Chapter Summaries

Li Yang and Xi Yu took the Pill Department’s assessment, where students had to purify shoddy Star-Attracting Pills while paying merit points for replacements. As Xi Yu impressed the watching professors, Li Yang used the system to improve her pill after her own attempt nearly made it explode.

• The Pill Department assistant explained the purification assessment and charged students merit points for replacement pills when their attempts exploded.
• Professor Li Yaowan mistook Li Yang for the S-rank student and tried to recruit her, then turned her attention to Xi Yu after learning his identity.
• Xi Yu purified his pill steadily while Li Yang’s first attempt nearly caused an explosion, so she withdrew her Starlight.
• Li Yang asked the system to improve her shoddy pill, offering up to a year, and the system raised it to the grade one high stage.

Li Yang purified a pill to Grade One High Stage with almost no effort, drawing the attention of Zhongdu Military Academy’s Pill Department professors. They tried to recruit her, but she refused because she was Dean Si’s personal disciple in the Agronomy Department.

• The assessment ended with most students having failed or lost merit points, while Li Yang and Xi Yu appeared unscathed.
• Professor Li Yaowan announced that a pill had reached Grade One High Stage, and the students assumed Xi Yu had purified it.
• Professor Sun identified Xi Yu’s pill as only First Grade Middle Stage, while Li Yaowan found Li Yang’s Grade One High Stage pill.
• The professors offered Li Yang a pill furnace, Starlight carbon, and yearly financial aid to join the Pill Department.
• Li Yang declined the offers, explaining that she would not leave Dean Si’s tutelage.

Li Yang became Li Yaowan’s minor-study disciple after negotiating access to the 716 Research Institute, which Li Yaowan claimed to have acquired. At the institute, Li Yang agreed to purify a Star-Attracting Pill while Li Yaowan watched closely, hoping to learn more about her unusual fortune.

• Li Yaowan offered to take Li Yang as her minor-study disciple, and Li Yang accepted after learning that Li Yaowan had acquired the 716 Research Institute.
• Li Yaowan led Li Yang away from the assessment, while Professor Sun took Xi Yu as a minor student and Xi Yu was left discouraged.
• Li Yang asked Si Kui about Li Yaowan and learned that Li Yaowan had fought the Fenglie Clan, avenging her disciple by sacrificing her chance to become a Master.
• Li Yang insisted on visiting the 716 Research Institute before purifying a Star-Attracting Pill, and Li Yaowan agreed to take her there.
• At the institute, Li Yang agreed to purify a low-quality Star-Attracting Pill while Li Yaowan watched with an enhanced Star Skill.

Li Yang demonstrated that she could purify inferior pills by sacrificing her lifespan, drawing Li Yaowan’s interest in her abilities and the Nature Department. Li Yaowan offered her access to old Agronomy Department records and a discounted chance to buy back the 716 Research Institute, but the price was 900,000 Merit Points.

• Li Yang spent five years purifying five Star-Attracting Pills to Grade One High Stage for Li Yaowan.
• Li Yang used two years of her lifespan to purify an inferior Second Grade pill, but said she could not purify an inferior Third Grade pill while she was only in the Second Grade Realm.
• Li Yang quietly pocketed the purified pills, which were worth 1.75 million Huaxia Currency, while Li Yaowan questioned her about how her ability worked.
• Li Yaowan connected Li Yang’s pill purification to the Nature Department and mutated wheat, and Li Yang admitted the two were somewhat connected.
• Li Yang told Li Yaowan she wanted the Pill Department’s help partly because she needed money, and Li Yaowan offered her old research records and the 716 Research Institute for 900,000 Merit Points.

Li Yang used her ability to purify pills and her knowledge of the market to pressure Li Yaowan into negotiating on better terms, then ground mutated plants for lifespan. She left the day frustrated by the training room’s limits and her system’s demand for recovery after purifying too many low-quality pills.

