Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning sparred with Cheng Ran to gauge the strength of an opponent comparable to Xu Yunfeng, while Cheng Ran discovered Jiang Ning’s remarkable fist talent. The match continued as Jiang Ning learned that fighting increased his Five Animal Frolics Fist experience and used the Deer Form’s shifting between motion and stillness to gain an advantage.

• Cheng Ran challenged Jiang Ning to a match, and Jiang Ning agreed so he could estimate Xu Yunfeng’s strength.
• Jiang Ning opened with Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain, and Cheng Ran was shocked by the force of his strike and recognized his Tiger Form Fist had reached Minor Completion.
• Cheng Ran praised Jiang Ning’s talent and resolved to be his friend, while Jiang Ning’s excitement grew after their forceful exchanges.
• Jiang Ning saw a prompt awarding him Five Animal Frolics Fist experience for fighting and called for another round.
• Jiang Ning used the Deer Form’s shift between motion and stillness to exploit Cheng Ran’s defense and drive him back three steps, prompting Cheng Ran to demand another match.

Jiang Ning fought Cheng Ran and demonstrated how Five Forms Simultaneous Cultivation let him outmaneuver a stronger opponent, though Cheng Ran’s full-force assault eventually drove him to concede. Afterward, Jiang Ning reflected on his progress and wondered whether he could defeat Cheng Ran or Xu Yunfeng with a blade.

• Jiang Ning used his agility and unpredictable techniques to suppress Cheng Ran during their initial exchanges.
• Cheng Ran unleashed his full strength, forcing Jiang Ning back until Jiang Ning leaped onto the wall and admitted defeat.
• Cheng Ran recognized Jiang Ning’s superior martial talent and felt relieved that the Patrol Office would open in only about three months.
• Jiang Ning’s Five Animal Frolics Fist gained experience from the fight, and he realized his stamina had held up because of his Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill.
• After Cheng Ran left, Jiang Ning judged that he could likely defeat Cheng Ran with a blade but remained uncertain he could beat Xu Yunfeng.

Jiang Ning continued strengthening his martial arts and planned to buy Wild Ginseng from Zhou Xing, while the Canglang Martial Hall was surprised by a visit from Myriad Blossom Pavilion Deputy Pavilion Master Shen Congyun. The chapter ended with Wang Jin welcoming Shen inside, eager for the opportunity Shen’s help could offer him.

• Jiang Ning reviewed his progress, practiced the Five Animal Frolics Fist, and looked forward to breaking through his Firewood Chopping Blade Technique and buying Wild Ginseng from Zhou Xing.
• Jiang Ning practiced more sets of the Five Animal Frolics Fist, relying on his improved endurance and recovery from the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill.
• A disciple announced that Shen Congyun had arrived to visit Wang Jin, surprising both Wang and the gathered disciples.
• Cheng Ran speculated that Shen Congyun might be investing in someone hoping to join the Patrol Office, though he questioned why the Deputy Pavilion Master would come personally.
• Wang Jin hurried to meet Shen Congyun and welcomed him into the martial arts hall, hopeful that Shen could help him advance beyond the Seventh Rank Peak.

Shen Congyun explained the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill’s origins and limits to Wang Jin, who had reached Initiation with the aid of Shen’s Secret Medicine. Shen decided to invest in Wang Jin, while Wang Jin learned that the method’s Perfected Realm remained lost.

• Shen Congyun asked Wang Jin how the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill had affected him, and Wang Jin said his bodily functions had recovered and he might advance further.
• Wang Jin revealed that he had reached Initiation after two months using Shen Congyun’s Secret Medicine, and Shen praised his Inborn Spiritual Wisdom.
• Shen Congyun explained that the skill was a Peerless Art derived from an ancient Immortal Path Method, but that he possessed only its incomplete version up to Great Completion.
• Wang Jin eagerly asked to learn the skill, and Shen Congyun agreed to invest in him and pass it on.
• Shen Congyun described the missing Perfected Realm’s Golden Elixir and lifespan benefits, leaving Wang Jin disappointed that the core method was unavailable.

