Chapter Summaries

Chen Mu passed King Chao’s recruitment test and entered the Inner City to claim his settlement allowance and choose a Body Tempering Technique. He left with the Seven-Horned Black Deer Body Tempering Technique and arranged to use Old Ding’s greed to obtain another technique, while keeping his anger toward King Chao’s men hidden.

• Chen Mu posed as a mid-level Bone Strengthening martial artist, passed Third Master Jia’s stone-ball test, and was accepted into King Chao’s ranks.
• Old Ding gave Chen Mu only two hundred taels and a Dragon Transformation Pill instead of the expected two thousand taels, then took him to the Book Collection Tower.
• Chen Mu recognized Zong Tai, chose the Seven-Horned Black Deer Body Tempering Technique, and Old Liu Xing concealed his suspicions about Chen Mu from Zong Tai.
• Chen Mu told Old Ding that his cousin Chen Jia wanted to enlist, prompting Old Ding to plan a trip to Shanglin Ward so he could profit from the recruitment.
• Chen Mu left the Wu-character Camp without a smile and hoped Old Ding would remain pleased after Chen Mu’s identity was exposed.

Chen Mu used the Dragon Transformation Pill and practiced a face-changing technique before disguising himself as Chen Jia to enter the Wu-character Camp and obtain the Body Tempering Technique. He arranged for Old Ding to help his friend Yang Zhi pass the screening, leaving Old Ding eager to take the job.

• Chen Mu fed live fish to the Essence of Three Treasures, saw little progress refining Zhaodian Red, and decided he could postpone it because his income had improved and he had another way to obtain the Body Tempering Technique.
• Chen Mu practiced changing his face and concluded he could fool Old Ding with the technique.
• Old Liu Xing went to the Prefectural Office, where he encountered Chen Mu disguised as Chen Jia and nervously registered him for the Body Tempering Technique.
• Old Ding collected Chen Mu at the Wu-character Camp and agreed to arrange Yang Zhi's screening in exchange for payment, promising to take responsibility if anything went wrong.

Chen Mu continued gathering Body Tempering Techniques while posing as a bandit seeking refuge with King Chao, and Shangguan Ji planned to use Chao Fang to purge Nanyang Prefecture City. At the library, Chen Mu realized Old Liu Xing’s bone-reading skills could expose his disguises, threatening his plan to impersonate the 108 Heroes.

• Chen Mu acquired another Body Tempering Technique and persuaded Old Ding that 107 skilled bandits wanted to pledge themselves to King Chao, prompting Old Ding to eagerly pursue the deal.
• Chen Mu prepared to dye his face black for another disguise and reviewed three high-end Body Tempering Techniques at home.
• Shangguan Ji recovered from his wounds and told Shangguan Yu to wait for Chao Fang to clear Nanyang Prefecture City of disobedient forces and families.
• Chen Mu visited the Inner Academy Library and read Bone Reading and Physiognomy, discovering that its appearance-changing methods resembled his Shape Shift Technique.
• Chen Mu realized Old Liu Xing could identify people by examining their bones and feared the old man would uncover his disguises.

After his undercover plan failed, Chen Mu stole books from the Book Collection Tower and escaped before the authorities discovered the theft. Zong Tai punished Old Ding and ordered a search for the thieves, while Chen Mu settled into a hidden residence and reviewed his new books and ten Body Tempering Techniques.

• Chen Mu abandoned his disguise, used Black Smoke to take dozens of medical and martial arts books, and left the Wu-character Camp.
• Zong Tai questioned Old Ding and learned that the supposed Liangshan Heroes had never reported to the Wu-character Camp and had deceived them.
• Zong Tai ordered Old Ding stripped and hung from a flagpole for a month, warned Steward Chen to confess to Jia, and demanded information about the thieves.
• Chen Mu avoided returning to Taohua Workshop or Shanglin Ward and went to a separate hideout in Linheng Ward.
• Chen Mu sorted his stolen books, found medical texts and jianghu records, and reviewed four Body Tempering Techniques among the ten he had collected.

