Recaps

Zhang Lingshan used the Energy Panel to advance his martial arts, escaped the Greedy Ghost, and reached the threshold for Skin Grinding. The arc ended with him beginning Skin Grinding at the Hong Clan Martial Hall while struggling to afford his training.

• Zhang Lingshan killed Li Hu and two other road thugs, then escaped an encounter with the ghostly heads of Wang Datou and Li Xiaole and a crimson-clad woman.
• Zhang Lingshan joined the Hong Clan Martial Hall, advanced the Righteous Yang Posture with energy from food and herbs, and became Hong Zhengdao’s Registered Disciple.
• Zhang Lingshan asked Shi Lei to help Li Fu’s son Li Dong, but Shi Lei lost a sparring match to Chen Hui, and Li Fu’s family later hanged themselves after Li Fu was detained.
• Zhang Lingshan rejected Hui Xiu’s talismans, devoted himself to training, and mastered the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture, earning Hong Zhengdao’s personal instruction in the Red Thread Fist.
• Zhang Lingshan moved his family to Hongwu Street and steadily raised his energy, but the Red Thread Fist remained slow to advance.
• Zhang Lingshan’s breakthrough brought out Fire Momentum, which destroyed the Greedy Ghost and gave him 30 Energy.
• Zhang Lingshan lifted a two-hundred-pound Stone Lock, met the threshold for Skin Grinding, and began training with Iron Sand and medicinal baths.
• Zhang Lingshan learned that completing Skin Grinding would take months, and Song Dazhuang offered to lend him five taels when he asked about finding work.

Zhang Lingshan joined the Feng Family’s herb-gathering guards, survived a Demon Rabbit hunt, and grew stronger through new techniques and dangerous encounters. After becoming an Inner Disciple and defeating Chen Hui, he endured intensive body tempering and broke through to Flesh Refining.

• Zhang Lingshan broke through to Skin Grinding, joined the Feng Family Pharmacy, and survived a Demon Rabbit attack during a Cold Moon Mountain expedition.
• After the hunt, Zhang Lingshan learned the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique and Wind Stabilizing Posture, then killed Fang Qiuyue and refined Li Fu to gain Energy.
• Zhang Lingshan advanced his axe and leg techniques, learned that Hong Zhengdao had returned badly injured, and declined Song Lian’s invitation to transfer martial halls.
• Hong Zhengdao made Zhang Lingshan an Inner Disciple, and Zhang passed Xu Liang’s test to learn the Blood Claw Hand.
• Zhang Lingshan defeated Chen Hui in a public fight, and Hong Zhengdao killed Chen Hui’s Master when he attacked.
• After New Year’s, Zhang Lingshan began Flesh Refining under Xiao Ming, endured repeated blows and medicinal baths, and used Energy to strengthen his techniques.
• Zhang Lingshan improved Wind Stabilizing Posture and Gale Wind Leg during training, then broke through to Flesh Refining.

Zhang Lingshan joined the yamen, hunted evil spirits and demon beasts, and grew powerful while seeking his place among Jin City's factions. After Hong Zhengdao lost his duel with Zhao Qing, Zhang defeated Yuan Qiu and killed Zhao Qing, then moved his family into the Jiang estate as Yan Yuqing returned to Jin City.

• Zhang Lingshan became Hong Zhengdao's fifth disciple, learned the Red Cloud Saber Art, and traveled with Lü Three Blades and the Lei brothers toward Golden Light Temple, where Lei Tao became a Bronze Man and his father disappeared.
• Zhang Lingshan joined the yamen's Strong Squad, secretly hunted evil spirits during night patrols, and killed Dan Xiong, then accepted Feng Ji's offer to join the Hunting Squad.
• Zhang Lingshan perfected the Wind Stabilizing Posture, joined Wang Dun's hunting team, and killed a Red-Spotted Black Tiger before learning the Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound Technique.
• Zhang Lingshan overheard Zhao Qing and Elder Yu, advanced his training, and killed Pan Mingzhong and Chu Lei after they plotted against him.
• Zhao Qing challenged Hong Zhengdao to a life-and-death duel, defeated and crippled him, and Yuan Qiu then challenged the Hong Clan Martial Hall to produce a disciple who could damage his clothes.
• Zhang Lingshan rescued Xu Liang, defeated Yuan Qiu, and killed Zhao Qing after disarming him, then dragged a pockmarked youth onto the Terrace and announced he was cleaning house.
• Jiang Shaobai arranged for Zhang Lingshan's family to move into the Jiang estate, while Zhang discovered that Buddhist Incense was poisoning him and increasing his Energy Points.
• Zhang Lingshan recovered through medicinal treatments, Zuo Chao asked him to list every Cultivation Method he had learned, and Yan Yuqing returned to Jin City with three hooded figures.

Zhang Lingshan uncovered the Jiang Family’s secret formation, freed its captives, and formed Du'e Gate after bringing down the Jiang Family. He then defeated the Yuan, Zhu, and Sha Families’ forces in the Outer City, leaving Du'e Gate in control while Zhu Hao sought help from Thousand Hands Honored One.

• Yan Yuqing investigated the Huo Family with Celestial Crane Daoist and Xiao Wei, but Huo Liuyin unleashed yin spirits across the Outer City, which Zhang Lingshan absorbed and refined.
• At Hongying Martial Hall, Yu Jiren attacked Zhang Lingshan and Wu Lian died protecting him, so Zhang Lingshan later used Wu Fangfang’s map to explore the Jiang Family’s secret passages.
• Zhang Lingshan found Du'e Zen Master trapped beneath the Merit Buddha and discovered the Wordless True Scripture slabs, then killed the White-haired Old Man and wounded the Red-robed Figure.
• Zhang Lingshan joined Du'e Zen Master in breaking the Jiang Family’s Magic Array, killed Jiang Bie and the elders, and led his family and the survivors out of the Inner City.
• Zhang Lingshan established Du'e Gate with Du'e Zen Master as sect master, brought Hong Zhengdao into its ranks, and began taking over Jiang Family businesses and forming alliances.
• Sha Mingyue proposed that Zhang Lingshan help kill Yuan Zhou, while the Huo Family allied with Du'e Gate and warned him not to trust her.
• Zhang Lingshan killed Yuan Zhou, Sha Chifeng, and Yuan Tianfang during the attack on the Song Family Blacksmith Shop, and the Song Family pledged allegiance to Du'e Gate.
• Zhang Lingshan ordered Du'e Gate to eliminate the Three Families Remnants and seize their businesses, while Zhu Hao returned to the Inner City and urged Zhu Lin to summon Thousand Hands Honored One.