Chapter Summaries

After Ma Long questioned Lin Sheng about surviving the Tusk Mountain Boar attack, Tian Hu intervened and sent Ma Long away. Lin Sheng resolved to strengthen his position, while Ma Long secretly planned to kill him in a few days.

• Ma Long confronted Lin Sheng at the Ninth Squad station and questioned why he had survived when Liu Jie and many others had died.
• Wang Sanyang defended Lin Sheng and challenged Ma Long, but Tian Hu arrived and ordered the injured hunters taken for treatment.
• Ma Long left after warning Wang Sanyang about his injured arm, and Lin Sheng helped clean up the station before returning home.
• Lin Sheng worried that Ma Long would target him and decided to find a way to eliminate the threat or raise his standing in the Beast Hunter Hall.
• At the Third Squad station, Ma Long ordered hunters to search the Ninth Squad's route for Ma Qiang or Liu Jie's remains, then resolved to find an opportunity to kill Lin Sheng in a few days.

In Red Leaf Town, the Tooth Gang ambushed the wounded Tian Song to seize the complete Ape Fetus Technique. Meng Hongsheng killed him, but the gang found no secret copy, leaving the technique beyond their reach.

• Liu Yuanshan and Tooth Gang crossbowmen surrounded Tian Song and demanded the Ape Fetus Technique manual.
• Tian Song refused, ignited his qi and blood, and killed or injured many crossbowmen as he fought Liu Yuanshan.
• Tian Song drove Liu Yuanshan back until Meng Hongsheng emerged from hiding and struck him down.
• Meng Hongsheng searched Tian Song and ordered the courtyard searched, but the gang found no secret copy of the technique.
• Meng Hongsheng left Liu Yuanshan to clean up the loose ends.

Liu Yuanshan burned Tian Song’s courtyard and recovered the Ape Fetus Technique, then spared Xie Chunniang temporarily so she could find the person who killed his younger brother. Three days later, Lin Sheng visited the badly injured Zhang Ding, who accepted that his Beast Hunter Hall career and hopes of advancing in the Martial Way were over.

• Liu Yuanshan ordered Tian Song’s courtyard burned and forced Xie Chunniang to lead him to a hiding place.
• Liu Yuanshan found the Ape Fetus Technique in a ruined temple and decided Xie Chunniang could live if she found his younger brother’s murderer within half a month.
• Xie Chunniang told Liu Yuanshan that Fish Fat Grass liquid could help identify the murderer, who might still be in Lin'an County City.
• Three days later, Lin Sheng visited Zhang Ding at a medical clinic in Yangping Town and gave him an extra Blood Nourishing Pill and news of his reward.
• Zhang Ding accepted that his injured leg would leave him lame and likely end his chances of advancing to the Muscle Forging realm.

Lin Sheng bought medicinal brews and a Compendium of Herbs, tested a Blood Nourishing Pill, and studied the differences between Herb Pills and Beast Pills. He suspected Ma Qiang’s scarlet pill was a Blood Cultivating Pill and secretly tested its powder on a stray dog.

• Lin Sheng bought medicinal brews and a Compendium of Herbs, then returned home with rock goat meat.
• Lin Sheng took a Blood Nourishing Pill and practiced the White Ape Leg Technique for an hour, noticing improved endurance and slightly stronger qi and blood.
• Lin Sheng studied the Compendium of Herbs and learned that pills were divided into Herb Pills and Beast Pills, with Beast Pills carrying more potent effects and pill poison.
• Lin Sheng identified Ma Qiang’s scarlet pill as likely a Blood Cultivating Pill and scraped some powder onto dried meat to test it.
• Lin Sheng gave the meat to a captured stray dog, which ate it and then failed to escape through the locked gate.

Lin Sheng revealed that he had entered the Body Tempering realm, earning a promotion and support from Tian Hu and Wang Sanyang. Ma Long learned of Lin Sheng’s growing talent and decided to postpone killing him until after advancing his cultivation, while ordering men to watch Lin Sheng’s parents.

• Lin Sheng confirmed his Body Tempering breakthrough to Wang Sanyang and Tian Hu, who recognized his talent and promoted him to Zhang Ding’s squad-captain position.
• Tian Hu gave Lin Sheng the complete follow-up method for the Raging Bull Fist, raised his salary, and offered him guidance.
• Lin Sheng planned to cultivate the White Ape Leg Technique and Raging Bull Fist further so he could reach Muscle Forging and withstand Ma Long.
• Ma Long learned that Lin Sheng had become a Body Tempering martial artist and a Ninth Squad captain, and judged him a growing threat.
• Ma Long ordered a subordinate to buy Blood Cultivating Pills and send skilled men to watch Lin Sheng’s parents, then focused on breaking through before targeting Lin Sheng.

