Chapter Summaries

Wei He refused recruitment from the major powers, focused on training, and sought better blood supplements by preparing to hunt outside Feiye City. While exploring Shaoyang Mountain with hunter Ding Hai, he learned that Shaoyang Gate might have been involved in the disappearance of a group of stone sculptors.

• Wei He refused offers from Hong Family Fort and other powers, attached himself to several small gangs, and became a guest retainer of Qingdu Sect.
• Wei He continued training under Master Zheng, but his blood and vitality grew slowly, so he decided to hunt for stronger supplements.
• Wei He hired Ding Hai to guide him through Shaoyang Mountain and teach him about its hunting grounds and dangers.
• Ding Hai explained the local rules and warned Wei He that Shaoyang Gate hunted people around dusk.
• Wei He asked about the missing stone sculptors, and Ding Hai said he had seen Shaoyang Gate members nearby on the evening they disappeared.

Wei He investigated Shaoyang Gate after learning it might be connected to his parents’ disappearance, then prepared to venture into the wilderness near Shaoyang Mountain. He left Feiye City intending to hunt, learn the terrain, and pursue his deeper investigation.

• Ding Hai guided Wei He around the mountains for five days, showing him faction territories, dangerous areas, and a small emergency cave, but they caught only one rabbit.
• Wei He asked Cheng Shaojiu about Shaoyang Gate, and Cheng advised him to seek information from Qingdu Sect because it had dealings with the sect.
• Wei He visited Qingdu Sect’s outpost and learned from Bai Honghou that Shaoyang Gate members hunted people, used drug-controlled slave-men, and were powerful, conspicuously fat men dressed in white.
• Wei He returned to obtain poison powder and prepared lime, poisoned spikes, and rusty awls, then mapped the surrounding factions and packed supplies.
• After asking Master Zheng for leave, Wei He headed toward Shaoyang Mountain to hunt, familiarize himself with the wilderness, and continue his deeper plans.

Wei He hunted a giant python in the forest, then encountered mountain bandits who tried to rob him. When a bandit slashed his clothes, he exposed Wei He's hidden poisoned weapons, leaving a confrontation imminent.

• Wei He killed a giant python with his machete, stomped its head, and packed the snake away as prey.
• Wei He started back toward home, but a group of mountain bandits stopped him and demanded his game.
• Wei He surrendered the python and tried to leave, but the bald bandit suspected he was hiding more valuables beneath his bulky clothes.
• The bandits surrounded Wei He and demanded that he hand over everything under his clothes.
• A bandit slashed Wei He's waist, exposing poisoned spikes and a poisoned push dagger, and both men stared at each other.

Wei He killed the bandits on Shaoyang Mountain and took their supplies and a disguised martial arts manual. On his way down, he fought a powerful man from Shaoyang Gate, and the battle remained unresolved as the man dodged Wei He's final poisoned spike and counterattacked with a shower of darts.

• Wei He ambushed and killed the bald bandit and his men with lime powder and Huishan Fist.
• Wei He searched the bodies, took their supplies and a martial arts manual disguised as a pharmacy ledger, and concealed evidence of how he had killed them.
• A muscular man in white recognized signs that Wei He had fought the bandits and confronted him on the road down Shaoyang Mountain.
• Wei He and the man exchanged powders, darts, and poisoned weapons before trading heavy blows at close range.
• The poison weakened the man in white, but he suddenly rose, dodged Wei He's final spike, and threw a handful of darts at him.

Wei He killed a Shaoyang Gate disciple, returned to Feiye City with valuable spoils, and spent the next month hunting and practicing martial arts. Just as Old Zheng grew disappointed with Wei He's slow progress, Xiao Ran recovered his Stone Hide blood and vitality.

