Central Continent talents not to target Shen Qingruo, while Shen Yun eagerly anticipated fighting him. Shen Qingruo defeated her opponent with seven-turn magic power and returned to Shen Yun as the first round neared its end.

• Wu Tianyin demonstrated overwhelming control of the Heaven and Earth Laws, leaving Ye Jiuge, Li Meng, and Master Wu Nian aware of the gap between them and him.
• Murong Jiu warned Shen Yun that Wu Tianyin likely possessed a spirit body ranked among the top five, but Shen Yun welcomed the prospect of a powerful opponent.
• Shen Qingruo entered her match after Shen Yun expressed his confidence in her, while Yang Xuanxiao tried to turn the Central Continent talents against her.
• Wu Tianyin threatened anyone who targeted Shen Qingruo and punished Yang Xuanxiao for stirring trouble.
• Shen Qingruo used her Water-Wood Dual Attribute power and seven-colored magic power to defeat a middle-aged Golden Feather Army soldier in one swift attack.
• Shen Qingruo returned to Shen Yun, who congratulated her and gently straightened her hair.

Shen Yun guided Shen Qingruo as she demonstrated Seven-Turn Mana, while Shen Wude won his match through speed and trickery. After the first round left exactly 120 candidates, the Ninth Prince announced that the second round would consist of one-on-one battles, with the lords choosing the order based on first-round performance.

• Shen Yun explained mana cultivation to Shen Qingruo, whose Seven-Turn Mana impressed the gathered geniuses and frightened Yang Xuanxiao.
• Ye Jiuge defeated his opponent in fewer than three moves.
• Shen Wude dodged his opponent’s attacks, exploited an opening, and kicked the Body Cultivator guard out of the arena.
• Zhao Chenglie and Yang Xuanxiao worried that Shen Yun’s talented allies could become a powerful force, but the assembled lords hesitated to oppose him.
• The first round ended with exactly 120 candidates remaining, and Murong Jiu resolved to support Shen Yun.
• The Ninth Prince announced that the second round would use one-on-one battles, with the appearance order determined by him and the lords.

The judges and nobles debated the martial examination rankings, with the Ninth Prince insisting that Wu Tianyin take second place. Great Qin National Teacher Dugu Galuo arrived seeking someone, then confirmed the ranking; Shen Yun ultimately defeated Wu Tianyin and claimed first place.

• The judges and Ninth Prince settled the lower rankings, placing Shen Qingruo twenty-fifth.
• The nobles argued over the top ten, eventually ranking Wu Nian sixth, Murong Jiu fifth, Zhao Chenglie fourth, and Ye Jiuge third.
• The Ninth Prince declared that Wu Tianyin should rank second, provoking a tense standoff with the nobles.
• Dugu Galuo arrived in a Golden Chariot and said she had come to seek a person.
• Dugu Galuo confirmed Wu Tianyin's second-place ranking, and Shen Yun defeated him to take the foremost seat.

Shen Yun and the other contenders advanced through the martial examination as many opponents conceded or were defeated. After the final ten were settled, the climactic battles began with Shen Yun matched against Li Meng.

• Shen Yun’s first opponent conceded, and he and several companions advanced through their matches as the field narrowed.
• Chen Aotian recognized Shen Yun’s overwhelming strength and conceded before their match began.
• Shen Qingruo and Jue Wushen lost their matches, while Shen Wude conceded; Shen Qiu fought with crafty tactics before losing to a Half-step Nascent Soul opponent.
• Shen Wude and Shen Qiu bickered over Shen Qiu’s tactics until Shen Yun ordered them to stop, and Shen Qingruo watched with fond amusement.
• The final ten contenders were confirmed, and the first decisive battle was announced: Shen Yun versus Li Meng.

Shen Yun defeated Li Meng by taking control of the Five Elements Power in her inherited Gu King Formation and effortlessly removing her from the Battle Platform. His victory deepened the Central Continent camp’s doubts about Wu Tianyin’s chances, while the Ninth Prince used the display to silence the skeptical nobles.