While Chen Mu hid in Linheng Ward, he advanced his training and cooked dinner, unaware that Zong Tai had come to retrieve the Soul Stabilizing Stake before Chao Fang’s forces retreated. Zong Tai recognized the enticing smell from Chen Mu’s cooking and suspected another fugitive was hiding nearby.

• Chen Mu studied Bone Reading and Physiognomy to improve Shape Shift Technique, then practiced the Sky Serpent Body Tempering Technique until it reached great mastery in Marrow Cleansing.
• Chen Mu examined his Roaming Souls, marveled at the black Soul Force around his abdomen, and planned to cultivate his sixth Roaming Soul soon.
• Chao Fang told his brothers that Shangguan Ji and eight thousand armored elites were approaching, ordered them to retrieve the Soul Stabilizing Stake that night, and announced their retreat from the city the next morning.
• Chen Mu filtered the smoke from his cooking with Black Smoke and the Five Ghosts Bag, then prepared spicy cured meat while planning to watch Miss Yutao’s performance.
• Zong Tai went to Linheng Ward to retrieve the Soul Stabilizing Stake, smelled food like the pan-fried dumplings he had once eaten from a scholar, and suspected another fugitive was hiding nearby.

Zong Tai retrieved the Soul Stabilizing Stake, then broke into Chen Mu’s residence and attacked what he believed was a sleeping target. His strike shattered an empty bed, and the Stake clashed with an unseen force before piercing the floor, leaving Zong Tai startled.

• Zong Tai decided against investigating a possible murderer and returned to retrieve the Soul Stabilizing Stake.
• He chanted over Zhaodian Red until it sank into the floor and raised the Soul Stabilizing Stake from the earth.
• At the Chen Residence, Chen Mu used his Five Ghosts Bag to clean dishes and gave Jie Jia sixty Blue Pills.
• Chen Mu read and practiced his breathing before going to sleep with forty-one Ancestral Radiance Talismans on him.
• Zong Tai entered Chen Mu’s residence, sent green smoke through a window, then smashed the bed with an Armor Soul-enhanced fist.
• When an unseen force threatened him, Zong Tai raised the Soul Stabilizing Stake, which slid through his grip and pierced the Blue Brick Floor.

Chen Mu killed Zong Tai after foiling his ambush and took the Soul Stabilizing Stake, while Chao Fang discovered that one of the stakes had vanished. Chen Mu then sought refuge with Jie Jia at Hesheng Hall as pursuers searched outside.

• Zong Tai tried to trick Chen Mu with an empty White Porcelain Bottle and attacked him with the Soul Stabilizing Stake, but Chen Mu dodged and killed him with Sleeve Sword: Piercing Cloud and Five Ghosts Moving Mountains.
• Chen Mu found no Zhaodian Red in the shattered bottle and returned to his room with the Soul Stabilizing Stake.
• At the Prefectural Office, Jia Xiang reported that Second Brother was gone, and Chao Fang used the Nurturing Yin Strategy to track the stakes before one red spot disappeared.
• At Hesheng Hall, Jie Jia caught Chen Mu hiding on the roof and demanded twenty taels a day for shelter.
• Horses neighed and searchers shouted outside, leaving Chen Mu and Jie Jia aware that someone was looking for him.

Chen Mu hid from the search for Zong Tai, then stayed in Nanyang as King Chao withdrew and Shangguan Ji restored order. Chao Fang left with Tushan after confirming that the Soul Stabilizing Stake was gone, planning to find a new human stake.

