Chapter Summaries

Chen Xiaofan learned the complete craft of sword forging simply by watching the Sword Forger work, then dismissed the man’s newly forged sword as ordinary. When challenged to forge a better one, Chen Xiaofan confidently agreed.

• Chen Xiaofan resolved to learn sword forging despite the Sword Forger’s refusal to teach him.
• By watching the Sword Forger forge a weapon, Chen Xiaofan used his system to master the principles and inner workings of sword forging.
• The Sword Forger completed a sword, and the onlookers praised its sharpness and value.
• Chen Xiaofan called the sword ordinary, provoking the crowd’s anger and disbelief.
• The Sword Forger quieted the crowd and challenged Chen Xiaofan to forge a better sword, and Chen Xiaofan said he could.

Chen Xiaofan confidently claimed he knew sword forging, prompting a crowd that doubted him to challenge him to compete against a renowned Sword Forger. He accepted without hesitation, and the Sword Forger prepared to defend his reputation, convinced victory would be easy.

• Chen Xiaofan calmly endured the crowd's ridicule after claiming he knew sword forging.
• The Sword Forger addressed Chen Xiaofan and asked his name and family trade, and Chen said his background did not matter because he knew the craft.
• People in the crowd proposed a face-to-face sword-forging contest, and the Sword Forger agreed.
• Chen Xiaofan accepted the contest, surprising the crowd, which still believed the experienced Sword Forger would win.
• The Sword Forger confidently looked forward to defeating Chen Xiaofan and strengthening his reputation.

The Sword Forger and Chen Xiaofan competed to forge the finest sword in one shichen. The Sword Forger’s sword won the crowd’s praise, and he grew confident of victory as Chen Xiaofan’s work had yet to be examined.

• The Sword Forger and Chen Xiaofan began their sword-forging contest, each concentrating on crafting a sword within the one-shichen limit.
• The Sword Forger and Chen Xiaofan stopped forging when the time ran out.
• The crowd inspected the Sword Forger’s sword and praised its sharpness and craftsmanship.
• The Sword Forger grew confident that he had won, while the crowd showed little interest in examining Chen Xiaofan’s sword.

Chen Xiaofan revealed a sword so masterfully forged that the spectators and the Sword Forger were stunned. The Sword Forger admitted Chen’s sword was superior and was left humiliated and devastated.

• The Sword Forger encouraged the crowd to compare Chen Xiaofan’s sword with his own, while spectators openly expected Chen to lose.
• Chen Xiaofan calmly presented his sword, and the crowd was astonished by its flawless craftsmanship and exceptional quality.
• The Sword Forger examined Chen’s sword and realized that he himself could not forge one as fine.
• The Sword Forger conceded that Chen’s sword was far better than his own and stood crushed by the humiliation.

Chen Xiaofan proved his sword-forging skill surpassed the Sword Forging Master's, forcing the onlookers to admit they had underestimated him. When several men competed to buy his sword, the bidding reached seventy taels of silver.

• Chen Xiaofan challenged the silent crowd to give their opinions on his sword, and one man apologized for having underestimated him.
• Another onlooker and the Grey-clothed Man praised Chen Xiaofan's sword as superior to the Sword Forging Master's work, prompting the others to acknowledge his skill.
• The Grey-clothed stranger offered Chen Xiaofan fifty silver for the sword.
• A richly dressed man offered sixty taels of silver, and Chen Xiaofan agreed to sell it for that price.
• Another man interrupted and offered seventy taels of silver for the sword.

Chen Xiaofan auctioned his sword after several people offered to buy it, and it sold to the richly dressed noble young master for two hundred taels of silver. The humiliated Sword Forger resolved to ask his father and master to challenge Chen Xiaofan and restore his reputation.

• A buyer interrupted Chen Xiaofan and offered seventy taels for the sword, prompting Chen Xiaofan to propose an auction.
• Several men competed for the sword, driving the bidding up to two hundred taels of silver.
• The richly dressed noble young master won the sword, and Chen Xiaofan received two hundred taels.
• The Sword Forger felt humiliated and enraged by Chen Xiaofan's success but knew his own skill was inferior.
• The Sword Forger decided to ask his father and master to defeat Chen Xiaofan and reclaim his dignity.

After losing to Chen Xiaofan, the Sword Forger challenged him to face his master and left to bring him back. The master arrived to confront Chen Xiaofan, while Chen remained confident that his system guaranteed victory.

• The Sword Forger claimed his master was stronger than Chen Xiaofan and taunted Chen into accepting a rematch.
• Chen Xiaofan mocked the Sword Forger's defeat and agreed to face his master, warning him not to leave without returning.
• The Sword Forger left to fetch his master as people in the crowd warned Chen Xiaofan that the old man was formidable.
• Chen Xiaofan trusted his system and remained certain he could defeat the Sword Forger's master.
• The Sword Forger returned with his stern, black-robed master, whom the crowd greeted with deep respect.