• Wei He confirmed the fat Shaoyang Gate disciple was dead, took his weapons, poison, supplies, and a thousand taels in gold notes, then returned home.
• Wei He cooked and preserved the python meat, considered whether his Boundary-Breaking Pearl could help him master Five Ridges Palm, and inspected his spoils.
• For over a month, Wei He hunted in new areas, practiced martial arts and Skin Grinding, and grew his Boundary-Breaking Pearl to three-tenths full, while Old Zheng became disappointed with his slow blood-and-vitality growth.
• Jiang Su told Old Zheng that Xiao Ran had regained Stone Hide blood and vitality, and she led him to the Outer Court to confirm it.
• Old Zheng examined Xiao Ran and confirmed that he had fully recovered, praising him as Wei He and Zhao Hong watched.

Xiao Ran recovered and resumed his pursuit of the Third Stage, while Wei He developed a plan to use Five Ridges Palm to reach that threshold before returning to Huishan Fist. The chapter ended with Wei He bringing Five Ridges Palm to its Qi and Blood limit and a badly wounded Yonghe Escort Agency convoy arriving in Feiye City without its valuable shipment.

• Xiao Ran returned to Huishan Fist Academy, reassured Master Zheng that he would not lose again, and drew Master Zheng's attention back from Wei He.
• Wei He hunted around Feiye City, dealt with mountain bandits, and made an abandoned bear cave into a hidden base he named Natural Dwelling.
• Over the next two months, Wei He's Huishan Fist progress remained slow, but he advanced to the third realm of Five Ridges Palm and devised a way to use it to reach Third Stage Qi and Blood first.
• Wei He trained against a massive bluestone until Five Ridges Palm reached its Qi and Blood limit, then waited for the Boundary-Breaking Pearl to be ready.
• A bloodied Yonghe Escort Agency convoy entered Feiye City without its valuable shipment, and Chief Escort Wang collapsed before Cheng Zhengxing took the wounded away.
• People in the Outer City noticed the convoy's return and considered selling news of the incident to Yonghe Escort Agency's rivals for reward grain.

After Wei He heard about Xu Ran lifting an ironstone for meat in Hongshi Town, he went to explore the Outer City market and investigate the bustle there. He traded dried meat for books about the Martial Champion Martial Examination and left with a better look at how people survived in Shiqiao Town.

• Wei Ying told Wei He that Xu Ran had easily lifted an ironstone to win meat in Hongshi Town, and Wei He suspected someone was building a reputation to attract attention.
• Wei He asked Wei Ying about her usual routes and went to inspect the Outer City market instead of heading to Huishan Fist Academy.
• At the vegetable market, Wei He learned that the Tongcheng Gang charged sellers one-tenth of their goods when they left.
• Wei He explored the oil shops and the crowded stalls selling household goods taken from local homes.
• Wei He traded four strips of dried meat for a stall owner's collection of books about the rules and examinations for the Martial Champion Martial Examination.

Wei He listened for news in a Stone Hide teahouse while Yonghe Escort Agency collapsed after its final shipment was robbed. Cheng Shaojiu faced a seven-hundred-tael gold shortfall but concealed the crisis from Wei He, who had enough savings to help.

• Wei He entered a teahouse that accepted Tongcheng Gang relief tokens and listened for news about Stone Hide.
• Cheng Zhengxing collapsed while addressing the gathered escorts, and word spread that the agency's shipment had been robbed and he was bedridden.
• Most of Yonghe Escort Agency's younger escorts left, and Cheng Shaojiu's household discovered it was still short seven hundred taels of gold for compensation.
• Madam Cheng warned Cheng Shaojiu that the creditors would take the Silver-Kissed Black Snake rearing method if they did not pay within two days.
• Wei He offered to help Cheng Shaojiu, but Cheng Shaojiu hid the crisis and said he could handle it alone.

Wei He learned that Yonghe Escort Agency was short of money and rushed to help, while Cheng Shaojiu faced the Zhao Family’s demand that Yonghe disband. The chapter left the agency on the verge of collapse, with Wei He hurrying to raise the funds.

