Chapter Summaries

After surviving a disaster and awakening in another world, Gu Yang accepted his father's plan to enter Wan City's Martial Academy and continued training with the aid of his mysterious Dao Seed. He vowed to become a Martial Path expert.

• Gu Dashan told Gu Yang and Wang Caihua that he had traded the authorities' two-tael relief payment for Gu Yang's qualification to enter the Martial Academy without an exam.
• Gu Yang agreed to cultivate diligently at the academy, while Gu Dashan resolved to find work in the city to support the family.
• After his family settled down for the night, Gu Yang went outside with two corn buns and trained openly, raising his Exercise skill proficiency.
• Gu Yang examined the Dao Seed of Creation, which showed that Exercise had reached Beginner proficiency at 55/100 and that he had no talents.
• Gu Yang looked at the thirteen moons and vowed to become a Martial Path expert.

Gu Yang entered the city with Gu Dashan and received permission to enroll in the Martial Academy despite being fifteen, older than its usual beginners. The chapter ended with Master Qin preparing to teach Gu Yang the Blood Nourishing Stance.

• The Gu Family collected their morning porridge and discussed the approaching end of government aid outside the city.
• Gu Dashan took Gu Yang through the city gate and obtained an enrollment certificate from the Government Civil Affairs Office.
• Gu Dashan and Gu Yang reached the Martial Academy, where a guard admitted them after checking the certificate.
• Gu Yang changed into a Martial Academy uniform and met Master Qin on the Training Ground.
• After teaching the younger disciples, Master Qin called Gu Yang over to begin teaching him the Blood Nourishing Stance.

Qin Hu taught Gu Yang the Blood Nourishing Stance, and Gu Yang endured painful corrections until he completed the full sequence. He then fused his Exercise skill into the stance, raising its proficiency and gaining memories of practice.

• Qin Hu explained the Qi and Blood Realm and demonstrated the Blood Nourishing Stance to Gu Yang.
• Qin Hu taught Gu Yang the stance’s forty-eight movements, correcting his form by pressing on his joints as Gu Yang practiced.
• Gu Yang endured the pain, completed the stance with standard movements, and rested while Qin Hu returned to training the other children.
• Gu Yang discovered that he could fuse Exercise with Blood Nourishing Stance and previewed the increase in the stance’s proficiency.
• Gu Yang fused the skills, raising Blood Nourishing Stance proficiency from 1 to 12 and gaining a better grasp of its movements and breathing rhythm.

After lunch at the Martial Academy, Gu Yang resumed practicing the Blood Nourishing Stance Art and realized that rapid improvement would require more food and money. He returned to the Training Ground to continue training, but his weak body gave out after two rounds.

• Qin Hu dismissed the formation, and a sturdy youth escorted Gu Yang to the dining hall.
• Gu Yang ate his first oily meal in twenty days, then returned to the empty Training Ground.
• Gu Yang found that his Blood Nourishing Stance Art proficiency had risen to 12, making the movements smoother, but one round left him exhausted.
• Gu Yang resolved to earn money and improve quickly so he would avoid ranking among the bottom hundred for three consecutive Minor Competitions and being advised to leave.
• Gu Yang practiced another round, gained one proficiency point, and nearly collapsed before resting by the wall.
• When the other disciples returned, Gu Yang got up and walked over to them.

Gu Yang trained at the Martial Academy, learned that Cangzhou’s martial talent was gathered for the Life and Death Trials and Canglong Island, and caught Qin Hu’s attention with his rapid improvement. He left the academy with Gu Dashan, who had waited for him in the cold, and headed home for government porridge.

• Qin Hu tested the boys’ stances, praised Gu Yang’s stability, and urged the disciples to train toward the Life and Death Trials and Canglong Island.
• Gu Yang wondered about Cangzhou’s vastness and the power that gathered its martial talent, but Qin Hu caught him daydreaming and ordered him to focus.
• Gu Yang practiced the Blood Nourishing Stance Art with growing skill, surprising Qin Hu, though his weak physique left him exhausted and other disciples looked down on him.
• Gu Yang trained through the afternoon, resting between sets, and stopped when he reached his limit.
• Gu Yang found Gu Dashan waiting outside the academy in the cold, and they set off together toward the city gates for government porridge.

