Chapter Summaries

Dongfang Yueming returned to the Seed Class and demonstrated his strength to Qin Rushuang, impressing her with his perfected techniques. Qin Rushuang judged that he had good prospects in the Battle of the Python Gate, then explained the name reflected Great Qi’s modest standing among the powers of the Central Continent.

• Dongfang Yueming went to meet Qin Rushuang, who took him to a training room and asked him to attack with his strongest move.
• Dongfang Yueming fought Qin Rushuang using his Fierce Tiger Fist and Gale Movement Technique, and she evaded and countered his attacks with ease.
• Qin Rushuang realized Dongfang Yueming had perfected both techniques and asked whether he had any siblings; he told her he was an orphan.
• Qin Rushuang told Dongfang Yueming to cultivate while they waited for the other participants before traveling to Great Qi for the Battle of the Python Gate.
• Dongfang Yueming asked why the event was not called the Battle of the Dragon Gate, and Qin Rushuang explained that Great Qi called itself a python because stronger powers dominated the Central Continent.

Dongfang Yueming learned about the Central Continent and wondered who would join him for the Battle of the Python Gate. He repaid Qian Jingming with a D-grade battle saber, leaving Qian Jingming astonished by his growth and generosity.

• Qin Rushuang reflected on her search for Dongfang Ri and the Martial Dao Origin Page her master had entrusted to her.
• Dongfang Yueming left Qin Rushuang and remembered that he still owed Qian Jingming a debt.
• Qian Jingming received Dongfang Yueming’s message promising repayment that day and agreed to meet him.
• Dongfang Yueming met Qian Jingming and handed him a D-grade battle saber to settle the debt.
• Qian Jingming watched Dongfang Yueming leave and marveled at his strength and promising future.

Shi Qing broke through to Radiant Golden Bones while Dongfang Yueming advanced his preparations for the Battle of the Python Gate. He challenged Gao Hu to their long-awaited duel that night, intending to settle their feud before his team departed for the Great Qi Dynasty.

• Shi Qing reached Jet-Black Iron Bones and then Radiant Golden Bones as Uncle Shi hoped she could overcome her family's curse.
• After ten days of cultivation, Dongfang Yueming checked his status and spent points to perfect the Blood Burning Secret Method.
• Qin Rushuang introduced Dongfang Yueming to his teammates Yue Tao and Xi Feng and said the team would leave for the Great Qi Dynasty the day after tomorrow.
• Dongfang Yueming messaged Gao Hu about their one-month deadline, provoked him into accepting a duel, and agreed to meet him in the martial arts arena that night.

Dongfang Yueming faced Gao Hu in a nighttime duel and effortlessly defeated him, leaving Gao Hu humiliated and vowing revenge.

• Gao Hu accepted Dongfang Yueming's challenge and ordered his men to bring him the D-grade saber Hei Sha.
• Dongfang Yueming appeared on the arena platform, and Gao Hu challenged him while claiming he would let him strike first.
• Gao Hu attacked with his Rushing Thunder Saber Technique, but Dongfang Yueming blocked every blow with his own D-grade saber.
• Dongfang Yueming kicked Gao Hu off his feet twice and stopped him with a foot against his chest when he tried to rise again.
• Dongfang Yueming left Gao Hu on the platform, and Gao Hu swore to repay the humiliation and kill him someday.

Gao Long revealed his plan to take Blood Replacement Realm experts from the Gao Family to the Central Continent, while Gao Hu was rebuffed when he sought his brother’s help against Dongfang Yueming. A mysterious iron fragment tempted Gao Hu with power and revenge, absorbed his blood, and claimed him as its master.

• Gao Hu left the training ground humiliated and went to Gao Long’s courtyard hoping his brother would avenge him, but a guard barred him from entering.
• Gao Long told the Gao Family head and elders that he was a Qi Refining Realm expert and invited Blood Replacement Realm cultivators to travel with him to the Central Continent.
• The Gao Family elders eagerly agreed to gather recruits, while the Gao Family head remained uneasy about the plan.
• Gao Long warned Gao Hu not to cause trouble and walked away without hearing his complaint about Dongfang Yueming.
• A mysterious voice called to Gao Hu from Gao Long’s room, where he picked up a glowing, rust-covered iron fragment that cut his palm and drank his blood.
• The iron fragment named Gao Hu its master and promised power and revenge as it began its journey toward slaughter.

