Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou learned that Zuo Lianguang ran the Phoenix Creek Medical Club as Ren Yisheng confronted him over blood replacement procedures involving Ren’s students. Zuo Lianguang challenged Ren’s motives, but Ren’s mental pressure overwhelmed him, leaving their conflict unresolved.

• Ren Yisheng openly called for Zuo Lianguang at the Phoenix Creek Medical Club, and Zhang Xuezhou realized Zuo Lianguang was behind it.
• Ren Yisheng hinted that the Zuo Household had taken blood from his people, and Zuo Lianguang inferred that the matter involved Zuo Denggao’s blood replacement.
• Ren Yisheng demanded that Zuo Lianguang bring Zhang Manqian to him within ten minutes, identifying her and Zhang Xuezhou as his students.
• Zuo Lianguang suspected Ren Yisheng was using the incident to investigate Sinkhole No. 2 and challenged him over his motives.
• Ren Yisheng’s mental pressure trapped Zuo Lianguang and caused his nose to bleed, shocking the Sixth Sequence expert.

Ren Yisheng confronted Zuo Lianguang over Zuo Jin’s attempt to use Zhang Manqian as a blood consumable, forcing Zuo Lianguang to rein in his son and arrange for her blood to be returned. Zhang Manqian could recover with intensive care, while Zuo Lianguang resolved to end the dangerous operation at the Phoenix Creek Medical Club.

• Ren Yisheng held Zuo Lianguang in place and made him order Zuo Jin to bring Zhang Manqian to the recovery room.
• Zuo Lianguang learned that Zuo Jin had begun extracting Zhang Manqian’s blood, and he disowned his son’s actions to avoid Ren Yisheng’s retaliation.
• Zuo Jin arrived with Zhang Manqian, and Zuo Lianguang tried to attack him before Ren Yisheng’s pressure stopped him.
• A doctor confirmed Zhang Manqian’s prepared blood had not been transfused and could be returned, though she would need at least level-three recuperative care.
• Zuo Lianguang agreed to pay for Zhang Manqian’s care and decided the Zuo Household should remove the risky operation from the Phoenix Creek Medical Club.

Zuo Jin lamented losing the chance to use Zhang Manqian for Zuo Denggao’s blood replacement, but Zuo Lianguang ordered him to follow proper procedures and funded Denggao’s recovery. Zuo Lianguang left furious at Ren Yisheng and considered seeking powerful allies for revenge, though he knew he could not challenge Ren directly for now.

• Zuo Jin explained that he and Zuo Denggao had tried to force Zhang Manqian into a blood-replacement contract so Denggao could surpass Zuo Teng, but Ren Yisheng had intervened before the operation began.
• Zuo Lianguang told Zuo Jin to send Zuo Denggao to the Save the World Group for a proper blood replacement and warned him not to obsess over surpassing Zuo Teng.
• Zuo Jin complained that the procedure cost too much, so Zuo Lianguang slapped him and then arranged for money to be transferred to Zuo Denggao.
• Zuo Jin privately treated the slap as an easy way to secure funds, though he remained frustrated about losing Zhang Manqian as a potential match.
• Zuo Lianguang boarded his aircraft, resented Ren Yisheng’s threat and the costly medical care, and considered approaching the Zhou Household, the Changkong Lineage, and other powerful groups for help with revenge.

Ren Yisheng urged Zhang Xuezhou to share the Supreme Purity True Technique, but Zhang Xuezhou refused to violate Hongku’s rules while offering to help when called. As Zhang Xuezhou and Zhang Manqian learned how expensive their recovery would be, they faced the challenge of finding resources to support their cultivation.

