Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning obtained Wang Jin’s Ebony Long Saber and began practicing the Canglang Saber Technique, discovering that his panel could track its progress. He left the courtyard determined to advance in the saber technique while keeping the Five Animal Frolics Fist as his foundation.

• Jiang Ning asked Wang Jin for a saber so he could practice the Canglang Saber Technique, and Wang Jin gave him the Ebony Long Saber.
• Jiang Ning returned to his courtyard and found that the saber felt natural in his hands, then cut a drifting leaf in half with a casual swing.
• Jiang Ning recalled the Canglang Saber Technique and performed its moves smoothly, earning one experience point and sensing a force that might be Jin Force.
• Jiang Ning practiced the technique again, raising it to Not Yet Initiated 2/10 and realizing that it consumed less physical strength than the Five Animal Frolics Fist.
• Jiang Ning resolved to keep progressing in the Canglang Saber Technique while prioritizing the Five Animal Frolics Fist as the foundation for strengthening his body and Blood Qi.

Jiang Ning trained Canglang Saber Technique to Initiation and discovered that its Ninefold Force gave him a devastating but physically damaging attack. He decided to keep training toward mastery so he could use its power as a trump card against Xu Yunfeng.

• Jiang Ning practiced Canglang Saber Technique until it reached Initiation, and he gained insight into the technique as Jin Force condensed within him.
• Jiang Ning unleashed Ninefold Force in a saber strike that nearly split apart a Hundred-Year Ironwood training post.
• Jiang Ning realized the force had torn his right arm, but his circulating qi and blood quickly eased the injury.
• Jiang Ning praised his Ebony Long Saber for withstanding the strike without damage.
• Jiang Ning resumed training, aiming to master Canglang Saber Technique and gain a stronger killing move against Xu Yunfeng.

Jiang Ning spent the day practicing the Canglang Saber Technique, using wild ginseng to sustain himself as he neared a breakthrough. At dusk, Cheng Ran arrived to take him to a banquet, and Jiang Ning brought his ebony saber for protection.

• Wang Jin saw Jiang Ning practicing the Canglang Saber Technique and left, believing Jiang Ning was attempting something beyond his current ability.
• Jiang Ning practiced through the day and consumed one Ten-Year Wild Ginseng, raising the Canglang Saber Technique to Initiation 43/100.
• Jiang Ning expected to master the Middle Grade martial art the next day and gain the ability to unleash two layers of Jin Force.
• Cheng Ran arrived by carriage and called Jiang Ning to join him for the banquet.
• Jiang Ning brought his Ebony Long Saber, and Cheng Ran examined it before privately wondering whether Jiang Ning had become Wang Jin's Direct Disciple.

Cheng Ran brought Jiang Ning and Old Zheng to Bright Moon Pavilion to negotiate with Liu Zhixiang over Sihe Trading Company’s offer. Cheng Ran demanded that the company offer Jiang Ning the same terms as him, but Liu Zhixiang refused to commit, and Cheng Ran left in anger with Jiang Ning.

• Two Green Snake Gang members spotted Jiang Ning leaving the martial hall, and one went to inform Master Xu.
• Cheng Ran, Jiang Ning, and Old Zheng arrived at Bright Moon Pavilion, where Liu Zhixiang welcomed them to the private room.
• Liu Zhixiang presented Sihe Trading Company’s terms, which Jiang Ning saw were inferior to Zhou Xing’s offer.
• Cheng Ran agreed to Sihe Trading Company’s terms on the condition that it offer Jiang Ning the same deal.
• Liu Zhixiang said he lacked the authority to approve the extra offer, angering Cheng Ran, who left with Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran left Bright Moon Pavilion after Sihe Trading Company rejected Cheng Ran’s request to invest in Jiang Ning. Xu Yunfeng later confronted them on their way to Canglang Martial Hall, leaving their carriage halted in the street.