• Li Yang rejected Li Yaowan’s offer of only ten percent of the pill sales and returned to the Agronomy Department, while telling Si Kui she expected Li Yaowan to come back to negotiate.
• Li Yang sold purified Star-Attracting Pills, bought First Grade Low Stage pills, and resold them as Second Grade High Stage pills for a profit.
• Li Yang bought another hundred low-grade pills and went to the practical combat training camp to kill mutated plants for lifespan.
• Li Yaowan learned that Li Yang was grinding mutated plants and realized Li Yang could disrupt the Pill Department’s pill market without mutated wheat.
• Li Yang earned 320 years of lifespan before reaching the training room’s daily limit, then her system demanded 30 years to recover from purifying too many low-quality pills.

Li Yang’s attempt to refine second grade Star-Attracting Pills left her with little lifespan, but selling them cheaply earned her a fortune and alarmed Professor Li Yaowan. The chapter ended with Li Yaowan rushing to confront Li Yang after hearing she had spoken with Zhong Kun.

• Li Yang spent thirty years recovering after the system struggled to refine pills, leaving her with seventeen years of lifespan.
• Li Yang listed fifty second grade high-stage Star-Attracting Pills for forty-seven merit points, then earned 2,115 merit points from the sales.
• Li Yaowan feared Li Yang’s pill-making ability could undermine the Pill Department and drive her to work with another faction.
• After hearing that Li Yang had discussed pills with Zhong Kun, Li Yaowan hurried to the practical combat training room to find her.
• Li Yang met Zhong Kun there, and he bragged about buying ten cheap pills before Li Yaowan arrived and called out to Li Yang.

Li Yang negotiated a partnership with Li Yaowan to refine pills and gained access to the Agronomy Department’s protected cultivation records. After Li Yang briefly explored the records, she returned to the archives room dizzy but having found useful information.

• Li Yang revealed to Zhong Kun that she had listed fifty second-grade high-stage Star-Attracting Pills and mentioned the Nature Department, prompting him to ask his great-grandfather about its history.
• Li Yang and Li Yaowan agreed on a six-four pill-sales split, and Li Yang changed their contract from purifying pills to refining them.
• Li Yaowan took Li Yang to the protected archives and warned her that the cultivation records could overwhelm her mental power.
• Li Yang entered the records with Li Yaowan’s help, quickly read information on mutated crops and soil care, and returned dizzy but with useful findings.

Li Yang learned that winning the freshmen’s monthly exam would earn her access to the Star Ash Mystic Realm, where she could gather Star Ash Soil for the Divine Soil. After discovering how costly tuition was, she became determined to help her Agronomy Department seniors graduate, while Zhong Kun grew convinced that the department secretly held powerful cultivation and pill-refining methods.

• Li Yaowan told Li Yang that the freshman monthly exam’s first-place student could enter the Star Ash Mystic Realm and bring back Star Ash Soil.
• Li Yang learned that the exam ranked students by cultivation before arena matches and that tuition rose sharply for lower-ranking students.
• Li Yang found out from Feng Yiqiao that older Agronomy Department students paid 3,000 merit points in annual tuition, with their department’s discount reducing the cost to 30 percent, and vowed to help her seniors graduate.
• Li Yang told Li Yaowan she would return for pill-refining guidance after the exam, then ran into Zhong Kun on her way back to the Agronomy Department.
• Zhong Kun cited Li Yang’s rapid cultivation growth and pill-refining reputation as proof that the Nature Department taught secret methods, while Li Yang defended her senior brothers and sister.

Li Yang learned that Lin Zhaoxia was a powerful and wealthy rival for first place in the monthly exam, which pushed her to buy more Star Skills despite Zhong Kun’s warnings. At the trading office, Li Yang used her teacher’s reassurance to silence his concerns, leaving Zhong Kun stunned by what Dean Si might be able to teach her.