Shen Congyun decided to invest in Wang Jin because he believed the Innate Spiritual Awakened could recover his strength and possibly reach the Grandmaster realm. Meanwhile, Jiang Ning continued training before Cheng Ran brought news that Li Qing had reached Martial Dao Entry Rank and Zhao Hu had mastered the Perfected Realm of Tiger Form Fist.

• Shen Congyun judged Wang Jin a martial genius with the potential to reach Martial Dao Sixth Rank, Martial Dao Fourth Rank, or even the Grandmaster realm, and chose to befriend and support him.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning he hoped to receive the Myriad Blossom Pavilion's investment, while Jiang Ning decided he knew too little about Shen Congyun to seek it out.
• Jiang Ning practiced Five Animal Frolics Fist, gained one Experience Point, and noted that his stamina and Blood Qi had improved after achieving Initiation in the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning that Li Qing had returned after reaching Martial Dao Entry Rank and that Zhao Hu had mastered the Ferocious Tiger Force and perfected Tiger Form Fist.
• Jiang Ning stopped training and went with Cheng Ran to the front courtyard to watch Zhao Hu demonstrate Tiger Form Fist.

At Canglang Martial Hall, Cheng Ran worried that Xiao Peng had gained an advantage with Zhao Hu’s guidance, while Jiang Ning encouraged him to keep trying. Outside the hall, Zhou Xing confronted Sihe Trading Company manager Liu Zhixiang, and inside, Zhao Hu led the disciples to watch him demonstrate Fierce Tiger Force.

• Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran saw Xiao Peng receiving praise from Zhao Hu for his Great Completion in Tiger Form Fist, and Cheng Ran worried about competing with him for a Patrol Office position.
• Jiang Ning encouraged Cheng Ran to surpass Xiao Peng, and Cheng Ran vowed to do so.
• Liu Zhixiang arrived at Canglang Martial Hall to visit its Hall Master, but Zhou Xing arrived soon after with Zhang Tiesheng and accused the Sihe Trading Company of crossing the line.
• Liu Zhixiang challenged Zhou Xing over taking Zhang Tiesheng and seeking Canglang Martial Hall’s talented disciples, and Zhou Xing warned him before entering the hall.
• Zhao Hu invited the disciples to watch him demonstrate Fierce Tiger Force, and he felt pleased when he noticed Li Qing following the group.

Jiang Ning reunited with Li Qing at the martial arts hall, where his physical progress and Cheng Ran’s guarded praise led her to suspect he had remarkable talent. Zhao Hu challenged Cheng Ran, and Zhou Xing and Zhang Tiesheng arrived as the confrontation began.

• Zhao Hu demonstrated the destructive Fierce Tiger Force to the disciples and noticed Li Qing chatting with Jiang Ning.
• Li Qing admired Jiang Ning’s transformed physique and asked about his progress, while Jiang Ning realized Zhao Hu had noticed them.
• Cheng Ran hinted that he had been exchanging martial arts insights with Jiang Ning, but Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran played it off as a joke; Li Qing privately concluded Jiang Ning must have exceptional comprehension.
• Zhao Hu leapt over to Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran and challenged Cheng Ran to fight, leaving both men confused about his hostility.
• Zhou Xing and Zhang Tiesheng arrived at the martial arts hall as the confrontation grew tense.

Zhou Xing stopped Zhao Hu from pressuring Cheng Ran into a spar and invited Cheng Ran and Li Qing to consider joining his circle ahead of the Patrol Office's establishment. Jiang Ning bought Wild Ginseng from Zhou Xing, who chose not to make a major investment in him.

