Chapter Summaries

Yang Jing defeated Li Mengchao and the Li Family’s remaining fighters, securing victory for the Sun Clan Martial Arts School and revealing his Transforming Strength cultivation. As rival powers rushed to invite him to banquets, Li Haitao arrived at the school in person to deliver the wager prizes and offer further goodwill.

• Yang Jing knocked Li Chong from the platform with one punch, showing restraint, and the Li Family conceded the duel and agreed to pay the wager.
• Sun Yong and Yang Jing received congratulations, while Zhao Wenzheng resolved to win Yang Jing’s favor by offering to fund a victory banquet.
• Li Chong rebuked the Li Family disciples for blaming Yang Jing, and the Grand Elder persuaded Li Haitao to honor the wager and give Yang Jing an additional ten thousand taels to build goodwill.
• The Xiao Family, Ye Family, and County Magistrate each invited Yang Jing to a banquet, and he chose the County Magistrate’s invitation as a reason to decline the family invitations.
• Li Haitao arrived at the Sun Clan Martial Arts School in person with the wager winnings, surprising Yang Jing and Sun Yong.

After Yang Jing won the fist bout, Li Haitao delivered the stakes and offered him a congratulatory gift, while Sun Yong explained the Qi-Devouring Realm and gave Yang Jing most of the cultivation resources. Yang Jing later advanced his Indestructible True Art to bright strength, greatly strengthening his body and leaving him far more powerful than Li Mengchao.

• Li Haitao delivered the agreed pills, exotic beast meat token, and ten thousand taels to Sun Yong, then gave Yang Jing another ten thousand taels as a gift for reaching Transforming Strength.
• Sun Yong explained that the Qi-Devouring Realm was the first stage of qi training and gave Yang Jing the pills, token, and half the bout's banknotes, reserving the rest for the injured disciples and Lin Yue.
• Xiao Wenxuan proposed that the Xiao Family eliminate the Ning Family to win Yang Jing's favor, and Xiao Song considered the plan.
• Zhou Wenbin and Liu Shi prepared to entertain Yang Jing, while Liu Shi suggested that their daughter Zhou Ling'er might be interested in him.
• After dining with the Zhou family, Yang Jing returned home and practiced the Indestructible True Art while Yang An watched.
• Yang Jing broke through to bright strength in the Indestructible True Art, expelled impurities, and judged that his improved body and strength would let him defeat Li Mengchao decisively.

A hidden killer terrorized the River Gang while its leader Li Tieyun waited for help from the Jiang Family. At the Sun Clan Martial Arts School, Yang Jing revealed that he practiced the Indestructible True Art, and Sun Yong warned him to keep it secret while hinting at a connection to the Profound Truth Sect.

• Li Tieyun found He Yun murdered and learned that nearly two hundred River Gang members had been killed by a hidden attacker; he told the gang to hold out until the Jiang Family sent help.
• The killer watched the River Gang from a cave, held the Nine Rivers Token, and vowed to avenge Tan'er by killing the gang and Yang Jing.
• Yang Jing practiced Mountain Collapse Fist at the Sun Clan Martial Arts School, encouraged Jiang Haoyang, and accepted Sun Yong's invitation to spar.
• Sun Yong observed Yang Jing's rapid improvement and asked whether he was practicing a body-hardening martial art; Yang Jing said he had reached Bright Strength in the Indestructible True Art.
• Sun Yong warned Yang Jing never to reveal the art's name and explained that the Profound Truth Sect possessed its second half, while leaving Yang Jing's questions about their connection unanswered.

Yang Jing moved his family into Yuhe County for safety before infiltrating the River Gang stronghold to investigate a series of mysterious killings. He heard a woman crying inside a hut in the rear compound and moved to look inside.

• Sun Yong warned Yang Jing to guard the secrets of his cultivation and told him that the River Gang and its allies had suffered repeated killings, including deaths among the Jiang Family fighters.
• Yang Jing suspected that the missing second chief of the Flying Horse Bandits had returned for revenge, and Sun Yong agreed to protect Yang Jing’s family while he investigated.
• Yang Jing collected his grandparents, mother, aunt Madam Xue, and cousin Yang An from the countryside and brought them to a courtyard beside the Sun Clan Martial Arts School.
• After confirming his family was settled, Yang Jing went to the River Gang stronghold at night and secretly entered past its guards.
• Yang Jing searched the stronghold and heard shouts and a woman’s sobs coming from a hut in the rear compound, so he crept over to peer inside.