• Zhong Kun told Li Yang that Lin Zhaoxia was a formidable Second Grade Realm student with powerful Star Skills and extensive training-room practice.
• Li Yang learned how costly extended training was and resolved to compete with Lin Zhaoxia for first place in the monthly exam.
• Li Yang headed to the trading office to buy additional Star Skills, while Zhong Kun warned her that she might later regret learning blue ones.
• Li Yang checked her 2,775 merit points and followed Zhong Kun to a private trading room, where students overheard their discussion about spending thousands of points.
• Zhong Kun continued to caution Li Yang about blue Star Skills, but she said her teacher had assured her they would not be a problem, leaving him amazed at Dean Si’s possible abilities.

Li Yang bought three blue close-combat Star Skills and persuaded Zhong Kun to share a video of Lin Zhaoxia using the Star Combat Department’s powerful combo. After watching it repeatedly for two hours, Li Yang continued studying the technique, while Zhong Kun warned that she could not learn it through observation alone without a mental value of 500.

• Li Yang chose Frenzy, Severing Space, and Execution from the trading platform, and Zhong Kun recognized them as blue imitations of the Star Combat Department’s combo.
• Li Yang convinced Zhong Kun to send her the video of Lin Zhaoxia fighting cultists by reminding him that the Zhong and Lin families were rivals.
• Li Yang watched Lin Zhaoxia use Frenzy and Severing Space to overwhelm a cultist hall master before killing him with Execution.
• Zhong Kun’s admiration for the Star Combat Department returned after he watched Lin Zhaoxia’s fight with Li Yang.
• Li Yang replayed the video for two hours, and Zhong Kun warned that she needed a mental value of 500 to simulate battles and gain experience.

Li Yang bought combat skills and a twin-blade Star Weapon, borrowed Merit Points from Li Yaowan, and trained in the practical combat room to prepare for the monthly exam. Three days later, she had mastered the combo, though Zhong Kun still judged Lin Zhaoxia stronger.

• Li Yang learned about Lin Zhaoxia's divine weapon Lunar Eclipse, then bought the cheaper twin blades Shadow Moon and three Star Skills for the exam.
• Li Yang borrowed 5,000 Merit Points from Li Yaowan and went to the practical combat training room to earn lifespan through battles.
• Si Kui promised to teach Li Yang the Nature Department's mental cultivation method after Li Yang overheard students discussing it.
• Li Yang watched Lin Zhaoxia fight, then practiced the combo while Zhong Kun brought her training screen to the front for others to watch.
• Three days later, Li Yang had mastered Frenzy, Severing Space, and Execution well enough to swiftly kill a Second Grade Realm aberrant plant.
• Zhong Kun praised Li Yang's rapid progress but said Lin Zhaoxia was still a little stronger.

Li Yang spent her remaining lifespan improving her abilities, failed to raise the Sparse Words, Natural Heart Sutra, and dreamed of a mysterious white-robed man before waking with 20 extra years of lifespan. She then went with Yu Hongyuan to the monthly realm assessment, where the freshmen gathered anxiously and the test began.

• Zhong Kun watched Li Yang’s training videos and assumed a half-step supreme had been secretly guiding her, while Li Yang had actually made her rapid gains by spending lifespan.
• Li Yang recalled Si Kui telling her to memorize the Sparse Words, Natural Heart Sutra, then used most of her 5,800 years of lifespan to raise her physique, Star Skills, weapon proficiency, and spirit.
• Li Yang tried to improve the sutra, but the system said it rejected her and reduced her spirit stat by 10 points, so she put off trying again.
• Li Yang dreamed of a snow-white figure who called her “Fellow Daoist,” then woke to find her lifespan had increased by 20 years without explanation.
• Li Yang joined Yu Hongyuan for the monthly assessment and was assigned to the Spirit Department classroom, where students greeted her as the Tree Tower Plunderer and debated what the name meant.
• The examiner arrived as the freshmen worried about their rankings and the merit points needed to avoid expulsion.

