Arc 1Qin Yan’s Rise

Qin Yan used his growing strength to defend himself, destroy the Qiao family, and build influence in Clear Water Village. After joining the Azure Blade Gang and starting a mountain-goods business, he caught Li Wenqing’s attention and quickly mastered the Six Harmonies Saber demonstration.

  • Qin Yan accepted the family division, then beat Qin Zhao, Qin Qing, and Zhao He before leaving for his dilapidated house and beginning body-tempering training.
  • Qin Yan ambushed Zhao He’s relatives after they came to attack him, then secured five taels of silver and the old village chief’s support.
  • Qin Yan trained in archery and hunting, befriended Song Bao, Qin An, and Chen Ergou, and taught them the Basic Body-Tempering Technique.
  • After Qiao Shanhe’s men injured Song Cheng and other villagers, Qin Yan killed the Qiao family’s dog and later tracked down and killed Qiao Shansheng and his companions.
  • Qin Yan attacked the Qiao family home, killed its members, and burned the house, then killed Qiao Laosan when Qiao Shanwei returned and accused him.
  • Qin Yan spared Qin Zhao after breaking his thigh, joined the Azure Blade Gang as a formal disciple, and took over his father’s trading position.
  • Qin Yan recruited eleven youths, trained them, and protected his mountain-goods business during floods and a food shortage.
  • Qin Yan sold goods to Zhang Dangxing, one of his father’s killers, then accepted Li Wenqing’s offer to learn the Six Harmonies Saber and performed the moves after seeing them once.
Chapters 1–25 Vol. 1 Read

Ch. 1I Have No Morals

After transmigrating into Qin Yan, a young man blamed for his parents’ deaths, Qin Yan faced his brothers’ plans to divide the family property. He accepted the settlement but attacked Qin Zhao and Zhao He, announcing that he had no morals and would repay every grievance.

  • Qin Yan woke in an ancient village with memories of his new life and learned that Qin Zhao and Qin Qing blamed him for their father’s death.
  • Qin Zhao demanded that the family divide its property, while Zhao He and village gossips branded Qin Yan a jinx; the old village chief intervened.
  • Qin Zhao and Qin Qing agreed to give Qin Yan the dilapidated old house and one tael of silver each, and Qin Yan accepted the division.
  • Qin Yan kicked Qin Zhao in the crotch and kneed him in the face after declaring there was one more matter to settle.
  • Zhao He charged at Qin Yan, who smashed a teapot into her face, then told the stunned villagers, “I have no morals!”

Ch. 2Golden Finger

Qin Yan beat Qin Zhao and Qin Qing, then left the family home to investigate his Infinite Physique talent. At the thatched cottage, he discovered that training the Basic Body-Tempering Technique increased his attribute caps.

  • Qin Yan kicked and slapped Qin Zhao until the old village chief stopped him, then struck Qin Qing in the crotch.
  • Qin Yan left the family courtyard and headed for the Qin family's old house while villagers watched and discussed the beating.
  • Qin Yan entered the dilapidated cottage and saw that his forehead wound was healing rapidly.
  • Qin Yan examined his status panel, identified his Infinite Physique talent, and recalled the Basic Body-Tempering Technique his father had prepared for him.
  • Qin Yan practiced the Basic Body-Tempering Technique for one shichen, raising his Strength and Speed caps by 0.1 each.

Ch. 3The Hardship of Practicing Martial Arts

After training revealed that his special talent rapidly healed injuries and improved his attributes, Qin Yan went to Qinghe Town to buy supplies and a brush knife. He found few ways to earn money, leaving him equipped to train but uncertain how he would support himself.

  • Qin Yan decided to visit town for necessities and a brush knife, then continue training to raise his attributes.
  • Qin Yan met Qin Zhaofeng, who offered to help him, and they saw the Qiao Brothers buying villagers’ mountain goods at low prices.
  • Qin Yan learned that the Qiao Brothers had taken over his late father’s mountain-goods buying post and hurried on to town.
  • Qin Yan ran to Qinghe Town and received a speed-limit increase from his long-distance training.
  • Qin Yan found that most jobs in town were difficult to access without connections, then spent money on daily necessities and a brush knife.
  • Master Chen praised Qin Yan’s strength and suggested he take up martial arts, but Qin Yan said it was not easy.