• Ren Yisheng reassured Zhang Xuezhou that Zuo Lianguang posed little danger and pressed him to provide the Supreme Purity True Technique for the Ren Household.
• Zhang Xuezhou refused to share the technique in a way that would break Teacher Hongku’s rules, but promised to come help Ren Yisheng when needed.
• Ren Yisheng explained that Zhang Xuezhou and Zhang Manqian would need repeated courses of costly recuperation to recover fully and maintain their gains.
• Zhang Xuezhou reflected that money, status, and connections were necessary to obtain cultivation resources, but he could see no clear way to become wealthy.
• Zhang Manqian told Zhang Xuezhou how she had been shocked unconscious and subjected to blood extraction, then panicked when she learned her treatment had already cost six million.

Zhang Xuezhou and Zhang Manqian considered how to afford the expensive ongoing treatment they needed, while Zhang Xuezhou realized that treatment had also cleared toxins from his cultivation medicines. They began exploring ways to make money, and Zhang Manqian proposed adding real cultivation techniques to their parents’ online content.

• Zhang Manqian learned that blood-agent enhancement required costly maintenance, while Zhang Xuezhou explained the treatment expenses and the need to protect his health.
• Zhang Xuezhou sensed that recuperative treatment had removed toxins from his Origin-Nurturing Pills and considered how that could help his cultivation progress toward the Body Control Realm and True Spirit Realm.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Zhang Manqian brainstormed business ideas, including a martial arts school, a biological genetics company, and a psychology clinic.
• Zhang Manqian suggested building on Zhang Weimeng and Song Fengying’s existing work, then proposed putting genuine cultivation content into their online material.
• Zhang Xuezhou considered selecting simple, quickly learned techniques from his other path of cultivation for people to imitate.

Zhang Xuezhou looked for simple abilities he could promote through a wuxia novel, but learned that real Techniques required cultivation. As the group raced toward the Yin Mountain Royal Court, Wu Chao offered to teach him a Fake Technique that needed no Law Power.

• Zhang Xuezhou planned to find common low-level Techniques in Chang'an City to include in a wuxia novel and attract readers.
• Wu Chao told Zhang Xuezhou they were two hours from the royal court after traveling through the night, and said he might flee to the Greater Yuezhi Kingdom if his plans failed.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Wu Chao and Jin Chang about Techniques ordinary people could learn, but learned that cultivation required Qi and Blood or Law Power and entry into a realm.
• Jin Chang suggested the Fake Technique, which used props to imitate a Technique without Law Power or cultivation.
• Wu Chao offered to teach Zhang Xuezhou his Face-Changing Technique, and Zhang Xuezhou eagerly accepted.

Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao practiced jianghu tricks while returning to the royal court, wary that their former teacher might turn the royal family against them. Wu Chao greeted Yizhixie with an emotional performance and was escorted to meet the Chanyu, leaving Zhang Xuezhou impressed by how much Wu Chao had changed.

• Zhang Xuezhou chose to learn Jin Chang's Thread-Control Technique instead of focusing on Wu Chao's Face-Changing Technique.
• When news came that the Fourth Prince had returned, Jin Chang hid in Wu Chao's shadow, and Wu Chao warned Zhang Xuezhou that their former teacher might alert the royal family.
• Ma Gaofa stopped the damaged carriage when Yizhixie, the Left Guli King, blocked their way on the royal court's territory.
• Wu Chao leaped from the carriage, embraced Yizhixie, and claimed he had completed four years of cultivation at the Yedie River Holy Land.
• Yizhixie led Wu Chao toward the royal tent to meet the Chanyu as Wu Chao asked about his family, while Zhang Xuezhou reflected on Wu Chao's transformation.

Zhang Xuezhou was summoned before the Xiong State Chanyu, who initially ordered him executed for inciting Luandi Daba to demand royal resources. Wu Chao persuaded the Chanyu that supporting Zhang could win Venerable Lei’s favor, leaving the royal court to provide the requested treasures whether it wanted to or not.

