Chapter Summaries

After completing six months of mining, Wang Yu returned to Island Town No. 732 and used his savings to enroll at the Shadowless Fist Gym. Sun Chengshan accepted his tuition and invited him into the courtyard, giving Wang Yu the chance to begin learning martial arts and investigate the interface in his mind.

• Wang Yu left the mine by ship and parted from Meng Lao Er, who advised him not to return if he found work elsewhere.
• Wang Yu returned to his room on Baisha Street, washed, and recovered the money and crystal fragments he had hidden before leaving.
• Wang Yu visited the Shadowless Fist Gym, determined to learn martial arts and test whether the interface in his mind was real.
• Wang Yu paid Sun Chengshan one thousand Crystal Coins, and Sun Chengshan accepted him despite his poor background.

Wang Yu became a provisional disciple of Sun Chengshan’s martial arts school after demonstrating that he could memorize Shadowless Fist’s Basic Fist Style. Once he began training, his hidden proficiency function appeared to accelerate his progress, and by the end of the day he was performing the technique with remarkable skill.

• Sun Chengshan tested Wang Yu’s physique and comprehension, then accepted him provisionally on the condition that he reach Body Tempering First Level within three months.
• Wang Yu moved into the school and learned from Wang Sanwa that Sun Chengshan was a renowned Body Tempering Fifth Level master who had defeated rival school masters.
• Song Hezheng taught Wang Yu the complete Shadowless Fist - Basic Stance, and the technique appeared on Wang Yu’s panel as something he could practice.
• Wang Yu discovered that practicing the fist style produced translucent “+1” marks and realized his proficiency function was active.
• Wang Yu trained repeatedly throughout the day, rapidly improving his form until Song Hezheng was astonished by his progress.

Wang Yu reached Body Tempering First Level after eight days of practicing Shadowless Fist, realizing that his panel let him steadily raise his martial arts proficiency. After learning that Jifeng Hall disciples had injured He Tie, he decided he needed to obtain Shadowless Fist’s later training methods as soon as possible.

• Wang Yu’s Basic Fist Style practice became fluid, and his body underwent a transformation that raised him to Body Tempering First Level.
• Wang Yu examined his panel and concluded that it gamified martial arts proficiency gains, allowing him to advance despite his ordinary aptitude.
• Wang Yu weighed whether to tell Sun Chengshan about his breakthrough, knowing he needed the later Shadowless Fist methods to progress.
• Disciples returned carrying the badly injured He Tie and reported that Wei Yiming and Fang Shihao had insulted Liu and attacked him.
• Sun Chengshan sent He Zheng to take He Tie to the Medical Hall and led Ji Fei and other disciples toward Jifeng Hall.
• After hearing about Jifeng Hall’s repeated attacks and the dangers facing the gym, Wang Yu decided not to waste time obtaining the next Shadowless Fist methods.

After Sun Chengshan won two hall-kicking duels, Wang Yu asked how quickly other disciples had reached Body Tempering First Level. He then revealed that he had perfected the Basic Fist Style and reached that level in eight days, leaving Sun Chengshan stunned and wondering whether Wang Yu was a prodigy.

• Zhang Erdan told the disciples that Sun Chengshan had defeated He Xuyang and Ding Lei, completing five consecutive hall-kicking challenges.
• Song Hezheng reassured Wang Yu that he was progressing quickly and described how long it had taken talented disciples to reach Body Tempering First Level.
• Wang Yu visited Sun Chengshan and reported that he had perfected the Basic Fist Style and reached Body Tempering First Level after eight days.
• Wang Yu demonstrated the form, and Sun Chengshan confirmed his skill and strength before questioning how he had progressed so quickly.
• Wang Yu denied concealing anything, while Sun Chengshan considered whether he had mistaken Wang Yu for an ordinary disciple.

After Wang Yu broke through to the Body Tempering First Level, Sun Chengshan explained his depletion and gave him an expensive Flatmouth Fish from the Silver Belt Sea to restore his strength. Sun Chengshan revealed that he had come to Island Town hoping the Treasure Sea would help him break through his stagnation at the Body Tempering Fifth Level, then promised to teach Wang Yu Shadowless Fist from the next day.

• Sun Chengshan explained that Wang Yu's breakthrough had depleted his Qi and Blood, causing his persistent hunger.
• Sun Chengshan gave Wang Yu a dried Poison Fish, which Wang Yu recognized as a valuable Flatmouth Fish from the Silver Belt Sea.
• Wang Yu ate the fish and felt his strength and spirits recover.
• Sun Chengshan said he had traveled to Island Town to seek a breakthrough with the Treasure Sea's restorative resources.
• Sun Chengshan explained the difficulty of cultivation and instructed Wang Yu to work hard as he began teaching him Shadowless Fist the next day.