• Chao Fang ordered Jia Xiang to search North Market for Zong Tai and the missing Soul Stabilizing Stake.
• Chen Mu concealed himself in an underground cellar beneath Hesheng Hall while King Chao’s soldiers searched North Market.
• Chen Mu learned that Zong Tai was the target and kept the black staff in the Five Ghosts Bag, suspecting it could track people.
• Chao Fang and Tushan prepared to leave Nanyang and search for the Thousand Mechanism Token, while Chen Mu stayed at Hesheng Hall.
• King Chao withdrew his troops, and Shangguan Ji returned with Tangshan Camp’s eight thousand armored troops to restore order in Nanyang.
• Chao Fang confirmed the Soul Stabilizing Stake was gone and told Tushan he had found a daoist to use as a replacement human stake.

Chen Mu learned that the black staff was a Soul Stabilizing Stake tied to the Nurturing Yin Strategy, then sold Ancestral Radiance Talismans through Jie Jia and left Nanyang Prefecture City for Lijiang Garrison City. As he departed, he noticed several powerful families had survived the disaster untouched and grew suspicious of their good fortune.

• Chen Mu learned from Jie Jia that the black staff was a centuries-old Soul Stabilizing Stake made with the Thousand Mountains Scripture and used to contain Yinhun.
• Chen Mu discovered that a Soul Stabilizing Stake could disperse Yinhun and hid the staff, while arranging for Jie Jia to sell thirty-one Ancestral Radiance Talismans.
• Chen Mu counted his profits the next morning, settled his debts, and left Hesheng Hall for Lijiang Garrison City.
• Chen Mu passed through Jian'an Gate in disguise and saw a lavish convoy belonging to the Zhou Family.
• Chen Mu heard that the Bai Family had avoided the disaster by leaving the city and suspected the Zhou, Bai, and Shangguan families had been unusually lucky.

After settling back into Lijiang City, Chen Mu cleaned his residence, stocked it with supplies, and resumed his cultivation and daily practice. He reflected on the limits of Body Tempering Techniques and planned to keep pursuing an Armor Soul while enjoying the quieter life.

• Chen Mu unlocked his residence in Yongtong Ward, cleaned the courtyard and rooms, and replaced the moldy bedding with new supplies.
• Chen Mu ate at Lijiang Tower and compared the lower prices in Lijiang City with those in Nanyang Prefecture City.
• On his third day in Lijiang City, Chen Mu relaxed beneath his thatched shed and used the Soul Stabilizing Stake to cool the area around him.
• Chen Mu checked the Gray Wall, chose to prioritize the Sky Serpent Body Tempering Technique, and reasoned that Noble Clans had likely hoarded techniques capable of forming Armor Souls.
• Chen Mu continued practicing the Sky Serpent technique, studying books borrowed from King Chao, crafting medicine, and sharpening his throwing skill.

Chen Mu replenished his Blue Pills, learned that Jie Jia had abandoned a dangerous commission, and developed Fasting Pills while staying home. After the Sky Serpent Body Tempering Technique reached Tier 4 without forming an Armor Soul, he began practicing the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique.

• Chen Mu made a new batch of Blue Pills for Jie Jia to sell and delivered them at Lijiang Tower five days later.
• Jie Jia told Chen Mu that a commission had failed because the client’s intelligence was inaccurate and the payment was too low, so he confiscated the deposit.
• Chen Mu worried that Lijiang City might be unsafe and stayed home to practice, read, and improve his medicine crafting.
• Chen Mu developed high-calorie Fasting Pills and decided to have Jie Jia try one.
• On July 29, the Sky Serpent Body Tempering Technique reached Tier 4 without forming an Armor Soul, and Chen Mu started practicing the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique.

Chen Mu practiced the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique and found that accumulated techniques had accelerated his progress dramatically. After completing the Three-Phase Body Tempering in nine days, he celebrated by deciding to visit Ruyi Tower, while Old Ding settled comfortably into his retirement in Lijiang City.