• Liu Zhixiang rejected Cheng Ran’s request to invest in Jiang Ning and decided to increase Sihe Trading Company’s support for Xiao Peng instead.
• Cheng Ran apologized to Jiang Ning for the failed meeting, reaffirmed their friendship, and said Jiang Ning’s talent would soon protect him from Cao Bin.
• Jiang Ning spotted Xu Yunfeng waiting nearby and prepared his lime and Ebony Long Saber, but accepted Cheng Ran’s offer to escort him rather than risk a fight.
• Cheng Ran and Jiang Ning rode toward Canglang Martial Hall in a carriage, but Xu Yunfeng stepped in front of it and forced the horses to stop.

Xu Yunfeng stopped Cheng Ran’s carriage and demanded to search it for Jiang Li, revealing that he had reached Martial Dao Entry Rank. As Old Zheng hesitated to fight because of his declining strength, Jiang Li left the carriage prepared to kill Xu Yunfeng and resist being taken away.

• Xu Yunfeng stopped Cheng Ran’s carriage on Cao Bin’s order and demanded to inspect it for a fugitive, but Cheng Ran challenged his authority.
• Old Zheng emerged and warned Cheng Ran that Xu Yunfeng had reached Martial Dao Entry Rank, while Jiang Li weighed whether his blade skills and Ninefold Force could kill him.
• Xu Yunfeng offered to let Old Zheng and Cheng Ran leave, then revealed he intended to take Jiang Li and use him to pressure Jiang Ning into confessing.
• Old Zheng admitted that age and declining bodily functions had weakened him, and pressed Cheng Ran back rather than risk a fight.
• Jiang Li decided to rely on his own strength, left the carriage with his long blade, and prepared to attack Xu Yunfeng.

Jiang Ning faced Xu Yunfeng in the Inner City until Wang Jin arrived and forced the constable to withdraw after he wounded himself to avoid Wang Jin’s retaliation. Jiang Ning returned toward the Martial Arts Hall with Cheng Ran, warned to stay cautious while he continued his training.

• Jiang Ning stepped from the carriage to face Xu Yunfeng, while Cheng Ran tried to stop him from confronting the men sent by the Cao Family.
• Wang Jin arrived and demanded that Xu Yunfeng leave Jiang Ning alone.
• After Wang Jin ordered Xu Yunfeng to stop, Xu Yunfeng stabbed himself in the abdomen to make amends and avoid giving Wang Jin cause to attack him.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Ning to focus on martial arts, then departed as Jiang Ning thanked him for intervening.
• Cheng Ran apologized and urged Jiang Ning to avoid leaving the Martial Arts Hall, then offered to take him back in the carriage.

After Xu Yunfeng nearly harmed Jiang Ning, Wang Jin warned him to focus on strength, and Jiang Ning trained until his Canglang Saber Technique reached mastery. He gained the ability to unleash double-layered Jin Force, but his body could not yet withstand its power.

• Cheng Ran apologized to Jiang Ning for bringing him into danger, then discussed with Old Zheng why they had been unable to confront Xu Yunfeng.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Ning that strength determined the truth and warned him to stay inside while the danger remained.
• Jiang Ning wondered why Xu Yunfeng had dared attack him, then trained his Canglang Saber Technique through the night.
• By noon the next day, Jiang Ning's Canglang Saber Technique reached mastery, granting him the ability to unleash double-layered Jin Force.
• Jiang Ning realized the doubled force could more than double his saber's might, but using it risked tearing his flesh and bursting his blood vessels.

Jiang Ning assessed his rapid progress, decided to focus on strengthening his physique and gaining entry to the Patrol Office, and kept his Mastery-level Canglang Saber Technique secret. Shen Congyun reviewed information about Jiang Ning and recognized him as an exceptionally promising martial talent.

