Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning found that Five Animal Frolics Fist had reached its experience limit but still needed more Source Energy to break through, so he headed to Myriad Blossom Pavilion to sell spoils and seek potent treasures. At Canglang Martial Hall, Xiao Peng announced that he had reached Martial Dao Ninth Rank and challenged Jiang Ning for a place among Wang Jin’s chosen candidates.

• Jiang Ning saw that Five Animal Frolics Fist was full at 1000/1000 but had not gained a limit-break option, and resolved to gather enough Source Energy before the Patrol Office assessment.
• Jiang Ning counted his silver and took it with his stored spoils to Myriad Blossom Pavilion, hoping to buy Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
• Zhou Xing and Zhang Tiesheng arrived at Canglang Martial Hall, where Wang Jin announced that he would take the assessment candidates as personal disciples in three days.
• Xiao Peng declared that he had reached Martial Dao Ninth Rank and that both his Fist Momentum had reached Great Completion.
• Xiao Peng demanded to compete with Jiang Ning for one of Wang Jin’s five places, while the gathered martial hall disciples questioned Jiang Ning’s ability.

Jiang Ning visited Myriad Blossom Pavilion to sell items taken from defeated opponents, trusting the pavilion to keep his transaction confidential. After Elder Qian appraised three items for a total of four thousand taels, Jiang Ning asked to buy more goods before settling the account.

• Xiao Peng asked Wang Jin to arrange a contest against Jiang Ning, and Wang Jin agreed to hold it in three days.
• Cheng Ran arrived at Jiang Ning's home, learned he was out, and waited for him to return.
• Jiang Ning brought a dagger, an Iron Sand Palm manual, and black spider-silk gloves to Myriad Blossom Pavilion to sell.
• Elder Qian appraised the items, and Han Hongmei rounded their combined price up to four thousand taels.
• Jiang Ning agreed to the price but asked to purchase other items before collecting the silver notes.

Jiang Ning bought strength-enhancing Ox Demon Strength Fruits and sought powerful medicine to speed his skin tempering as he prepared to join the Patrol Office. He ordered fifty portions of the costly Golden Body Soup, determined to spend heavily to improve his strength.

• Han Hongmei explained the Divine Strength Realm and recommended that Jiang Ning strengthen himself before joining the Patrol Office.
• Jiang Ning bought three Ox Demon Strength Fruits for a total of 2,400 taels, despite Han Hongmei warning him not to consume more than his skin could withstand.
• Jiang Ning asked for medicine stronger than Skin Grinding Sand to help temper his skin membrane.
• Han Hongmei introduced Golden Body Soup, whose demon-blood ingredient made it potent but expensive at fifty taels per portion.
• Jiang Ning ignored Han Hongmei's advice to spend sparingly and ordered fifty portions of Golden Body Soup.

Jiang Ning bought Ox Demon Strength Fruits and Golden Body Soup Packs at Myriad Blossom Pavilion, then began refining a fruit on the ride home. After reuniting with Jiang Li, he learned Cheng Ran had come to summon him to the Martial Arts Hall for an important announcement from Master Wang.

• Jiang Ning bought three Ox Demon Strength Fruits and fifty Golden Body Soup Packs from Han Hongmei, receiving a report about affairs around Luo River Lake as a gift.
• Jiang Ning ate an Ox Demon Strength Fruit in the carriage and circulated his Blood Qi and Jin Force to refine its medicinal power.
• Jiang Ning returned home and asked Jiang Li to prepare the medicinal baths, while learning the County Office had still not arranged a logistics post for him.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning that Master Wang had summoned them to the Martial Arts Hall to hear an important announcement.
• Cheng Ran's attendant Xiao Luo confirmed the summons, and Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran set off for the Martial Arts Hall.

Jiang Ning refined the Ox Demon Strength Fruits, greatly increased his strength, and gained a surge of Source Energy. He used that energy to break through the Five Animal Frolics Fist and entered a mysterious state as five-colored lights gathered into him.