Gu Yang returned to the shantytown with Gu Dashan and learned that his father had bought meat to support his martial training. After resting for the night, Gu Yang’s family faced the Liu Brothers’ resentment over receiving thicker porridge, while the brothers planned to challenge the porridge distributor the next day.

• Gu Yang reunited with Gu Mother Wang Caihua and Gu Yingying, then joined Gu Dashan in heading to the government’s porridge distribution.
• A villager criticized Gu Dashan for sending Gu Yang to the Martial Academy, and the queues spread word of the decision to give up relief money for his training.
• Gu Dashan quietly asked the porridge distributor to cook the pork he had bought for Gu Yang, and the distributor served Gu Yang two scoops of thick porridge.
• Gu Yang learned his father had bought meat, checked his Blood Nourishing Stance progress at Beginner (15/100), and went to sleep rather than train while exhausted.
• Third Brother Liu wanted to cause trouble for Gu Dashan’s family, but Liu Eldest Brother told him to wait until the next day and promised to go with him if the porridge distributor continued favoring them.

Gu Yang began learning the Martial Academy’s fist, leg, and footwork techniques under Qin Hu, using sparring to understand when to apply them. He memorized the movements of all three and was left to practice before sparring with the other disciples.

• Qin Hu explained that Martial Academy disciples had to learn fist techniques, leg techniques, and footwork, then taught Gu Yang the Canglang Fist Technique.
• Qin Hu taught Gu Yang the Subduing Wave Leg Technique by sparring with him and knocking him down to demonstrate when its eighteen movements were useful.
• After repeated rounds of sparring, Gu Yang remembered the timing for all eighteen leg-technique movements and gained a better understanding of the fist techniques.
• Qin Hu taught Gu Yang the Swimming Fish Footwork and advised him to observe how fish reacted to danger.
• Gu Yang memorized the movements of all three martial techniques, and Qin Hu told him to practice until proficient before sparring with the other disciples.

Gu Yang fused Canglang Fist Technique, Subduing Wave Leg Technique, and Swimming Fish Footwork into Azure Dragon Dance, discovering their shared stance framework. As he practiced it at the Martial Academy, Qin Hu recognized it as the stance of Azure Dragon Force and realized Gu Yang had comprehended it on his own.

• Gu Yang fused the three martial techniques into a single technique and consolidated their proficiency.
• Gu Yang named the fused technique Azure Dragon Dance and began practicing its fist, leg, and footwork movements.
• Each completed set of movements increased Gu Yang's Azure Dragon Dance proficiency.
• Qin Hu noticed Gu Yang was using the same stance framework across all three types of movements.
• Qin Hu recognized the framework as the Entry Level stance of Azure Dragon Force and concluded Gu Yang had comprehended it himself.

Gu Yang managed his stamina to complete five rounds of the Blood Nourishing Stance Art and continued training until the Martial Academy closed. As he left with Gu Dashan, Qin Hu lent him more than twenty pounds of meat, leaving Gu Yang to carry it home and explain it to his father later.

• Gu Yang focused on repeated Blood Nourishing Stance Art practice, pacing his rests so he could complete five rounds.
• Qin Hu observed Gu Yang's approach and let him continue training while urging the other disciples to spar harder.
• Gu Yang recovered his strength and resumed training until the Academy bell rang at sunset.
• Gu Yang met Gu Dashan at the Academy gates and realized his father had bought meat again despite agreeing to save money.
• At the city gate, Qin Hu lent Gu Yang more than twenty pounds of meat without interest and told him not to eat more than half a pound at a time.
• Gu Yang accepted the meat and hurried home with Gu Dashan, postponing his explanation of Qin Hu's gift.

Gu Yang brought home beast meat lent by Master Qin and shared the family’s pork so they could enjoy a rare meal. After eating the nourishing meat, he trained and gained proficiency quickly, leaving him determined to compete for the resources he needed.

• Gu Yang showed his family the beast meat Master Qin had lent him, and Gu Dashan cut off about half a jin while hiding the rest.
• Gu Yang gave the family the pork for their meal, and Gu Dashan, Gu Mother, and Gu Yingying shared it while Gu Yang ate the beast meat.
• After dinner, Gu Yang felt energized by the beast meat and went outside to practice Stance Training.
• Gu Yang completed six rounds and saw his Blood Nourishing Stance proficiency rise to 21/100, three points higher than before.
• Gu Yang recognized that resources came through competition and vowed not to retreat when competing for them.

