Chapter Summaries

Si Ming sought Murong Qing’s help learning the Snow Swallow Spear Technique before his upcoming martial arts match. Murong Qing agreed to teach him, though the chapter left him with only four hours to prepare.

• Si Ming went to the painting club and heard that Murong Qing had been nominated for the county-wide middle school painting competition.
• The art teacher warned Murong Qing to be careful in her martial arts competition before leaving the classroom.
• Si Ming asked Murong Qing to teach him the Snow Swallow Spear Technique in case he faced Nan Kemeng in that night’s match.
• Si Ming explained that he had chosen the technique after studying a drama, and Murong Qing agreed it might work.
• Murong Qing began teaching Si Ming, advising him to focus on mastering a few moves rather than attempt all thirteen.

Si Ming and Murong Qing met Lu Mao, a struggling Food School disciple, while searching for dinner before the tournament drawing. After tasting his roast duck noodles, Si Ming recognized the extraordinary power of Lu Mao’s cooking and urged him to open a shop.

• Si Ming and Murong Qing went to find dinner before the tournament drawing and found Lu Mao selling roast duck noodles outside the venue.
• Lu Mao explained that he was broke after Eastern Academy rejected him and that he had entered the tournament hoping to earn money and prove himself.
• Si Ming and Murong Qing ordered four bowls of Lu Mao’s roast duck noodles.
• Si Ming tasted the noodles, felt their remarkable vitality, and praised Lu Mao’s cooking as good enough to make a fortune without tournament prize money.

Si Ming and his companions drew their places in the competition’s fixed bracket, and Si Ming was paired against Nan Kemeng. Though still recovering from his injuries, he faced her in the desert terrain she chose, where the match began.

• The host announced that the competition would use a fixed bracket instead of drawing lots for each round.
• Murong Qing drew number thirty-one and received a bye, Ying Zhou drew number thirty, and Si Ming drew number twenty-eight after an elaborate attempt to change his luck.
• Zhong Lingxiu drew number six, while Nan Kemeng told Si Ming she would give their match her all.
• Si Ming said he had recovered about seventy percent and promised Murong Qing he would be careful.
• Nan Kemeng chose desert terrain for her match against Si Ming, and the gong sounded to start their bout.

Si Ming defeated Nan Kemeng by exploiting her immersion in a role from Legend of the Divine Radish Hero. After Zhong Lingxiu told him Ying Zhou had been badly injured, Si Ming rushed to find Murong Qing confronting the youth responsible.

• Nan Kemeng attacked Si Ming with powerful palm techniques, while Si Ming countered with the Snow Swallow Spear Technique.
• Si Ming used the word "Father" to make Nan Kemeng falter, then stopped his spear just short of her chest and won the match.
• Nan Kemeng admitted defeat, but Zhong Lingxiu rushed over and told Si Ming that Ying Zhou had been badly injured.
• Si Ming followed Zhong Lingxiu to Ying Zhou and saw Murong Qing confronting a youth as Ying Zhou lay unconscious with a badly injured elbow and bleeding wrist.
• Murong Qing grabbed the youth by the collar and accused him of deliberately pressing down during his final move.

Ying Zhou was rushed to the hospital after Lian Buqi’s attack, while Si Ming and Murong Qing confronted Lian Buqi over his conduct and beliefs. Doctors saved Ying Zhou’s hand, but warned that it might never regain its former flexibility or strength.

• Lian Buqi denied deliberately injuring Ying Zhou, and Si Ming helped carry Ying Zhou to an ambulance while warning Lian Buqi to be careful.
• Nan Kemeng confronted Lian Buqi about his changed nature, and he struck her with a penetrating martial technique he called the power of natural selection through competition.
• At the hospital, Si Ming admitted he had only threatened Lian Buqi to scare him, while Murong Qing insisted on facing Lian Buqi fairly in her next match.
• Doctors told Si Ming that Ying Zhou’s hand had been saved but would likely lose flexibility and strength.

Si Ming learned that Ying Zhou could recover by reaching level nine Internal Cultivation or receiving help from a Spirit Transformation expert, but police soon questioned him about Dai Zhuiguang’s murder. At the crime scene, investigators traced the killing to the Meridian-Shattering Goosefoot Heart Palm and the True Scripture of Sinful Punishment, though the murderer’s identity remained unknown.

