Chapter Summaries

At a Tokyo beauty pageant, Wang Dafa explained to Shi Tiexin how the powerful used their influence to select women and how the turbulent times rewarded ambition. He urged Shi Tiexin to stay alert after their victory over the Hongshun Society and to pursue greater power.

• Wang Dafa navigated the hall, completed two PY transactions, and brought Shi Tiexin to the front-row seats for the beauty pageant.
• Wang Dafa told Shi Tiexin that his power let him choose women without effort, while organizers and contestants catered to the powerful.
• Shi Tiexin recognized that the pageant was no fair competition and compared its selection of women to the Orphanage's trial-work selection.
• Wang Dafa warned Shi Tiexin that Hongshun Society remnants could counterattack and said their victory was only the first step.
• Wang Dafa urged Shi Tiexin to follow his example, seize the opportunity in Japan, and become the true Dark Night Black Venerable.

Shi Tiexin refused Wang Dafa’s offer of a woman, then helped seize the Hongshun Society’s territory and earned a fearsome reputation. At a Da Xing meeting, the branch leader promoted him only to Incense Master while A Hui proposed an inventory of the captured assets, and Shi Tiexin’s Destiny Mission 2 phase was completed.

• Shi Tiexin inferred that Wang Dafa’s pageant was both a bid to win him over and a warning, but he declined the offered woman and said he would keep working hard.
• Shi Tiexin led attacks against the Hongshun Society, using Officer Gao’s intelligence to capture lesser offenders and kill those with serious crimes.
• After a week of fighting, the branch leader promoted Shi Tiexin to Da Xing Incense Master while presenting the Ouyang Brothers’ ambush as the official story.
• A Hui proposed inventorying and redistributing the Hongshun Society’s assets, and San Fan endorsed the plan.
• Shi Tiexin agreed to the inventory, Wang Dafa promised to cooperate, and Shi Tiexin saw that Destiny Mission 2’s phase was complete.

Shi Tiexin arranged for Officer Gao to derail the auditor investigating Wang Dafa, then began building his own street organization and searching for business managers. He went to Smile Entertainment City to meet Xiao Wei and discuss something privately.

• Shi Tiexin struck a deal with Officer Gao: Gao would remove the auditor, while Shi would help bring the Ouyang Brothers back alive for trial.
• Officer Gao used his investigative skills and street contacts to make the auditor’s work difficult, while Shi Tiexin focused on his own plans.
• Shi Tiexin recruited fighters and reserves, gaining support from Tokyo Wolf, Madam Peony, and other street figures as the name Black Zun spread.
• Shi Tiexin realized he needed business talent to manage ventures and generate profits, but doubted his ability to judge people’s skills and loyalty.
• Shi Tiexin visited Smile Entertainment City, asked to see Xiao Wei, and borrowed the landlady’s office for a private discussion.

Shi Tiexin offered Xiao Wei a job as financial supervisor and sent her with A D to leave the Entertainment City. On his way out, he encountered the Girl in the Red Dress being pursued by a swaggering suitor, who confronted him and stopped short of touching him.

• Shi Tiexin checked the fourth-floor office for surveillance before asking Xiao Wei to work for him as a financial supervisor.
• Xiao Wei accepted the offer, and Shi Tiexin sent her and A D to handle her departure from the Entertainment City.
• Shi Tiexin spotted the Girl in the Red Dress practicing downstairs and approached her.
• A pomade-haired man arrived with lackeys, musicians, roses, and a ring, then asked the Girl in the Red Dress to marry him.
• The Girl in the Red Dress pointed out Shi Tiexin as someone already in line, and the pomade-haired man confronted him but withdrew his finger before touching his chest.

Shi Tiexin intimidated a slick-haired man who had tried to approach the Girl in the Red Dress, then continued learning billiards while arranging for Xiao Wei to leave the club and work for him. The Girl in the Red Dress questioned his good intentions and warned him not to lose himself.

• The slick-haired man recognized Shi Tiexin as Black Venerable, apologized to him and the Girl in the Red Dress, and hurried away after eating the roses he had brought.
• Shi Tiexin joked with the Girl in the Red Dress, then asked her to teach him billiards because he wanted to enter a championship.
• A D returned with Xiao Wei and reported that the landlady had agreed to let Xiao Wei leave and work for Shi Tiexin.
• Shi Tiexin explained that Xiao Wei's talent was being wasted and that he wanted to help her escape danger.
• The Girl in the Red Dress warned Shi Tiexin not to get carried away and lose himself.