Li Yang and Yu Hongyuan completed the first round of the freshmen’s monthly examination, with Yu Hongyuan placing 999th and Li Yang placing second. The top twelve prepared for the arena matches, while the school opened a livestream and gift system before the competition began.

• Yu Hongyuan tested at First Grade Realm with one Star Aperture and a physique value of 189, while Li Yang tested at Second Grade Realm with five Star Apertures and a physique value of 500.
• The first-round rankings placed Yu Hongyuan 999th and Li Yang second behind Lin Zhaoxia, with both Li Yang and Ning Shaoyu among the few civilian-background students in the top ten.
• Li Yang learned that the top twelve would compete in arena matches for the monthly examination championship and a chance to enter the Star Ash Mystic Realm.
• The Academic Affairs Office opened a livestream and gift leaderboard; Zhong Kun and Shen Shangchi competed for the top gift position, while Yu Hongyuan sent Li Yang 100,000 in gifts.
• Li Yang and the Agronomy Department group arrived early at the martial arts arena for the top-twelve matches, and Yu Hongyuan secured a front-row seat beside his senior brother and sisters.

The freshmen gathered for their monthly exam, where Li Yang learned that Fang Chuyun was being ostracized by the Star Magic Department. The first match ended with Lin Zhaoxia defeating Fang Chuyun, leaving Li Yang to face Ning Shaoyu next.

• Students from several departments cheered for their representatives as the twelve contestants drew opponents.
• Lin Zhaoxia drew Fang Chuyun, whose Star Magic Department classmates refused to support her and urged her to lose.
• Li Yang drew Ning Shaoyu, prompting the Spirit Department to rally behind her as the two commoner Heavenly Chosen prepared to face off.
• The remaining first-round matchups were drawn, including Shen Shangchi versus Sun Mairan and Zhong Qian versus Zhong Kun, who immediately surrendered.
• Lin Zhaoxia overwhelmed Fang Chuyun with a rapid attack, and Professor Xu stopped them just before Lin Zhaoxia's blade reached Fang Chuyun's neck.

Li Yang defeated Ning Shaoyu with a rapid explosive-speed combo, publicly standing up for Fang Chuyun and revealing strength that drew Lin Zhaoxia's attention. The freshman exam continued through several matches, and the round of twelve ended with Shen Shangchi facing Sun Mairan.

• Li Yang rushed Ning Shaoyu at the start of their match and won before he could use a Star Skill, prompting Fang Chuyun to realize Li Yang had stood up for her.
• Lin Zhaoxia and Li Yang rose in the livestream gift rankings as students argued over the Tree Tower and Li Yang's use of the Star Combat Department's combo.
• Zhong Qian defeated his younger brother Zhong Kun in a match that exposed the difference between their combat skills, and Zhong Kun demanded a thousand merit points afterward.
• Lin Zhaoqin defeated Wang Ruika, and Ying Qi blasted the ninth-ranked Star Magic Department freshman off the stage before Professor Xu could shield him.
• Shen Shangchi faced Sun Mairan in the final match of the round of twelve and immediately put distance between himself and her.

Li Yang faced Shen Shangchi in the round of six after Lin Zhaoxia defeated Lin Zhaoqin. Shen Shangchi used repeated Ice Seals to slow Li Yang and prepare a wide-area Ice Explosion, leaving the match unresolved.

• Shen Shangchi defeated Sun Mairan after a ten-minute fight, and the winners drew their next opponents.
• Lin Zhaoxia drew Lin Zhaoqin, while Li Yang drew Shen Shangchi, leaving Zhong Qian to face Ying Qi.
• Lin Zhaoxia wore down Lin Zhaoqin’s Starlight and won with Severing Space; Lin Zhaoqin accepted the defeat and responded to Li Yang’s silent words with a smile.
• Li Yang charged Shen Shangchi, but his speed kept him out of reach as his Ice Seals covered the arena floor and hindered her movement.
• Shen Shangchi’s supporters realized he was preparing Ice Explosion, while Li Yang sensed that he was building toward another Star Skill.

