Arc 1Reckoning in Zhou City

After being reborn, Gu Chen broke with Zhou Xue'er, stopped Xu Zhongwen from ruining Gu Beichi, and built new alliances while advancing his cultivation. The arc ended with Gu Chen heading to Dexing Logistics after Xu Zhongwen and Li Sheng trapped his father there.

  • Gu Chen woke on April eleventh, defeated Xu Mo and his companions, and ended his relationship with Zhou Xue'er after she targeted him and Su Qingqing.
  • Gu Chen cultivated at Jasper Lake, returned to school, and beat Jiang Yu after Jiang Yu harassed him and Su Qingqing.
  • Gu Chen solved the Poincaré Conjecture, then went to Treasure Gathering Studio and stopped Gu Beichi from buying a fraudulent stone from Xu Zhongwen.
  • Gu Chen exposed Xu Zhongwen’s scheme, fought his men and Zhao Junchuan, and warned his father that the deal could have cost him his life.
  • Gu Chen passed his exams with full marks, warned Xu Mo that the Zhou Family was preparing to ruin the Xu Family, and explained how Zhou Xue'er had been used in the family’s plans.
  • Gu Chen diagnosed and treated the old master, defeated Hua Yumo, and received forty million and a cultivation technique while declining the old master’s properties.
  • Gu Beichi told Gu Chen that Xu Zhongwen’s allies were crippling his company, so Gu Chen gave him forty million and promised Uncle Liu he would reunite him with the Gu Family.
  • Gu Chen healed Zhao Haiqing’s injured arm and went with him to Dexing Logistics after Zhu Jian reported that Xu Zhongwen and Li Sheng had trapped Gu Beichi there.
Chapters 1–25 Vol. 1 Read

Ch. 1Rebirth from Nirvana

After returning to the past, Gu Chen woke in a hotel room on the day his family’s troubles began and recalled the people he had failed to protect. When Xu Mo arrived to catch him and Su Qingqing together, Gu Chen waited calmly for what would happen next.

  • Gu Chen endured the pain of rebirth and vowed to make up for his regrets and settle his grudges.
  • Gu Chen remembered his father’s downfall, Zhuxin’s devotion, and his hatred of Gu Changfeng.
  • Su Qingqing woke in the hotel room and questioned Gu Chen about what had happened after Song Chu’s birthday gathering.
  • Gu Chen saw that it was April eleventh and recognized it as the day his misfortunes began.
  • Xu Mo arrived outside the room and called for Gu Chen to open the door, while Su Qingqing recognized his voice.

Ch. 2Caught in the Act

Gu Chen remembered the trap that had ruined his life and refused to let Xu Mo frame him again. He fought off Xu Mo’s lackeys and left Xu Mo facing his threat.

  • Su Qingqing panicked as Xu Mo and his companions arrived, but Gu Chen reassured her and told her to stay inside.
  • Gu Chen opened the door and refused to let Xu Mo and his companions into the room.
  • When Li Nan insulted him, Gu Chen shut the door in his face and reminded Xu Mo how the wealthy families had once treated him.
  • Gu Chen slapped Xu Mo, then used the first form of Emperor Fist to knock Li Nan and the other two men down.
  • Gu Chen warned Xu Mo that he would rise again and declared that Xu Mo was next.

Ch. 3Settling the Score

Gu Chen beat Xu Mo and his men after they tried to catch him with Su Qingqing, then learned Zhou Xue'er had arranged the trap to drive a wedge between the Gu and Su families. He left to take a walk, but when Su Qingqing nearly fell, he caught her and accidentally touched her.

  • Gu Chen slammed Xu Mo's head against the wall and threatened him and his men until Xu Mo begged to be released.
  • Xu Mo warned Gu Chen that Zhou Xue'er and the Zhou Family would keep targeting him and that his father could suffer too.
  • Gu Chen went back inside, and Su Qingqing said Zhou Xue'er had arranged the setup to make Xu Mo catch them together and alienate both families.
  • Gu Chen told Su Qingqing to go home and asked whether there was evening self-study, then prepared to leave for a walk.
  • Su Qingqing reached to check Gu Chen's forehead, lost her balance, and Gu Chen caught her, accidentally touching her body.