• Zhang Xuezhou entered the Chanyu’s golden tent after Wu Chao and Yizhixie and was immediately accused of extorting the royal family’s wealth.
• The Chanyu ordered guards to kill Zhang, but Zhang spread his wings and flew away from their attack.
• Wu Chao defended Zhang by explaining his ties to Venerable Lei and argued that supporting him could earn the powerful cultivator’s friendship.
• The Chanyu used his imperial might to test Wu Chao’s claim that Venerable Lei was injured, and Wu Chao swore that it was true.
• Hulugu and Shan Huan warned that refusing Venerable Lei’s request could create a grudge, so the court agreed to give up the treasures.
• Yizhixie realized the requested resources came from his own reserves for reaching the Sole Self Realm and resented Wu Chao for bringing Venerable Lei into the matter.

Zhang Xuezhou returned to the Golden Tent after the Xiong State rulers assured him they would not harm him, and he exchanged flight advice with Prince Yudan. Wu Chao emerged from a closed meeting with the Chanyu and the Yanshi, leaving Zhang Xuezhou convinced their demand for imperial resources had succeeded.

• Zhang Xuezhou flew above the Golden Tent and questioned the Xiong State men, who told him Wu Chao was meeting with the Chanyu, the Yanshi, and Luandi Daba.
• Hulugu, Shan Huan, and Luogubi persuaded Zhang Xuezhou to come down and escorted him back into the Golden Tent.
• Hulugu introduced Zhang Xuezhou to Luandi Yudan, who asked him for advice on flying.
• Zhang Xuezhou shared flight techniques he had learned from Feiyu, earning Yudan's gratitude and the imperial clan's goodwill.
• Wu Chao emerged from the closed meeting with the Chanyu and the Yanshi, and Zhang Xuezhou inferred that the obstacles to obtaining imperial resources had been cleared.

After Wu Chao returned to the royal family, the Chanyu requisitioned Yizhixie’s medicinal resources while weighing the succession and his own failing health. Wu Chao learned that his cultivation mission and tangled circumstances had cost him his chance at the throne, leaving him and Jin Chang to lament the loss.

• Yudan warned Zhang Xuezhou that the Chanyu had requisitioned Yizhixie’s rare medicinal herbs, threatening Yizhixie’s plans to reach the Sole Self Realm.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Yudan that Wu Chao’s Sacred Land trial required him to infiltrate the Xiong-Han conflict and curse Li Jiao to death, easing Yudan’s concern about a rival for the throne.
• The Chanyu admitted to the Yanzhi that Demon Power had damaged his health and that he intended to groom Yudan as his successor because Wu Chao refused royal affairs.
• Jin Chang told Wu Chao and Zhang Xuezhou that Wu Chao had lost his chance to inherit the throne, despite obtaining requisitioned cultivation resources.
• Jin Chang suspected that Hongku’s Substitution Technique still caused Wu Chao to suffer the Misfortune Technique.

Zhang Xuezhou, Jin Chang, and Wu Chao left Dragon City with supplies to escape the Sacred Land’s investigation. As the autumn hunt began, Venerable Black Mountain and Venerable White Bone arrived and ordered the royal family to find Wu Chao and Wu Jin and capture Jin Chang.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Jin Chang urged Wu Chao to leave before the Sacred Land could investigate, and Wu Chao agreed.
• The Chanyu announced an autumn hunt that would determine which tribes had to send troops, then gave Wu Chao supplies for Wu Jin and his own journey.
• Wu Chao, Zhang Xuezhou, and Jin Chang collected the supplies, took two demon horses, and rode out of Dragon City.
• Yizhixie, the Left Guli King, watched Zhang Xuezhou leave while Shan Huan warned him to prepare for the hunt.
• Venerable Black Mountain and Venerable White Bone arrived and accused Jin Chang of killing two venerables and coercing Wu Chao and Wu Jin, ordering the royal family to find the two Wu brothers and capture Jin Chang.

After learning that Jin Chang may have used Luandi Daba as a puppet, the Chanyu ordered the tribes to pursue Daba and Jin Chang. As the pursuit began, the Chanyu worried about his family and the growing instability in the Xiong State, then reconsidered what had happened to Wu Chao.