Ch. 4Trouble for the Zhao Family (Part 1)

After Song Bao warned Qin Yan that Zhao He had gone to summon her brothers, Qin Yan prepared an ambush on the mountain road. He attacked the Zhao group with quicklime and a kick, then lured Zhao Wen and three others into the forest.

  • Song Bao warned Qin Yan that Zhao He had returned to her parents' home to seek help from her brothers, but Qin Yan said he knew how to handle the situation.
  • Old Zhao ordered Zhao Wen and other relatives to teach Qin Yan a lesson, while warning them not to go too far.
  • Qin Yan recovered in a hidden mountain hollow, took quicklime and a brush knife, and headed for Banyan Tree Hollow to ambush the Zhao group.
  • Qin Yan burst from hiding and threw quicklime at two men before kicking Zhao Wu in the groin.
  • Zhao Wen left Zhao He to watch over Zhao Wu and Zhao Sheng, then chased Qin Yan into the forest with three others.

Ch. 5Trouble with the Zhao Family (middle)

Qin Yan defeated the Zhao men who had come after him and broke the legs of Zhao Wu and Zhao He after confronting them on the mountain path. He then went to the old village chief’s house, pretending to be distraught and asking for help against the Zhao Family.

  • Qin Yan lured the Zhao men through the forest, ambushed them, and injured Zhao Jia’s ankle.
  • Qin Yan used lime powder and the brush knife to defeat Zhao Wen and the others, then warned Zhao Wen to stay out of Qin Family affairs.
  • Qin Yan returned to the mountain path and broke one of Zhao Wu’s legs after Zhao Wu threatened him.
  • Qin Yan broke Zhao He’s calf and told her he was repaying her threat to break his legs.
  • Qin Yan went to the old village chief’s house in tears and claimed the Zhao Family was trying to kill him.

Ch. 6Trouble with the Zhao Family (Part 2)

Qin Yan recruited the old village chief’s support after claiming the Zhao family had tried to kill him, and Clear Water Village rallied against the Zhao brothers. At the village square, the chiefs ruled that the Zhao family had to pay Qin Yan five taels of silver, leaving Zhao He and her relatives isolated and furious.

  • Qin Yan told the old village chief that Zhao He and her brothers had tried to kill him, and the chief agreed to back him.
  • The old village chief gathered Clear Water Village men, who found and beat the Zhao brothers before taking them to the village square.
  • Zhao He and Zhao Wen accused Qin Yan of breaking their relatives’ legs, while the old village chief insisted the Zhao brothers had attacked Qin Yan first.
  • The two village chiefs settled the dispute by ordering the Zhao family to pay Qin Yan five taels of silver.
  • Qin Yan defended his share of the family property and reminded the crowd that Zhao He had helped drive him out, winning the villagers’ sympathy.

Ch. 7Skill Effects

Qin Yan received compensation from the Zhao brothers and heard the old village chief urge him to rely on his clan while avoiding conflict with the influential Qiao brothers. Back at home, Qin Yan discovered how skill proficiency worked and unlocked the Basic Body Tempering Technique as a skill.

  • The old village chief gave Qin Yan five taels of silver from the Zhao brothers and warned him to stay away from Zhao Family Village.
  • The old village chief advised Qin Yan to strengthen his ties with the Qin clan, avoid the Qiao brothers, and consider the clan's future leadership.
  • The old village chief gave Qin Yan a bow and arrows so he could practice archery and hunt for meat.
  • Qin Yan checked his system and saw that Unlimited Combat proficiency had increased after he defeated enemies.
  • Qin Yan practiced the Basic Body Tempering Technique for two hours, raised his attribute caps, and unlocked the skill at 10% proficiency.

Ch. 8Improving Archery

Qin Yan trained relentlessly to improve his Archery and made bamboo arrows so he could keep practicing without wearing out his iron-tipped ones. He reached Entry Level and prepared to continue training, while his seventh uncle and other villagers went hunting in the mountains.