• Zhou Xing arrived with Zhang Tiesheng, congratulated Li Qing on reaching Martial Dao Ninth Rank, and criticized Zhao Hu for challenging Cheng Ran despite their disparity in strength.
• Zhao Hu left angrily after Li Qing and Zhou Xing rebuked him, and Zhou Xing warned Cheng Ran to be careful of Zhao Hu.
• Zhou Xing invited Cheng Ran and Li Qing to Fenghua Pavilion in three days to discuss joining forces ahead of the Patrol Office's establishment; Li Qing accepted his goodwill, while Cheng Ran asked for time to consider.
• Jiang Ning paid Zhou Xing fifty taels in Silver Notes and forty taels in silver for Wild Ginseng, and Zhou Xing agreed to send ten roots, including three as a gift.
• Zhou Xing decided Jiang Ning was not yet worth a major investment and left, while Li Qing went to pay her respects to Master.

Cheng Ran received Zhou Xing’s generous offer to invest in his prospects of joining the Patrol Office, while Jiang Ning reflected on how resources could accelerate his cultivation. At the martial arts hall, Shen Congyun assessed Li Qing and agreed to inspect the gathered disciples with Wang Jin.

• Cheng Ran and Jiang Ning examined Zhou Xing’s invitation, which offered silver, medicine, and Earth Ganoderma in exchange for a future favor.
• Cheng Ran said he would compare other offers before deciding, while Jiang Ning considered how an investment could increase his resources and Source Energy Points.
• Li Qing greeted Wang Jin and Shen Congyun, hoping the Myriad Blossom Pavilion deputy pavilion master would take an interest in her.
• Shen Congyun praised Li Qing’s cultivation but gave her no sign that he would invest in her.
• Wang Jin invited Shen Congyun to inspect the martial arts hall’s disciples, and Shen Congyun agreed.

At Canglang Martial Hall, Zhou Xing recognized Liu Zhixiang’s greeting as a calculated provocation tied to the Liu Family and kept his composure. Liu Zhixiang resolved to repair their relationship while carrying out the Sihe Trading Company’s plan to support promising candidates for the Patrol Office.

• Disciples gathered at Canglang Martial Hall to watch Wang Jin release the captive Ferocious Tiger and observe its fighting style.
• Liu Zhixiang entered the Martial Arts Hall and greeted Zhou Xing, who grew suspicious of the Sihe Trading Company’s connection to the Liu Family.
• Zhou Xing encouraged Xiao Peng and headed to the backyard to pay respects to Wang Jin, deciding he was not yet in a position to confront Liu Zhixiang.
• Liu Zhixiang reconsidered Zhou Xing’s talent and influence, decided not to offend him further, and planned to find a way to ease their conflict.
• Liu Zhixiang searched the gathered disciples for promising Patrol Office candidates he could support on behalf of the Sihe Trading Company.

Liu Zhixiang assessed Canglang Martial Hall’s disciples for Sihe Trading Company investment and invited Cheng Ran to a banquet. Cheng Ran decided to bring Jiang Ning and recommend him for funding, leaving Jiang Ning hopeful of gaining resources despite the risk of competing for a Patrol Office slot.

• Liu Zhixiang identified Cheng Ran, Xiao Peng, and Zhao Hu as the disciples Sihe Trading Company most wanted to invest in, then invited Cheng Ran and went to approach Xiao Peng.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning he would favor whichever investor offered greater benefits, while admitting Jiang Ning needed investment more than he did.
• Cheng Ran considered Jiang Ning a possible threat to his Patrol Office prospects but resolved to invite him to Sihe Trading Company’s banquet and recommend him for funding.
• Jiang Ning accepted Cheng Ran’s invitation, hoping to gain resources to advance his martial arts and protect his family.
• Cheng Ran happily patted Jiang Ning’s shoulder after Jiang Ning agreed to attend.

Wang Jin brought Shen Congyun into the Martial Arts Hall’s front yard, where Shen surveyed the disciples as a possible source of talent for Myriad Blossom Pavilion. Zhou Xing saw a chance to win Shen’s favor and resolved to display himself, while Jiang Ning questioned how much such attention could change Cheng Ran’s prospects.

