Chapter Summaries

Shen Heng fought off a group of Tier 2 Gathering Wolves in the simulation, then returned to the cafeteria and discussed the simulation’s painful deaths with Zhou Xuan and Cao Mingyu. Yang Xu approached their table and claimed he had saved Fang Ran’s life.

• Shen Heng killed a Gathering Wolf that pushed its head through his door, then used his fist and saber to kill another as the wolves broke in.
• Four Gathering Wolves entered Shen Heng’s cramped room while another watched from the doorway, and Shen Heng prepared to face them.
• At the cafeteria, Zhou Xuan complained about suffering pain in the simulation, and Cao Mingyu suggested it was part of training.
• Shen Heng and Zhou Xuan discussed how the simulation’s injuries might prepare them for fighting Calamity Beasts.
• Yang Xu came to the table, and Cao Mingyu told him to leave before Yang Xu told Fang Ran that he had saved her life.

Yang Xu taunted Shen Heng’s group over their simulation rankings and boasted about gaining access to the advanced Origin Power room, but Shen Heng challenged his claim. After Fang Ran declined the group’s offer to confront Yang Xu, Shen Heng considered his own poor ranking and began planning how to compete against stronger ability users.

• Yang Xu claimed he had tried to help Fang Ran with a Calamity Beast and mocked the group’s rankings, prompting Shen Heng to stop Cao Mingyu from reacting.
• Shen Heng pointed out that Yang Xu’s fifth-place finish and advanced Origin Power room access depended partly on other people already having secured access, leaving Yang Xu with little to say before he walked away.
• Cao Mingyu, Zhou Xuan, and Shen Heng offered to confront Yang Xu during the next simulation, but Fang Ran refused because he did not want to hurt their performance.
• Shen Heng reviewed the simulation results, noting Wu Hongxuan’s first place with ninety-eight kills, Xiao Xiangtong’s second with ninety-six, and his own twenty-ninth place with three.
• Shen Heng noticed Lü Wenrui complaining that he had been attacked as soon as he woke, then considered how his D-rank ability could compete with A-rank and B-rank ability users.

Shen Heng began the second simulation in a ruined city and set out to kill enough Calamity Beasts to qualify for the advanced Origin Power chamber. He killed a Bone-Corroding Wolf Spider with his saber and sound-based ability, then headed toward his next target.

• Shen Heng awakened on a city road and learned that a Calamity Beast and another person were nearby as the sky's leaderboard refreshed.
• Shen Heng decided he needed to kill around sixty Calamity Beasts to improve his chances of gaining access to the advanced Origin Power chamber.
• Shen Heng entered a warehouse and found a Bone-Corroding Wolf Spider hanging from the ceiling.
• Shen Heng dodged the spider's acidic webs and mucus, then used his ability to stun it and drove his saber into its mouth, killing it.
• Shen Heng saw his kill count appear on the leaderboard and hurried toward the next Calamity Beast.

The training camp's Calamity Beast rankings continued to shift as Xiao Xiangtong and Wu Hongxuan held the top two spots. Zhang Chenguang, Cao Zhenghao, and Chang Lei observed the contestants in his Fantasy Corridor and judged Shen Heng unlikely to catch up before the competition ended.

• Xiao Xiangtong secured first place and Wu Hongxuan settled into second as the leaderboard climbed.
• Zhang Chenguang explained that his Fantasy Corridor drew on his memories and the subconscious minds of those inside, and discussed its dangers and limits with Cao Zhenghao and Chang Lei.
• Cao Zhenghao and Chang Lei noticed Peng Lesong had killed far fewer beasts than in the previous training, and Zhang Chenguang showed Peng Lesong approaching a sleeping beast.
• Zhang Chenguang predicted Lin Chentao, Wang Zhixue, and Yang Xu had the best chances of earning the advanced Origin Power room spots.
• Chang Lei watched Shen Heng defeat several Calamity Beasts but concluded he could not make up the gap with only an hour left.

Shen Heng checked the combat simulation rankings and realized he needed at least 19 more kills to have a chance at fifth place before time ran out. He went to investigate a nearby fight and watched Wu Hongxuan defeat four Spirit Fox Apes with his shadow ability.

• Shen Heng killed a Calamity Beast and saw that he was ranked twelfth with 43 kills, while fifth place required 58.
• Shen Heng decided to pursue the rankings and ran toward the sound of a fight nearby.
• Shen Heng found Wu Hongxuan battling four Spirit Fox Apes with a humanoid shadow that he appeared to be developing.
• Wu Hongxuan formed a shadow spear and quickly killed all four Spirit Fox Apes.
• Shen Heng envied Wu Hongxuan’s ability to face several Calamity Beasts at once and judged that only Wu Hongxuan and Xiao Xiangtong could achieve such results.