• A doctor told Si Ming that Ying Zhou could be cured by reaching level nine Internal Cultivation or having a Spirit Transformation expert clear his meridians.
• Two police officers asked Si Ming to assist with the investigation into Dai Zhuiguang’s death.
• Zhang Dixian tried to divine the murderer’s identity but found only a connection to the Youth Martial Arts Tournament and concluded the killer had higher cultivation than he did.
• Xiao Xian examined Dai Zhuiguang’s body and inferred that the killer had subdued and tortured him before killing him with the Meridian-Shattering Goosefoot Heart Palm.
• Xiao Xian identified the technique as part of the True Scripture of Sinful Punishment and explained that its orthodox cultivation method could be corrupted by someone who practiced only its vicious techniques.

After Dai Zhuiguang’s murder, Si Ming learned that the killing technique was the long-lost Meridian-Shattering Goosefoot Heart Palm and brought Lu Mao to stay at the orphanage. At the hospital, Yao Bilian visited the recovering Ying Zhou, who vowed to train harder and take revenge on the person who had beaten him.

• The police questioned Si Ming about Dai Zhuiguang’s death, confirmed his alibi, and told him Dai had died from the Meridian-Shattering Goosefoot Heart Palm.
• Murong Qing identified the technique as the Eight Asura Sin Lord’s ultimate move and left after Si Ming walked her to the hospital entrance.
• Si Ming found Lu Mao selling noodles outside the hospital and invited him to stay at the orphanage.
• Si Ming and Lu Mao arrived at the orphanage, where Yao Bilian explained she had missed Si Ming’s calls because she had passed out in the bath while reading.
• Yao Bilian visited Ying Zhou in the hospital, and Ying Zhou declared that he would train harder and repay his attacker tenfold or a hundredfold.

Yao Bilian teased the injured Ying Zhou while Si Ming recovered and learned that Han Lin was suspected of murdering Dai Zhuiguang. Han Lin burst into the orphanage searching for Yao Bilian, and Si Ming faced his attack by entering the Solar Prominence State.

• Yao Bilian stayed with Ying Zhou as he recovered, teasing him until he realized how considerate Si Ming had been.
• Si Ming woke to find Lu Mao had prepared breakfast, then received Pan De’s warning that Han Lin was the suspect in Dai Zhuiguang’s murder and had disappeared.
• Han Lin smashed into the orphanage looking for Yao Bilian, and Si Ming recognized him as a transformed, dangerous opponent.
• Si Ming stalled Han Lin by claiming Yao Bilian was absent, then unleashed his True Qi and entered the Solar Prominence State as Han Lin attacked.

Si Ming and Lu Mao survived Han Lin’s attack with help from Lu Mao’s chili powder and Zhang Dixian’s intervention, but Han Lin escaped. The group headed to warn Yao Bilian, while Auntie Liu emerged from the basement after the danger passed.

• Si Ming blinded Han Lin and broke through a wall to escape, but Han Lin’s force pulled him back until Lu Mao shielded him with a wok and sprayed Han Lin with Exploding Anus Brand Chili Powder.
• Si Ming and Lu Mao dodged Han Lin’s attacks as he recovered, then Zhang Dixian blocked his claws and forced him to retreat.
• Han Lin fled after warning Zhang Dixian that he would return after killing Yao Bilian.
• Zhang Dixian explained that he had come alone and admitted his legs were trapped in the ground, so Si Ming helped him free himself.
• Si Ming, Lu Mao, and Zhang Dixian decided to warn Yao Bilian and hurried toward the hospital, while Auntie Liu emerged from the basement.

After Han Lin’s attack, Si Ming brought Yao Bilian and Lu Mao safely to the hospital, where Yao repaid his deposit. Before leaving, Si Ming used the money to cover the operation of a gambler’s daughter after learning she was innocent.

• Auntie Liu returned to the basement rather than intervene in the dangerous fight, while Hongdou continued painting.
• Yao Bilian apologized to Si Ming and Lu Mao for drawing them into Han Lin’s attack, and Lu Mao said the incident had inspired him.
• Yao Bilian returned Si Ming’s hospital deposit, and Zhang Dixian warned Si Ming to stay among crowds and avoid going out alone.
• At the hospital payment window, Si Ming heard Zhang the Deadbeat beg for his daughter’s operation and learned he had gambled away his wife’s surgery money.
• Si Ming donated his New Year’s gift money for the girl’s operation, requiring the hospital to use it only for her.

Si Ming questioned whether he could follow the Mohist principle of universal love while helping the Mohist Knight Guard search for Han Lin. After realizing Han Lin had targeted his ex-girlfriend instead of Yao Bilian, Si Ming alerted the others, while Han Lin attacked the woman in her apartment.