Wang Yu trained under Sun Chengshan and advanced to the Body Tempering Second Layer while raising his Shadowless Fist proficiency. After nearly three months of practice, he realized his funds were running out and decided he needed to find a way to earn money.

• Ji Fei questioned why Sun Chengshan favored Wang Yu, while Song Hezheng explained that Wang Yu's rapid cultivation made the attention natural.
• Wang Yu memorized the later Shadowless Fist training methods and reviewed how the technique covered cultivation from the Body Tempering First Level through the Sixth Level.
• Over nearly three months, Wang Yu trained at the fist gym, reached the Body Tempering First Level, and saw most of his fellow provisional disciples leave or fall short of the test.
• Wang Yu practiced against a wooden post and explained that tougher targets and sparring raised his fist proficiency faster, though he had few suitable partners.
• Wang Yu reached the Body Tempering Second Layer and filled the second level of Shadowless Fist, but realized his money had run out and resolved to find work.

Wang Yu learned how the Shadowless Fist Gym’s commission service worked and discovered that Meng Lao Er’s family was being threatened over their farmland. He accepted the commission and left with Meng Lao Er to investigate.

• The chapter explained that residents on Fragment Star No. 5 often relied on gym disciples to handle local problems and that the Shadowless Fist Gym had recently gained more commission work.
• Meng Lao Er came to the gym’s service desk seeking help because a group of people threatened to seize his reclaimed farmland and harm his family.
• Wang Yu recognized Meng Lao Er, who was surprised to find him wearing a Shadowless Fist Gym disciple uniform.
• Meng Lao Er explained that the Security Bureau had been unable to stop the threatening group, which disappeared whenever officers arrived.
• After learning the commission required one Body Tempering Second Layer disciple or three Body Tempering First Level disciples, Wang Yu accepted it and set out with Meng Lao Er.

Wang Yu accompanied Meng Lao Er to confront the thugs threatening his family and property. He drove off the gang at Meng Lao Er’s home, leaving Wang Xiaoma and the remaining men fleeing.

• Wang Yu urged Meng Lao Er to send his wife and child somewhere safe, but Meng Lao Er insisted on going with him to Nan Shan Ling.
• Wang Yu and Meng Lao Er arrived to find Wang Xiaoma and more than ten thugs trying to break into the house and demanding the land and house deeds.
• Wang Yu stopped Meng Lao Er from rushing the gang and asked whether their leader was present; Meng Lao Er said the leader had not come.
• Four thugs attacked, and Wang Yu kicked one aside and struck another down while Meng Lao Er beat two more with his hoe.
• The remaining thugs recognized Wang Yu as a martial arts gym disciple and began to flee, but Wang Yu chased after them and knocked them down one by one.

Wang Yu captured Wang Xiaoma and learned that Wang Feng had ordered the gang to seize Meng Lao Er’s land because he believed a mineral vein lay beneath it. Wang Yu and Meng Lao Er found Purple Coal Ore in the hillside, leaving Meng Lao Er to decide whether to surrender the valuable but dangerous discovery to the government.

• Wang Yu captured Wang Xiaoma and brought him back to Meng Lao Er’s courtyard, where he frightened him into answering questions.
• Wang Xiaoma revealed that his older brother Wang Feng, a Body Tempering Second Layer martial artist, had ordered the gang to occupy Meng Lao Er’s land because of a mineral vein.
• Wang Yu tied up the gang and questioned the other hoodlums, whose accounts supported Wang Xiaoma’s story.
• Wang Yu and Meng Lao Er searched the property and found purple streaks of Purple Coal Ore in a slope beside the backyard field.
• Wang Yu advised Meng Lao Er to hand the vein over to the government for compensation, but Meng Lao Er struggled to give up the potential wealth.

Wang Yu persuaded Meng Lao Er to partner with Sun Chengshan over the Purple Coal Vein, and Sun Chengshan agreed to inspect it before negotiating a contract. The three set out to examine the vein and discuss the deal.

• Wang Yu suggested that Meng Lao Er share the Purple Coal Vein's profits with Sun Chengshan in exchange for his help claiming it.
• Meng Lao Er agreed to the partnership, saying he would accept even ten percent of the profits.
• Wang Yu returned to Shadowless Fist Gym with Meng Lao Er and learned that Sun Chengshan was in the inner courtyard.
• Wang Yu told Sun Chengshan about the vein and proposed a partnership, and Sun Chengshan agreed to cooperate.
• Sun Chengshan asked to inspect the vein before finalizing the contract, then set out with Wang Yu and Meng Lao Er.