After two days, Shi Qing broke through to Glazed Jade Bones, while Dongfang Yueming saw his points rise and heard that the Great Xia Martial Arts Academy faced bleak prospects in the upcoming Battle of the Python Gate. He left the dining hall to meet Qin Rushuang as students worried about the competition and Liu Yu secretly plotted revenge against him.

• Gao Long discovered that the broken piece of iron on his desk was missing and learned that Gao Hu had been the only visitor, but decided not to pursue it.
• Shi Qing broke through to Glazed Jade Bones, unleashing her suppressed talent and regaining a more balanced figure.
• Two days later, Dongfang Yueming checked his status panel and saw that his points had increased to 220.
• At the dining hall, new students praised Liu Yu's Skin Tempering Lesser Accomplishment, while Liu Yu feared Dongfang Yueming and secretly vowed revenge against him and Wu Daozi.
• Dongfang Yueming heard students lament that the Great Xia Martial Arts Academy would likely lose the Battle of the Python Gate, then left to meet Qin Rushuang.

Shi Qing broke through to the Tendon Transformation Realm and joined Dongfang Yueming’s team for the Battle of the Python Gate. The two academy teams gathered at the Martial Dao Academy entrance and set out together.

• Shi Qing emerged from seclusion after reaching the initial stage of the Tendon Transformation Realm, and Uncle Shi praised her breakthrough.
• Shi Qing told Uncle Shi she was leaving for the Martial Dao Academy, and he reluctantly let her go.
• Shi Qing arrived at the training room as Dongfang Yueming’s new teammate, surprising him and prompting both to wonder at the other’s rapid progress.
• Qin Rushuang led Dongfang Yueming, Shi Qing, Yue Tao, and Xi Feng to meet the Great Yan Dynasty team, where Wang Bufan scorned the newcomers and Zhao Yi glared at Dongfang Yueming.
• Qin Rushuang and Zhao Qingfeng ordered both teams to set out for the Battle of the Python Gate.

Gao Long gave up searching for Gao Hu and focused on trafficking Blood Replacement Realm clansmen to the Central Continent for profit. In the forest, Gao Hu used the strange iron fragment to devour a corpse’s essence and rapidly advance his cultivation, leaving him eager to hunt and take revenge.

• Gao Long learned his search had found no trace of Gao Hu and ordered the guards to stop looking.
• Gao Long resolved to transport Blood Replacement Realm clansmen to the Central Continent and sell them for cultivation resources, regardless of the cost to the Gao Family.
• Gao Hu killed a black-clad figure and pressed the broken iron fragment against the corpse, which it drained of its essence blood.
• Gao Hu absorbed the resulting energy and advanced from Lesser Flesh Refining to the first level of perfection in the Flesh Refining Realm, Mighty Bull's Strength.
• The iron fragment warned Gao Hu that devouring alone would not easily let him perfect every Body Tempering Realm level, but Gao Hu ignored it and vowed to hunt, defeat Dongfang Yueming, and prove himself to Gao Long.

Zhao Qingfeng led the group toward the Great Qi Dynasty’s Earth Spirit Sect, where they would compete for a place in the Earth Spirit Spring. As the exhausting journey continued, Dongfang Yueming kept pace effortlessly, leaving Wang Bufan stunned.

• Zhao Qingfeng warned everyone to stay together, and Zhao Yi taunted Dongfang Yueming about holding the group back.
• Zhao Qingfeng led the group out, with Qin Rushuang bringing up the rear, while Dongfang Yueming and Shi Qing quickly passed Wang Bufan.
• Zhao Qingfeng explained that the group would compete against teams from eight other dynasties for a place in the Earth Spirit Spring, stirring Wang Xijing’s and Xi Feng’s determination to win.
• Xi Feng blamed Dongfang Yueming for his frustration with Zhao Yi, while Dongfang Yueming remained focused on earning enough points.
• As the long-distance run wore on, Wang Bufan grew exhausted but saw Dongfang Yueming moving easily and assumed he was pretending not to be tired.