  • Qin Yan practiced with his Tendonwood Bow until his Archery proficiency reached 97% and his strength increased to 1.8.
  • After his fingers healed overnight, Qin Yan cut bamboo and spent four copper coins on duck and goose feathers to make arrows.
  • Qin Zhaofeng and the other village men headed into the mountains to hunt, and Qin Zhaofeng invited Qin Yan to join them once his Archery improved.
  • Qin Yan made twenty bamboo arrows and trained at sixty meters until his Archery reached Entry Level.
  • Qin Yan shot nearly a thousand arrows over two days, raising his Archery proficiency to 6% and increasing his strength and spirit caps.

Ch. 9Hunting

Qin Yan hunted deep in the mountains, caught a large Withered Ghost Hand, and returned with snakes and quail to cook. After eating the snake’s gallbladder, he gained strength and spirit, leaving him eager to improve his food and refine the coarse salt.

  • Qin Yan traveled deeper into the mountains, where he found more wildlife than near the village.
  • Qin Yan subdued a large venomous Withered Ghost Hand with a stick, removed its fangs, and stored it alive in his sack.
  • Qin Yan hunted until sunset and returned with three snakes and two quail.
  • Qin Yan swallowed the Withered Ghost Hand’s gallbladder and gained strength and spirit.
  • Qin Yan cooked snake meat and quail, considered finding seasonings and making refined salt, and ate his fill.

Ch. 10Superb Swimming Skills

Qin Yan improved his body through morning training, helped repair his house with his friends, and discovered an unusual ability while racing them across a lake. The chapter left him sensing the water and nearby creatures with what he suspected was his spiritual power.

  • Qin Yan trained for an hour, increased his strength and speed, and decided to keep a low profile while developing his abilities.
  • Qin Yan brought two black rat snakes to the old village chief and later left to repair his thatched-roof house.
  • Song Bao, Qin An, and Chen Ergou visited Qin Yan, who fed them snake meat soup in exchange for help replacing the roof straw.
  • Qin Yan joined his friends for a swimming race and quickly surged ahead of them.
  • Qin Yan sensed the water and nearby fish and shrimp in several meters around him, and wondered if the sensation came from his spiritual power.

Ch. 11Qin Yan, White Streak in the Waves

Qin Yan trained his underwater hunting and swimming skills by catching fish in the lake, then shared the catch with Song Bao, Qin An, and Chen Ergou. He agreed to teach the three boys his skills, and they planned to meet at his home the next day.

  • Qin Yan repeatedly dove into the lake, using his perception and swimming ability to catch fish and improve his underwater hunting skill.
  • Qin Yan caught a large basket of small fish and several bigger fish while Song Bao, Qin An, and Chen Ergou watched and gathered firewood.
  • Qin Yan shared the catch with the three boys, especially considering Chen Ergou's family's hardship, and they ate roasted fish together.
  • Song Bao asked Qin Yan to teach them how he had become so skilled, and Qin Yan agreed on the condition that they listen to him and keep it secret.
  • Song Bao, Qin An, and Chen Ergou pledged not to betray Qin Yan and agreed to come to his home the next day to learn.

Ch. 12Idle Gossip

Qin Yan trained hard, taught Song Bao and two other boys the Basic Body-Tempering Technique, and improved his archery with their help. As village gossip spread about his unusual abilities, the Qiao brothers discussed their wariness of him and waited for Third Brother to return from town.

  • Qin Yan planned a demanding daily training routine, then taught Song Bao and the other two boys the Basic Body-Tempering Technique when they arrived at his home.
  • Song Bao learned the movements first, and the three boys helped Qin Yan practice shooting at a moving target while he raised his archery proficiency to 15%.
  • Qin Yan gave the village chief a large grass carp, and the chief warned Qin Zhaoyang not to take Qin Yan's gratitude for granted or demand repayment.
  • Villagers spread rumors that Qin Yan swam like a water ghost and was unnaturally fast underwater.
  • Qiao Shansheng warned Qiao Shanhe that Qin Yan's strength could keep growing, while Qiao Shanhe dismissed the concern and said they would talk after Third Brother returned from town.

Ch. 13Dragon Wandering Step

Qin Yan grew stronger, developed a movement skill called Dragon Wandering Step, and trained Song Bao and two other youths in combat. When Song Bao's younger brother was bitten by the Qiao family's dog, the Qiao brothers beat Song Cheng and several villagers, leaving the village chief confronting them.