• Jiang Ning learned that Wang Jin would announce his five Personal Disciples in three days and that a powerful future Patrol Office Prefecture Lord would arrive in Luoshui County the next day.
• Jiang Ning refined the remaining Ox Demon Strength Fruit, then ate two more and increased his strength by roughly thirty percent.
• Jiang Ning saw his Source Energy rise from 37.8 to 110.5, with the Five Animal Frolics Fist ready for a Breakthrough.
• Jiang Ning spent 100 Source Energy to break through the Five Animal Frolics Fist and saw red, black, white, yellow, and azure lights converge into his body.

After the Five Animal Frolics Fist broke through, Jiang Ning discovered it could draw Five Elements Qi into his body, strengthening his qi and blood and tempering his organs. His Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill also advanced much faster, bringing him closer to gaining Inner Breath.

• Jiang Ning examined the new Five Viscera Storing Essence trait and confirmed that it gradually strengthened his internal organs.
• While practicing the Five Animal Frolics Fist, Jiang Ning sensed five-colored particles entering his body and realized the technique drew in Five Elements Qi.
• Jiang Ning found that each fist practice increased his qi and blood by ten strands while also tempering his organs.
• After breakfast, Jiang Ning drank Grass and Wood Essence and practiced the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill, finding that his strengthened viscera handled Great Sun Essence Qi more easily.
• Jiang Ning raised the skill’s progress to 1293/2000 and estimated he could reach Minor Achievement and gain Inner Breath in about half a month.

Jiang Ning’s Five Animal Frolics Fist breakthrough and Golden Body Soup baths sharply increased his skin-tempering efficiency, bringing him closer to Skin Refinement Great Success. Meanwhile, Qingyi planned to introduce him to her niece Lin Jia'er at Wang Jin’s apprenticeship banquet, hoping to match the two and draw Jiang Ning into the Lin Family.

• Jiang Ning discovered that his transformed Five Animal Force greatly accelerated the Indestructible Vajra Body, then used Grass and Wood Essence to replenish his increased consumption.
• Jiang Ning took a Golden Body Soup medicinal bath, which soothed his skin membrane and doubled his skin-tempering progress to 355 experience points.
• Over the next two days, Jiang Ning’s Indestructible Vajra Body reached 650 experience points, and he decided to keep training before attending Wang Jin’s apprenticeship banquet.
• Lin Jia'er visited Qingyi at Myriad Blossom Pavilion after graduating from Eastern Mausoleum Martial Academy and joining the Patrol Office, bringing her aunt an expensive box of rouge.
• Qingyi asked Lin Jia'er whether she would consider a husband she introduced, and Lin Jia'er agreed to meet him at the banquet that afternoon.
• Qingyi decided to introduce Lin Jia'er to Jiang Ning, whom she believed had the potential to become a Martial Grandmaster and wanted to bring into the Lin Family.

At Wang Jin’s Apprenticeship Banquet, Jiang Ning and Xiao Peng fought to decide who would become Wang Jin’s Personal Disciple. Jiang Ning won with a swift saber strike, leaving Xiao Peng’s life in his hands as the gathered guests watched in shock.

• Important figures from Luoshui County arrived at Canglang Martial Hall, where Qingyi confirmed that Jiang Ning was the person Shen Congyun had asked her to look after.
• Xiao Peng challenged Jiang Ning to a saber duel, hoping to win the chance to become Wang Jin’s Personal Disciple.
• Wang Jin agreed that the duel’s victor would become his Personal Disciple, and the gathered guests followed him to the martial hall’s front yard.
• Lin Jia'er recognized Jiang Ning as Qingyi’s suggested match but privately looked down on his age and Martial Dao rank.
• Jiang Ning defeated Xiao Peng with a fast saber strike and held his blade against Xiao Peng’s neck.

Jiang Ning defeated Xiao Peng in a lightning-fast duel, then disarmed and injured him when Xiao Peng launched a sneak attack, leading Wang Jin to expel Xiao Peng from Canglang Martial Hall. Shi Xiaoyuan discovered that Jiang Ning was an Innate Spiritual Awakened and began plotting to sacrifice him, while the gathered disciples and hall masters marveled at Jiang Ning's strength.