Li Yang defeated Shen Shangchi in the second round, while Zhong Qian defeated Ying Qi. The three finalists’ match order was announced, leaving Li Yang set to face Zhong Qian and Lin Zhaoxia after watching the first match.

• Li Yang trapped Shen Shangchi inside his ice shield and battered it with repeated Severing Space attacks until he conceded.
• Professor Xu declared Li Yang the winner, and Ying Qi told her she was strong before facing Zhong Qian.
• Zhong Qian endured Ying Qi’s bombardment, reached her, and brought down his greatsword before Professor Xu stopped the match and shielded them both.
• Li Yang learned that Third-Grade Star Wielders could have up to thirty Star Apertures and joked inwardly that she would help her seniors graduate so they could learn noncombat Star Skills.
• Professor Xu announced the final-round match order: Lin Zhaoxia versus Zhong Qian, Zhong Qian versus Li Yang, then Li Yang versus Lin Zhaoxia.

Lin Zhaoxia defeated Zhong Qian after using her wounds to trigger a doubled Frenzy effect, and Li Yang studied the fight before facing him next. Zhong Qian remained determined to win their match, which began with both fighters recalling Li Yang had taken the top scorer spot from him in Donghua Province.

• The Spirit Department students sent Li Yang enough livestream gifts to push her above Lin Zhaoxia on the gift leaderboard.
• Li Yang watched Lin Zhaoxia and Zhong Qian fight closely, while Zhong Kun offered her merit points to lose to his brother and she refused.
• Lin Zhaoxia used her worsening injuries to intensify her Frenzy, then unleashed Severing Space and defeated Zhong Qian with its Execution effect.
• During the extended break, Li Yang repeatedly watched the recording and considered how to stop Lin Zhaoxia from triggering doubled Frenzy.
• Li Yang and Zhong Qian prepared to fight, each saying they would not lose, as the livestream students noted their rivalry over Donghua Province's top scorer spot.

Li Yang struggled against Zhong Qian’s overwhelming greatsword and solid defense in the final match, searching for a way to break through. After repeatedly failing to land her combo, she deactivated Bark and appeared to risk copying Lin Zhaoxia’s strategy, leaving the outcome uncertain.

• Li Yang and Zhong Qian clashed, and Zhong Qian’s empowered greatsword drove her back while interrupting her attacks.
• Li Yang used Hidden Shadow to escape Zhong Qian’s hot streak, but he anticipated her return and blocked her Frenzy and Severing Space combo.
• Zhong Kun boasted that Zhong Qian would win, while Yu Hongyuan insisted Li Yang could match Lin Zhaoxia’s frenzied Frenzy.
• A Spirit Department contestant noticed Li Yang had deactivated Bark, and Star Combat students mocked her for risking an imitation of Lin Zhaoxia.

Li Yang defeated Zhong Qian by enduring severe injuries until Frenzy activated, then used Severing Space and Execution before Professor Xu stopped the fight. After receiving treatment, she prepared to face Lin Zhaoxia, while onlookers speculated that Li Yang’s high Spirit let her copy Star Skills.

• Li Yang canceled Bark and fought Zhong Qian while trading wounds, pushing Frenzy to activate as her blood loss worsened.
• Li Yang’s burst of speed let her strike Zhong Qian from behind with Severing Space and trigger Execution, but Professor Xu stopped her and declared her the winner.
• The Star Support Department treated Li Yang and Zhong Qian, and Li Yang confirmed that her medical insurance covered the care.
• Spirit Department students speculated that Li Yang had exceptionally high Spirit and an ability to copy Star Skills, while Lin Zhaoqin looked forward to Li Yang’s next match.
• Li Yang recovered during the intermission, decided Zhong Qian’s Strong Attack combo did not suit her, and prepared to fight Lin Zhaoxia.