Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning watched Hong Minghu confront County Magistrate Li Hong at the County Office, where Li Hong revealed his ties to the God Worshipping Sect by transforming after consuming divine flesh. The chapter left Li Hong exposed as a rebel leader and the County Office staff fearing a purge.

• Hong Minghu entered the County Office and accused Li Hong of being a deputy leader of the God Worshipping Sect.
• Hong Minghu struck Li Hong, collapsing a building and burying him in the ruins.
• Jiang Ning saw Li Hong reveal a Golden Box containing divine flesh and realized Hong Minghu’s accusation was true.
• Li Hong swallowed the flesh to avoid capture, triggering a painful transformation into a many-armed monster.
• Hong Minghu declared Li Hong the leader of the rebels, and the County Office staff feared they would be purged for their ties to him.

Li Hong transformed into a three-headed, six-armed divine descendant and briefly overpowered Hong Minghu, but Hong Minghu used Gold Dust to suppress his healing and drove him into retreat. As Hong Minghu caught up with the fleeing Li Hong, Jiang Ning studied the mysterious patterns in Hong Minghu’s Inner Breath tiger and realized Fifth Grade techniques held knowledge he had yet to learn.

• Jiang Ning recognized Li Hong’s six-armed, four-legged transformation as the effect of the living flesh and connected it to the God Worshipping Sect’s divine descendants.
• Li Hong grew two additional heads, gained confidence in his new power, and struck Hong Minghu hard enough to send him flying.
• Hong Minghu unleashed Inner Breath techniques that formed ferocious tigers, then destroyed one of Li Hong’s new heads and used Gold Dust to suppress its healing.
• Li Hong fled, Hong Minghu pursued him, and Li Changkong tried to stop him but was disarmed and knocked away.
• Hong Minghu closed in on Li Hong and formed a massive Inner Breath tiger as Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to study its mysterious patterns and reconsider what he knew about Fifth Grade techniques.

Hong Minghu and the Patrol Office commanders were overwhelmed by Li Hong’s strange power until Jiang Ning killed him with two arrows from afar. Afterward, Hong Minghu thanked Jiang Ning and declared that he deserved the greatest merit for the victory.

• Hong Minghu struck Li Hong, but Li Hong’s awakened head used a strange power to cripple Hong Minghu, Ye Qiu, Li Changkong, and the other commanders.
• Ye Qiu ordered Yuan Hua and Tang Miaomiao to evacuate Hong Minghu while he and the commanders tried to hold Li Hong back, then called on Jiang Ning to act.
• Jiang Ning shot Li Hong through the heart and head, ending the strange power and saving the Patrol Office group.
• Jiang Ning absorbed thirteen points of Divinity and two Authorities from Li Hong, then told Hong Minghu he had been unable to capture Li Hong alive.
• Hong Minghu and the others thanked Jiang Ning for saving them, and Hong Minghu declared that Jiang Ning deserved the greatest merit for killing Li Hong.

Jiang Ning learned how Hong Minghu used a Divine Mark on a Tiger Bone to strengthen his Inner Breath Manifestation, then immediately reproduced the technique with far greater force. Hong Minghu gave him the costly Tiger Bone, and Jiang Ning left unaware at first that it was worth 110,000 taels of silver.

• Hong Minghu vomited blood from injuries sustained in battle, and Jiang Ning used his Inner Breath to ease the damage.
• Hong Minghu explained that his Inner Breath Manifestation drew power from the Divine Mark on a Tiger Bone and advised Jiang Ning to study at the Martial Academy.
• Hong Minghu gave Jiang Ning the Tiger Bone, and Jiang Ning memorized its markings and manifested them on an Inner Breath tiger within moments.
• Hong Minghu was astonished by Jiang Ning's enhanced technique, while Jiang Ning returned the Tiger Bone; Hong Minghu insisted he keep it.
• After Jiang Ning left, Hong Minghu lamented giving away the Tiger Bone, and Jiang Ning overheard that it had cost 110,000 taels of silver.

Jiang Ning escorted Xie Xiaojiu home and discovered that his Divine Descendant Subordinate Authority could greatly strengthen those who drank his blood, bringing Luyi and Xie Xiaojiu under his control. He then considered selling Hong Minghu’s Tiger Bone to fund his cultivation and planned to travel to Dongling City for the Martial Examination and possible Martial Academy Training.