Shen Heng used Xiuyu Metro Station’s tunnel to amplify his sound-wave attacks and lure nearby Calamity Beasts toward him. As he began fighting the gathered beasts, Yang Xu checked the leaderboard and saw the countdown near its end before the screen suddenly rippled.

• Shen Heng reached Xiuyu Metro Station and entered its dark tunnels to use their acoustics to strengthen his attacks.
• Shen Heng made torches, lit a section of the tunnel, and cut notches in the walls for them.
• Shen Heng used Sound Wave Perception to locate Calamity Beasts and struck the tunnel wall to lure them toward him.
• Shen Heng drew a crowd of Calamity Beasts into the torchlit area and began attacking them with his saber.
• Yang Xu saw himself ranked fifth with 63 kills and believed he had secured his place as the countdown neared its end.
• The leaderboard screen rippled as Yang Xu watched it.

Shen Heng used sound waves to immobilize a horde of Calamity Beasts and killed enough to claim third place in the trial. Back in the lecture hall, his classmates doubted his tally, but Shen Heng chose not to explain.

• Shen Heng struck the tunnel rail and gathered the resulting sound waves into a shock wave that froze the charging Calamity Beasts.
• Shen Heng drew his saber and killed the immobilized beasts as his ranking rapidly climbed.
• Yang Xu and others watched Shen Heng's score rise, while Zhang Chenguang showed Cao Zhenghao and Chang Lei a recording of Shen Heng's actions in the tunnel.
• Shen Heng returned to the lecture hall with a score of sixty-nine and third place, and Cao Mingyu and Zhou Xuan asked how he had killed so many beasts.
• Yang Xu challenged Shen Heng's tally, and the others debated whether he could have killed twenty-six Calamity Beasts in one minute.
• Shen Heng listened calmly to the doubts and kept quiet because he was mentally exhausted.

Zhang Chenguang confirmed Shen Heng’s third-place result and showed the class how he had used the subway tunnel to defeat Calamity Beasts. The simulation ended with Shen Heng and Lin Chentao earning access to the advanced Origin Power room.

• Zhang Chenguang confirmed that Shen Heng had killed the recorded number of Calamity Beasts and placed third, despite Yang Xu’s objections.
• Zhang Chenguang used his ability to show the class Shen Heng’s actions in the subway station during the simulation.
• Xiao Xiangtong explained that Shen Heng had used sound to lure the Calamity Beasts toward him, and Shen Heng confirmed it.
• Shen Heng struck the rail, using the tunnel’s amplified sound waves to kill the approaching Calamity Beasts within a minute.
• The class returned to the tiered classroom, where Yang Xu watched Shen Heng grimly before Zhang Chenguang ended the session and awarded Shen Heng and Lin Chentao access to the advanced Origin Power room.

After placing third in the combat simulation, Shen Heng explained how he had used a tunnel to amplify sound and discussed his companions’ abilities. He later trained in an advanced Origin Power room, where he reflected on the camp’s enormous costs and decided to message someone that night.

• Shen Heng told Zhou Xuan that researching sound waves had taught him how tunnels could amplify them, then suggested Zhou Xuan invite gods tied to different environments to improve his ability.
• Cao Mingyu warned Shen Heng that Yang Xu might target him for taking his spot, and Shen Heng said he would avoid people and Calamity Beasts rather than risk a direct fight.
• Cao Mingyu invited Shen Heng to use the advanced Origin Power rooms, and they went there together after theory class.
• Shen Heng scanned his ID and entered an advanced room, noting that its six Tier 3 Origin Crystals added to the camp’s considerable expense.
• Shen Heng decided to send a message that night, then practiced drawing Origin Power into his heart, used the Heavenly Cycle Breathing Technique, and alternated between Body Tempering, Bone Tempering, and Blood Tempering.

Shen Heng realized he was wasting time by tempering his body inside the advanced Origin Power room, so he used the room only to replenish his Origin Power and trained outside. He left after using all six hours, becoming the last person to leave the rooms.

• During waterfall training, Lü Wenrui complained about the exhausting routine, and Cao Mingyu and Fang Ran explained how the exercises trained different parts of the body and benefited blood tempering.
• Lü Wenrui asked Shen Heng whether he found the training hard, and Shen Heng said he could handle it at its current level.
• After theory class, Shen Heng realized he should reserve the advanced Origin Power room for breathing cultivation and temper his body outside it.
• Shen Heng repeatedly replenished his Origin Power in the room, then left to temper his bones until his daily room time ran out.
• Shen Heng left the room after dark and saw that the other rooms were empty, realizing he had been the last to leave.

Shen Heng trained for the changing combat simulations, placing thirteenth in a forest setting while Fang Ran and Zhou Xuan won Origin Power room slots. After another simulation on an ice field, Chang Lei reported to Yan Yu that the advanced Origin Power rooms were consuming Origin Crystals faster than expected.

