Chapter Summaries

Wang Yuan disguised himself and entered a hidden Black Market to sell the Black Tiger Saber Technique manual and the Huang Family Token. After receiving one thousand taels in unregistered banknotes, he was invited to inspect more goods, leaving the transaction’s next step uncertain.

• Wang Yuan prepared the stolen goods, disguised himself, and followed Shang Yong’s directions to a concealed Black Market entrance.
• Wang Yuan paid the Lean Man at the entrance and entered the underground market to search for a trustworthy buyer.
• Wang Yuan sold loose silver and jewelry to the Iron-Masked Stall Owner, then offered him the Black Tiger Saber Technique manual and Huang Family Token.
• The Iron-Masked Stall Owner examined the goods and paid Wang Yuan ten unregistered banknotes worth one hundred taels each.
• After the sale, the Iron-Masked Stall Owner invited Wang Yuan to inspect a pile of other items in the stone room.

Wang Yuan bought hidden weapons and Black Silkworm Silk Inner Armor in the Black Market, then returned safely and resumed training at Panshi Fist Academy. Zheng Shan judged that Wang Yuan was ready to attempt the Second Blood Change and gave him precious medicines and herbs to prepare.

• Wang Yuan bought two bottles of Soft Muscle Powder and Black Silkworm Silk Inner Armor from the Iron-Masked Stall Owner, then carefully evaded anyone who might have followed him home.
• Wang Yuan tested the inner armor and resolved to learn a body-tempering martial art after reaching the Second Blood Change.
• Wang Yuan spent the following days training at Panshi Fist Academy while concealing his role in destroying the Black Tiger Gang and killing Zhao Hu and Steward Huang.
• Shi Long told Wang Yuan that Zheng Shan wanted to see him, and Wang Yuan went to his master's study.
• Zheng Shan told Wang Yuan that his First Blood Change had reached Perfection and gave him Jade Marrow Grass, Blood Dates, and Pulse Protecting Pills for his Second Blood Change attempt.

Wang Yuan consumed Jade Marrow Grass and Blood Dates to break through to the Second Blood Change, while his Panshi Fist reached Major Accomplishment. As he headed to the Panshi Fist Academy, Huang Yao confronted him about the Black Tiger Gang and Zhao Hu, then suddenly attacked.

• Wang Yuan used Jade Marrow Grass, three Blood Dates, and the Pulse Protecting Pill to break through to the Second Blood Change.
• Wang Yuan practiced the Panshi Fist and reached Major Accomplishment, leaving a fist mark in a Blue Stone wall with his fist wind.
• Wang Yuan sensed that his Black Talent Bead had replenished energy and worried about the spreading plague and unrest in South District.
• Huang Yao stopped Wang Yuan in an alley and questioned him about the Black Tiger Gang, the dead Huang Family steward, and Zhao Hu.
• Huang Yao appeared to accept Wang Yuan's denial, then abruptly struck at his forehead with a powerful palm.

Wang Yuan survived Huang Yao’s lethal test by pretending to be frightened, then vowed to repay the Huang Family for the humiliation. After reaching Panshi Fist Academy, he revealed his breakthrough to Second Blood Change and asked to learn a Body Refinement Technique, receiving the Vajra Skill manual from Zheng Shan.

• Huang Yao tested Wang Yuan with a sudden palm strike, mistook his feigned fear for weakness, and left after ordering her coachman to kill a Second Blood Change martial artist to protect the Huang Family’s reputation.
• After Huang Yao’s carriage departed, Wang Yuan crushed her silver gift in his palm and vowed to repay the humiliation a hundredfold.
• Wang Yuan arrived at Panshi Fist Academy and told Zheng Shan, Shi Long, and Zheng Ying that he had reached Second Blood Change the previous day.
• Wang Yuan asked Zheng Shan to teach him a Body Refinement Technique, and Zheng Shan gave him the Vajra Skill manual.

Zheng Shan gave Wang Yuan the Vajra Skill and began his body-refinement training with Vajra Powder and staff blows. Wang Yuan reached the Entry Stage in half a day, leaving the others astonished.

• Zheng Shan explained that the Vajra Skill could lead to Force Entry and gave the manual to Wang Yuan, while Shi Long complained that he had never been allowed to learn it.
• Zheng Shan said Wang Yuan would begin training immediately and gave Zheng Ying Vajra Powder to apply to his body.
• Shi Long arranged for two disciples to strike Wang Yuan with hardwood staffs as he circulated the Vajra Skill and absorbed the medicine.
• Wang Yuan endured the pounding, and his blood qi transformed until a wisp of Vajra Blood Qi formed in his right arm.
• Wang Yuan entered the Vajra Skill's Entry Stage in half a day, shocking Shi Long, Zheng Ying, and the disciples.