Ch. 4Heaven and Earth Creation Art

After Gu Chen accidentally grabbed Su Qingqing, he went to Jasper Lake and cultivated until he reached the Mid-stage Bone Forging Realm. He returned to Xinghua University, where Jiang Yu confronted him in class.

  • Gu Chen accidentally grabbed Su Qingqing, apologized, and left after she warned that Zhou Xue'er might come after him again.
  • Gu Chen traveled to Jasper Lake and cultivated for eight hours using the Heaven and Earth Creation Formula, reaching the Mid-stage Bone Forging Realm.
  • Gu Chen returned to class before evening study, while Su Qingqing worried about him from the front row.
  • Jiang Yu arrived, shoved Su Qingqing aside, and approached Gu Chen, mocking him for daring to come to class.

Ch. 5A Bloodstained Letter of Repudiation

Gu Chen beat Jiang Yu for insulting Su Qingqing and forced Zhou Xue'er to confront the consequences of her actions. He ended the chapter by signing a bloodstained letter of repudiation and declaring that he and Zhou Xue'er had nothing more to do with each other.

  • Gu Chen shoved chalk into Jiang Yu's mouth, beat him in front of the class, and threatened Jiang Yu's lackeys when they tried to intervene.
  • Gu Chen dragged Jiang Yu before Su Qingqing and ordered him to apologize, then broke Jiang Yu's lower leg when he refused.
  • Zhou Xue'er arrived and blamed Gu Chen for attacking Jiang Yu, then insulted Su Qingqing and accused her of seducing Gu Chen.
  • Gu Chen told Zhou Xue'er that Xu Mo had not told her the truth, wrote a repudiation letter in blood, and declared their relationship over.

Ch. 6The Withdrawal Dispute

Gu Chen publicly cast Zhou Xue'er aside, slapped her, and declared that he would settle his grudges. He then asked Song Qianhan to let him withdraw from school, but their discussion was interrupted when an old man arrived.

  • Gu Chen rejected Zhou Xue'er in front of the class and slapped her after she insulted his family.
  • Zhou Xue'er tore up the letter and fled, while Jiang Yu's lackeys carried him away after he threatened Gu Chen.
  • Gu Chen told Su Qingqing he intended to settle his grudges and left for Song Qianhan's office.
  • Gu Chen asked to withdraw from school, but Song Qianhan objected because graduation exams were only two months away.
  • An old man in a Zhongshan suit entered Song Qianhan's office and asked him to help solve a problem.

Ch. 7A Talent Without Equal

Gu Chen proved the Poincaré Conjecture in front of Song Qianhan and Vice Principal Wen Xinbai, then insisted on dropping out because he needed money for an important matter. Before Wen Xinbai could persuade him to stay, Chen Jiaheng accused Gu Chen of breaking Jiang Yu’s leg and threatened disciplinary action.

  • Principal Wen showed Song Qianhan the Poincaré Conjecture, and Gu Chen declared that he could solve it.
  • Gu Chen wrote out a solution in under ten minutes, leaving Principal Wen and Song Qianhan astonished.
  • Gu Chen asked Wen Xinbai to approve his withdrawal from Xinghua University, but refused the school’s offer of financial support.
  • Chen Jiaheng entered and accused Gu Chen of breaking Jiang Yu’s leg, threatening to report him to the academic affairs office.

Ch. 8A Wager

Gu Chen rejected Chen Jiaheng’s attempt to punish him, then agreed to Song Qianhan’s wager that he would place in the grade’s top ten on the midterm exam to earn a leave of absence. After returning home, he learned his father had gone to a Treasure Gathering Studio banquet with Xu Zhongwen and hurried out after recognizing the significance of the event.