• Shen Heng told Zhou Xuan that practicing Body Tempering outside the Origin Power room could save room time, then caught up with the Linhai City Supervision Bureau group chat.
• Shen Heng explained his outdoor training method to Xiao Xiangtong, who asked whether she could use it the next day.
• Shen Heng entered a forest combat simulation, adapted to the setting, and placed thirteenth as Fang Ran and Zhou Xuan secured the two slots.
• Shen Heng took part in an ice-field combat simulation three days later, and Yu Zeyang and Wu Shiyao won the slots.
• Chang Lei informed Yan Yu that an inspection had found the advanced Origin Power rooms were consuming Origin Crystals faster than expected.

Yan Yu let the trainees continue extending their Origin Power room time by tempering their bodies outside, and Shen Heng kept improving through varied combat simulations. Yan Yu ended his theory classes at 07 Military Base by saluting the trainees and asking them to lead the world in a good direction.

• Chang Lei told Yan Yu that trainees were tempering their bodies outside the Origin Power rooms to extend their use of them, and Yan Yu let them continue while agreeing to cover the extra crystal cost.
• Shen Heng joined Wu Hongxuan, Liu Jingchuan, and Yang Xu in tempering their bodies outside the advanced Origin Power rooms, while Yang Xu resented that others had learned the method.
• Over the following month, the trainees experienced combat simulations in deserts, swamps, canyons, underwater settings, and other environments, with Shen Heng often securing an advanced Origin Power room slot.
• Yan Yu taught the trainees how to use resources found in different battlefield environments.
• Yan Yu announced that he was leaving 07 Military Base and that theory classes were over, then saluted the trainees and urged them to lead the world in a good direction.

After two months at the training camp, Shen Heng discussed Wu Hongxuan’s breakthrough and then received a summons from Li Daoyi. He joined Li Daoyi outside the base for grilled Yellow Fang Beast meat, where Li Daoyi asked how training had been.

• Zhou Xuan, Fang Ran, Shen Heng, and Cao Mingyu discussed the end of camp, and Cao Mingyu reported that Wu Hongxuan had reached Tier 3.
• Shen Heng explained that more trainees, including Xiao Xiangtong and Cao Mingyu, would likely break through before the camp ended.
• While Zhou Xuan spoke with his family, Shen Heng received a message from Daoist Master Li telling him to activate his ability.
• Shen Heng followed Li Daoyi’s voice, collected seasonings from the cafeteria, and met him outside the base.
• Li Daoyi shared grilled Yellow Fang Beast skewers with Shen Heng and asked how his two months at the training camp had gone.

Shen Heng discussed his D-rank ability with Li Daoyi, who suggested using sound waves to strengthen his own body. Meanwhile, Yan Yu returned to the laboratory, announced Tianshu’s upgrade, and directed an investigation into an abnormal rise in airborne Origin Power near the Western Polar Ocean.

• Shen Heng told Li Daoyi that he ranked around the middle of the training camp and struggled to damage Calamity Beasts with his ability.
• Li Daoyi urged Shen Heng to use sound waves on himself and explained how Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound could temper his body.
• Yan Yu returned to the central laboratory and helped researchers address problems with their projects.
• Yan Yu announced that Tianshu’s quantum computing capacity had increased by 7.58 times and granted the research teams access.
• Yan Yu learned that an abnormal increase in airborne Origin Power appeared to originate west of the Western Polar Ocean and told Hong Ming to contact Rice Country’s Defense Bureau with a staged offer to investigate.

Li Daoyi arrived at the training grounds to lead half a month of training but admitted he had not prepared a plan. After rejecting several suggestions, he decided to teach each trainee a combat skill suited to their fighting style, leaving them eager to begin.

• The trainees wondered whether they would be made to train all day, and Cao Mingyu suggested cutting back on sleep to preserve their advanced Origin Power chamber time.
• Shen Heng explained that Li Daoyi had arrived, and the group fell silent as the fifth-tier expert introduced himself and his S-rank Cloud-Heavens Wind Control ability.
• Li Daoyi admitted he had not decided what to teach because the other instructors already covered most training, then rejected several suggestions from the trainees.
• After Xiao Xiangtong reminded him that the camp was meant to improve their strength, Li Daoyi told the trainees to practice on their own before he taught each one a combat skill suited to their fighting style.
• Li Daoyi said the skills would likely be C-rank or barely B-rank, and the trainees welcomed the chance to learn skills worth hundreds of points.

Li Daoyi helped Shen Heng develop Sonic Wave Body Tempering, and Shen Heng successfully used controlled sound waves to strengthen the muscles in his left arm. On the way to the cafeteria, Shen Heng told his companions that Li Daoyi had taught him how to become a humanoid Calamity Beast.