  • Qin Yan's stats and swimming and archery skills improved after more than ten days of training.
  • Qin Yan comprehended Dragon Wandering Step while sparring with Song Bao and two other youths, then told them to practice his combat techniques.
  • Song Xiaorui told Song Bao that Qiao Leting had set the Qiao family's dog on Xiao Fu, badly injuring him.
  • Song Cheng confronted the Qiao family, but Qiao Shanhe broke his hand with an iron-bound staff, and the Qiao brothers beat villagers who tried to intervene.
  • Qin Yan and Song Bao arrived to find Song Cheng and several others injured, while the village chief confronted Qiao Shanhe.

Ch. 14Stewing the Dog

Qin Yan watched the Qiao family defy the village chief and refuse to pay the Song family, then secretly killed and stewed their black dog. Before dawn, he brought the dog meat to the injured Song family, leaving Song Bao to recognize where it came from.

  • Qiao Shanhe insulted the old village chief, then agreed to compensate the Song family while planning to delay payment indefinitely.
  • Qiao Shansheng wanted to attack the village chief, but Qiao Shanhe said they would use their lack of money as an excuse and undermine his authority.
  • Qin Yan helped Father Song return home, saw the family’s injuries, and told Qin An and Chen Ergou to support them.
  • Qin Yan considered the Qiao family’s growing influence and resolved to collect some interest that night.
  • Qin Yan killed the Qiao family’s black dog, stewed its meat, and delivered it to Song Bao before dawn.

Ch. 15The Unexpected Truth

Qin Yan followed Qiao Shansheng to Qinghe Town and learned that the Qiao family’s second brother had gone to meet the Azure Blade Gang. After Di Feng revealed evidence linking Qiao Shanwei to the death of Qin Yan’s father, Qin Yan’s suspicion of the Qiao family deepened.

  • Qiao Shanhe discovered that his guard dog had vanished and sent Qiao Shansheng to bring their third brother back.
  • Qin Yan learned that Qiao Shansheng had gone into town and followed him, where he saw officials collecting a new passage tax.
  • At Qinghe Town’s gate, Qin Yan noticed a sickly, unsettling man carrying vegetables and suspected he might be a tomb robber.
  • Qin Yan saw Qiao Shansheng enter the Fuqing Gambling House, headquarters of the Azure Blade Gang, and Di Feng approached him.
  • Di Feng explained that he was watching Li Wenqing for the Fierce Tiger Martial Arts School and offered Qin Yan information about the Qiao family.
  • Di Feng said Qiao Shanwei had met with the Qingfu Leather Goods Shop manager before a traveling merchant surnamed Qin died and the Qiao family’s eldest brother took his position.

Ch. 16Kill

Qin Yan learned about the martial arts realms from Di Feng, then discovered the Qiao family planned to kill him. He ambushed Qiao Shansheng and his men on a country path, killed them, and vowed to wipe out the Qiao family.

  • Qin Yan paid Di Feng for information about Qiao Shanwei and asked him to explain the martial arts realms; Di Feng described the Qi-Blood, Skin-Refining, and Bone-Tempering realms and urged Qin Yan to join the Fierce Tiger Martial Arts School.
  • Qin Yan saw constables transporting the dead tomb robber toward the mass grave outside town.
  • Qiao Shansheng told Qiao Shanwei he would gather men and eliminate Qin Yan before he could join a faction.
  • Qin Yan ambushed Qiao Shansheng, Qi San, and Qiao Dashi on a country path, killing Qi San and Qiao Dashi in the fight.
  • Qin Yan broke Qiao Shansheng's arm, crippled him, and killed him with a punch to the back of his skull, declaring he would kill the entire Qiao family.

Ch. 17Family Extermination

Qin Yan attacked the Qiao household during a torrential downpour and killed its members, including Qiao Shanhe and Qiao Leting. He reached Proficient Level in Unlimited Combat and gained proficiency with arrows.

  • Qin Yan hid the three men he had killed, then learned from Song Bao and the others that the Qiao Family had gathered at home.
  • Qin Yan armed himself with a longbow and woodcutter’s blade and went to the Qiao house in the rain.
  • Qin Yan shot the men gathered in the main hall and killed the last survivor with his blade.
  • Qin Yan killed Qiao Shanhe and Qiao Leting after they confronted him.
  • Qin Yan killed the remaining Qiao family members in the house, while the third Qiao son remained away.