Gu Yang rushed home and defeated the three Liu Brothers after finding them assaulting his family and stealing the Black Tiger Meat. He used the theft to ensure the authorities arrested them, leaving their families unable to secure their release.

• Gu Yang found Gu Yingying crying, Gu Mother injured, and Gu Dashan being beaten while Third Brother Liu carried away the Black Tiger Meat.
• Gu Yang fought Third Brother Liu and incapacitated him with strikes and a sweeping kick.
• Gu Dashan pulled Liu Second Brother down, and Gu Yang defeated Liu Eldest Brother before helping his father overpower Liu Second Brother.
• Gu Yang kicked the three Liu Brothers and told the constables that they had assaulted his family and stolen meat lent by Master Qin.
• The lead constable recognized the meat and ordered the three Liu Brothers arrested for home invasion and robbery despite their protests and their families’ pleas.

Gu Yang’s family moved into a poor neighborhood in Wan City, and he continued training at the Martial Academy, improving his Blood Nourishing Stance with Qin Hu’s guidance. After learning that the Liu brothers had been sentenced, Gu Yang registered as a city resident and ended the day frustrated by eating Black Tiger Meat alone while his family ate vegetables.

• Gu Yang thanked Qin Hu for lending him Black Tiger Meat, then used Qin Hu’s stance pointers to improve his technique during training.
• Gu Yang learned that the Liu brothers had received prison sentences of five years for the eldest and second brothers and ten years for Third Brother Liu.
• Gu Dashan showed Gu Yang their new home in Nine Bends Ward and registered him as a Martial Academy disciple at the Ward Office.
• Gu Yang learned to write his name while Old Wei entered it in the Household Register.
• The Gu family cleaned their run-down courtyard, then shared a meal of vegetables and thin porridge while Gu Yang ate the Black Tiger Meat by himself.
• Frustrated by the meal, Gu Yang left the house to train.

Gu Yang trained relentlessly to approach Strength Training while considering a chance to earn money by sparring with Li Zhiwu, but chose to prioritize his breakthrough. As the Martial Academy’s Minor Competition drew near, the chapter ended with lower-ranked disciples nervously looking toward Gu Yang as a possible cushion for their rankings.

• Gu Yang trained for ten days, bringing his Blood Nourishing Stance proficiency to 91/100 and nearing Strength Training.
• Gu Yang heard that Li Zhiwu paid people to spar with him, investigated, and learned Li Zhiwu had injured opponents he disliked.
• Gu Yang decided against sparring with Li Zhiwu because an injury could delay his cultivation, and he continued practicing instead.
• Gu Yang returned home with Gu Dashan, ate a modest meal with his family, and trained late into the night.
• Qin Hu reminded the disciples that the month-end Minor Competition was less than ten days away, and the lower-ranked disciples looked toward Gu Yang.

After Gu Yang mastered the Blood Nourishing Stance and broke through its realm, he manifested the Vitality Surge talent, which greatly accelerated his stamina and injury recovery. He made rapid progress through a day of intense training, then recognized that he needed to learn martial techniques to prepare for the competitions.

• Gu Yang completed the Blood Nourishing Stance's Entry Level proficiency and rested before practicing again.
• Gu Yang broke through the stance's realm, developing his body and increasing his strength.
• Gu Yang manifested the Vitality Surge talent and discovered that it more than doubled his stamina recovery and improved injury healing.
• Gu Yang used his enhanced recovery to train intensely, gaining six proficiency increases over the greater part of the day.
• Gu Yang stopped training as exhaustion set in and realized he needed to practice martial techniques so he could fight in the Minor Competition.

Gu Yang recovered from training and agreed to spar with Li Zhiwu for two qian of silver a day, relying on his Vitality Surge talent to heal quickly. After practicing through the night and improving his Blood Nourishing Stance proficiency, he kept the deal secret from his parents until after the sparring session.

• Gu Yang recovered from his training and met Li Zhiwu, who offered him silver to spar the next day.
• Gu Yang initially refused, but Li Zhiwu raised his offer to two qian of silver a day, and Gu Yang accepted the payment in advance.
• After Li Zhiwu left, Gu Yang checked the fading bruise on his arm and reflected that his Vitality Surge talent made the sparring deal safe enough to accept.
• At midnight, Gu Yang practiced the Blood Nourishing Stance until its proficiency reached 11/200, then watched the thirteen moons before returning inside when Gu Dashan called.
• Gu Yang decided not to tell his parents about the deal until after the sparring session.