Yang Jing intervened when he found a one-eyed River Gang leader torturing women, killing the man and saving one victim with a Spring Return Pill. After Li Tieyun and the Jiang Family’s third elder arrived, Yang Jing joined their effort to find the killer, while Li Hongyu learned Yang Jing was in the stronghold and decided to target him.

• Yang Jing saw the one-eyed River Gang leader torturing a young woman and killed him with a sharpened piece of wood.
• Yang Jing cut down the woman, gave her a Spring Return Pill, and covered the three dead women and the survivor.
• River Gang patrol members mistook Yang Jing for the stronghold’s killer, and Li Tieyun arrived with Ma Chaoyun and Xiang Yongfeng to hear what had happened.
• Li Tieyun condemned the dead man and promised to purge corrupt members if the River Gang survived its crisis.
• The Jiang Family’s third elder arrived and praised Yang Jing’s speed as an advantage in hunting the killer.
• Li Hongyu overheard that Yang Jing was in the stronghold and resolved to ambush him.

Yang Jing, Li Tieyun, and the Jiang Family's third elder arranged to use a strange insect and scented powder to track the hidden killer, Li Hongyu. After Li Hongyu attacked three gang members that night, patrolmen found the bodies, setting the trap's test in motion.

• The Jiang Family's third elder identified the killer as a newly advanced transforming strength martial artist who resembled the Flying Horse Bandits' second-in-command, and six more River Gang members were found dead.
• The third elder proposed using a County Magistrate's insect to track a scent that would cling to the killer after close contact, and he rode to Yuhe County to obtain it.
• Zhou Zhong arrived with the insect and fragrant powder, and the River Gang mixed the powder into hot water for its members to drink while concentrating their defenses.
• Li Hongyu watched the stronghold from the woods, then slipped inside after dark and killed three gang members near a storehouse.
• A nearby patrol heard the disturbance, rushed over, and discovered the three bodies.

Yang Jing tracked the River Gang killer to the forest and discovered he was Li Hongyu, the Flying Horse Bandits' second chief. After surviving Li Hongyu's Fire Thunder Bombs, Yang Jing defeated him and crippled him, while the Jiang Family's third elder hurried toward the battlefield.

• After three more River Gang members were killed, Yang Jing used Zhou Zhong's Strange Insect to track the killer toward the stronghold wall.
• Yang Jing caught Li Hongyu trying to flee, and Li Hongyu revealed his identity and attacked Yang Jing with three Fire Thunder Bombs.
• Yang Jing survived the explosions with the help of his Indestructible True Art and a Hundred Herbs Spirit Pill, then disarmed Li Hongyu and overwhelmed him in combat.
• The Jiang Family's third elder heard the explosions and rushed through the forest toward Yang Jing.
• Yang Jing broke Li Hongyu's hip and battered him into helplessness, then destroyed his dantian and crippled his limbs despite Li Hongyu begging for his life.

Yang Jing killed Li Hongyu after learning of his hatred for Li Qianxiong, then found a large sum of money and a mysterious Jiujiang token on his body. He returned to the River Gang with the Jiang Family's Third Elder, where the gang celebrated their rescue and Yang Jing went to bathe and recover.

• Yang Jing questioned Li Hongyu about the Flying Horse Bandits' valuables, learned that Li Hongyu had hated Li Qianxiong for taking his wife and unborn child, and killed him.
• Yang Jing searched Li Hongyu's body and took more than ten thousand taels in banknotes and a mysterious black token marked Jiujiang.
• The Jiang Family's Third Elder arrived, and Yang Jing told him that Li Hongyu was dead before they carried the corpse back to the River Gang's stronghold.
• Li Tieyun and the River Gang members welcomed Yang Jing and the Third Elder, then celebrated after hearing that Li Hongyu had been killed.
• Yang Jing asked for a place to bathe, and Li Tieyun sent Wang Hu to prepare the rear hall and clean clothes.

After settling his family in the Inner City, Yang Jing learned that his master Sun Yong had once been an inner disciple of the Profound Truth Sect and received a recommendation to seek entry there with Sun Ningxiang. The chapter ended as Yang Jing arrived to say farewell to his family before leaving for the sect.