• Jiang Ning saw that his Source Energy had risen to 2.0 and that his Canglang Saber Technique had reached Mastery, which he resolved to conceal from Wang Jin and others.
• Jiang Ning concluded that his weak physique limited how much Jin Force he could unleash, so he shifted his focus to the Five Animal Frolics Fist and strengthening his blood qi.
• Jiang Ning planned to reach the Ninth Rank of the Martial Dao within three months so he could enter the Patrol Office, while vowing not to spare Xu Yunfeng.
• At Myriad Blossom Pavilion, Shen Congyun received the collected materials about Jiang Ning and learned that he had trained for only a little over ten days.
• Shen Congyun concluded that Jiang Ning was an exceptionally gifted Innate Spiritual Awakened and a promising future grandmaster, making him even more worthy of attention than Wang Jin.

At Myriad Blossom Pavilion, Shen Congyun and Qingyi discussed whether Jiang Ning was worth investing in, while Jiang Ning rapidly improved his martial arts using Wild Ginseng. The chapter ended as Cheng Ran rushed to warn Jiang Ning that Cao Bin was coming, just as two Captains and more than twenty constables arrived at Canglang Martial Hall.

• Qingyi examined Shen Congyun’s report on Jiang Ning but judged him ordinary despite Shen Congyun noting his qi and blood progress.
• Jiang Ning’s Source Energy rose to 5.8 as he practiced Five Animal Frolics Fist and consumed Wild Ginseng, bringing him closer to Great Success in both his fist technique and Blood Qi.
• Jiang Ning counted his remaining Wild Ginseng and decided he would need to find another way to earn money for medicinal supplements.
• Cheng Ran hurried to Canglang Martial Hall, fearing Cao Bin would arrest Jiang Ning and hoping he could warn him in time.
• More than twenty constables led by two Captains arrived near Canglang Martial Hall, drawing attention from people at the nearby tea stalls.

Cao Bin arrived at Canglang Martial Hall with constables to arrest Jiang Ning, accusing his brother Jiang Li of colluding with the Evil God Church. Jiang Ning prepared to flee, but Wang Jin intervened and, after sensing Jiang Ning’s Ninefold Force, resolved to protect him despite the Cao Family.

• Cao Bin led the constables to Canglang Martial Hall while Wang Desheng reluctantly accompanied him, and Cao Bin claimed he had ironclad evidence against Jiang Ning.
• Cheng Ran warned Jiang Ning that Cao Bin was coming to arrest him and urged him to escape, but the constables arrived before they could leave.
• Cao Bin announced that Jiang Ning would be taken in because Jiang Li was accused of colluding with the Evil God Church, and Jiang Ning prepared to fight his way out.
• Wang Jin leaped into the front yard and stood between Jiang Ning and the constables, prompting Jiang Ning to touch his shoulder and pass him Ninefold Force.
• Wang Jin recognized Jiang Ning’s extraordinary saber talent and resolved to protect him even if it meant confronting the Cao Family.

Wang Jin confronted Cao Bin at Canglang Martial Hall and seized him after Cao Bin accused him of shielding a wanted criminal. Cao Rong arrived armed with a bow, and as he challenged Wang Jin, he aimed his next arrow at Jiang Ning.

• Cao Bin demanded that Wang Jin hand over Jiang Li’s brother, but Wang Jin ordered him to leave.
• Wang Jin rushed forward, grabbed Cao Bin by the throat, and demanded that Cao Rong come instead.
• Wang Jin spotted Cao Rong aiming at him from a distant tower and realized the younger Martial Scholar could rival his strength.
• Cao Rong shot at Wang Jin, who dodged the arrows as Cao Rong advanced and challenged him to fight.
• Cao Rong shifted his aim from Wang Jin to Jiang Ning, forcing Wang Jin to protect the person he valued.

Wang Jin protected Jiang Ning from Cao Rong’s arrows until Shen Congyun intervened and forced Cao Rong to stand down. Shen Congyun and Qingyi then accompanied Cao Rong toward Canglang Martial Hall, while Qingyi wondered why Shen Congyun had risked punishment to help Jiang Ning.