Dongfang Yueming answered Xi Feng’s provocation by hunting a mortal beast and quietly improving his cultivation with the system. He returned to camp before Wang Bufan, leaving Wang Bufan stunned by how quickly Dongfang had brought back and prepared his prey.

• Wang Bufan volunteered to hunt for the group’s meal after Zhao Qingfeng called for a rest.
• Xi Feng provoked Dongfang Yueming to contribute food, and Dongfang mocked him before setting off to hunt.
• Dongfang spent 100 system points to advance his Furious Tiger Tendon Transformation Method to minor completion.
• Dongfang swiftly killed a low-level mortal beast and returned to camp with its carcass.
• Wang Bufan returned with a battered beast and saw Dongfang already cooking, freezing in surprise.

Xi Feng and the others arrived in the Great Qi Dynasty and were struck by the city’s formidable martial artists and soldiers. After Zhao Qingfeng left to visit the Crimson Flame Stele, Qin Rushuang explained its dangerous trial, leaving the students eager to see it.

• Xi Feng, Yue Tao, and the others reached a Great Qi border city and saw that even its guards included Blood Replacement Realm experts.
• Zhao Qingfeng and Qin Rushuang showed their credentials, and the group entered the city.
• Zhao Qingfeng told the students they had three days before the Battle of the Python Gate and warned them not to cause trouble.
• Zhao Qingfeng hurried toward the city center after hearing Qi Refining Realm martial artists discuss the Crimson Flame Stele.
• Qin Rushuang explained that the stele could earn a successful challenger entry to the Earth Spirit Sect’s inner sect, but warned the students that its intent could harm them.
• The students eagerly anticipated visiting the Crimson Flame Stele despite Qin Rushuang’s warning.

At the Crimson Flame Stele, Dongfang Yueming and Shi Qing revealed that they had both advanced to Tendon Transformation Lesser Completion, while the powerful Snow Dynasty delegation arrived and displayed its rapid-advancement cultivation philosophy. The Snow Dynasty mentor challenged Qin Rushuang to explain her differing view.

• Wang Xijing, Xi Feng, Dongfang Yueming, and Shi Qing took seats according to their cultivation, and Dongfang Yueming and Shi Qing revealed they had recently broken through.
• The Snow Dynasty delegation entered, and its young leader mocked the Bone Forging Realm martial artists before sitting in the Marrow Cleansing Realm area.
• The Snow Dynasty delegation's other members sat in the Tendon Transformation Greater Completion area, unsettling Wang Bufan with their strength.
• Qin Rushuang observed that the Snow Dynasty cultivators had unstable foundations and uncondensed force, suggesting they used quick-result cultivation methods.
• The Snow Dynasty mentor explained that his dynasty prioritized rapid advancement and challenged Qin Rushuang over her apparent disagreement.

Dongfang Yueming comprehended the Crimson Flame Fist Technique from the Crimson Flame Stele and learned from Qin Rushuang that pursuing its path could lead beyond Grandmaster, but would restrict his future cultivation choices. The chapter left him considering the risks of joining the Earth Spirit Sect and whether different cultivation methods could be combined.

• Qin Rushuang explained that quick breakthroughs could sacrifice a martial artist’s foundation and future potential, while the Snow Dynasty instructor argued that rare opportunities were worth seizing.
• A Qi Refining Realm expert failed to comprehend the Crimson Flame Stele, and Wang Bufan, Zhao Jin, and others shared their impressions before resuming their attempts.
• Dongfang Yueming discovered the Crimson Flame Fist Technique on his system panel, where reaching its entry level required 200 points, and decided not to spend points immediately.
• Dongfang Yueming asked Qin Rushuang about the stele’s methods, and she said that advancing toward Grandmaster would almost require joining the Earth Spirit Sect and obtaining its subsequent techniques.
• Qin Rushuang revealed that Innate cultivation required Martial Dao True Intent and warned that the sect’s path would limit future techniques; she also explained that cultivating conflicting methods could cause qi deviation or death.