• Jiang Ning swiftly defeated Xiao Peng, who demanded another fight after losing the first exchange.
• Shi Xiaoyuan's compass identified Jiang Ning as an Innate Spiritual Awakened, and Shi Xiaoyuan decided he could sacrifice Jiang Ning to gain another divine bestowal.
• Xiao Peng attacked Jiang Ning from the side, but Jiang Ning knocked his saber away and kicked him across the courtyard.
• Wang Jin expelled Xiao Peng from Canglang Martial Hall, and Xiao Peng admitted defeat before leaving injured.
• Li Qing, Zhou Xing, and the gathered hall masters praised Jiang Ning's exceptional strength, while Yu Yuan envied Wang Jin for having him as a disciple.

Jiang Ning officially became one of Wang Jin’s five Personal Disciples, then bought more Grass and Wood Essence and set out to purchase a dependable blade. Cheng Ran accepted that his martial talent was limited and decided to focus on his family’s wine business instead.

• Jiang Ning and four other disciples offered tea to Wang Jin and became his Personal Disciples at the Apprenticeship Banquet.
• Cheng Ran envied Jiang Ning’s strength, admitted he could not match him, and accepted that Jiang Ning had surpassed him and Xiao Peng.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning he planned to stop devoting himself to martial arts and build up his family’s wine business, and Jiang Ning offered him several recipes.
• Jiang Ning calculated that he could spend about nine hundred taels on tonics after reserving money for a weapon, then bought forty bottles of Grass and Wood Essence at the Myriad Blossom Pavilion.
• Jiang Ning hired a carriage and headed to the Weapon Forging Shop in the Outer City to buy a good blade.

Jiang Ning visited the Weapon Forging Shop seeking a blade heavy enough for his growing strength, impressing deputy shopkeeper Yang Kai with his skill. Yang Kai led him into a hidden underground chamber to show him the shop’s finest weapons.

• Jiang Ning rejected the Hundred Folded Blades and tested a 537-folded saber weighing fifty-three jin, wielding it effortlessly.
• Jiang Ning asked for a heavier blade, then swung a pair of roughly 150-jin hammers as Yang Kai and the shop attendant watched in astonishment.
• Yang Kai introduced himself and recognized Jiang Ning as the Canglang Martial Hall disciple whose talent had drawn attention after Pavilion Master Shen opposed the Cao Family for him.
• Yang Kai told Jiang Ning that the shop’s finest blades had to be bestowed upon a worthy hero, and Jiang Ning asked whether he qualified.
• Yang Kai opened a concealed passage and invited Jiang Ning to follow him underground to see the ten works he was most proud of forging.

Jiang Ning discovered that his affinity with blades let him draw an ancient Spirit Weapon that Yang Kai had never been able to unsheathe. Yang Kai gave him the weapon in exchange for a future favor, and Jiang Ning suspected his Blade and Man as One trait had awakened its response.

• Yang Kai showed Jiang Ning the Weapon Forging Shop’s underground chamber and let him test the heavy blade Cold light, which Jiang Ning found suitable despite its weight.
• Jiang Ning followed a mysterious call to a dust-covered saber, and Yang Kai explained that it was an old-era Spirit Weapon no one had been able to draw.
• Jiang Ning drew the Spirit Weapon, heard it communicate Blood Drop Recognition and Blood Fusion Sacrifice, and formed a mental connection with it.
• Yang Kai failed to draw the saber himself, then handed it to Jiang Ning in hopes of gaining a future favor.
• Jiang Ning suspected his Blade and Man as One trait explained his compatibility and drew the Spirit Weapon again while Yang Kai watched enviously.

Jiang Ning received an ancient spirit weapon from Yang Kai in exchange for a future favor, then returned home and decided to try the blood-drop recognition and blood-fusion sacrifice hinted at in the Hidden Weapon Chamber. Qingyi arranged for Lin Jia'er to meet Jiang Ning, while Jiang Ning prepared to stay home and await the Patrol Office’s establishment.