• Si Ming learned that Yao Bilian had agreed to help Pan De lure Han Lin out, but Han Lin did not appear during their plan.
• Si Ming realized Han Lin had threatened Yao Bilian to distract the Mohist Knight Guard from another person he hated.
• Si Ming asked Yao Bilian over the walkie-talkie where Han Lin's ex-girlfriend lived.
• Han Lin held his ex-girlfriend by the throat in her apartment and accused her of ruining his chance to become a good person.

Han Lin attacked a woman who denounced his cruelty and praised Yao Bilian, but Pan De and Yao Bilian ambushed him. Han Lin survived their attacks and bombarded Yao Bilian with stone fragments before another hidden expert struck at his throat.

• Han Lin beat the woman after she explained why she had left him and praised Yao Bilian.
• Pan De ambushed Han Lin with Ping Mountain Lands and sent him crashing through a wall from the eighth floor.
• Yao Bilian pursued Han Lin in midair, but he fought back with Marrow-Extracting Spirit-Tormenting Claw.
• A hidden shooter fired explosive bullets, giving Yao Bilian time to strike Han Lin with Hegemon Draws the Bow and drive him into the ground.
• Han Lin rose from the dust and hurled stone fragments at Yao Bilian as she dodged across the apartment balconies.
• A judge's pen suddenly shot toward Han Lin's throat from the shadows.

A masked Mohist Knight Guard mortally wounded Han Lin, but another consciousness took over his body and unleashed far greater control of his martial arts. The new “Han Lin” fought the guard and Yao Bilian, then lunged for Yao Bilian as Si Ming fired and an enormous palm descended from above.

• A masked Mohist Knight Guard ambushed Han Lin with the Judge's Brush and inflicted a mortal wound.
• Si Ming watched as Han Lin collapsed, but Han Lin's True Qi returned to his body and he stood up, revealing that another consciousness had taken over.
• Yao Bilian recognized that the person controlling Han Lin's body was not Han Lin, and the masked guard attacked before he could explain himself.
• The new “Han Lin” evaded the guard's brush, overwhelmed his attacks, and injured him with a powerful palm strike.
• The new “Han Lin” ignored Yao Bilian's blows and Si Ming's bullets as he reached for Yao Bilian's head.
• An enormous black shadow plunged down from above, gathering air currents into a palm technique aimed at the fight.

Si Ming, Pan De, and their allies defeated the possessed Han Lin, though Pan De was gravely injured and the fight devastated the surrounding apartments. Afterward, Si Ming realized his Internal Cultivation had advanced to the fourth level, and the masked Mohist Knight Guard began removing their face covering.

• Han Lin blocked Pan De's descending palm while the masked Mohist Knight Guard weakened his defenses with ink spears, then collapsed from their injuries.
• Si Ming charged through the opening and fired at Han Lin, disrupting his concentration and allowing Pan De to land a decisive palm strike.
• Han Lin died in a deep palm-shaped pit after murmuring confused words, while Pan De revealed that hidden force had severely injured him internally.
• Si Ming and Yao Bilian discussed the possibility that the Eight Asura Sin Lord had possessed Han Lin, and Yao Bilian went to check on two injured people upstairs.
• Pan De noticed Si Ming's stronger presence, and Si Ming said his Internal Cultivation had advanced to the fourth level during the fight.
• Si Ming approached the injured masked Mohist Knight Guard and offered to remove the blood-soaked face covering, and the guard reached for it.

Si Ming recovered from his encounter with a supercriminal and advanced in the Youth Martial Arts Tournament after Lu Mao forfeited to pursue cooking. Murong Qing then challenged Lian Buqi over his treatment of victims, and their match began with Lian Buqi deflecting her spear.

• Si Ming met the Shadow Hero Guard Ye Ziqian and learned why the hidden guards operated outside the public eye.
• Si Ming arrived at the tournament and discovered that Lu Mao had forfeited, explaining that he wanted to focus on becoming a chef.
• Si Ming accepted Lu Mao’s decision and wished him success before heading with him to watch Murong Qing fight Lian Buqi.
• Murong Qing demanded that Lian Buqi apologize to his victims, but he rejected her demand and defended the strong preying on the weak.
• Murong Qing attacked at the gong, and Lian Buqi struck her spear aside with a precisely timed palm.