• Jiang Ning met Xie Xiaojiu at the Patrol Office, learned that the Xie Family had restored order, and escorted her home in his carriage.
• Jiang Ning spent Divinity Points to advance his Divine Descendant Subordinate Authority, unlocking a stronger Flesh Blessing effect.
• Jiang Ning gave Luyi his blood, rapidly strengthening her, and Xie Xiaojiu asked to receive the same blessing despite its control over her.
• Jiang Ning gave Xie Xiaojiu his blood as well, then stepped outside the carriage while both women endured the transformation.
• Jiang Ning examined Hong Minghu’s Tiger Bone and decided its sale could fund the Source Energy needed for his next Five Animal Frolics Fist breakthrough.
• Jiang Ning planned to travel to Dongling City after winter to obtain cultivation resources and take part in the Martial Examination.

Jiang Ning discovered that circulating his Inner Breath through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Principal Meridians improved its output, then repeatedly tore and healed his meridians to widen and strengthen them. He escorted Xie Xiaojiu home and continued cultivating in the carriage as it carried him back through the snow.

• Jiang Ning manifested the Tiger Bone Divine Mark and realized that widening his meridians could increase the efficiency of his Inner Breath.
• Jiang Ning’s first attempt to circulate Inner Breath through his meridians caused a brief qi deviation, but his body quickly healed the damage and opened the Ren and Du Meridians.
• Jiang Ning completed a Great Celestial Circuit and found that his Inner Breath erupted twenty percent faster, then repeatedly widened and toughened his meridians by tearing and healing them.
• Jiang Ning waited outside the Xie Residence while cultivating, and Xie Zhengtian waited in the freezing cold until Xie Xiaojiu and Luyi came out of the carriage.
• Jiang Ning declined Xie Zhengtian’s invitation, departed with Luyi, and continued circulating his Inner Breath as the carriage carried him home through heavy snow.

Jiang Ning tested the greatly increased power and cost of his Inner Breath, while Luyi and Xie Xiaojiu discovered that his blood had dramatically strengthened them. In Dongling City, Bai Luoyu learned that Jiang Ning had earned another merit, as Xiao Emei hesitated over how to bring him to Water Moon Sword Palace.

• Jiang Ning used his expanded meridians to leap a hundred zhang and unleash an aura that shattered the ice, then found that his Inner Breath rapidly recovered while he was in the water.
• Jiang Ning saw Luyi swing a five-hundred-jin Stone Dumbbell with ease and told her to focus on training; Luyi said the effects of his blood were more than ten times stronger than before.
• Xie Xiaojiu completed a round of Tempering Tendons and Meridians and was astonished by the improvement from Jiang Ning's blood.
• Bai Luoyu met Xiao Emei in Dongling City, where Deputy Prefect Su and Judge Zhu arrived to tell him Jiang Ning had earned another great merit and received an additional reward.
• Xiao Emei worried that her master's order to invite Jiang Ning to Water Moon Sword Palace might require her to use force.

Jiang Ning absorbed Great Sun Essence Qi and advanced his inner breath from river-like to sea-like, then continued cultivating as winter began to thaw. Luyi reached Rank Eight with his help, while Bai Luoyu and Xiao Emei entered Qujiang County to wait out the snow before continuing toward Luoshui County.

• Jiang Ning cultivated under the sun, ignited the Five Elements Spirit Essence in his organs, and advanced to Inner Breath Like the Sea.
• Jiang Ning continued practicing his fist arts and absorbing Great Sun Essence Qi over several fine-weather days, raising his Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill to 2773 experience points.
• Luyi told Jiang Ning she had reached Rank Eight, and Jiang Ning reflected that his marked flesh and blood could strengthen people who consumed it.
• Jiang Ning washed, ate the meat soup Luyi brought, and practiced his punches despite the heavy snow.
• Bai Luoyu brought Xiao Emei into Qujiang County to shelter from the snow and insisted they rest before traveling onward to Luoshui County.