• Yang Jing returned to the Sun Clan Martial Arts School, told Sun Yong how he killed Li Hongyu, and arranged to buy a home in the Inner City through Zhou Zhong.
• Yang Jing reunited with his family, replenished their exotic beast meat, and helped Jiang Haoyang break through to Bright Strength.
• At the Exotic Beast Pavilion, Yang Jing met Miss Jin Lian and Steward Qin of the Cloudsoar Sect, who judged that Yang Jing was not yet qualified to join the sect.
• After recovering from his injuries and moving his family into an Inner City residence, Yang Jing learned that Sun Yong had been an inner disciple of the Profound Truth Sect and received his recommendation letter.
• Sun Yong arranged for Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang to travel to the Profound Truth Sect, explained its Seven Profound Truth Peaks and rules, and asked Yang Jing to protect her.
• Three days later, Yang Jing went to bid farewell to his family before departing for the Profound Truth Sect.

Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang traveled from Yuhe County to Duck Mountain Island to seek entry into the Profound Truth Sect. After they presented their recommendation letters, Steward Chen recognized Sun Ningxiang as Sun Yong’s daughter and revealed that her father had once been renowned in the sect.

• Yang Jing left his family with Sun Yong’s blessing and set out with Sun Ningxiang for the Profound Truth Sect.
• Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang followed the Fish River to Hidden Dragon Lake, rested in a lakeside town, and continued their journey to Duck Mountain Island the next morning.
• Yang Jing practiced the Indestructible True Art at the inn while Sun Ningxiang wondered whether she had come to the sect because he was coming.
• At the island dock, Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang showed their recommendation letters and followed a disciple to Steward Chen.
• Steward Chen recognized Sun Ningxiang as Sun Yong’s daughter and recalled that Sun Yong had been well known at the Profound Truth Sect thirty years earlier, before a battle damaged his foundation.

Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang arrived at the Profound Truth Sect, where Deacon Chen Xinghe examined their root bones and delivered them to guest quarters while he took their recommendation letter to Qin Gang. Qin Gang opened the letter on Mountain-Suppressing Peak, leaving the decision about their admission pending.

• Deacon Chen Xinghe examined Yang Jing and found his root bone to be eighth grade, while Sun Ningxiang's was fifth grade.
• Deacon Chen Xinghe sent Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang to rest in the Guest Reception Courtyard and said he would present their recommendation letter to Qin Gang.
• Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang chose adjacent side rooms in the courtyard and settled in.
• Qin Gang advised Zhao Qingju to slow his internal qi when practicing the Mountain-Suppressing Spear, and Zhao Qingju left to reflect on the technique.
• Chen Xinghe reported that two people had arrived with a recommendation letter and handed it to Qin Gang.
• Qin Gang opened the recommendation letter and read its contents.

Qin Gang hesitated over Sun Yong’s request to admit Sun Ningxiang and Yang Jing, whose eighth-grade root bone made him doubt his prospects. After Zhou Yunyi agreed to take Sun Ningxiang and Bai Bing accepted Yang Jing into Lingxi Peak, Bai Bing and Qin Gang wagered on whether Yang Jing could reach the Qi-Devouring Realm within ten years.

• Qin Gang learned that Sun Ningxiang had a fifth-grade root bone and Yang Jing an eighth-grade root bone, and initially decided to admit only Sun Ningxiang and send Yang Jing away.
• Remembering Sun Yong’s past kindness, Qin Gang delayed announcing his decision and summoned Zhou Yunyi and Bai Bing to discuss the candidates.
• Yang Jing told Sun Ningxiang he might not be accepted because of his poor root bone, and she said she would return to Yuhe County with him if he could not join.
• Zhou Yunyi agreed to admit Sun Ningxiang to Yunxi Peak, while Bai Bing argued that Yang Jing’s rapid progress hinted at hidden talent and offered to take him into Lingxi Peak.
• Qin Gang challenged Bai Bing to wager on whether Yang Jing would reach the Qi-Devouring Realm; they staked a Bone Jade Pill against a Frost Sword and set a ten-year limit.

Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang were accepted into the Profound Truth Sect but assigned to different branches, with Sun Ningxiang joining Yunxi Peak and Yang Jing joining Lingxi Peak. After Sun Ningxiang received a personal welcome from Yunxi Peak’s steward and peak master, Yang Jing reached Lingxi Peak and began his initiation with its steward.

• An outer disciple told Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang that both had been accepted into the Profound Truth Sect, but assigned to different branches instead of Mountain-Suppressing Peak.
• Yang Jing reassured Sun Ningxiang that they could still visit each other, and they packed their belongings before leaving the Guest Reception Courtyard.
• At Yunxi Peak, a female steward personally welcomed Sun Ningxiang and said the peak master wished to meet her, while Yang Jing prepared to continue to Lingxi Peak.
• On the way, an outer disciple told Yang Jing that ordinary newcomers rarely received such attention, leaving Yang Jing confused about why Sun Ningxiang had been treated so specially.
• Yang Jing found no one waiting to welcome him at Lingxi Peak, climbed to its buildings, and entered a wooden house to meet the bald old steward.
• The bald old steward handed Yang Jing a booklet and asked him to truthfully fill in his basic information.

Yang Jing settled into the Profound Truth Sect as a new outer disciple, studied the sect’s rules and resources, and trained Mountain Collapse Fist through the night. The next morning, he met his four courtyard-mates, whose surprise at his humble origins left their first impressions unsettled.

• Yang Jing completed his registration, received his outer disciple robes and handbook, and learned that he should cultivate toward the Dragon Gate Martial Trial.
• Jia Yuliang escorted Yang Jing to his room and explained the outer disciples’ living arrangements and the distance between outer and inner disciples.
• Yang Jing read the handbook, learned that most resources required contribution points, and practiced Mountain Collapse Fist in a secluded clearing while Bai Bing secretly observed him.
• Yang Jing returned to his room, rested, and put on his new robe the following morning.
• Yang Jing met Zhao Hongxiang, Lin Wenxuan, Su Qingyue, and Liu Rou, who introduced themselves as disciples from Prefectural City families.
• Yang Jing said he came from Yuhe County, surprising the four disciples who had assumed his background and connections were impressive.

Yang Jing learned about the Profound Truth Sect’s hierarchy and the challenges of becoming an inner disciple, then explored Duck Mountain Island and exchanged silver for contribution points. He returned toward Lingxi Peak after deciding to wait before visiting Sun Ningxiang on Yunxi Peak.

• Yang Jing listened as Zhao Hongxiang, Su Qingyue, Liu Rou, and Lin Wenxuan explained the Dragon Gate Martial Trial, the qi-devouring realm, and the sect’s ranks.
• Yang Jing reflected that his System Panel let him advance without the bottlenecks that troubled other martial artists, then left the courtyard to explore Lingxi Peak.
• Yang Jing surveyed Duck Mountain Island, learned that inner disciples paid far less for meals, and visited the Stewards' General Hall to exchange ten thousand taels for ten thousand contribution points.
• Yang Jing explored the island and looked across Hidden Dragon Lake toward Jintai Prefecture before heading back toward Lingxi Peak.
• Yang Jing stopped at the foot of Yunxi Peak, thought of Sun Ningxiang, and decided to wait until she had settled in before visiting.

Yang Jing continued improving his martial arts at Lingxi Peak, where a strange figure appeared near his secluded nighttime training spot and Bai Bing ordered Si Jiawen to divert the stream there. The next morning, Yang Jing headed to a lecture hoping to learn from Steward Zheng, while Jia Yuliang privately dismissed him as a poor investment and planned to befriend Zhao Hongxiang instead.

• Yang Jing trained and bathed at a frozen stream, then glimpsed a white figure moving through the woods before leaving the area on edge.
• Bai Bing summoned Si Jiawen and ordered her to fill in the stream near the pine and cypress grove and divert its water upstream without explaining why.
• Yang Jing checked his System Panel, saw his martial arts progress, and went to Lingxi Square for the monthly lecture, hoping to see Bai Bing or ask Steward Zheng about Mountain Collapse Fist.
• Yang Jing met Jia Yuliang on the way and continued ahead after declining to wait with him and his companions.
• Jia Yuliang told his friends that Yang Jing's low-tier eighth-grade root bone made him an unpromising prospect, then invited them to a banquet where he planned to build ties with Zhao Hongxiang.