The Girl in the Red Dress warned Shi Tiexin that his recent success had disrupted Tokyo’s fragile balance and could bring guns and wider violence into play. Shi Tiexin took her warning seriously and reconsidered his growing confidence.

• The Girl in the Red Dress told Shi Tiexin that Tokyo’s apparent lawlessness was restrained by the military powers of the East and West and by underworld figures who feared drawing their attention.
• She explained that Shi Tiexin’s rise had disrupted the balance, encouraging gamblers to seize opportunities and failures to arm themselves against threats.
• The Girl in the Red Dress warned Shi Tiexin that the coming danger went beyond being targeted and could turn Tokyo into an open armory.
• Shi Tiexin realized he had become smug about his promotions and feared that future enemies might use machine guns instead of fists and blades.
• Shi Tiexin thanked the Girl in the Red Dress for her warning, and she said she had learned discernment to survive and live freely.

After deciding he had grown complacent, Shi Tiexin resolved to return to serious study and sought a teacher in Japan. He found Sakuragi Kenji, who accepted his offer after seeing the money, and left him to prove his teaching ability.

• Shi Tiexin reflected on his neglected studies and decided to study diligently again.
• Shi Tiexin called A Fei and asked him to find teachers and study materials.
• Shi Tiexin and the Four Heavenly Kings visited Sakuragi Kenji, a former street tough who had become a teacher.
• Sakuragi Kenji initially refused to teach Shi Tiexin, but changed his mind when Mai Ba opened a suitcase full of money.
• Shi Tiexin gave Sakuragi Kenji the money as a gift and told him that tuition would be separate.

Shi Tiexin hired Sakuragi Kenji to teach him and tested his mathematics level before lessons began. Impressed by Shi Tiexin’s skill and seriousness, Sakuragi Kenji gathered qualified teachers in other subjects, and Shi Tiexin received a cultivation benefit from their earnest instruction.

• Shi Tiexin convinced Sakuragi Kenji to begin teaching him as soon as possible.
• Shi Tiexin inspected an abandoned high school classroom that A Fei and his underlings had cleaned up for the lessons.
• Shi Tiexin explained that he was studying second-level Mathematics and asked to review Sakuragi Kenji’s curriculum.
• Sakuragi Kenji challenged Shi Tiexin with a difficult exercise paper, but Shi Tiexin’s performance quickly made him abandon his dismissive attitude and teach earnestly.
• The Vision System rated Sakuragi Kenji’s instruction as earnest guidance and granted Shi Tiexin temporary cultivation benefits.
• Sakuragi Kenji recruited qualified teachers for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, World History, and World Geography.

Shi Tiexin raised Physics, chemistry, Biology, and Natural History to the second level after ten days of disciplined study. He returned to his exercise books with renewed confidence while Sakuragi Kenji watched in astonishment at his dedication.

• After ten days of study, Shi Tiexin broke through the barrier and raised all four subjects to the second level.
• The placard congratulated Shi Tiexin on gaining four second-level basic mental techniques, then chided him for submitting them too slowly.
• Shi Tiexin felt his thought energy grow stronger and resumed studying, aiming to finish all his manuals within the week.
• Sakuragi Kenji watched Shi Tiexin study and marveled at his focus and enthusiasm.
• Teacher Taisho asked why Shi Tiexin studied so seriously, and Shi Tiexin replied that students where he came from studied that way.
• Shi Tiexin continued making rapid cultivation progress and felt more secure after his earlier impatience faded.

Shi Tiexin resumed racing after his motorcycle was repaired, but he continued to finish his schoolwork and began leaving for races during brief breaks. Sakuragi Kenji grew curious and followed him, only to lose sight of him before reaching the race location.

• Guo Bing brought Shi Tiexin his repaired motorcycle, and Shi Tiexin asked A Fei to arrange races leading up to Fujiwara Kyoshin, declaring that he wanted to become the Black Sovereign.
• Shi Tiexin completed his workbook before racing, and Sakuragi Kenji found his work even stronger than before.
• Shi Tiexin returned to class less than twenty minutes after leaving and asked Sakuragi Kenji to teach more advanced material.
• Over the following days, Shi Tiexin repeatedly took short breaks to race and returned asking his teachers to adjust the syllabus.
• Sakuragi Kenji secretly followed Shi Tiexin on his own motorcycle but quickly fell too far behind to see him.