Murong Qing fought Lian Buqi, who used banned firearm-inspired martial arts and challenged her beliefs about the purpose of martial arts. The chapter ended with Lian Buqi stopping her powerful returning-horse spear thrust against his chest without being pierced.

• Lian Buqi refused to pursue Murong Qing and provoked her into attacking with Shoot the Heavenly Wolf.
• Lian Buqi used Shotgun Shell Seal to block her spear attack and wound her, while Zhong Lingxiu identified the move as part of a banned martial arts series.
• Murong Qing and Lian Buqi argued over whether martial arts existed to stop conflict or to help the strong kill more effectively.
• Lian Buqi countered Murong Qing's swift spear thrust with Bullet Fist, then suppressed her spear feints with a sweeping technique.
• Lian Buqi advanced with Hundred Beasts Fight for Their Lives, but Murong Qing rebounded with Hegemon's Returning Horse Spear.
• Lian Buqi stopped Murong Qing's powerful spear thrust with his chest, leaving her shocked.

Lian Buqi defeated Murong Qing and taunted her, prompting Si Ming to step in and challenge him. As Murong Qing struggled with her defeat, Si Ming reflected on what kind of path he should follow, then asked a referee about the rules for private fights.

• Murong Qing’s spear attack failed to harm Lian Buqi because his Phase Transfer Body-Protecting Divine Art absorbed the physical force, and he defeated her before the referee stopped him.
• Lian Buqi mocked Murong Qing and declared that justice and evil had no necessary connection to strength, but Si Ming blocked him and told him to leave.
• Lian Buqi taunted Si Ming about their upcoming match, then dismissed Nan Kemeng’s concerns about his changed temperament and techniques.
• Si Ming helped Murong Qing up, but she pushed him away and walked off unsteadily; Lu Mao advised Si Ming to keep an eye on her.
• Si Ming examined Murong Qing’s spear and asked a referee what the tournament rules were for contestants arranging a private fight.

Si Ming decided to study the Phase Transfer Body-Protecting Divine Art as a reference and sought a private fight with Lian Buqi to break through his bottleneck. The chapter ended as Lian Buqi attacked Si Ming with his newly mastered Grenade Hammer Hands.

• Si Ming asked Zhong Lingxiu about the art’s confidentiality and announced that he had found his own path.
• Lian Buqi destroyed a thick tree with Grenade Hammer Hands and celebrated mastering the technique.
• Si Ming told Lian Buqi that he wanted to defeat him to clear his thoughts and break through his bottleneck.
• Si Ming persuaded Lian Buqi to fight privately, offering him a pill to restore his stamina.
• After recovering, Lian Buqi charged at Si Ming and struck toward his chest with Grenade Hammer Hands.

Si Ming fought Lian Buqi and used his observations of Lian Buqi’s techniques to counter his attacks. After disrupting Lian Buqi’s ultimate move and striking him with Bull Demon Brute Force, Si Ming pursued him as he tried to retreat.

• Si Ming and Lian Buqi traded an opening blow, and neither gained an advantage.
• Lian Buqi used Bullet Fist to drive Si Ming into the woods, but Si Ming counterattacked with Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain and confirmed that Lian Buqi’s power weakened over distance.
• Si Ming interrupted Lian Buqi’s Bullet Fist counter and struck both his shoulders, then dodged Shotgun Shell Seal and tore away more of Lian Buqi’s clothing with another palm strike.
• Lian Buqi launched Hundred Beasts Fight for Their Lives, but Si Ming used Ape Demon Wild Grasp to scatter its force and break the move.
• Si Ming rammed Lian Buqi with Bull Demon Brute Force, and Lian Buqi retreated through the woods while Si Ming claimed he had seen through his movement technique.

Si Ming overwhelmed Lian Buqi by reading and countering his martial arts while reflecting on why he pursued martial arts. He realized he wanted the strength to punish evil and uphold good, and remained focused despite Lian Buqi challenging his right to judge others.

• Si Ming used his talent to discern Lian Buqi's martial arts patterns, repeatedly interrupting his attacks and keeping him on the defensive.
• As the fight continued, Si Ming recalled his childhood fascination with martial arts and reconsidered what he hoped to achieve through them.
• Si Ming reflected on people and events that had stirred his respect, sympathy, anger, and sense of responsibility.
• Si Ming realized his heart's desire was to become a hero who punished evil and upheld good, using martial arts to carry out justice.
• Lian Buqi tried to unsettle Si Ming by questioning who could judge good and evil, but Si Ming said he had his own measure for distinguishing them.