After reaching the Entry Stage in Vajra Skill, Wang Yuan learned that an Outer City Martial Arts Gathering would take place in seven days and resolved to test his strength there. He then heard that the Zhang Family was being raided for colluding with the Incense God Cult and rushed toward the Inner City to save his sister, Wang Yu.

• Zheng Shan told Wang Yuan, Shi Long, and Zheng Ying about the Martial Arts Gathering and its prizes, and urged them to prepare for the matches.
• Zheng Shan explained that Panshi Fist Academy lacked a strong Second Blood Change disciple, while Wang Yuan quietly resolved to test himself and pursue first place.
• Wang Yuan overheard disciples say that the Gao, Ye, and Huang Families had mobilized the City Guard to raid the Zhang Family over its alleged ties to the Incense God Cult.
• Wang Yuan realized that his sister, Wang Yu, was trapped at the Zhang Family and raced toward the Inner City using Chasing Wind Leg.

Wang Yuan found the Zhang Family estate destroyed and learned from Zhang Mingyuan’s dying Second Uncle that Zhang Mingyuan was being hunted west of the city over the Black Tai Sui. Wang Yuan arrived just in time to stop a Gao Family member from killing Zhang Mingyuan’s Paternal Uncle, but his recognizable Black Dragon Spear exposed him, and he resolved to silence the two pursuers.

• Wang Yuan reached the ruined Zhang Family estate and found Second Uncle dying in an alley.
• Second Uncle told Wang Yuan that Zhang Mingyuan was west of the city, being hunted by the Three Great Families over the Black Tai Sui, and claimed the Zhang Family had been framed.
• Wang Yuan headed west to save Zhang Mingyuan, while Zhang Mingyuan and his injured Paternal Uncle fled through a forest pursued by members of the Gao and Ye Families.
• Zhang Mingyuan’s Paternal Uncle tried to hold off the pursuers, but the Gao Family member moved to kill him as Zhang Mingyuan offered to surrender the Zhang Family’s secrets and assets.
• Wang Yuan arrived and deflected the Gao Family member’s sword with his Black Dragon Spear, and Zhang Mingyuan recognized him.
• Realizing his spear could reveal his identity, Wang Yuan decided to kill the Gao and Ye Family pursuers.

Wang Yuan killed two Second Blood Change disciples from the Gao and Ye Families, then learned that his sister Wang Yu might have been captured during the Three Great Families’ attack on the Zhang Family. As Wang Yuan and Zhang Mingyuan tried to leave, Huang Yao appeared and confronted them, leaving them facing a deadly fight.

• Wang Yuan used the Mountain Breaking Spear Technique to kill the Gao Family disciple and the Ye Family disciple, then searched their bodies and dissolved the evidence with Bone Dissolving Water.
• Wang Yuan asked Zhang Mingyuan where Wang Yu was, and Zhang Mingyuan explained that she might have been captured with the Zhang Family’s dismissed servants.
• Wang Yuan decided that they should leave and seek information about the Black Tai Sui.
• Huang Yao appeared in the forest, dismissed the dead disciples as trash, and faced Wang Yuan and the others.
• Wang Yuan prepared to fight Huang Yao, knowing her strength made the encounter a life-or-death trial.

Wang Yuan fought Huang Yao after she recognized him and killed Zhang Mingyuan's Paternal Uncle, but her superior strength left him badly wounded and driven through the forest. He revealed that he had used their fight and his apparent retreat to poison her with Soft Muscle Powder, weakening her and reversing the battle's course.

• Huang Yao recognized Wang Yuan and demanded that he reveal Black Tai Sui's location, while Wang Yuan refused to surrender.
• Zhang Mingyuan's Paternal Uncle attacked Huang Yao to help Wang Yuan and Zhang Mingyuan escape, but Huang Yao killed him with one palm.
• Huang Yao overwhelmed Wang Yuan with her swordsmanship, forcing him to retreat through rugged forest terrain as she noticed his formidable strength.
• Huang Yao prepared a powerful Sword Qi strike, but Wang Yuan threw chili powder and quicklime at her as a distraction.
• Wang Yuan revealed that he had secretly spread Soft Muscle Powder during their fight, and Huang Yao discovered that the poison had weakened her blood and qi circulation.

Wang Yuan and Zhang Mingyuan defeated Huang Yao after Zhang Mingyuan struck her with a poisoned crossbow bolt, allowing Wang Yuan to kill her. Wang Yuan looted her belongings, destroyed her corpse, discarded her jade token, and carried the unconscious Zhang Mingyuan toward a hidden cave to recover.