• Li Meng used the Five Elements Gu King Formation to raise her cultivation from Nascent Soul Third Layer to Nascent Soul Sixth Layer and summon five fourth-rank Gu Kings.
• Shen Yun claimed control of the formation’s Five Elements Power, subdued the Gu Kings, and dissolved Li Meng’s mana with his domain of law.
• Shen Yun sent Li Meng beneath the Battle Platform, and she accepted her defeat with sincere admiration for his Five Elements Great Dao.
• Yang Xuanxiao and Zhao Chenglie were shaken by Shen Yun’s strength, and Zhao Chenglie privately questioned whether Wu Tianyin could defeat him.
• Shen Yun returned to cheers from Shen Wude and Jue Wushen, while the Ninth Prince forced Marquis Ping Ding and the other nobles to acknowledge his judgment.
• Dugu Galuo observed Shen Yun’s Great Five Elements Dao and found its distinct aura interesting.

Wu Tianyin, Ye Jiuge, Zhao Chenglie, and Murong Jiu won their matches as the grand competition’s top five were decided. With the next round requiring one competitor to receive a bye, Marquis Ping Ding proposed sending Shen Yun directly into the top three.

• Wu Tianyin defeated Master Jing Yuan with the Martial Dao Heavenly Eye, and Jing Yuan admitted he had seen less than one-tenth of Wu Tianyin’s strength.
• Ye Jiuge overwhelmed and defeated the Heir of the Martial Marquis with his self-created Four Extremes Thunder Control True Scripture.
• Zhao Chenglie narrowly defeated Master Wu Nian after a prolonged battle, despite Wu Nian fighting evenly with him while unarmed.
• Murong Jiu calculated the black-clothed swordsman’s attacks and defeated him, completing the top five.
• The Ninth Prince asked how the next rounds should proceed, and Marquis Ping Ding proposed giving Shen Yun a bye into the top three.

The nobles manipulated the tournament rules to make Shen Yun fight Ye Jiuge first, hoping to wear Shen Yun down and prevent him from winning the top scholar title. Ye Jiuge broke through to the Nascent Soul Eighth Layer, but Shen Yun swiftly overwhelmed him, leaving the match unresolved as the arena fell silent.

• Marquis Ping Ding praised Shen Yun, and the Ninth Prince announced that Shen Yun would advance directly to the top three.
• Shen Yun and Murong Jiu suspected the nobles were scheming, while Murong Jiu and Zhao Chenglie conceded their matches to preserve strength for the final round.
• Marquis Ping Ding and the other nobles proposed a three-person round-robin and arranged for Shen Yun to fight Ye Jiuge first.
• Ye Jiuge broke through to the Nascent Soul Eighth Layer and challenged Shen Yun, but Shen Yun dispelled his lightning and badly injured him with a single exchange.

Shen Yun effortlessly overcame Ye Jiuge’s lightning arts with his Five Elements Reincarnation Technique and Great Five Elements Sword Qi, leaving the assembled cultivators stunned by his power. After Shen Yun urged Ye Jiuge to reveal his true tribulation lightning, Ye Jiuge unleashed the Divine Firmament Heavenly Thunder True Scripture.

• Ye Jiuge used the Purple Firmament Thunder Token and his Four Extremes Thunder Pillars to launch a vast lightning attack at Shen Yun.
• Shen Yun nullified Ye Jiuge’s lightning with Five Elements Reincarnation, then struck him with Great Five Elements Sword Qi and badly wounded him.
• The onlookers realized Shen Yun was controlling all five elements through a self-created cultivation method.
• Ye Jiuge accused Shen Yun of holding back, and Shen Yun invited him to use the tribulation power he had concealed.
• Ye Jiuge revealed his true Purple Firmament Purgatory Lightning and invoked the Divine Firmament Heavenly Thunder True Scripture.

Ye Jiuge unleashed the Divine Firmament Heavenly Thunder True Scripture, but Shen Yun absorbed and refined the thunder, breaking through to the Seventh Layer of Nascent Soul and defeating him. Wu Tianyin then stepped onto the platform and declared that Shen Yun was destined to lose to him.

• Ye Jiuge summoned Purple Firmament Purgatory Lightning with the Divine Firmament Heavenly Thunder True Scripture, and Wu Tianyin judged his battle strength to have reached the first heaven of Deity Transformation.
• Shen Yun walked into the thunder without protection and devoured the Purple Firmament Purgatory Lightning, shocking Ye Jiuge and the spectators.
• Shen Yun strengthened the thunder with Primordial Mana, refined the entire thunder sea, and broke through to the Seventh Layer of Nascent Soul.
• Ye Jiuge admitted defeat, praised Shen Yun, and left the platform, while Shen Wude celebrated his brother's victory.
• Wu Tianyin stepped onto the platform and told Shen Yun that his cultivation was still lacking and that defeat was certain.