Gu Yang sparred with Li Zhiwu and rapidly improved his Azure Dragon Dance proficiency, despite being outmatched in strength. After both fighters landed punches at the same time, Gu Yang saw his proficiency increase by two.

• Gu Yang practiced the Azure Dragon Dance alone until Li Zhiwu arrived to spar.
• Li Zhiwu's greater strength drove Gu Yang back, but Gu Yang landed a surprise kick and seized the initiative with a series of punches.
• Gu Yang saw several Azure Dragon Dance proficiency increases during their fight and grew excited as he kept attacking.
• Li Zhiwu counterattacked and forced Gu Yang onto the defensive, eventually breaking through his guard.
• Gu Yang traded a punch to the chest for a punch at Li Zhiwu's head, and his Azure Dragon Dance proficiency increased by two.

Gu Yang discovered that Vitality Surge rapidly healed the injuries he sustained while sparring with Li Zhiwu, allowing him to recover far faster than expected. He left the Martial Academy pleased with the money and Azure Dragon Dance proficiency he had gained from the fight.

• Gu Yang and Li Zhiwu finished their hard-fought spar, and Gu Yang felt Vitality Surge rapidly repairing his bruises.
• Qin Hu examined both fighters, confirmed their injuries were not serious, and sent them to the pharmacy for treatment.
• Gu Yang checked his skills and found that sparring had raised Azure Dragon Dance proficiency by thirteen points in less than two quarters of an hour.
• By the end of the day, most of Gu Yang’s bruises had faded, and other disciples watched him with sympathy as he left the Training Ground.

Gu Yang gave Gu Dashan two qian of silver and reassured him with a carefully polished story about how he had earned it. He then trained intensely with Li Zhiwu, developing a counterattacking strategy and rapidly improving his Azure Dragon Dance before reviewing his progress at home.

• Gu Yang gave Gu Dashan two qian of silver to buy better food for the family and convinced him the money was honestly earned.
• Gu Yang sparred with Li Zhiwu, endured heavy blows, and used Vitality Surge to recover from his injuries.
• Gu Yang reviewed their earlier exchanges and devised a strategy to attack while keeping Li Zhiwu at a distance.
• Gu Yang took the initiative in their next bout, using punches and kicks to control the distance until Li Zhiwu adapted and closed in.
• Gu Yang kept searching for counterattacks during Li Zhiwu's assault and raised his Azure Dragon Dance proficiency to 166/500.
• Gu Yang practiced the Blood Nourishing Stance that evening, increased its proficiency to 28/200, and looked forward to further progress before the Minor Competition.

Gu Yang trained the Azure Dragon Dance to prepare for the Martial Academy's Minor Competition, aiming to earn a place in the top hundred and its Military Rations Pills reward. After practicing through the night, he broke through the skill's realm just before dawn.

• Gu Yang continued training the Azure Dragon Dance despite Li Zhiwu asking why he was working so hard, keeping his top-hundred goal to himself.
• Gu Yang noted that his sparring record against Li Zhiwu had improved to four wins out of ten and that the Azure Dragon Dance was close to a breakthrough.
• Gu Yang bought pork leaf fat and hind leg meat at the market so his family could eat better.
• Gu Yang practiced the Azure Dragon Dance through the night and ignored Gu Dashan's call to come inside.
• Before dawn, Gu Yang gained new insight into the Azure Dragon Dance, and its realm broke through as its potential began to develop.

After breaking through, Gu Yang manifested the Power Surge talent, which let him unleash repeated full-strength attacks without losing reserve power and increased his confidence ahead of the Minor Competition. As winter arrived, he joined the Martial Academy disciples as they set out for the competition.

• Gu Yang broke through and manifested the Power Surge talent, which continuously replenished his reserve strength during attacks.
• Gu Yang inspected his status, confirmed Azure Dragon Dance had reached Minor Accomplishment, and trained until his stamina was depleted.
• Snow began falling, and Gu Yang returned to bed before waking to find the world covered in snow.
• Gu Yang reviewed the Minor Competition rules, including its five rounds of matches, rewards, challenges, and warnings for the bottom hundred disciples.
• Qin Hu ordered the assembled Martial Academy disciples to set out for the Minor Competition.