Chen Xiaofan faced the Sword Forger's master, a celebrated Grandmaster, after accepting his disciple's challenge. The two sides traded insults, and the chapter ended before their sword-forging contest began.

• The crowd respectfully welcomed the Sword Forger's master, whose reputation made them doubt Chen Xiaofan could win.
• The old man in black challenged Chen Xiaofan to compete and demanded that he apologize to the Sword Forger if he lost.
• Chen Xiaofan confidently rejected the possibility of defeat and mocked the old man's frail health.
• The Sword Forger urged his master to defeat Chen Xiaofan, but Chen Xiaofan taunted them both until the Sword Forger was left speechless.
• Chen Xiaofan told the pair to stop arguing and begin the sword-forging contest.

The Old Man in Black and Chen Xiaofan began a one-hour sword-forging contest as spectators debated who would win. The Old Man in Black finished his sword, certain of victory, while Chen Xiaofan’s result remained unknown.

• The Old Man in Black agreed to begin the contest, and the Sword Forger prepared the materials.
• The Old Man in Black and Chen Xiaofan took their places and started forging under a one-hour time limit.
• Spectators argued over whether the Old Man in Black’s experience or Chen Xiaofan’s talent would prevail.
• After an hour, the Old Man in Black finished a gleaming sword and believed he had secured victory.

The Old Man in Black revealed his treasured sword and basked in the crowd’s praise, while he and the Sword Forger assumed Chen Xiaofan would lose. Chen Xiaofan stood by his own work and prepared to reveal it as the crowd largely sided against him.

• The Old Man in Black displayed his black sword, and the crowd praised its craftsmanship.
• The Sword Forger and the Old Man in Black gloated over their presumed victory and taunted Chen Xiaofan to show his sword.
• Chen Xiaofan challenged their certainty and said he would reveal his sword for everyone to judge.
• The fine-clothed young noble backed Chen Xiaofan, but the crowd mocked him and continued to support the Old Man in Black.

Chen Xiaofan presented the sword he had forged in an hour, and the crowd saw that it surpassed the Sword Forger's master's renowned work. The Sword Forger accused him of cheating, while Chen Xiaofan rejected the accusation and called it slander.

• Chen Xiaofan brought out his newly forged sword and invited the crowd to inspect it.
• The crowd admired the flawless sword and realized it was superior to the Sword Forger's master's famous blade.
• The Sword Forger accused Chen Xiaofan of using a sinister trick because he could not accept the result.
• The Old Man in Black felt humiliated by his defeat, while Chen Xiaofan dismissed the cheating accusation and condemned the Sword Forger for slandering him.

Chen Xiaofan’s victory convinced the crowd that he had won through his own sword-forging skill, while the Sword Forger and Old Man in Black struggled to accept their defeat. The Sword Forger tried to leave after his master collapsed, but Chen Xiaofan stopped him and demanded an apology and an admission of inferiority.

• The crowd defended Chen Xiaofan against cheating accusations and praised him for defeating the Sword Forger and his master.
• The Sword Forger and Old Man in Black were left humiliated by the defeat, and Old Man in Black collapsed.
• The Sword Forger arranged for his master to be carried away and announced that the competition was over so he could leave.
• Chen Xiaofan stopped the Sword Forger, and the crowd criticized him for trying to leave before the competition was settled.
• Chen Xiaofan demanded that the Sword Forger admit that he and his master were inferior at sword forging and apologize for their disrespect.

Chen Xiaofan forced the Sword Forger to accept defeat in a public vote, then stopped him from leaving until he apologized for the insults. The Sword Forger offered a treasured sword as compensation, awaiting Chen Xiaofan’s response.

• The Sword Forger refused to admit his master’s sword-forging skills were inferior, so Chen Xiaofan called for the crowd to vote on whose skills were better.
• Nearly everyone sided with Chen Xiaofan, leaving only three people supporting the Sword Forger’s master, and the Sword Forger conceded defeat.
• Chen Xiaofan demanded an apology for the insults, and when the Sword Forger tried to leave, Chen Xiaofan blocked his way with a sword.
• Frightened, the Sword Forger apologized on behalf of himself and his master, admitting they had lost and spoken disrespectfully.
• Chen Xiaofan demanded a sincere gesture as well, so the Sword Forger offered him a treasured sword he had kept for many years.

The Sword Forger gave Chen Xiaofan his treasured sword to secure his release, and Chen Xiaofan accepted it before letting him leave with a pointed message for his master. As Chen Xiaofan prepared to go, the crowd asked to buy the sword he had forged, and he agreed to sell it by auction while supporting a proposal to bar the Noble Young Master from bidding again.