• Wang Jin and Shen Congyun arrived, and the disciples greeted them as Cheng Ran eagerly anticipated watching the ferocious tiger fight.
• Jiang Ning asked Cheng Ran about Shen Congyun, and Cheng Ran said Shen’s regard could transform his fate.
• Wang Jin asked Shen to assess his disciples, and Shen agreed to look for anyone worth Myriad Blossom Pavilion’s investment, though he expected little.
• Zhou Xing recognized Shen Congyun and renewed his hope of gaining Myriad Blossom Pavilion’s support for himself and the Zhou Family.
• Zhou Xing clenched his fists and resolved to enter the field and show Shen Congyun what he could do.

At the Martial Arts Hall, Shen Congyun assessed the gathered disciples and initially dismissed Cheng Ran and Jiang Ning as ordinary. After sensing Jiang Ning’s heartbeat and the lingering scent of Essence of Sunlight, he realized Jiang Ning had achieved significant progress in the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill, though he concealed his discovery from Wang Jin.

• Shen Congyun judged Zhou Xing talented but considered his strong medicinal scent evidence of a good family background, making him only average in comparison.
• Wang Jin ordered disciples to carry the fierce tiger’s cage into the west courtyard, and the tiger’s roar silenced the yard.
• Cheng Ran hoped to use a chance to face the tiger and impress Shen Congyun, while Jiang Ning considered seeking the Pavilion Master’s support.
• Shen Congyun first judged Cheng Ran mediocre and Jiang Ning commonplace, then noticed Jiang Ning’s powerful heartbeat and the scent of Essence of Sunlight.
• Shen Congyun concluded that Jiang Ning had reached Initiation in the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill, with attainments comparable to Wang Jin’s, but told Wang Jin that nothing was wrong.

Shen Congyun recognized Jiang Ning as a remarkably talented practitioner of the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill and decided to investigate him before choosing how much to invest. Meanwhile, Cao Bin learned that Jiang Ning was staying at Wang Jin’s Canglang Martial Hall and continued planning how to pressure Jiang Li.

• Shen Congyun sensed that Jiang Ning had cultivated the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill to Initiation without Secret Medicine and judged him a top-tier Innate Spiritual Awakened.
• Shen Congyun decided to invest his quota in Jiang Ning but resolved to investigate Jiang Ning’s martial arts experience and talent first.
• Wang Jin asked Shen Congyun what he thought of his disciples, and Shen Congyun replied that they were not bad, disappointing Wang Jin.
• Xu Yunfeng told Cao Bin that Jiang Ning had moved into Wang Jin’s Canglang Martial Hall after Jiang Li’s children became his intended leverage.
• Cao Bin said he would not abandon the plan to use Jiang Li to force the County Magistrate’s position, then considered what Xu Yunfeng should do next.

Cao Bin ordered Xu Yunfeng to frame Jiang Li and Jiang Ning as members of the God Worshipping Sect and have them arrested. Meanwhile, Jiang Ning studied the martial hall’s fight with a ferocious tiger and prepared to resume training with the wild ginseng he had received.

• Cao Bin told Xu Yunfeng to frame Jiang Li and his family, and to target Jiang Ning as well.
• At Canglang Martial Hall, Wang Jin and Shen Congyun watched the disciples fight a ferocious tiger.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning he had fought the tiger to improve his Tiger Form Fist and impress Shen Congyun, then planned to keep reflecting on the fight.
• Jiang Ning found ten stalks of Wild Ginseng delivered by Zhou Xing and looked forward to regaining his faster training progress.
• Jiang Ning replayed the disciples’ battle with the ferocious tiger from memory and deepened his understanding of Tiger Form Fist.

Jiang Ning used half of his Ten-Year Wild Ginseng to fuel an intense night of fist practice and grasped both the spirit and form of the Ferocious Tiger, bringing his Tiger Form Fist to Great Completion. He ended the night with improved practice gains and followed Aunt Sun to eat.