• Venerable Black Mountain and Venerable White Bone told the Chanyu that Jin Chang’s Puppet Technique could be controlling Luandi Daba, and they suspected Jin Chang had used Daba to kill Linna Shaji and steal Yizhixie’s medicine.
• The Chanyu ordered a search for Daba and changed the autumn encirclement hunt into a pursuit of Jin Chang, offering exemption from military service to those who found him or trapped Daba.
• The imperial family and tribes rode out in every direction, while Yizhixie hurried after his stolen medicine with his guards and falcons.
• The Chanyu worried over his sons’ fates and the political dangers facing the Xiong State, and considered Emperor Jing as a possible contingency.
• After hearing Venerable White Bone and Venerable Black Mountain discuss Wu Chao being expelled from Hongku’s school, the Chanyu sensed that the situation was not as they believed.

Zhang Xuezhou, Wu Chao, and Jin Chang fled across Xiong State toward Greater Yuezhi, but falcons revealed that multiple groups were pursuing them. Near nightfall, they found a small settlement with a temple and monks burning corpses, leaving Wu Chao concerned about disguising themselves there.

• Zhang Xuezhou rode with Wu Chao and asked about Greater Yuezhi, learning that its five tribes could reunite even after suffering a major defeat.
• Wu Chao spotted two peregrine falcons overhead and realized multiple parties were searching for them.
• Jin Chang suggested that the Sacred Land had alerted the pursuers, and Wu Chao urged the group to keep riding rather than risk being caught.
• As night approached, Wu Chao spotted fires he believed belonged to a Greater Yuezhi tribe and proposed using the Face-Changing Technique to blend in.
• Zhang Xuezhou, Wu Chao, and Jin Chang neared a wooden temple where five monks burned corpses, and Wu Chao worried about disguising themselves among them.

Wu Chao and Zhang Xuezhou sought refuge from their pursuers by joining a strange group of monks at a temple. The monks put them to work looting and burning corpses, and the two agreed to wear robes and help the next day while focusing on surviving the night.

• Wu Chao led Zhang Xuezhou toward the temple and announced that he wanted to become a monk.
• The Buddha's Son and the middle-aged monk misunderstood their request, then agreed to accept them if they helped search bodies and promised them a share of the money.
• Wu Chao recognized the Buddha's Son as a formidable martial artist and decided to tolerate the monks for the sake of evading their pursuers.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked for monks' robes, and the Buddha's Son praised his affinity with Buddha.
• The Buddha's Son asked Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao to take him to two corpses the next day so he could deliver their souls, and both agreed.

After recovering in reality, Zhang Xuezhou asked Ren Yisheng to teach him a Three-Star Combat Technique, and Ren Yisheng agreed to give him the Kunpeng Combat Technique. Ren Wuyang learned that Ren Yisheng had repackaged the Dragon Elephant Combat Technique, leaving Zhang Xuezhou to try cultivating a technique without matching genes.

• Zhang Xuezhou woke from his treatment feeling stronger and resolved to escape the dangers surrounding him in the other world.
• Ren Yisheng offered Zhang Xuezhou a Gene Fighting Technique after hearing about his bird genes, and Zhang Xuezhou asked for a Three-Star Combat Technique.
• Ren Yisheng named the technique the Kunpeng Combat Technique, while Zhang Xuezhou wondered whether his genes could support it and asked about a chicken-based alternative.
• Ren Wuyang questioned where the Kunpeng Combat Technique came from, and Ren Yisheng revealed that he had renamed and adapted the Dragon Elephant Combat Technique for Zhang Xuezhou.

After Zhang Manqian recovered from the dangerous blood exchange, she and Zhang Xuezhou considered their new advantages and the risks of dealing with Zuo Teng. Zhang Xuezhou ignored Zuo Teng’s messages but began building a friendship with Wang Li.

• Zhang Manqian finished her examination and learned that the blood mutation fluid was gone, her health was good, and some physical readings had improved.
• Zhang Xuezhou warned Zhang Manqian that Zuo Teng was dangerous and that they should avoid working with him.
• Zhang Xuezhou ignored Zuo Teng’s messages and replied to Wang Li, sending him photos of the Phoenix Creek Medical Club.
• Wang Li joked that he envied and hated Zhang Xuezhou for recovering at the medical club, then decided to get to know him better and offer what he might need.