• The Sword Forger offered Chen Xiaofan his treasured sword, and Chen Xiaofan accepted it in exchange for letting him leave.
• Chen Xiaofan told the Sword Forger to pass along a message to his master, who was recovering, and the Sword Forger departed resentfully but relieved to be alive.
• The Grey-clothed Man and others asked Chen Xiaofan to sell them the sword he had forged, and Chen Xiaofan agreed to let the highest bidder buy it.
• The Grey-clothed Man proposed that the Noble Young Master, who had already bought one of Chen Xiaofan's two swords, be barred from bidding on the other.
• Chen Xiaofan agreed that the remaining sword should be available to more people.

Chen Xiaofan let the crowd exclude the Noble Young Master from bidding, and the Grey-clothed Man won Chen Xiaofan’s second treasured sword for three hundred taels of silver. Chen Xiaofan refused the crowd’s request to forge more swords, saying he had other matters to attend to.

• The Noble Young Master protested being excluded from the bidding, but Chen Xiaofan sided with the majority and told him not to participate.
• The crowd bid against one another for Chen Xiaofan’s sword until the Grey-clothed Man offered three hundred taels of silver and no one topped his bid.
• The Grey-clothed Man received the sword and promised to cherish it, while the Noble Young Master grumbled that the bidding rules had cost him the chance to buy it.
• Bystanders praised Chen Xiaofan’s sword-forging and asked him to make more, but he said he had forged the two swords on a whim and needed to leave.

Chen Xiaofan refused the crowd’s pleas to forge more swords and tried to leave the workshop, but a black-robed man blocked his way and demanded a sword. Chen Xiaofan sent him flying with one slap, leaving the onlookers stunned and the man realizing he had underestimated Chen Xiaofan.

• Several people asked Chen Xiaofan to forge swords for them, but he declined and prepared to leave.
• The Man in Black blocked Chen Xiaofan and threatened to keep him there unless he forged a sword.
• Chen Xiaofan warned the Man in Black to move aside, but the man mocked him and challenged him to attack.
• Chen Xiaofan slapped the Man in Black, sending him flying through walls and out into another street.
• The crowd marveled at Chen Xiaofan’s strength, while the injured Man in Black concluded that Chen Xiaofan was an extraordinary expert.

Chen Xiaofan punished the Black-faced Man for blocking his way and demanding a sword, refusing his silver and pleas for mercy. After crushing the man’s hand, Chen Xiaofan sent a full-strength slap toward him, intent on killing him.

• The Black-faced Man realized Chen Xiaofan had spared his life after their earlier fight and regretted provoking him.
• Chen Xiaofan appeared before the Black-faced Man again, and the man offered him a bag of silver and begged forgiveness.
• Chen Xiaofan rejected the bribe and told the Black-faced Man he would not get another chance.
• Chen Xiaofan stomped the Black-faced Man’s hand, crushing his palm and ruining his fingers.
• The Black-faced Man begged Chen Xiaofan not to kill him, but Chen Xiaofan refused and struck with a full-strength slap.

Chen Xiaofan killed the Man with a Dark Face with one slap and continued through the city as bystanders watched in shock. A Blue-robed Man warned him that the dead man was an heir to a powerful sect, but Chen Xiaofan refused to flee and said he would deal with anyone who came after him.

• Chen Xiaofan struck the Man with a Dark Face dead, then dismissed the killing as punishment for provoking him.
• The shocked bystanders realized Chen Xiaofan was both a master sword-forger and a formidable fighter, and feared he did not know the dead man’s background.
• As Chen Xiaofan strolled through the city, a Blue-robed Man approached and warned him to leave before the dead man’s people arrived.
• Chen Xiaofan told the Blue-robed Man that he feared neither the sect nor anyone who might come seeking revenge.

Chen Xiaofan brushed off the Blue-robed Man's warning and continued onward, where he encountered a Man in Purple who had reported him to a group of men in black. After the Man in Purple refused to break a finger as demanded, Chen Xiaofan killed him, leaving the men in black to watch.

• Chen Xiaofan threatened the Blue-robed Man until he fled, then continued on his way.
• Chen Xiaofan encountered a group of men in black and a Man in Purple, who had reported Chen Xiaofan to them for a reward.
• The men in black refused to pay the Man in Purple and threatened him until he agreed to leave.
• Chen Xiaofan stopped the Man in Purple and demanded that he break one of his own fingers for reporting and pointing at him.
• The Man in Purple refused and tried to leave, so Chen Xiaofan struck him dead while the men in black watched.

Chen Xiaofan killed the sect’s messenger and mocked the men in black who had come to avenge their slain heir. He challenged them to attack, but their leader dismissed his comrades’ warnings and prepared to fight him alone.

• Chen Xiaofan slapped the Blue-robed Man to death in front of the crowd.
• The leader of the men in black revealed that they had come because Chen Xiaofan killed their sect’s future heir.
• Chen Xiaofan mocked the dead heir and taunted the men in black to attack him.
• The leader rejected a cautious subordinate’s suggestion that they fight together and insisted he could defeat Chen Xiaofan alone.
• The other men in black agreed to watch and cheer for their Senior Brother.