  • Chen Jiaheng tried to have Gu Chen expelled, but Wen Xinbai ordered him out and defended Gu Chen.
  • Gu Chen refused to withdraw, and Song Qianhan challenged him to place in the grade’s top ten on the midterm exam in exchange for a leave of absence.
  • Gu Chen left school without attending evening self-study and ignored a message from an unfamiliar number in Shangjing.
  • Gu Chen returned to Heavenly Brocade Garden and warmly greeted Uncle Liu, who told him his father had gone to a Treasure Gathering Studio banquet with Xu Zhongwen.
  • Gu Chen realized he had nearly forgotten an important matter and rushed out of the house.

Ch. 9Treasure Gathering Studio

Gu Chen rushed to Treasure Gathering Studio to prevent the scheme that had ruined his family in his previous life. After identifying a famous painting as a forgery, he forced his way into the studio and faced its guards as he sought Zhao Junchuan and Xu Zhongwen.

  • Gu Chen hurried to Treasure Gathering Studio, determined to stop the events that had led to his father’s ruin and his own broken leg in his previous life.
  • On his way, Gu Chen recognized a painting carried by Wang Fu as a forgery and explained its flaws to the elderly man and the young woman accompanying him.
  • The elderly man examined the painting with growing concern, while the young woman grew angry at Gu Chen’s criticism.
  • At Treasure Gathering Studio, a guard demanded Gu Chen’s invitation, but Gu Chen pushed past him and entered the courtyard.
  • When the guards tried to remove Gu Chen, he sent their captain stumbling back and warned them not to interfere; a voice rang out as they prepared to attack together.

Ch. 10Entering the Game

Gu Chen entered the Treasure Gathering Studio after Elder Hua intervened to stop the security guards from blocking him. Inside, Gu Beichi accepted Xu Zhongwen’s jade pendant and agreed to bid on a supposedly promising raw stone, while Gu Chen headed toward the appraisal.

  • Elder Hua arrived with his companions and ordered the security captain to let Gu Chen go.
  • Gu Chen brushed off Elder Hua’s offer to talk and strode into the main hall, where the raw stone auction was about to begin.
  • Xu Zhongwen bought Gu Beichi a Warring States dragon-shaped jade pendant for three million, and Gu Beichi accepted it.
  • When the raw stone auction began, Xu Zhongwen’s assistant claimed stone number 016 was certain to yield something good.
  • Gu Beichi offered to bid on stone number 016 for Xu Zhongwen, who accepted after a show of reluctance.

Ch. 11The Unveiling

At the auction, Gu Chen stopped Gu Beichi from bidding on rough stone No. 016 and exposed suspicious conduct during the bidding. Gu Beichi realized Xu Zhongwen might have trapped him, and Gu Chen confronted Xu Zhongwen on the auction platform.

  • Gu Beichi tried to buy rough stone No. 016 for Xu Zhongwen as the bidding climbed past twenty million.
  • Gu Chen arrived and seized Gu Beichi's wrist, insisting that his father stop bidding and leave.
  • After Gu Beichi stopped bidding, Gu Chen noticed that the auctioneer hesitated to start the countdown despite no new bids.
  • Gu Beichi accused Xu Zhongwen of using shill bidders to drive up the price, but Xu Zhongwen denied it and mocked him.
  • Gu Chen strode onto the raised platform to confront Xu Zhongwen.

Ch. 12A Dragon in Shallow Water, Mocked by Shrimp

Gu Chen exposed Xu Zhongwen and the Treasure Gathering Studio for passing off an ordinary stone as a valuable jadeite raw stone. Xu Zhongwen’s men surrounded Gu Beichi and Gu Chen, and Zhao Junchuan emerged to demand twenty-five million for the destroyed stone.

  • Gu Chen tore apart the raw stone onstage and revealed that it was ordinary rock, despite its twenty-four-million bid.
  • Gu Chen showed the crowd a booklet stating that Xu Zhongwen had delivered the stone to the Treasure Gathering Studio that afternoon.
  • Xu Zhongwen denied responsibility, insulted Gu Beichi, and demanded twenty-five million for the stone Gu Chen had destroyed.
  • Gu Beichi tried to leave with Gu Chen, but Xu Zhongwen’s men surrounded them as the guests fled.
  • Gu Beichi challenged the Treasure Gathering Studio’s owner, Zhao Junchuan, who appeared and insisted that Gu Beichi pay twenty-five million.