• Chen Mu processed herbs for Blue Pills, practiced the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique, and saw a new entry appear on the gray wall.
• Chen Mu estimated that he could begin another Body Tempering Technique by the end of September and wondered where he could find more techniques.
• Old Ding recalled being released after Shangguan Ji pardoned King Chao's former associates, then revealed he had moved his assets to Lijiang City.
• Three days later, Chen Mu found he had already crossed into Bone Strengthening and suspected his accumulated techniques had pushed his physical training near its limit.
• Five days later, Chen Mu completed the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique's Three-Phase Body Tempering in nine days and decided to celebrate at Ruyi Tower.

Chen Mu witnessed two Armor Soul masters destroy a ship in battle, then struggled with the suspiciously slow progress of his Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique. He secretly stole 7,600 taels from Old Ding, easing his frustration as he headed home.

• Chen Mu saw two Armor Soul masters fight on the Lijiang River, where one smashed a martial artist who rushed to the dock, and he fled home.
• Chen Mu stayed indoors for several days, then learned the masters had disappeared and returned to grinding his Body Tempering Technique.
• After a month of slow progress, Chen Mu suspected King Chao had released incomplete techniques and spotted Old Ding leaving Ruyi Tower.
• Old Ding counted his savings at home, fell asleep, and woke to find 7,600 taels missing alongside a note signed by Shi Qian.
• Chen Mu, watching from outside Old Ding's courtyard, denied taking too much and went home in high spirits.

Chen Mu stayed in Lijiang City as increasingly powerful outsiders fought nearby, then completed the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique and discovered it advanced to rank 5 rather than ending with a weak Roaming Soul. He reconsidered his judgment of the Noble Clans and planned to investigate the gathering experts in Nanyang Prefecture City.

• Chen Mu enjoyed his new wealth and settled into a quiet routine in Lijiang City, cultivating and tending a vegetable patch.
• A prolonged battle near the Lijiang River frightened Chen Mu, who packed supplies and watched the city before deciding to stay and gather information.
• Chen Mu heard that the fighting experts were outsiders and continued monitoring their clashes, which eventually caused damage inside the city.
• After more than four months, Chen Mu noticed that the fighting had spread into Lijiang City and decided to seek answers from Jie Jia.
• Chen Mu completed the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique, saw that his Roaming Soul was small, and prepared to travel to Nanyang Prefecture City.
• Chen Mu discovered the technique had advanced to rank 5, suggesting it could lead directly to Armor Soul, and wondered whether he had misjudged the Noble Clans.

After discovering the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique could let him form an Armor Soul before thirty, Chen Mu left Lijiang City and asked Jie Jia about the Thousand Mechanism Token. He learned it was a rare boat ticket needed to travel overseas for the next stage of cultivation, then settled in Nanyang Prefecture City to study his technique before joining either local organization.

• Chen Mu realized the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique had great potential and decided to leave Lijiang City.
• Chen Mu met Jie Jia in Nanyang Prefecture City and paid him to explain why Armor Soul experts were gathering near Lijiang City.
• Jie Jia told Chen Mu that the experts sought the Thousand Mechanism Token, a boat ticket for traveling overseas to pursue sensing and See Immortality.
• Chen Mu learned the tokens appeared only once every hundred years and considered how to obtain one from a Yinhun nest or by exploiting Yinhun's vulnerability to excess human essence and qi.
• Chen Mu rented a residence in Nanyang Prefecture City and chose to study the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique before applying to Tangshan Camp or the Jinghong Gang.

A month later, Chen Mu advanced his Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique and tested how much Soul Force his Roaming Souls could muster. After buying a genuine Fasting Pill from Jie Jia, he confirmed it could curb his appetite and set off in disguise for Spring Breeze Tower.

• Chen Mu practiced the Breathing Method, reflected on Divine Intent, and estimated that he could cultivate an Armor Soul in less than four months.
• Chen Mu used his seven Roaming Soul strands to cover his body down to beneath his ribs and relied on his version 2.0 Fasting Pills to manage his growing appetite.
• Chen Mu paid Jie Jia one thousand taels for a genuine Fasting Pill and negotiated for another fake identity.
• Chen Mu scraped a little powder from the jade-like pill, confirmed it was genuine and filling, then stored it in his Five Ghosts Bag.
• Chen Mu changed his appearance and headed to Spring Breeze Tower in North Market.