Dongfang Yueming decided to seek another Tendon Transformation method after weighing the limits of the Crimson Flame Fist Technique, then received the Nine Oxen Tendon Transformation Method from Shi Qing. Elsewhere, a Blood Replacement Realm disciple of the Earth Spirit Sect awaited the visiting teams, while a mysterious figure drained a martial artist and resolved to hunt stronger prey.

• Qin Rushuang told Dongfang Yueming that the Scarlet Flame Sect’s cultivation method was only above average, and he chose to save his points while seeking another Tendon Transformation method.
• An Earth Spirit Sect core disciple learned that the teams from Great Xia, Great Yan, and the Snow Dynasty had arrived, and said he had been waiting for them.
• After the Crimson Flame Stele session, Dongfang Yueming asked the others to exchange Tendon Transformation methods, but they refused or left without helping him.
• Shi Qing taught Dongfang Yueming the Nine Oxen Tendon Transformation Method, which appeared on his system panel as a method that needed only 20 points to reach initiation.
• A dark figure used a strange iron fragment to drain a Flesh Refining Realm martial artist, then decided to hunt talented martial artists for stronger nourishment.

Dongfang Yueming and the other contestants learned about higher cultivation realms as rumors spread of the Ash Demon, a killer who left victims reduced to ashes. As the Battle of the Python Gate approached, Li Xuan persuaded Deacon Wang to change the competition into cross-dynasty teams hunting the Ash Demon, intending to make cooperation difficult.

• Zhao Qingfeng explained the Marrow Cleansing and Blood Replacement realms to Dongfang Yueming, Shi Qing, Wang Xijing, Wang Bufan, and the others.
• Wang Bufan reported that the Ash Demon killed victims and left only ashes, while Dongfang Yueming wondered what the killer was concealing.
• Over the following days, the Ash Demon killed more people, including several Bone Forging Realm martial artists, as teams from various dynasties gathered for the competition.
• Li Wei urged his son Li Xuan to live up to his family's hopes of becoming a martial arts Grandmaster, but Li Xuan privately revealed that he sought an even greater goal.
• Li Xuan convinced Deacon Wang to postpone the Battle of the Python Gate and have contestants hunt the Ash Demon in pairs made up of students from different dynasties.

The Earth Spirit Sect postponed the Battle of the Python Gate and paired students from different dynasties to hunt the Ash Demon, offering successful pairs direct entry to the final round. Dongfang Yueming and Xue Ning investigated the recurring killings and suspected the Ash Demon was a transferable identity, possibly tied to an Earth Spirit Sect core disciple.

• Deacon Wang announced that the Battle of the Python Gate was postponed because the Ash Demon had been killing people, and the sect ordered students to hunt him in cross-dynasty pairs.
• Dongfang Yueming drew Xue Ning as his partner, while Shi Qing paired with Zhao Jin and Wang Bufan received a partner he considered weak.
• Deacon Wang promised that any pair bringing back proof of the Ash Demon's capture or death would advance directly to the final round, and Dongfang Yueming grew suspicious of Li Xuan's reaction.
• Xue Ning asked Dongfang Yueming what he thought of the Ash Demon case, and he questioned why the Earth Spirit Sect had been unable to stop the killer.
• Dongfang Yueming and Xue Ning investigated the incidents and learned that an Earth Spirit Sect core disciple had once supposedly killed the Ash Demon, who later reappeared with changed methods.
• Xue Ning concluded that Ash Demon was likely a transferable code name, and Dongfang Yueming wondered whether the former core disciple had become the new Ash Demon.