Lin Sheng led a small team into Yangping Mountain, captured two Horned Eagles, and gained a powerful Perception Boost by absorbing one. He discovered that Tian Hu and Wang Sanyang had been following him, then watched them leave and felt free to act without hiding his abilities.

• Lin Sheng took Xiao Shi and two other hunters into Yangping Mountain to hunt Horned Eagles while Tian Hu and Wang Sanyang secretly followed them.
• Lin Sheng brought down a male and female Horned Eagle with thrown pebbles after the hunters' arrows missed.
• Lin Sheng absorbed a Horned Eagle and gained Perception +2, sharply improving his sight, hearing, and smell.
• Lin Sheng used his enhanced perception to spot Tian Hu and Wang Sanyang and overhear their distant conversation.
• Tian Hu and Wang Sanyang left the mountain, and Lin Sheng felt relieved that he no longer had to conceal himself from them.

Lin Sheng overheard attackers discussing a possible threat to Town Mountain Tower, then returned home and used a Blood Cultivating Pill to break through to early Muscle Forging. After practicing through the night, he also mastered the Raging Bull Fist, leaving him far stronger than before.

• Lin Sheng heard a Beast Hunter Hall team being attacked and overheard the victors hint that Town Mountain Tower would soon lose its power over Yangping Mountain.
• Lin Sheng returned to his residence, took a Blood Cultivating Pill, and mastered the White Ape Leg Technique, entering the early Muscle Forging realm.
• Lin Sheng used the pill's remaining medicinal power to practice the Raging Bull Fist, but initially failed to master it.
• Lin Sheng practiced the Raging Bull Fist through the night and shattered a bluestone with his breakthrough, mastering the technique by dawn.

Lin Sheng learned from Wang Sanyang how martial-art grades affect strength control and why practicing too many methods can damage the body. After discovering how tightly factions restrict access to advanced techniques, he reconsidered his plans for obtaining second-rate martial arts.

• Wang Sanyang explained that second-rate martial arts improve control over strength and speed more than third-rate arts, while first-rate arts can unleash a person's full power or even exceed their limits.
• Wang Sanyang revealed that Town Mountain Tower's Nine Oxen Two Tiger Saber and an explosive secret technique helped it control Yangping Mountain.
• Lin Sheng asked whether several third-rate martial arts could overcome their limits, and Wang Sanyang warned that practicing too many methods could disrupt the body and cause severe harm.
• Wang Sanyang explained that second-rate martial arts were costly and tightly controlled, and said he had waited years to learn the Thirty-Six Hand Strikes.
• Lin Sheng left the station troubled by the restrictions on advanced techniques and decided to reconsider how he would obtain and choose martial arts.

Lin Sheng realized that the Mountain Sea Scroll’s beast mergers adjusted his body to suit each martial art, letting him cultivate multiple techniques without conflict, and decided to seek out more third-rate martial arts. Meanwhile, Meng Hongsheng reported to his master that several local martial arts groups had resisted the Tooth Gang’s demands, and the old man ordered violent reprisals.

• Lin Sheng sensed his body changing during an Iron Yak merger and concluded that the Mountain Sea Scroll let him cultivate different martial arts without their techniques conflicting.
• Lin Sheng decided to collect other third-rate martial arts while he lacked access to second-rate techniques.
• An elderly master watched a servant die in a cage with starving mountain wolves, then received Meng Hongsheng’s report on the martial arts groups resisting the Tooth Gang.
• The old man ordered Black Blind Man to wipe out the White Elephant Boxing Gym and punish the Sun and Zhou families.
• Meng Hongsheng told the old man that Tian Song’s Ape Fetus Technique had not been found, and the old man ordered him to stop searching for it.

Lin Sheng prepared to kill Ma Long and used a supposed trip home to draw out Ma Long’s informants. After leaving town by cart, he confronted Wang Jiu, who had been following him, and left him no chance to speak.

• Lin Sheng assessed Ma Long’s martial strength and prepared poison while planning a swift attack.
• Lin Sheng took leave from the Ninth Squad and bought goods that made it appear he was returning home.
• Wang Jiu followed Lin Sheng to his courtyard and overheard him mention supplies for his parents, confirming his cover story to Ma Long.
• Lin Sheng left town after dark in a Beast Hunter Hall cart, while Wang Jiu and another man followed him.
• Lin Sheng suddenly appeared behind Wang Jiu and killed him before he could speak.