Wang Yu, Sun Chengshan, and Meng Lao Er confirmed a small Purple Coal Vein and agreed to mine it together, with Wang Yu earning shares from both men. The contract took effect, and Sun Chengshan began organizing the mining while Wang Yu continued training at the school.

• Sun Chengshan confirmed the Purple Coal Vein on Meng Lao Er's land and agreed to fund the mining in exchange for seventy percent of the profits, leaving Meng Lao Er thirty percent.
• Meng Lao Er gave Wang Yu ten percent of his share in gratitude, and Sun Chengshan promised Wang Yu an additional five percent of the profits.
• Wang Yu warned Sun Chengshan that an outsider Martial Artist at the Body Tempering Second Layer also knew about the vein, but Sun Chengshan dismissed the threat.
• Sun Chengshan drafted the contract, and he, Meng Lao Er, and Wang Yu signed it at the government notary office the next day.
• Sun Chengshan devoted himself to arranging the mining, while Song Hezheng supervised the school and the disciples heard about the vein without learning of Wang Yu's role.

Wang Feng abandoned his attempt to claim Meng Lao Er's mineral vein rather than risk provoking Sun Chengshan, while Wang Yu spent two months training and broke through to the Body Tempering Third Layer. When Jifeng Hall and Feiyingmen Hall caused trouble at the vein, Wang Yu joined Shadowless Fist Gym's core disciples as they hurried to respond.

• Wang Feng berated Wang Xiaoma for failing to seize Meng Lao Er's mineral vein and refused to pursue Wang Yu because Sun Chengshan could retaliate.
• After another two months of practice, Wang Yu perfected Shadowless Fist's second layer and reached the Body Tempering Third Layer.
• Wang Yu considered using his expected share of the vein's profits to buy precious materials and advance his cultivation.
• He Tie reported that Jifeng Hall and Feiyingmen Hall had brought people to cause trouble at the mineral vein.
• Song Hezheng gathered the core disciples, and Wang Yu joined them as they rushed to the vein.

Jifeng Hall's He Xuyang and Feiyingmen Hall's Gu Hongming confronted Sun Chengshan at the mine, using a challenge to pressure Shadowless Fist Gym. Ji Fei lost to Wei Yiming, and as Sun Chengshan faced further humiliation, a familiar voice announced someone's arrival.

• He Xuyang and Gu Hongming arrived at the mine and challenged Sun Chengshan, who agreed to a formal gym match the next day.
• Gu Hongming called out Song Hezheng, but Ji Fei stepped forward when Song was absent.
• Wei Yiming rushed Ji Fei, exploited his temper, and defeated him with two chest strikes that cracked his breastbone.
• He Xuyang taunted Sun Chengshan while the injured Ji Fei lay defeated, and Sun Chengshan struggled to contain his anger.
• A familiar voice called out to Sun Chengshan, announcing an arrival.

Song Hezheng defeated Zhang Yucheng in a battle for the honor of Shadowless Fist Gym and broke through a bottleneck in his fist art. After Jifeng Hall and Feiyingmen Hall withdrew, Wang Yu and Sun Chengshan realized the rival halls were likely planning to seize the gym’s stored ore during the next day’s contest.

• Song Hezheng stepped forward to fight Zhang Yucheng after Sun Chengshan agreed to let him handle the challenge.
• Song Hezheng overpowered Zhang Yucheng and pinned him to the ground, winning the match for Shadowless Fist Gym.
• Song Hezheng told Sun Chengshan that the fight had loosened his fist-art bottleneck, and Sun Chengshan praised his progress.
• Gu Hongming led Jifeng Hall and Feiyingmen Hall away after Sun Chengshan mocked their defeat and anticipated their contest the next day.
• Sun Chengshan arranged for Ji Fei to receive medical treatment and reassured Meng Lao Er that the mining site was safe.
• Wang Yu warned Sun Chengshan that the rival halls were targeting the ore warehouse, and Sun Chengshan explained they might use the next day’s contest to distract him while others seized the ore.

Sun Chengshan used the challenge from Gu Hongming to draw him into a fight while exposing his plot against Sun’s ore shipment. After Gu Hongming fled the martial hall, Zheng Anbang’s soldiers ambushed and subdued him in the street.

• Gu Hongming arrived at Sun Chengshan’s hall to challenge him, while Sun confronted him about his connection to the trouble surrounding the ore warehouse.
• Sun Chengshan revealed that he planned to sell the Purple Coal Ore to the Garrison Commander, and Gu Hongming realized Sun had known about his scheme.
• Sun Chengshan and Gu Hongming fought in the courtyard as He Tie and the other core disciples shut the gates and defeated the Feiyingmen Hall disciples who tried to leave.
• Sun Chengshan gained the upper hand, then let Gu Hongming leave after Gu threatened that they would both perish.
• Gu Hongming ran into a street ambush, where Zheng Anbang’s soldiers wounded him and shattered his limbs.