• Cao Rong fired an arrow at Jiang Ning, and Wang Jin intercepted it with a saber that broke under the impact.
• Cao Rong realized that Jiang Ning was Wang Jin’s weakness and drew another arrow, but Shen Congyun aimed an Inner Breath-coated leaf at him.
• Shen Congyun asked Cao Rong to spare Jiang Ning, and Cao Rong lowered his bow and agreed.
• Qingyi questioned Shen Congyun’s decision to interfere in the county’s disputes, but he said he had chosen to help Jiang Ning.
• Cao Rong asked why Shen Congyun cared about Jiang Ning, and Shen Congyun repeated that he simply found the boy pleasing to the eye.
• Shen Congyun, Qingyi, and Cao Rong walked together toward Canglang Martial Hall.

Jiang Ning realized the Cao Family’s attack had put his older brother and sister-in-law’s family in immediate danger, while Cao Rong’s arrival left him exposed to a powerful Martial Dao Rank 7 archer. Shen Congyun intervened on Jiang Ning’s behalf, and Cao Rong accepted that Shen’s regard for him was too great to ignore.

• Jiang Ning hid behind the Martial Arts Hall wall as Wang Jin faced Cao Rong, and he feared the Cao Family had already sent his older brother and sister-in-law to prison.
• Wang Desheng announced Cao Rong, Shen Congyun, and Qingyi, and Shen Congyun secretly told Wang Jin to bring Jiang Ning out.
• Wang Jin told the disciples that Shen Congyun had come to help Jiang Ning, and Jiang Ning followed him outside, confused by the intervention.
• Shen Congyun used Inner Breath to ease Cao Bin’s injuries and gave him a healing pill, prompting Cao Rong to recognize how highly Shen regarded Jiang Ning.
• Cao Rong sighed and decided to accept the situation.

Shen Congyun intervened to stop the Cao Family from pursuing Jiang Ning’s family, then revealed that Jiang Ning was an Innate Spiritual Awakened who had mastered the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill unusually quickly. He gave Jiang Ning its later cultivation methods and asked him to visit Myriad Blossom Pavilion by the next day, warning that they might not meet again for a long time.

• Shen Congyun persuaded Cao Rong and Cao Bin to end their pursuit of Jiang Li’s family, and Cao Rong ordered Cao Bin to release them.
• Cao Bin questioned whether they should comply because Shen Congyun might be punished, but Cao Rong insisted they could not deny him this favor.
• Shen Congyun told Jiang Ning he had helped because Jiang Ning was an Innate Spiritual Awakened who had reached Initiation in the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill in about a week.
• Shen Congyun explained that the skill was a Peerless Art and asked Jiang Ning to owe him one favor in the future.
• Shen Congyun gave Jiang Ning golden pages containing the skill’s methods for reaching great success and told him to memorize them and visit Myriad Blossom Pavilion by the next day.
• Shen Congyun assured Jiang Ning that the Cao Family would leave him alone, then used Sound Transmission into Secrecy to repeat his warning about visiting soon.

Jiang Ning studied the next stage of the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill and learned why Shen Congyun had intervened to protect him and his family. After Wang Jin praised Jiang Ning’s progress and warned him to prepare for possible consequences, Jiang Ning left anticipating further training and a breakthrough in his Firewood Chopping Blade Technique.

• Jiang Ning read the Golden Thin Paper’s guidance for cultivating the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill and resolved to grow stronger so others could not control his fate.
• At Canglang Martial Hall, Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning that Wang Jin wanted to see him, and Jiang Ning thanked him for helping earlier.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Ning that Shen Congyun’s intervention showed the power of strength and urged him to remember Shen’s kindness and seize the opportunity.
• Jiang Ning explained that Shen Congyun had helped because he had reached Initiation in the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill, and Wang Jin approved of his secret study of the technique.
• Wang Jin confirmed that Jiang Ning had mastered the Ninefold Force and asked him to return the next day for help, while warning that the Cao Family might retaliate if Shen Congyun’s circumstances changed.
• Jiang Ning left the martial arts school anticipating Wang Jin’s assistance and a Second Breakthrough in the Firewood Chopping Blade Technique once he had enough Source Energy Points.