Chen Mu infiltrated the Tangshan Army’s Laborer Camp by posing as Sun Dawang, a cook’s nephew, and arranged to report for duty in three days. Before leaving, he investigated the Fasting Pill and prepared a batch of weaker versions to sustain his training while searching for the Thousand Mechanism Token.

• At Spring Breeze Tower, Sun Enwu paid Sun Enqi to help place his son Sun Dawang in a kitchen-hand job with the Tangshan Army.
• Chen Mu appeared as Sun Dawang at Mingyi Teahouse, frightening Old Liu Xing into registering him in the laborer camp.
• Sun Enqi told Chen Mu to report to Little Tangshan in three days, and Chen Mu decided to watch Old Liu Xing while keeping his cover intact.
• Chen Mu failed to identify the Fasting Pill’s ingredients and bargained with Jie Jia for a discount.
• Chen Mu prepared version 3.0 Fasting Pills to support his training during the army’s northward march, then set out.

Chen Mu infiltrated the Tangshan Army’s labor camp as Sun Dawang and settled into work in the Dingyou Camp Cooks while concealing his abilities. As he received his iron bracelet, he saw it send a black thread into a laborer’s arm, suggesting the identification tag could be more dangerous than he expected.

• Sun Enqi brought Chen Mu into the labor camp and explained that laborers needed iron bracelets to collect their pay.
• Chen Mu joined the Dingyou Camp Cooks as a vegetable cutter and secretly practiced his breathing method while working.
• Chen Mu chopped vegetables so quickly that Zheng Yuan noticed, but Chen Mu helped finish another basket and learned to pace himself.
• Chen Mu joined the laborers receiving iron bracelets and believed his disguise had passed the identity review.
• Chen Mu saw a black thread shoot from an iron bracelet into the arm of the laborer wearing it.

Chen Mu infiltrated the Tangshan Army to search for the Thousand Mechanism Token, but an Armor Soul forced him to accept an Iron Ring that carried a controlling black thread. After half a month in the Laborer Camp, Chen Mu secretly kept the thread in his Five Ghosts Bag and continued training while investigating the parasite’s nature.

• Chen Mu abandoned his plan to flee after the middle-aged Armor Soul made him fear for his life, then enlarged his hand in an attempt to avoid the Iron Bracelet.
• The middle-aged man gave Chen Mu a larger Iron Ring, but Chen Mu used Five Ghosts Black Smoke to move the black thread into his Five Ghosts Bag before it could enter his body.
• Chen Mu settled into work as a cook at Dingyou Camp, secretly prepared boiled fish, and continued practicing the Breathing Method and Body Tempering Techniques.
• Half a month later, Chen Mu examined the black thread and realized it burrowed into living bodies, fed on its hosts, and lay dormant, while Zheng Yuan and the other laborers carried one inside them.

Chen Mu secretly cooked Silver Thread Fish by the Fenxi using the Five Ghosts Bag, but Bai Miaojin and Cui Cui found him and asked him to cook for them again. Afterward, he realized they were exceptionally capable and decided not to flee the Tangshan Army camp.

• Chen Mu used the Five Ghosts Bag to catch and clean Silver Thread Fish, then grilled eight of them in a hidden spot near the camp.
• Bai Miaojin and Cui Cui appeared and asked Chen Mu to share two fish, and he pretended to be a timid country boy.
• After eating with them, Chen Mu packed up and hurried back as Bai Miaojin called after him to grill fish for them again the next day.
• Chen Mu realized he had failed to watch for people coming down from Tang Mountain and suspected Bai Miaojin and Cui Cui were unusually skilled.
• Bai Miaojin said she did not dislike Chen Mu, while Cui Cui suspected he was concealing his strength behind his act of weakness.