Ch. 18Frustration

After killing the Qiao brothers, Qin Yan searched their home for valuables and set it ablaze, but a flood struck the village the next morning. Qiao Shanwei accused Qin Yan of murdering his family and confronted him, while Qin Qing tried to warn his younger brother to flee.

  • Qin Yan gathered nearly a hundred taels of silver and the Ape Strike Staff Technique from the Qiao Family home, then set the house on fire.
  • Villagers discovered the Qiao Family home had burned down just as floodwaters inundated the fields near the river.
  • Qiao Shanwei returned with Chen Hui and Li Meng, grieved over his family's deaths, and seized the village chief while demanding to know who had killed them.
  • Qiao Shanwei suspected Qin Yan had avenged his father's death, while the villagers rejected the accusation for lack of evidence.
  • Qin Qing hurried to warn Qin Yan to run, but a Qiao Family lackey spotted him and Qin Yan calmly approached Qiao Shanwei.
  • Qiao Shanwei declared that Qin Yan was guilty without offering proof and resolved to butcher him.

Ch. 19Human Nature

Qin Yan killed Qiao Laosan when he attacked him, then persuaded Chen Hui and Li Meng to testify that he had acted in self-defense. He learned that Qin Zhao had falsely told the Azure Blade Gang that Qin Yan would mourn his father for three years, and turned on his brother in fury.

  • Qiao Laosan attacked Qin Yan with his Coiling Tiger Staff, but Qin Yan overpowered him and killed him with a kick to the head.
  • Chen Hui and Li Meng prepared to attack Qin Yan, but he revealed he was Qin Zhaolin's son and a member of the Azure Blade Gang.
  • Qin Yan explained that Qiao Laosan had attacked him after killing Qin Yan's father, and Chen Hui and Li Meng agreed to bear witness for him.
  • Li Meng mentioned that Qin Zhao had claimed Qin Yan would observe three years of mourning for Qin Zhaolin.
  • The old village chief cursed Qin Zhao for trying to ruin Qin Yan's future, and Qin Yan demanded that Qin Zhao come forward.

Ch. 20Flexible Morals

After Qin Yan exposed Qin Zhao’s scheme, he broke Qin Zhao’s thigh but spared his life, then faced uncertainty about his future with the Azure Blade Gang. Chen Hui and Li Meng reported Qin Yan’s feat to Li Wenqing, while Di Feng also learned of his strength.

  • Qin Zhao admitted his resentment over their father favoring Qin Yan, and Qin Yan broke Qin Zhao’s thigh with a kick.
  • Zhao He pleaded for Qin Zhao, and Qin Yan spared him after the old village chief warned that killing his brother would ruin his reputation.
  • Qin Yan reflected on his family’s collapse, his remaining concerns about the Azure Blade Gang, and the threat of famine.
  • Chen Hui and Li Meng told Li Wenqing that Qin Yan had beaten Qiao Shanwei to death with his bare hands, and Li Wenqing ordered them to bring Qin Yan to him.
  • Di Feng heard that Qin Yan had beaten a Qi-Blood Realm fighter to death and praised him as a promising seedling.

Ch. 21Meeting the Gang Leader

After killing Qiao Laosan, Qin Yan trained through the night to advance his Ape Strike Staff Technique and then met Azure Blade Gang leader Li Wenqing. Li accepted him as a gang disciple and gave him his father’s trading position, while deciding to observe him before taking him as a personal disciple.

  • Qin Yan considered dealing with the surviving Qiao family members and began practicing the Ape Strike Staff Technique, reaching Entry Level after training all night.
  • Qin Yan practiced the Basic Body-Tempering Technique, then Chen Hui arrived with word that the gang leader wanted to meet him.
  • Qin Yan traveled with Chen Hui to Qinghe Town, learned to ride on the way, and acquired the Riding skill.
  • Li Wenqing examined Qin Yan, accepted him as a formal disciple of the Azure Blade Gang, and assigned him his father’s trading position.
  • Chen Hui asked why Li Wenqing had not taken Qin Yan as a personal disciple, and Li Wenqing said he wanted to observe him first.