Ch. 13A Vicious Beating for Xu Zhongwen

Gu Chen rescued Gu Beichi from Xu Zhongwen’s scheme at the Treasure Gathering Studio, beating Xu and his men before leaving with his father. Elder Hua confronted Zhao Junchuan over the fake painting, while Gu Chen revealed that the scam could have cost Gu Beichi thirty million and his life.

  • Gu Beichi realized Xu Zhongwen and Zhao Junchuan had set him up and threatened to harm him and Gu Chen unless he paid twenty-five million.
  • Gu Chen attacked Xu Zhongwen’s thugs, defeated them, and beat Xu when he threatened them with Black Wind Hall.
  • Gu Chen kicked Zhao Junchuan and left the studio with Gu Beichi, warning that someone else had come to settle accounts with Zhao.
  • Elder Hua returned and confronted Zhao Junchuan about the painting, then unleashed his aura when Zhao’s reaction confirmed his suspicions.
  • Gu Chen drove Gu Beichi away and explained that Xu Zhongwen’s scheme could have cost his father thirty million and his life.

Ch. 14Father and Son Talk

Gu Chen told Gu Beichi that he had divorced Zhou Xue'er and vowed that the two of them would rise beyond the Gu Family’s rejection. Meanwhile, Elder Hua reconsidered the painting incident at the Treasure Gathering Studio and decided to remain in Zhou City.

  • Gu Chen explained to Gu Beichi that he had divorced Zhou Xue'er and was determined to make his own way.
  • Gu Beichi warned that the Zhou Family might retaliate, but promised to stand behind his son.
  • Gu Chen returned home to cultivate with the Heaven and Earth Creation Art and fell asleep.
  • Elder Hua left the Treasure Gathering Studio after warning Zhao Junchuan to conduct business honestly.
  • Elder Hua questioned Wang Fu about nearly dropping the painting, then decided they would stay in Zhou City for a few more days.

Ch. 15Malicious Revenge

Gu Chen faced campus gossip over his bet with Teacher Song and his clashes with Zhou Xue'er and Jiang Yu, then confronted an ambush in the restroom. He defeated Brother Bao and dragged him toward a toilet, threatening to make him eat shit.

  • Su Qingqing warned Gu Chen that his bet with Teacher Song and his attack on Zhou Xue'er had made him a target, but he stayed unconcerned.
  • Song Qianhan announced the Chinese exam, and Gu Chen went to the restroom before it began.
  • Li Nan and Brother Bao cornered Gu Chen in the restroom and threatened to stop him from taking the exam.
  • Gu Chen caught Brother Bao's punch, beat him down, and warned Li Nan to tell Jiang Yu he would settle accounts with him later.
  • Gu Chen dragged Brother Bao to a toilet and taunted him, telling him to take a mouthful.

Ch. 16Midterm Exam

Gu Chen intimidated Jiang Yu’s lackeys and stunned his classmates by finishing several exams with extraordinary speed and accuracy. After Gu Chen left, a student challenged Song Qianhan over letting him go.

  • Gu Chen forced Brother Bao’s head into a urinal, warned Li Nan to tell Jiang Yu to leave him alone, and returned to class unharmed.
  • Li Nan called Jiang Yu to report the failure and Gu Chen’s threat, prompting Jiang Yu to curse and smash his phone.
  • Gu Chen finished the Chinese paper in under twenty minutes and then completed a perfect math paper in just over ten minutes.
  • Song Qianhan gave Gu Chen English and management papers, which Gu Chen finished in about ten minutes each.
  • Song Qianhan allowed Gu Chen to leave and promised the results the next day, then a disgruntled student questioned why Gu Chen had been excused.

Ch. 17Meeting Xu Mo at the Coffee Shop

Gu Chen finished his exam in under an hour, then summoned Xu Mo to a coffee shop and warned him that the Zhou Family planned to take over the Xu Family. He left Xu Mo shaken after revealing the danger surrounding the Xu Family’s Zhengchang Group subsidiary.