• Wei He visited the bedridden Cheng Zhengxing, then continued hunting while the Boundary-Breaking Pearl accumulated Qi and blood faster.
• At Guest Seat Workshop, Wei He heard that Shangguan Lin had been forced to sell herself after her family was destroyed by a Blood Robe Gang steward, but he chose not to buy her.
• Ouyang Zhuang told Wei He that Yonghe Escort Agency still owed the Zhao Family seven hundred taels of gold, so Wei He rushed home to get money for Cheng Shaojiu.
• Cheng Shaojiu struggled to meet the Zhao Family’s demand and considered trading away the Cheng Family’s Silver-Kissed Black Snake raising method to cover the shortfall.
• A representative of the Zhao Family announced that Yonghe must disband and could not reopen in the Outer City, leaving Cheng Shaojiu and his escorts furious and helpless.

Wei He arrived just in time to stop Cheng Shaojiu from signing away Yonghe Escort Agency, giving him enough gold to repay the Zhao Family and save the agency. Short on money after his gift, Wei He returned to Shaoyang Mountain, robbed two Shaoyang Gate bandits, and found Black Caltrops among their possessions.

• Cheng Shaojiu hesitated over the Zhao Family's contract, but Wei He burst into the reception hall and dumped more than a thousand taels of gold at his feet.
• Cheng Shaojiu tore up the contract, and the Zhao Family's Steward Zhao collected enough gold to cover the shortfall before leaving with his men.
• Cheng Shaojiu watched the Zhao Family depart and quietly wept while his wife and the others left him alone.
• Wei He went to Shaoyang Mountain because he had spent nearly all his money helping Cheng Shaojiu and wanted to hunt for more.
• Wei He struck down two white-headscarf bandits with flying stones, took their money and gear, and escaped without being seen.
• Wei He found a bag of Black Caltrops among the stolen gear and became more wary of Shaoyang Gate.

After finding no exotic beasts on Shaoyang Mountain, Wei He returned to Feiye City and learned that Cheng Shaojiu had left with the Cheng Family. Cheng Shaojiu’s letter and gifts gave Wei He a detailed map, a jade pendant, and the Flying Dragon Technique, and Wei He set out for Guanji Pharmacy to buy Exotic Beast Bait.

• Wei He searched Shaoyang Mountain but found only Shaoyang Gate disciples and their scent-trained wolfhounds, then returned to Feiye City.
• Wei Ying told Wei He that Cheng Shaojiu had left him a letter and a stone box; the letter said the Cheng Family had fled to the provincial capital as the city’s factions forced smaller groups to choose sides or leave.
• Wei He opened the box and found a fish-shaped jade pendant, a detailed map showing dangerous locations and exotic beasts, and the Flying Dragon Technique manual.
• Wei He read the manual’s warnings and learned that four Cheng Family members had disappeared while attempting breakthroughs, then carefully stored the gifts against his body.
• Wei He went to Guanji Pharmacy to seek Exotic Beast Bait, which Cheng Shaojiu had arranged for him to buy.

Wei He gained Guan Die’s support because of his reputation for helping the Cheng Family, then witnessed the Giant Tooth Army and learned about the growing conflict. He kept preparing for danger as he waited for the Boundary-Breaking Pearl to complete, while Jiang Su and Xiao Ran both failed to reach Third Stage Qi and Blood.

• Wei He met Guan Die at Guanji Pharmacy, where she offered him Exotic Beast Bait, Green Capital Water, and financial support because she admired his loyalty to Cheng Shaojiu.
• On his way home, Wei He saw the Ou Family’s Giant Tooth Army march through Hongshi Town and later learned from Zheng Fugui about their strength and weaknesses.
• Wei He returned to his quiet routine, prepared for a worsening situation, and waited for his Boundary-Breaking Pearl to complete while holding off on hunting exotic beasts.
• Jiang Su reached Qi and Blood Perfection but failed to advance to Third Stage, damaging her foundation.
• Xiao Ran also tried to reach Third Stage Qi and Blood and failed.