• Huang Yao resisted Wang Yuan despite the Soft Muscle Powder, so Wang Yuan activated the Major Accomplishment of the Blood Burning Technique and broke through to the second level of the Chasing Wind Leg.
• Wang Yuan's enhanced strength faded after ten breaths, and Huang Yao seized the opening to thrust at his heart.
• Zhang Mingyuan shot Huang Yao in the back with a poisoned crossbow bolt, and Wang Yuan used the opening to pierce her chest with the Black Dragon Spear.
• Wang Yuan searched Huang Yao's corpse and found the Sea Covering True Energy manual, recovery pills, bearer silver notes, and her jade token.
• Wang Yuan dissolved Huang Yao's corpse with Bone Dissolving Water, threw her jade token into the forest, and carried the unconscious Zhang Mingyuan toward a concealed cave.

Wang Yuan recovered from his injuries while treating Zhang Mingyuan, who explained why the Zhang Family had been destroyed and entrusted Wang Yuan with Black Tai Sui’s location. Zhang Mingyuan left for Prefecture City, while Wang Yuan held the secret that had provoked the Three Great Families.

• Wang Yuan treated Zhang Mingyuan’s wounds and tested a golden pill from Huang Yao before taking it to restore his strength.
• After waking, Zhang Mingyuan thanked Wang Yuan, and Wang Yuan explained that he had repaid Zhang Mingyuan for his past kindness.
• Zhang Mingyuan revealed that Black Tai Sui was a Fourth-tier Exotic Beast whose flesh regenerated into Fourth-tier Monster Beast Meat when fed lower-tier meat.
• Zhang Mingyuan gave Wang Yuan a sketch and map showing Black Tai Sui’s hidden location in Gaoye City.
• Zhang Mingyuan said he could not avenge his family and asked Wang Yuan to kill members of the Three Great Families before leaving for Prefecture City.

Wang Yuan bribed the constables to free his sister Wang Yu from prison and brought her safely home to their parents. After arranging for Wang Yu to help run the family grocery shop, he turned his attention to searching for Black Tai Sui.

• Wang Yuan identified himself as a True Disciple of Panshi Fist Academy and paid a constable to release Wang Yu.
• A jealous former laundry worker accused Wang Yu of being close to Zhang Mingyuan, but a young constable kicked and silenced her.
• Wang Yuan escorted Wang Yu from the prison and reassured her as they returned to the South District.
• Wang Yuan told Father Wang and Mother Wang that Wang Yu had been cleared and had spent the night at the Fist Academy.
• Wang Yuan arranged for Wang Yu to stay home and help their parents run the grocery shop, then decided to search for Black Tai Sui.

Wang Yuan secretly retrieved the Black Tai Sui from its hiding place and confirmed that it could regenerate by absorbing lower-rank flesh. After tasting a small piece, he was overwhelmed by its vitality and saw his Black Talent Bead energy reach 65/100.

• Wang Yuan concealed his reaction when Shi Long told him that Huang Yao had disappeared.
• That night, Wang Yuan followed Zhang Mingyuan’s map to an underground chamber in Gaoye City and took the Black Tai Sui.
• Wang Yuan fed a piece of First-Rank Fire Rhino jerky to a cut in the Black Tai Sui and watched it absorb the jerky and regenerate.
• Wang Yuan ate a small piece of Black Tai Sui Flesh and struggled to channel its immense vitality through his body.
• Wang Yuan sensed the Black Talent Bead absorb energy and saw its current level reach 65/100.

Wang Yuan discovered that Black Tai Sui Flesh rapidly increased his energy, while Huang Chengzong found evidence suggesting Huang Yao had been killed and vowed to hunt down the murderer. After another day of training, Wang Yuan reached Minor Accomplishment in Vajra Skill and raised his energy to 73/100, nearing his second Talent Awakening.

• Wang Yuan saw his energy rise from 60 to 65 after consuming a small piece of Black Tai Sui Flesh and realized how potent it was.
• Huang Chengzong found Huang Yao’s jade pendant and other signs of a violent battle in the wilderness, then ordered his family to find the suspected murderer.
• Wang Yuan trained at Panshi Fist Academy while disciples struck him with reinforced staffs, using the impacts and his Qi and blood to temper his body.
• Wang Yuan reached Minor Accomplishment in Vajra Skill, stabilized his Second Blood Change, and sensed that his energy had reached 73/100.

Zheng Shan briefed the Panshi Fist Academy disciples about their opponents at the martial meet, then revealed that Wang Yuan had already reached the Second Blood Change. The others were stunned, and Zheng Shan warned Wang Yuan to prepare for the Second Blood Change tier.