• Li Daoyi sent everyone to train and told Shen Heng to focus on developing Sonic Wave Body Tempering before learning a combat technique.
• Shen Heng explained his research into sound waves, and Li Daoyi described Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound and warned him to be careful when tempering his bones and organs.
• Shen Heng lowered a sound wave to 60 Hz and layered a second wave over it, making the muscles in his left arm tremble and grow warm.
• After Shen Heng began tempering other parts of his body, Li Daoyi left to teach the other trainees.
• On the way to the cafeteria, Cao Mingyu said Li Daoyi taught him Tyrant Spear, Zhou Xuan said he learned Falling Wild Goose Steps, and Fang Ran said he learned the Mysterious Abyss Scripture.
• When his companions asked what he learned, Shen Heng looked at the sunset and said Li Daoyi had taught him how to become a humanoid Calamity Beast.

Shen Heng developed an idea for strengthening his saber with resonating sound waves and discussed combat training with Li Daoyi. The chapter ended as Shen Heng prepared to test the technique.

• Shen Heng and Cao Mingyu joined the others in attacking Cao Zhenghao, who countered their coordinated assault and noticed Shen Heng’s sound-wave ability.
• Shen Heng realized that sustained sound waves could temper his body and wondered whether resonance could strengthen attacks with his saber.
• Li Daoyi told Shen Heng to set aside body tempering and choose a combat technique, but Shen Heng requested Falling Wild Goose Steps instead of an offensive technique.
• Shen Heng explained that he wanted to layer sound waves onto his saber and amplify its power through resonance, and Li Daoyi urged him to test the idea himself.
• Shen Heng drew his saber, held it horizontally, and raised a finger to flick it.

Shen Heng experimented with layering sound waves onto a saber and stabilized two waves, producing a technique Li Daoyi estimated at B-rank power. Li Daoyi advised him to develop more sound waves before having the technique appraised and showed him a new exercise for improving Origin Power control.

• Shen Heng found that one sound wave made the saber vibrate a few hundred times per second, but adding a second caused the waves to interfere.
• Shen Heng adjusted the sound waves’ frequencies and directions until he stabilized two waves alongside the saber’s own vibrations.
• Shen Heng told Li Daoyi that maintaining the vibrations took sustained concentration, and Li Daoyi praised his growing ability to divide his attention through the Mysterious Gate Visualization Method.
• At Li Daoyi’s request, Shen Heng struck his palm with the saber; Li Daoyi judged the technique to be barely B-rank and said more waves could eventually raise it to lower S-rank power.
• Li Daoyi advised Shen Heng to wait before getting the technique appraised at Martial World Easy Exchange, then demonstrated an Origin Power control exercise using a branch and its leaves.

Shen Heng trained with Li Daoyi in controlling Origin Power and learned about its potential uses, then began studying the Falling Wild Goose Steps. As their training camp ended, Shen Heng and Li Daoyi shared Calamity Beast meat and discussed why Li Daoyi might come to Linhai.

• Li Daoyi demonstrated how Origin Power could reproduce a branch and explained how Shen Heng could practice shaping branches and leaves.
• Li Daoyi described research into converting Origin Power directly into different abilities and showed how controlling it could conceal one's power or intimidate others.
• Li Daoyi explained that a transformation occurred between Tier 3 and the fourth tier, then taught Shen Heng the Falling Wild Goose Steps.
• After more than ten days, Shen Heng and Li Daoyi ate roasted Calamity Beast meat in the woods, and Shen Heng said he hoped Li Daoyi would visit him in the Capital rather than Linhai.
• Li Daoyi agreed that his arrival in Linhai would mean the city faced a serious crisis, and he asked Shen Heng to treat him the next time they met in the Capital.

As the training camp neared its end, Jiang Xingwei arrived at the 07 Military Base as the country’s first sixth-tier powerhouse and arranged a four-day final simulation. The participants learned they would face only tier 3 Calamity Beasts, including late tier 3 Dragon Armor Beasts, and objected to the difficulty.

• Shen Heng’s Vibrating Blade improved his attack power and raised his rankings as the camp’s afternoons became free for personal arrangements.
• Jiang Xingwei arrived with Cao Yiyi and revealed that he had broken through to the sixth tier.
• Zhang Chenguang warned that he lacked the mental power to maintain a long simulation for the participants, so Cao Yiyi offered to lend him hers in exchange for everyone’s complete experiences.
• Zhang Chenguang announced that the final simulation would last four days, allow tier 2 participants to form teams, and require tier 3 participants to act alone.
• Zhang Chenguang explained the kill-based point system and announced that late tier 3 Dragon Armor Beasts would be worth 500 points, prompting participants to complain that the challenge was too dangerous.