Xiao Ran drugged Jiang Su after they drank together and tried to take advantage of her while she was barely conscious. Wei He intercepted them beside the river, right outside his home, leaving Xiao Ran to face his scrutiny.

• Xiao Ran and Jiang Su lamented their failed breakthroughs and drank together at Hundred Flowers Tower.
• Xiao Ran secretly put Pleasure Seeking Powder in Jiang Su's wine, and she began to feel dangerously hot after drinking it.
• Jiang Su fled toward Huishan Fist Academy, but Xiao Ran caught up and pretended to help her while she grew increasingly incapacitated.
• Xiao Ran led the unconscious Jiang Su toward the riverside and began pushing aside the grass, intending to take advantage of her.
• Wei He confronted Xiao Ran outside his home and asked what he planned to do in the grass by the river.

Wei He intervened after discovering Xiao Ran had drugged Jiang Su, then secretly guarded her through the night while Xiao Ran fled and made an alibi. The next morning, Jiang Su learned Xiao Ran had not protected her, confronted him, and finally realized Wei He had been the one watching over her.

• Wei He recognized that Jiang Su had taken Pleasure Seeking Powder and tried to stop Xiao Ran from taking her away, but Xiao Ran escaped when Wei He went to fetch Master Zheng.
• Wei He drove away hooligans who approached Jiang Su, while she remained conscious enough to overhear Xiao Ran and Wei He and realize Xiao Ran had drugged her.
• Jiang Su returned home at dawn, and Wei He went back inside to alter the Flying Dragon Technique manual so only he could understand it.
• At Huishan Fist Academy, Xiao Ran claimed he had spent the night at Drunken Immortal Residence, causing Jiang Su to realize he could not have guarded her.
• Xiao Ran accused Wei He of taking advantage of Jiang Su, struck her when she swung at him, and left; Jiang Su then understood that Wei He had protected her and ran away in tears.

Wei He sought Red Earth Fish and bought Flower Branch Deer Meat to complete his Boundary-Breaking Pearl and prepare for a breakthrough. On his way home, Xiao Ran ambushed him and destroyed the meat he had bought, leaving Wei He facing the loss of his hard-earned provisions.

• Wei He saw two Third Stage Qi and Blood Zhao Family experts leave after Zheng Fugui refused to join their plans.
• Zheng Fugui sent Wei He to collect Red Earth Fish, while worrying that Huishan Fist needed Xiao Ran to break through and inherit its legacy.
• Wei He bought a month's share of Flower Branch Deer Meat, hoping it would help complete his Boundary-Breaking Pearl within half a month.
• Xiao Ran blocked Wei He on the road and attacked him, gaining the advantage in their exchange of Huishan Fist.
• Xiao Ran kicked Wei He's meat bag into the air and punched it apart, scattering the meat across nearby streets.

Wei He was interrupted by Jiang Su before he could kill Xiao Ran, but she compensated him with deer meat and promised to repay his help. Back home, Wei He prepared the meat with Wei Ying and learned that the teacher Yuan Zhouchi was struggling after a theft and that a gang he once belonged to had disbanded.

• Xiao Ran attacked Wei He and taunted him, but Jiang Su stepped between them and reminded him that Master Zheng forbade fellow disciples from harming one another.
• Xiao Ran left after warning Wei He, who decided to deal with him after breaking through another level.
• Jiang Su returned with two bags of Flower Branch Deer Meat to compensate Wei He and thanked him for saving her.
• Wei He went home, told Wei Ying he would stay inside for several days, and learned that Yuan Zhouchi was writing couplets for food after thieves stole his savings.
• Wei Ying told Wei He that a gang he had once been affiliated with had disbanded and that floating corpses had appeared in the Feiye River.
• Wei He and Wei Ying steamed the meat together, sharing a quiet moment at home.