  • Wen Xinbai learned that Gu Chen had completed every exam paper in forty-odd minutes and earned full marks on the math paper.
  • Gu Chen called Xu Mo and told him to meet at the Starbucks across from the school.
  • Gu Chen reminded Xu Mo of their past friendship and said he wanted to repay the favors Xu Mo had shown him.
  • Gu Chen warned Xu Mo that the Zhou Family would swallow up the Xu Family within half a month.
  • Xu Mo called his older brother, Xu Da, and learned that Zhengchang Group’s stock had fallen amid stalled funding negotiations with the Zhou Family.
  • Gu Chen explained the problems with Zhengchang’s resort project, leaving Xu Mo shocked at how much he knew.

Ch. 18Do You Have a Crush on Me?

Gu Chen warned Xu Mo that the Zhou Family planned to dominate Zhou City and had used him to frame Gu Chen, then left Xu Mo to decide what to do. A young woman and Wang Hu approached Gu Chen on her grandfather’s behalf, but he refused to go with them and provoked the woman after she tried to grab him.

  • Gu Chen explained to Xu Mo that the Zhou Family had turned hostile after learning Gu Chen and his father were expelled, and that Zhou Xue'er had been used as a bargaining chip in the family’s ambitions.
  • Xu Mo realized he had helped Zhou Xue'er frame Gu Chen, and Gu Chen told him to call after thinking things through before leaving.
  • Gu Chen thought about his plans against the Zhou Family and vowed to settle his grudge with Gu Changfeng.
  • A young woman and Wang Hu asked Gu Chen to visit her grandfather, who wanted his opinion on the painting Gu Chen had called fake.
  • Gu Chen refused to go, and when the young woman lunged at him, he shook her off and teased her by asking whether she had a crush on him.

Ch. 19Exploitation

Gu Chen traveled with Hua Yumo and Wang Fu to meet the old master, who had summoned him over his claims about a valuable painting. After admitting he had used the old man, Gu Chen offered him guidance in return.

  • Hua Yumo attacked Gu Chen, but he dodged her blows and provoked her until Wang Fu stopped her from using her martial arts.
  • Gu Chen agreed to visit the old master, and the three drove to an estate on Mount Canghua outside Zhou City.
  • At the estate, Gu Chen inferred that the old man was only staying at a deceased friend's property, impressing him with his observations.
  • The old man showed Gu Chen the Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains and explained that Gu Chen's remarks had sent him searching for the painting's third section.
  • Gu Chen admitted that he had used the old man and offered to give him guidance in return.

Ch. 20Defeated with One Finger

Gu Chen exposed the old man's extreme-yang cultivation bottleneck and offered to help him, despite Hua Yumo's disbelief. He defeated Hua Yumo with one finger, leaving her collapsed on the ground.

  • Gu Chen diagnosed the old man's extreme-yang qi buildup and told him where to press to reveal his internal damage.
  • The old man confirmed the pain and apologized to Gu Chen, while Hua Yumo continued to accuse him of being a swindler.
  • Hua Yumo challenged Gu Chen to a martial arts match, and he accepted.
  • Gu Chen dodged Hua Yumo's attacks, released a powerful aura, and declared that one finger would be enough to defeat her.
  • Gu Chen struck Hua Yumo with one finger, and she collapsed to the ground.

Ch. 21Treating Injuries

After defeating Hua Yumo, Gu Chen treated the elder’s blocked meridians and discovered that his cultivation technique was incomplete. Grateful for Gu Chen’s help, the elder offered him sixteen properties and forty million, while promising to provide a copy of the technique for Gu Chen to examine.

  • Gu Chen defeated Hua Yumo with a finger strike, and she admitted defeat after realizing he had spared her life.
  • The elder acknowledged Gu Chen’s strength and brought him into the study to treat his injuries.
  • Gu Chen cleared the elder’s blocked meridians, helping his cultivation advance, and identified a flaw in his incomplete technique.
  • The elder agreed to write down the technique for Gu Chen to examine.
  • When Gu Chen admitted he needed money, the elder gave him a card containing forty million and ordered sixteen properties transferred to him.