• Shi Long and Zheng Ying praised Wang Yuan's rapid progress after seeing his Vajra Skill reach Minor Accomplishment.
• Zheng Shan arrived with Jiang Li, Liu Ming, and Liu Yunfeng, who had all reached Perfection of the First Blood Change.
• Zheng Shan described the First Blood Change opponents the disciples might face at the martial meet, including Chen Chuang, Zhao Gang, and Lin Xiaoru.
• Liu Ming, Liu Yunfeng, and Jiang Li expressed confidence that Wang Yuan would support them in the First Blood Change tier.
• Zheng Shan revealed that Wang Yuan had reached the Second Blood Change and would face elite opponents at that level.
• Zheng Shan told Jiang Li, Liu Ming, and Liu Yunfeng to compete in their tier and warned Wang Yuan not to be careless.

Wang Yuan awakened the Penetrating Wisdom and Spiritual Clarity talent after filling his Talent Bead with energy from Black Tai Sui. Its enhanced comprehension let him master the Mountain Breaking Spear Technique to Major Accomplishment overnight, leaving him far stronger and ready to face Huang Yao again.

• Wang Yuan filled the Black Talent Bead mark with energy from Black Tai Sui and awakened Penetrating Wisdom and Spiritual Clarity.
• Wang Yuan discovered that his new talent greatly increased his comprehension, thought speed, and spiritual perception.
• Wang Yuan used the talent to deepen his understanding of his martial arts and the techniques Huang Yao had used.
• Wang Yuan practiced with the Black Dragon Spear through the night and grasped the essence of the Mountain Breaking Spear Technique.
• Wang Yuan reached Major Accomplishment in the Mountain Breaking Spear Technique and judged that he could defeat Huang Yao in a rematch.

Zheng Shan led Panshi Fist Academy’s disciples to the Inner City martial meet, where Wang Yuan sized up the rival fighters and anticipated testing his skills. The gathering opened with polite but pointed exchanges between Zheng Shan, Zhao Tieying, and Feng Qianlie as their disciples prepared to compete.

• Zheng Shan led Shi Long, Zheng Ying, Wang Yuan, Shang Yong, and the other disciples to the Yangwu Training Ground.
• The crowds watched Panshi Fist Academy arrive, and onlookers mocked Shang Yong’s elaborate outfit.
• Wang Yuan surveyed the assembled martial artists and spotted several formidable Second Blood Change fighters.
• Zhao Tieying and Feng Qianlie greeted Zheng Shan and praised his disciples while hinting at their own fighters’ readiness to challenge them.
• Zheng Shan answered that his disciples would prove themselves in the arena, and Wang Yuan judged the rival Second Blood Change fighters to be no match for him.

The Gaoye City Outer City Martial Arts Gathering began, and the First Blood Change matches ended with Lin Xiaoru taking first place and Panshi Fist Academy performing well. Wang Yuan entered the Second Blood Change tier and faced veteran Iron Palm Gang disciple Liu Gang, while the spectators doubted his chances.

• The host announced the gathering and its rewards, while Gao Wenxuan and Ye Feng looked down on most Outer City competitors.
• Participants drew lots, and Wang Yuan drew Liu Gang of the Iron Palm Gang while Shang Yong drew Feng Ming of Blustering Wind Martial Hall.
• Jiang Li, Liu Ming, and Liu Yunfeng fought steadily in the First Blood Change tier, and Lin Xiaoru won first place with her swift swordsmanship.
• Wang Yuan stepped onto the arena to face Liu Gang, whose Iron Sand Palm and years of experience led most spectators to expect Wang Yuan to lose.
• Gao Wenxuan predicted Wang Yuan would be eliminated, while Ye Feng noticed Wang Yuan's spear and waited to see how he would use it.

Wang Yuan decisively defeated Liu Gang with a single counterattack, silencing doubts about his strength. After Feng Ming defeated Shang Yong and insulted Panshi Fist Academy, Wang Yuan answered his provocation by challenging his victory over an injured senior brother.

• Wang Yuan dodged Liu Gang's Iron Sand Palm and knocked him out of the arena with one punch.
• Spectators and martial hall leaders reacted with astonishment, while Panshi Fist Academy celebrated Wang Yuan's victory.
• Feng Ming defeated Shang Yong with a swift assault, disarmed him, and publicly insulted Panshi Fist Academy.
• Feng Ming accused Wang Yuan of winning only because he faced a weak opponent, and Wang Yuan retorted that Feng Ming had narrowly beaten his injured senior brother.

Wang Yuan challenged every Second Blood Change contestant to face him one by one, then crippled Feng Ming with three spear strikes. He stood on the platform and called for his next opponent.

• Feng Ming challenged Wang Yuan, and the Gao Family steward approved Wang Yuan's proposal to fight every Second Blood Change contestant in a gauntlet.
• Wang Yuan faced Feng Ming first as Feng Ming attacked with his twin blades.
• Wang Yuan broke Feng Ming's attack, knocked him away, and damaged a major tendon with three precise spear strikes, crippling his martial skill.
• Wang Yuan looked over the remaining contestants and demanded to know who would fight him next.