• Jiang Ning replayed the tiger’s movements while practicing and ate half of his Ten-Year Wild Ginseng to restore his strength.
• Jiang Ning practiced through the evening until his Five Animal Frolics Fist gained two Experience Points in a round, confirming that his Tiger Form Fist had reached Great Completion.
• Jiang Ning realized that Great Completion qualified him to become Wang Jin's Direct Disciple and continued practicing to consolidate his insights.
• Aunt Sun checked on Jiang Ning repeatedly and kept his dinner warm while he trained.
• Jiang Ning stopped at the third watch, saw that his Five Animal Frolics Fist had gained 23 Experience Points that evening, and followed Aunt Sun to eat.

After reaching 10.1 Source Energy, Jiang Ning broke through the limit of his Firewood Chopping Blade Technique and gained the Understand by Analogy trait. He decided to tell Wang Jin that he had met the requirement to become a Direct Disciple, hoping to gain his support and access to a blade and blade technique.

• Jiang Ning ate a large meal, practiced his fist technique twice, and went to sleep with 9.2 Source Energy.
• Jiang Ning woke to find his Source Energy had risen to 10.1 after absorbing the wild ginseng.
• Jiang Ning spent 9.0 Source Energy to break through his Firewood Chopping Blade Technique and gained the Understand by Analogy trait.
• Jiang Ning decided to seek a blade and blade technique from Wang Jin and tell him that his Tiger Form Fist had reached Great Success, qualifying him to become a Direct Disciple.
• Jiang Ning sensed his increased strength and left his room to find Wang Jin.

Jiang Ning tested his strength and found that his right arm could lift more than three hundred jin while his left could lift three hundred, then resumed training. As he practiced absorbing the Essence of Sunlight, Shen Congyun watched in shock that Jiang Ning dared to do so without the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill’s follow-up Guiding Method.

• Jiang Ning lifted a three-hundred-jin Stone Dumbbell with each arm, but could not raise a four-hundred-jin one fully.
• Jiang Ning estimated that a blade combined with his Breakthrough-level Firewood Chopping Blade Technique could let him contend with a five-hundred-jin opponent, and planned to grow stronger before facing Xu Yunfeng again.
• Jiang Ning practiced Five Animal Frolics Fist, gained four experience points and six strands of qi and blood, and reached Minor Completion 86/500.
• After sunrise, Jiang Ning absorbed the fierce Essence of Sunlight and gained one experience point in Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill.
• Shen Congyun watched Jiang Ning from a distant building and was horrified that he breathed in the Essence of Sunlight without the follow-up Guiding Method.

Jiang Ning demonstrated that his Tiger Form Fist had reached Great Success, satisfying Wang Jin’s test and officially becoming his Direct Disciple. Meanwhile, Shen Congyun observed Jiang Ning cultivating the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill and resolved to wait for an investigation report before judging him.

• Shen Congyun watched Jiang Ning absorb the Essence of Sunlight and suspected he had a complete cultivation method for the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill.
• Jiang Ning checked his progress, ate breakfast, and decided to tell Wang Jin that his Tiger Form Fist had reached Great Success.
• Jiang Ning demonstrated the fist technique, and Wang Jin confirmed that he had achieved Great Success in less than half a month.
• Wang Jin accepted Jiang Ning as his Direct Disciple, and Jiang Ning presented him with tea to complete the ceremony.

Wang Jin showed Jiang Ning the Middle Grade Canglang Saber Technique but said he was not yet qualified to learn it because he had not mastered Force. He urged Jiang Ning to complete the Five Animal Frolics Fist so he could pursue a place in the Patrol Office, and Jiang Ning turned back to ask for a saber to practice.

• Wang Jin explained that Canglang Martial Hall was named after the Canglang Saber Technique and that learning it required exceptional comprehension.
• Wang Jin gave Jiang Ning the manual, and Jiang Ning read it while gaining Literacy Experience Points and memorizing its contents.
• Jiang Ning learned that the Canglang Saber Technique required Ninefold Force even for Initiation and could unleash the power of nine slashes at its Perfected Realm.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Ning to master the Five Animal Frolics Fist and Five Animal Force, saying he would help him seek a Patrol Office opportunity if he progressed quickly.
• Jiang Ning saw Canglang Saber Technique listed on his panel, wondered whether he could learn it early, then turned back to ask Wang Jin for a saber.