Jiang Ning continued reshaping his meridians and advancing his cultivation while his growing reputation and the Yellow Sky Sect’s influence transformed Luoshui County. At Jiang Yiming’s fifteenth birthday meal, Jiang Ning gave his nephew a drop of his essence blood to strengthen his martial foundation, and the chapter ended as the medicine took effect.

• Jiang Ning used the lake water and his self-healing ability to repeatedly tear and repair his meridians, then concluded that strengthening his body was necessary to raise their limits further.
• Jiang Ning’s cultivation progressed as his Five Animal Frolics Fist and Source Energy increased, while the Xie Family and Yellow Sky Sect gained followers through aid during the winter.
• Bai Luoyu delayed leaving Qujiang County with Xiao Emei before they finally set out for Luoshui County.
• Jiang Ning joined Jiang Li’s family to celebrate Jiang Yiming’s fifteenth birthday and offered him essence blood sealed in blood-red amber as a gift.
• Liu Wanwan initially refused the precious gift, but Jiang Ning reassured her that it would benefit Jiang Yiming more than him and reminded her of her past kindness.
• Jiang Ning released the essence blood into Jiang Yiming’s mouth; when the boy grew feverishly hot, Jiang Ning cooled him with water and explained that the medicine was taking effect.

Jiang Ning agreed to accompany Jiang Li’s family to Dongling City, where Jiang Yiming could seek admission to the Martial Academy, and planned to pursue his own training and examinations. After Inspector Bai Luoyu arrived in Luoshui County, Jiang Ning visited Zhou Xing’s pharmacy and obtained a collection of old medicinal treasures to strengthen himself.

• Jiang Li told Jiang Ning he planned to take Liu Wanwan and Jiang Yiming to visit the Dongling Liu Family, and Jiang Ning agreed because Yiming could qualify for the Martial Academy.
• Jiang Ning said he would accompany them to Dongling City for Martial Academy training and examinations, while also considering the civil examinations and their benefits to his official career.
• Bai Luoyu and Xiao Emei arrived at Luoshui County after a long journey, and Bai Luoyu announced that he wanted a proper bath.
• Jiang Ning saw that his Five Animal Frolics Fist had reached its experience limit and decided to acquire more medicinal materials to gain the Source Energy he needed for a breakthrough.
• Jiang Ning visited Zhou Family Pharmacy, where Zhou Xing brought out two hands’ worth of treasured medicines more than fifty years old.

Jiang Ning gave Zhou Xing five drops of his blood, dramatically strengthening him, then refined a haul of precious medicines and gained Source Energy. The next morning, Jiang Ning used 2,000 Source Energy to break through Five Animal Frolics Fist, advancing his Fist Momentum to a tangible, flame-wreathed third layer.

• Zhou Xing pledged to follow Jiang Ning through life and death, and Jiang Ning gave him five drops of blood that rapidly strengthened his body.
• Jiang Ning sent Zhou Xing to gather medicinal ingredients and obtain a Meditation Room, then spent hours refining precious medicines from the county pharmacies.
• Zhou Xing marveled at his newfound strength, while Jiang Ning finished refining the medicines and saw his Source Energy rise to 2,877.45 the next morning.
• Jiang Ning traveled onto the lake ice and spent 2,000 Source Energy to perform the fifth limit break of Five Animal Frolics Fist.
• Jiang Ning's fist breakthrough manifested a real, blazing Fire Tiger and raised his Fist Momentum to its third layer; its flame-wreathed paw struck with a powerful shockwave.

After breaking the Five Animal Frolics Fist’s limits, Jiang Ning gained the Five Elements Body and spent the morning cultivating while Bai Luoyu arrived with rewards for his merits. Bai Luoyu recognized Jiang Ning’s Great Sun Essence Qi cultivation and waited for him to finish before meeting him.

• Jiang Ning tested the five Fist Momentum forms, then discovered that his breakthrough had granted him the Five Elements Body, which could absorb most of the power of five-elements Daoist Divine Abilities.
• Jiang Ning rested at home, gave Luyi a drop of his blood to aid her Strength Training, and later cultivated the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill with Great Sun Essence Qi.
• Bai Luoyu told Hong Minghu that Jiang Ning had earned the first merit for killing Li Hong, worth four hundred thousand Contribution Points and an unconditional Half-Rank Promotion, while Hong Minghu received one hundred thousand Contribution Points.
• Bai Luoyu sensed Jiang Ning refining Great Sun Essence Qi and recognized him as a fellow traveler on the same path, so he agreed to wait until Jiang Ning finished cultivating.
• After his cultivation, Jiang Ning checked his progress and went to the main hall to meet Bai Luoyu, anticipating the rewards for his three merits.