Shi Tiexin dominated the street racers and spent his accumulated Heavenly Gifted Golden Light to improve Scattering Hand Exploding Chamber. Sakuragi Kenji warned that Fujiwara Kyoshin would be a formidable opponent and revealed that Shi Tiexin’s motorcycle was his biggest disadvantage, then offered to help.

• Shi Tiexin won another race, filled a Heavenly Gifted Golden Light certificate, and spent the extra two points to raise Scattering Hand Exploding Chamber to Excellent 73.
• Sakuragi Kenji told Shi Tiexin he could not beat Fujiwara Kyoshin as he was and took him to watch Fujiwara ride at a professional racetrack.
• Shi Tiexin saw Fujiwara’s speed and learned about his elite athletic background and professional racing experience.
• Sakuragi Kenji explained that Shi Tiexin’s technique could suit street racing, but his unmodified motorcycle lacked the performance of Fujiwara’s professionally tuned bike.
• Sakuragi Kenji said it was too late for ordinary mechanics to modify Shi Tiexin’s motorcycle, then offered his own help.

Sakuragi Kenji taught Shi Tiexin the Basic Vehicle Modification Technique while modifying the Black Venerable Motorcycle. After Shi Tiexin learned the basics, he tested the bike and found it had become dangerously powerful.

• Shi Tiexin agreed to let Sakuragi Kenji modify his motorcycle and teach him the technique.
• Sakuragi Kenji explained the bike’s engine and adjusted its throttle characteristics while teaching Shi Tiexin.
• Shi Tiexin’s Vision System recorded the Basic Vehicle Modification Technique at the First Layer, with his progress still unqualified.
• Shi Tiexin studied eagerly as Sakuragi Kenji taught him about vehicle modification and repair.
• Sakuragi Kenji lowered the motorcycle from the hoist and warned Shi Tiexin that it had a violent temper.
• Shi Tiexin started the motorcycle and twisted the throttle, launching it forward in a plume of blue smoke.

Shi Tiexin advanced his driving and vehicle-repair studies before meeting Fujiwara Kyoshin for their private decisive race. The two agreed to use the race’s result for publicity, and Fujiwara asked Shi to publicly admit defeat if he won.

• Shi Tiexin’s modified motorcycle ride brought his Basic Driving Technique to its limit level.
• Shi Tiexin began studying vehicle modification and repair, using his outstanding second-level Basic Physics as a foundation.
• Shi Tiexin met Fujiwara Kyoshin at a mountaintop before dawn for their decisive race.
• Shi Tiexin told Fujiwara he planned to publicize the race result, and Fujiwara agreed to do the same if he won.
• Fujiwara praised Shi as a fellow speedster and asked him to publicly admit defeat after Fujiwara beat him.

Shi Tiexin upgraded his driving technique before racing Fujiwara Kyoshin, and Wind Rush transformed his connection with his motorcycle as they sped through the countryside. He embraced the dawn scenery and the freedom of the open road, leaving the race’s outcome unresolved.

• Shi Tiexin rejected Fujiwara Kyoshin’s confidence and agreed to settle their wager in a race.
• Shi Tiexin spent five points to perfect his Basic Driving Technique and activated Wind Rush +1.
• Shi Tiexin and Fujiwara Kyoshin launched into a mountain-road race, and Shi Tiexin’s new technique let him ride by instinct rather than relying on data.
• Shi Tiexin admired the sunrise and cherry blossoms, then realized Fujiwara Kyoshin had chosen the route and timing to show him the scenery.
• Shi Tiexin accelerated toward the outskirts, felt the wind lift around him, and marveled at the Central Star sky as the race continued.

Shi Tiexin defeated Fujiwara Kyoshin in a motorcycle race, earned golden light, and learned about the legendary Perfect Driving Skill called the Soul of Speed. After sharing his dream of freedom among the mountain flowers, Shi Tiexin completed his first Destiny Mission.

• Shi Tiexin waited for Fujiwara Kyoshin to catch up, then reminded him that he had lost and had to buy breakfast.
• A ray of golden light filled Shi Tiexin’s certificate with fifty points.
• Fujiwara Kyoshin told Shi Tiexin that he had found the Soul of Speed, a state beyond the limits of technique attained through pure, steadfast love.
• Fujiwara Kyoshin took Shi Tiexin to a mountainside of flowers and cherry blossoms, then admitted that he had once possessed a Soul of Speed but could no longer find it.
• Shi Tiexin said that his dream was to go wherever he could see and declared that he had achieved freedom in that moment.
• A message announced that Shi Tiexin had completely accomplished Destiny Mission 1: Wind of Freedom.