Jiang Yan learned from Jiang Donggui how difficult the Third Stage Qi and Blood was, while Zheng Fugui brought Zhao Hong, Jiang Su, and Wei He to Qingdu Sect as a possible refuge. Wei He continued copying and hiding his Flying Dragon Technique manual, and the chapter ended with another delivery of meat from Senior Sister Jiang.

• Jiang Donggui demonstrated his strength by carving finger marks into an iron pillar and cutting it in half as he explained the Third Stage Qi and Blood to Jiang Yan.
• Zheng Fugui visited Qingdu Sect's Ink Fort to find future positions for Zhao Hong, Jiang Su, and Wei He, and Zhou Yan welcomed him.
• Thirteen martial masters of Feiye City secretly discussed withdrawing, while Hong Family Fort defeated reinforcements sent to aid the Seven Families Alliance.
• Wei He copied and encrypted key portions of the Flying Dragon Technique while continuing to eat Flower Branch Deer Meat to fill his Boundary-Breaking Pearl.
• A sturdy junior sister delivered more meat on Senior Sister Jiang's behalf, and Wei Ying prepared it while Wei He remained in seclusion.

Wei He discovered that a gang of children had targeted his household, but his allies drove them off. After the Boundary-Breaking Pearl completed its final preparation, he broke through the Five Ridges Palm and immediately killed Xiao Ran, leaving his next move unclear.

• Wei He found blood on his poisoned courtyard wall after an injured child fled, and Wei Ying told him the intruder had been very young.
• Wang Ziyang and his gang planned to abduct Wei Ying, but Wei He's allies from the One Heart Gang ambushed them and took the children away.
• Wei He returned home and discovered that the Boundary-Breaking Pearl had turned completely black.
• Wei He used the Boundary-Breaking Pearl to break through the Five Ridges Palm, then rushed from the courtyard.
• Wei He attacked Xiao Ran outside Hundred Flowers Tower, shattered his arm, crushed his chest with a second palm, and left him dead.

After reaching the third stage of Qi and Blood, Wei He discovered that his strength had increased dramatically and that he could kill Xiao Ran with a single palm. He went to Huishan Fist Academy after hearing the news of Xiao Ran’s death, where the disciples and Zheng Fugui stood around the corpse without knowing that Wei He had killed him.

• Wei He tested his newly hardened palms and found that his strike had cracked a resilient black stone.
• Wei He learned that Ouyang Zhuang had brought food to his family, then Li Jue urgently told him that Xiao Ran had been beaten to death.
• Wei He followed Li Jue to Huishan Fist Academy, where the disciples had gathered around Xiao Ran’s body.
• Xiao Ran’s parents grieved beside the corpse while Zheng Fugui and the academy’s disciples looked on.

After Xiao Ran was killed by a powerful Third Stage Qi and Blood expert, Zheng Fugui vowed to find the culprit while Wei He continued strengthening himself. Wei He completed Huishan Fist and advanced in the Flying Dragon Technique, then decided to return to Shaoyang Mountain to investigate his family’s disappearance.

• Xiao Zhongcheng took Xiao Ran’s body from the academy, and Zheng Fugui swore to avenge his disciple.
• Jiang Su mourned Xiao Ran and resumed training, while Wei He began condensing Nine-Cloud Flowers with his powerful Qi and Blood.
• Zheng Fugui warned the Inner Court disciples to stay together and avoid going out alone or at night.
• Wei He condensed his second Nine-Cloud Flower in four days and advanced the Flying Dragon Technique to its second layer in about ten days.
• A little over a month later, Wei He completed all nine Nine-Cloud Flowers and reached Iron Hide, while keeping his progress from Zheng Fugui.
• Wei He decided to investigate his parents and elder sister by returning to Shaoyang Mountain.