Jiang Ning welcomed Bai Luoyu, Xiao Emei, and Hong Minghu to his residence, where Bai Luoyu explained Jiang Ning’s potential to become a Heavenly Human Grandmaster through the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill. Bai Luoyu then revealed that he had come under orders to deliver Jiang Ning’s reward for his merits.

• Jiang Ning greeted Bai Luoyu and Xiao Emei, recognizing that Xiao Emei might have come because he had killed He Jinyun, the Water Moon Sword Palace Palace Lord’s nephew.
• Bai Luoyu praised Jiang Ning’s abilities and identified his Internal Strengthening Method as the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill.
• Bai Luoyu explained the different paths to Grandmaster and said Jiang Ning could become a Heavenly Human Grandmaster if he perfected the skill.
• Bai Luoyu advised Jiang Ning to seek further study at the Dao Palace or the Academy and noted where complete copies of the skill could be found.
• Bai Luoyu asked Hong Minghu and Xiao Emei to leave, then told Jiang Ning he had come to deliver the reward for Jiang Ning’s merits.

Jiang Ning received Contribution Points for his merits and chose to pursue the position of Third Inspector of Dongling County instead of becoming a Deputy Commander. He left the decision with a year to meet the strength requirement and to earn both Martial Scholar and Literary Scholar titles.

• Bai Luoyu gave Jiang Ning one million Contribution Points for killing two fifth-rank members of the God Worshipping Sect and another four hundred thousand for resolving Li Hong’s threat.
• Bai Luoyu offered Jiang Ning either a Deputy Commander post after Martial Academy training or an opportunity to become Dongling County’s Third Inspector.
• Bai Luoyu explained that inspectors held Subordinate Sixth Rank and could oversee county Patrol Offices and government affairs.
• Bai Luoyu said Jiang Ning had to reach Rank 5 with Inner Breath Like the Sea within a year and earn both Martial Scholar and Literary Scholar titles to qualify as an inspector.
• Jiang Ning chose the opportunity to become Third Inspector, believing the post offered greater authority and freedom than Deputy Commander.

Jiang Ning received a Candidate Inspector token from Bai Luoyu and learned that the Patrol Office already knew he possessed an Immortal Root. After Xiao Emei failed to invite him to the Water Moon Sword Palace, she decided to test him that night, while Bai Luoyu chose not to intervene.

• Bai Luoyu gave Jiang Ning the Celestial Secrets Record token and explained its Inspector role and Thousand-Mile Communication function.
• Jiang Ning rejected Xiao Emei’s invitation to the Water Moon Sword Palace, and Bai Luoyu teased her about using a Beauty Trap.
• Jiang Ning told Jiang Li that he had been promoted to Subordinate Sixth Rank, then reviewed his 1.43 million contribution points and resumed cultivating.
• Xiao Emei concluded that she had underestimated Jiang Ning and prepared to probe his strength that night.
• Xiao Emei left the inn in a Night Suit, and Bai Luoyu watched her go before deciding not to interfere.

Jiang Ning chose to focus on improving Literacy before his planned search for treasures in the Luoshui, but Xiao Emei broke into his room to investigate his strength. He subdued her, crippled her ability to fight, and left her exposed and humiliated, though she remained conscious and managed to reset her dislocated arms.

• Jiang Ning reviewed his Skills and decided to set aside Five Animal Frolics Fist, focusing instead on Literacy to improve his Spiritual Power and prepare for the Imperial Examination and treasure hunting.
• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to identify Xiao Emei hiding above his bed, then entered his room and lit a candle.
• Xiao Emei attacked Jiang Ning with a Short Dagger to inspect his bones, but he caught her wrist and slammed her into the floor.
• Jiang Ning overwhelmed Xiao Emei with Third Level Fist Momentum and flames, dislocated her arms, and tore apart her meridians with his Inner Breath.
• Jiang Ning warned Xiao Emei that she would die if she tried to escape, while she reset her arms and covered herself as her burned clothing fell away.