Ch. 22Underhanded Tactics

Gu Chen refused the old man’s properties, accepted a bank card, and left after arranging to receive the cultivation technique. Back home, he learned that Xu Zhongwen had attacked Gu Beichi’s company, leaving Gu Chen furious as the family faced potentially ruinous losses.

  • Gu Chen declined the old man’s properties, arranged for the cultivation technique to be delivered, and took the bus home.
  • The old man told Hua Yumo that Gu Chen had healed him, reached the Grandmaster Realm, and deserved her respect.
  • Gu Chen returned home and pressed Gu Beichi to explain what was wrong.
  • Gu Beichi told Gu Chen that six company trucks had been impounded, employees had been detained, and the company had been vandalized.
  • Gu Beichi explained that business partners were threatening to raise prices or terminate contracts, putting the company at risk of collapse.
  • Gu Chen blamed Xu Zhongwen for the attacks and angrily denounced his underhanded tactics.

Ch. 23He Used to Be My Subordinate

Gu Chen gave his father, Gu Beichi, forty million to help ease the pressure on the family company and vowed to shoulder the family’s burdens. After receiving the Mystic Heaven Divine Art, he went with Wang Hu to meet Zhao Haiqing, the Black Wind Hall’s leader, who had once served as Wang Hu’s adjutant.

  • Gu Chen offered Gu Beichi forty million and assured him the money was legitimately earned, while Gu Beichi accepted it without asking further questions.
  • Gu Chen promised Uncle Liu that he would bring him back to the Gu Family and vowed not to let his father face hardship alone.
  • After finding cultivation too slow in Zhou City, Gu Chen decided to seek out Xu Zhongwen.
  • Wang Hu delivered the Mystic Heaven Divine Art and invited Gu Chen to meet Zhao Haiqing, explaining that Zhao had once been his adjutant.
  • Gu Chen agreed to go with Wang Hu and entered the Black Wind Hall’s company, where Zhao Haiqing and rows of men in black awaited him.

Ch. 24Do You Know the Consequences?

Gu Chen met Zhao Haiqing, a former special-forces soldier who ran the Black Wind Hall, and demonstrated his strength when Zhao tested him with a handshake. When Gu Chen tried to treat Zhao’s injured shoulder, Qi Ming attacked and the armed underlings aimed their pistols at Gu Chen.

  • Zhao Haiqing welcomed Wang Hu and Gu Chen with a flashy reception, then learned Gu Chen was Wang Hu’s young friend from Zhou City Xinghua University.
  • Zhao Haiqing tested Gu Chen’s strength with a handshake, but Gu Chen overwhelmed him and released his hand before he was humiliated.
  • Gu Chen touched Zhao Haiqing’s injured left shoulder, causing intense pain and making Zhao scream.
  • Qi Ming threatened Gu Chen, attacked him with a punch, and was knocked down by Gu Chen’s backward kick.
  • The black-clad underlings drew pistols and aimed them at Gu Chen.

Ch. 25Your Chance to Look After Me Has Come

Gu Chen healed Zhao Haiqing’s arm and won the respect of his men, but a call revealed that Xu Zhongwen and Li Sheng were attacking Dexing Logistics and had trapped Gu Beichi in his office. Gu Chen asked Zhao Haiqing to help and headed to the company, where the attackers were still smashing the premises.

  • Zhao Haiqing ordered his men to lower their guns after realizing Gu Chen was treating his injury.
  • Gu Chen healed Zhao Haiqing’s arm, advised him to rest for half a month, and accepted Qi Ming’s apology.
  • Zhao Haiqing offered to look after Gu Chen, and Gu Chen refused his offer of wine because he needed to recover.
  • Zhu Jian told Gu Chen that Xu Zhongwen and Li Sheng of the Black Wind Hall had returned to Dexing Logistics, were beating people, and had trapped Gu Beichi in his office.
  • Gu Chen told Zhao Haiqing that his chance to look after him had come and prepared to go to Dexing Logistics.
  • At Dexing Logistics, Xu Zhongwen and a mustached man watched as more than a dozen thugs smashed the premises.
Arc 1 of 16
Arc 1 of 16