• Jiang Ning chose the ancient spirit weapon over the cold-light blade, and Yang Kai gave it to him in exchange for a future favor.
• Yang Kai watched Jiang Ning leave and reasoned that only Jiang Ning could draw the spirit weapon, making the exchange worthwhile despite its value.
• Qingyi asked Lin Jia'er what she thought of Jiang Ning, then proposed arranging a meeting that could lead to marriage; Lin Jia'er agreed and asked about his background.
• Jiang Ning returned home, washed Xiao Doubao after finding her rolling in mud, and left her with Liu Wanwan.
• Jiang Ning counted the forty bottles of Grass and Wood Essence he had bought, considered the danger posed by the Cao Family, and judged that his strength and the coming Patrol Office gave him room to act boldly.
• Jiang Ning recalled the words “Blood Drop Recognition, Blood Fusion Sacrifice,” decided to try them on the spirit weapon, and carried the saber out of his room.

Jiang Ning bonded with the ancient Spirit Weapon Dragon Abyss, learned that its former Spiritual Nature had faded, and discovered it could easily cut through his Hundred Refined Iron saber. That night, Qiu and Yang Kai climbed into his residence to demand the weapon back, while Yang Kai warned Qiu not to offend Jiang Ning.

• Jiang Ning drew Dragon Abyss, used his blood to bond with it, and learned that its newborn Spiritual Nature could grow through blood sacrifice.
• Jiang Ning tested Dragon Abyss against his Ebony Long Saber and broke the saber in two with a single clash.
• Qiu learned from Yang Kai that Jiang Ning had drawn Dragon Abyss and angrily decided to take the Spirit Weapon back.
• Jiang Ning finished training, sensed intruders in his front yard, and took up Dragon Abyss.
• Qiu climbed over Jiang Ning's wall with Yang Kai, who urged him to treat Jiang Ning politely and avoid provoking him.

Jiang Ning confronted Qiu Shilong and Yang Kai when they came to reclaim the Spirit Weapon Dragon Abyss, and killed Qiu Shilong after the shopkeeper attacked him. He spared Yang Kai but warned him to keep the incident secret, while Yang Kai carried Qiu Shilong’s corpse to seek advice from the former Head Shopkeeper Gong Mingyuan.

• Jiang Ning heard Yang Kai and Qiu Shilong enter his residence and drew Dragon Abyss to reveal their presence.
• Qiu Shilong demanded the Spirit Weapon back, then attacked Jiang Ning and tried to cripple his sword arm; Jiang Ning cut off two of Qiu Shilong’s fingers.
• Jiang Ning pursued the retreating Qiu Shilong and killed him with a slash empowered by Blade Intent.
• Jiang Ning spared Yang Kai and ordered him to take Qiu Shilong’s corpse away without revealing what happened.
• Yang Kai left with Qiu Shilong’s corpse and headed to Gong Mingyuan, hoping the former Head Shopkeeper would decide how the Weapon Forging Shop should respond.

After Jiang Ning killed Qiu Shilong during the Weapon Forging Shop’s intrusion, Gong Mingyuan and Yang Kai visited to apologize, affirming that the spirit weapon Dragon Abyss belonged to Jiang Ning. Gong Mingyuan gave him a Dragon Tiger Strength Pill, appointed Yang Kai the shop’s new Head Shopkeeper, and left on friendly terms.

• Jiang Li arrived after the nighttime disturbance, and Jiang Ning told him that two petty thieves had broken in and been driven off.
• Gong Mingyuan heard Yang Kai’s account of Qiu Shilong’s death and decided to apologize to Jiang Ning, gift him a Dragon Tiger Strength Pill, and make Yang Kai the new Head Shopkeeper.
• Jiang Ning trained his skin membrane, took Grass and Wood Essence, and went to meet Yang Kai and Gong Mingyuan at the main hall.
• Gong Mingyuan apologized for the intrusion and agreed that Qiu Shilong’s death was justified, shocking Jiang Li when he realized his younger brother had killed the Weapon Forging Shop’s Head Shopkeeper.
• Gong Mingyuan confirmed that Dragon Abyss belonged to Jiang Ning, presented him with the Dragon Tiger Strength Pill, and named Yang Kai the Weapon Forging Shop’s new Head Shopkeeper.