Shi Tiexin’s victory over Fujiwara Kyoshin made him Tokyo’s new street-racing sovereign, while reaching Perfection in his Essence Cultivation Technique unlocked Root Cultivation. After falling asleep, he awoke in a scorching training ground before a stern man who ordered him to attention.

• Shi Tiexin and Fujiwara Kyoshin parted after Shi promised they would race again when peace returned.
• Black Venerable announced his victory over Fujiwara Kyoshin, who publicly confirmed his defeat and named Black Venerable the new street-racing king.
• Shi Tiexin spent five Heavenly Gifted Golden Light points to raise his Essence Cultivation Technique to Perfection and gained the Root Cultivation attribute.
• Shi Tiexin planned to hand the Ouyang Brothers over to Officer Gao the next day, then went to sleep.
• Shi Tiexin heard a voice urging him to temper his body, will, and character, then awoke at a blazing training ground and snapped to attention when a stern man shouted.

Shi Tiexin endured a grueling attention stance before a stern phantom instructor, who then taught him the Hard Qi Technique through demonstrations and harsh physical training. The instructor vanished after dismissing him, leaving Shi Tiexin to practice the technique on his own.

• Shi Tiexin stood under the blazing sun, refusing to yield to the instructor until his stamina repeatedly gave out and recovered.
• The instructor demonstrated the Hard Qi Technique by ripping bark from a living poplar tree and told Shi Tiexin to watch carefully.
• The instructor taught Shi Tiexin that the technique strengthened the body through active defense, conditioning and practice.
• Shi Tiexin endured correction with a wooden rod, attacks from sandbags and vicious sparring as the instructor explained the technique.
• The instructor dismissed Shi Tiexin and vanished after warning him that mastering the Hard Qi Technique required strenuous practice.

Shi Tiexin received instruction in the Hard Qi Technique and learned the first level of Basic Shooting Technique from two mysterious instructors. After the shooting lesson, he wondered whether his counterpart in this Worldline was an undercover cop connected to the Third Frontline.

• Shi Tiexin gained the three-level Hard Qi Technique after a brief lesson from a Supreme Grade Grandmaster.
• A tall, lean instructor taught Shi Tiexin basic pistol handling and shooting.
• Shi Tiexin fired at a scar on a poplar from thirty meters away but missed the target.
• The instructor praised Shi Tiexin's talent and taught him the first level of Basic Shooting Technique.
• Shi Tiexin wondered who his instructors were and whether he was an undercover cop in the Third Frontline.

Shi Tiexin handed the Ouyang Brothers and Ouyang Yuan over to Officer Gao at Narita Airport, while growing increasingly suspicious that Wang Dafa might be his target. The transfer ended in violence when Ouyang Hong taunted Officer Gao about his murdered daughter.

• Wang Dafa praised Shi Tiexin, warned him to leave no loose ends, and introduced A'cheng as someone who would learn from him.
• Shi Tiexin interpreted those around him with growing paranoia but kept his suspicions hidden.
• Shi Tiexin drove the three Ouyangs to Narita Airport and met Officer Gao beside a departing flight.
• Officer Gao said colleagues would meet him after landing and promised the Ouyangs would face trial if they returned alive.
• Ouyang Hong recognized Officer Gao as the father of the undercover policewoman Lili and taunted him about her death.
• Officer Gao attacked Ouyang Hong, who laughed through the beating, while Ouyang Shun gave a strange sneer.

Shi Tiexin incapacitated Ouyang Hong and Ouyang Shun to prevent them from causing future trouble, and Officer Gao departed with the prisoners. As the plane took off, one of the flight attendants suddenly stood up, unsettling her colleague.

• Officer Gao lowered his gun and agreed that keeping the Ouyang Brothers alive was enough to secure their conviction.
• Shi Tiexin struck Ouyang Hong, leaving him alive but with permanent brain damage, then did the same to Ouyang Shun.
• Officer Gao accepted Shi Tiexin's actions, and the two men said goodbye as Officer Gao boarded the plane with the prisoners.
• Shi Tiexin walked toward the airport exit, feeling relieved that the matter had been resolved.
• The plane took off, and a flight attendant suddenly unfastened her seat belt and stood up despite the warning that the aircraft had not stabilized.