Lin Sheng killed Wang Jiu and used his body to deceive Ma Long into opening the door. He ambushed Ma Long with lime, poisoned weapons, and a rapid series of attacks, leaving Ma Long defeated against the wall.

• Lin Sheng killed Wang Jiu, hid his corpse on a carriage, and returned toward Yangping Town.
• Sun Kaixuan told Ma Long that Lin Sheng had left town, and Ma Long decided to pursue him with armed men.
• Lin Sheng, posing as Wang Jiu, told Ma Long that Lin Sheng had gone in the opposite direction.
• Ma Long opened the door, and Lin Sheng threw lime powder into his face before attacking him.
• Lin Sheng wounded Ma Long with a poisoned strike and continued attacking until a kick sent Ma Long crashing into the wall.

Lin Sheng killed Ma Long and returned to Lin'an County City, where he learned that the White Elephant Martial Arts School's old master had been murdered by the Black Wind Bandits. Meanwhile, Liu Yuanshan continued searching for his brother's killer and struggled to cultivate the Ape Fetus Technique without its secret medicine.

• Sun Kaixuan entered Ma Long's room and found a bloody scene, while Lin Sheng fled Yangping Town after killing Ma Long and Wang Jiu's trusted subordinate.
• Lin Sheng reflected on his ambush and returned by carriage to Lin'an County City, where a lean handyman from the Sun family agreed to leave early the day after tomorrow after a black-robed woman told him his association spot was confirmed.
• Lin Sheng passed a heavily guarded city gate and learned from vendors that the White Elephant Martial Arts School's old master and his party had been slaughtered by the Black Wind Bandits.
• Xie Chunniang told Liu Yuanshan that she had narrowed the search for his younger brother's killer to several streets on the western side of Crock Street, and he ordered her to find the murderer.
• Liu Yuanshan failed to cultivate the Ape Fetus Technique without secret medicine and resolved to have an apothecary prepare the medicine so he could develop it himself.

Lin Sheng returned home and reunited with his family, then learned that Lin Miao was leaving on a long journey and had arranged for him to care for their parents. After Lin Miao departed, Lin Sheng discovered he had hidden money in the courtyard, while Lin Miao met a mysterious associate who revealed his plans to pass his blood seed to Lin Sheng.

• Lin Sheng brought home goods and Pine Deer jerky, and his family shared a reunion dinner.
• Lin Sheng told Lin Miao he had become a martial artist and urged him to stop working for the Sun family; Lin Miao said he was leaving and entrusted the family to him.
• Lin Miao told Lin Sheng to seek Qi Ning at Fine Rain Tower in Prefecture City if he faced trouble, then left at dawn.
• Lin Sheng went to dig up the money Lin Miao had buried in the courtyard's north corner.
• Lin Miao met a sallow-faced man at a steamed bun stall, who learned Lin Sheng had reached early Tendon Forging; Lin Miao said he would give his brother his blood seed once his own bloodline was complete.

Lin Sheng discovered that Lin Miao had secretly left him a fortune in Great Yan Treasury Notes, which he planned to save while seeking third-rate martial arts through the black market. He then visited Wang Dehai to repay an old debt, but Wang refused and invited him to Tianxiang Tower to discuss what Lin Sheng wanted.

• After Lin Miao departed, a sallow-faced man agreed to help his younger brother if he came across the trouble and noticed two plain-clothed figures on the street.
• Lin Sheng found a stack of treasury notes worth more than a thousand taels hidden in a battered box and decided not to tell Xie Guilan or the others.
• Lin Sheng considered buying third-rate martial arts manuals through Lin'an County City's black market but chose to save the money for now.
• Lin Sheng told Xie Guilan and the other that Lin Miao had left, and they accepted his explanation.
• Lin Sheng visited Wang Dehai at the slaughterhouse to repay his debt, but Wang refused the money and invited him to Tianxiang Tower to talk.

Lin Sheng learned where to find Lin'an County City's black market and heard that the Black Wind Bandits had slaughtered White Elephant Martial Arts School members, prompting County Lieutenant Duan Tong to ride out. He returned home to prepare for the black market and found that the two men watching his house had disappeared.

• Lin Sheng asked Wang Dehai where the black market was and learned it operated at Old Zhang's Grocery Store on Furong Street.
• Wang Dehai told Lin Sheng that the Black Wind Bandits, led by the possibly Blood Circulation-level Black Blind Man, had killed the old master of White Elephant Martial Arts School and his party.
• Lin Sheng and Wang Dehai saw carriages carrying more bodies from White Elephant Martial Arts School, and Lin Sheng suspected the Black Wind Bandits had attacked the funeral party as well.
• County Lieutenant Duan Tong, a Blood Circulation Practitioner, rode toward the city gates with mounted officers to confront the Black Wind Bandits.
• Lin Sheng returned home intending to prepare for the black market and noticed that the two men from Beast Hunter Hall who had watched his house were gone.