Jiang Ning defeated Xiao Emei and used his blood to strengthen and control her, turning her into an inside agent for Water Moon Sword Palace. After ordering her to report information and demonstrating his control, he left her to dress and went to fetch Luyi.

• Xiao Emei admitted defeat, and Jiang Ning demanded her obedience and information from Water Moon Sword Palace instead of killing her.
• Jiang Ning made Xiao Emei swallow more than twenty drops of his blood, which transformed her body and increased her strength.
• Jiang Ning activated the control brand in Xiao Emei, inflicting severe pain before stopping it, and Xiao Emei recognized him as a Reincarnation of a Deity and pledged to obey.
• Jiang Ning gave Xiao Emei a robe and left the room while she dressed.
• Jiang Ning went to Luyi's Side Courtyard and told her to come with him.

After Jiang Ning defeated Xiao Emei, she accepted that he was far more powerful than she had believed and returned with Bai Luoyu to visit him. Jiang Ning finished his morning training and welcomed Bai Luoyu, who brought his own wine.

• Jiang Ning sent Xiao Emei away to rest and then slept after assessing the damage his Fist Momentum had caused to his room.
• Xiao Emei returned to the inn, took medicine for her injuries, and spent several hours bathing and changing while Bai Luoyu waited.
• Xiao Emei accompanied Bai Luoyu to Jiang Ning's residence, where Bai Luoyu admired Jiang Ning's cultivation and Xiao Emei reflected on the strength she had discovered the night before.
• Jiang Ning refined Great Sun Essence Qi until noon and saw his Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill progress reach Minor Completion 3350/5000.
• Jiang Ning welcomed Bai Luoyu and apologized that his special wine had run out, so Bai Luoyu produced a white-jade flask of his own wine.

Jiang Ning received Xiao Emei’s report that Xiao Qiuyue might seek revenge for her son He Jinyun, prompting him to focus on growing stronger while he continued reading through the snowfall. As his Literacy skill neared its sixth limit break, he sensed a visitor at the manor gate and used Heavenly Eye Vision to inspect them.

• Jiang Ning received Xiao Emei’s letter reporting that Xiao Qiushui had sent Yu Manyun to invite him to Water Moon Sword Palace, while Xiao Qiuyue remained there intent on avenging He Jinyun.
• Jiang Ning suspected Xiao Emei might be trying to use him against Yu Manyun and worried that Xiao Qiuyue’s grief made her a dangerous threat.
• Jiang Ning decided that gaining strength was his best protection, then read while Luyi brought him meat soup and received a drop of his blood.
• Qingyi read a second letter from a persistent girl and decided to visit Jiang Ning later.
• Jiang Ning’s Literacy reached 5613/6000, and he considered improving his Archery before noticing a visitor at the manor gate.
• Jiang Ning opened his Heavenly Eye to see who had arrived.

Qingyi visited Jiang Ning, delivered a letter from the Seventeenth Princess, and explained the paths to becoming a Grandmaster while concealing the danger she faced. The next morning, Jiang Ning spent five hundred Source Energy Points to begin Literacy’s Sixth Limit Break, and his Spiritual Force Field rapidly expanded.

• Qingyi arrived at Jiang Ning’s home, where he met her at the gate and learned she had become a Human Path Grandmaster.
• Jiang Ning warmed Qingyi by the fire and showed her that his Spiritual Power could reach two hundred meters.
• Qingyi gave Jiang Ning a letter from the Seventeenth Princess, and he read her heartfelt account of the past month before changing the subject.
• Qingyi explained the differences between Heavenly Human, Earthly, and Human Path Grandmasters, then left without revealing why she had so little time.
• After leaving, Qingyi said a Grandmaster gave her only a slight chance to resist fate and insisted her affairs could not involve Jiang Ning.
• The next morning, Jiang Ning spent five hundred Source Energy Points to trigger Literacy’s Sixth Limit Break, and his Spiritual Force Field began expanding beyond two hundred meters.