Shen Yun unleashed his Sword Three against Wu Tianyin, and the two clashed with devastating force. Though Wu Tianyin revealed his Myriad Phenomena Void Shattering Martial Intent, Zhao Chenglie concluded that he still fell slightly short.

• Wu Tianyin revealed that he had reached the Fourth Heaven of Spirit Transformation, stunning the gathered princes and lords.
• Shen Wude, Shen Qiu, and Shen Qingruo voiced their faith that Shen Yun would win, and Shen Yun said he would not disappoint them.
• Shen Yun released his immortal-path pure land, raised his aura above Wu Tianyin's, and attacked with Sword Three.
• Wu Tianyin countered Shen Yun's sword with his Myriad Beasts Martial Intent and an Immortal Divine Mountain, but both attacks were annihilated in their clash.
• Zhao Chenglie revealed that Wu Tianyin had used his Myriad Phenomena Void Shattering Martial Intent and said that he still fell slightly short.

Shen Yun and Wu Tianyin clashed with ultimate techniques, and their collision nearly shattered the Four Spirits Formation. The Ninth Prince identified Shen Yun as an Extreme Realm prodigy, leaving the gathered rulers stunned.

• The spectators recognized Wu Tianyin’s Myriad Beasts Martial Intent as the introductory chapter of Martial King’s Manor’s Myriad Phenomena Void Shattering Martial Intent and marveled that Shen Yun’s Sword Three had suppressed it.
• Shen Yun focused his power, manifested the Bodhi Treasure Tree, and struck with a sword that sank the Battle Platform.
• Wu Tianyin unleashed the Forbidden Chapter, Myriad Laws Void, and collided with Shen Yun’s sword, cracking the Four Spirits Formation and unleashing a destructive storm.
• The Ninth Prince revived the four spirit statues to stabilize the formation, while Marquis Guangcheng realized Shen Yun had crossed seven realms to challenge power at the Fifth Heaven of Spirit Transformation.
• The Ninth Prince called Shen Yun an Extreme Realm prodigy, and a white-haired military general predicted that the Hidden Dragon Ranking would list his Seven-Colored Nascent Soul.

Shen Yun gained the upper hand against Wu Tianyin by using the Book of Zhou Tian Yan Dao to predict and counter his moves, inflicting a severe wound. Wu Tianyin acknowledged Shen Yun as a worthy opponent and revealed his Heaven Swallowing Divine Body as their duel continued.

• Shen Yun and Wu Tianyin exchanged hundreds of blows while spectators from the five regions watched in suspense.
• Shen Yun used his mastery of the Five Elements and Yin and Yang to break Wu Tianyin's Myriad Manifestations Martial Will and force him onto the defensive.
• Shen Yun predicted Wu Tianyin's moves and struck through his defenses with the Sword of Annihilation, shattering his armor and leaving a wound that would not heal.
• Wu Tianyin admitted he had underestimated Shen Yun, then said they were not enemies but that he still had to defeat him.
• Wu Tianyin unleashed the Heaven Swallowing Divine Body, forming a pitch-black divine ring that devoured the surrounding laws and spiritual energy.

Wu Tianyin revealed the Heaven Swallowing Divine Body and fought Shen Yun, whose Primordial Mana resisted his devouring power. After Shen Yun began to overpower him, Wu Tianyin revealed his Golden Core Extreme Realm and prepared a new technique, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Wu Tianyin unleashed the Heaven Swallowing Divine Body, devouring nearby laws and restoring his wounds and mana.
• Jue Wushen explained the Heaven Swallowing King's legend as spectators feared Wu Tianyin's power.
• Shen Yun recognized that Wu Tianyin's ability transcended ordinary laws, then answered his Heaven Swallowing Gourd with nine fused Great Daos and Primordial Mana.
• Shen Yun's Primordial Mana resisted Wu Tianyin's devouring power and tore open his grotto-heaven, forcing him back.
• Wu Tianyin's shattered grotto-heaven erupted with eight-colored light, revealing his Eight-Turn Mana and Golden Core Extreme Realm.
• Wu Tianyin transformed his grotto-heaven into a black-and-white wheel and named his next move Heaven and Earth.