Dongfang Yueming and Xue Ning returned to their quarters rather than risk searching for the Ash Demon, while Li Xuan secretly hunted students to feed a mysterious iron fragment. After killing Wang Bufan, Li Xuan chose Dongfang Yueming as his next potential victim.

• Dongfang Yueming persuaded Xue Ning to return with him, and he asked Instructor Qin whether she could contend with the Earth Spirit Sect if trouble arose.
• Li Xuan spotted Shi Qing's name on the Great Xia Dynasty roster and reacted with hostility toward the Shi Family.
• Dongfang Yueming and Xue Ning encountered Shi Qing and Zhao Jin, and the four silently recognized their shared decision to prioritize safety.
• Wang Bufan chased a black-clad figure after his teammate spotted it, but he was left behind and confronted the figure alone.
• Li Xuan killed Wang Bufan, drained his body with a dark red iron fragment, and burned the remains.
• Li Xuan considered targeting Dongfang Yueming next because of his young age and strong foundation.

After Wang Bufan and several other students were killed by the Ash Demon, the mentors decided to petition the Earth Spirit Sect to end the Demon Hunting Trial. Zhao Jin revealed that Zhao Yi had also died, while Wang Xijing showed little concern and left alone.

• Dongfang Yueming learned that Wang Bufan had been killed and reduced to ashes, and Zhao Yi argued with Wang Bufan's teammate Li Chong over his death.
• Wang Xijing stopped the argument and reaffirmed his determination to enter the Earth Spirit Sect, while Deacon Zhang dismissed Wang Bufan's death as a consequence of weakness.
• Over the next three days, several more students from different dynasties were killed by the Ash Demon and reduced to ashes.
• The mentors agreed to petition the Earth Spirit Sect to end the Demon Hunting Trial and resume the Battle of the Python Gate.
• Zhao Jin told Wang Xijing that Zhao Yi had been killed, and Wang Xijing left without showing much emotion.
• Dongfang Yueming suspected Qin Rushuang had guessed the truth, while Xi Feng complained that the killings might end the trial.

The Earth Spirit Sect rejected the instructors’ request to end the Demon Hunting Trial, ordering all students to keep hunting Ash Demons under threat of disqualification. With danger unavoidable, Dongfang Yueming spent points to perfect the Furious Tiger Tendon Transformation Method and prepared to unlock another technique.

• The instructors asked Deacon Zhang to end the trial, but Li Xuan insisted it continue so outsiders would not take the Earth Spirit Spring slots.
• Li Potian backed Li Xuan and ordered Deacon Zhang to enforce the hunt, threatening students who refused with elimination from the Battle of the Python Gate.
• Deacon Zhang relayed the order, and the instructors reluctantly passed it on to their students; Xi Feng welcomed the chance, while Dongfang Yueming, Qin Rushuang, and Shi Qing looked displeased.
• Dongfang Yueming returned to his room, used 300 points to perfect the Furious Tiger Tendon Transformation Method, and had 200 points remaining to initiate the Crimson Flame Fist Technique.

Dongfang Yueming concluded that the Ash Demon was targeting outside students and recruited Shi Qing, Xue Ning, Zhao Jin, Wang Xijing, and Xue Li into a plan to lure the enemy out. The group prepared to draw the Ash Demon to them, while Qin Rushuang wondered whether Dongfang Yueming might deserve the Origin Page but decided not to trust him yet.

• Dongfang Yueming persuaded Shi Qing, Xue Ning, and Zhao Jin to travel together for safety.
• Dongfang Yueming proposed that the Ash Demon was targeting students and suggested gathering together to lure the enemy out.
• Wang Xijing agreed to join after Dongfang Yueming suggested the Snow Dynasty’s Marrow Cleansing Realm expert might join instead.
• Dongfang Yueming explained his plan to Xue Li, who agreed after hearing that the opportunity to capture the Ash Demon might otherwise pass him by.
• Wang Xijing and Xue Li regarded each other as their main rivals, while Dongfang Yueming remained prepared to act if they failed.
• Qin Rushuang considered giving Dongfang Yueming the Origin Page but withheld it because she still doubted his character and talent.