After Shen Congyun helped secure Jiang Ning’s family, Jiang Ning reflected on his need to grow stronger before Shen left Luoshui County. The next morning, he began cultivating the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill with new pills and its guiding method, and felt Great Sun Essence Qi enter his body.

• Jiang Ning resolved to strengthen himself after realizing Shen Congyun’s protection might soon end.
• Jiang Ning delivered the Golden Thin Paper cultivation records to Shen Congyun and visited Jiang Li’s family, who thanked him for saving them.
• Jiang Ning learned Shen Congyun might leave Luoshui County within two days and recognized he could not depend on his protection.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animal Frolics Fist, then prepared to cultivate with the Protect Organ Pills Shen Congyun had given him.
• After sunrise, Jiang Ning swallowed a Protect Organ Pill and used the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill’s breathing method to draw Great Sun Essence Qi into his body.

Jiang Ning increased his Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill training efficiency with the Guiding Method and Protect Organ Pill, while Wang Jin gave him wild ginseng and Qi and Blood Pills to strengthen his body. The chapter ended with Jiang Ning taking a pill and beginning his boxing practice.

• Shen Congyun watched Jiang Ning absorb Sunlight Essence Qi and estimated that reaching the next level would take at least a year.
• Jiang Ning gained 39 experience points during his sunrise practice and calculated that he could reach the next level in about a month.
• Jiang Ning told Wang Jin about his improved inner-refinement training and reaffirmed his wish to surpass his master.
• Wang Jin gave Jiang Ning Ten-Year Wild Ginseng and Qi and Blood Pills, explaining how they could accelerate his growth.
• Jiang Ning took a Qi and Blood Pill and began practicing his fists to absorb its effects.

Jiang Ning broke through the Five Animal Frolics Fist to Great Success, improving his speed and movement while resolving to grow stronger before Shen Congyun left Luoshui County. Cao Rong departed for military duty, leaving Cao Bin to decide whether to apologize to Jiang Ning, and warning him not to make an enemy of the young man.

• Jiang Ning raised his Source Energy and trained until the Five Animal Frolics Fist reached Great Success, gaining powerful, agile movement that he believed could help him face ordinary Ninth Rank Martial Artists.
• Jiang Ning lifted the four-hundred-jin Stone Dumbbell with his left arm but failed to move the five-hundred-jin weight with his right, then resolved to pursue Qi and Blood Completion and Ninth Rank.
• Cao Rong told Cao Bin that a sudden military order required him to return and help fight the Black Wind Army in Dongling County, and instructed him to guard the Iron Mine on Tieling Mountain.
• Cao Rong left the decision about apologizing to Jiang Ning to Cao Bin, but warned him not to go too far because Wang Jin and Shen Congyun clearly valued Jiang Ning.
• Cao Bin decided not to apologize after hearing that Shen Congyun would leave and Cao Rong expected to reach Martial Dao Sixth Rank, but he restrained himself from provoking Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning returned home to visit Jiang Li’s family, shared a meal with them, and learned that their finances were strained. Head Constable Feng arrived to discuss something with Jiang Li, but his unusually deferential treatment of Jiang Ning showed how much Jiang Ning’s connection to Pavilion Master Shen had changed the family’s standing.

• Jiang Ning came home, greeted Xiao Doubao, and reassured Jiang Li that he had returned because he was worried about the family.
• Jiang Li prepared a chicken meal and wine for Jiang Ning, while Jiang Ning realized his injured brother’s household was short of money.
• Head Constable Feng and Constable Feng visited, and Head Constable Feng praised Jiang Ning for catching Pavilion Master Shen’s attention.
• Jiang Li invited Head Constable Feng to eat, and Head Constable Feng agreed to drink with them while saying he had business to discuss.
• Head Constable Feng encouraged Liu Wanwan to join the meal, and Jiang Ning gave Xiao Doubao a chicken drumstick as the family ate together.