Sun Chengshan secured Zheng Anbang’s support after the theft of the Garrison Commander’s Purple Coal Stones, while the mine’s first batch brought in a large profit. Wang Yu received news of his share and asked Sun Chengshan where he could buy precious cultivation materials.

• Zheng Anbang accepted Sun Chengshan’s gift after the knife-wielding man subdued Gu Hongming, and the two discussed future cooperation.
• The Security Bureau sealed Jifeng Hall and Feiyingmen Hall and arrested disciples involved in stealing the Garrison Commander’s goods.
• Sun Chengshan reviewed the mine’s first-batch accounts with Meng Lao Er and Wang Yu, calculating a profit of more than 196,000 Crystal Coins.
• Sun Chengshan asked Meng Lao Er to recruit reliable mining teams from neighboring island towns to expand production.
• Wang Yu told Sun Chengshan about his cultivation progress, then asked where he could buy precious materials.

Sun Chengshan took Wang Yu to Island Town No. 708 to attend a Night Sleep Gathering, traveling by airship across the Black Blue Sea. They settled in after seeing the crowded town and the many martial artists who had come for the gathering.

• Sun Chengshan told Wang Yu about the upcoming Night Sleep Gathering and invited him to go along to Island No. 708.
• Sun Chengshan and Wang Yu left Song Hezheng to watch the house and traveled by airship from Island No. 732.
• During the flight, Wang Yu learned about the airship’s coal-stone engine and the dangers and resources of the Black Blue Sea.
• Sun Chengshan and Wang Yu arrived at the more populous Island Town No. 708 and saw many martial artists gathered there.
• Sun Chengshan and Wang Yu strolled through the town, ate dinner, and settled into an inn.

Sun Chengshan brought Wang Yu to a Night Sleep Gathering in the Giant Tree Black Forest and explained how its membership and trading worked. After entering, Wang Yu began browsing the goods and found the items he had come to seek.

• Sun Chengshan showed Wang Yu a Message Bamboo Slip and explained how Night Sleep used them to announce gatherings and communicate.
• Sun Chengshan warned Wang Yu to conceal his identity, then paid the entrance fee and introduced him as a newcomer.
• Wang Yu paid one hundred Star Tickets and received his own Message Bamboo Slip before entering the gathering with Sun Chengshan.
• Sun Chengshan and Wang Yu agreed to shop separately and meet again, and Wang Yu entered a tent displaying weapons.
• Wang Yu watched a masked buyer purchase a Short-handled Sickle for eight thousand eight hundred, then moved to another tent and found his target.

Wang Yu bought Blood Pig Meat and several incomplete Body Tempering Methods at the Night Sleep Gathering, while Sun Chengshan also acquired treasures to aid his cultivation. They returned to Island Town 732, where the martial arts school and mine had continued running smoothly in their absence.

• Wang Yu bought fifteen jin of Blood Pig Meat and collected a receipt for it.
• Wang Yu purchased several incomplete Body Tempering Method manuals, spending nearly all his remaining Crystal Coins.
• Wang Yu met Sun Chengshan, who said he had also bought Blood Pig Meat and hoped his improved cultivation would help him attempt the sixth layer of his fist technique.
• Wang Yu and Sun Chengshan left the gathering and traveled overnight back to Island Town 732.
• Wang Yu and Sun Chengshan found that Song Hezheng had managed the martial arts school and that the mine had remained secure under Director Zheng Anbang and the Garrison Commander.
• Sun Chengshan shifted his focus from the mine to practicing his fist techniques.

Wang Yu advanced four additional Body Tempering Methods to the first layer and found that they enhanced his fighting skills in different ways. At the martial arts school, Song Hezheng broke through to the Body Tempering Fourth Layer and chose to stay and cultivate under Sun Chengshan.

• Wang Yu completed his training circuit, raising Hong Family Fist, Mian Yin Palm Technique, Undying Bell Skill, and Zu Family Wind Chasing Foot to the first layer while continuing to practice Shadowless Fist.
• Wang Yu noticed that the different Body Tempering Methods added strength, deceptive qualities, force-redirection techniques, and improved footwork, with Zu Family Wind Chasing Foot giving him the greatest improvement so far.
• Wang Yu learned that Song Hezheng had advanced Shadowless Fist to the fourth layer and entered the Body Tempering Fourth Layer Realm.
• Wang Yu congratulated Song Hezheng, and Sun Chengshan praised his eldest disciple for the breakthrough.
• Sun Chengshan asked Song Hezheng about his future, and Song Hezheng declined outside offers and chose to remain at the martial arts school.