Ch. 22Showing No Respect

Qin Yan arranged for Zhao Yang and Seventh Uncle Qin to help with the Azure Blade Gang’s mountain-produce business, then defended Song Bao when thugs confronted him over a stolen Coiling Tiger Staff. The chapter ended with Song Bao beating the men on Qin Yan’s orders while the villagers watched.

  • Di Feng approached Qin Yan with information and an offer to make him rich, but Qin Yan rejected him and walked away.
  • Qin Yan asked the old village chief to have Zhao Yang help with the mountain-produce business, promising him fifteen percent of the proceeds, and made the same offer to Seventh Uncle Qin.
  • Qin Zhao resented Qin Yan’s decision, while Zhao He regretted how she had treated him and Qin Qing accepted that Third Brother still hated them.
  • Qin Yan found Song Bao fighting Gao Gouzi over the Coiling Tiger Staff, which Gao Gouzi had stolen from Qin Yan.
  • Shi Xiaodao and another thug joined the fight, but Qin Yan slapped Shi Xiaodao and ordered Song Bao to beat the two men.

Ch. 23Was He Still Human?

Qin Yan accepted eleven village youths as followers and began clearing a training ground with them, using the work to train his body and develop his boxing. After three days, his strength had grown so formidable that he uprooted a tree stump while his followers watched in awe.

  • Qin Yan raised his Basic Body-Tempering Technique to Entry Level and wondered why his skin showed no obvious transformation.
  • Song Bao brought eleven youths who wanted to follow Qin Yan, and Qin Yan agreed to train them as long as they called him boss and remained loyal.
  • Qin Yan began clearing trees for a training ground by punching a thick tree until it fell, and he comprehended Beginner Level Boxing.
  • Over the next three days, Qin Yan trained by smashing down trees while feeding and allowing his exhausted followers time to rest.
  • Qin Yan continued to grow stronger, then pulled a tree stump from the ground by its roots as his followers watched in amazement.

Ch. 24The Disaster

Qin Yan’s growing strength and fearsome reputation helped protect his group as they transported goods through the flood-stricken countryside to Qinghe Town. After they entered town, they saw soaring grain prices and Qin Yan recognized Zhang Dangxing, one of his father’s killers.

  • Qin Yan continued training as his strength and boxing proficiency increased, while floods left villagers struggling to find food and work.
  • Qin Yan refused to let disaster victims use moral pressure to lower his buying prices and fought off thugs who tried to cause trouble.
  • Qin Yan protected Seventh Uncle and Qin Zhaoyang from a crowd of refugees by lifting their spokesman by the throat and threatening the crowd.
  • Seventh Uncle paid the garrison soldiers’ entry fees, and the group entered Qinghe Town, where grain prices had risen sharply.
  • Qin Yan saw Zhang Dangxing, the shopkeeper of Qingfu Leather Goods Shop and one of his father’s killers.

Ch. 25Six Harmonies Saber

Qin Yan sold his mountain goods to Zhang Dangxing, who was relieved that Qin Yan seemed unaware of his role in Qin Zhaolin’s death. After the sale, Li Wenqing summoned Qin Yan and personally taught him the Six Harmonies Saber, leaving the gang members stunned when Qin Yan mastered and performed it after watching once.

  • Zhang Dangxing bought Qin Yan’s pelts, game, and herbs for five taels of silver and 143 copper coins, then privately concluded that Qin Yan did not know about his part in Qin Zhaolin’s death.
  • Qin Yan, Seventh Uncle, and Qin Zhaoyang discussed using their earnings to buy grain, and an Azure Blade Gang member summoned Qin Yan at Li Wenqing’s request.
  • Qin Yan arrived at Qingfu Gambling House and watched Li Wenqing demonstrate his saber technique to the gang members.
  • Li Wenqing offered to teach Qin Yan the Six Harmonies Saber, and Qin Yan accepted as the onlookers wondered whether he would become Li Wenqing’s sixth personal disciple.
  • After watching Li Wenqing demonstrate the technique once, Qin Yan said he had remembered it and performed the moves smoothly, astonishing everyone present.
Arc 1 of 21
Arc 1 of 21