Zhang Xuezhou met Wang Li, who offered to fund another rigged ring match, but Zhang Xuezhou refused because he feared retaliation and wanted to pursue safer ways to make money. He told Wang Li he was looking to sell books.

• Zhang Xuezhou encountered Wang Li outside the Xuanshi Building and learned that Wang Li had come to congratulate him on leaving the hospital.
• Wang Li explained that he had been marginalized within the Wang Household and could not rely on his father for support.
• Wang Li offered Zhang Xuezhou five million to bet on another ring match if Zhang Manqian fought, promising Zhang Xuezhou all the winnings.
• Zhang Xuezhou refused, saying he and Zhang Manqian did not want to cheat again and that he could not risk retaliation from the people behind the underground rings.
• Wang Li suggested betting a smaller amount, but Zhang Xuezhou still declined and said he was looking to sell books.

Wang Li warned Zhang Xuezhou that writing martial arts novels offered little chance of making money and could not fund Gene Fighting Technique cultivation. Zhang Xuezhou still wanted to publish them as a way to spread cultivable techniques, and the conversation left him planning to ask Ren Yisheng for the Kunpeng Combat Technique.

• Wang Li explained that gene-themed fiction had eclipsed traditional martial arts novels and urged Zhang Xuezhou to make money through other entertainment ventures.
• Zhang Xuezhou insisted on writing martial arts novels because he hoped readers might learn the techniques planted in them and possibly succeed at cultivation.
• Wang Li checked Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils’ statistics, estimated its monthly income at about ten thousand, and warned that it could not cover the high costs of cultivation.
• Wang Li considered Zhang Xuezhou a valuable connection to Ren Yisheng and Wang Haoran and resolved to learn more about his family and connections.
• Zhang Xuezhou remembered that Ren Yisheng had promised to teach him the Kunpeng Combat Technique and decided to ask for its storage device at the Xuanshi Building.

Wang Li studied Zhang Xuezhou’s family and used Song Fengying’s livestream to build a connection with his parents. After seeing viewers compete to tip, he decided to buy the streaming app and turn it into a major business.

• Wang Li reviewed Zhang Xuezhou’s credentials and family background, deciding to seize the chance to associate with him.
• Wang Li found Song Fengying’s livestream and tipped her ten thousand yuan, then sent nineteen more consecutive tips to top the leaderboard.
• Song Fengying thanked Wang Li as viewers reacted to his generosity, and another viewer tipped thirty thousand yuan to reclaim first place.
• Wang Li recognized that viewers were competing emotionally to spend money and saw the livestream audience as an untapped market.
• Wang Li decided to buy the app and promote tipping, hoping to build a fortune by stirring up competition among viewers.

Ren Yisheng revised and transcribed the Kunpeng Combat Technique for Zhang Xuezhou, using his mental strength to tailor its initial stages to Zhang’s genes. He planned to use Zhang’s cultivation, along with Ren Wuyang and Ren Anran’s progress, to advance his research into mental development and higher realms.

• Zhang Xuezhou asked Ren Yisheng for the Kunpeng Combat Technique, and Ren Yisheng first claimed it had been destroyed before admitting he remembered it.
• Ren Yisheng compared Zhang Xuezhou’s avian genes with the technique and concluded that Zhang’s strong mental ability could help him suppress First Sequence practitioners and restrain Second Sequence practitioners.
• Ren Yisheng used his deduction ability to revise the technique and draw a diagram of Zhang Xuezhou’s gene distribution and cultivation cycle.
• Ren Yisheng considered Hongku a possible source of unexpected results and justified using Zhang Xuezhou’s cultivation to further his research.
• Ren Yisheng hoped Ren Wuyang and Ren Anran could continue his work, while he coordinated their progress with Zhang Xuezhou and Hongku.