Xie Chunniang used her weasel Little Yellow to track the person who killed Liu Ergou, despite the Tooth Gang members’ hostility. Little Yellow led her to the street where Lin Sheng lived, leaving Ding Wu to decide whether to search it.

• Xie Chunniang ordered Ding Wu to investigate nearby residents, but he and the Tooth Gang members mocked and threatened her.
• Little Yellow caught a scent and ran ahead, prompting Xie Chunniang and the gang members to follow it.
• Lin Sheng retrieved his spoils, including the White Ape Leg Technique manual, and decided to sell the technique at the black market.
• Little Yellow stopped on the street where Lin Sheng lived, and Xie Chunniang urged Ding Wu to search for residents who had clashed with Liu Ergou.
• Ding Wu hesitated after Xie Chunniang threatened to report the discovery to Liu Yuanshan.

Xie Chunniang and Ding Wu searched Qinghe Street for the killer of Liu Ergou, using a weasel and a list of Body Tempering martial artists. After the weasel found nothing at the final house, Ding Wu had Xie Chunniang seized and left the household angry.

• Ding Wu sent Old Eight to fetch the Tooth Gang’s information while Xie Chunniang searched the street with the weasel.
• Xie Chunniang found four Body Tempering martial artists on Qinghe Street who might be connected to Liu Ergou’s killer.
• The weasel showed no reaction at the first three targets’ homes, so Xie Chunniang and Ding Wu went to Bai Sanqiang’s house.
• Ding Wu kicked open Bai Sanqiang’s gate and ordered the Tooth Gang to search the courtyard despite the Zhao family escort’s objections.
• The weasel found nothing, so Ding Wu ordered his men to drag Xie Chunniang away and took a money pouch from the escort.

Lin Sheng urged his parents to move from Crock Street to the safer inner city and noticed a faint mark beside the Horned Eagle pattern on his chest. Meanwhile, Xie Chunniang’s weasel reacted to a trail, and Ding Wu’s gang followed it in search of the person she had been tracking.

• Lin Sheng persuaded Lin Hong and Xie Guilan to move into the inner city, then decided to look for a house the next day.
• Ding Wu ordered Er Mazi to take Xie Chunniang to his home before bringing her to the Second Gang Leader.
• Little Yellow reacted to a scent, and Xie Chunniang persuaded Ding Wu to let it lead them toward a narrow alley.
• Lin Sheng practiced Raging Bull Fist while exploring the changed void space and spotted a faint red mark beside the Horned Eagle pattern on his chest.

Lin Sheng discovered a new mark and suspected it could eventually allow another assimilation, but a Tooth Gang crew tracked him to his home and attacked. After killing them, he fled Crock Street with his parents, while Wang Laojiu arrived at the house and found the aftermath.

• Lin Sheng guessed the new mark might be activated by large amounts of exotic beast blood and decided to test it after returning to Yangping Mountain.
• A weasel led Xie Chunniang and Ding Wu’s Tooth Gang members to Lin Sheng’s courtyard, where they tried to capture him.
• Lin Sheng killed Xie Chunniang and the gang members who entered, then dragged in and killed the guards outside before learning what they knew.
• Lin Sheng decided his family could not stay and left the county town by carriage with Xie Guilan and Lin Hong.
• Wang Laojiu followed Wang Er Mazi to Lin Sheng’s house and found the bloody scene inside.

After Lin Sheng fled Crock Street with Lin Hong and Xie Guilan, Liu Yuanshan pursued them toward Yangping Mountain. Lin Sheng detected the riders and ambushed them, leaving Liu Yuanshan and a few gang members on foot as the chapter ended.

• Liu Yuanshan learned that Lin Sheng's family had fled toward Yangping Mountain and rode after them with Wang Laojiu and several skilled Tooth Gang members.
• Lin Sheng told Lin Hong and Xie Guilan how the Tooth Gang had targeted their family, then killed Xie Chunniang's yellow weasel and recorded it in the Mountain Sea Scroll.
• Lin Sheng stopped the carriage when he sensed riders approaching, left his parents waiting, and moved into the woods to meet the pursuers.
• Liu Yuanshan ordered his men to attack the carriage and seize Lin Hong and Xie Guilan, but Lin Sheng's projectiles killed five riders and struck the remaining horses' legs.
• Liu Yuanshan leaped clear while Wang Laojiu and another gang member were thrown from their horses.