Jiang Ning met Lin Jia'er after Qingyi arranged a matchmaking meeting, but both privately considered the other an unsuitable match. The chapter ended with Lin Jia'er dismissing Jiang Ning's rejection as face-saving while they walked together under Qingyi's watchful eye.

• Jiang Ning continued tempering his skin and stored the Dragon Tiger Strength Pill until his body was ready to refine it.
• Xiao Lu invited Jiang Ning to Myriad Blossom Pavilion, where Qingyi teased him before revealing she had found him a potential wife.
• Lin Jia'er met Jiang Ning and concealed her refusal to marry a commoner, despite praising his appearance and martial talent to Qingyi.
• Qingyi left Jiang Ning and Lin Jia'er alone, then secretly followed them as they walked through the busy street.
• Lin Jia'er told Jiang Ning he was not her ideal husband because of his low birth and modest prospects, and asked him to help avoid embarrassing Qingyi.
• Jiang Ning replied that Lin Jia'er was not a suitable partner for him either, but Lin Jia'er assumed he was only saving face.

Jiang Ning dismissed Lin Jia'er’s rejection and learned that Shen Congyun had risked punishment to help him. After days of training, Jiang Ning broke through to Skin Refinement Great Success and decided to aim for Martial Arts Eighth Rank before the Patrol Office was established.

• Qingyi reassured Jiang Ning that Shen Congyun was safe and explained that he was a future Grandmaster Seed who had voluntarily broken the rules to help him.
• Lin Qingyi rebuked Lin Jia'er for judging Jiang Ning by his common birth, but Lin Jia'er insisted she would only marry a refined man whose future she could see.
• Jiang Ning returned home, continued training, and planned to reach Martial Arts Eighth Rank before the Patrol Office was established.
• Jiang Ning used medicinal baths, reading, and cultivation to raise his Literacy and Indestructible Vajra Body experience.
• Jiang Ning’s Indestructible Vajra Body reached Minor Completion, transforming his skin membrane to bronze and advancing him to Skin Refinement Great Success.

Jiang Ning tested the durability of his Copper-Like Skin after reaching Skin Refinement Great Success and confirmed that the Indestructible Vajra Body could still gain experience beyond the fragment’s recorded limit. He then took a Dragon Tiger Strength Pill to enter Martial Dao Rank 8, and its powerful Jin Force began tempering his muscles.

• Jiang Ning crushed stone with his strengthened hand and tested his skin against a broken saber, finding that his skin membrane resisted the blade and suffered only a shallow cut under greater force.
• Jiang Ning trained the Indestructible Vajra Body and saw its experience increase to Minor Completion 2/5000, confirming he could continue advancing beyond the fragment’s recorded level.
• Jiang Ning soaked in the Luoshui to ease his fatigue while gaining Swimming experience, then returned to his room and prepared to take the Dragon Tiger Strength Pill.
• Jiang Ning reviewed the Divine Strength Realm and realized that the three Ox Demon Strength Fruits had already brought him close to its entry threshold.
• Jiang Ning swallowed the Dragon Tiger Strength Pill, whose powerful foreign Jin Force flowed through his body and began tempering his muscles.

After consuming the Dragon Tiger Strength Pill, Jiang Ning reached Martial Dao Rank 8 and tested the strength and endurance his improved body gave him. He decided to search the Luo River for overlooked sunken treasure and left for the river.

• Jiang Ning finished absorbing the Dragon Tiger Strength Pill and sensed that his strength had risen to about two thousand five hundred jin.
• Jiang Ning fed blood to Dragon Abyss, then tested a Fivefold Jin Force slash and found his arm could now withstand the strain far better than before.
• Jiang Ning reviewed his Source Energy Points and considered investing them in Swimming and the Canglang Saber Technique rather than the costly next breakthrough of the Firewood Chopping Blade Technique.
• After eating his fill, Jiang Ning decided to search the Luo River for overlooked sunken ships and treasures that ordinary experts had not salvaged.
• Jiang Ning left a note at home, took his saber, and ran toward the Luo River.