Yang Jing attended Bai Bing’s lecture and learned from Steward Zheng’s detailed guidance on the Mountain Collapse Fist, then rented a Grade-D Training Room to practice. Su Qingyue interrupted him to ask that he surrender it to Zhao Hongxiang, and Yang Jing refused; she tried to persuade him with an offer of contribution points.

• Bai Bing lectured the Lingxi Peak disciples on internal qi, leaving Yang Jing unable to grasp much of the material but determined to remember it.
• Steward Zheng explained three martial arts and answered Yang Jing’s questions about the Mountain Collapse Fist, resolving several of his difficulties.
• Yang Jing rented the last available Grade-D Training Room and began practicing the Mountain Collapse Fist, while Zhao Hongxiang, Su Qingyue, and Liu Rou found no rooms available.
• Su Qingyue interrupted Yang Jing’s practice and asked him to give his room to Zhao Hongxiang so he could attempt a breakthrough.
• Yang Jing refused to surrender the room, and Su Qingyue tried to change his mind by offering him extra contribution points.

Yang Jing refused Su Qingyue’s demand to give Zhao Hongxiang the Training Room, then spent time with Sun Ningxiang and received a letter from Yuhe County. After Zhao Hongxiang failed his Dragon Gate Martial Trial, Yang Jing advanced Indestructible True Art to transforming strength, and Bai Bing realized he had mastered three transforming-strength martial arts and began planning to cultivate him.

• Yang Jing shut the stone door on Su Qingyue after refusing to yield his Training Room, then returned to practicing Mountain Collapse Fist.
• Yang Jing accompanied Sun Ningxiang to the mail office, where he received a letter from Liu Maolin about his recovery and plans to visit with Jiang Haoyang.
• Zhao Hongxiang attempted the Dragon Gate Martial Trial and failed to withstand the final Spotted Shadow Leopard.
• Yang Jing broke through Indestructible True Art to transforming strength, bringing Mountain Collapse Fist, Surging Wave Leg, and Indestructible True Art all to transforming strength.
• Bai Bing secretly witnessed Yang Jing’s breakthrough, suspected he possessed the lost first volume of Indestructible True Art, and decided Lingxi Peak should prioritize nurturing him.

Yang Jing learned about the Profound Truth Sect’s rankings and focused on advancing his cultivation. After two months of training, he perfected the Mountain Collapse Fist, reached peak transforming strength, and set out to apply for the Dragon Gate Martial Trial.

• Bai Bing told Si Jiawen to watch the Azure Qilin Battles because Lingxi Peak might soon have a disciple ready to compete.
• Zhao Hongxiang and Su Qingyue mocked Yang Jing and considered having him beaten, but Zhao persuaded Su to leave him alone for now.
• Yang Jing exchanged silver for contribution points, inspected the Hidden Dragon and Profound Truth rankings, and resolved to qualify for the inner ranks.
• Yang Jing trained steadily for two months and brought the Mountain Collapse Fist to perfection, reaching peak transforming strength.
• Yang Jing left the training room and headed to Lingxi Peak’s Internal Affairs Hall to apply for the Dragon Gate Martial Trial.

Yang Jing registered for Lingxi Peak’s Dragon Gate Martial Trial after reaching peak transforming strength, then maintained his training as the assessment approached. On April twentieth, he arrived at Dragon Gate Plaza with Zhou Bohao and Shen Yue, where supporters and familiar faces gathered as the trial preparations awaited them.

• Yang Jing applied for the Dragon Gate Martial Trial, and the steward scheduled him to compete on April twentieth alongside Zhou Bohao and Shen Yue.
• Liu Rou learned Yang Jing had reached peak transforming strength, promised to watch his trial, and privately doubted he was prepared to pass.
• Yang Jing continued training, told Sun Ningxiang about the assessment, and ignored Su Qingyue’s mockery while his other courtyard companions stayed silent.
• On the morning of the trial, Yang Jing ate a nourishing breakfast, settled himself at Lingxi Square, and joined the stewards and the other Lingxi Peak contestants.
• Steward Zheng led Yang Jing, Zhou Bohao, and Shen Yue to Dragon Gate Plaza, where Sun Ningxiang, Liu Rou, and Jia Yuliang greeted Yang Jing.